To DDP or not??

[frkymcky]

I am trying to decide if we should purchase the DDP or not and hoping I could get some opinions from my fellow DISers. We will be staying in a 1BR at OKW May 30-6/6 there will be myself, DH and DD(6). We plan on having breakfast in our room every morning and snacks when we are there. There is a chance that we may make 1 or 2 dinners in our room but that is it. I am on vacation I do not plan on cooking too much. So with that info what would you do??? Thanks!!

 

[mooneyda]

just my opinion here sounds like us when we vacation we do not like to cook.So we always go with the dining plan and schedule a nice sit down meal at the end of the day. kind of a nice way to end the day of rat racing (sorry no pun intended) around the parks

 

[hellerjw]

It really depends on how tied down to dining reservations you want to be during your stay.

We have done a dining plan of some kind the last 4 trips and if you can plan in advance for the table service meals and stick to your reservations during your trip it can save you money. We did the Deluxe Dining Plan the last time and made sure we had 3 table service meals each day (several were the signature ones that cost 2 credits each, so really only 2 meals a day) and saved $400 over what it would have been out of pocket. However, we felt like we were just killing time between meal reservations so we had to give up some flexibility to get the savings.

In 2009 they now offer a counter-service plan that includes 2 CS credits and 2 snacks per night. We are considering that one this time because it will allow us to pay most of our food cost upfront (we will still do a character/signature meal or two) and doesn't require any advanced reservations or planning.

We have always looked at the Dining Plan like a game, trying to maximize the use of every credit and apply them against the most expensive meals we can to ensure we get the most bang for our buck. Disney assumes some percentage of Dining Plan customers will either run out of credits before their trip is over and have to pay out of pocket or not use all their credits before they leave and have to forfeit them. The game is balancing between these 2 extremes and maximizing your value. Since they dropped the tip from being included in the Dining Plans it isn't as good of a deal as it once was but you can still save money if you plan in advance.

 

[kiingor]

I love the DDP and always get it. Gain a few pounds after my vacation whenever I purchase with DDP. It's a great deal if you know how to pick and arrange your TS and QS around.

 

[Chuck S]

It depends upon your normal dining habits.

We never get the DDP, and rarely prepare anything of substance in the room. We do have a light breakfast in the room. We usually have a Table Service lunch, only occasionally oirder dessert, but prefer an appetizer like a nice salad or soup with an entree. Right there, that kills the DDP, as it covers desserts, but not appetizers. We occasionally have an alcoholic beverage, which also are not included in the DDP.

We usually do a counter service dinner. I have added up all of our dining for every trip sinc ethe DDP was first introduced, and have never had a trip where the DDP would not have cost us more than paying cash, and a few of those trips included the Hoop-de-Doo and Candlelight processional, and we always have a nice lunch at Brown Derby. Some days we spend more than the DDP, some days less. But the overall cost for any trip has always been less paying cash than the DDP would have cost for the same trip, even when the DDP included appetizers and gratuity.

The best advice I would give would be to look over the menus at the restaurants where you intend to dine. Select what you would normally eat, not just pick an entree and dessert because that is what the DDP includes, unless that is your normal dining habit, then compare the cost.

 

[msd1962]

We treat the DP like a game also. most expensive places and food items. the first time it was with tip and appetizer, we over ate so bad on that trip, nearly got sick. Next trip on app or tip, we did not over eat, but the tips added up very quickly. We still ate more food than the cost of the plan. As said, you do have to plan accordingly.

last trip we opt no plan. half way through we wish we had done the plan.

On our next rip we will do the Quick Service Plan, like the thought of being able to get appetizer and not deserts. Also going during Food and Wine Festival and the QS gives 2 snacks a day, dinner will be snacks around the world 1 or 2 days.

Mark

 

[kiingor]

The way i calculated my trip, if i ate the way i did with ddp, it would definitely cost twice as much as the ddp. The only way it would be cheaper without DDP is if all I eat is fast food for lunch and dinner. For less than $40 a day person, and includes snacks- a steak alone at these TS are at least $20 and lunch is another $10 for the entire entree. Sure it would cost less without the dessert and all. But DDP gives me the opportunity to try different TS at different restaurant without having to worry what the entree would cost me if I were to pay cash.
It was much much better when appetizer and qratuity was included, but now, it's another story. If I were to pay cash, i wouldn't try want to try some of the pricier dinning that i would with DDP.
FActoring in gratuity now, it's a slight better deal than cash for me, but again, I can try different restartaurant and not have to worry about the right column of the menu as much.

 

[kiingor]

We treat the DP like a game also. most expensive places and food items. the first time it was with tip and appetizer, we over ate so bad on that trip, nearly got sick. Next trip on app or tip, we did not over eat, but the tips added up very quickly. We still ate more food than the cost of the plan. As said, you do have to plan accordingly.

last trip we opt no plan. half way through we wish we had done the plan.

