Please re analyse my analysis with DP or No DP

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

RESTAURANT
W/O DP OOP FOR MEAL Tax and Tip

California Gril (2) $180.00
Le Cellier Lunch $120.00
Kouzzina $150.00
Brown Derby (2) $160.00
San Angel Inn Lunch $120.00
The Wave Dinner $130.00
Chef Mickey Breakfast$100.00
Teppan Edo Dinner $150.00


Counters $350.00

Snacks $200.00


Cost of Dinning Plan N/A
3 A and 1 C 10 days


GRAND TOTAL $1,660.00

WITH DINNIG PLAN
OOP FOR Appetiser and TIP


RESTAURANT

California Gril $40.00
Le Cellier Lunch $30.00
Kouzzina $35.00
Brown Deby $40.00
San Angel Inn Lunch $30.00
The Wave Dinner $30.00
Chef Mickey Breakfast $20.00
Teppan Edo Dinner $35.00


Counters Included
Snacks Included


Cost of Dinning Plan $1,379.60
3 A and 1 C 10 days


GRAND TOTAL $1639.6


According to this I save $20.00 if I use a 10 day dinning plan with this restaurants. It really should be more. Shouldnt it??

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Ok, I'm trying to figure out if you meant that with the dining plan, you'd still order an appetizer at every meal, correct?

It is a bigger savings if you don't do the appetizer; adding that on is going to make the costs about the same (as you already figured.) Do you guys eat a lot? The DP meals (with drink, meal, and dessert) are always plenty for us. Most places have some sort of bread, chips, etc. in advance. We've very, very rarely ordered apps at WDW restaurants.

If you're hungry enough that you think you'd need an app, you can grab a snack before your meal (a piece of fruit, ice cream to split, etc.) as a snack credit instead of paying OOP for an app at every meal.

The DP is a lot of food; you definitely won't go hungry without the apps. Plus, with 10 days on DP, that's 10 TS meals. You don't have to do one a day; you can use them as you like. So one day, you could do a big breakfast, no lunch, and a big dinner. And, unless you plan on using all 10 TS credits on lunch/dinner, you won't need an app (for breakfast.) There have been days where we've done such big breakfasts that we weren't hungry for the rest of the day (and, DH eats...a lot.) We'd split a CS meal some nights when we would need something light.

 

[NuttyDisneyMom]

I used the comparison spreadsheet in the dining plan forum and it is AWESOME!!! It breaks down EVERYTHING and I end up saving over $400 using the DDP on our Turkey Day stay. You should try that

 

[tony67]

Not sure what you used for numbers but I assume that for the OOP meal you figured what you would order if you were paying for it. If you’re not "paying" for it would you order something more expensive? Also for the 3 adults is one of them an older child that might order off of the kids menu? If so this makes the dining plan less of a value.

For the OOP cost did you add drink and desserts to all the meals?
For example I think the average CS meal with drink and dessert is around $13.
So for your family IF you get all the cs meals and extras the cost is about 470 IMO.
30 adult meals at $13 each and 10 kids meals at about $8 each.
If you paying out of pocket you may not order drinks and desserts in all cases so the 350 is probably correct for OOP.

Also you have 2 - 2 credit meals. You do not always get an even exchange when using 2 credits since you lose the "value" of the second dessert and second drink.
Many of the entrees at a 2 credit meal cost the same (or even less) then a meal at some of the 1 credit meals, but it is usually better quality.

I also noticed you have a few lunchs booked. They are not as good a "value" as dinner since it is a lower cost menu. For example the filet at Le celler is $10 cheaper at lunch.

The dining plan is a great value when it is "Free" and you are a family of 4, but not so much when have to pay for it.

Disney has fine tuned this plan over the years so that it is most likely a wash for most people. Many of the people who have saved large $$ amounts also maximized the plan.
They ate at the most expensive CS locations and always ordered the most expensive thing.
But they also had to spend time getting to those locations and may not have eaten the meal they really wanted because they just ordered the most expensive thing.

Even with your conservative numbers you will come out slightly ahead with the DDP.
Just try not to get too caught up in trying to maximize the value of the plan.
You may find yourself with credits at the end because you paid for things out of pocket because you saved credit for more expensive things.

Hope this all makes sense.

 

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

I used the comparison spreadsheet in the dining plan forum and it is AWESOME!!! It breaks down EVERYTHING and I end up saving over $400 using the DDP on our Turkey Day stay. You should try that

Where is this spreadsheet?

Not sure what you used for numbers but I assume that for the OOP meal you figured what you would order if you were paying for it. If you’re not "paying" for it would you order something more expensive? Also for the 3 adults is one of them an older child that might order off of the kids menu? If so this makes the dining plan less of a value.




Hope this all makes sense.

DD11 will probably not order, but from the childs menu. Thanks for all the if's they will certainly help with the overall analisis.

 

[canoe86]

For myself, I just like the inclusive nature of DDP. You know, you walk in, order, eat and go. Not worried about cost....should I order this...is it too expensive etc etc etc.

But, you know, we take a vacation every couple of years, so, I just like not having to worry about it. Do I save money.......maybe...maybe not.

 

[tony67]

DD11 will probably not order, but from the childs menu.

If you do go with the DDP and DD11 is going to order from the kids menu it is most likely worth it to pay for her meal OOP at the signature restaurants.
I am somewhat sure they will let you do that. ( Can someone else comment on this? )

That would leave you with 4 TS credits for another sit down meal for the family.

 

[DonnaDuck]

For myself, I just like the inclusive nature of DDP. You know, you walk in, order, eat and go. Not worried about cost....should I order this...is it too expensive etc etc etc.

Gotta agree with this. We use the DDP each trip & love it! It seems nice to only have to worry about the gratuity at each restaurant.
We watch what we eat all year long, on our Disney trips...we eat GOOD!! The DDP allows us do that!
For me, it's definitely worth it!

 

[bytheblood]

I note on every receipt what the bill total is and compare when we get home to the price we pay on the DDP. I have figured mine out from the last two trips and we always save 40% - 50%.

 

[NuttyDisneyMom]

Where is this spreadsheet?


It's in one of the stickies in the DINING PLAN forum.