Need Help: DDP vs OPP

[latmck]

I have seen questions about DDP vs OPP. Here is another because I need some help. This will be our first trip to wdw in May: myself, dh, ds (11), dds (5 & 2). I have the regualar dining plan. My dh & I were out to lunch early, & I didn't finished my meal. I was telling dh that we are have the regular ddp (we are paying for), & it seems like it will be too much food for our family. My daughters do not eat that much. They are snack eaters (peanut butter sandwich or cheese sandwich). I have made ADRs for alot of character meals: Chef Mickys dinner, Crystal Palace dinner, Storybook Princesses breaksfast, & Ohana Lilo & Stitch breaksfast. Should we pay out of pocket for this meals or keep the ddp?

 

[Nadjalu]

The only way to tell if any dining plan is to your advantage is to do the numbers.

Go through each day for each person and pick the meals they "would" choose at the restaurants for that day.
Total up everyone's bill for that day and then each day for the total.

That number will tell you if paying OOP is saving you money or which dining plan saves you money.

Remember to include the price of a drink and a dessert, as they do not come with the meals and are extra when paying OOP.
(if ppl don't eat dessert don't add it and see if this changes your total).

Note that the 11yr old will be charged as an adult and the 2 yr old can eat off your plate.

It is the only way to know whether or not it is for you.

 

[latmck]

Thanks Nadjalu... I am running the numbers to see what is better for my family. I am looking at cost as well as if we will eat all that food. I hate to waste foods that I know that I can not eat. I don't usually order drinks for me or the kids. We love dessert but not with every meal. I will continue to run the number to see what is best.

 

[Cafeen]

A little more information would be helpful to really determine which way would be the best to go. I will say that if those are your only 4 TS meals and you're staying for 4 nights, then DDP will be the best bet.

• CM: ~$34/adult, ~$17/child
• CP: ~$33/adult, $16/child
• Aker: ~$36/adult, ~$16/child
• Ohana: ~$21/adult, ~$12/child

With DDP, the average TS credit "cost" is roughly $28.50, meaning that your adult meals should average to be around that or higher to be a savings. Just eyeballing it with the posted prices, you look to be over by a bit (after doing the math, it's about $31 average). A child's TS costs about $6, so without doing any math, you can already see the savings there.

If you have further ADRs or plans, doing it similar to this will work out for you. Don't worry if all the meals don't reach that number, so long as the averages work out it'll be fine (also, keep in mind the differences between the savings on the kids vs the adults!)

(Figures pulled from Faldred's math in the Price break down for DDP?? )

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

The 4 you have listed are a fixed price so drinks and desserts don't come into play price-wise, or does the amount of food (wasted or not). Also, your 11 year old will be charged adult prices on these meals, and the 2 year old will be free (and get get their own plate and drink).

 

[hannahdrewmom]

The ones you listed are all buffets and almost always will be a better deal on the dining plan. How long are you staying for?

 

[latmck]

A little more information would be helpful to really determine which way would be the best to go. I will say that if those are your only 4 TS meals and you're staying for 4 nights, then DDP will be the best bet.

• CM: ~$34/adult, ~$17/child
• CP: ~$33/adult, $16/child
• Aker: ~$36/adult, ~$16/child
• Ohana: ~$21/adult, ~$12/child

With DDP, the average TS credit "cost" is roughly $28.50, meaning that your adult meals should average to be around that or higher to be a savings. Just eyeballing it with the posted prices, you look to be over by a bit (after doing the math, it's about $31 average). A child's TS costs about $6, so without doing any math, you can already see the savings there.

If you have further ADRs or plans, doing it similar to this will work out for you. Don't worry if all the meals don't reach that number, so long as the averages work out it'll be fine (also, keep in mind the differences between the savings on the kids vs the adults!)

(Figures pulled from Faldred's math in the Price break down for DDP?? )

Thanks for the Faldred's math. It helps...

The 4 you have listed are a fixed price so drinks and desserts don't come into play price-wise, or does the amount of food (wasted or not). Also, your 11 year old will be charged adult prices on these meals, and the 2 year old will be free (and get get their own plate and drink).

I forgot about the drinks are added in the price. Thanks...

The ones you listed are all buffets and almost always will be a better deal on the dining plan. How long are you staying for?

We are staying 6 days/5 nights.

 

[papamouse1]

Our kids sound like yours. If they are "snackers" and if you plan on doing mostly buffets, then DDP has the edge. Unlike many others, we NEVER have snack creds left after the trip.... if your kids are snackers, don't forget to take that into consideration. 2 snack creds per day definitely saves $$

 

[latmck]

Our kids sound like yours. If they are "snackers" and if you plan on doing mostly buffets, then DDP has the edge. Unlike many others, we NEVER have snack creds left after the trip.... if your kids are snackers, don't forget to take that into consideration. 2 snack creds per day definitely saves $$

I think that I am going to stick with the dining plan. They are big snackers. I know that they probably want eat that much at the character meals because they will be so excited to see all the characters. I guess that I have to make Glad Ziploc bags my friends on this trip.

 

[Cafeen]

We are staying 6 days/5 nights.

I think that I am going to stick with the dining plan. They are big snackers. I know that they probably want eat that much at the character meals because they will be so excited to see all the characters. I guess that I have to make Glad Ziploc bags my friends on this trip.

Sounds like a great idea then. With 5 nights, you only have 1 more TS to plan (or already planned) and you're comfortably ahead now (in money terms). Another bonus about doing buffets in general is that your littlest one will be able to eat free without having to share someone else's meal.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I think that I am going to stick with the dining plan. They are big snackers. I know that they probably want eat that much at the character meals because they will be so excited to see all the characters. I guess that I have to make Glad Ziploc bags my friends on this trip.

You can also share CS meals and make them last longer, you don't have to order everyone a meal all the time. For example split an adult and kids meal (plus a snack or 2) for breakfast and the split the other 2 adult meals at lunch.

 

[latmck]

Sounds like a great idea then. With 5 nights, you only have 1 more TS to plan (or already planned) and you're comfortably ahead now (in money terms). Another bonus about doing buffets in general is that your littlest one will be able to eat free without having to share someone else's meal.

I have already an ADR for Ohana dinner. Buffet meals are a good bonus cause of my 2 yr old.

You can also share CS meals and make them last longer, you don't have to order everyone a meal all the time. For example split an adult and kids meal (plus a snack or 2) for breakfast and the split the other 2 adult meals at lunch.

I was thinking about splitting the meals up especially doing lunch.

 

[elainesj]

we don;t usually eat desserts (but we did on the DDP!!) and we typically order water, even on the DDP (healthier).

So I try to do the calculations based on that.

when we were on the DDP, we stretched out our CS meals and snacks so we had to pay nothing OOP. We would share 2 CS for breakfast and 2 CS for lunch. Once or twice we had snacks for bfast and then had more CS for lunch.

It worked out great! And for us the snack credits were a bit of a luxury. Usually we allow one snack to be shared between the 4 of us once or twice a day. 4 snacks a day (1 snack each) was a LOT of snacks!!! We had ice cream, lots of popcorn, delicious desserts and all kinds of yummies.