To DDP or Not To DDP?

[lizzyshakuntala]

We're planning on staying at Pop Century for 8 nights this November and I'm torn between the ideas of either getting the DPP or not.

Here's the lowdown on why I WOULDN'T get the DDP:
- There's only my husband and I in this trip
- My husband is not a big fan of sweets/desserts most of the time
- I'm pretty sure that if we bring the desserts to our room, we wouldn't eat them for breakfast the next morning or so
- From what I understand so far it seems like 1 QS meal is too much food for me

And here's why I WOULD get the DDP:
- I love the practicality of not having to think about paying for food once we're there... except for some meals here and there (like ADRs in several resorts).

So should I get it or not?
I'd love to get advices & inputs from you guys and thanks so much in advance

 

[ryem's mom]

Good question!

When my family and I go next April, we are doing the Quick Service Dining Plan. We are not interested in taking the time in the sit down meals.

I also like the idea of having most of our meals paid for ahead of time.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[havoc315]

From what you're saying it's pretty simple...

Sounds like you would not get full value.

So, choice 1:
Pay $45 in advance. Get $40 "worth" of food using your credits. And then pay a $5 tip oop.

Or choice 2:
Pay nothing in advance. Get $40 of food, pay $45 oop for meals and tips.

Either way, you are paying something oop --- tips under the ddp.
But it sounds like skipping the meal plan will be cheaper.

 

[Geomom]

We've done the DDP twice. (The 1 TS, 1QS, 1 snack plan.) We really do find it too much food. I don't need dessert at lunch and dinner, although you can get fruit as your 'dessert'. We only do it if it's cost effective--if we're having expensive TS meals. Our family of 4 was able to share the QS meals and snacks and ended up having breakfast and lunch out of it--2 big platters of eggs/bacon/waffles split between us, 'snacks' of fruit salad and yogurt parfait. (Using 2 QS, 2 snacks to feed 4 people at breakfast) Somehow we always end up with extra snacks left on the last day--and we just end up buying trail mix, candy bars, etc, with it.

If you had a 'free dining' plan though...then I'd do it!

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

Good question!

When my family and I go next April, we are doing the Quick Service Dining Plan. We are not interested in taking the time in the sit down meals.

I also like the idea of having most of our meals paid for ahead of time.

Good luck with your decision.

This is DH's first time to the World and my second... but more like my first as well. (I was 6 during my first WDW trip and don't remember the food at all) So we're not really sure if we'd like to just sit around and 'relax' over our meals in the parks (I think the resorts would be better for that).

But anyways, have fun on your next trip I hope it's magical!

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

From what you're saying it's pretty simple...

Sounds like you would not get full value.

So, choice 1:
Pay $45 in advance. Get $40 "worth" of food using your credits. And then pay a $5 tip oop.

Or choice 2:
Pay nothing in advance. Get $40 of food, pay $45 oop for meals and tips.

Either way, you are paying something oop --- tips under the ddp.
But it sounds like skipping the meal plan will be cheaper.

"Sounds like you would not get full value." ---> Exactly!
I don't want to sound cheap, especially when it comes to food... trust me, we're far from that! it's just that we're going to spend a huge chunk on this trip already, I'd hate to see money (in form of food, nonetheless) going to waste!

Thanks for the input, I'll be looking into it

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

We've done the DDP twice. (The 1 TS, 1QS, 1 snack plan.) We really do find it too much food. I don't need dessert at lunch and dinner, although you can get fruit as your 'dessert'. We only do it if it's cost effective--if we're having expensive TS meals. Our family of 4 was able to share the QS meals and snacks and ended up having breakfast and lunch out of it--2 big platters of eggs/bacon/waffles split between us, 'snacks' of fruit salad and yogurt parfait. (Using 2 QS, 2 snacks to feed 4 people at breakfast) Somehow we always end up with extra snacks left on the last day--and we just end up buying trail mix, candy bars, etc, with it.

If you had a 'free dining' plan though...then I'd do it!

