Regular DP vs Deluxe DP

[Dragonfly_34]

We're having a problem deciding between the regular dining plan and the deluxe dining plan. We are arriving at 11:30am on a Thursday and will be at Disney for 5 nights, 6 days. It will be DH, myself and DS2. Because DS is under 3, he's not included in the dining plan, so unless he's sharing meals with DH or myself, we'll be paying OOP for his meals, drinks, snacks...etc. We were originally thinking of getting the regular dining plan but then looked at menus and prices. DH is a big guy and can eat quite a bit ~ DS loves a big breakfast (he usually eats his and then some of mine) and smaller snacks/meals during the day, with a decent size dinner. With factoring in paying for one meal/day for the three of us, snacks for us and DS (mostly drinks) and the two character meals we want to do, I'm wondering if it's not more economical to get the deluxe plan. That way we'd have three meals/day and four snacks to stretch between the three of us. Any recommendations from people who have traveled with toddlers who were too young to be included in the dining plan?

Thanks!

 

[suzyqsam]

I was curious too about the DDP. I read that you get three meals, but it was unclear to me as to what type the meals are-qs, ts or can you decide what type you want?

 

[Dragonfly_34]

From what I saw, it's any combination of CS or TS that you choose, plus you get 2 snacks per person per day and a resort-refillable mug per person.

 

[TRICKY_TINK]

On the deluxe you can do all three ts meals, everyday. That being said it's a lot of food. To OP we have done your senario once and it was too much planing around our food for us. 1. Three sit down meals is a lot for a toddler to sit through. 2. You aren't going to use snacks on the good stuff, you'll use them to by drinks which stinks. 3. with only so many hour between each meal an good touring plan is critical but still the days won't play out the way you thought they would. 4. Its a lot of tip money for that many sit downs to add that into your equation. 5. Kids meals are under 10 bucks, most right at 5 buck throughout the world. 6. Breakfast can be purchased at your resort for under 30.00 a day for 2 adults and 1 child. 7. CS lunches are a great value at many quick service places. i.e Rays starlight cafe, pepper market at CSR, wolf gang puck express downtown, you could easily share a meal at these with the little one. I know its tempting to splurge on the deluxe, especially during free dining but I seem to resist every year when I think about the time we did it. I personally just felt too rushed and too stuffed. Besides I think I gained about 1lb a day and didn't not lose it as easily once back home. Have fun with what ever you choose.

 

[havoc315]

It is 3 meal credits per day, that are valid for TS or CS.

While I question the value of the ddp for most families, I recognize that the DxDP can be good value for people who really love higher end TS experiences.

The pros --- more than enough food, should never have to pay oop for anything except tips and alcohol. With the inclusion of appetizers, more snacks,mugs, it can lead to very significant savings. No need to ever do CS.

The cons--- it is expensive. With a large amount of tips then also being added. It can be too much food. And an often heard complaint --- too much time in restaurants.

The reality -- 3 full sitdown meals per day may be too much for some people, but there are families who like it.

A more common use -- including a lot of 2-credit dining experiences. So fir example, a 1-credit character breakfast, and then signature dinner.
Or 2 credit CRT lunch, with Epcot TS dinner.

Mathematically, the plan makes sense if you would end up using almost all the credits, and use 2/3rd of them for TS. (typically). Of course, this isn't true if you skip desserts, appetizers, cheaper entrees, etc.

So, let's say you were staying 4 nights -- 12 credits per person.
If you did 3 TS lunches for 1 credits, 1 CS lunch. Then did 2 signature dinners, plus 2 regular TS dinners. Then did 2 CS breakfasts.
You would have used all 12 credits, with 3 used for CS and 9 used for TS -- you probably saved a fair amount of money on the plan.

On the other hand, if you did CS breakfast, CS lunch, and 1 credit TS dinner, then it was probably a money loser.

 

[sjs314]

This will be the first time ever we have used the DP and we have opted for the DxDP since the other plans do not fit how we like to eat when at Disney. So I think that is the first thing you need to evaluate.

Do you like Appitizers? (included on DxDP)

Do you enjoy desserts? (included on DDP & DxDP)

Do you prefer a TS meal in A/C as opposed to waiting in a long line at CS and then searching for a table located outside in the heat many times to eat at?

Do you like to start your day off with a Big Breakfast?

Do you normally purchase the refillable resort mug? (included on the DxDP $13.99+tax)

Do you like a TS lunch or dinner or both?

