Not sure how the basic DDP can be too much food

[caroline1851]

I don't understand when people say its' too much food.

buy a CS breakfast-omelet, bacon and a muffin.
Bring the muffin as a snack for later in the day.
buy a TS dinner-don't order dessert if you're full.
Use your snack credit at some point during the day.

How is that too much food? I just don't get it. Just because food is on your plate, you don't have to eat ALL of it.

 

[dynamite100]

I don't understand when people say its' too much food.

buy a CS breakfast-omelet, bacon and a muffin.
Bring the muffin as a snack for later in the day.
buy a TS dinner-don't order dessert if you're full.
Use your snack credit at some point during the day.

How is that too much food? I just don't get it. Just because food is on your plate, you don't have to eat ALL of it.

It sounds too LITTLE food for me!

 

[Tricia1972]

It's too much for some people, just right for some and not enough for others.

I am not ure why people that it works for are offended that it's too much for others OR why those that think it's too much are concerned that it works for others.

 

[MHSweb79]

Because we generally take our desserts "to go" we end up with a LOT of stuff we've saved for breakfast in the fridge that never gets eaten. And since we've got all these extra desserts, we generally end up with leftover snack credits to use up on the last day of our trip. We carry water bottles and ask for free ice water in the parks so we're not using credits on that.

Plus, the brutally hot & humid weather can really kill our appetites so we're not really interested in 3 square meals a day. And we often use our TS credits on buffets, so there's pretty much unlimited food there.

 

[havoc315]

How is that too much food? I just don't get it. Just because food is on your plate, you don't have to eat ALL of it.

Logical -- No amount of food is ever too much, since you never have to eat it all.

So it really isn't about the amount of food that you're getting, but the amount of food you are paying for. The "value" of the plan has diminished each year.

So to me, "too much food," means..... "I only want about $30 worth of food per day, so why should I pay $46 for the DDP? $46 is way too much food for me"

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I don't think the basic DP is too much food at all. We (Myself, DH and my kids) are small people and we got the DP when it included appetizers as well. We thought it was just the right amount. When they took the apps away, I didn't like the DP anymore. Value isn't as good.

Now, we will be trying the deluxe plan instead.

 

[Colleen27]

I think it is one of those things that depends heavily on personal habits. DH & I seldom eat breakfast, so two meals a day plus a snack is plenty of food, sometimes more than enough depending on the size and timing of those meals.

But where the basic plan falls short for us is that it isn't the right type of food - we use the deluxe plan and still just eat our two meals a day, usually a TS lunch and a signature dinner, though we do sometimes "throw away" credits on character breakfasts for the kids even though DH and I won't do much more than have coffee/tea, some fruit, and maybe a pastry.

 

[havoc315]

IMHO, it became a very different plan when they took away appetizers and tips. When those things were included, you could really mix and match how you used the plan, and it was still worthwhile. If you ordered everything, it would have been too much food for many people, but you could obtain value without overstuffing yourself.

With the reduced inclusions, the cost of the plan is hard to justify unless you really eat everything that is included. And while they have eliminated appetizers (which include plenty of heavy items as well as tons of light items such as salads), they have kept all the filling desserts.

So under the "old plan" -- You could order a salad and chicken breast. It wouldn't be too much food, and you got your money's worth.

Under the current plan -- You can't order the salad. If you get just the chicken breast, then you haven't obtained fair value under the plan. So, many people feel the only way to get fair value under the current plan, is to order "too much food" -- The big steak followed by a heavy dessert give you fair value under the plan.

To concur with mickeysgirl, I do believe that the DxDP does still have enough flexibility that you can obtain value by increasing the quality of the food, without necessarily getting "too much food."

 

[HS3kids]

I think its all in how you use the plan. We just got back from the World, and had the basic dining plan. We stayed at the FW cabins and there was no quick serve/counter service available for breakfast or dinner, only lunch (Meadow snack bar at the pool) so we tended to eat at Trails End (TS) but paid OOP so that we could save our table service credits for character dining. We had such big breakfasts that nobody wanted lunch, and dinners were all TS and/or dinner shows. At the end of a 7 night/ 8 day stay, we had 4 QS meals left (each!) and 2 snack credits. I should have cashed them in for snacks but we had wayyyy too much stuff in our bags already and didnt think anything would fit!
In retrospect, I would eat more breakfasts in the cabin (which we did do toward the end of our stay) and be sure to use up those QS credits.
That being said, the dining plan paid for itself in TS alone (we did Liberty Tree Tavern, Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Faire, Tusker House, Aloha Dinner show-2) and had we paid OOP it would have been a small fortune for all those experiences/meals.
We did get our moneys worth but it was tough to use the QS up in our case, and I found it a little restrictive. Not sure I would do it again unless it was free. (our dates were blacked out)

 

[beatlesblonde]

It depends on which version of the dining plan your using and your eating habits. DH and I use the DDP and our typical day is usually like this:

-Breakfast at the resort (I have to eat breakfast) 1 CS credit

-Snack during the day (since breakfast CS meals include two drinks, I'll get milk/juice then a bottle of water to carry with me so I can use my snack credits for food and not drinks)

-TS for late lunch/early dinner (we tend to get our ADRs for between 4-6pm) 1 TS credit

The CS breakfast meals are substantial enough to last us till the afternoon when we get our snack. Then the TS meals are enough to keep us full the rest of the evening (unless it's a really late night with extra magic hours, but then we'll get another snack).