On our next rip we will do the Quick Service Plan, like the thought of being able to get appetizer and not deserts. Also going during Food and Wine Festival and the QS gives 2 snacks a day, dinner will be snacks around the world 1 or 2 days.

Mark

I think the best deal for QS is the wolfgang puck cafe- the lunch entree are huge and we sometimes use that as dinner and take the TS for character lunch.

 

[rkwier]

I was curious if the DDP was right for us or not as well. We had our first stay in January and ordered groceries. We ate breakfast in our room, light lunch a couple of days, ordered pizza one night and leftovers of that another night - no real cooking. We ate lunch in the parks a couple of days and went to Fulton's one night. We also had bottled water, fruit and snacks. I added up the cost off all that we spent, not including the Fulton's since it is not included on the plan and we would have went there anyways. It turned out to be $127 less than the DDP would have cost us. There is just DH and I, so that may be why it worked out better for us. I would suggest trying both and see which one works best for your family.

 

[kiingor]

I was curious if the DDP was right for us or not as well. We had our first stay in January and ordered groceries. We ate breakfast in our room, light lunch a couple of days, ordered pizza one night and leftovers of that another night - no real cooking. We ate lunch in the parks a couple of days and went to Fulton's one night. We also had bottled water, fruit and snacks. I added up the cost off all that we spent, not including the Fulton's since it is not included on the plan and we would have went there anyways. It turned out to be $127 less than the DDP would have cost us. There is just DH and I, so that may be why it worked out better for us. I would suggest trying both and see which one works best for your family.

Different strokes for diff folks- That is definitely extra $127 extra in the pocket.
Also, you're talking about eating pizza and left over for dinner and water. I too thought about bringing my own food for couple of nights and do my own cooking or just order pizza, but convinced myself that it's our vacation- why not just spend a little more and not have to worry about eating the same thing everyday.
I wouldn't recommend ddp for kids though- have to order from kids' menu and not much of a choice. I usually just order a bigger entree and have him eat from ours.

 

[rkwier]

Oops, I forgot to say that we had Coke and Snapple too for meals. The water was mainly for the parks and DH made coffee with it. The pizza we ordered was Giordano's - yum! We are from the midwest originally and love it, but can't get that yummy pizza here in Texas. It was so delish! They were having record breaking freezing temps when we arrived, so we were glad that we did not have to venture out.

I definitely think the DDP would be something to consider with kids, but unfortunately, none for us. I know my nephews and neice are hungry NOW when they are hungry, so likely my DB and DSIL would be looking for the fastest available solution, especially in the parks. I think it depends on your family.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

We are doing the DDDP this year, 4 adults (2 of them are 16) and a 9 year old. Was going to just wing it, but I knew we wanted to do 3 dinners that are 2 TS meals, it will be interesting to see if we would have actually eaten 70 a day in food.

 

[Donna M]

If money is a big factor and you mentioned cooking maybe a couple of times, than the DDP would cost a bit more than buying grocieries. But if you want to 'vacation' than DDP might work for you. The advise I read here about looking at the menus would be very helpful in determining what works for your family.

Since I don't mind throwing together something quick and easy, I save a lot by stopping at the supermarket.

My kids don't like eating out every night.

 

[kiingor]

We are doing the DDDP this year, 4 adults (2 of them are 16) and a 9 year old. Was going to just wing it, but I knew we wanted to do 3 dinners that are 2 TS meals, it will be interesting to see if we would have actually eaten 70 a day in food.

I look at the menus different on whether i have ddp or not. Without it.. i order base on value. With DDP, i let loose and look at the most expensive entree like surf and turf. I make sure I get my $40 worth the entire day. I always end up taking the snacks, drinks and dessert back to the hotel for night time.

With the DDP, i was gonna try the Narcoosee- $59 for a steak ( no way i'm paying cash for a $59 steak - but had to use 2 TS points, so i figure it's better that i split them up for 2 TS instead.

When they included appetizers and gratuity- it was great. I was eating like a king on my vacation- now they stopped that- i have to watch out otherwise the gratuitiy can be a bit hefty.
Maybe that's why they stopped those 2. bummer.

 

[JW9DVC]

Gratuity is only what you think they deserve. Not what they like to make you think they deserve!! If one mentions that a tip is not included on DDP. I always say I know, thanks for the verbal tip. Sometimes, I will leave just that. A verbal tip, "please don't just expect a tip next time." JW

 

[Chuck S]

As this thead is really not a DVC specific topic, and the OP has gotten a variety of answers/opinions, I'm going to go ahead and close it.