My comparison of DDP and OOP

[mom0299]

OP here.
Our first family trip was in 2004 and there was no dining plan. However, we had "Magical Wishes" that could be used for food, merchandise, babysitting service and all kinds of things. We ate two TS meals each day on that trip and did mostly Character meals.

Our next two family trips were in 2006 and we had the DDP. The kids were both under 9 so it was cheaper. Back then each person got an appetizer, and dessert and the tips were included. The DDP was definitely worth it then.

Our next trip was New Years' 2007/2008 and one child was considered an adult. He was starting to eat quite a bit by then. I think that's when they dropped appetizers and tips from the plan, but we still thought it was worth it.

Our last trip was in 2010 and both kids were over 9. We got Free Dining for that trip. It was Christmas so there weren't any room discounts. The DDP was a no-brainer that time.

Now we are looking at 2013. We have done several Character Meals, Hoop Dee Doo, and the Luau. My kids are past wanting to see Characters unless it just happens while in the park. 'Ohana and LeCellier are "must-dos" on every trip. We've done Fantasmic packages before. I didn't put that into my plan, but I may redo it and add that one in.

I think I'll make another plan and add more food than I did the first time. I still think we'll come out better paying OOP.

I think the DDP is great for families with younger children and those who do a lot of special meals. Like I said before, it was great for us before, but I'm just not sure it makes sense for our family anymore.

 

[mom0299]

Duplicate post
Sorry

 

[fadingjamie]

I just don't think you're using DDP to its advantage. If it's regular DDP, you get 8 TS for your 8 night stay. You should use those TS credits for TS meals. It is a waste to use them for QS meals.

It's just the two of us (fiance and me) and we love the DDP because we don't have to budget for a varied amount to spend on dining. It's all paid for in the package and all we have to worry about is souvenirs when we get there. Our last trip, DDP just barely saved us money and we're fine with that. Yes, we probably wouldn't have eaten all those desserts and somehow we stayed 7 days without having one ice cream Mickey *sigh*. But hey, sometimes those take away desserts are fun for breakfast in the morning!

 

[summermac]

We absolutely LOOOOVED DDP for our June 2009 trip. We maxed that sucker out too. Desserts with every meal b/c we COULD, sodas with every meal because we could....blah, blah, blah. We got our money's worth and even left behind a good many credits and we still spent more than the price of the plan. But back then adults were $40 and kids (only one to pay for rather than two like this trip) were $11 I think. That said at least one person at every single one of our TS meals would remark, "I am not even hungry right now!" The adults (6 total on that trip) probably could have done just as well with meal sharing and came out ahead OOP, except that we had three character meals.

Anyway, to get to my point...we are foregoing the DDP this trip (IN 26 DAYS YAY!) if for nothing more than the freedom we will have this time around. We only have 4 ADRs this time and I'm kind of looking forward to a little more freedom in that realm. Also with the DDP price being so much more than our last trip and adding in another child who eats like a bird it just didn't make sense for us.

I will report back with results after our trip.

 

[buffettgirl]

It's really interesting to read the differences in the way people use it and the reasons why it works for some and not for others. That said, I can't even imagine wanting to get desert after every meal. I think I'd barf. LOL. I just cannot eat that much food. I can't even imagine what it was like when there was the appetizer too.

 

[mom0299]

I just don't think you're using DDP to its advantage. If it's regular DDP, you get 8 TS for your 8 night stay. You should use those TS credits for TS meals. It is a waste to use them for QS meals.

Believe me, when we've been on the DDP we have used it to it's fullest potential. We've done Character meals, buffets, and dinner shows, ordered the most expensive meal we could, ordered appetizers and desserts for everyone whether we were hungry or not. But in the past we've had children who eat less and cost less. Those children are older now and they cost as much as DH and myself and one of them does not eat anywhere near as much as an adult. I don't even eat as much as they serve me at Disney. My comparison wasn't to see if we'd pay less if we got all the food we're offered on the DDP. I wanted to see if it cost less to pay for what we would actually eat. I don't think I've cheated us out of anything. I allowed for plenty of snacks and some desserts.

 

[mom0299]

We absolutely LOOOOVED DDP for our June 2009 trip. We maxed that sucker out too. Desserts with every meal b/c we COULD, sodas with every meal because we could....blah, blah, blah. We got our money's worth and even left behind a good many credits and we still spent more than the price of the plan. But back then adults were $40 and kids (only one to pay for rather than two like this trip) were $11 I think. That said at least one person at every single one of our TS meals would remark, "I am not even hungry right now!" The adults (6 total on that trip) probably could have done just as well with meal sharing and came out ahead OOP, except that we had three character meals.

