On the fence with DDP

[Rock'n Robin]

We have done the DDP 3 times, once with the new changes this past March. For us, it worked. We never go offsite--use Disney transport only, so we are eating on property anyhow.
Although we haven't used it as DVC members yet, the last time we were in DVC we didn't really make meals in the kitchen--we used the frig/stove for snacks mostly, microwave popcorn, water, cereal.
This next trip will be the first time ALL my kids are "adults". Since they are adults, I have to pay adult prices whether they eat like birds or not. I like having the meal cost out of the way ahead of time. Sometimes I can split meals between my daughters as well. I think this next time we will do at least one 2 TS meal (we at at Yachtsman last time and it was great) so if we do that, I'll have them split a few meals to make up the difference.
I agree that there are not many BWV counter service options, but if you stay at SSR you have all the DD restaurants--esp. wolfgang puck's express and earl of sandwich--yummy!
Robin M.

 

[shortypots]

I was also under the impression that apps are included for the deluxe plan, but not with the basic.

 

[kdepot]

Hi, We did the DP in 06 and it was great with App and desert. We skipped it in 07 and did it in May. We would like it if they gave a choice app or desert.
Still we ate very well at TS and we split our CS breakfast/ lunch. We even used the snack for breakfast. We go without kids ( they are 27,23 ) so we eat at the better resturants. And they give you the check with 18% and 20% suggested tip at the bottom.

 

[Debbie Jean]

We did the basic and the deluxe plan, first night we stayed in AKV we had the basic, and then for the rest of the trip we stayed at BWV and had the deluxe.

I don't think we will do it again. The basic is one CS, one TS and one snack, left us "wanting", don't really like CS every day. The deluxe was 3 TS including dessert (but not appetizer) and 2 snacks. We don't sit down for three meals, 2 yes - 3 is too much, although we did use two TS at signature rests., but I don't like the fact that it's just dessert and not appetizers. I'd pass on dessert usually, and would prefer a side salad or appetizer instead, so we'll probably not go with the DDP next January (or this October trip, with my friend).

You have the two plans confused, I think. Deluxe includes both appy and dessert. Basic includes only dessert.... you pay OOP if you want the appy.

And as far as the kitchen goes, I do waaaaaaaaay more "planning" to cook than actual cooking when I'm there! We're doing the deluxe in August and I'm really looking forward to trying it. We've done the basic back in the days before it changed and enjoyed it, so I think this will work out well for us. I've got ADR's every day for a different signature dining experience so we will actually only be eating TS twice a day which suits us better.

 

[roselark]

I too am debating whether to do the dining plan on my May 2009 DVC trip. I am trying not to fret over the decision too much yet as there may very well be changes for next year's plan. From what I hear, Disney has gotten a lot of complaints from both servers and guests. We should find out in August. I will probably make my decision then.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

We did the DDP a couple of years ago, when the appetizers were still included etc. We liked it then as we paid for 2 children and 2 adults and I used a spreadsheet someone posted to figure out how to make all the credits work out.

Now, with this years changes to the plan and that our DS is old enough to be charged as an adult (but still eats like a kid) - didn't think it sounded so good.

Will you have AP's? We bought the DDE card for $60 (I think that's what it was). It gives you a flat 20% off (even alcohol) at most all table service and a few I'd consider cs places. We loved that and so much easier to use. It worked for us as we prefer TS also - so it depends on what kind of meals you like to have.

Good luck with your planning.

 

[jodifla]

Frankly, one of the reasons we got DVC was to have the kitchen and the ability to cook in the room.

We normally get the DDE card...on a 7 night stay, we eat in about 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 or 3 dinners, and tons of snacks and appetizers.

We get beer, wine, and liquor too....the cost savings is just huge if you aren't eating out all the time, and it's easier on our digestive systems, as well.

 

[CarolA]

For me it's not worth it. I don't need or want a "sit down" meal every day. I did the math just the other day on using it for a signature resturant and it's not really a good deal. It would be cheaper to use my DDE and just pay cash.

I also don't NEED Desert with every meal LOL!

I have done it with a group of young teens. (4 girls ages 13 and 14) By about the third day there was a mutiny! They did not want to waste time sitting down to eat with the adults. It was hot and they didn't want that much food etc. The Frig was FULL of leftovers! LOL!

 

[kgc07]

We are thinking about trying it for two days of our trip next year. We plan on reserving a 2 bedroom concierge for 5 nights and a 1 bedroom for 2 nights. I'm still trying to decide if I should get the dining plan for the two nights in the 1 bedroom. I guess I will decide when we find out what the 2009 dining plan looks like.

