Not getting DDP this trip -- Right decision?

[pwdebbie]

We've been twice and done the DDP both times. This time I booked a room only reservation so we will be paying OOP for meals. Dh thinks I should have booked a package, but I already got tickets through Undercover Tourist so that is not an option.

We are not big dessert eaters and would prefer appetizers given the choice. On both of our previous trips I was sick of desserts and really longed for some protein. Both trips we ended up with plenty of snack credits leftover to bring home goodies for the grandchildren.

So tell me, have I made the right choice or am I going to wish I'd gotten the DDP?

 

[TDC Nala]

If you prefer appetizers to desserts and you already have park tickets, it is likely you have made the correct decision.

 

[mainegal]

Yes, you have made the right decision.
My preference would be to pay cash, order exactly what I want at restaurant (sometimes but not always app, drink, dessert). Perhaps smaller meal at TS restaurant and dessert or appetizer in middle of day as a snack.

 

[shortkathleen]

We have done the dining plan the last 2 times we went also and this time we are skipping it as well. We are going to do 3 table service meals and the rest counter service for our 7 day trip. I think it will be fun to try something different. I am sure you made the right decision!

 

[rie'smom]

We're not doing the DDP either. The last 2 or 3 times we've left with credits and this was after buying lots of snacks with both counter and table service credits. The DDP is a total waste for us. I may get a Tables in Wonderland card since we have APs.

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

I won't be doing the DP this time either (splitting with Dolphin) and as luck would have it, I've gotten every ADR that I wanted lol Oh well. The next time we do the plan though, I think we will go with QS. There are a lot of CS places that I enjoy and love the snacks too!

 

[sharonabe]

If you want to be certain, do a virtual dining trip. Go to the dining ticker and find the menus or use allearsnet.com's menu page. Look up the restaurants you want to go to and "order" your meal. Add up all the charges (w/o tip or tax) and then compare it to what you would pay for the DDP.

When I did this I found we could do two TS and the rest QS for LESS than what we would pay for the QS dining plan. There was enough difference to even do one more TS if we wanted. Now I didn't figure in snacks, but we're not big snack eaters anyway...we only ate them at WDW because we had the plan.

So, bon appetite, virtual style.

 

[catne]

If you want to be certain, do a virtual dining trip. Go to the dining ticker and find the menus or use allearsnet.com's menu page. Look up the restaurants you want to go to and "order" your meal. Add up all the charges (w/o tip or tax) and then compare it to what you would pay for the DDP.

When I did this I found we could do two TS and the rest QS for LESS than what we would pay for the QS dining plan. There was enough difference to even do one more TS if we wanted. Now I didn't figure in snacks, but we're not big snack eaters anyway...we only ate them at WDW because we had the plan.

So, bon appetite, virtual style.

Add 6.5% tax -you'll pay tax if you're paying cash. But the dining plan includes the cost of meal tax so to get correct comparison, add up what you'd order for cash & add tax...compare that total to what the DDP would cost you that day. While it still may come out less to pay cash, it is good to make sure you're really comparing cost. The other problem is the on-line menus like allears & wdwinfo are often out of date on prices (and menus, too...even when they say they were recently updated.) Just so you know...

 

[charming23]

We had free dining last year and decided against paying for it when we go this coming February. It was just too much food and we scrambled to use our last few credits before leaving the last day. I like the freedom we will have to order whatever we want and be able to split items as well. I priced it out and it is going to be a ton cheaper to do it without the DDP.

 

[winterman]

Count me as another who would rather just pay for what they want to eat. I often order a salad, an appetizer and dessert, no entree. That doesn't work on the DDP. And while I LOVE many of the TS desserts, I never spend any money for a CS dessert.

DH and I get the DDP only when it is free. Last Sept we stayed at WDW for 10 nights but only took FD the first 5. The next 5 nights we did a room only reservation. Still did a TS meal every day, but did it on our terms.

 

[fabmic]

Based on what you say it seems you would be better off without the DDP. BTW your reasons are exactly why we don't get the DDP. Have a great trip.