Are you planning on Character Meals (which tend to be expensive if paying OOP)

Do you like buffets? Biergarten, Crystal Palace? (these are very expensive pp for Adults)

Are you planning on doing any "Signature" Restaurants during your stay? Le Cellier(for dinner), CRT, Jiko etc all 2 credits on the DP

With DxDP you have "meal credits" 3-TS per day pp (+2 snacks per day pp) which are interchangeable and can be used for TS or CS meals your choice, of course the greater $ value is with the TS but if once in Disney you can cancel a scheduled ADR and just do a CS instead if you choose to, no problem. Whereas with the DDP you will have specific TS and CS credits, one each per day plus 1 snack pp

Where are you staying? Values are more oriented to the QSDP and DDP and Mods and Deluxe toward DDP and DxDP

People say the DxDP is a lot of food, which I agree it is but for DH and I who love to start our day off with a big TS Breakfast and at least a TS lunch or dinner with an Appitizer and dessert for us the best fit is DxDP.
As mentioned by pp's there is the added cost of "tips" at TS .

I am also looking forward to having all our meals paid for in advance and not having to look at the prices on the menu, just order what we want this trip.

I suggest you look at menus of the places you might want to eat and approximate the costs of your meals vs the cost of the DP. I did this and even after taking into account 18-20% tip we should see a savings of aproximately $259 or 38.75% (note: I did not choose the most expensive menu items)
One thing to remember is you will have 2 snacks on the DxDP which are $3-4 value per day pp and your refillable resort mug($14.90)

DDP $45.99 per day per pp (Adult) 1TS, 1CS & 1Snack per day per person

DxDP $78.99 per day per pp (Adult) 3TS, 2Snacks(value $3-4 each) refillable mug($14.90 value)


Difference of $33

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

Well, first of all if you eat at a buffet for any of your meals, your DS will be able to eat for free. So if you do buffet character breakfasts (or any other meal) he'll eat free. We love the buffet/all you can eat breakfasts at Tusker House, Crystal Palace, Akershus, CRT. (Not positive if a 2 year old is free at Akershus or CRT, but I would think so since it's all you can eat.)

We did the DxDp for our trip last week. I saved all our receipts and tallied it up after we got home. For me, DH, and DD age 3 we saved over $150. DH said next time he doesn't want the deluxe plan, which I agree with because next time we go we will have 2 kids (want to go in 2013 when the baby, due in July, is 2). I don't really like the regular dining plan because I like the 2 snacks/person and the drink mugs. We'll probably do the QS plan and pay for one TS each day. When the trip gets closer I plan on estimating what we'll eat and how much it'll cost to decide on the meal plans.

And you do not have to use snack credits for water! All QS/TS restaurants that serve fountain drinks will give you a glass of ice water (we always got large) for free. Then we saved most of our snack credits for things like root beer floats, pretzels, dole whips, etc.

If I were you I would try to make the character meals or other TS meals buffets so you won't have to pay for DS. Then you could buy him a cheap $4.99 kids meal at QS places for your other meals. They are also really good at substituting. DD doesn't like carrots which come with a lot of the kids meals. We were able to get extra grapes or applesauce instead which was excellent.

 

[Dragonfly_34]

Wow, lots of good feedback!

We are staying at one of the moderate resorts, and DH definitely likes appetizers and desserts. We always purchase the souvenir mugs so that was one bonus of the DxDP. A big breakfast is what DH and DS prefer ~ I'm not much of a breakfast eater, but know I'll need to eat something in the mornings. I will be almost 6 1/2 months pregnant with twins when we go on the trip and having reservations at an A/C facility is another HUGE bonus for me, especially since we'll be there over a weekend and the 4th of July so I'm expecting crazy crowds. Also, we are planning at least two character meals, as well as breakfast at the Grand Floridian....and DH has already said he wants to do "pizza night" at our resort. We went through and looked at the menus of the various places he wants to try and most of those children's meals were $8-$9 including a drink. I know we couldn't sit through three TS meals a day though, but in planning out our days it wasn't difficult to factor two TS meals and one QS per day. A favorite bedtime snack for DS is a banana or apple, so I can see snack credits getting used up quickly for things like that....plus with being pregnant who knows what might catch my eye! I want to book everything tomorrow so I guess I'll be spending more time researching this today.

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

A favorite bedtime snack for DS is a banana or apple, so I can see snack credits getting used up quickly for things like that.

I am pretty sure the whole pieces of fruit are only $1 or so, I would not waste a snack credit on that. The fruit cups are usually $3-4, if you want to go that route for a snack credit.

 

[Mom2Elliot]

The deluxe plan works for us. As long as you eat breakfast before park opening, it really doesn't cut into your park time. Deluxe allows us to enjoy all the character meals we can stand I love seeing my sons face at these meals - it will be all too soon that he will be past the magic so we will continue with deluxe to enjoy these meals while we can! If you can afford the price difference and the increase in tip money, do it! Plus, you don't have to eat table service for every meal, and you don't have to keep getting refills at buffets

 

[Colleen27]

The deluxe plan works well for us. You get 3 meals and 2 snacks per night (not per day as some posters have said - that can be an important distinction), and it really gives the trip an all-inclusive feel. And with a child under 3 the plan provides plenty of food for sharing with the little one. We did two trips on the DxDDP with our toddler DD and absolutely loved it. We didn't pay anything OOP for her and had plenty of snacks to use for fruit, milk, and other snacks to tide her over between meals.

