Is DDP still worth it if it is not free?

[ro80]

We've done it twice in a row and definitely think it's worth it. Our last trip a couple of weeks ago, the dining plan cost us $234.00. Our food bills came out to $349.00. Remember it also includes tax and gratuity. Unfortunately, we don't think it's too much food because personally I live to eat!! I would like to know however from someone who knows if the DDE was a better deal from their experience. Anyone???

 

[princessgirls]

Trying it for the first time in November (myself, dd7, dd3) and am really looking forward to not having to look at the prices and then order something I am settling on because what I really wanted was $30.

We are going to try a few TS that we haven't ventured to in the past because the price range was a bit high with two kids in tow. It will only be costing us a little over $300 and I know in the past we have spent more than that on meals (not including any snacks!). Also by staying at DVC we are not locked into a 'package' where there really aren't any discounts on room or ticket (room is where people can save $$ and put towards food)....

we can't wait to try it out!!!

 

[daisy58]

So I pulled out our records from our 05 WDW trip, and went online to the
menus, having a little leg up since we had already dined at some of the
places, knew which ones were favs, etc., and calculated if we just walked
in, ordered what we both would have normally ordered, not the cheapest,
nor the most expensive, but normal. Since we typically order a salad (appetizer) and entree, but are too full for dessert, but sometimes splurge,
I left out of the calculation the price for dessert. My result was almost virtually dollar for dollar the same (within $10.00 for a 7 day stay). now this did not factor in tax and tip on the "on our own" plan, but last time we did
the AP DDE discount, which pretty much equals that out. SOOOOO, I told
DH it would be a good deal, so as not to have to scrutinize menu
prices, BUT, I also figured, that if we did the AP room only rate at the resort for one of us, MYW hopper/water parks for the other, and the DDE, we would be about $263.00 ahead overall.....now if I could just make the AP discount
AND the DDP work together I would be in Disney .

 

[dana1003]

Here's the math showing how much the Dining Plan is worth to us. This is comparing the Dining Plan, with appetizers and desserts at every meal, against paying out-of-pocket, ordering NO appetizers and NO desserts (i.e., the most conservative comparison, biased in favor of paying out-of-pocket):

http://brianandrobbie.com/DiningPlanEstimatedCostsNoAppyNoDessert.htm

As you can see even after factoring the price increase for 2007, we'll still be better off with the Dining Plan, by $120.

loved the breakdown...we're doing the plan in dec so this will be good to show my dh who is still unsure of me doing it. thank you!!!!!

 

[ksoehrlein]

I would like to know however from someone who knows if the DDE was a better deal from their experience. Anyone???

I have a DDE card, which we used on our trip in March, before DVCers were able to buy the DDP.

I did a quick mini-spreadsheet similar to Bicker's and on my upcoming trip (only 22 days to go!), 6yo DD, 3yo DS, and I will be MUCH better off using the DDP.

I usually tip the same 20% that I save with the DDE, so I always look at it as a wash. (Makes the math easier, too!) I used the AllEars menus and came up with the following numbers.

We're going to do 3 character meals, which already puts us ahead of the game for the kids ($10.99 per DAY per child vs $10.99, $12.99, and $13.99 per MEAL with the DDE). My adult character meals aren't as great a value -- especially that breakfast I'm starting to rethink (only $18.99) -- but I more than make up for it at Le Cellier. I don't always get dessert there when dining with DDE, but if I did, the menu prices for my order would add up to $42.97 + tax.

For my party of 1A/2C, the DDP will cost $239.88 for 4 nights. Just our table service meals would have been $231.95 after tax (and the 20% DDE discount and 20% tip cancelling each other out). That's only a $7.93 difference, which more than pays for the 12 CS meals and 12 snacks we will have with DDP. Even if I skip dessert and the kids share one meal at Le Cellier (as they've done in the past -- no flames, please), our DDE total for TS meals would be only $32.27 under the cost of the DDP -- again, more than enough to pay for 4 days of CS meals and snacks.

Even better is the thought that when my kids want or a I won't give the price a second thought!

