This DDP stuff is stressing me out!!

[letsgoagainsoon]

Even though we are going during the free dining, I am still stressing about this. It all seems very complicated...trying to keep track of credits... what is and isn't included...why some CMs will accept certain foods as snacks and others won't...is it really that hard to figure out? Am I stressing for nothing?

 

[bicker]

It is hard to keep all the complexities in your head, but the point some folks have made is that you only need to do so if you want to. If you don't want the complexity, you just go to each meal, order what you want, use the credits for what you order, and if you happen to run out of credits, you just pay OOP. That's pretty-much how Disney presents the plan: Simple, straight-forward, uncomplicated.

 

[jonkatony]

As bicker said, the plan worked best for us best when you just go with the flow, every reciept tells you what credit you have left so be flexible . We booked our ADR's so we never had to worry about ts credits. The rest just fell into place. Eat when you are hungry wether breakfast or lunch, have a snack if that will do. You will not lose. There is a lot of food available, do not feel you have to eat, this will mean you could be too full to enjoy your evening meal . The ddp worked out fine for us, and it saved stress for me not working out how much we have spent on food etc

 

[lovetoscrap]

You know, it is funny how perceptions can be so different. I am so excited to be on the DDP because it will TAKE AWAY so much of my stress!


I won't have to worried about whether to order a meal for everyone or try to share, since DD6 tends to either eat like a pig, or take 2 bites depending on the time of day--and you never know which it will be! Sometimes I have ordered planning to share with her and ended up back in line for 30 minutes to get another meal because she ate it all. Other times we were throwing away $8 worth of food because she only ate 2 bites and we can't really take it with us for the rest of the day in the park.


I don't have to stress about sharing drinks, because we are on a budget and I usually only get 2 sodas and we all 4 share.


I don't have to stress about should we really get a or because we have a budget and maybe we would be spending too much. We have snacks we bring with us, maybe we should be content with those--even though it is vacation. And is it okay to share a between the kids so we save money? This trip we will each get what we want!



I don't have to stress about trying to figure out which of the 4 Character Meals we have never been to that we should do, since we can only work one into the budget--we are going to ALL four!


I will not have to worry at all about going "overbudget" on food because I really want to add a salad at dinner, or really wanted to try a certain dessert, but can't justify paying an extra 6.00 for it--especially if it turns out I don't like it.


I just don't see any stress. I have all my TS planned and know that I will be using all my credits for those. We have been 3 times in the past. I know that we always eat "suitcase food" for breakfast (granola bars, muffins etc...) and we always eat CS for lunch. We are there 7 days, we get 7 CS meals. We always eat a meal for dinner (either TS or CS depending on the budget) and we will be eating TS this trip. One for each day. Actually I do have one 2TS meal, but have already planned on the extra OOP meal--no big deal.


I guess I am also looking at as we are there for 7 nights. We have 7 credits. I know that in reality that is 7 per person, per meal type, but really it is my and my 2 kids. We aren't splitting up to eat. If I use a credit, they use a credit--no complicated math: 7 CS, 7 TS, 7 snacks.


I have a credit card and know how to use it , if I run out of credits then we pay OOP for a few things, or we eat a few granola bars for snacks.

 

[wiskband]

I too feel the same way. I was fortunate enough to get the DDp free last year. I knew nothing about it and really didn;t use it to our advantage. I just figured! hey its free who cares. It wasn't till I was leaving that trip that I gave it thought and realized all the things i could have done to make to the best of it. Once again this year, I was able to book and the DDP free, so, needless to say, I am doing my homework on it! And it is stressful! lol. The share or not to share is the biggy for me, but, i just finished reading a thread here that really explains it all about the whole sharing in prespective for me. However, that lead to me trying to figure out if my two kids ages10 and 12 "share" along with me, (in other words 3 of us using 2 TS) exactly how many TS will I be banking/ lol. Anyway, the advice given to you already is grand! We should probably not make too much of it all especially if its free ( as it is in my case). I have all my menus printed out and already planning on stratigizing our sharing! lol. my hubby thinks I am a complete nut. Fact is though, I am not even thinking about the rides its the restaurants that are on my mind. I found that last year when it was all new to me and confusing, I was trying understand it all while I was on line. I hate to be one of those people that is holding up the line too. For this year, I think I may have figured it all before I leave and at least now i know the snakc version is pretty much anything under $4. i just hope that if we do share we don;t get the cold shoulder from the servers, I happen to be a server and have never treated anyone differently becuase they are trying to save a buck or two. I plan on (like I did last year) leaving a tip other than the one that is included! Good luck. and enjoy your trip.
renee

 

[Lewisc]

The plan is simple. Use your CS meal for lunch and your TS meal for dinner. Avoid the two credit meals. Pay cash for breakfast, or use your snack credit. When you get to the restaurant look at the portion sizes. Consider sharing if the portions look large enough and you're not all starving. Some restaurants are shrinking the portion size, don't make elaborate plains in advance that require sharing.

