Need Help

[323sarg]

Ok, me and the family will be going to DW in August. We are DVC members but have never used the DDP. We usually do a character breakfast and sit down dinner. Lunch is a snack or skipped? From what I have come up with, the DDP does not really fit us. Anyone have any suggestions for me?

 

[JimMIA]

Our traditional pattern is either a character meal, or a nice sit-down dinner each day. Using the DDP, we usually do the character meals as dinners because it fits our schedule better. I read your OP as meaning you do both a character meal and a nice dinner each day, and that will change your math.

If you would normally do one TS meal a day, I think you will make out fine with DDP unless you have 2 adults and 2+ kids who are 10 or older.

Some quick suggestions.

1. Do not discount the value of the CS credits. I don't use their value in calculating whether DDP is a good financial deal for us, but the truth is many CS meals can substitute for your "BIG" meal of the day. That's very handy if you want to use a TS for a breakfast, or if you want to save it for a "Signature Dining Experience." Check the menus for the CS places, because some of them offer more food than anyone should eat at one meal...for one CS.

2. You get better value for a TS if you use it for your "BIG" meal of the day. Sure, you can use it for a Chef Mickey's Breakfast...but should you?

3. Don't forget that you can pay cash for some meals. Some of the character meals, in particular, are better cash deals than they are DDP deals...especially if you plan on eating well later that evening. You may want to pay cash for Chef Mickey's Breakfast and use DDP for Le Cellier that evening.

 

[illiniowl]

What would you normally spend per adult at all your sit-down dinners + 1 snack per day? If it is more than $38.99 (including tax & tip) multiplied by the number of nights on your reservation, then you will save some money by using the DDP. Maybe not a lot, but some is better than none. If it is less than $38.99 (i.e., if you're light eaters at dinner and wouldn't normally be ordering app.+entree+dessert), then DDP doesn't make economic sense for you.

The reason I asked about the sit-down dinners is that they are generally more expensive than character breakfasts and so they are the meals that you would want to use your TS credits for, as the PP pointed out.

BTW, there was a recent thread in here about creative uses of CS credits to get multiple snack or to-go items at places like the food courts, Boulangerie Patisserie in Epcot, etc. Do a quick search and you'll find it. It should give you some ideas on ways you could use those CS credits that otherwise it sounds like you wouldn't use.