**Not Happy** with DDP and also was it "supposed" to be Free ??

[WDWBetsy]

Regarding the OP getting double charged by the snack cart vendor: there is no way I'd sit on hold with Disney Dining. The brochure clearly states to contact your hotel's front desk should you need assistance with your meal plan balance. We weren't charged correctly at Rose & Crown - only 1 credit instead of 2, and we went to the front desk upon returning that night to make sure it was corrected. I didn't want the server to get in trouble or be shorted.

The brochure also states how many meal credits you receive per night.

As for having snacks leftover - we didn't - we used many of ourse for bottled water. No meal credits wasted here either (of course, I was 8 weeks pregnant at the time, so I could eat quite a lot!).

jjohnson - great job!

 

[disneyjunkie]

I just read the thread jjohnson linked to. I'm going to assume the OP started that thread but never went back to read it. That would be the only way to explain not understanding that the credits are per night and not per day.

I love the dining plan and don't plan to return without it. However, I don't view it as a way to cover ALL of our meals. Our (teenage son and I)budget includes $10.00 a day for extra snacks and $15.00 a day for breakfast.

We tend to eat 2, sometimes 3 snacks a day. (candy apples, caramel apples, ice cream, popcorn, funnel cakes, fudge,cookies...we love our junk food. )

We'd rather eat a hot breakfast before heading to the parks. Since I'd rather save the CS credits for lunch or dinner, I pay cash for breakfast.

The dining plan allows my son and I to try TS meals that were way out of our reach before the plan. We rarely ordered everything that's included with a TS meal. It’s just too much food. Even without maxing out the plan I came out ahead.

 

[fizz13]

Not to stir the pot more here, but I used the DDP in August and thought it was eh...we definately bought more snacks than we were given and paid for breakfasts, extra drinks, so ended up spending about $300 more. When I did the sums the DDP only saved us about $170, so all in all, next time I would pay OOP for everything, it was not financially viable for us, don't think we needed all those appetisers and desserts. There is definately a lot of food there and if I had eaten it all they would have had to roll me on the plane, and yes i researched extensively before I went.

 

[WDWCPAlumni]

Not to stir the pot more here, but I used the DDP in August and thought it was eh...we definately bought more snacks than we were given and paid for breakfasts, extra drinks, so ended up spending about $300 more. When I did the sums the DDP only saved us about $170, so all in all, next time I would pay OOP for everything, it was not financially viable for us, don't think we needed all those appetisers and desserts. There is definately a lot of food there and if I had eaten it all they would have had to roll me on the plane, and yes i researched extensively before I went.

See, that I think is just fine. You knew what you were getting though right???!
$170 saved on food is $170 spent elsewhere! That is how I am looking at it.
I agree you do end up spending more if you like all the extra junk food, we do that too, but we plan on it.
The other thing I think people dont realize is that for a meal you get an entree, a side order, and appetizer and a desert.....take some to go, for your next snack! You dont need to eat all of it that very second, just get something that travels well.

 

[~Disney's Princess~]

Thanks for 'most' of the replies. I completely 100% agree that I didn't research this enough and these boards are very good for researching, but this go around with our vacation I've had absolutely zero time to really sit down and research anything and would try and pop on the boards when I got a chance. I get emails when new posts are in a thread, but then sometimes you don't get all the notifications, so I no doubt missed some posts here and there and I saw my original thread where someone specifically pointed out "PER NIGHT" - and that's MORE than very clear. Unfortunately - YEP I missed that point! Like I said in my original post that's WAY "my fault" so live and learn !!

Don't get me wrong, our trip was great - I have to post more on that later, I'm still trying to figure out though why the Disney Parks were SO UNBELIEVABLY crowded! (Coming from someone who normally goes in September when they are normally empty - which I thought October was kinda empty too - NOT this trip !!!). I'm sure it's a ton more crowded in the summer months (don't know how it could be), but again I'll post more on that later.

I'm a big enough person to ignore more than several not so nice comments made in these posts, it would be great if people didnt get so nasty, but being on these boards for several years - that will never change!! That's why I tend to steer clear of posting sometimes. As I originally said these were my observations and thoughts, and while I am big enough to admit yes I DID NOT do my research enough and it was MORE THAN CLEAR it was 'per night' - just missed the boat! Oh Well! I'll be prepared for the next go at it !!!

Great trip though - and bottom line is DDP works for some and not for others! No big deal! No reason to pop an artery !! Like I said I'll post more! I have to post on the Universal section and in the Disney section, and in the Resorts section. I have my work cut out for me that's for sure! But happy to share our details soon!!! Everyone have a magical day !!

 

[jjohnson]

Thanks for clearing that up.

AFA crowds were you there on the weekend? Maybe between Columbus Day week, F&W fest & MNSSHP the parks filled up. I've never been to WDW in the fall.

OT-Did you ever have time to figure out if your quote was correct?

 

[~Disney's Princess~]

We were there Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat. I have to say we went to Downtown Disney on Thursday night and you absolutely couldn't MOVE on the outside or even on the inside in the shops! I thought my husband would DIE when I said - "We have to leave, I cannot shop, because I cannot move!" - That I think was the single most magical moment of our trip for him!

I thought I heard someone say (and was going to post this on here to find out) that "Orange" county schools were 'out' for Wed, Thurs and Fri last week - which when you add the Columbus day holiday - that would make for an almost 'week off school' - so that might have played into why it was so crowded? Still have to look into that more.

I think with the quote you were referring to our package price, which we then switched to the Disney Visa price and I think that saved us somewhere around $200 or so? I have to go relook through everything - but I think that was a good deal and again that was paying for a 'package' which I've never done - which included room, dining and tickets (all priced in there and nothing free). I think it ended up being like $1600 something for the 4 day/3 night stay. Overall like I said a great trip and I promise to post more when I get a moments peace! Ha like that ever happens with 2 kids and working right?

 

[Luv2Roam]

Glad you had a great Disney trip Princess.

 

[magsmom]

I thought I heard someone say (and was going to post this on here to find out) that "Orange" county schools were 'out' for Wed, Thurs and Fri last week - which when you add the Columbus day holiday - that would make for an almost 'week off school' - so that might have played into why it was so crowded? Still have to look into that more.

That is right. We went Columbus week last year and the parks were packed because of Columbus day and the days that the schools in Orange County have off.
Last week of October will be much better, even with F&W and MNSSHP.

 

[kimberh]

We have just returned from 4 days at Disney, 6 people on DDP. We saved a small fortune on food and didn't really spend any extra on food. on the last day we had 12 snack credits to use. 8 counter services and we bought sandwiches home. We all agreed it was alot of food, and we loved it. We have always sat down and ate a TS meal so for us this is a good thing. I can't tell you how nice it is not to have to worry about the bill. We had two meals that were almost $300.00. Our whole plan was about $600. What is not to like????

 

[Slightly Goofy]

The OP might have done better to have traded some of their TS credits in toward 1 CS and 2 snacks.

If it were not for the DIS boards I would not have known that was possible.

I also agree with the poster who suggested that DW let you choose more TS or CS to suit each family. I think that would still keep people on property. As for me one TS every 3 days or so is more than enough. Every day is just plain TOO MUCH. JMO

Slightly Goofy