OOP vs QS DDP calculations

[LisaBi]

I am planning a solo trip this year. I decided to do the math to decide if I wanted to buy the quick service dining or pay out-of-pocket. I usually go during free dining, and the dining is worth more than the room only discounts for my situation, but my dates don't work this year.

Let's just say I was very surprised at the results. Using menus posted on all ears I went through and calculated what I would realistically order on the dining plan. And I left off desserts in situations where I truly would not want it nor want a snack item replacement. I also calculated $5.50 as the average snack price.

Going for six nights I came up with a total price of $273 with tax for what I would order. The quick service dining plan will cost $252. If I take off a few other things that I probably wouldn't really buy OOP (mug, a few more desserts) I come up to $234 OOP. So either way it's within $20 of break even. And if I replaced a few selections with something less expensive especially say at Tangierne café or Wolfgang Puck express I would be even a little better OOP.

Food for thought!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I paid for QSDP once. I will never pay for it again, solo or not. Free, it's an awesome deal. I don't usually get desserts (I love snacks though) and I often will get water to drink. I do buy a mug and use it at the resort. I share a lot if I'm travelling with someone else. And I sometimes even will be kids meals (or once, bread and a banana and I made a peanut butter and banana sandwich). I don't break even if I buy it. I'm looking forward to using it for free in a few days though!

 

[newestkg06]

I did quite a bit of calculations for our family of four too. (my mom thinks I"m nuts) We would have come out slightly ahead paying OOP ordering what I would want. Luckily, we got it free, and here's why we're very happy about that: my husband and even me sometimes both have trouble ignoring prices of things. It would be very hard for me to justify paying how much snacks cost or some of the meals even, and I'm sure I would not get dessert even though I love sweets. I would keep looking at the bottom line and prices on menus and just have trouble justifying them. I think that kind of thinking can be a downer sometimes. But, with the meal plan, we "have" to use those snack credits and desserts to get our money's worth. I think it will make it feel like a much more luxurious vacation in that we can just order what we want and not care. Plus, for us, it's "free". Now, if I had to pay for it, I may have trouble, but I think given how we are both so frugal most of the time, it may mean we should get it so we can just relax and gorge ourselves.
Our favorite trip was an all-inclusive in Jamaica. We got drinks whenever we wanted, room service, awesome breakfasts, snacks, late night meals, martinis, fancy dinners, etc. We would never have paid what those would have cost at a regular resort and I don't think we would have had as much fun.

 

[danceintherain]

For our upcoming trip, the Quick Service Plan and out of pocket are very close. I was tempted to add it, because I know DH likes having a dining plan. However, my plans and what we actually end up eating don't always match completely (in the moment I may order from the kids' meal rather than something from the 'adult' part of the menu or just fries) and then there's the issue of dessert. We do like to indulge in dessert, but at Disney we're more likely to eat a meal, then go somewhere else for dessert when we get around to wanting it. So even if the costs are exactly the same, we would have to change our touring to accommodate the dining plan rather than the dining plan accommodating us.

When we did the dining plan a few years ago, we ended up taking desserts back to our room just because we could. It mostly ended up sitting there. I tried to eat some Zebra Domes from Boma for breakfast the next morning once, and just about went into sugar shock.

So I do the calculations every time. Thus far paying out of pocket has come out ahead.

 

[kidneymomma]

I am still trying to decide if OOP or DDP for us according to http://www.distripplanner.com website I'd be saving around $50 without it. But when I put in the restaurants I want to eat at such as Be Our Guest assuming I'm able to get an ADR. How does it come up with the price it provides? According to the prices on the menu online a meal there maybe as much as $95 for the 4 of us; and the website is only budgeting $65.

 

[supersnoop]

I am still trying to decide if OOP or DDP for us according to http://www.distripplanner.com website I'd be saving around $50 without it. But when I put in the restaurants I want to eat at such as Be Our Guest assuming I'm able to get an ADR. How does it come up with the price it provides? According to the prices on the menu online a meal there maybe as much as $95 for the 4 of us; and the website is only budgeting $65.

That website uses averages, not maximums. If you will really order the most expensive items, then you'll have to do the math yourself. But if everyone just orders what they really want, it will probably be pretty accurate.

 

[Nancyg56]

That website uses averages, not maximums. If you will really order the most expensive items, then you'll have to do the math yourself. But if everyone just orders what they really want, it will probably be pretty accurate.

I like the calculators, but they are only tools that can guide you. I agree that in order to make a really educated choice you have to crunch your own numbers, both before you make your decision and then after you go.

I think the reason that I get so testy when a poster will make a blanket statement about the value of a DDP, either for or against it, is because dining habits are so personal. Not just what you order but how you would make your choice, and how you look at dining while on vacation vs dining out while at home. I know my family and I know how they will make their choices, and I use their preferences when making a decision.

I have to watch myself when we use the plan, because if I was paying OOP, I would not give myself permission to not look at prices, but I am that person who likes to get the biggest bang for my buck, so I have to be careful not to encourage my family to order the most expensive items so we can max the plan. There is just no making me happy! LOL! I use the plan to give all of us the freedom to vacation without reins, in a manner of speaking, but I know that one of these trips my daughter will tally it up and I will not see even a break even, but a bit of a loss. So far we are okay, but we will see.