Just Back from 7 days with the DDP!

[*Susan*]

We were a party of 10 (6 adults, 2 kids on the DDP and 2 kids under 3 who were not on the DDP). We rented points at BWV which made the DDP a better value than using it as part of a package paying rack rate. We’d definitely get the DDP again if we were renting points, but I’m not sure we’d get it if we were booking through Disney.

We took the advice of many on this board and used snack credits for a quick muffin or pastry for breakfast to tide us over til lunch. This worked well for us. One family in our group who had the 2 kids on the DDP had 19 snack credits left with just a few days remaining on the trip. They used a bunch of them on things to take home. They said next time they won’t buy so many snacks at the grocery store (we stopped at the Winn Dixie on the way in) and instead will just buy water, leaving the snack credits for fruit, popcorn, etc.

Since we had kids with us, our ADRs for dinner were at around 6 so we ate lunch at 11 each day. We never had to wait long and by the end of the meal the places were so crowded, and this was the “slow” season. I recommend eating early if you can.

Pros:

It was nice getting whatever you wanted regardless of the price. I got the very yummy rib eye at Wolfgang Pucks which was $31. I wouldn’t have ordered it if not on the DDP.

It’s very convenient for a large group, no splitting of checks or having to figure out the bill at the end of the night, etc.

It’s nice to ‘force’ yourself to have 1 sit down meal per day. Otherwise we’d have been in a hamburger/chicken strip rut for the whole week.

It encouraged us to try different places that we may have avoided due to price, etc.

Cons:

Too much food! We are big eaters and it really was too much. It bothered me to waste the food because if I did try to eat it all I got stuffed. Everyone felt this way in our group.

Counter service desserts: I was not always ready for my dessert and would have preferred to come back and get it later (we were thinking they should give you a coupon or something to return with and get your dessert later). This was especially a problem at Pizzafari where we got the frozen lemonades. By the time we ate our meal the desserts were part way melted and we didn’t eat them all because we were pretty full still.

Inconsistency/dumb rules: One in our group got the salad at Backlot Express and was told there was no side that came with it. At Pinnochio’s Village house they had the same salad (same price, etc) and it DID come with a side. At Sunshine Season’s Food Fair at Epcot you get EITHER a side OR dessert but they don’t tell you this until you are already at the register! Since when is a sandwich a full meal? This was annoying as they had a huge selection of sides for under $3. Same situation with Earl of Sandwich (although there they do have a sign at the counter so you know ahead of time). Also, we stayed at the Boardwalk and at the bakery there a counter service was just ONE pastry and drink. At the MK Bakery it is TWO pastries and a drink.

Contrary to reports we had very good table service everywhere and never felt we were singled out because we were on the DDP. The only odd thing (and I had read about it here before we left) was at Prime Time they did have us order our desserts with our meal but we were ready to do so so it wasn’t a big deal. Most servers clearly explained the rules to begin with and told us when we could get extras that weren’t listed (for instance, at Le Cellier they allowed the kids to get milkshakes instead of milk or soda but noted they could not get them refilled).

Here’s a list of where we ate. Let me know if anyone has any questions!

CS:
Pizzafari
Cosmic Rays
Sunshine Seasons Food Fair
Columbia Harbor House
Backlot Express
Pinnochio Village Haus
Yakitori House
CS @ Mexico
Earl of Sandwich

TS:
Hoop Dee Doo
Chefs de France
Wolfgang Puck Café
1900 Park Faire
Prime Time Café
Le Cellier

 

[The Sweetness]

I'll just be sure to check what I'm allowed before I order at every meal

 

[jjohnson]

I guess Boardwalk has made a recent change. It used to be any 2 items + a drink for a CS credit. There goes my idea to use a few for breakfast.

 

[bicker]

Either that or this one CM had things a bit confused -- Susan: Did you confirm that on the second day?

We weren't really aiming to use CS at the bakery anyway -- Joyce: Wouldn't you plan on using snack credits there instead?

 

[craig15]

I just got back about a week ago. I would typically save money on the trip by eating just one sit-down meal during the week. But it was our first anniversary, so we decided to splurge and do three sit-down meals. After running the numbers, it wasn't too much more money to just get the dining plan and eat good all week than it was for three dinners.

