Need your thoughts!

[KorieDWnut]

Me and 2 of my dds are going down in August. I have never done the DDP before. I never thought it was worth it but I just did the math on the WDW site. For the 3 of us, staying 4 nights, 5 days staying at ASMO with hoppers...it comes to 1122.00. NOW, if I add the DDP it only goes up to 1354.00. SO that is 232 dollars in food.

OK, so before thinking of doing the DDP, I figured we would just eat at pretty much all CS and share food. So we may not spend 232 worth of food. BUT if I do do the DDP then I could make use of TS. I think maybe it would actually all come out equal if I Paid OOP for TS..gee, I don't know what is better.

What's your thoughts? My kids are 7 and 9 and don't eat much, but if I did do DDP then I wouldn't have to worry about how much spending cash to bring .What would you do?

 

[mkycrzy1971]

I would go for the DDP...for only $10 per child each day you have your food covered...and you get some "real" food rather than having to eat burgers, hot dogs and fries the entire trip...no hassles with worrying about how much money to take for meals and snacks is worth it alone for me...you by your self with 2 children...one less thing to worry about. Have fun and EAT MUCH!

 

[KorieDWnut]

I would go for the DDP...for only $10 per child each day you have your food covered...and you get some "real" food rather than having to eat burgers, hot dogs and fries the entire trip...no hassles with worrying about how much money to take for meals and snacks is worth it alone for me...you by your self with 2 children...one less thing to worry about. Have fun and EAT MUCH!

Thanks, I think I will. I keep thinking about it and I think it would be nice to have my meals prepaid like that. We will be there for 5 full days but I know it goes by nights, so I think I will have the kidlets share a meal 2 days so I can stetch it out and go OOP as little as possible.

I know the RFC downtown doesn't do ADRs or DDP, right? Does the one in AK?

 

[mkycrzy1971]

Thanks, I think I will. I keep thinking about it and I think it would be nice to have my meals prepaid like that. We will be there for 5 full days but I know it goes by nights, so I think I will have the kidlets share a meal 2 days so I can stetch it out and go OOP as little as possible.

I know the RFC downtown doesn't do ADRs or DDP, right? Does the one in AK?

No, neither one does unfortunately ...they are not operated/owned by Disney.

 

[KorieDWnut]

No, neither one does unfortunately ...they are not operated/owned by Disney.

awww man. It is a must do, we don't have any around here.
I guess I will pay oop for that the day we arrive then. Thanks!

 

[mkycrzy1971]

awww man. It is a must do, we don't have any around here.
I guess I will pay oop for that the day we arrive then. Thanks!

No problem...glad I could help, only wish I had better news. Have fun and EAT MUCH!!

 

[septbaby]

One really nice thing is you'll be able to take your girls to a few character meals and say YES to their food/snack requests more often. That will be the vacation for you!

 

[KorieDWnut]

One really nice thing is you'll be able to take your girls to a few character meals and say YES to their food/snack requests more often. That will be the vacation for you!

Very true!
I think it may be worth the peace of mind.

 

[karliebug]

You could always do the Rainforest Cafe for dessert only. After a day at AK, you could go in and order that big volcano dessert to share,for example. That way you get the atmosphere,without the big $$$.

 

[iluvwesties]

I know the RFC downtown doesn't do ADRs or DDP, right? Does the one in AK?

RFC does accept ADR's - just not the dining plan

I recently called CRO and made an ADR at RFC at AK for my upcoming trip, so I know that you can do this

Hope this helps

iluvwwesties (aka Carol)

 

[LizinSTL]

Me and 2 of my dds are going down in August. I have never done the DDP before. I never thought it was worth it but I just did the math on the WDW site. For the 3 of us, staying 4 nights, 5 days staying at ASMO with hoppers...it comes to 1122.00. NOW, if I add the DDP it only goes up to 1354.00. SO that is 232 dollars in food.

OK, so before thinking of doing the DDP, I figured we would just eat at pretty much all CS and share food. So we may not spend 232 worth of food. BUT if I do do the DDP then I could make use of TS. I think maybe it would actually all come out equal if I Paid OOP for TS..gee, I don't know what is better.

What's your thoughts? My kids are 7 and 9 and don't eat much, but if I did do DDP then I wouldn't have to worry about how much spending cash to bring .What would you do?

You are exactly the type of guest that the '08 DDP is PERFECT for! Let each of your girls choose a character meal, then you choose the other 2 TS meals that'll work with your plans. It's unlikely, given your party size/ages, that you won't come out ahead on the the plan, even if you just ended up doing breakfast buffets.

