Just back--DDP rocks!!!

[KKB]

After tirelessly reading reviews on these boards and reading menus at allearsnet, we decided to do DDP and made our ADRs at 180 days at restaurants that I felt had the best overall reviews for GOOD food on these boards (and had a menu that appealed to me)

WOW! We had a weeks worth of OUTSTANDING TS meals: OHanas, Boma, Le Chef de France, Kona, Le Cellier (NOT to be missed), WPC/PH (more typical chain food here) and Narcoosees
WPExpress was the CS meal of the week; otherwise these were generally unmemorable; I could NOT have handled ONLY eating CS!

We paid approximately $1250 for DDP for 4 adults and 2 children; our total bill for all meals & snacks was near $2000!!!!!!!!! No, we would NOT have ordered all that food w/o the plan. BUT we definitely tried restaurants and food we would have never tried w/o the plan and we are SO glad we did!

When we return to WDW we will do the plan, even with the changes. I only wish that you could choose appetizer OR dessert with TS--overall, desserts were NOT that great, and I would almost always rather have savory than sweet.

 

[roselark]

Awesome! It sounds like you have a fabulous trip!

I agree, the DDP is wonderful. The new plans get a lot of criticism here, but I too will continue to get it every time we go. I have done the math and my DH and I will still save a considerable amount of money. Also, the convenience of having everything paid for in advance is priceless. I wish I had a trip planned for next year just so I could try the Deluxe Plan!

 

[wink13]

I agree 100%. We were there last week also and had 5 adults and 1 chlid. Loved trying new and different places without looking at prices. Really worked will for my MIL who is very conservative.

After tirelessly reading reviews on these boards and reading menus at allearsnet, we decided to do DDP and made our ADRs at 180 days at restaurants that I felt had the best overall reviews for GOOD food on these boards (and had a menu that appealed to me)

WOW! We had a weeks worth of OUTSTANDING TS meals: OHanas, Boma, Le Chef de France, Kona, Le Cellier (NOT to be missed), WPC/PH (more typical chain food here) and Narcoosees
WPExpress was the CS meal of the week; otherwise these were generally unmemorable; I could NOT have handled ONLY eating CS!

We paid approximately $1250 for DDP for 4 adults and 2 children; our total bill for all meals & snacks was near $2000!!!!!!!!! No, we would NOT have ordered all that food w/o the plan. BUT we definitely tried restaurants and food we would have never tried w/o the plan and we are SO glad we did!

When we return to WDW we will do the plan, even with the changes. I only wish that you could choose appetizer OR dessert with TS--overall, desserts were NOT that great, and I would almost always rather have savory than sweet.

 

[GoofyasGoofy]

After tirelessly reading reviews on these boards and reading menus at allearsnet, we decided to do DDP and made our ADRs at 180 days at restaurants that I felt had the best overall reviews for GOOD food on these boards (and had a menu that appealed to me)

WOW! We had a weeks worth of OUTSTANDING TS meals: OHanas, Boma, Le Chef de France, Kona, Le Cellier (NOT to be missed), WPC/PH (more typical chain food here) and Narcoosees
WPExpress was the CS meal of the week; otherwise these were generally unmemorable; I could NOT have handled ONLY eating CS!

We paid approximately $1250 for DDP for 4 adults and 2 children; our total bill for all meals & snacks was near $2000!!!!!!!!! No, we would NOT have ordered all that food w/o the plan. BUT we definitely tried restaurants and food we would have never tried w/o the plan and we are SO glad we did!

When we return to WDW we will do the plan, even with the changes. I only wish that you could choose appetizer OR dessert with TS--overall, desserts were NOT that great, and I would almost always rather have savory than sweet.

Just wondering. Did you happen to add up what addition tax and tip would be for those critics of the 2008 plan? What would you have paid extra?

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree. That would be interesting, to take tax, tip and appetizers off from your total to see what savings you'd experience in 2008.

 

[Colleen27]

I agree. That would be interesting, to take tax, tip and appetizers off from your total to see what savings you'd experience in 2008.

Tax is still included in 2008, just not appetizers or tip.

 

[beroh2253]

Tax is still included in 2008, just not appetizers or tip.

I've also heard nothing of tax OOP, just app and tip not included.

 

[KKB]

I will do an approximation here...
maybe $275 tips for the week...
roughly $200 appetizers...
That still puts us "up" $275...
Now, I would NOT order desserts at most CS, and frankly not too many at TS if I were given free choice. (sure wish it was a choice of appetizer OR desserts; WDW appetizers are much better than their desserts, overall, IMO)
SOOOOO....if you took dessert off 75% off the time....
Well, we are still breaking even. Now, we did eat at some of the pricier spots; buffets are not the most cost effective using DDP (we only did Boma & Ohana is kinda like buffet).

I must admit I am a cheapskate...I LOVED not having to look at prices...I liked having it paid for ahead of time; I worry that my cheapskate self would eat mostly CS (nothing to write home about at most places), and avoid TS due to cost. DDP "forces" me to go out on a limb, try new restaurants, try WHATEVER entree I want. Nice not to have to say NO to kids either.

We felt that even if it is a wash, DDP is worth it. We did buy a handful of snacks OOP, plus alcohol. We also almost always left an extra $5 or so tip when service was good.

 

[melomouse]

Welcome Home! Glad you enjoyed the DDP! We are big fans, too - for lots of your same reasons!

And aah - yes, give me savory over sweet any day....oh well..

 

[eliza61]

Glad you had a good vacation. We're not big fans of the plan but I'm always happy when someone saves a buck or 2