need some DDP itinerary advice please!

[mom-of-twins-2002]

Hi there! I'm hoping someone can offer some insight to my dilemma. Our itinerary for our sept. trip is below. I figured out the most expensive meals (indicated by *), and figured we'd use our DDP to pay for those. The restaurants without an * are ones I'd like to do as well, so I figured I'd pay out of pocket for those. It will cost our family $296 for those 3 "extra" meals.

To upgrade our family of 6 to the DxDDP, it would cost us $516 more (which comes out to $220 more than the cost of the extra meals). I was thinking we could try to add in Narcossee's and California Grill, but there's no availability other than 9:20 dinner, which is just too late for our kids (9,9,5,3).

We are staying at the poly in a club level (the only room available after our move from gf), so that's something to consider as well in terms of a)how much we're spending already and b)the available snacks.

Here's my question. Is it worth it to upgrade & hope some ressies open up or just pay oop and be done? I'm torn.

Thanks for looking & for any advice!
Tammy

Saturday, September 22nd
Arrive 12:35
Magic Kingdom
*Chef Mickey’s, Contemporary 5:20

Sunday, September 23rd
Universal

Monday, September 24th
Epcot
Le Cellier, Epcot 2:25
*Biergarten, Epcot 7:10

Tuesday, September 25th
Magic Kingdom
*Cinderella’s Royal Table, MK 8:20
*Ohana, Polynesian 5:10

Wednesday, September 26th
Hotel pool day/park catch-up (pirate treasure hunt at GF?)
Ohana, Polynesian 10:50

Thursday, September 27th
1900 Park Fare, Grand Floridian 8:05am
(leave for cruise)

 

[cantwaitvaca09]

Hi there! I'm hoping someone can offer some insight to my dilemma. Our itinerary for our sept. trip is below. I figured out the most expensive meals (indicated by *), and figured we'd use our DDP to pay for those. The restaurants without an * are ones I'd like to do as well, so I figured I'd pay out of pocket for those. It will cost our family $296 for those 3 "extra" meals.

To upgrade our family of 6 to the DxDDP, it would cost us $516 more (which comes out to $220 more than the cost of the extra meals). I was thinking we could try to add in Narcossee's and California Grill, but there's no availability other than 9:20 dinner, which is just too late for our kids (9,9,5,3).

We are staying at the poly in a club level (the only room available after our move from gf), so that's something to consider as well in terms of a)how much we're spending already and b)the available snacks.

Here's my question. Is it worth it to upgrade & hope some ressies open up or just pay oop and be done? I'm torn.

Thanks for looking & for any advice!
Tammy

Saturday, September 22nd
Arrive 12:35
Magic Kingdom
*Chef Mickey’s, Contemporary 5:20

Sunday, September 23rd
Universal

Monday, September 24th
Epcot
Le Cellier, Epcot 2:25
*Biergarten, Epcot 7:10

Tuesday, September 25th
Magic Kingdom
*Cinderella’s Royal Table, MK 8:20
*Ohana, Polynesian 5:10

Wednesday, September 26th
Hotel pool day/park catch-up (pirate treasure hunt at GF?)
Ohana, Polynesian 10:50

Thursday, September 27th
1900 Park Fare, Grand Floridian 8:05am
(leave for cruise)

I would not do DxDDP you are club level. I don't think it would be worth it.
I would also drop one for your ARD's on your Epcot day, I think that may be too much food to close together. Maybe drop lunch and just snack around the world. There is some really good CS food in Epcot.
Hope this helps, have a great trip

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

I would not do the DxDPP and I totally agree with dropping one of the Epcot rezzies, I don't think you will be that hungry to eat two meals so close together...keep the one that you think is more expensive for your family

 

[mom-of-twins-2002]

Thanks for the advice. I think you guys are right. My dilemma now is choosing which Epcot ressie to cancel. We love le cellier--I love the cheddar cheese soup, dh loves the steak. It's also the only meal on our trip where we can actually order from a menu. But, I'm dying to try Biergarten's buffet too. We're all German & I'd love to try something new. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Masonmj84]

Wednesday, September 26th
Hotel pool day/park catch-up (pirate treasure hunt at GF?)
Ohana, Polynesian 10:50

Why not keep your Le Cellier ressie as-is, cancel Biergarten for that day, and, instead, do a dinner at Biergarten on this day?

 

[Cafeen]

Certainly agree that DxDDP and CL will be too much, especially right before a cruise which can be a lot of food (or so I hear.)

How important is Le Cellier to you, and would you do it at 2 credits/signature pricing? If it's important, and you would not, then I'd suggest keeping it, as this may be your last chance before it goes fully signature (rumored, but likely, in 2013). Biergarten will still be there next year for when you need something to fill the old Le Cellier spot!

Now, if it were me, I don't like 2pm lunches, so I'd certainly bag LC and keep Biergarten, but that's just me

 

[havoc315]

We've done the DxDP before... next trip, we are staying concierge and skipping any dining plan.
To me, no dining plan really makes a whole lot of sense if you're staying concierge. Not saying that concierge will provide all your meals, but it greatly diminishes any need for refillable mugs (useless since you can get beverages at the lounge), snacks (while you still might want some "snack credits" while in the park, you won't need to expend snacks at breakfast or for general hunger pangs), and desserts (not sure I ever really need a dessert per person, per meal... but with sweets available in the lounge, I know we also don't constantly need dessert with our meals.).

Now, for you, the DDP may still make sense as you're doing a lot of character meals. And if you're doing free dining, then its certainly a good deal for a family of 6 people.

But upgrading to DxDP seems like overkill, especially with spending 1 day at Universal. You'd have way more credits than you could possibly use, you wouldn't really need your snacks. You wouldn't need to use any credits on breakfast. And if you plan on taking advantages of any of the lounge offerings, then you certainly don't need appetizers and desserts constantly.