Saved money by NOT using Dining Plan

[patsal]

You could do DDE but IMO it doesn't save you a lot- just the tip basically- unless you are eating at a lot of a la carte places. The DDP would save you much more than that if you are eating at fixed price places (FOR DINNER.)

Essentially, your fixed price TS dinner would cost the same as the daily cost of the plan. Your CS meals and snacks would be a bonus. Yes, DDE would save you about $100 or so for 6 meals but you'd pay about $90 of that in tips and still have to pay for your CS meals and snacks. Just something to consider.

If your kids are both willing to order just an entree off the kid's menus at a la carte places, skipping the whole you pick it thing, it'll run you between $4-6 for their entrees at TS.

Not to be a pain, but the DDE still saves 20% on all items you order, all apps, all entress, all desserts, all beverages including alcohol. Sure you don't ahve a choice in tipping--it is an automatic 18%, but for many that just means a 2% savings in what they used to tip! Anyway my thoughts for DDE is that I save much more than I would using the DDP or DXDDP since I have to pay the tip on any of the plans now.
Tony's
4 salads 5.49 each(21.96)
4 entrees $80.96 (mixture of price range to meet our families individual preferences)
2 desserts $11.48
3 soft drinks $6.87 (DD is allergic to sulfer and must bring her own bottled water to MK)
total 121.27
discount $24.25
new subtotal $97.02
tax $6.30
tip$21.82
adjusted total: $125.14

DDP $99.31 covered on DDP
21.96 OOP
1.42 tax on non DDP items
tip $21.82
total OOP $45.20

If I didn't use the DDE this meal would have been
$7.88 tax , $121.27 food, $21.82 tip so $150.97 for a saving of $25.83 on the DDE vs. no discount.


All people on DDP are adults thus price for DDP is $152 per day rounded
($52.69 left for lunch and snacks--we would not spend that much--$37 for a CS (1 entree each and 3 softdrinks, again excluding DD with her own bottled water, and if we had snacks about $6.39)

 

[LizinSTL]

Not to be a pain, but the DDE still saves 20% on all items you order, all apps, all entress, all desserts, all beverages including alcohol. Sure you don't ahve a choice in tipping--it is an automatic 18%, but for many that just means a 2% savings in what they used to tip! Anyway my thoughts for DDE is that I save much more than I would using the DDP or DXDDP since I have to pay the tip on any of the plans now.
Tony's
4 salads 5.49 each(21.96)
4 entrees $80.96 (mixture of price range to meet our families individual preferences)
2 desserts $11.48
3 soft drinks $6.87 (DD is allergic to sulfer and must bring her own bottled water to MK)
total 121.27
discount $24.25
new subtotal $97.02
tax $6.30
tip$21.82
adjusted total: $125.14

DDP $99.31 covered on DDP
21.96 OOP
1.42 tax on non DDP items
tip $21.82
total OOP $45.20

If I didn't use the DDE this meal would have been
$7.88 tax , $121.27 food, $21.82 tip so $150.97 for a saving of $25.83 on the DDE vs. no discount.


All people on DDP are adults thus price for DDP is $152 per day rounded
($52.69 left for lunch and snacks--we would not spend that much--$37 for a CS (1 entree each and 3 softdrinks, again excluding DD with her own bottled water, and if we had snacks about $6.39)

In all fairness, I said on FIXED price TS meals...you quoted an a la carte place. In the case of fixed price ts meals, the DDE only saves you the tip, essentially, whereas the DDP can, potentially, save you much more.

 

[TDC Nala]

I was really disappointed that Disney changed it, I felt that the DDP was one way that Disney was making the trip affordable.

I am guessing that with the cost of food and production of food being what it is, the only way Disney could keep the dining plan affordable was by making the changes it made. If the plan was kept intact they would have had to charge more for it, enough to make it unaffordable for many. See the price of the deluxe dining plan.

 

[patsal]

In all fairness, I said on FIXED price TS meals...you quoted an a la carte place. In the case of fixed price ts meals, the DDE only saves you the tip, essentially, whereas the DDP can, potentially, save you much more.

I was only responding to the idea that you only save 2% by using the DDE, no, you save 20%. The only way the savings deminish is if you don't tip or tip very little. But then your savings are much more personal since I doubt you'd hear many say I saved $20+ per meal by just not tipping!

