Price per credit.

[DrunkJam]

I KNOW this has come up a lot and I am really sorry I can't find it.
I am just wondering what the price per credit needs to be for the cost of the DDP?
I have it free for my upcoming trip, and I get the value is in eating what I want, included in my upfront cost, but, I am just interested in where the break even point is were I purchasing the DDP.
TS?
QS?
Sn?

Sorry for the boring, repetitive q. TIA

 

[Faldred]

I've done the math a few times. If someone can give me the current per-night prices of the QSDP and basic DDP, I can calculate it pretty easily.

 

[Heather07438]

DDP is 75.50 = $42 + $19 + $5 + $5 + $5
QSDP is 52.50 = $19 + $19 + $5 + $5 + $5

Roughly I'd say TS $42, QS $19, snacks $5, refill mug $5.
Meals include alcohol or specialty shakes/drinks that are regularly $7-$15 each.

Character buffets, more expensive drinks, and good use of snack credits (like expensive Epcot food booth items, etc) can make DDP worth the cost. Ordering average priced menu items and soda, you might not break even.

 

[DrunkJam]

DDP is 75.50 = $42 + $19 + $5 + $5 + $5
QSDP is 52.50 = $19 + $19 + $5 + $5 + $5

Roughly I'd say TS $42, QS $19, snacks $5, refill mug $5.
Meals include alcohol or specialty shakes/drinks that are regularly $7-$15 each.

Character buffets, more expensive drinks, and good use of snack credits (like expensive Epcot food booth items, etc) can make DDP worth the cost. Ordering average priced menu items and soda, you might not break even.

Thank you so much for taking the time to figure that out for me. That's really interesting.

 

[Heather07438]

Thank you so much for taking the time to figure that out for me. That's really interesting.

No problem. I run the basic numbers for myself every year.

 

[siren0119]

Just as a friendly reminder - unless it's one of the dining experiences that specifically states gratuity is included (Ohana, CRT and Hoop Dee Doo), remember to budget for tips at TS dining that are equal to what you WOULD have paid out of pocket for your meal. They will give you a bill showing the menu value of what you order so you know how much to tip. The dining plan doesn't include tips except in those 3 cases.

 

[DrunkJam]

Just as a friendly reminder - unless it's one of the dining experiences that specifically states gratuity is included (Ohana, CRT and Hoop Dee Doo), remember to budget for tips at TS dining that are equal to what you WOULD have paid out of pocket for your meal. They will give you a bill showing the menu value of what you order so you know how much to tip. The dining plan doesn't include tips except in those 3 cases.

Yes, I know to include tipping. It's one of those things that used to trip me up on a visit to USA until they started putting the actual amount plus % on the bill, so I know what's expected. I keep my opinion on the issues inherent in being paid in such a way to myself at all times whilst there.

 

[siren0119]

Yes, I know to include tipping. It's one of those things that used to trip me up on a visit to USA until they started putting the actual amount plus % on the bill, so I know what's expected. I keep my opinion on the issues inherent in being paid in such a way to myself at all times whilst there.

I figured, it was as much for the benefit of others who might read this post looking for the same information And as a wife to someone who's worked in restaurant for many years, I probably share your views on the practice, but also appreciate that you don't punish the servers on account of the system they are working within

 

[Heather07438]

My SiL is joining us this trip, I told her to budget $35-40 out of pocket for the 4 TS credit tips. Usually $7-10 per TS credit.

 

[Faldred]

Ok, I typically value the mug at $0 since it's variable per night (same price regardless of length of stay) and treat it as just a "bonus". That taken care of, we have 2 equations with 3 unknowns (TS, CS, and Snack), so we make one of the unknowns a known - snack since it is easiest to estimate.

Running the numbers gives a TS credit break-even value of $49.25 minus the set snack credit value; QS break even is $26.25 minus the set snack credit value. So for a $5 estimate snack value, TS is $44.25 (edited to correct error) and CS is $21.25.

Longer form math...

T + C + 2S = 75.50
2C + 2S = 52.50

Solve the second equation first...

C = ( 52.50 - 2S ) / 2 = 26.25 - S

Plug C into the first equation and solve:

T = 75.50 - ( 26.25 - S ) - 2S = 49.25 - S

 

[Heather07438]

Ok, I typically value the mug at $0 since it's variable per night (same price regardless of length of stay) and treat it as just a "bonus". That taken care of, we have 2 equations with 3 unknowns (TS, CS, and Snack), so we make one of the unknowns a known - snack since it is easiest to estimate.

Running the numbers gives a TS credit break-even value of $49.25 minus the set snack credit value; QS break even is $26.25 minus the set snack credit value. So for a $5 estimate snack value, TS is $45.25 and CS is $21.25.

