Is DDP just flawed?

[sethschroeder]

Looking through this I was hoping to do the DDP this summer as we were finally going to get to all the character meals and such. Reading through though the DPP no only doesn't save you money but it also doesn't cover you like an "all inclusive" would where you don't have to worry about food costs the whole time (you pay tip, have credits, some cost 2x credits).

Its a shame as this was going to be the 2nd time ever we did it. We had a QS one back in 2019 when the kids were under 3 and Food+Wine was going on to try all the food.

Disney does the extra expensive pass for rides so why not food? Make it so you get reservations even same day, no extra costs including tip, no worry about the number of credits, ect. Make it essentially like going to a resort with an all inclusive package.

 

[Mommb]

Disney does the extra expensive pass for rides so why not food? Make it so you get reservations even same day, no extra costs including tip, no worry about the number of credits, ect. Make it essentially like going to a resort with an all inclusive package.

Disney did offer a Deluxe Dining Plan up until 5 years ago, which covered 3 meals and 2 snacks per day. That still required some counting, because Signature restaurants counted as 2 "meals," but not as much as the current Dining Plan. If Disney thinks they can make money on a plan like that, it may return.

Guaranteed last-minute reservations would be more difficult, because if a restaurant is full, it's full.

I do not like having "2-credit" restaurants, because it looks like prices at those restaurants are increased to justify making them cost more credits. However, if all restaurants are a single credit, the more expensive and unique items will simply disappear.

My family stopped getting the Dining Plan when our kids became Disney Adults, because the mostly-vegetarian meals we eat typically cost less than the price of the plan and we went to fewer character meals. It's clearly not for everyone. It doesn't bother me that it's not ideal, though, since it is clearly optional and (other than my complaint about 2-credit meals) it doesn't affect me if some families choose to use it.

 

[CaroM8]

We used the "free DDP" offer on our trip last September and really liked having it. Planning future trips, I would consider it even if it wasn't included. You really do have to work out the math and do some planning in order for it to be "worth it". One of the advantages is having a huge part of your meals prepaid ahead of time. So less spending, in the moment.

If you are planning on doing big ticket restaurants (character meals, prefixed menu etc.) then it can really be worth it, especially if you are having an alcoholic drink with your meal (which is included in the DDP for adults). These are the ones we did during our trip:

Ohana (fixed price, so a good use of a credit, in my opinion)
Crystal Palace (character meal, buffet, worth it)
Cinderella's Royal Table (it's a 2 credit meal, but we would never pay that amount out of pocket so for us it was worth it)
Sebastian's Bistro
Sci-Fi
Topolino's breakfast (soooo worth it - one of the best meals we had)

Hope this helps

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

My guess the tip not being included is so Disney can sell the DDP to you 6 months before your trip and it looks 20% less than what it actually is. The credits I feel were easy to use/keep track of for our party of 8 back when we used it in the early 2010s.

As far as a more expensive food option....do you mean like a truly all inclusive...because that will never happen at Disney. We've gone to Mexican all inclusive once a year for 15 years and it just wouldn't work in Disney. I don't think Disney could price it high enough to ever make money. Every restaurant would become a Topolinos breakfast where people would want 3 entrees a person at every meal.

I do kinda get the feeling Disney doesn't love offering the dining plan as much as they love, say LL or desert parties. I almost think they keep pricing it higher and higher, with the hopes people stop buying it....so they can sunset the program. But people just keep buying it no matter how high it gets.

 

[cchevela1023]

The deluxe plan was about as close as you were going to get -- which is no longer offered. We did the free dining plan a few times -- the first time in 2007 was the best. Appetizer, entree, drink, dessert and tips were included at the time - that was about as inclusive as I had ever felt. That was the last year they included tips then it just went downhill from there.

Also -- you really need to research restaurants and pick menus where you know you can be break-even or come out a bit. Since the price now is $97 per adult, that's a LOT of food for just one day. You'll need to maximize restaurants to come out. MOST entrees with dessert and drink are gonna be in the $50-70 range, so you'll need $27-47 in lunch and snacks to cover the cost.

 

[Mle8308]

The deluxe plan was about as close as you were going to get -- which is no longer offered. We did the free dining plan a few times -- the first time in 2007 was the best. Appetizer, entree, drink, dessert and tips were included at the time - that was about as inclusive as I had ever felt. That was the last year they included tips then it just went downhill from there.

Also -- you really need to research restaurants and pick menus where you know you can be break-even or come out a bit. Since the price now is $97 per adult, that's a LOT of food for just one day. You'll need to maximize restaurants to come out. MOST entrees with dessert and drink are gonna be in the $50-70 range, so you'll need $27-47 in lunch and snacks to cover the cost.

And then add on an 18 - 20% tip at TS locations! Those $18 alcoholic "free" drinks start to add up when you pay a 20% tip on them!

