OOP vs. DDP, live report . final totals

[eliza61]

Just wanted to say Hi. We were at AK today as well and are sitting in the room because the rain started when we came out of Ohana's at 6:45pm. No Illuminatiions tonight.

Lol, we're at the Boardwalk so we slugged through the rain to World showcase

 

[leebee]

It's hard to compare apples to apples when evaluating the DDP vs. OOP because to me, the goals of each way of eating are different. When we are on the DDP, we eat desserts we would usually never order, oftentimes eat more expensive entrees (regardless of what we might want- trying to maximize those dollars!), and/or do more TS meals than when we are paying OOP. When we go OOP, we eat what we want, when we want, and usually spend about $250 less than the DDP would cost. (I'm talking about the 1QS, 1TS, 1snack plan).

Unless the DDP is free, we don't buy it. Even with free dining, we upgrade from the QS plan to the regular DDP and pay the extra (we stay at value resorts, as 99% of the time it's just DD and me traveling). We are happier eating what we want and paying OOP, saving $$$ along the way.

 

[MillauFr]

The dining plan is never "free" They are just including it when they charge you an inflated room price. It can still be a better deal than a room only discount if you are staying in a value resort room with 4 adults.

 

[eliza61]

It's hard to compare apples to apples when evaluating the DDP vs. OOP because to me, the goals of each way of eating are different. When we are on the DDP, we eat desserts we would usually never order, oftentimes eat more expensive entrees (regardless of what we might want- trying to maximize those dollars!), and/or do more TS meals than when we are paying OOP. When we go OOP, we eat what we want, when we want, and usually spend about $250 less than the DDP would cost. (I'm talking about the 1QS, 1TS, 1snack plan).

Unless the DDP is free, we don't buy it. Even with free dining, we upgrade from the QS plan to the regular DDP and pay the extra (we stay at value resorts, as 99% of the time it's just DD and me traveling). We are happier eating what we want and paying OOP, saving $$$ along the way.

Good point and that's definitely a consideration. I mainly posted this so any one considering going oop could see some "real world" examples. This is only our 4th day so I'm sure we'll hit some days when spending will be high.

Another main reason we stopped the ddp was because we hate being locked into ADR's. So far I've already cancelled BOG and Crystal palce

One thing to notice,, we ARE eating a TS every day, we just are doing it early afternoon as oppose to dinner time

 

[Bete]

When the free dining promo plan is available then I will always do the promo and pay full price for the resort. This is especially good the more people you have to the same room.

When paying for the DDP you have to maximize the plan to beat the plan's cost. This means getting reservations for the better table service restaurants, doing table service dinner, and choosing the most expensive items on the menu. Now, everyone in your party doesn't' have to maximize, but the more that do the better off you will be to beat the cost of the plan. The same holds true of counter service. You need to order the most expensive meals.

Also, you have to remember that you get the free refill drink which is a big factor and the snacks you get, as well with the plan.

I will say with the plan you are bound to overeat to maximize the plan, but you work it off with all the walking you do through the parks.

We stick to doing the free dining promo and we have always come out ahead. Out of a couple dozen trips including the dining plan we've only paid for the plan a few times and that was way at the beginning when the plan was way cheaper and better.

You just have to figure out how you want to spend your vacation. We like the table service dining experience and we enjoy the rest.

 

[kandb]

We are a family of 5 (2 adults, 2 Disney adults and 1 child). Free dining is a bargain for us. We are staying at CBR and I believe paying around $180/night. The ddp would cost around $260/night for our family to purchase the ddp, plus we love a nice sit down dinner every night and a CS everyday plus snacks plus mugs. It's a "bargain".

 

[Disneychick75]

Good point and that's definitely a consideration. I mainly posted this so any one considering going oop could see some "real world" examples. This is only our 4th day so I'm sure we'll hit some days when spending will be high.

Another main reason we stopped the ddp was because we hate being locked into ADR's. So far I've already cancelled BOG and Crystal palce

One thing to notice,, we ARE eating a TS every day, we just are doing it early afternoon as oppose to dinner time

We have our heavy meal at lunch on our trips. It works out well because the calories are burned as we walk throughout the day. At night, we grab counter service or something light. If we have breakfast, it's grab and go from a resort or theme park bakery.

 

[hsmamato2]

I will say with the plan you are bound to overeat to maximize the plan, but you work it off with all the walking you do through the parks.