Anyway, to get to my point...we are foregoing the DDP this trip (IN 26 DAYS YAY!) if for nothing more than the freedom we will have this time around. We only have 4 ADRs this time and I'm kind of looking forward to a little more freedom in that realm. Also with the DDP price being so much more than our last trip and adding in another child who eats like a bird it just didn't make sense for us.

I will report back with results after our trip.

This was my reasoning as well. The kids are getting older and that makes the DDP less cost-effective, especially when one of them doesn't eat much.

I look forward to hearing how it goes for you on your trip. Please let me know.

 

[scanne]

Our upcoming trip will be the first in a LONG time without any sort of DP. I am going to get a TIW card - I think it will be worth it for the 3 buffets/character meals we are planning. We are staying CL and I know that with the way my family eats, the breakfast offerings will be great for us.

Last summer and in October, we were on the regular DP.
I paid OOP at least $20.00 every morning for breakfast because I felt that it was a "waste" to use a CS credit for breakfast. And that $20.00 was for muffins, fruit and juice.

I also felt that we wasted a lot of food - especially at TS places. I am planning on sharing with my DD this trip or even just getting appetizers in lieu of meals.

So I think we will come out ahead without the DDP this time.

I really like seeing everyone's comparisons.

 

[DJFan88]

The thing I like about not using the DP this time is that we will actually order what we want. The worst it will be for us is break even (though I figured a savings when figuring.) I still scheduled 8 TS for 8 days. However, 2 will be breakfasts (which we want). Actually they are the only restaurants I would've chosen anyway, as I need a place that accomodates everyones tastes. In some cases, myself or my "adult" child would prefer an appetizer or two. Also, my kids and myself and hubby are usu. not interested in dessert after a big meal like that. We just can't fit it in, we're not used to eating like that. I'd rather have a snack treat somewhere -- and there are so many I want to try. Unfortunately last year, I was so stuffed from all the food at the TS and QS that I passed up some of the snacks I wanted to try. Sometimes, we could actually go and prefer to eat a good TS meal, but then snack as wanted here and there. Sometimes I just want the fries, why shovel in a burger too? However, when I did our cost comparison, as I stated above, I figured in 8 TS, 8QS and a snack a day a piece plus the mugs. But I did the TS on food we would actually like to eat, and added desserts or usu. milkshakes if needed.
For us it is not about the budget, though the way my family eats we would not order all that food. I just found last time by eating a TS and a QS and the snack, I couldn't also eat some of the other stuff I really wanted to try that didn't "fit in" to the DP. Then I would be too full. Also, sometimes I wanted to try the appetizers, but couldn't because it wasn't an entree. And I don't usu. want the dessert there, except at the really good places. I mean how many QS desserts of that prepackaged chocolate cake can we eat. I'd rather get something good elsewhere. We had leftover food in our fridge. For our comparison I used the following places (my boys don't care about characters or princesses, we have done all that stuff on prior trips. We pretty much know what we like at this point). However, this is all up in the air with the QS depending on our appetites, sometimes I can just eat one thing, like a fries or big pretzel. We're just not big eaters. Only my oldest son and husband can eat any kind of substantial amount and even then it's not every day. But, none the less, this is what I used:
Flametree for 2 of us, Pizzafari for 2 of us, ESPN club,n 50's Prime Time, KONA breakfast, The Plaza, Wolfgang Puck Express, Rose and Crown lunch (this is one where I want actually want 2 sides and don't want any of the entrees), Pepper Market buffet, Trail's End Buffet, Liberty Tree Tavern lunch, Capt. Grill breakfast, La Cantina, POR Resort QS, Earl of Sandwich, Pecos Bill.
We are actually headed to Sea World one day and will eat lunch there, and therefore did not figure in a QS for that day, however set up one of the above for nightime.

 

[mom0299]

DJFAN88, how much of a savings did you estimate?

I re-did my plan and found my savings to be $374.25 which is probably more realistic than my original plan. For TS I included 'Ohana, LeCellier, Sci-Fi, Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic Pkg, Rainforest Cafe, and Teppan Edo. For QS I included Columbia Harbor House, Electric Umbrella, ABC Commissary, Blizzard Beach, Resort Pizza Delivery, Studio Catering Co, Restaurantasaurus, and Tortuga Tavern. I also included a snack for each of us every day.

 

[aubriee]

I think this sounds more reasonable. Plus, when you are paying OOP you are MORE conscious of what you are eating adn buying becuase you are trying to save money.

We eat at buffets a lot too because we all enjoy different things.

When going to Disney, we save up for the things that we like and use the FD when its out. Its generally always around the same time and easier to plan a trip that way. We always save and go off season times. Things are more enjoyable, less lines, more time to relax, and generally an amazing offer!

