TO DDP or not to DDP, that is the question

[disneydave2003]

we just can not decide whether or not to add ddp to our vacation. we will be there 9 nights w/ 3 adults (2 real adults and one 10 year old) and a 4 year old. The 10 year doesn't eat a lot at all and when he does it's mostly pasta not much else maybe some chicken here and there but will eat breakfast.

We have already booked and paid for CRT and HDD Cat. 1. HDD Cat 1 can't be used on ddp.

Are restaurants strict with the age. 10 year old will order mostly pasta or want something from kids meal. will they charge adult price for 10 year old if they order either of those things? i know we will be charged adult prices at the buffets but was not sure how strict they are at table service restaurants. last time we went were on the free ddp special. we only ordered so many snacks b/c they were free/part of the plan. not sure how much counter service we will eat. maybe one per day, maybe not???

i've been trying to find current prices to figure out if ddp would be worth it or not and just can't decide. some of the prices i've found online are from the beginning of '10 and some seem current.

this is where we are going:

CRT breakfast-Already paid for
HDD already paid for

Ohana breakfast
Chef Mickey breakfast
Crystal Palace breakfast
Sci Fi lunch
LTT lunch
Kona breakfast
Kona lunch (not sure we'll keep)
le cellier lunch
maybe dinner at trails end

would you get the ddp?

 

[DaniB]

I found allears to have reasonably up-to-date prices. I used their pricing/menus to determine whether the DDP would work for us before FD was offered. I also used them to decide whether to upgrade to DDxP or not (not in our case).

Honestly, you would need to look at the menus, see what your family would eat and add it up. Don't forget to add tax into your prices (as that's covered under the DDP), but tip is not. Add in your snack allowances as well at $3.99 a snack.

But as for a 10 year old ordering from the child's menu - we had no issues with that. It was only a couple of times, but we paid OOP for our 11 year old when she wanted a kid's meal.

 

[Nadjalu]

The best thing to do is go thru all the meals you will have, pick what restaurant you "will" dine at, pick out a meal for everyone, total up each days bill and then total the whole vacation.

If you come out paying less for what everyone will eat then the DDP is not for you. If the DDP saves you money YAY!!!

Make sure to choose a drink and dessert if everyone eats that way. Those items are extra and you are charged for them.

Also include the tax, as the DDP takes care of tax for you. Some people don't figure that in when they are calculating.

Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I would dining plan it. Total adult credits are 27. Use the credits and still pay some meals for 10 year old oop. I believe this is allowed since you are all on the dining plan. You're oop meals for your son should be WAY less than the oop expense of crt.

CRT breakfast-Already paid for get refund use 6 credits
HDD already paid for

Ohana breakfast use 3 credits
Chef Mickey breakfast use 3 credits
Crystal Palace breakfast use 3 credits
Sci Fi lunch use 2 credits pay 10 year old out of pocket
LTT lunch use 2 credits pay 10 year old out of pocket
Kona breakfast use 1 creditspay 2 out of pocket
Kona lunch (not sure we'll keep) use 2 creditpay 10 year old out of pocket
le cellier lunch use 2 credits pay 10 oop
maybe dinner at trails end use 3 credits

Make sure to use the child credits at the buffets. You will be 2 meals over for the 4 year old but pay oop for him for 2 no buffet meals or let him share at those.

 

[Faldred]

As noted, you can pay OOP for your 10-year-old if you're going to order off the kid's menu (or use the 1 child credit and split 3 meals among 4 people, for example). Remember that the credits belong to the room and not the individual, so every credit you save that way can be used to pay for a more expensive adult meal later.