I will never do this again.
1) As Susan said, we ate way too much. After running the numbers, we could have eaten a sit down meal every day and split an appetizer and dessert rather than getting two of each. The cost would have been within $20 of what we payed for DDP and we wouldn't have been stuffed all week.
2) DDP took too much time out of our trip. We are used to just one sit-down in a week, and it took over an hour for dinner every day. This is a lot of time when you are in the off season and the parks are on their short hours.
3) Not flexible. Even in the dead off-season you have to make reservations ahead of time, and it is very difficult to try to change your reservations at the last minute. We ended up at BB one day because it was 85 degrees -- wanted to take advantage of the warm day. This was a MK EMH night. The original plan was Epcot during the day, dinner in World Showcase, then go to MK for the rest of the evening/night. We called in the morning to change our reservation, but were unable to find a decent time at a good restaurant. So we had to leave BB earlier than we wanted and we spent more than 3 hours on dinner that night -- transportation to Epcot, walk to the back of the park, wander a shop for a few minutes until it was time for dinner, eat dinner, walk back to the front of the park, catch two monorails to MK.

Food was great everywhere (although Narcoose's was disappointing for a two-point restaurant). And I found a new favorite, Ohana!

I think for next trip, we will go back to the original plan of three sit down meals...and possibly do one or two of them as lunches so they will be cheaper.

 

[jjohnson]

Either that or this one CM had things a bit confused -- Susan: Did you confirm that on the second day?

We weren't really aiming to use CS at the bakery anyway -- Joyce: Wouldn't you plan on using snack credits there instead?

Well I will now if this is their new policy but I have too many CS credits as we are switching from POR to BWV & arriving late. I also promised the kids we would finally try the kitchen sink. DH loves breakfast so I though we could grab a couple of breakfast sandwiches,pastries & water on our way to the parks.

I don't know why, but the DP is making me nuts this time. I've considered cancelling the DP but no matter how I "work the numbers" we still save more money with the DP vs. using DDE.

OP:Sorry to go OT.

 

[*Susan*]

Bicker: we only asked once at the Boardwalk Bakery & that is what we were told. It is of course possible that the CM had it wrong though. I used snack credits twice at Seashore Sweets and both times the CM "didn't know if the computer would take" the DDP (both times it did - once for a 2 scoop cone and once for a root beer float).

 

[bicker]

I've considered cancelling the DP but no matter how I "work the numbers" we still save more money with the DP

This is basically the bottom-line, in many cases. Yes, it can prompt you to "do the wrong thing" if you allow it, but, if you typically eat 1TS each day, anyway, and if you just order and eat as you "normally" would, then the confusion and concern can basically evaporate. It's kind of like that old joke: "Doctor! It hurst when I do this." "So, don't do that!"

 

[jjohnson]

This is basically the bottom-line, in many cases. Yes, it can prompt you to "do the wrong thing" if you allow it, but, if you typically eat 1TS each day, anyway, and if you just order and eat as you "normally" would, then the confusion and concern can basically evaporate. It's kind of like that old joke: "Doctor! It hurst when I do this." "So, don't do that!"

Exactly. We are doing 1TS per day and if I plan just entree & drink pp & we still come out slightly ahead.

 

[jjohnson]

Boardwalk Bakery & that is what we were told. It is of course possible that the CM had it wrong though.

I hope they were just misinformed

 

[NMW]

I guess Boardwalk has made a recent change. It used to be any 2 items + a drink for a CS credit. There goes my idea to use a few for breakfast.

in October at the Boardwalk Bakery they only let us get 1 item and a drink with a CS credit. Other places let us get 2 items and a drink. For instance Starring Rolls-any 2 items and a drink. I asked the BW Bakery about why only 1 item and they just said that's what it is.

Not a very good deal for CS in my opinion. Beach Club Market place and Starring Rolls were way better.

 

[jjohnson]

in October at the Boardwalk Bakery they only let us get 1 item and a drink with a CS credit. Other places let us get 2 items and a drink. For instance Starring Rolls-any 2 items and a drink. I asked the BW Bakery about why only 1 item and they just said that's what it is.

Not a very good deal for CS in my opinion. Beach Club Market place and Starring Rolls were way better.

I agree

 

[Ellester]

in October at the Boardwalk Bakery they only let us get 1 item and a drink with a CS credit. Other places let us get 2 items and a drink. For instance Starring Rolls-any 2 items and a drink. I asked the BW Bakery about why only 1 item and they just said that's what it is.

Not a very good deal for CS in my opinion. Beach Club Market place and Starring Rolls were way better.

I had one extra CS to use on Sunday morning at Artist's Palette at Saratoga Springs. The first CM said I could only get one bakery item and a drink. In true DIS spirit, I asked another CM who said I could get a drink, one pastry, and one juice. So that's what I did. I was really just trying to use up our last credit, so I was happy I at least got some drinks for the car trip home (the chocolate crossiant lasted only moments).