Stick with familiar DDP or try it OOP?

[aubriee]

It's no secret on here that I like the DDPs (basic plan and Deluxe plan at least--have no interest in the CS plan). However, there are a few CS restaurants that I like. Also because I use the DDP every trip there are alot of restaurants I haven't got to go to in several years. Also there are quite a few restaurants where all I really want are appetizers. Consequently I am thinking about getting out of my comfort zone and going with no DDP for my late Sept trip. I'm an AP holder, but because most of my trips are solo I don't think the TIW card would be that good of a deal for me. Sorry to be so long winded, but my question really is: would it be considered rude to sit at the bar for a few meals, order only appetizers, but not order any alcohol? I have nothing against alcohol. I just seldom drink, so would be ordering water or ice tea. or would it be rude to the waiters to make an ADR then order only appetizers? Just playing with numbers, I ran some totals and the basic DDP would cost me $367.92 for my trip and would include 8 CS, 8TS, and 8 snacks (which I never use the snacks and have to rush around on my last day to find something to take home). Looking at the menus on All Ears I could eat what I wanted to, where I wanted to for $353.57 (with tax). This would include 5 CS and 11 TS (with 2 Signatures included in that 11--so what would cost 13 TS credits on the DDP).

 

[OhThePain]

I personally don't find it rude to the waiters or waitresses if you plan on only ordering a non-alcoholic beverage and an appitizer or 2. Without knowing your tipping habbits, if you plan on doing that I would just throw in a little something extra for them (unless they give you an attitude about it... which happens).

As for the DDP or not to DDP question, it sounds to me that you have made up your own mind about it and want to live on the wild side with OOP. If thats the direction your gut is telling you to go, I say go with it.

 

[bicker]

We are now aiming to group our trips together: November 2009 and February 2010; now April 2011 and January 2012. We're still going every year (at least for a weekend), but by staggering them in this way, the Annual Passports make the most sense, admission-wise, and I think once you have APs, if you're going to do at least one sit-down meal a day, the Tables in Wonderland card makes the most sense for dining. You may want to check into that, if you're a AP holder.

 

[Silver Queen]

We have tried DDP and now are much happier with OOP with a TiW. I realize that your calculations indicated that the TiW wouldn't work for you. Our experience with DDP was similar to yours in that we didn't use all of our snack credits and we really weren't interested in a dessert with lunch everyday (especially a CS dessert). I think you should try DDP for this trip and see how it works for you. I also don't think that just ordering appetizers would be a problem. From the discussion on the boards it seems that people often do that or split an entree so I don't think it's rude at all. If you do go OOP just don't get into the mentality of thinking that you have to order the less expensive menu items. That could be a drawback of going DDP. If you do go OOP you would have the advantage of trying some new restaurants that aren't on the plan. During our trip last week we had the opportunity to try Il Mulino and Shula's and in March we will be going to Blue Zoo. Since they recently began accepting TiW we were anxious to try them.
Finally, as you look at the numbers consider that in the event that you do take more than one trip to The World in the course of a calendar year you will do well with the TiW.