Okay, how does the DDP work?

[bouncycat]

I've never used it, and have been TRYING to plan a surprise birthday trip in September for my mom. I always go over for a day, and have never stayed onsite, or even done the whole "disney" thing for a week, or even a few days. So, does each person have to show their KTTW card for the meal, or is it all on one card? Do you tell them when you order that you're on the plan? Why is it just "nights" that you're there, what if you're in the park for the day you get there, and the day you check out, that's 5 days, do you have to save some credits for that extra day? sorry for all the questions, I know I want to do this, just not sure about HOW it works when you get there. Also, we're doing 5 park days and 4 nights possibly at CBR, and am looking at the deluxe plan, to have the extra credits per day, maybe by eating breakfast in the resort one day. Would the KTTW card still work if you've already checked out of the resort? sorry so long, I'm just REALLY confused about how this works, and how it saves. Right now, I have a plan for TS and CS, but not breakfast....HELP!!! Thanks!

 

[PictureJumpr]

I've never used it, and have been TRYING to plan a surprise birthday trip in September for my mom. I always go over for a day, and have never stayed onsite, or even done the whole "disney" thing for a week, or even a few days. So, does each person have to show their KTTW card for the meal, or is it all on one card? If you are all staying in the same room, then all of the credits are 'on' and 'spendable' on all cards - even kids'. One card would have to be presented to the server to 'pay' for TS meals; one card could be used to order CS meals for the entire party.
Do you tell them when you order that you're on the plan? Some servers will ask, some won't - buffets in particular don't really care if you are or aren't since everyone automatically pays the same. If you have questions about what you can order or what is covered, you can ask the server.
Why is it just "nights" that you're there, what if you're in the park for the day you get there, and the day you check out, that's 5 days, do you have to save some credits for that extra day? All of your credits will be available for use as soon as you've checked in and received your card, and will remain valid until midnight on the day you check out.
sorry for all the questions, I know I want to do this, just not sure about HOW it works when you get there. Also, we're doing 5 park days and 4 nights possibly at CBR, and am looking at the deluxe plan, to have the extra credits per day, maybe by eating breakfast in the resort one day. Would the KTTW card still work if you've already checked out of the resort? Yes, until midnight after you check out.
sorry so long, I'm just REALLY confused about how this works, and how it saves. Right now, I have a plan for TS and CS, but not breakfast....HELP!!! Thanks!

You'll have a fridge in your room if you stay at CBR, too, so it might help financially to consider having milk-juice-cereal-fruit in the room for breakfast rather than pay for the deluxe plan for that reason.

 

[tinka-belle]

You will have a bank of meal credits for your room, the amount of credits is determined by the number of nights you stay. The credits can be used in any order from check in time to midnight of your check out day. You may use the credits any way you wish. Use them all up in one day or spread them out, it's up to you.

There are usually more than enough credits to cover a breakfast or lunch on your check out day, just plan accordingly. The deluxe DDP will include a lot of food, so look at the basic dining plan to see if it works for you. We usually leave at least one counter service credit per person available for breakfast/lunch on check out day.

 

[bouncycat]

Good idea. We're doing the military room discount, so that includes 40% off the regular dining plan also, so we'll just have the regular, haven't gotten a quote, to see if this is what we're doing as of yet, but hopefully I'll know soon, I'm working with Dreams Unlimited, and so far they've been GREAT!! I've just never stayed over there before, OR used the dining plan, I've got a rough sketch on what to plan for what day, and where to eat TS wise...we'll probably have to pay for just ONE cs meal out of pocket, I'll bring breakfast items with me....ask my mom in advance what she likes in the morning. Thanks for the info, if there's any other info I'm missing on the dining plan, or if you're curious about my rough sketch, let me know and I can post it. Of course it'll probably change when the park hours and emh's come out...plus if there's a MNSSHP going on or not...it's the middle of Sept, so not sure about those either, wouldn't mind showing her one of those....not sure yet, still in the VERY early planning stage! Just want to get this booked at a price that doesn't cost a small fortune first! Thanks!

 

[PictureJumpr]

One way to 'free up' a couple of leftover CS credits for the last day is also to plan on sharing at a couple of the meals during the rest of your stay.

I don't know your family's dining habits, but I do know that my mom or my travelmate and I have shared many CS meals. For example, there is a CS in Magic Kingdom where you can get a plate with half of a roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans on it. With a dessert and a large fountain soda, this is one CS credit. We share it and then there is one CS credit 'leftover' that was not spent on that meal. There are similar meals available in Epcot at the Land as well. I've also shared bacon-double-cheeseburgers and huge salads as well. We often share not just because we want to have 'leftover' credits but because some CS meals are just so much food - and I've had trips where we left three or four CS credits on the table when we left.

 

[bouncycat]

Good point too...my family especially my mom LOVES to eat, my son who's 10 can eat a WHOLE double cheeseburger BY HIMSELF, and ask for more!! Growing boy I guess!! I'm gonna do breakfast in the room for the most part, bringing stuff with us, bagels, doughnuts, etc. Right now how I have it planned, is that we'll arrive on Sept 15, do a CS, the 16th, go to AK with cs lunch, and dinner at the Rainforest Cafe...17th, mom's bday at Epcot, and with Coral Reef dinner, cs for lunch, 18th, DHS, cs lunch, and prime time cafe for dinner, and the 19th, last day MK with a character breakfast at CP. That'll use 4 TS, and if we eat enough for breakfast the last day, depending on what time we head home, that'll save the CS and we won't have to pay OOP for the arrival day. I want this to be as low cost for my mom as possible...since she doesn't have much money, and when she finds out about this, she'll probably kill me...so I'm NOT telling her until it's PAID for. Still waiting on the quote from DU, hopefully it's manageable! Thanks for the info, let me know how my itenerary sounds!!