 

[k&a&c'smom]

We are AP holders and usually book room only. This past trip, we ate at TS restaurants nearly every meal (excluding several b'fasts) and I debated using the DDP for the first time. We chose not to get it; when I got home, I added up the tickets. Due to our preference for appetizers over dessert (I think we only ordered dessert twice), and we split entrees or get two appetizers, our overall OOP cost came out almost exactly the same as if we'd booked the DDP.

For me, paying OOP is much easier and gives us more flexibility, so we're glad we didn't do the DDP.

ETA: due to being AP holders, we have the TiW card, which helped. However, we did eat at several restaurants that did not give the TiW discount, though most did give an AP lunch discount.

 

[fabmic]

We are AP holders and usually book room only. This past trip, we ate at TS restaurants nearly every meal (excluding several b'fasts) and I debated using the DDP for the first time. We chose not to get it; when I got home, I added up the tickets. Due to our preference for appetizers over dessert (I think we only ordered dessert twice), and we split entrees or get two appetizers, our overall OOP cost came out almost exactly the same as if we'd booked the DDP.

For me, paying OOP is much easier and gives us more flexibility, so we're glad we didn't do the DDP.

ETA: due to being AP holders, we have the TiW card, which helped. However, we did eat at several restaurants that did not give the TiW discount, though most did give an AP lunch discount.

Did you take into account that you had to tip if you had the TIW your totals included your tip. If you did not include the tips then you would have paid more on the DDP.

 

[pwdebbie]

Thanks for the interesting replies. I have a feeling we will actually end up paying more than we would have with the dining plan but I think we will be happier with what we eat.

 

[Mom loves Disney]

We skipped the dining plan this time as well. We got a great deal on our room only though so we couln''t pass it up. We will still do some table service, but not everyday.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

We've been twice and done the DDP both times. This time I booked a room only reservation so we will be paying OOP for meals. Dh thinks I should have booked a package, but I already got tickets through Undercover Tourist so that is not an option.

We are not big dessert eaters and would prefer appetizers given the choice. On both of our previous trips I was sick of desserts and really longed for some protein. Both trips we ended up with plenty of snack credits leftover to bring home goodies for the grandchildren.

So tell me, have I made the right choice or am I going to wish I'd gotten the DDP?

HEY DEBBIE!!!

I think that two people can eat cheaper than you would pay for the dining plan, and now you can try to save with a room discount. I would check themouseforless.com for any kind of discount code for the week you are going. Hopefully you can save some more money by doing that.

 

[rie'smom]

Unless you're ordering the most expensive item on most menus that you can eat more cheaply paying OOP.

 

[let'sgo]

This is the first time I'll be going without a dining plan, and I'm going to be trying some new restaurants that aren't covered on the plan. The plan always had too much food on it for me--I don't need two desserts a day, or two large meals, so I booked with a discount on the room.

There are also less expensive places that are good (Earl of Sandwich) that you may not want to use on the plan if you are trying to max out what you are getting. So this would be a good time to try it out.

Keep your receipts and you can see exactly how you came out. But then again, if you prefer an appetizer over a dessert, the dining plan doesn't allow for that so you won't really be comparing the same thing.

 

[pwdebbie]

HEY DEBBIE!!!

I think that two people can eat cheaper than you would pay for the dining plan, and now you can try to save with a room discount. I would check themouseforless.com for any kind of discount code for the week you are going. Hopefully you can save some more money by doing that.

I already got the room-only discount for the beginning of November + bought my tickets from Undercover Tourist through the mousesavers link. It was because I already had my tickets that I went for the room-only discount. In order to get the DDP you have to get a package with tickets and I didn't need them.

As for eating cheaper -- well, my dh loves to eat out and tends to like the more expensive items like shellfish and steak. But without feeling obligated to stick with just the DDP restaurants, I've made a few choices that I know will cost more money (like Fulton's) but I also know dh will love the selection on the menu. So, when the trade-off is $$$ v. happy dh, I think I best choose the happy dh!

 

[GrammyJudy]

I think it may be cheaper to do OOP but this time we gor FD . There is so much food on the DDP and many times you could share the meals. It depends on how you eat, how many in your party. I do prefer to have it all paid ahead so we don't really see how much it costs to eat at Disney.