not sure if I have made a mistake booking OKW to get free ddp - help

[mackay_j]

We have just come back from a week SC in mallorca. During that holiday we tried to eat out every night and just made sandwiches & a yogurt for lunch- no snacks most days (think we had icecreams once for adults and 2 x for dd). And we never managed to fit in a pud after any of our dinners we also never had any starters and on 2 nights we didn't manage dinner out as we had eaten lunch too late, so we just had a few tapas things- I think that now the girls have stopped growring and dh and I are ageing we just can't eat as much. - Its never happened in the past.

We have 14 nights next year booked at OKW - there is no way we are going to eat that much. Now thinking about trying to book as many 2 credit sig meals as possible - but need to include a few traditions -sci fi, planet hollywood, kona, san angelos (or sana) = 4 nights so that leves 10 = 5 sig meals thinking cali gril, flying fish, artist piont, citros, and one other??? ideas and comments on list welcome.

Has anyone else found that the thought of that much food off putting- not sure how anyone manages the delux dining plan, I think it would send me into panic mode.

How early can you eat lunch at quick service places- trying to get lunch as far away from dinner as possible. Also, has anyone tried quick service breakfasts. I know that this is not the best value way of using credits- but I just cant see us being able to eat a 2 course lunch and then follow it with a 2course meal.

 

[scottish mum]

We would just have a piece of fruit or a small bowl of cereal early morning and then qs lunch about 11.30 and then dinner about 6pm or so. Some mornings we had a charcter breakfast and then a qs lunch/dinner about 3 pm ish.

Also we booked the hoop de doo and the polynesian show, these used 2 credits each.

For snacks we used to either get a drink or get the kids a sweetie or something once we were back at our resort at night, not the best use of credits but worked for us.

 

[starrysky]

We did the DDP for the first time this year and yes we found it was a lot of food.

However as it was included we made the most of the credits going to as many places as possible and booking the TS meals as dinners late on most of them were well after 8pm. So places like Cali Grill to see the fireworks and Ohana for the same reason.

We booked two character breakfasts at Crystal Palace and Tusker house. They were great.

We did have a few days with nothing planned in and we made use of the CS credits then.

Snack wise we used them for trying foods as the Food and wine festival booths and for ice creams etc.

Yes its a lot of food but with careful planning you can make it work so you are not feeling like its food over load.

 

[gemmybear83]

We used snacks for drinks usually, and if were were too full had fruit for dessert or swapped dessert for extra drinks if it was allowed.

I have no idea how anyone could cope with the deluxe plan - far too much food and you would never spend anytime in the theme parks!

 

[magicgirl]

We did 2 weeks at OKW on the deluxe dining plan. All I can say is never again, it was far too much food. We were left with 35 credits on the last day despite trying to use them up during the holiday. We came home with loads of bags of sweets and trail mix and fudge.

 

[PudseyChancer]

We found the free dining to be a bit of a false economy at times, it was great for ensuring that we ate at all the places that we wanted to eat onsite, but the tips on some of the meals were more than it would have cost us to eat offsite elsewhere.

I'm looking forward to having more flexibility with our meals next year as we'll be using our DVC points for the first time and therefore not tied to the DDP, but I wouldn't write it off for our next visit after that, if they're still offering the free dining we might rent out our points to take up the free dining.

 

[Elise79]

We booked a week next Feb on free DDP and I suddenly realised that I don't like being tied down to a dinner reservation each night so I have alternated character breakfasts (which I won't pay for more than one per trip OOP anymore) with TS dinners to use our credits.

 

[Chilly]

Don't forgot if you were just relaxing in Mallorca then you won't work up an appetite unlike Disney where you are walking round the parks all day.

 

[wayneg]

We found the free dining to be a bit of a false economy at times, it was great for ensuring that we ate at all the places that we wanted to eat onsite, but the tips on some of the meals were more than it would have cost us to eat offsite elsewhere.

Most of the time I feel the little extra in tips is worth the free DDP experience, in August when we were a party of 6 tipping 18% it was costing $16-18(for 3 of us) last night at Logans roadhouse, basic 3 entrees & soda with no desserts cost $8 tip, service was very average, on DDP usually far better service and desserts included.
This trip we enjoying offsite again, totally different holiday to onsite with DDP, glad we can do it both ways because I wouldn't know which to choose if it was one or the other.

For us the regular DDP is spot on for credits, we don't eat TS 1st night or DISmeet night which allows a Hoop night & signature night. Snack credits are the only thing we struggle to use, usually take 20-25 bags of Goofy candy home. No way would we want Deluxe DDP but it does work for some.

 

[irenep]

Having just come back from OKW and free dining I have to say I loved it and would have no problem doing it again. Yes, it is a lot of food but its free. My view was that it didn't matter if we didn't use all the credits, or skipped dessert, or ended up with unused credits. At the end of our stay we had used all our TS (and could easily have done 1 or 2 more) but had 3 CS and 6 snacks left - no big deal really and we just got some drinks and crisps for the journey.

Only place I have done a CS breakfast has been Sunshine Season in Epcot - pretty decent food there any time. Otherwise a snack and early lunch(11ish) works for us.

Your TS list looks good and if you want more 2TS places what about The Yachtsman or Narcoossees? Both supposed to be very good and on my list for next time.

 

[tinks_1989]

Narcoossees - would be the 2 TS meal I would recommend the most! It was lovely the food was amazing it was lovely and quiet in there no running around it was so relaxed we had the chance to go out and watch wishes but we could see it from our table and ate our entree at the same time. Also the water parade passes right passed the window.

Like others have said use snacks for drinks we also used remaining snacks for treats for people to bring home in the goofy candy shop in DTD

We couldn't eat all the food even 5 months pregnant I couldnt eat it all lol! We would share a breakfast QS and share a lunch QS I dont think we paid for any food at WDW for 2 weeks x

 

[DISWolves]

Just booked our 3rd OKW / DDP for 2012.
This is spot on for what we want, using up a few 2TS credits gives us chance to go off site - to Manny's or Cheesecake Factory. Would stay off site if DDP + discount ever stops

 

[penlanspice]

DDP isn't for everyone and we find it a lot of food. The longest time we have ever done the DDP for is about 7 days I think and that has been enough for us.
We just got back from staying 10 nights at GF and were paying OOP as it wasn't cost effective to book a package. We booked about 7 reservations before we left over the 10 days and think we cancelled 2 of them as we were still full.
We were booked for 2 weeks at SSR after new year with free DDP, but just cancelled one week as we think we will struggle with all that food, and booked a week offsite instead.

 

[dixonsontour]

We like DDP - have done twice and booked again for 2012.

What worked well for us was a snack breakfast in the room, early lunch - they serve from 11am I think then TS dinner. Or TS character breakfast, snack to tide over and QS dinner.

We prefer a mix of TS breakfast and dinner and definitely book some 2 TS meals or shows.

Most QS places offer salads and you can usually get a kids bag of grapes instead of dessert.