No DDP or TIW...is this crazy?

[PrincessTaylorsMom]

I am currently obsessing over our next trip to the world in October of 2011. We've decided to do a split stay with 4 nights at CR (we've always wanted a MK view room in the tower) and 4 days at Dolphin (we can get an amazing rate that I can't pass up). It is really the best possible stay situation because we can concentrate on MK for the first half of the week and Epcot and DHS for the second half.

My point? Well, money is an issue and no matter how I look at it, I can't justify doing the DDP, which would double the cost of my park tickets for only half of my stay on DDP. And since we only take one trip to the world every 2 years, I can't really justify AP and TIW.

But I still feel like I'm completely crazy for paying OOP for all of my meals. Am I missing something?

 

[Ava]

I don't think you're crazy. We've never done DDP & don't plan to on our May 2011 trip either. We just don't eat that way. We share meals a lot, we don't eat at TS every day of our stay, and we definitely don't each eat our own dessert with every meal! I don't like the idea of probably wasting food, and being locked into meal credits. I'd rather just order only what we want to eat & pay OOP for it.

We do skip some of the pricier TS restaurants, which we might try if we were on DDP. But honestly, I can get just as good or better food at home, for a better price, so I don't mind.

Do what will work best for your family. I'm sure I'm not the only one who will say you aren't crazy for paying OOP for your meals.

 

[cluvsdisney]

Actually, I think it's crazy to pay for the DP when you won't or can't eat all the food offered in the plan. When you pay OOP you control how much food you order and where you eat so you can keep track how much you spend. Also, there are menus online so you can get a rough idea of what you will spend so you can plan accordingly between now & then.

I have to say - I love your itinerary! It sounds like the best of both worlds and a great way to take full advantage of the features of the MK & Epcot areas!

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

Actually we've tossed around this idea for our next trip ourselves. We don't have to eat dessert with every meal, nor do we have to do a table service every day. We don't want to be locked into doing the QS plan either. Sometimes you aren't very hungry, especially with the snacking you can do around the park, so it is even possible to split an entry or just do appetizers for your meal.

If you want, just put aside the amount of money you would have spent on the plan and see how you come out in the end. I suspect you will be less stuffed than those who are on the plan. Also, there are some great places to eat at the Swan and Dolphin, and they don't take DDP there.

We are not AP holders so no TIW here either.

 

[AirGoofy]

It really just depends on your dining plans. We are staying at WL and doing the deluxe dining plan as we are doing the dinner shows and signature dining. But, looking forward to our Spring Break trip, we don't plan on doing any DP. If you like QS meals, split meals, or can get food delivered or pick it up at a grocery store, you can save money.

 

[PrincessTaylorsMom]

If you want, just put aside the amount of money you would have spent on the plan and see how you come out in the end. I suspect you will be less stuffed than those who are on the plan.

That was exactly my plan. I thought that I would put that money on a gift card and use it to pay! Great minds!!

 

[emacek]

For us the only benefit of DDP is that we pay in advance.
We've never used it any of our trips--I want the flexibility of ordering apps and splitting an entree, or not doing table service every night.
And as far as the prepaying--I'm with the poster who said buy a gift card (Disney or Amex) before you go and use that for meals.

emacek

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Pro/con list.

I write out 2 or 3 budget scenarios for each day and pick the one that we can manage or must do.AP and TIW in your case is hard to make work

We are FL residents so prices are lower for passes.

We do APs as we do at least 20 days.<400/20=<20 dollars a day

We eat TS at least 1 meal a day often 2 and tip well so TIW is paid for within 5 meals for the two of us,better still when we are a bigger party or eat more TS meals.

Parking on APx20=>$300 saved if we day trip or stay off property.

Also discounts on Cirque etc... that we do occasionally.

If you plan on eating a lot on property and TS the DDP looks attractive.If eating off property some and CS the OOP looks better.