Still though DDE is a savings when used for a AYCE or buffet

LTT 4 as adults
$115.96 for the meal
-23.19 for the DDE discount
+6.03 tax
+ 20.87 tip
Total with DDE
$119.67

Not on DDE
$144.36
Savings of $24.69

 

[LizinSTL]

I was only responding to the idea that you only save 2% by using the DDE, no, you save 20%. The only way the savings deminish is if you don't tip or tip very little. But then your savings are much more personal since I doubt you'd hear many say I saved $20+ per meal by just not tipping!

Still though DDE is a savings when used for a AYCE or buffet

LTT 4 as adults
$115.96 for the meal
-23.19 for the DDE discount
+6.03 tax
+ 20.87 tip
Total with DDE
$119.67

Not on DDE
$144.36
Savings of $24.69

Plus the annual cost of the DDE, the additional expense of an AP if you are not a resident of FL. Only a small percentage of guests can really benefit from the DDE, whereas most people who stay on-site could choose to benefit from the DDP.

If all things were equal when we went at the end of May, our OOP costs for the DDP and uncovered items plus tips was about $1100 for our disney dining meals CS, snacks, TS, cocktails, an appetizer or two, etc.

Had we used the DDE, our OOP for the same exact meals (which is how we eat anyway and the only fair way to make a true comparison) would have been just under $1200.
Plus the cost of the DDE card plus the cost of the AP ($200 ish for the upgrade to the AP)

If you already have an AP, already have the DDE, will be visiting frequently in that year, don't have kids the plan, eat mostly a la carte restaurants and/or drink a lot of alcohol..... then the DDP would rarely, if ever "win" in a comparison. That's not the impression I got from the OP that I responded to- it seemed like the meals that she mentioned would be more appropriate for the DDP than soley on the DDE.

I haven't seen any proponents of the DDE convince me that it's better when most of your meals are fixed price dinners and you've got kids on the plan. I just haven't.

 

[patsal]

Plus the annual cost of the DDE, the additional expense of an AP if you are not a resident of FL. Only a small percentage of guests can really benefit from the DDE, whereas most people who stay on-site could choose to benefit from the DDP.

If all things were equal when we went at the end of May, our OOP costs for the DDP and uncovered items plus tips was about $1100 for our disney dining meals CS, snacks, TS, cocktails, an appetizer or two, etc.

Had we used the DDE, our OOP for the same exact meals (which is how we eat anyway and the only fair way to make a true comparison) would have been just under $1200.
Plus the cost of the DDE card plus the cost of the AP ($200 ish for the upgrade to the AP)

If you already have an AP, already have the DDE, will be visiting frequently in that year, don't have kids the plan, eat mostly a la carte restaurants and/or drink a lot of alcohol..... then the DDP would rarely, if ever "win" in a comparison. That's not the impression I got from the OP that I responded to- it seemed like the meals that she mentioned would be more appropriate for the DDP than soley on the DDE.

I haven't seen any proponents of the DDE convince me that it's better when most of your meals are fixed price dinners and you've got kids on the plan. I just haven't.

You are absolutely correct when tehfixed price meals come into play. If you are a family that goes to WDW infrequently, have children that are under 10, eat a great number of price fixed buffets and AYCE then hands down the DDP is still the way to go.
That was not what I was trying to point out, however, it was the statement that the DDE only saves about 2%, that isn't quite right and that was what I was trying to point out.
As you pointed out, the DDP can be so subjective depending upon party size and TS location choice that what works for one family may not work for every family. I'm certain I would buy the DDP if we were going with extended family that rarely go to WDW as their children would want to enjoy character meals and ahve those photo ops. Paying for four of those meals at adult prices even with DDE would blow the budget and put me back to a place where the savings would be on the side of the DDP.
I really liked the DDP when it was a sure thing to at least break even.

 

[Katiebell]

Plus the annual cost of the DDE, the additional expense of an AP if you are not a resident of FL. Only a small percentage of guests can really benefit from the DDE, whereas most people who stay on-site could choose to benefit from the DDP.

If all things were equal when we went at the end of May, our OOP costs for the DDP and uncovered items plus tips was about $1100 for our disney dining meals CS, snacks, TS, cocktails, an appetizer or two, etc.