Chef Mickey breakfast and Park Fare for dinner would cost you OOP $116. You could do a Fantasmic dinner package, 'Ohana dinner, Coral Reef or World Showcase dinner, etc. Your table service meals will probably run you about the "cost" of the DDP since your kids' TS meals will probably cost about the day's cost of their plan or more. Let them share a breakfast CS platter-kids pancake platters have nearly as much food as the adult one. Then you can share 2 CS lunches. I'll bet you have enough credits to get you through all 5 days of your trip!

In your shoes, I'd absolutely do the DDP. Just bring enough cash to tip or plan to room charge it since that's no longer included in the plan.

 

[KorieDWnut]

You are exactly the type of guest that the '08 DDP is PERFECT for! Let each of your girls choose a character meal, then you choose the other 2 TS meals that'll work with your plans. It's unlikely, given your party size/ages, that you won't come out ahead on the the plan, even if you just ended up doing breakfast buffets.

Chef Mickey breakfast and Park Fare for dinner would cost you OOP $116. You could do a Fantasmic dinner package, 'Ohana dinner, Coral Reef or World Showcase dinner, etc. Your table service meals will probably run you about the "cost" of the DDP since your kids' TS meals will probably cost about the day's cost of their plan or more. Let them share a breakfast CS platter-kids pancake platters have nearly as much food as the adult one. Then you can share 2 CS lunches. I'll bet you have enough credits to get you through all 5 days of your trip!

In your shoes, I'd absolutely do the DDP. Just bring enough cash to tip or plan to room charge it since that's no longer included in the plan.

THANKS so much!
Since I posted that, we actually decided we could do a whole family trip. We came into some unexpected cash so we are able to all go now. We are still going to to the DDP for all 5 of us anyway. We did the math and we figured it would be worth it to do TS this trip. We almost never do TS when we go as a family to avoid spending tons of money but I think it would be worth it, especially to have it all paid for already and not have to worry about spending cash

 

[rosiep]

I'll be using the DDP this year. For the last three years my adult DD and I have made visits to Disney. Our biggest expense (after hotel and air) is food!
We do at least one TS meal each day to unwind and enjoy a good meal...Having most of it paid for upfront will be such a pleasure.

Plus...having to plan my ADR's will help keep me occupied until trip time comes around

 

[KorieDWnut]

I'll be using the DDP this year. For the last three years my adult DD and I have made visits to Disney. Our biggest expense (after hotel and air) is food!
We do at least one TS meal each day to unwind and enjoy a good meal...Having most of it paid for upfront will be such a pleasure.

Plus...having to plan my ADR's will help keep me occupied until trip time comes around

You are right about that!
When I first came to the DIS I thought everyone was a bit...anal about planning. We never planned our trips. We basically just showed up and did whatever, all willy nilly. When I stopped to think about it all, I realized that DH and I tend to argue a lot (not loud or screaming matches..just dissagreeing...annoying each other, ets) about what to do, when to do it, when and where to eat, etc. It would end up with us walking around the park, cranky and tired, trying to decide where to eat.

I have since learned, and thank GOD, that planning doesn't mean strict, inflexible structure, but it does make the trip easier for us. KNowing, roughly, when and where we are eating will eliminate some arguing. None of the "I dunno, what do you want to do, I don't care it's up to you, just DECIDE ALL ready or else we are going back to the hotel!!" lol

It gives me something to do too. It is like a puzzle, trying to figure out where we should eat and for lunch or dinner because I have to plan which parks we will be at what day and how to work around the park to get to the place we are eating at, without rushing from one end to the other to make the ADR in time.

 

[septbaby]

I have since learned, and thank GOD, that planning doesn't mean strict, inflexible structure, but it does make the trip easier for us. KNowing, roughly, when and where we are eating will eliminate some arguing. None of the "I dunno, what do you want to do, I don't care it's up to you, just DECIDE ALL ready or else we are going back to the hotel!!" lol

Funny you should say that my Mom is the Disney vet, but she let me plan our 2007 trip. Though I reached out to her for feedback she pretty much went with what I suggested. The biggest compliment I got from her during the trip was "It's so nice not to be standing in the middle of a hot park not knowing what to do next." Our Epcot day got shuffled due to rain. She and my nephew went while I kept my golf tee time. I handed her my sheet for Epcot. They hit Sunshine Seasons for CS and the key attractions for a 5yo (Nemo, Crush, etc.) and still had time to head back over to MK so my nephew could ride Goofy's Barnstormer again (he rode it daily).

She's given me the "keys" again for our 2008 trip.