On fence about dining plan

[anonymousegirl]

I really cannot make up my mind about whether to add the quick service DDP to my March trip. I am going solo and will be eating most of my meals counter service and I do plan on buying a new refill mug. Breakfast is usually a cinnamon roll and drink, then counter service lunch and dinner with a snack in the afternoon. The cinnamon roll counts as a snack I believe and then I would have 2 CS meals and another snack so that would balance out nicely.

I estimate my OOP food expenses to be around $30 a day so is about the same except that I would get the mug for free.

I just wonder whether the DDP is worth the hassle. I don't want to be trying to determine what's a snack every time I want one. And I have seen numerous posts here on the Dis about problems using DDP (usually involving the resort screwing something up and the guest having to spend hours getting it sorted).

Any opinions?

 

[CarolynMink]

Hi,

Look closely at the list of quick service restaurants. It is different for the other dinning plan. That made all the difference for me. Most of the places I was planning on eating at were not on the list. I was staying at BWV and planned on eating a lot at the world show case. Most of the quick service show case restaurants are not included.

Good Luck & have a great trip.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Hi,

Look closely at the list of quick service restaurants. It is different for the other dinning plan. That made all the difference for me. Most of the places I was planning on eating at were not on the list. I was staying at BWV and planned on eating a lot at the world show case. Most of the quick service show case restaurants are not included.

Good Luck & have a great trip.

I just checked and it looks like all the counter service places at Epcot are included now.

Electric Umbrella Restaurant
Liberty Inn
Sommerfest
Sunshine Seasons
Yorkshire County Fish Shop
Boulangerie Patisserie
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
Tangierine Cafe
Yakitori House
Cantina de San Angel
Lotus Blossom Cafe

 

[disneynutz]

When I last did a study the plan doesn't make financial sense for us.

Disney has stripped the value from the plan and is banking on the folks who buy it for what they consider convenience. I have never really understood their reasoning, what's the difference in using your KTTW card for the DDP credits or for a room charge?

We don't like the idea of scheduling our day based upon the requirement of having to use up credits.

Disney does a good job of converting money. People wouldn't think of throwing money away, but not using all of their dining credits seems acceptable.

 

[Coach81]

Agree disneynutz.. my wife has made a little "checkoff" card to be sure that we don't do what we did last time on the plan.. WASTE about 5 or 6 snack credits!!! We plan to be much more efficient this time around. I love my wife!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

For a single person, I'm quite sure you can do better OOP.

 

[bookwormde]

I am considering it for our first 2 days, which are at AKV, with 2 kids the mugs are worth most of the children’s cost. It really looks like how much value there is in it (for an adult) is all about what snacks you pick and if the mug has any value to you, if you get the $3-4 ones it saves significant money

bookwormde

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am considering it for our first 2 days, which are at AKV, with 2 kids the mugs are worth most of the children’s cost. It really looks like how much value there is in it (for an adult) is all about what snacks you pick and if the mug has any value to you, if you get the $3-4 ones it saves significant money

bookwormde

Is the mug included in the regular DDP? I thought it was only for the CS DDP?

 

[WALTSAGOD]

We did, and LOVED the old plan with appetizer, dessert and tip included.

 

[TagsMissy]

Hi,

Look closely at the list of quick service restaurants. It is different for the other dinning plan. That made all the difference for me. Most of the places I was planning on eating at were not on the list. I was staying at BWV and planned on eating a lot at the world show case. Most of the quick service show case restaurants are not included.

Good Luck & have a great trip.

We got back and we were never turned away from using our Counter Service on our plan. Even places that didn't have the CS logo used the counter service for 'payment'.

We payed cash for food 3 times in total - Le Cellier, 50's Prime Time and for 1 serving of Funnel Cake which is cash only in Epcot.

The only thing I'd say is that make certain you eat that much daily. For us we left with 2 counters unused as we found we'd just sometimes share a meal. Not that 2 meals is a big deal it's just 1 for each of us so really we weren't at any cash loss as we felt we utilized our CS quite efficiently and we'd buy it again since we don't want to live our vacations based on when our dinner reservations are.

 

[TagsMissy]

Is the mug included in the regular DDP? I thought it was only for the CS DDP?

It's not on the regular... It's on CS as we just had it and got a free mug... LOL and guess what we saw the NEW mugs 2 days before we left so we have 2 of the same mugs

 

[Sandisw]

I really cannot make up my mind about whether to add the quick service DDP to my March trip. I am going solo and will be eating most of my meals counter service and I do plan on buying a new refill mug. Breakfast is usually a cinnamon roll and drink, then counter service lunch and dinner with a snack in the afternoon. The cinnamon roll counts as a snack I believe and then I would have 2 CS meals and another snack so that would balance out nicely.

I estimate my OOP food expenses to be around $30 a day so is about the same except that I would get the mug for free.

I just wonder whether the DDP is worth the hassle. I don't want to be trying to determine what's a snack every time I want one. And I have seen numerous posts here on the Dis about problems using DDP (usually involving the resort screwing something up and the guest having to spend hours getting it sorted).

Any opinions?

Most places have the items that count as snacks clearly marked so I don't think it will be as much as an issue as you think. But, if you are ever not sure, asking a CM is simple and easy.

In addition, it sounds like you are considering the QSDP (quick service), not the regular DDP. If you plan to eat only CS and not do sit down, then I think that it makes a lot of sense for you.

We are doing it in August when I go with my 3 children. It is not that I think it will save me a ton of money, but I know, up front, how much most of my food will cost. We will not be doing sit down dinners this time so it will work out. I also think that it takes away the worry about what you are spending.

If you are on the QSDP, then you will be able to walk up to the CS window and order whatever meal you want, regardless of the price. If you are paying OOP, do you think you may start looking at the prices so that you choose things to make your costs come out less than what you would have spent for the QSDP?

I have priced many of the meals out that my family are very likely to eat. In almost every case, I came up with a daily cost above the $30.00 per person. And, the times when I fell below, it was by a few dollars. While I think that you could possibly spend less than $30.00 per day to eat as WDW, it is highly unlikely that it would be substantially less and IMO, the convenience (and the mug) make it worth the upfront cost.

Good luck and enjoy your planning and your trip!!!

 

[anonymousegirl]

Yes, it is the quick service DDP I am considering. I did check out the menus and I will be eating 2 counter services and 2-3 snacks (breakfast as a snack) each day and no sit downs. I will eat those 2 counter service meals by myself.

Normally, the DDP makes no sense for us. DH loves his sit downs and he loves the signature ones that cost 2 credits so we use the TiW card instead since it includes the tip and a discount on alcohol.

I guess this trip would be a good time to try it out since the $$ is about the same as my OOP expenses and I'll get the mug for "free" then.