Now that might not work for some but it works for us. That's the joy of the dining plan.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

Hey, we're considering the Deluxe Dining Plan for our next trip, so it definintely doesn't sound like too much food to me!

 

[ThreeKMom]

The dining plan fits our family purfectly.

We usually have breakfast at our resort using a snack credit for a muffin or yogurt and then paying oop for coffee or juice, we will have CS lunch - some times at the pool - and a late TS dinner. At home when we eat out we will sometimes have appitizers but usually don't have appitizers and dessert. On some of the menues you can use the dining plan TS credit for the "Chef's Selection" which includes both appitizer and dessert.

 

[DisneyCrazyMomma]

When did they do away with the apps?

 

[ReneeA]

When did they do away with the apps?

I believe 2007 or 2008.

FWIW, the DDP is just right for our family. I bring a huge box of granola bars from Costco and order water to be delivered. We eat our breakfast at the bus stop on our way to the parks and then eat an early CS lunch. We've been often enough to know our favorites and where to get the "healthier" CS meals. Then we schedule an early TS meal every night around 5 ish. We sometimes share, sometimes not, sometimes use more than one snack a day, sometimes don't even use 1. In the end, we've never been short a credit, and usually have a few CS and snack credits to use our last day. We love it...although we may change our tune once the kids are considered "adults" in Disney's eyes.

 

[walkdmc]

Does anyone really say that about the basic DDP? I wouldn't think it'd be too much food. However, the Deluxe plan is a whole 'nother beast. I've done it twice. The first time I thought it was too much food, so I had to do it again, just to make sure I was right. Turns out, I was correct. 3 TS meals a day plus 3 snacks/day is a lot of food.

I sat with a lovely lady on the monorail. She told me she just joined DVC and it's a great program, and you can add the dining plan. She was describing the basic dining plan and how great it was when I told her I had the deluxe plan and it provided 3 TS meals/day. She was dumbfounded, I'm pretty sure she thought I was making the whole thing up, LOL.

 

[disneyfan55]

When did they do away with the apps?

They had apps and gratutity included in 2007. They were both removed for 2008. I think the price went down $1.00 per day. Now the price has gone up quite a bit plus more for 'busy' times. (that didn't use to be either)

 

[JennyMP03]

The basic DP was good for my husband and myself, and we had snack and CS credits that were left on the last day. We never went hungry, but we usually only eat one big meal on our regular schedules, anyway. We'll have something small for either breakfast or lunch, a snack somewhere, and a full dinner. The regular DP was spot-on for us.

Now the deluxe dining plan is something I look on with awe and trepidation. Three TS meals in one day would make me sick as a dog, but it sounds fun to get to try so many restaurants. For those of you who have done the deluxe plan, do you feel a lot of your day is eaten (no pun intended) up by making ADR's? That'd be one of my major concerns.

 

[havoc315]

It depends on which version of the dining plan your using and your eating habits. DH and I use the DDP and our typical day is usually like this:

-Breakfast at the resort (I have to eat breakfast) 1 CS credit

-Snack during the day (since breakfast CS meals include two drinks, I'll get milk/juice then a bottle of water to carry with me so I can use my snack credits for food and not drinks)

.

Just note for 2011, breakfast no longer includes 2 drinks.

 

[Colleen27]

Now the deluxe dining plan is something I look on with awe and trepidation. Three TS meals in one day would make me sick as a dog, but it sounds fun to get to try so many restaurants. For those of you who have done the deluxe plan, do you feel a lot of your day is eaten (no pun intended) up by making ADR's? That'd be one of my major concerns.

We don't feel that way but we don't plan three meals a day either. We like the deluxe plan because it lets us have signature dinners most nights, room service if we feel like it, the occasional character breakfast, and other things that just aren't a good value with basic DDP credits.

The basic plan, as someone else said, has a fairly narrow range of use that provides value at the current pricing/inclusions, and we don't fit into that range. The deluxe plan is, at least at the moment, much more flexible in terms of getting a decent value for the money you spend.

 

[waltdizzy]

The basic DP was good for my husband and myself, and we had snack and CS credits that were left on the last day. We never went hungry, but we usually only eat one big meal on our regular schedules, anyway. We'll have something small for either breakfast or lunch, a snack somewhere, and a full dinner. The regular DP was spot-on for us.

ntended) up by making ADR's? That'd be one of my major concerns.Now the deluxe dining plan is something I look on with awe and trepidation. Three TS meals in one day would make me sick as a dog, but it sounds fun to get to try so many restaurants. For those of you who have done the deluxe plan, do you feel a lot of your day is eaten (no pun i

I purchased the deluxe plan and thought it was worth every penny! Having the freedom to eat at such great restuarants like California Grill, Jiko etc... and being able to sample their apps.,and desserts... ah heaven! Since that only leaves 1 TS, I made reservations around noon for places like Crystal Palace, Kona's, etc.
I like to look at the deluxe plan as quality over quanity. I don't feel like my day is eaten with the 2 ADR's, its just nice to sit down with my family, take a deep breath and count our blessings that we are really at Disney World!