The OCD Trip Planner's Dining Report 9/20-9/28 Completed! 10/17

[catho72]

Conclusion

Whew! I'm finally done!

We love the DDP. We love free DDP better! This is the second time using the DDP. In February, we did the DxDDP. While we enjoyed it, we found it took away too much time from going on rides in the parks. The regular DDP is perfect. 2008 was the first year we had used the dining plans so we weren't too upset by the changes that were implemented this year. Having gratuity included would have been nice but we didn't spend that much on tips (maybe $100-$125).

When I added up the value we received from the free dining, we received over $1,400 in free food. I know some people don't consider it free since we payed rack rate on our resort room and had to pay gratuity OOP, but there's no way we would have saved that kind of money on a room discount at a moderate resort (since we don't have deep enough pockets for a deluxe resort). Had we paid for the DDP, it would have been around $864 for the 5 of us.

In conclusion, we love WDW (duh, or I wouldn't be posting on this board)! The DDP does save our family of 5 money and it allows us to eat at places we wouldn't had we not purchased the DDP.

We can't wait to go back in 2009!

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your reviews with us!

 

[KatMark]

Great reviews. Thanks for sharing.

 

[catho72]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your reviews with us!

Great reviews. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks! I'm glad I wrote this. It will be nice to look back on it and remember, in detail, the minutiae of our dining. My 9 year old thinks her mom is cool for having a "blog" (her term, not mine!).

 

[tink too]

Great reviews - thanks for sharing.

 

[SunnieRN]

Thank you! I really enjoyed your reviews! I really like a lot of the choices you made, yummmm!
Good luck with your lap band surgery!!
One thing I was surprised about when we went last month was the size of some of the CS meals. My adult daughter and I shared a lot of meals.
It was a spur of the moment trip and we only ate counter service at the parks.
I am looking forward this christmas to eating at some table service rest.

 

[catho72]

Great reviews - thanks for sharing.

Thanks and you're welcome!

Thank you! I really enjoyed your reviews! I really like a lot of the choices you made, yummmm!
Good luck with your lap band surgery!!
One thing I was surprised about when we went last month was the size of some of the CS meals. My adult daughter and I shared a lot of meals.
It was a spur of the moment trip and we only ate counter service at the parks.
I am looking forward this christmas to eating at some table service rest.

Thanks! I am very excited about having the surgery. Hopefully I'll find out in the next few weeks the date of the surgery.

The portion sizes at WDW are quite large. When we went last February, we always had food left on our plates. I knew sharing would eliminate that waste and maximize our food credits.

Have fun at Disney on Christmas! I would love to see all their decorations. I bet they're amazing!

 

[DLo]

Thanks for taking the time to review. I like that you said if you would be back or not. We did the dining plan 2 years but last year coudn't get it due to room discount. We are going with out again this year. We felt like it was too much food for our family. I think if it was free we would do it again though. Can't wait to go to Goofy's next month.

 

[catho72]

Thanks for taking the time to review. I like that you said if you would be back or not. We did the dining plan 2 years but last year coudn't get it due to room discount. We are going with out again this year. We felt like it was too much food for our family. I think if it was free we would do it again though. Can't wait to go to Goofy's next month.

Unfortunately, we won't be on the DDP again next year. We are staying offsite with DH's parents, siblings, their spouses and children. There's 19 of us in all! I don't think the kids realize we won't be eating at all those fun places again. I'm sure we'll have 'Ohana for breakfast and have lunch or dinner at LeCellier. Those are our "can't miss" restaurants. Other than those TS restaurants, I'm sure we'll eat at our rented house or at CS.

Enjoy your trip next month! Goofy's is awesome!