Had we used the DDE, our OOP for the same exact meals (which is how we eat anyway and the only fair way to make a true comparison) would have been just under $1200.
Plus the cost of the DDE card plus the cost of the AP ($200 ish for the upgrade to the AP)

If you already have an AP, already have the DDE, will be visiting frequently in that year, don't have kids the plan, eat mostly a la carte restaurants and/or drink a lot of alcohol..... then the DDP would rarely, if ever "win" in a comparison. That's not the impression I got from the OP that I responded to- it seemed like the meals that she mentioned would be more appropriate for the DDP than soley on the DDE.

I haven't seen any proponents of the DDE convince me that it's better when most of your meals are fixed price dinners and you've got kids on the plan. I just haven't.

I agree. We live on the West Coast, and visit DL about once a year -- but we don't even have AP's there! Just not worth it for our once a year trek. And this is only our second trip to WDW, so not being FL residents or having an AP, we don't qualify for the DDE.

Now that guests pay for tips OOP on the DDP, it's a more fair comparison. We don't have children going with us, and we eat at some fixed price meals but mostly ala carte, and we'd still come out ahead on the DDP vs the DDE.

When you pay for the DDP, you are paying for the meals with no further OOP expense for the food (not counting tips because you pay them now with DDP or DDE...although DDE makes the tips a mandatory 18%). The DDE card costs $60, so the first $60 in savings is a wash. Thats...the first $300 you spend on food? The $60 you save (20% of $300) is negated by the cost of the card.

Looking at just one day's typical menu:

Breakfast (food court)
Snack -- 3.50

Lunch (Tangierine)
Chicken Sharwarma Platter -- 11.95
Drink -- 2.00
Baklava -- 2.50

Dinner (Le Cellier)
Filet -- 34.99
Drink -- 2.50
Creme Brulee -- 6.99

Cost OOP would be 68.93, with tax.

The DDE would give a 20% discount before tax, 12.89, so the day's meals would cost...56.04? Maybe a bit less, because the tax is less after the 20% discount? Not sure...

On the DDP, the day's meals cost 37.99.

DDE saves 20% (assuming you've already spent over $300 on food that year so the discount is now more than the cost of the DDE card)
DDP saves 41%

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree, you can always save high percentages on the DDP when dining at the most expensive CS and TS locations and ordering the highest price items on the menu.

I still feel that every family needs to look at the DDP objectively for themselves. Not what you could order but what you would order. If every person always ordered every expensive thing that they COULD order - everyone would save on the plan every time.

Not everyone wants dessert at every lunch and dinner - some prefer appetizers

Not everyone wants their own entree every time. Many do, but not everyone.

Not everyone wants an entire meal for lunch - some like snacking their way around Disney.

Not everyone eats at the most expensive restaurants every night. Some do, but not everyone.

The DDP, DDE and OOP debate will never be fully settled because every family and every vacation is different.

Some save without the DDP, and I think that's as great as those that save with the DDP. I just see no reason to say that you can't save without the DDP and if you DO save that your somehow skimping on your vacation.

Vacation is what you make of it, and how you pay and how you save is individual and it's great that there are many ways to save - so everyone can be happy with their own way.

 

[n2mm]

I agree, you can always save high percentages on the DDP when dining at the most expensive CS and TS locations and ordering the highest price items on the menu.

I still feel that every family needs to look at the DDP objectively for themselves. Not what you could order but what you would order. If every person always ordered every expensive thing that they COULD order - everyone would save on the plan every time.

Not everyone wants dessert at every lunch and dinner - some prefer appetizers

Not everyone wants their own entree every time. Many do, but not everyone.

Not everyone wants an entire meal for lunch - some like snacking their way around Disney.

Not everyone eats at the most expensive restaurants every night. Some do, but not everyone.

The DDP, DDE and OOP debate will never be fully settled because every family and every vacation is different.

Some save without the DDP, and I think that's as great as those that save with the DDP. I just see no reason to say that you can't save without the DDP and if you DO save that your somehow skimping on your vacation.

Vacation is what you make of it, and how you pay and how you save is individual and it's great that there are many ways to save - so everyone can be happy with their own way.

