staying on property, not doing the DDP. Is this more hassle than it's worth?!

[Nature Mom]

I'll be staying at BLT in 3 wks in a studio. I don't want to spend the money on the DDP, but I'm not sure about dinners in a studio (microwave and toaster only). Any dinner suggestions for 2 adults staying in a studio unit?

Take a crockpot if you can (and if they allow it-I've never stayed there so I don't know). I have learned to bring my own crockpot along on trips, so easy to cook so many different things in. Also things like Uncle Ben's Rice in the microwave pack, some fresh veggies in a steamer pack that you can also stick in the microwave, fresh fruit and a rotisserie chicken from Publix has been many a meal for my family when we found ourselves in a hotel with a kitchenette over the years. It was actually our meal the night before the last shuttle launch in a ratty hotel in Titusville. My kids are still raving about that trip, so I guess they didn't miss going out to eat. lol

 

[kvnchapman]

Oh yes...I am still on the Diet Coke!! People are ON me all the time about how poisonous it is. It keeps migraines away and that's all I care about!!

I really appreciate the kind words! I might just write a trip report for this trip. I have some time after we get back before school starts up and I'm get crazy busy again!! Last summer, oh lordy...Miss Sally is no longer a baby. She is a teen as of April and Moody Judy has NOTHING on SallyRally. Teddy is going to be 10!! I don't know where the time has gone but these kids have gone grown up on me!

OH..and last night the hubs says to me "Well, what if we got two rooms at a mod or a value...wouldn't that be cheaper?" WHAT?! You wave Beach Club and Boardwalk Villas in my face then try to yank me backwards?!

I'm sure he's right. Even renting DVC points, if you break it down by night, it's still REALLY pricey when you compare it to two values or even two mods.

But I say, you can't put a price on RELAXATION! right? Curse my husband's spendthrift ways!!!

Ok. If DH insists on reiging in the money, you have to look at Bonnet Creek (next door to Caribbean Beach). Units are big and modern. Pools are wondeful an dhave slides and a huge lazy river. You can watch MK and Epcot fireworks from your balcony. All of the villas have a laundry room and a full kitchen. Nov 2011, we rented a 2BR/2BA (1200 sq ft, I think) for approx $675 for a week. Combine that with YES tickets (premium with hoppers and wp&m) which cost about $200 per person = $1475. Use their free shuttle (0), buy groceries like you would at home (0), and splurge on a few special meals, treats and souvenirs ($300). I don't know your transporatation costs (plane vs driving vs transfers), but before that cost you will total less than $1800 for deluxe accomodations and souped up tickets, plus a couple of nice meals out.
I can't wait to read another TR!!

 

[torinsmom]

DDP is just too expensive for us and I don't like to stop every day for a TS meal. We stay offsite at Emerald Island or Indian Creek and almost always have breakfast and lunch at the condo/house. It took us less time to get there in our car than it took for us to get back to Pop when we stayed there(waiting for the bus to come + the ride+ walking from the bus stop to our room), I'd say 20 minutes from walking out the exit of the park to our door except for MK, which adds about 15 minutes for the monorail. We picked up easy stuff for breakfast, like bagels, pancakes, pop tarts, donuts, toast, cereal, etc. For lunch we had sandwiches, mac and cheese, pizza, etc. Then we would go back to the parks at dinner time and have a Disney meal for that. I found that kids meals were plenty for either of us and they are a lot cheaper than an adult meal. We also brought in a few snacks, got the free ice water and stuff like that to cut down costs. We always splurge on one snack a day though.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I thought I would throw in my 2¢ ~

We love the dining plan. We eat very simply and frugally throughout the year and don't eat out much, so splurging on food is one of the highlights of our vacations (although let's face it - WDW is no longer a food Mecca like it used to be ages ago). I suggest you price out where you might want to go and use the dining credits on you & your husband and pay OOP for your kids. In other words, work it to your advantage. A few signature meals and a character meal or two (or luau, or hoop de do) and you might come out ahead.

 

[zurgswife]

DVCers for many years. When the kids were little we would easily eat 80% of our meals at our villa....we would head back for lunch and naps.

Today that they are older we tend to have breakfast and about 3-4 dinners. Lunch is usually in the parks but I do spend a few dollars on lunch supplies just in case someone is at the villa..

Dinners include a few quick chicken dishes, spaghetti, hamburgers/hot dogs, Some thing that is not too gourmet but tasty..

I also did DDP when it was the full plan many years ago and it was worth it...today I can't figure on why most people would do it. It certainly doesn't work for my family of many teens.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

You could consider pre paying for your Disney meals with a Disney Gift Card. You can add $ to an exsisting card *say $25, $50... twice a month, once a month... I add $$ to my Disney Gift Cards by calling DelivEARS ~ 877-560-6477 *you give the CM your credit/debit card info and they mail you the receipt. Last time I did this *a couple months ago* the $$ was on the GC the next day.

 

[Toystoryfan32]

We have done the dining plan but it just isn't practical for us anymore. It is so expensive. My kids don't eat that much and on our next trip both our kids will be considered adults. We hate being tied down to our reservations so we just do a couple of table services per trip. The rest of the time we just do counter service so we can eat and get backs to the parks.