Purchase the DDP or Cook

[Buckeye Fan]

Cook? That's like a four-letter word!

We usually get the DDP and eat whatever we want. I'm not a cooker at home, so on vacation, there is no way it's going to happen!

Ditto.

We do keep groceries in our room for breakfast and some lunches, though, so we don't do the dining plan. I think you could balance the two, and have a wonderful trip. Last thing you want to do is spend your time cooking and cleaning up in the room every evening.

As for how we get groceries, we rarely have a car at WDW, so we have Garden Grocer deliver. They have done a fabulous job, and I would highly recommend them.

 

[Lost boy]

What about the counter service plan for 09 I think it was 29.99 for adults you get 2cs meals and 2 snacks I believe. We're going last week of Jan. DW two DS's 18 and 16 and myself. We think the boys will be off on their own most of the time and thought this might be convienant. Do you guys think that price is ok?

 

[Laurabearz]

Since you are switching resorts a few times... How about having the DDP for one segment of your trip., that way if there are some TS places your dying to try, you can do so, cheaply.

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I think I will cook and eat a couple of meals out. I love the ideas of making quick simple foods.


Thanks again

 

[alldiz]

I would do a Combo.....I don't think you will like cooking for your whole vacation.

I would do a combo....cook/DDP...or just OOP for meals.
Happy planning...sounds like a great trip
Kerri

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

We also dont buy the DDP but we have purchased the Tables in Wonderland that gets you a discount if you do decide to eat out at Disney.

We have always found that the DDP almost shoves food on you. We figured we paid for that many meals, we need to eat them.

For that reason we stopped getting the DDP. I also enjoy cooking breakfast for the family and packing a lunch for the parks is MUCH healthier than most fo the food offerings at the parks (but there are some good ones at the parks as well). Also now with the cost of DDP so high, we see even more reason to not go back to that program.

We also like to go off-site every so often to eat, much less expensive and a good break from all things Disney. I know I sound like a heritic there, but we do sometimes get a bit overwhelmed with Disney Theming.

 

[lanand3]

We are also trying to save money but I also do not like to cook,especially on vacation We are going to have breakfast most mornings in the room(cereal,waffles,etc),bring some snacks with us(granola bars,etc).We wil have adr's for a few places we really want to eat and then just do counter service whenever we feel hungry.This will be much cheaper than the ddp and give us a little more freedom instead of planning around the adr's like on our last trip.Many of the counter service places the meals are plenty large enough to share so there is also savings there.

 

[dopeygirl76]

We are in the no DDP for the same reasons already listed but mainly for the ages of our girls. I do not mind cooking on vacation but keep it simple and use a crock pot - thanks OL!!!! We have had meatloaf, spaghetti and meatballs, baked chicken, tacos, pork tenderloin, hamburgers and more!! We are also going to try packing our lunch this year - if not just for the girls. We found that the limited options for them got boring after a week. Even the grapes (my girls are fruit fanatics) were turned down by day three!!! Although our reasons are more for our sanity than money - there will definately be a savings there also!!!

 

[wulfekamp]

Its DDP all the way for me. I love to eat good food and since I can't cook good food its a no brainer. I love eating at the countrys in Epcot.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We've used the DDP several times, but I also enjoy cooking simple meals in the Villa.

My boys dont like sitting in restaurants and this last trip in September, we really did not enjoy the DDP and it was free. The choices were limited, and some of the servers left alot to be desired.

Mine grew tired of grapes also but did not like the other offerings. The desserts in the cups are just nasty. Not worth the calories. There were some good snacks but only a few. If we paid OOP for the things we liked, instead of getting what the DDP gave us, we would have saved money.

We stay DVC 30-45 days a year. DDP costs us $1000 a week. $1000 a week and no lobster, no filet, no shrimp, and no crab?

We have our favorites list and I can count those restaurants on 1 hand.
We also enjoy many of the restaurants that are not on DDP. A good combo for us would be cooking and TIW for meals we eat out.

 

[CarolynK]

We're BWV members, and are not DDP people. Eating out with two small children can be stressful (mine are 13 and 11, and I still wouldn't do it ). As far as preparing meals in your villa taking up valuable park time, you're probably going back to the villa for a break anyway, right? We've found that eating a quick pasta meal in the room is actually faster than eating out at a Disney restaurant! The kids can be relaxing, playing in the comfort of your own room....Have fun planning!