I agree. Thanks, I was going to post almost the exact thing. While katiebell does a good job at keeping it simple, I agree with you that I would never be eating desert for both meals everyday. I don't get the most expensive thing on the CS menu...Yes I pass on the double cheeseburger and will request a single one...gasp. We often will share a drink, not to save money, but because I don't like soda and always have a bottle of water with me. We don't get the most expensive thing on the menu either and will share a desert, or both get one if we want. We found that the DDE works better for us, because of our eating pattern. I've posted recently that during our Feb trip we kept a log and found we never went over the $76 a day the DDP cost for 2 adults, but that was often with 2 TS meals a day and not 1 CS and 1TS. Yes at least once we were at $80, but more often we were around $60, so it balanced itself. The DDE works great for us, because we vacation in WDW 4-6 trips a year, each trip from 1 week to 2 weeks. The cost of our DDE card has been met during our 10 day Feb trip, so we had all savings during our 12 day April trip. We like adult beverages, so the savings adds up there, and free valet is a pretty good perk. So while the DDP is a good upfront paid meal plan, we don't find any real savings anymore for us. However from 2005-2007 we used the DDP at least 10 trips, so many, many times, and in it's former life with appetizers and tips included, yes it was a great plan and we used it WITH the DDE discounts then. We thought we would miss it when we skipped it in Feb and April this year, but we didn't and my hips didn't miss it either.

 

[darner]

Thank you all for your comments & insights into your own personal experiences and opinions on the DDP.

For the money savings part of it, paying OOP (including tips) put us under the cost of the DDP (w/o tips)... so add in the tips w/ DDP and we saved even more.

The biggest thing in my opinion was we didn't worry about how many TS / CS / S points we had left each day, etc. We ate when / where / what we wanted... We did do Boma buffet, Sci-Fi TS, Rose & Crown TS, Momma Melrose TS, etc. And we did get a good quantity of snacks. And it ended up costing us about $30 less than DDP. We definitely would have run out of snack points which would have had us paying DDP PLUS OOP!!!

I think you need to evaluate your dining patterns and expectations and decide for yourselves. I witnessed several people using the DDP who were out of their snack points who were paying cash for these items... add those costs to what at first you thought would be "Fixed Food Costs" and you're exceeding your budget. Disney knows this! Do you really think they'd set up a plan to "save 20%" on food costs and somehow NOT make money on this!

 

[figarofan]

A case for the DDE...

I am glad there is a choice of the DDP or the DDE.

I travel from California with family and only one of us gets the annual pass (normally for the purpose of hotel discount or because of planned return visit) and DDE card the others do not (unless they are returning within the year).

We get a great value with the DDE because of the way and what we eat. I enjoy a wine or cocktail and that also is discounted with the DDE. We rarely all eat a dessert.

I know when I had thought about getting the DDP a few years back, I found myself thinking of how to get the most expensive items on the menu...well being Vegetarians and Vegans what we order typically costs much less than most of the other main courses.

Plus, I don't want to figure out the TS/CS/Snack credits. I know for most people it is fun and easy to do for me it is a headache.

I like pulling out the DDE card and knowing all is included...even the tip.

But that is the beauty of the DDE and DDP...we have a choice to pick the dining option that best fits our needs/wants.

 

[Girly_Qs]

I think you need to evaluate your dining patterns and expectations and decide for yourselves. I witnessed several people using the DDP who were out of their snack points who were paying cash for these items... add those costs to what at first you thought would be "Fixed Food Costs" and you're exceeding your budget.

I agree "you need to evaluate your dining patterns" - we've ALWAYS had snack credits left-over, and ended up burning them on items to take home with us (little cookie boxes, etc).

 

[Cottager]

Does the DDE card work at all food outlets including quick service? For example, I noticed that the "Mara" quick service restaurant at AKL is not listed under the DDE web sites.

What about the food carts and other snack outlets in the parks? Does the DDE work there too or is it really more for sit down meals?

Thanks.

 

[Tricia1972]

Does the DDE card work at all food outlets including quick service? For example, I noticed that the "Mara" quick service restaurant at AKL is not listed under the DDE web sites.

What about the food carts and other snack outlets in the parks? Does the DDE work there too or is it really more for sit down meals?

Thanks.

DDE is more for the sit down meals. I cannot think of one snack cart that you can use the DDE at.

Mara is a case of a quick service that you would generally not expect a DDE discount because there are TS locations there that you can use the DDE card at.