Longer form math...

T + C + 2S = 75.50
2C + 2S = 52.50

Solve the second equation first...

C = ( 52.20 - 2S ) / 2 = 26.25 - S

Plug C into the first equation and solve:

T = 75.50 - ( 26.25 - S ) - 2S = 49.25 - S

You absolutely right about the mug. I shouldn't have included it as $5 for 1 day of credits, we usually deduct $5 or $10 from our whole trip because we buy resort drinks when we don't have the mug. That puts my numbers right around yours then.
DDP is 75.50 = $44 + $21 + $5 + $5
QSDP is 52.50 = $21 + $21 + $5 + $5

For people who would do buffets & alcohol regardless, it's easier to hit these numbers.

 

[DrunkJam]

I have usually got one cocktail per trip! This time, since they are included and I don't have childcare to do, I will certainly be trying more!

 

[elaine amj]

I was thinking of doing one night of QSDP solely for the purpose of converting to snack credits for the Festival of the Arts food booths.

For a one night stay, 2 ppl would get 16 snack credits for $110.40. That is $6.90 per snack credit. Snacks at the Festival range from $6-8 so this is barely break even point. So I am really not sure what to do.

 

[Faldred]

I was thinking of doing one night of QSDP solely for the purpose of converting to snack credits for the Festival of the Arts food booths.

For a one night stay, 2 ppl would get 16 snack credits for $110.40. That is $6.90 per snack credit. Snacks at the Festival range from $6-8 so this is barely break even point. So I am really not sure what to do.

If you'd get good use out of the resort mug, that may tip the scales. Otherwise you may just be better off not using QSDP.

 

[elaine amj]

If you'd get good use out of the resort mug, that may tip the scales. Otherwise you may just be better off not using QSDP.

And that’s our problem. We wouldn’t make good use out of the mug or the alcoholic beverages either. Then again, if I don’t get QSDP, I could get major sticker shock when there and refuse to do the booths at all haha!

 

[siren0119]

I was thinking of doing one night of QSDP solely for the purpose of converting to snack credits for the Festival of the Arts food booths.

For a one night stay, 2 ppl would get 16 snack credits for $110.40. That is $6.90 per snack credit. Snacks at the Festival range from $6-8 so this is barely break even point. So I am really not sure what to do.

Having done Food & wine twice, I feel like $50 per person isn't nearly enough - meaning you'll end up spending OOP anyway unless you severely restrict yourself. The dining plans are not designed to save you any money, and it may actually end up making you feel more restricted overall.

 

[sharonabe]

I was thinking of doing one night of QSDP solely for the purpose of converting to snack credits for the Festival of the Arts food booths.

For a one night stay, 2 ppl would get 16 snack credits for $110.40. That is $6.90 per snack credit. Snacks at the Festival range from $6-8 so this is barely break even point. So I am really not sure what to do.

The other variable here is what you eat. You can't just convert the QS credits into snack credits to be used wherever. You have to "purchase" 3 snack items at one time at one booth, so if there aren't 3 things you want, you can't use the QS credit anyway.

 

[siren0119]

The other variable here is what you eat. You can't just convert the QS credits into snack credits to be used wherever. You have to "purchase" 3 snack items at one time at one booth, so if there aren't 3 things you want, you can't use the QS credit anyway.

This is a very important point. If you're trying to calculate everything as a snack credit - you will HAVE to buy 3 items at the same booth when you convert a QS credit. Now that's not out of the realm of possiblity if you get 2 drinks and a food item, or a drink, food item and dessert....but that will also reduce the number of booths you can taste from overall (and increase your OOP expenses when you inevitably want to try ALL THE THINGS LOL)

 

[elaine amj]

This is a very important point. If you're trying to calculate everything as a snack credit - you will HAVE to buy 3 items at the same booth when you convert a QS credit. Now that's not out of the realm of possiblity if you get 2 drinks and a food item, or a drink, food item and dessert....but that will also reduce the number of booths you can taste from overall (and increase your OOP expenses when you inevitably want to try ALL THE THINGS LOL)

Good point - still debating what to do. We may do QSDP for actual meals in DHS and Satuli and then use the snack credits for the Holiday booths and supplement OOP. Just having a hard time letting go of the crutch of DDP lol

 

[Faldred]

One possible replacement "crutch" is to get a gift card and pre-load it with more than you expect to spend on snacks. That way, if you go over "budget", you've still got that "pre-paid" convenience, and if you go under, you canuse the remaining balance to (partially) pay off any room charges or get an extra souvenir.