Is the DDP worth $135/day for 2 adults and 2 children?

[fishcall]

We currently are booked on a AAA room rate and if we change our ressie so we can get the dining plan it will actually cost us $135/day. We have 2 adults, a 5yr old, and a 2yr old. I know the 2yr old is free. We lose the AAA discount (which has already been paid for) making the cost $135/day for our group instead of $89/day (2 adults and 1 child). Since the rest is already paid for, we would actually have to pay $135/day for the DDP. Do you think it is worth it? $89 is surely worth it but I don't know about $135.

 

[Sammie]

Depends. If you are mostly a counter service meal person and eat only one or two table service meals your entire trip, then no it is not the best deal.

However if you are doing Character meals, buffets or many table service meals, then yes it can save you money.

The only downside we experienced, is the table service meals are very time consuming and take away from your time in the parks.

I am confused though why you are losing your AAA discount, you can book AAA and get the dining plan too. Was it not available. Are you saying that since you won't get the room discount, you are adding that to the cost of the DDP as the dining plan by itself is not as expensive as your quote.

 

[fishcall]

Depends. If you are mostly a counter service meal person and eat only one or two table service meals your entire trip, then no it is not the best deal.

However if you are doing Character meals, buffets or many table service meals, then yes it can save you money.

The only downside we experienced, is the table service meals are very time consuming and take away from your time in the parks.

I am confused though why you are losing your AAA discount, you can book AAA and get the dining plan too. Was it not available. Are you saying that since you won't get the room discount, you are adding that to the cost of the DDP as the dining plan by itself is not as expensive as your quote.

"Are you saying that since you won't get the room discount, you are adding that to the cost of the DDP as the dining plan by itself is not as expensive as your quote." > Exactly. You can not get a AAA discount on package deal (unless of course you booked through AAA which we did not). We would do 1 character breakfast or lunch w/o the DDP, but would probably do 3 character meals if we got the DDP. We have already paid for the Hoop De Doo but guess we could get a refund for that and then use 4 adult TS and 1 child TS. But is that worht it with the Hoop De Doo? It looks like a lot of math and it will probably come out about even. When hitting the TS places, we definately would not order 2 adult apps, entrees, and desserts plus one kids meal at every meal but we would hit some of the high end ones. So confusing...

 

[HaleyB]

Did you book with AAA or did you book a AAA rate through Disney?

I know as of my last trip you could add the DDP to a AAA package only if you booked it through AAA.

However I also know that a travel agent can sometimes "take over" a ressie. So all hope is not lost if you booked through Disney. I have never done this with a DIsney ressie so I do not know if it would work, but I think it would be worth a shot. Call AAA and tell them what you want to try and do.

I would have to say $136 for 2 A a 5 year old and a 2 year old is a little high. Also how well do your kids do at sit down meals? When mine were that age we ate a lot more CS meals.

 

[bicker]

AAA discounted packages come out of a different inventory (really a different allocation) than packages purchased through Disney.

 

[fishcall]

Thanks all but we just decided to leave our ressie as is and skip the DDP. We decided that we would just eat too much food making us feel fat and slow. I mean how can you resist dessert if you are not paying for it.

 

[DisneyKidds]

You made the right choice. We usually eat pretty well when at WDW (lots of character breakfasts, a few really nice dinners along with some mid level sit downs, counter service meals as needed and a few snacks along the way) and I generlly budget about $125 a day for food for our family of 5 including children ages 8, 5, and 3. So, I don't think you'll spend as much as $135 a day for your 2 adults, 1 child and infant. You'll spend less out of pocket. Had you gotten the plan you certainly could have, maybe even would have, eaten your $135 worth......but you'd probably be getting food you normally wouldn't have ordered anyway. Better to eat what you really want and save the money than to spend the extra and stuff yourself silly.