Need some opinions

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

I have purchased the DDE card to use for our upcoming trip, but now I am wondering if I should purchase one of the plans. DH wants us to only really have to worry about souvenir money and not meals, but I am not sure what will be cost effective and the wiser way to go.
I was contemplating getting the basic plan and than having any appetizers rung up on a separate bill. On the appetizer bill I would use the DDE card. Do you think I could do that?
My other options is to go for the deluxe plan, but I am worried about left over credits. I wish the basic offered a choice of dessert or appetizer. My DH and I are more the appetizer types and of course the kids would eat sweets three times a day if it was possible!
Here is where we are eating:
CRT - prepaid for this, so it will not count against any of the plans
Le Cellier
Yatchsman Steakhouse
Grand Floridian Cafe
The Brown Debry
Tony's Town Square
California Grill
Akershus
and finally Chef Mickey's for breakfast.
I figured that with the DDE card my meals including counter services and tips would be $1511.10
What do you think should I do the basic and pay for the appetizers, go deluxe (which we did once before and had quite a few left over credits), or just stick with the DDE only?
Thanks for any help!!
Karen

 

[TDC Nala]

Do you have another trip planned within the year?

If you don't, do you plan on spending over $300 on appetizers and alcohol?

You won't break even on your DDE (now Tables in Wonderland) membership purchase until you've spent that much.

If you go with the deluxe, and this is your only trip this year, you will hardly use your DDE at all, so that may be something you want to consider.

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

Do you have another trip planned within the year?

If you don't, do you plan on spending over $300 on appetizers and alcohol?

You won't break even on your DDE (now Tables in Wonderland) membership purchase until you've spent that much.

If you go with the deluxe, and this is your only trip this year, you will hardly use your DDE at all, so that may be something you want to consider.

I am possibly going back in 2/09, but that is not a definite.

I do not think appetizers would total $300. We do not drink, so it would be just appetizers.

I have started to len towards deluxe again. Since we do have a few 2 credits dinner planned. Also, we would be able to grab breakfast on the mornings we do not use 2 credits.

Thanks for helping!!

 

[Tricia1972]

How much will the DDP/DxDDP cost for your group?

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

How much will the DDP/DxDDP cost for your group?

$770 for the DxDDP and I am not sure about the basic.

We have decided not to use the dining plans.

My husband is not sure if he is definitely joining us. That is a real pain to add and remove.
Also, when I called today it was not as simple as adding on the DxDDP. You had to cancel the reservation. Receive a credit from WDW for the canceled reservation and than I had to rebook with the DxDDP included.
Too much of a hassle. We will use our Tables of Wonderland card. This way if DH goes we do not need to worry about adding him on.
I guess the problem solved itself! lol


Thanks to both of you!

 

[oeshpdog2]

As a married couple without kids, we are not sure about the cost effectiveness of the DDP. We just had the free dining plan and we were trying to figure out, by looking at the amount on each meal bill, if we thought it would have saved us money or not. At first glance it looks like it does because of costs of eating at a lot of the TS restaurants. But then we tried to look at whether we would have ordered dessert each time and if we would have really made plans to eat at that many TS places if were not on the plan.

What are some thoughts from others? Or experiences where you had the plan on one trip and maybe not on another?

 

[TDC Nala]

You must have had a room only reservation. It's true you would have had to rebook with a package to add the dining. Plus park tickets if you're not an annual passholder.

As a single person I don't think I want to use the dining plan. I do generally end up at TS most of the time but I might want to eat at a lounge, or order two appetizers, or skip dessert. Or completely skip lunch in anticipation of a large dinner. Or hit the happy hour at bluezoo, which doesn't take the dining plan at all. Or whatever.

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

You must have had a room only reservation. It's true you would have had to rebook with a package to add the dining. Plus park tickets if you're not an annual passholder.

As a single person I don't think I want to use the dining plan. I do generally end up at TS most of the time but I might want to eat at a lounge, or order two appetizers, or skip dessert.

