Just back, a few notes...

[frayedend]

Well here is a quick review of the regular DDP...

2 Adults, 2 Kids.

Counter Service, ordered 4 adults meals once, no questions asked. Ordered 4 adult another time and told "No can do" but if we did it separately (2 bills) no problem. This tells me that it is all up to the CM but that Disney probably doesn't want to see 4 adult CS meals on on check that is paid for by a 2A 2C card. Kids ate off kids menu all other times. These two places just didn't have what they wanted.

Dinner: Tipping is strange. It was done differently in some restaurants. I don't like that the server knows what you are going to tip because you have to add it in before they take your payment. Once they came back and it was all set, no signatures needed after I added the tip (Mama Melrose). Other times they came back with a new slip, usually two slips to sign. One had all the DDP charges to zero. You had to sign that to authorize the credits removed. Then another that had the tip charge. Say the tip was 16.00, you had to sign a separate slip for that. We always used our room key to charge so didn't have to present another card. The strange thing is this...

You get a slip with your tip charge. But it actually has another line that says "optional tip" or something like that. If you aren't thinking you could write in the tip again and if you really aren't thinking you could add it up on the total line and double tip. Unlikely but it is weird because the tip bill is printed the same a a regular bill.

Overall they have the hang of it, but it surely could be made to be easier and a bit less confusing on the paperwork end.

Was it worth it: In a word, yes. I didn't do the math out, but judging by our bills, I'd have to say we made out on the plan. But it was close and we did not try to make it more worth it. For instance, we paid for a Character breakfast bill of ~$67 with the DDP but ended up paying cash for a ~$90 Dinner at Garden Grill. Convenience is worth it, maybe. But I think now it makes no huge difference either way. What I like about it most is that I will order what I want without worrying about the cost. If I didn't use DDP I may order something cheaper just because I get worried about money the more times my wife hits the stores

 

[just another guy]

The strange thing is this...

You get a slip with your tip charge. But it actually has another line that says "optional tip" or something like that. If you aren't thinking you could write in the tip again and if you really aren't thinking you could add it up on the total line and double tip. Unlikely but it is weird because the tip bill is printed the same a a regular bill.

Yeah, thats because disney will do anything to save a dollar, including writing their own software. When the server swipes the card for the DDP, it asks them how many people and then what the tip is. When the tip is entered, its basically then added to the bill, just like a soda or popcorn would be. So now once the card is swiped, the meals are removed, but the tip amount remains. In your case, the server then swiped it again, and does a room charge for the remaining balance. Disney was to cheap to write software to distinguish this from a different type or charge, so the computer things its just another item rang it, and thus prints out a blank for you to write in another tip if you wish.

Disney could have made all this so much easier if they required room charging abilities for the DDP, and then when the server drops off the DDP paperwork, the guest can write in whatever they want and leave...just like a normal credit card.