Aah! I thought about that as well--using 1 QS credit, maybe + 1 snack credit on breakfast to share. And I agree with your idea 'doing it if it's cost effective.'
Now I'm thinking to just not do the DDP and put aside some money solely for dining while we're at the World.

Thank you

 

[Diegosmom]

Ok so the price of Dining is $45.99 a day. In order to determine if this would be of value to you we really need to know where you plan to eat you TS meals. Do you plan on doing places like Ohanas, which is a set price of $32.99 for dinner? Or even some of the more expensive a la cart places like Le Cellier where the lunch filet is 26.99. If you eat dinner at Ohanas take your per day cost of 45.99 minus 32.99=$13 for a QS and 2 snacks. Most snacks are at least $2 (for a soda) up to $4 for some of the yummy ones. but lets just say on average your snacks are $3 so after 2 snacks you are at $7 to get you a lunch that includes a drink and dessert.

Also is hubby a bigger eater? Would he want a QS breakfast and a QS lunch and a TS dinner? If that is the case he can eat most of your QS and you can use snacks to get your breakfast and lunch.

So first I think you need to decide on your TS and figure out the cost based on where it is a set price or what you think you would order from the menu. If you don't think hubby would order dessert don't figure that into the cost. Or if you think you might order dessert but only because it was included don't figure that in the cost. Just figure what you would most likely buy if you are OP.

Another thing do you guys get beverages with your meals? Or are you happy with tap water.

Check out the menus here http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm with prices and figure out what you would buy and I say if it comes out close to the cost of the meal plan then go for that for convenience sake. Plus I know if I am on meal plan I would enjoy myself more. I hardly ever order dessert because it is so expensive but I love dessert so if it is included...also those snacks at $4 I would love those but if I was paying OP I don't see myself getting too many but...on Dining plan I would get a bunch. So being on DDP would make my trip more enjoyable.

 

[lblume91]

I think, with what you've said, the DDP would not be a good deal for you. Have a great trip!!!

 

[DaniB]

Diegosmom gave you bang on advice!

Look at the various restaurant options & menus before making a decision. See what type of meals you believe you and your husband would eat and the cost. See how that compares against the price of the DDP.

The DDP does not mean you are tied down to long meals in the parks by any means!

Last year my husband & I found we could easily split a CS meal. So this year we plan on using our CS credits by sharing most our meals, if not all. So 2 CS credits will cover 2 meals for us. I found CS meals were not the type to "sit down and relax".

I refuse to use my snack credit for a quick breakfast! There's too many unique snacks I would never get back at home that I want to try.

Our TS credits - those are the sit & down relax type of meals! And we schedule 1 a day. A couple of times this trip we have 2 (breakfast & dinner) TS meals scheduled, but usually only 1 a day. And most of those are dinner. By dinner time, we relish the opportunity to sit down, relax, refresh over a nice meal!

 

[havoc315]

"Sounds like you would not get full value." ---> Exactly!
I don't want to sound cheap, especially when it comes to food... trust me, we're far from that! it's just that we're going to spend a huge chunk on this trip already, I'd hate to see money (in form of food, nonetheless) going to waste!

Thanks for the input, I'll be looking into it

It's not a matter of being cheap... It's a matter of paying for what you want.
If your wants fit neatly within the design of the DDP, it will save you money and add some convenience.

But it your wants don't fit, then it's a waste.

Sounds like you are both lighter eaters....

For around $45, you can get the DDP -- But if you are skipping desserts, and ordering medium priced items, then you won't get your money's worth.

For the same $45 -- Instead of doing 1 QS meal and 1 TS meal, for the exact same price, you could have 2 or 3 nice table service meals.
For example --
OOP--- For under $45, get in all 3 meals, of what you might really want:
Breakfast -- The Wave,
Spinach, Tomato, and Feta Cheese Scrambled Eggs, $8.50. (Make it $11 to include coffee or juice)
Lunch, Plaza restaurant -- the Turkey sandwich -- $11.50, no dessert, drink water.
Dinner -- Tony's Town Square -- Shrimp Scampi, $19, skip dessert and drink water)

So instead of paying $45 for just 1 TS meal, and 1 CS meal...
Instead, I just got 3 TS meals for about $42. Okay.. need to throw in tax, so it's about $45 also.