 

[sethschroeder]

because that will never happen at Disney.

I agree it wouldn't but it seems Disney is lost between value and luxury. Someone is likely buying it though.

 

[sethschroeder]

The deluxe plan was about as close as you were going to get -- which is no longer offered. We did the free dining plan a few times -- the first time in 2007 was the best. Appetizer, entree, drink, dessert and tips were included at the time - that was about as inclusive as I had ever felt. That was the last year they included tips then it just went downhill from there.

Also -- you really need to research restaurants and pick menus where you know you can be break-even or come out a bit. Since the price now is $97 per adult, that's a LOT of food for just one day. You'll need to maximize restaurants to come out. MOST entrees with dessert and drink are gonna be in the $50-70 range, so you'll need $27-47 in lunch and snacks to cover the cost.

Ya threw some various restaurants through a couple the calculators that are out there and all of them came up cash. It even outlined how the DDP wouldn't even actually cover the stay and come up short because of the 2x credit meals.

Will stick with DVC/AP discount charge to room then pay with gift card (5% additional discount).

In the end there might be a way to make it close but my desire for DDP is more so to not do the second guessing while at Disney where I decide not to spend as much and cancel a reservation or two.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

I agree it wouldn't but it seems Disney is lost between value and luxury. Someone is likely buying it though.

I think it's probably most attractive for the people that just want the food aspect of their trip paid for before hand and not have to think about it at WDW. Even if the costs are roughly the same, the psychology sometimes allows people to focus on enjoying their meals...and not the cost of their meal.

It was a great deal in the beginning. Those first few years I don't know how they didn't lose money on just about every meal plan sold. But at this point you really have to work really hard to come out ahead or get any outsized value.

And sometimes....the cheapest entree on the menu looks the best. There was a meal we had at Brown Derby a few years back that the vegetarian option looked amazing....and it was. But if I was on the DDP I never would have allowed myself to order a $32 entree at a 2 credit signature restaurant. For us it's cash + DVC/AP discounts.

 

[Brian Noble]

For as long as I've been going to Disney, the Dining Plan never broke even compared to just paying as I go to eat what, where, and when I want. Usually that was because I ate the "wrong" number of sit-down meals. Throw in the fact that sometimes I order the vegetarian meal, or make a meal out of a couple of apps, or that sometimes want an app but not dessert, or that sometimes I just skip dessert, or (more recently) that I don't drink alcohol, and ... it just never adds up.

Now, it would be possible for me to arrange a trip such that the dining plan would cost me less than just paying out of pocket for a particular set of meals. But I would be arranging my dining around maximizing the Plan, rather than use the Plan to pay for my dining. And frankly, I'm just not interested in doing that.

Maybe I'd consider it for a very short stay, or a short part of a longer split stay, when I could cherry pick a few restaurants. But for my usual stay 6-8 nights? No way.

 

[MinnieMSue]

For as long as I've been going to Disney, the Dining Plan never broke even compared to just paying as I go to eat what, where, and when I want. Usually that was because I ate the "wrong" number of sit-down meals. Throw in the fact that sometimes I order the vegetarian meal, or make a meal out of a couple of apps, or that sometimes want an app but not dessert, or that sometimes I just skip dessert, or (more recently) that I don't drink alcohol, and ... it just never adds up.

Now, it would be possible for me to arrange a trip such that the dining plan would cost me less than just paying out of pocket for a particular set of meals. But I would be arranging my dining around maximizing the Plan, rather than use the Plan to pay for my dining. And frankly, I'm just not interested in doing that.

Maybe I'd consider it for a very short stay, or a short part of a longer split stay, when I could cherry pick a few restaurants. But for my usual stay 6-8 nights? No way.

This is exactly me. It makes absolutely no sense for us to purchase the dining plan. I want to order what I want on vacation. Not have to try to buy the most expensive thing so I don’t lose money (which is actually me losing money anyway )

 

[cisco911]

The dining plans makes sense if you have kids and plan on doing character meals most days. I remember when we went when my son and daughter were young. We did every character meal. Back then, the dining plan for them was like 30 something dollars and each character meal was 50 or 60. Paid for itself just on that. Back then you could also convert your left ofter quick service credits for snacks so we used to come home with a tonne of mickey snacks. Now it is harder to make it worth while but we usually only do it when its "free" and we do it more because its built in and if we want to do alot of restaurants. if we just want to do a short trip with just QS, then we just do it out of pocket.

 

[blana]

Looking through this I was hoping to do the DDP this summer as we were finally going to get to all the character meals and such. Reading through though the DPP no only doesn't save you money but it also doesn't cover you like an "all inclusive" would where you don't have to worry about food costs the whole time (you pay tip, have credits, some cost 2x credits).

