Thinking of not using DDP next year....

[TexasErin]

We just got home from our trip on Tuesday. We were discussing our meals and what we wanted to do next year. For all of us, our favorite meals were the breakfast buffets. So then we started discussing whether we should go with DXDDP next year, DDP, or QS plan with 5 meals out of pocket next year.

None of us are overweight, but we do eat most of the food that we are offered on the plan. (We're used to 3 meals a day at home and that doesn't change on vacation.) I wish there were a plan with 2 counter service and 1 table service. The deluxe plan is just a little too much food. On the DDP, we still pay OOP for extras, for things like soda, water, and frozen cokes since we all get so thirsty at the parks- and I'm afraid of the tap water since I have a very, very sensitive stomach. We are there at rope drop and generally stay until closing-- and we don't take breaks during the day. We don't want to eat breakfast in our room either. The only things that we can skip on the DDP are MOST of the counter service desserts, although I really like the carrot cake and DH loves the apple dessert at CHH. Oh, and we're like Joey from Friends- we DON'T SHARE FOOD, lol.

DS will be 10 on our next trip, so this issue is just starting to be debated. On a typical day, we will try to get an 8:00 am ADR for Crystal Palace, then have a snack mid-day (and we often have to pay for a drink OOP since you really need something to wash down popcorn or something chocolatey) and then dinner at Cosmic Ray's. Or another day might be cinnamon rolls for breakfast at around 10 am (although then DS is grumpy and complaining on the rides at rope drop because he's hungry), lunch at Tortuga, and dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern.

The meals that the four of us really want to go back to are Boma breakfast, Chef Mickey breakfast, Crystal Palace breakfast, Sci-Fi lunch, and dinner at Teppan Edo. Oh, and if we can score a DVC Animal Kingdom lodge concierge, we'll also want to do the Sunrise Safari which includes a buffet breakfast. Plus I'd really like to go back to 50s PTC and breakfast at Cinderella's Castle since it's been a few years since we've been there. I know the meals that we pick are not the best value on the plan, but we don't try to go to the most expensive restaurant and order the most expensive thing- we just get what we like. We have talked about getting the TIW card- we don't drink so saving on alcohol is not a factor.

I have really liked the convenience of having everything prepaid, but we still have to pay for things OOP like extra sodas when we're feeling rundown or want a drink with our snack credit. It will be four of us- me, DH, DD16, and DS10.

Any suggestions?

Sorry so long!

 

[Cafeen]

It looks like most of your TS plans will likely be for breakfast, and you'll all be adults. Believe it or not, even as high priced as the character meals SEEM, they are typically less than the cost of TS credit and as such, you won't get great value at them (for adults, it's the opposite for children < 10).

I'd suggest either the QSDP if you are planning on doing 2 QS per day AND eating most of the desserts (which, it also doesn't sound like you plan to do) or going OOP.

For the prepaid aspect of it, grab a Disney Gift card and load the amount of money you would have spent on a plan onto it, and use that. It'll give the feeling of being prepaid, without spending extra money to do so .

Also, since most of your plans are fixed price meals (buffets and the such), it's not going to affect how you order much at all anyway (which is another concern for those used to a plan when going OOP).

The TiW card is another option, but it's geared mostly toward those who favor TS over QS as there are very few QS locations that accept it. If you're eligible for it via AP ($75 card), you have to spend at least $350 over the year to break even, beyond that point is pure savings.

 

[TexasErin]

Thanks! I had also thought about the fact that most of our meals are breakfast buffets which are a lot cheaper than, for example, a steak at Coral Reef. I'll have to make some kind of spreadsheet, being the nerd that I am, to see if the TIW card would be worth it. We're going to try to have our next two trips be within 11 1/2 months of each other to get use out of an AP, so we would also be able to use the TIW card for two trips.

 

[Singinglizzie]

I have done both, mutiple time (i.e DDP verses non-plan) and it really depends on who you are traveling with and what they select to eat. My next trip involves the DDxP, but I am traveling without my just turned 12 y/0, and we wanted to be able to order appetizers. I think kids that are 10 & 11 are really on the cusp since they may not get good value out of the adult dinners - depending on their preferences. Sounds like the QSDP with a few breakfast buffets OOP would be the way for you to go. You can also do a few breakfasts OOP that cost far less than the buffets, and I would recommend the Rain Forest Cafe at AK, Kouzina at the Boardwalk and my fav, Kona at the Poly. Another good choice on the QSDP is WGPE at DTD for breakfast, the breakfast flat breads are actually quite good. You'll have lots of breakfast choices. So if you think QSDP is for you, then go for it. Recommend checking out the menus in advance either on all ears. net or the WDW website has menus under the reservation link. Have fun planning!!!

 

[TexasErin]

Thank you! We LOVE breakfast. And planning is half the fun!