As far as logistics go, we usually plan two ADRs per day - breakfast or lunch and dinner. For the missing meal we grab counter service or snacks as needed. That makes both the amount of time and the quantity of food more moderate than trying to do three full TS meals per day. And we do quite a bit of signature dining. DD2 is well behaved and we bring quiet things to keep her occupied while we get to enjoy the kinds of meals we seldom go out for here at home.

 

[mb_uh]

We like DXdp for the reasons that we want to try lots of new restaurants, we love apps, kids like breakfasts in park before opening.

That being said all of our kids are under 9. For your party the cost is $170 more per day if your main reason is cost to upgrade I am pretty sure that you could get breakfast, a few apps, and a few kids meals and snacks for less then that. I would look at it more from do you really want the extras or only TS meals.

 

[sjs314]

We like DXdp for the reasons that we want to try lots of new restaurants, we love apps, kids like breakfasts in park before opening.

That being said all of our kids are under 9. For your party the cost is $170 more per day if your main reason is cost to upgrade I am pretty sure that you could get breakfast, a few apps, and a few kids meals and snacks for less then that. I would look at it more from do you really want the extras or only TS meals.

I am a bit confused by your cost calculations The OP has 3 Adults which would make the DDP cost them $137.97 per day vs $236.97 per day for DxDP. So upgradeing from DDP to DxDP would be $99 per day (3x $33)
not $170

 

[sanapp]

I would have to say to go for Dlx if you can afford the upgrade. I wouldn't worry about having to purchase anything OOP for DS. I have always kept a few snacks for DD in my bag (goldfish crackers......) for when she needs to snack it wasn't convenient. With Dlx you should have more than enough food. If you choose to do some of the character buffet breakfasts I am sure you can take an apple or bannana to have later for your son. DD isn't a huge eater, but she has always love to do the Disney buffets. She is a nibbler, so it gives her quite a few different options. She was excited last year at the Tusker breakfast as they had rice on the buffet for breakfast. She eats a lot of fruit in the morning too which is great.

We are planning Dlx and will be doing 3 breakfast buffets and the Castle. We will use a snack credit or two for our other breakfasts and have an early TS lunch. If doing Dlx I wouldn't try and plan 3 TS a day as that just seems like too much.

I don't think I could do Disney that far along, but I really wouldn't want to do CS pregnant. I just find them very chaotic and really just becomes about eating quickly and ruins it for me.

If you do go with regular DP I would plan on trying to eat lunch a little earlier like at 11:30 as the QS are slow at that time and it is a much better experience and then you can be back in the park when everyone else is eating or going back to you resort for a afternoon break/swim/nap.

 

[cecilia]

good luck in what you pick i do not do them cause we eat at cs places like at mk we had a turkey leg for lunch then we had chili cheese fries so all we eat is fast food type stuff. but i may try the quick service plan

 

[mb_uh]

I am a bit confused by your cost calculations The OP has 3 Adults which would make the DDP cost them $137.97 per day vs $236.97 per day for DxDP. So upgradeing from DDP to DxDP would be $99 per day (3x $33)
not $170

Sorry, not sure what I was thinking- thanks you are right obviouslly

 

[sjs314]

Sorry, not sure what I was thinking- thanks you are right obviouslly

No worries nothing to be sorry about we all have moments like that. I just did not want the OP to become confused about the DP cost.

 

[3pletprincesses]

we did DXDDP 2 weeks ago and loved it. It was ALOT of food but worth every penny. We had breakfast and 1 signature meal a day and honnestely never finished our plate as it was too much food. We had things that we never would have ordered like $58 lobster meal or $41 filet mignon. We had a few days where we were staying off site and hated having to pay out of pocket. We kept looking at the prices at CD meals LOL. We have agreed that we will only do DxDDP from now on. Yes it was alot fo money for the plan as we paid out of pocket but itwas worth it to not have to worry about prices and only having to pay for tips during our trip

 

[Amy&Dan]

No worries nothing to be sorry about we all have moments like that. I just did not want the OP to become confused about the DP cost.

Wait, I am confused, I thought the OP had a two year old, plus herself and her husband. Meaning only two adults to pay for regardless of plan since the two year old eats for free.

OP: If you want to eat two sit downs, appetizers or signuature meals, it might work really well.

I can't imagine eating three sit downs a day but two if you did some signatures might work well. But either way, you need to realize you will be spending a lot of time getting to your ADR's and then waiting to be seated plus the time actually spent eating.

 

[pmaurer74]

We just decided at the last minute to do DxDP though we have been planning for it for months. I am not going to eat as much as I want because I want to enjoy my meals. I am seeing it as an experience for character interaction. All but 2 of our breakfasts are before the park opens. After searching in the heat and long lines last summer we decided to do sit down in the AC when we need a break. The snack credit will give us drinks and snacks. We have a 2 year old so she will benefit from the buffets and sharing her sisters meals. We have 17 ADRs for our trip next week and 9 of them are character meals!