 

[daisy58]

Our kids even ate at places that we normally wouldn't eat at (Wolfgang Pucks upstairs dining room) and loved it. We will be using it this November for the first time as DVC members and we can't wait. It all depends on where you like to eat and if you tend to order the cheaper items because of price!

I might be reading the 07 list wrong...I hope I am....I thought the CAFE was on the DDP, not the upstairs dining room??? We enjoyed the cafe in 05, but would love to try upstairs!

 

[twinspluscade]

We bought the dining plan for our trip a few weeks ago (yes--even though we went during free dining I didn't know about it until it was too late), and for us it was worth it. The thing I liked best about it is that everything is paid for up front. I'm one of those people who's always nervous about going over budget on vacation (we all know how easy that can happen!), so having the pre-paid dining was a big peace of mind for me.
We also did a character meal every day; and there's no way we would've done that if not on the dining plan.

Kelly

 

[2giddy4wdw]

I might be reading the 07 list wrong...I hope I am....I thought the CAFE was on the DDP, not the upstairs dining room??? We enjoyed the cafe in 05, but would love to try upstairs!

I don't know if the upstairs dining room is allowed anymore on the DDP. This was in years past that we were able to use it. We ate there twice on the DDP. I think when I checked it...it wasn't on there anymore either. I wish that it was, the last time we ate there was in 2003. It was just DH and myself for our anniversary trip. I really miss that place. When we were there in 2003 our waiter told us of a special that they had and we could use the DDP with. It was Surf and Turf, but it was a 1lb lobster tail (not whole lobster, just the tail) and a filet. This deal was $100, so needless to say we made out on that deal. We only ordered one and then another meal just to try it. And since when I made the reservations they asked if it was for any special occasion and I told them our anniversary, they brought us out an huge plate with 2 of all these chocolate desserts. And writen on the plate in chocolate it said "Happy Anniversary". It was great!! They even let us order a regular dessert from the menu to go for our DDP. That place was wonderful, the food and service was fantastick too!!!!

 

[Luvamouse]

Once again, it is good to see all the opinions and $$ values of the DDP here, especially with a number of you not ordering desserts and appetizers for all available "seats". I am still wobbling because I lose the AAA discount (I know I can use a AAA agent, but I chose not to) if I do the DDP and that adds another $38 to my daily cost, and we do not eat 2 good sized meals a day. I did switch from a split ressie to all 9 nights at Poly, so at least now I won't have to factor in a single day ticket for each of us on top of it all. I tried figuring in an additional $10 per person for the loos of the AAA and I think it may still work. If only I can get my 12 year old to eat "grownup meals"

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

We've done the DDP free and we've paid for it. It worked out so well for us last fall, we opted for it again in May. It was more than worth the $38 a day and my kids had fun planning their credits. It was like a game to them.

We are used to DLR, where it's nothing but counter service (save for Blue Bayou) but that gets old fast. The table service dining is a nice treat. We get a real meal, a few minutes to relax from touring, and get to try new dishes.

Enjoy!

 

[crisi]

Another thing to factor is your signature meal count. If you are doing a lot of two credit meals, and then paying out of pocket for a few TS, your savings may not be the same.

If you qualify for the DDE (Annual Pass or Florida Resident), and consume a lot of alcohol on vacation, you should do the math on that one as well. I think the DDE is better for lushes who eat at signature places.

 

[Bibbidybobbidy]

We are used to DLR, where it's nothing but counter service (save for Blue Bayou) but that gets old fast. The table service dining is a nice treat. We get a real meal, a few minutes to relax from touring, and get to try new dishes.

Enjoy!

This is true for me as well. DLR is so close to other restaurants that I typically go out of the park to eat. Not going to be true for WDW. I am finding that I am a TS girl and not particularly interested in CS. go figure.

I figured the DDP breaks down approx. this way: $3 for snack, $12 CS, $23 TS. Now , you can make the numbers go any way you want but this is the average i came up with so I can see if DDP is going to be a good thing. Personally, I would pay OOP for all breakfasts. I don't eat at character meals in general.