We are going during Free Dining.

With out stay at CSR 8 nights and 9 days, Disney Dining with 1 TS, 1 QS, and 1 Snack with FD) refillable mug, 6 day park tickets with Hopper and are spending 2800.00. I just priced that same package with out FD and it was 4200. That is a 1400 dollar savings and well worth the no stress of worring about "watching" what we spend and having to share or what not.

After all, its vacation, and we like to enjoy it to the fullest!

That depends on your situation. As an AP holder I go to WDW at least four times a year and at least two of those trips are always during the free dining period. I haven't done free dining, since they started requiring the purchase of two day park tickets. I have several of those one day tickets left from back when they required the purchase of only one day tickets to get free dining. You can only use one of those tickets/year to apply towards a new AP.

After they started requiring the purchase of a two day park ticket, I still paid for the DDP, just chose to use my AP discount for the room and bought the DDP (so I didn't have to buy those stupid 2 day park tickets or lose my AP room discount). I ran the numbers each time. The AP room discount and purchasing the DDP always beat the so called 'free' dining deals. I've always been a proponent of the DDP until last fall. I refuse to skimp on vacations and have always used the basic DDP or the DxDDP, ever since they first came out, so am very familiar with both and used one or the other at least four times a year, up until this past Sept.

I finally realized that neither the basic DDP, nor the DxDDP really fit what I actually wanted to eat. I am not a fan of most CS restaurants and prefer mostly TS restaurants down there. However, I am also not a breakfast eater, so in orer to make the DxDDP work I had to dine mostly at Signature resaurants every night. Plus alot of the times I would actually prefer two appetizers or an appetizer and entree and then want to get dessert later. I don't drink tea and don't particularly care for sodas, but because they were included felt like I needed to drink a soda instead of the water I really preferred. I am also not a snacker, so always had almost all my DDP snacks to use up on my last day, which was always a pain.

Last summer I ran the numbers picking out exactly what I really wanted to eat (be it two appetizers and a dessert, just two appetizers, or all three courses). I also threw in a few snacks I might want. I did not cut corners in anyway. If I thought I might want the most expensive thing on the menu, I included it, but if I wanted something cheaper, that's what I accounted for. I did not let the price of an item influence me at all. I also included taxes. I then figured in the price of the TiW card and counted the 20% off it would give me for meals, as most of the restaurants I wanted were TS (I figured 2 TS restaurants almost every day, throwing in just a couple of favored CS restaurants). When I ran my numbers I would spend just a tad more (maybe $40.00) than the basic DDP, but alot less than the DxDDP and would have two TS meals/day, plus a CS or two and several snacks if I wanted them, so alot more TS meals than I would have had with the basic DDP. Plus, I would be able to eat at some restaurants that didn't even accept the DDP. Some days I had a one credit restaurant for lunch and a Signature restaurant at night. I love the mussels, tomato/mozzarella salad, and cheese plate at Flying Fish. Paying OOP I was able to get all three, whereas if I had been on the DDP I wouldn't have been able to.

For me the main draw for the DDP was having everything prepaid. I was already buying Disney gift cards to use for tips and souvineers, so now just add the price of all meals, plus a little more just in case, to a gift card and have all my meals prepaid (including gratuities). When I was down there last Sept I ate most of my meals with three DIS friends. They were all on the DDP and I used my TiW card. I ate exactly what I wanted, did not skimp or really pay attention to the prices and spent less than they did.

With free dining I would lose my AP (or bounceback) discounts, have to buy two day park tickets I don't need, and would be stuck eating the way the DDP dictates. Sorry, but most of my trips are solo trips. The rooms discounts and TiW will pretty much always beat using the DDP and definitely beats free dining at a moderate or deluxe. I've done both within the last year and much, much prefer paying OOP with my TiW card. I can save 30%-35% at CSR, plus save another 20% off my meals and eat exactly what I want.

 

[annieb727]

For our family, the DDP makes sense at this point. We would probably book more TS lunches if we were OOP, but we have a bunch of dinners. It will save us about $500-600 doing DDP for a 14 night stay (that's with TIW). My boys can EAT! So can DH. ANd they are nuts for desserts. I would probably get more appetizers if we didn't have DDP, but THEY would still get desserts.
I went through and priced what we would get if we weren't doing DDP.
We love TS meals. Granted without the DDP, we MIGHT go a bit cheaper.

Meals we have planned:
TS Dinners - Akershus, Boma, 1900 Park Fare, Crystal Palace, Marrakesh, Hoop Dee Doo, Crystal Palace, Garden Grill, T-Rex
TS Lunches - Tusker House, Le Cellier, Mama Melrose (F! Package)

 

[DJFan88]

DJFAN88, how much of a savings did you estimate?