 

[plymouthmom]

Is DDE for Florida residents only? That is why I have not looked at that. We are not going to do AP's as we will probably only go down every 2 years and may not always do Disney parks.

Thinking now a no to the Dining Plan, though my 13 year old is saddened by this, he lives to eat. Told him he will still eat.

My thought would be to do breakfast in room, pool at OKW ( my home resort), snack, head to parks then early dinner TS. That way we can still enjoy our table service.

I will wait though and see what 09 holds for the Dining Plan. It worked well for us last time but I will now have one more child on the adult menu. Kids at time of travel will be 14, 10,8 and 6. Three boys, one of whom is a very picky eater and darling daughter who eats anything in sight.!

 

[lisareniff]

You would think that we would fit as a family that the DDP would be suited. We mostly eat out on property, usually either have a Character Breakfast or eat in the room, counter service lunch and mostly table service dinners. Well after making our ADRs and picking out what we would usually choose if we could pick what we wanted, it was very close to wash between the two with the old plan. This may be due to DH being vegetarian and DD11 being a 'Disney adult'. If it was a wash with the old plan then it definitely wouldn't be worth it with the new and improved plan!

If it was similar in price between the DDP and paying OOP, I would choose OOP every time. Why pay ahead of time for a meal you might not eat? Most the time you eat as planned but occasionally we have had sick kids or not been able to make ADRs.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

We are going to do it for 3 days after a cruise....we will not be visiting any parks. This really limits the restaraunts that are available for CS and TS. We own at BWV, but will try to ressie at 7 mos. for BCV. Both resorts offer the best selection for DDP with no parks. I think this will be the last time we do it.

 

[Chuck S]

Is DDE for Florida residents only? That is why I have not looked at that. We are not going to do AP's as we will probably only go down every 2 years and may not always do Disney parks.

The DDE is available to anyone with an AP, and to all Florida residents. It used to be for Floridians only, but about 2 to 3 years ago it was opened up to all AP holders. We do use this instead of the DDP, as we only occasionally eat desserts, but prefer salads for appetizers. We also occasonally enjoy an adult beverage, and the DDE garners a discount on that as well.

I think the DDP will work for some DVC members, however, I think the majority of members will do breakfast, and maybe a light dinner, in the room as we have a small kitchette even in studios. When we get the one bedroom units, our dining habits don't really change that much from a studio stay, but we'll make food that take a little more prep, like scrambled eggs or Mickaroni & cheese instead of cereals and cold sandwiches. We usually have a table service lunch in the parks.

 

[Amy&Dan]

We just got back from 15 nights at OKW and did the DDP. I have really mixed feelings. It was so much food. I mean the dessert with the cs meal is such a waste. I don't think most people need or want two desserts every day of their vacation. Also, my daughter is 11, therefore a paying adult so a lot of that quantity is wasted on her. Even my 13 year old son who eats like a horse couldn't finish the vast majority of his meals. I sort of felt like we spent a lot of time eating. But then again, 15 days is just a long time to be on vacation, eating out that long on a plan or not means just that, eating out A LOT!

I am waffling about next year when we will have the exact same length of trip. Here are a few of my considerations:

We have AP's so we had the DDE card as well. That came in handy for when we ordered cocktails or the occasional appetizer or salad. But I'll really need to figure this out carefully for next year and see if we could still eat that much ts and come out okay. Because for us, we would never need four cs meals plus the snacks. So even though the DDP is a great deal its really only a great deal if you would order that much food normally. We could do some meal sharing for sure at cs places in particular and with the DDE card come out as good or probably better. I am very much leaning towards having lots of our favorite ts places using the DDE card. That way if we need to cancel or have day where we aren't that hungry, we don't feel like we have to eat to use up those credits vs. wasting them.

I did find myself actually wishing we could eat offsite a few times. We took two day trips to the beach and my husband drove me nuts with making us take to go meals with us! He went over to the POR food court, got these deli sandwiches to take to the beach one day (that got all soggy I might add) and then the next time we had to go to POR again to get burgers to go to eat in the car on the way to the beach! I saw his point, we were going to have leftover cs credits as it was but had we not been on the DDP we could have had lunch at the beach or on the way easier. There are also some places in DTD we like that aren't on the Plan so we had to skip those.

