Tips for someone paying OOP when they're used to the DDP?!

[kiford]

It truly depends on how and where you dine. We eat breakfast and dinner, hardly ever lunch. Pretty much TS only and mostly signature restaurants. We have appetizers, no dessert, alcoholic drinks. Never have snacks and wouldn't use the refillable mug (we don't drink soda and the coffee/tea that they have for the refillable cups is not what I'd choose to drink for coffee/tea). Sometimes I'll order 2-3 appetizers instead of an entree. We simply don't eat the way the dining plan is designed. Thus, our choice is to eat the way the dining plan is designed or possibly pay more to eat the way I want. Our preference is always for the latter but I think we actually pay less than the dining plan (not including dinner at V&A which is in another category all together) and we're happier with what we get.

Best advice - same as lots of other people have given - look at the menus, prices, what you choices would be and see if it makes sense for you financially and logistically, suits your tastes and schedule and makes you happy.

 

[sbrost13]

I'm not a fan of the dining plan. Last time we did it, I felt so bloated from chugging Sprite at every meal so I could get my "money's worth ". And I'm not a pop drinker normally.

I have the Disney Visa credit card. So right before our trip, I transfer my Disney dollars over to the reward card. Then we use that money to pay for our food. For our July trip, we should have over $1,500 on the reward card!

My family also tends to share food at quick service and I love appetizers for a meal at table service restaurants.
For those reasons I don't plan to use the dining plan anytime soon. Not to mention my son, who is 9, can be a very inconsistent eater!

 

[Leelo]

We have also found it cheaper to pay OOP unless you get the DDP for free.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would be the crabby mom saying no to popcorn and ice cream all the time.

If I said "yes" to popcorn and ice cream to my son I would be crabby because of it! He needs real food, not snacks. Otherwise he's maddening AND he's a never-filled person. Real, good, food fills him up.

So, dining plan or not, there are plenty out there who don't say "yes" to those things.

I'm traveling with 2 15year old girls and one boy, 12 this summer. They all LOVE character meals so we scheduled many--for that reason the DDP did work in our favor---not by much, maybe $30, but I opted for peace of mind over the $30.

Even with them being disney adults? And they'll eat their money's worth at the character meals? LOL..even though DS now could do justice to the cost of character meals, DH and I don't! And since I don't enjoy characters, and DS is falling away from it, they really aren't worth it for us. Except for Tusker. Next time we actually go to parks on a trip and go to AK, we're still doing Tusker.

 

[serene56]

Put the money that you would spend on a DP on a gift card. Limit yourself to a qs and a TS with one snack. and no dessert with meals. Bet you come home with some bucks.

 

[FrancoFun]

If I said "yes" to popcorn and ice cream to my son I would be crabby because of it! He needs real food, not snacks. Otherwise he's maddening AND he's a never-filled person. Real, good, food fills him up.

So, dining plan or not, there are plenty out there who don't say "yes" to those things.

Yep! My 10yo is a tall, very slim competitive dancer with a really fast metabolism. He could eat all the time! Like I mentioned earlier, we will pack in some snacks so that he has fruit and other heat-resistant snacks that aren't all sugar or carbs. One "treat" snack a day seems plenty!

 

[LoopyDoopy]

Hello!
Any tips for switching to OOP when you're accustomed to the DDP?

Here's what you tell your family: "Well, I've done the math and the dining plan is going to cost us more than out of pocket. Here's the good news... You can order whatever you want from any restaurant you like! No more point counting. No more ordering a dessert for everyone when we'd rather share or get none and save our appetite for other treats in the park. No more worrying if a place is QS or TS or if they accept the plan or don't. If we do the Hoop De Do Review, we can get the BEST seating (Category 1). Disney dining is going to be the better than ever this year!"

 

[suse66]

Our last two family trips with three teen boys we paid OOP and saved $543 vs using the DDP. We ate very well, had refillable mugs, didn't stint on snacks or bevvies and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I did do a garden grocer order for water and breakfast items which helped out. I did OOP for my solo trip last summer as well and will do so again this summer. I love eating at the lounges, choosing 2 apps for my meal and am not a soda drinker. The flexibility works well for me. DDP would cost $485 USD ($646 CDN) for my seven night trip this summer while I plan on about $500 CDN ($375 USD) on gift cards which should more than cover my expenses.

Hope you find what works best for you!

 

[Tallent]

If I said "yes" to popcorn and ice cream to my son I would be crabby because of it! He needs real food, not snacks. Otherwise he's maddening AND he's a never-filled person. Real, good, food fills him up.

So, dining plan or not, there are plenty out there who don't say "yes" to those things.



Even with them being disney adults? And they'll eat their money's worth at the character meals? LOL..even though DS now could do justice to the cost of character meals, DH and I don't! And since I don't enjoy characters, and DS is falling away from it, they really aren't worth it for us. Except for Tusker. Next time we actually go to parks on a trip and go to AK, we're still doing Tusker.

Mmmm, I doubt they'll eat their money's worth per se but there will be enough variety for everyone to find something they like and eat enough of it to not be hungry. For us, the character meals aren't just about the food--it's also the atmosphere and the memories.