Something I can't figure out about the DDP

[Amyshubby]

I am trying to understand something. I am planning a Jan/Feb trip to Disney and am considering the DDP. We are going to stay onsite. Do I have to pay rack rate to get the DDP? Or do you have to pay rack rate only when free DDP is offered. I am going during Value season and hope to get a $225 room for about $175 with discount codes. If I would lose the $50 a night savings on the room, that would negate any savings on the DDP (unless its free, then its obviously worth more then $50 a night).

 

[Mickiethepooh]

You pay rack rate when they offer free dining which of course means it is not free at all.
If you book a package during any other time with a code etc. you just pay the DDP rate for the dining and you pay the code rate for the room. for instance I have a package booked for Nov. it started out at $2200 inc the dining plan, after the General public rate came out for the Holiday special I applied the code and it is now $1666. I still have the dining plan the drop was on the room rate. Hope that is clear.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, fine, "free" dining isn't free, it's a promotional rate - on a sliding scale.
2007 promotion (I haven't calculated 2008 yet, and it will differ; does not include ticket cost due to to many variables)
One person staying in a Value resort pays $92.25 per night for room and $38.99 dining plan cost, with the dining plan value potentially being as high as $50 or $60 depending on food choices.
Family of four - two actual adults, two children staying in a Value resort pays $92.25 for room and $155.96 dining plan cost, with, again, the DP value potentially being much higher.
Now, I'm not saying the one person, or the four people, will eat like this, but:

Sample:
Breakfast: Everything Pop: Yogurt Parfait $3.79, tax $.25 total $4.04
Lunch: Pepper Market: Ribeye Steak $19.95, Cookie $2.35, Soda $1.99 Total lunch $24.29 tax $1.58 tip $2.43 Total check $28.30
Dinner: Restaurant Marrakesh: Seafood Bastilla $6.95, Night in Casablanca $31.95, Crepes $5.95, Soda $2.00 Total dinner $46.85 Tax $3.05 Tip $8.43 Total check $58.33

Total menu price of food for one day, including all amounts covered by DDP = $90.67

If all parties involved WERE just out to 'maximize the plan', the solo traveler ultimately paid a grand total of $1.58 for the hotel room, snack, CS meal and table service meal.
The family of four paid, hold on, negative $270.43. Somethin's free, somewhere