The brochure tells you what desserts are included. Additional desserts are marked. Don't spend days dreaming about what desserts you'll be getting, based on a phantom $4 rule.

 

[masters58]

we used the DDP last month and the first day was a little chaotic as I was trying to figure out what was on the dp. I even decided NOT to use it for one meal as it was too complicated for me to figure out what we got as far as the counter service was concerned. Silly, silly, silly me.... Once I used it and I asked a lot of questions, it was no biggie and what a relief it was to not have to worry about our food budget. The CM's are there to help you and not once did I encounter anyone who was not willing to help me. I do have to admit that I was sad when I used up all of the dining plan!

We love the TS part of the plan. It was great to try new trestaurants and new foods AND have desserts for everyone. We NEVER order desserts, so that was a real treat!

We did have several snacks the last day and used them at Goofy's candy store in Downtown Disney. We took home a couple of caramel apples, some cotton candy and krispie treats as souveniers to our family.

Dont sweat it--the best advice is to just use it the first day and get the hang of it! After the first day, you will realize how much less you have to worry about. It really helps lessen the load, IMO.

Will we use the dining plan again? Definitely yes and everytime after that!

 

[DiszyDeanette]

Am I stressing for nothing?

Yes

If you're worried about not ordering something covered (which is pretty difficult in most places, just order an appetizer, entree and dessert, it's really that easy) Make sure you tell the server before you order that you are on the DDP. Then if you order something not covered, they will tell you. You can still order it, just know you will be paying OOP. Last year a table (or car I guess) next to us at the Sci-Fi didn't tell their server until they got the bill. They had ordered the drinks withthe light-up ice cubes for their kids (not covered) and hadn't ordered dessert. If they had told the server, he would have let them know the ice cubes are an extra $5/each (or whatever it is) and that dessert was included. I think they ended up taking some desserts to go, but it was just confusion that could have been avoided. Always, always, always tell your server things like splitting the bill, DDP, or anything else FIRST. Keep in mind that it's not just you that has to wait for it all to be ironed out, the servers other tables are delayed as well.

 

[Julma]

We are just back after a week with free dining. Before we got there, I too was a little stressed. Pick places you want to eat, not what is going to be the best bang for your "non" buck. Ask questions, the staff seems to keep getting better informed. Take a few minutes to walk through the market or food court in your hotel. At BC, we were able to buy a whole bag of bagels, toast them and have our choice of peanut butter, cream cheese, butter or jelly all for one snack credit.

The worst thing is that the restaurants are crowded and there are almost no walk-up reservations, which gives you less flexiblity. We saw many people turned away from restaurants. They were extremely frustrated. Also, if you don't get your first choice and you end up at a restaurant you have heard bad reviews about, it may be just fine. We ate at Chefs de France this time and it was wonderful. Last time we were there it was awful. Last time we ate at Coral Reef, it was wonderful. This time it was only okay (would have been worse, if I actually had to pay the bill). I think many of the Disney restaurants are not consistantly good or bad. Take it for what it is a bonus to have some fun with!

 

[Michelle2]

I agree, and think that looking at it as having fun with new restaraunts is a great way to go about it. I, too, am probably stressing too much over nothing, so it is nice to hear how simple it is, and the advice and encouragement from those who have already done it.

I think it will be a fabulous opportunity for us!

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Well, you are starting to ease my mind a little. I just hope it is that simple once we get there!

 

[LizinSTL]

Even though we are going during the free dining, I am still stressing about this. It all seems very complicated...trying to keep track of credits... what is and isn't included...why some CMs will accept certain foods as snacks and others won't...is it really that hard to figure out? Am I stressing for nothing?

Take a deep breath The DDP is so easy to use. Don't worry about it. Disney tracks your credits for you. Schedule your TS meals in advance, go to them, enjoy them. When you are hungry, eat a snack or a CS meal. It's not complicated. It's not difficult. If you want something for a snack and it's less than $4 and doesn't have a DDP logo next to it on the menu board, then ask. I found that for the most part, it was covered. If, after the first day, you find you are leaving a lot of food behind at CS meals, try sharing a time or two. We found that 2 meals were typically more than enough for the 4 of us, but we eat 3 moderate meals a day vs. 2 larger meals and a snack.

It's vacation, enjoy it!!!! Have fun!

 

[KatGarcia]

We are about to go on our 2nd trip together this holiday season... and we have never done the DDP before but i just sat down and decided where we want to eat our TS meals every day and we will use the CS credits for a breakfast or a lunch - whenever we are hungry! When we were there last we generally only ate 2 meals a day so it works out well and you can always share CS meals for a slightly more than a snack meal. I stressed it when making the ADR's but as far as when we are there we are just gonna go with it and use at will! Stressing when you are trying to have a fun vacation isn't worth the time! Have fun and happy eating!!!!!