One of the most common misconceptions out there.... There is no way my gentle strolling 5 or 9 miles a day through the parks 'works off' the DDP amounts of sodas,smoothies,iced teas,and massive amounts of snacks and food I ate.... (oh cupcakes how I love thee...) I realize totally OT for OP's (wonderful) thread but I literally just LOL'd..... I wish! Instead,when I got the DDP (I've done it a couple of times) I feel like I am rolling by the time vacation is over....(we maximized our value,oh yeah...) to Op's original thought,I agree with a lot of pp's.... it is a different eating style for OOP, but I prefer it... discounted,maybe....but I don't miss it and prefer to just eat how/when I want instead.

 

[Disneychick75]

One of the most common misconceptions out there.... There is no way my gentle strolling 5 or 9 miles a day through the parks 'works off' the DDP amounts of sodas,smoothies,iced teas,and massive amounts of snacks and food I ate.... (oh cupcakes how I love thee...) I realize totally OT for OP's (wonderful) thread but I literally just LOL'd..... I wish! Instead,when I got the DDP (I've done it a couple of times) I feel like I am rolling by the time vacation is over....(we maximized our value,oh yeah...) to Op's original thought,I agree with a lot of pp's.... it is a different eating style for OOP, but I prefer it... discounted,maybe....but I don't miss it and prefer to just eat how/when I want instead.

Not everyone gently strolls through the parks. Before FP+, I did burn more calories because I was the FP runner. The amount of food I eat on trips has been adjusted because there is not as much walking. I used to lose weight on trips. Now, I stay the same. We also don't usually use the DDP because it does not provide value for us.
I use this calculator to figure out if the dining plan will save us money:
http://www.distripplanner.com/

 

[Iowajes]

It looks like the first day you ate pastries for breakfast and one table service late lunch. I am not able to eat like that.

I think everyone has to weigh what THEY do for which is a better deal.

I wouldn't be able to eat in a way that makes DDP worth it. I have 0 interest in desserts or drinks with my meals, for instance. The things I like to order on the menus are often the less expensive option (or the appetizers, which aren't covered by the plan at all.)


There is no one size fits all.

 

[bluezy]

One of the most common misconceptions out there.... There is no way my gentle strolling 5 or 9 miles a day through the parks 'works off' the DDP amounts of sodas,smoothies,iced teas,and massive amounts of snacks and food I ate.... (oh cupcakes how I love thee...) I realize totally OT for OP's (wonderful) thread but I literally just LOL'd..... I wish! Instead,when I got the DDP (I've done it a couple of times) I feel like I am rolling by the time vacation is over....(we maximized our value,oh yeah...) to Op's original thought,I agree with a lot of pp's.... it is a different eating style for OOP, but I prefer it... discounted,maybe....but I don't miss it and prefer to just eat how/when I want instead.

I roll my eyes every time I read something like that as well -- but if that's how people want to think on vacation, that's fine with me. I have a Pollyanna line of thinking sometimes as well. While most people do significantly more walking at Disney World than they do in their everyday lives, they're still not walking off anywhere close to the number of extra calories they're taking in. The general rule of thumb for burning calories is ~100 calories per mile when *running* at a pace of 10 minutes/mile. While there are many factors that can make that number go up or down, there is no factor that turns "walking briskly across the park to get a fast pass (or now to get to a FP+ kiosk) or get to an ADR on time" into burning hundreds or thousands of calories. Most people don't even do enough true exercise at Disney to burn off a cupcake each day since 90% of the walking that's done is at a very leisurely pace (there's a good amount of "slow shuffling" done while standing in lines and walking through gift shops that averages out those occasional "sprints" to ADR's and buses.). I do usually manage to lose weight while we're at Disney but it's not because I exercise more intensely than I do when I'm not there (it's actually the opposite -- Disney is my break from cardio and strength training), it's because I actually take in fewer calories than normal since we go in the summer and it's usually so hot that I don't have much of an appetite. And despite drinking a lot of water while we're there, I still probably lose some water weight during the week.

 

[eliza61]

Without a doubt, everyone has to make a "guess-timate" on how it will work. One thing I will say OOP is allowing much more flexibility this trip. The weather this trip has forced us to changed our habits. We are missing dinner ADR's because of the leftover Hurricane. That would be wasted points had we been on the ddp because yesterday the floods definitely opened up.