We had a studio so we didn't have a kitchen but next year when we have a one bedroom I don't think that will impact our decison. My kitchen full or studio, is used to store drinks and maybe warm up a leftover. But then again for a fifteen night trip I might want to prepare something more along the lines of a meal next year but if I have tons of credits to use, I wouldn't want to do that.

I hate the way the gratuity is not included. I am fine with paying for it but I wish they would have just increased the price. The beauty of the DDP is having it all taken care of. It was confusing. The poor servers had to say "if you want to add a gratuity you need to do it now" which was awkward for them and our server at Yachtsmen said they are getting stiffed by a lot by people who did the plan in the past and claim they didn't realize it wasn't included. Just increase the price so that you pay when you check in and don't have to keep worrying with it the whole time is my philosophy. In the old days I loved not having to carry cash for tips.

I think the DDP locks you in to eating onsite, full service whether you want to or not. Our last night, we ate at Olivia's (which we love) at 9:50 p.m., tired, sad our vacation was over and not in the mood. We had four ts credits left and we wanted to use those. We did the late ADR because we were full from using our cs credits earlier in the day at Wolfgang Pucks. Had we not been on the DDP, we probably would have just grabbed some cs, something light we could have shared. But having paid a total of $2279 for the Plan plus tips, we weren't about to let ts credits go to waste. At that point, I really was feeling like our DDP days were over. Now that I'm home I just need to think it over before the next trip and really decide what works best for our family.

And I would do more two ts restaurants next time. That would leave us more days to be flexible and also to use up cs credits. We ended up not using something like four or five cs credits and in fact the last few days in order to use them up we ordered four meals when we knew we wouldn't eat them. Many of the cs places like Wolfgang Puck's Expres are nice enough that I would be content to have several days where that was my main meal.

Oh and the DDE card is for annual passholders and Florida residents. I think it was $65 and it got us a 20% discount on food and cocktails at full service restaurants as well as a few cs places (like the food courts at the values, POFQ and a couple of places at AK).

 

[rinkwide]

...we ordered four meals when we knew we wouldn't eat them...

This program is sounding better all the time.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We get it for our December vacation. We like it because it covers the Candlelight Processional dinner and the Fantasmic package which are not covered by DDE. We are only there 3-5 days, there are only 2 of us, but we never felt as if it were too much food. Maybe that's because we did stock up on Rice Krispies Treats as our snacks to bring them home to our DGC!

So, this is the first year the tip isn't included, and there are not appetizers either, but we'll still get it.

Bobbi

 

[barney44]

Going in Spetmber for the first time as a DVC owner. We are staying in a GrandVilla. Is it a full kitchen and do they have a barbecue grill as this may affect our decision on DDP. Thanks.

 

[Chuck S]

Going in Spetmber for the first time as a DVC owner. We are staying in a GrandVilla. Is it a full kitchen and do they have a barbecue grill as this may affect our decision on DDP. Thanks.

Grand Villas are full kitchens, only studios have kitchenettes, all 1 bedroom and larger units have full kitchens. I honestly don't know if all DVC resorts have BBQ grills or not. Most do, they are charcoal grills like those found in most public parks. You need to supply the charcoal, it is available at the resort store, or you can purchase it offsite.

At OKW the grills are located in the pool areas, call your resort, your guide, or Member Services to ask about your resort. I'm thinking no grills at AKV, at least until Kidani opens...but even then maybe not, because of the wildlife smelling the smoke.

 

[Jannino]

Bottom line: In general, before the 2008 changes the DDP saved you money. However, Disney figured this out and have increased the prices and made changes (i.e. no tip or appetizer included @1/1/2008) such for the most part it is priced at about the breakeven point depending upon your eating habits.

The best way for everyone to value the new DDP is to go to the menus and figure out what you would normally eat and figure out that cost vs. the cost of the DDP in 2008. Most people agree that there is just too much food included on the DDP. This is especially true if you have a child in the 10-13 year old range as the DDP usually does not make sense as normally they would not eat the amount of food offered under the adult menus.

If enough people do not add the DDP on their trip, Disney will re-evaluate and additional price and/or menu changes will probably occur.

 

[Amy&Dan]

This program is sounding better all the time.

I should have said I was pretty sure we couldn't finish all four of our cs meals at Wolfgang Puck's. But we were leaving the next day and we all wanted different things so it was like whatever! Normally I will never order more than I know we can finish. The DDP made that practice pretty hard given the fact one of our adults is a 70 pound 11 year old.

Oh and we didn't finish all the meals and my mother is probably rolling over in her grave that we wasted so much food!