TDC Nala, we do have a room only package plus with have the annual passes. It just seemed like too much trouble. I purchased the Tables of Wonderland card I might as well use it!
My point exactly, for the most part we do a TS at night. We like to unwind with a TS, but we do not always like a desset and sometimes we like to share an appetizer or a dessert. When you get in to this we always end up wasting credits and that always bothers. I also do not like always feeling that I have to use the credits or I just wasted money. I think in the long run we will do better going this route. As always I will have Garden Grocer deliver our water, milk for the girls, and some healthy breakfast snakc options. The rest we will use Tables of Wonderland.
I think the part I really enjoyed about the dining plan was having everything paid up front, but at this point that is not a huge deal.
I can not believe I spent half the figuring out all of this!! Can you say a little obessed!! lol

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

As a married couple without kids, we are not sure about the cost effectiveness of the DDP. We just had the free dining plan and we were trying to figure out, by looking at the amount on each meal bill, if we thought it would have saved us money or not. At first glance it looks like it does because of costs of eating at a lot of the TS restaurants. But then we tried to look at whether we would have ordered dessert each time and if we would have really made plans to eat at that many TS places if were not on the plan.

What are some thoughts from others? Or experiences where you had the plan on one trip and maybe not on another?

This is the first trip as a family of four (or three if DH can not go) where we will be paying using our Tables of Wonderland card (formerly the DDE).
I sat for hours yesterday trying to figure out the best way for us and it came down to do we want to feel like we have to use every credit or we are loosing money or do we want to eat at our pace. This trip we are choosing the latter.
I think you just really need to see if you will use all the credits or will any credits be wasted. If you do the Basic DDP, will you want dessert every night? If you do the DxDDP, will you be able to use 3 TS credits each of your days plus the two snacks (ok, for me that is really easy to do!! ).
I know some people who can do either plan and be completely happy. Last January we felt like needed to use all three TS credits or we were loosing money. In the end we did have credits left over and to me it was a waste of money.
At least this time we can eat at out pace and see if this is something that suits our family better.
JMHO!

 

[oeshpdog2]

This is the first trip as a family of four (or three if DH can not go) where we will be paying using our Tables of Wonderland card (formerly the DDE).
I sat for hours yesterday trying to figure out the best way for us and it came down to do we want to feel like we have to use every credit or we are loosing money or do we want to eat at our pace. This trip we are choosing the latter.
I think you just really need to see if you will use all the credits or will any credits be wasted. If you do the Basic DDP, will you want dessert every night? If you do the DxDDP, will you be able to use 3 TS credits each of your days plus the two snacks (ok, for me that is really easy to do!! ).
I know some people who can do either plan and be completely happy. Last January we felt like needed to use all three TS credits or we were loosing money. In the end we did have credits left over and to me it was a waste of money.
At least this time we can eat at out pace and see if this is something that suits our family better.
JMHO!

If you don't mind...let me know when you get back how it went. We are very interested in seeing what people think and how they use the different plans. I still feel much like a newbie when it comes to any of the DDP's.

I will say that we enjoyed the TS meals because it gave us a chance to sit down in nice air conditioned restaurant and take a break where, if we didn't have the DDP, we may have just continued to rush around in the heat and eat quick meals etc. Maybe that is a hidden benefit.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can still make a reservation for a sit-down restaurant every night, whether or not you are on the DDP. What you have to consider is what you and your group would normally order while you are there, if your ordering pattern would conform to the restrictions of the DDP, and if you'd actually save money by using the plan. The more you prefer to go off-plan (ordering appetizers, skipping dessert, etc) the more the plan may not fit your style.

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

If you don't mind...let me know when you get back how it went. We are very interested in seeing what people think and how they use the different plans. I still feel much like a newbie when it comes to any of the DDP's.

I will say that we enjoyed the TS meals because it gave us a chance to sit down in nice air conditioned restaurant and take a break where, if we didn't have the DDP, we may have just continued to rush around in the heat and eat quick meals etc. Maybe that is a hidden benefit.

I will definitely post when we get back!

As TDC Nala said you can still do the TS when you don't have the plan. You just need to see how much you really eat when you are sitting down and do you really use all of your credits up or do you have a lot left over.