Sunday

Breakfast. 36.00. Ihop. French toast combo, pancakes with a side of sausage, cinnamon french toast combo. 2 hot chocolate and 1 large apple juice
Snack. 16.38. 1 ice cream cookie. 1 all american sundae, 1 brownie
Snack 15.50. Frozen coke, soda, pretzels, water
Dinner 101.37. mama Melrose

12.00 calamari app
8.00 ceaser salad app
22.00 chicken parmagiana
24.00 seafood arrabbiata
20.00 spaghetti
6.00. Soda
11.00 margarita

Total. 169.25

 

[chris31997]

Thank you for posting this. It gives me a rough idea. I'm a visual person

 

[fanoftigger]

I think it's great you are doing this and sharing it. People can eat however they want to eat. This is just showing what eating the way the OP and family wants is costing them. A good comparison for the OP for future trips. It also shows some of us who feel OOP would be cheaper for OUR families how it works for someone else. The DDP is great for those who like to eat a lot and do several sit down meals. Nothing wrong with that at all.

OP - I'm finding your posts very interesting. We are going in a couple of months and I planned to track our meal costs as well! We are doing 2 character buffets for my little one, but I still think we will come out ahead OOP because we will share some of the meals. We aren't big eaters, we snack more than eating big meals while at WDW. Hope you are enjoying your trip!

 

[lustergirl]

One of the most common misconceptions out there.... There is no way my gentle strolling 5 or 9 miles a day through the parks 'works off' the DDP amounts of sodas,smoothies,iced teas,and massive amounts of snacks and food I ate.... (oh cupcakes how I love thee...) I realize totally OT for OP's (wonderful) thread but I literally just LOL'd..... I wish! Instead,when I got the DDP (I've done it a couple of times) I feel like I am rolling by the time vacation is over....(we maximized our value,oh yeah...) to Op's original thought,I agree with a lot of pp's.... it is a different eating style for OOP, but I prefer it... discounted,maybe....but I don't miss it and prefer to just eat how/when I want instead.

So true. I went to Disney in late April of this year. I ate and had some delicious drinks every day. I figured I would be good with all the walking that I did but now way. I weighed in the next Saturday and was up 6 lbs.

 

[DoingDisney]

Great Thread keep it coming !

 

[disfanforlife]

We used to buy the DP every year - never had it free and we loved it. But as the price went up and our eating habits changed we stopped buying it. I haven't tracked the price for us, but I am sure it is about the same or a little less. We did buy the TIW card and used it for two trips. Planning to buy a new card when we go in November and use it again for another two trips. You have inspired me to track our spending this time just to see how we come out too!

 

[smiths02]

I was about to do this breakdown from our last trip, but I really couldn't do an apple to apple comparison because we didn't eat like any plan. Meaning we don't do 1 snack, 1 TS, 1 QS per day. I did see that we spent more at the France Quick Service than at Biergarten lunch (with TiW discount)...Having 2 kids under 3 really made the buffets a deal for us!
I think our next family trip might be closer to DDP eating style, and the twins will be 3 which should help, but then our older son will be 10...and at TS that is not a buffet, we don't need 3 adult meals and 2 kid meals (with drink and dessert). So we may just plan our character meals to be breakfast (or at least lunch) so as to minimize the cost of those.

 

[smiths02]

We used to buy the DP every year - never had it free and we loved it. But as the price went up and our eating habits changed we stopped buying it. I haven't tracked the price for us, but I am sure it is about the same or a little less. We did buy the TIW card and used it for two trips. Planning to buy a new card when we go in November and use it again for another two trips. You have inspired me to track our spending this time just to see how we come out too!

I did do a quick calculation of what TiW saved us. It saved us $240 in our one 8 night trip minus the $100 it cost would be $140. I'm a little worried about black out dates as there were a lot this June before the 19th or 20th. This year, we got there on the 19th, so no big deal. Next year, we have to go before then since our APs will expire.

 

[lustergirl]

I would say the dining plan (or even the free dining one) is a good deal depending on where you stay and how many is in your party. For example a few years back when both of my sons were teenagers we used to go in late September and stay at a value resort. The free dining promo was an awesome deal for us even though we were paying rack rate for our room. Some of our food bills would come to over 200 hundred dollars one. If you are staying at a moderate or even deluxe and have a small party then I believe a room discount would be better in the long run.

Next trip we are staying at CSR and got the free dining promo when it came out earllier this year. Now it is only my hubby and myself but we plan to sit down at least one meal out of a day and relax. It really depends on your situation at best.