Its a shame as this was going to be the 2nd time ever we did it. We had a QS one back in 2019 when the kids were under 3 and Food+Wine was going on to try all the food.

Disney does the extra expensive pass for rides so why not food? Make it so you get reservations even same day, no extra costs including tip, no worry about the number of credits, ect. Make it essentially like going to a resort with an all inclusive package.

Pre 2008, the dining plan was much more like what you're describing. Tip was included. App AND dessert were included for all TS meals and dessert plus drink was included in all CS. (There were still 2 credit meals at that time.) Then there were complaints about staff not serving those on the DDP as well because the tip was guaranteed, etc. When we went in early 2008, the plan was changed to not include tip. I can't remember if that was the same time that the app & dessert was changed too. But the value diminished quickly and the price didn't.

 

[Mirabell Rose]

Pre 2008, the dining plan was much more like what you're describing. Tip was included. App AND dessert were included for all TS meals and dessert plus drink was included in all CS. (There were still 2 credit meals at that time.) Then there were complaints about staff not serving those on the DDP as well because the tip was guaranteed, etc. When we went in early 2008, the plan was changed to not include tip. I can't remember if that was the same time that the app & dessert was changed too. But the value diminished quickly and the price didn't.

We did it in 2010 for a short trip and the dessert was still included but not the appetizer.

 

[HopperFan]

Disney offers what sells the most and gives them the highest profit margin. I don't believe Disney ever was offering an all inclusive vacation. They were offering a menu plan of amenities and it's up to the guest to make it work for them. And a menu plan of amenities is likely way more profitable for Disney.

 

[summerlvr]

Disney offers what sells the most and gives them the highest profit margin. I don't believe Disney ever was offering an all inclusive vacation. They were offering a menu plan of amenities and it's up to the guest to make it work for them. And a menu plan of amenities is likely way more profitable for Disney.

My dad and his wife used to vacation at Disney back in the mid-late 80s and I remember him talking about a package they booked one year that included everything, even recreational activities. Wherever they wanted to eat or whatever they wanted to do, it was included. He said it was one of the best vacations he ever took. They usually stayed at what was then called The Disney Inn or maybe that was when it was called The Golf Resort, not sure which (now is Shades of Green).

 

[honeymo78]

My dad and his wife used to vacation at Disney back in the mid-late 80s and I remember him talking about a package they booked one year that included everything, even recreational activities. Wherever they wanted to eat or whatever they wanted to do, it was included. He said it was one of the best vacations he ever took. They usually stayed at what was then called The Disney Inn or maybe that was when it was called The Golf Resort, not sure which (now is Shades of Green).

We used that package many times during the 80s, 90's, and early 2000s including on my honeymoon in 2005. It had various names, like Gold Key, Grand Plan, and Platinum Plan. We stopped using the package when we bought DVC in 2008. We loved being able to go parasailing, water skiing/tubing, taking out jet skis, and doing all the theme park tours, plus getting 3 full meals a day at any restuarant. It was as close to all inclusive as you could get at Disney and I doubt something like that will ever return.

 

[bsmcneil]

We used that package many times during the 80s, 90's, and early 2000s including on my honeymoon in 2005. It had various names, like Gold Key, Grand Plan, and Platinum Plan. We stopped using the package when we bought DVC in 2008. We loved being able to go parasailing, water skiing/tubing, taking out jet skis, and doing all the theme park tours, plus getting 3 full meals a day at any restuarant. It was as close to all inclusive as you could get at Disney and I doubt something like that will ever return.

Yeah, we did the Platinum for our honeymoon in 2011. It was quite something - and to be honest, I don't even remember half of it (we ate at V&A - I know we ate there but cannot remember much of anything from it). However, I do remember how much I loved the jet skis. But - yeah - it was something.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Pre 2008, the dining plan was much more like what you're describing. Tip was included. App AND dessert were included for all TS meals and dessert plus drink was included in all CS. (There were still 2 credit meals at that time.) Then there were complaints about staff not serving those on the DDP as well because the tip was guaranteed, etc. When we went in early 2008, the plan was changed to not include tip. I can't remember if that was the same time that the app & dessert was changed too. But the value diminished quickly and the price didn't.

You are right. Guest complained about servers not 'working' for the tip. Disney 'heard' and now let YOU pay the tip.
Be careful what you complain about.

 

[disneycat321]

When we went using the dining plan, I felt a little pressured to maximize the value by eating one of the most expensive entrees and of course always getting a dessert, and that’s just not how I eat. So sure, you can work hard to get the value out of it, but I’d rather eat what I like without thinking about that.

In its current form, the dining plan would never work for us. DH doesn’t drink and I rarely do, so the inclusion of alcohol makes it so we can never come out ahead. We also are not big dessert people, sometimes like apps, and often will choose the cheaper entree. I guess I just like more flexibility, especially on vacation.