Should we do DDP?

[tvsdisney]

So we are headed to Disney in December!!! Cannot wait!!! We will be there for 9 nights and I'm debating on doing the dinning plan. It will be just my son and I...he is 7. Is it worth it to buy the dinning plan? We would like some table service meals as well as character meals, but I know that I won't want desert with every meal and I would rather a salad or a glass of wine every once in a while on the flip side my son needs to eat 3 meals a day plus a snack time to time to keep him going! I was thinking I'd have garden grocer deliver some breakfast items as well so that shouldn't be an issue. What is everyone's opinion as I am new to all of this!! Thanks for any help!!

 

[twocat]

It's so hard to say.

Have a look at this current thread where people are discussing the DDPs. There is good discussion on the pros and cons of using the plan.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2762585&page=1

 

[traceym]

We have always purchased the dining plan when we go to WDW. We like not having to worry about paying for food. This year we went for the first time on the deluxe dinning plan. I personally found it to be just a little bit more food than I like (I'm not a big breakfast eater, then rest of my fam. is). I kept all our receipts to tally everything up once we returned. We did not eat anything that we would not have ordered had we not been on the plan. We saved $446 by having the plan versus paying OOP.
We will continue to go to WDW on the dining plan. It is a great value we think. We tried a couple signature restaurants this trip and loved them. On our next trip to the world we plan to only eat a couple TS breakfast meals and save those extra credits for more signature restaurants.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[sleeperclan]

Another thing you may want to do before actually getting the DP is look to see if you can even get any reservations for December. The 180 day window is waaay past and I'd hate to see you waste your money!

 

[minnie mum]

The PP makes a very good point about availability.

The only way to know for sure whether the DDP is going to be a value for you is to look at the menus and prices, add up what you and your son would likely eat normally, then compare that total with what the DDP would cost.

We found that for us (2 adults), and the way we prefer to eat, the plan just barely was worth it. But if you think you would prefer apps or a salad, and no entree or dessert occasionally, and might opt for the occasional wine instead of the included beverage, then my bet is that it wouldn't be worth the cost.

It really depends on each family's eating habits. You'll just have to do the math and see (and that's always the part I hate to do)

 

[SnipsNSnails]

The DDP can be a great deal when a child is involved. The cost for 1 day is usually less than the cost of the Disney Buffets. So if you plan on several of those it might really be worth it since his CS and snack are essentially free + a slight discount on his buffet. We are planning on 4 buffets, I'm figuring $50+ in savings by doing DDP (then we got FD) on just my son who will be 5.