 

[MsPeggySue911]

Watch the Disney SPECIAL OFFERS PAGE through out this summer and you might actually end up getting FREE dining plan for your dates. The last 2 years in a row Disney offered free dining plan for October through December dates but they didn't roll out the public offers until July. Put off BUYING the dining plan and try to get it for free and have it applied to your existing vacation reservation. That's what I am hoping for. I am waiting to see if I can get it for free. If you are staying in a value resort you will get the QSDP for free. We are staying at a moderate so hopefully that will get us the standard/regular dining plan.

If all the food and snacks are free you would probably order things you wouldn't normally get paying out of pocket. I know for me, I never order desert, ever, but if it is free/included I will get it. Snacks same thing. I am not going to pay OOP for a bunch of snacks but if they are free...gimme some snacks!! =)

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

Thank you everyone.. I really appreciate all the great inputs
Sorry I didn't reply sooner as I've been busy with the boys & showing (or shoving? LOL) menus to DH so he and I can figure out if the DDP would be worth the price for us. And amid all that, I kinda forgot about this thread

We've decided to include the DDP in our package
The two main reasons for our decision are
A) We don't want to think about allocating dining money once we're there (although if we feel like ordering things not included with the DDP, we don't mind paying OOP),
B) We don't know when we'll be coming back so we want to experience as much of Disney as possible, thus we'll participate in their DDP.

Some of the places we're really excited about (in no particular order):
Artist Point
Flying Fish Cafe
Whispering Canyon (breakfast)

See you u in 4 months, dole whip!

 

[havoc315]

Thank you everyone.. I really appreciate all the great inputs
Sorry I didn't reply sooner as I've been busy with the boys & showing (or shoving? LOL) menus to DH so he and I can figure out if the DDP would be worth the price for us. And amid all that, I kinda forgot about this thread

We've decided to include the DDP in our package
The two main reasons for our decision are
A) We don't want to think about allocating dining money once we're there (although if we feel like ordering things not included with the DDP, we don't mind paying OOP),
B) We don't know when we'll be coming back so we want to experience as much of Disney as possible, thus we'll participate in their DDP.

Some of the places we're really excited about (in no particular order):
Artist Point
Flying Fish Cafe
Whispering Canyon (breakfast)

See you u in 4 months, dole whip!

Have fun

If you are going to pay oop for some meals, I suggest paying oop for the 3 meals you just listed.
Under the regular ddp, you are paying about $30 for each ts credit.
Whispering Canyon breakfast is only about $20, so that would be a loss of $10 per person.
Artist Point and Flying Fish each take 2 credits, and would likely be difficult to get $60 value in just entree and dessert.

Other options are to upgrade to deluxe -- where you will get appetizers as well, and be paying less per credit.
Or--- skip ddp and buy yourself a gift card instead. That way, you would still have pre-payment, including tips, for less than the cost of the ddp (based on the 3 meals you stated)

 

[lizzyshakuntala]

Have fun

If you are going to pay oop for some meals, I suggest paying oop for the 3 meals you just listed.
Under the regular ddp, you are paying about $30 for each ts credit.
Whispering Canyon breakfast is only about $20, so that would be a loss of $10 per person.
Artist Point and Flying Fish each take 2 credits, and would likely be difficult to get $60 value in just entree and dessert.

Other options are to upgrade to deluxe -- where you will get appetizers as well, and be paying less per credit.
Or--- skip ddp and buy yourself a gift card instead. That way, you would still have pre-payment, including tips, for less than the cost of the ddp (based on the 3 meals you stated)

Thanks for the advice Havoc
Also, thanks for reminding me about gift cards!! I almost forgot about them... Sadly, the online Disney Store doesn't take credit cards with an Indonesian billing address, nor do they ship to Indonesia
I guess I should grab them once we get to New York instead...