I re-did my plan and found my savings to be $374.25 which is probably more realistic than my original plan. For TS I included 'Ohana, LeCellier, Sci-Fi, Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic Pkg, Rainforest Cafe, and Teppan Edo. For QS I included Columbia Harbor House, Electric Umbrella, ABC Commissary, Blizzard Beach, Resort Pizza Delivery, Studio Catering Co, Restaurantasaurus, and Tortuga Tavern. I also included a snack for each of us every day.

$241.00 for us. Don't forget to include the cost of the mugs, unless you wouldn't get them. Like one of the previous posters, I also didn't give concern on price and wasn't trying to skimp. If I thought someone would want a higher price meal I used it, but if I thought they wanted a lower price, I used that. And well, you know the rest!

 

[GC&S]

This will be the first year we dont do the DP. My dd will be a disney adult. She rarely eats all of a kids meal so paying an adult rate doesn't make sense. She also is more focused on rides and attractions and doesn't always have the patience for TS. We generally did TS once a day just as a wind down time when she was younger. But now we could do CS twice a day and be happy with that. We will do a couple TS as well. We also never get the mugs. We dont drink soda so water is fine for us. And the CS desserts we usually only ate a couple of bites or gave them away. I'm hoping we will be happy!

 

[ppoe65]

For our family of 6 (1 Disney child) DDP works. All of us are decent eaters and like steak> When we plan our ADRs we usually choose a few character meals and places that serve a good steak. I guess it all depends on the restaurants you choose. I don't think Tony's Town Square and similar restaurants are a good use of a TS credit. On our last trip ( 8 nights-Nov 2011) using the DDP we came out ahead approx $250 without counting any snacks. So I'm sure it will be closer to $400. Also, I'm not big on dessert so I didn't order it every night.

So I guess the DDP works out if you use the TS for dinner and CS for lunches. Additionally, I like the idea of prepaying for our meals. I know many people say to put the same amount of money on a gift card, but then it's like spending money and we would probably eat cheaper and not necessarily get what we want.

 

[grafxgirl]

We are a family of 4 also, and have actually done a trip OOP, then done one with the DDP. We saved all our receipts and did a comparison. We ended up spending way more OOP. From then on we just do the DDP. However, to make it well worth the cost you need to pick the restaurants where the prices are higher and order some of the most expensive items on the menus. It most likely wouldn't make sense to get the DDP if all you want to get is burgers, salads, or soups.

 

[Singinglizzie]

For what it's worth, last trip I did a day by day cost analysis on what/where we should eat and decided to go OOP. Turns out that we wound up spending much more OOP then if we would have done the DDP. We got extra snacks, and wound up selecting more expensive meals. A local grocery story run, wound up costing double, since fresh fruit was way more expensive than I had budgeted. Just saying the you can do all the calculations ahead of time, and find that you don't eat according to your plan. This time we are doing the DDP - it just happens to be free.

 

[mom0299]

My current plan is to use MyPoints to purchase Disney gift cards to use for food. I get 2 points per dollar which I will use to get a couple of Rainforest Cafe gift cards which will make that meal free, or close to it. And if I buy the Disney gift cards with my gas credit card I'll get points for cheaper gas that will help us save on the drive. I can also use ebates to order Disney gift cards and get 4% cash back.
I don't necessarily have to do a "budget" trip, but if I can save money on something I'm going to buy anyway, why not?

 

[buffettgirl]

My current plan is to use MyPoints to purchase Disney gift cards to use for food. I get 2 points per dollar which I will use to get a couple of Rainforest Cafe gift cards which will make that meal free, or close to it. And if I buy the Disney gift cards with my gas credit card I'll get points for cheaper gas that will help us save on the drive. I can also use ebates to order Disney gift cards and get 4% cash back.
I don't necessarily have to do a "budget" trip, but if I can save money on something I'm going to buy anyway, why not?

That's exactly true. If you're spending money anyway, might as well make it work for you. I use mypoints when i'm shopping online now and over the years I've traded in for $100 gift cards etc.

 

[Ginny Favers]

We are doing the DP next week because I'm one of those people who likes having the entire trip paid for and not having to worry about breaking the bank while I'm there. This way, the only thing we have left to pay for is our souvenirs, which ends up being less than $200. But also, for our particular circumstances, it saves us a bit of money. I ran the numbers and found that the cost OOP for us would be $1053, and that's if we decided against desserts and sodas every meal. We'll be paying $944.80 on the plan... so it's worthwhile for us. Our kids are of the age where character meals are important so we're doing 5 of them... we think that when they get older, we'll do fewer character meals and so the DP will be less of a value to us.