To do DDP or not...that's the question!

[daisyduck123]

Help me decide please, between groceries or $800+ for the dining plan! We are doing very little in the way of park visits, one day MAYBE two, but will visit water parks, etc. But there are plenty of restaurants that we like to visit outside of the parks also. I'm just so torn! Opinions? Menus? Suggestions?

It's not a vacation if you have to cook & clean up afterward, IMO.

We always get the basic dining plan. It works perfectly for us.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's not a vacation if you have to cook & clean up afterward, IMO.

We always get the basic dining plan. It works perfectly for us.

We don't do a lot of what I would call "cooking" on vacation without the DDP, and we do save a lot of money over the DDP. We always have at least one table service a day, breakfasts in the room, and very few counter service meals. I felt like I was a slave to my dinning schedule when we were on the DDP.

 

[Luv2trav]

I am struggling with this decision too... We always get the DDP and last time we got the DxDDP. While it was/is a great value we just do not want to spend so much time in restaurants this trip. We are considering just the QS dining plan but after seeing what Kidani has to offer in the lines of QS options we may just forgo that idea as well... My boys do not eat a lot.. They could share meals....

 

[Tara]

But isn't the TIW just basically covering the mandatory 18% tip plus 2%?

I NEVER consider the automatic tip as a factor in the discussion because I tip regardless! So no, TIW isn't just covering the tip IMO. (And DDP doesn't include gratuity anymore.)

 

[hockeyprincess]

I think we will cook breakfasts in the room, eat out some, like for instance we would like to try T-Rex and Fultons and neither are on DDP. So that would defeat the purpose right there. I do not want to be a slave to the kitchen, I don't even like to cook at home! LOL But hubby says with the grills at the pool areas, we could do hamburgers, maybe one night make steaks, etc and get some good snacks, etc and we'll be fine. I think he's right! The other nights we'll check out Beaches & Cream, T-Rex, etc and still feel like a vacation.

Any suggestions as to what to do special for my soon-to-be 5 year old daughter's B-day? I thought about CRT again, we did that last year though and not sure if it would be as "cool" as the first time there. I just want to make it a special trip for her and not positive what to do, dining wise. We've done 1900 Park Fare also, we've done Chef Mickeys..... Don't know what to do for her to make it a b-day to remember.

 

[JasonDVC]

I've been asking myself the same question.

My wife doesn't eat mnuch in terms of main course but she loves her desserts. Plus, I'll be taking my parents on our trip next year and I want to show them all WDW has to offer as this may be the only trip they ever make there. I want to take them to several TS restaurants but without the pre-paid meals, I don't think we would eat at many of them (sticker shock). They have to go at a slow pace so I'm thinking a couple of TS meals a day would work for them.

I am leaning towards yes and may just do it as an experiment to see if it saves me money. If I come out ahead, great! If I lose money, than it is a lesson learned.

 

[robinb]

That is definitely true! We were there with 3 of us (all adults) for 12 nights, and we spent under $1000, and we ate at places like Artist Point, Jiko, Teppan Edo, Turf Club etc. etc. using the TIW card and DVC discounts with OOP.

Teppan Edo? I thought that there were no discounts at any of the restaurants in Japan. I tried to use my TIW card at Tokyo Dining in December and it was refused.

 

[robinb]

To the poster who said they saved over the menu price with DDP, that is true, but did you order what you would have if you would be free to order ANYTHING? The other annoyance we have with DDP is that you are limited in other ways with menu items at places like Teppan Edo etc.

I like the DDP, even with the changes. We're not big dessert eaters and it still saved us money. Heck, dinner at Boma costs $71 for 2 adults and 1 child (with taxes, NON-Holiday pricing) and the DDP costs $91. I can easily "spend" $20 on 3 CS meals and 3 snacks! We do eat at CS restaurants for lunch, so using the CS credits is not an issue for us. I have even used it at Teppan Edo and yes ... I ordered what I wanted anyway.

I do have to say that the value of the plan is less attractive now that my DD will be 10 years old on our next trip. The $28 extra per day for a child who will still eat off the kid's menu is a bit steep for us. She's (1) fussy and (2) vegetarian. She wouldn't touch most of the adult veggie meals with a 10 foot pole but she will eat mac n cheese, spaghetti and marinara sauce and cheese pizza.

To the OP:
You know that you like the DDP. If you are planning to cook then I would recommend that you plan in advance. You can order online and have it delivered. In addition, you can consider the extra stuff you might need like salt/pepper/spices/etc and pack it with you. I just spent 5 days at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas on Maui in a studio which had a mini kitchen (with cook top). We cooked two dinners at the resort and I really missed having spices to cook with. For instance, I cooked some mahi mahi and wasn't able to spice it up .

You also have the option to buy the DDP and cook too. Even with the DDP we usually cook an easy breakfast in the room. If you double up on your TS credits for a dinner show or signature restaurant you can plan on cooking on the night that your extra credit came from. Easy meals include pasta, burgers/steaks/chicken on the BBQ, frozen pizza, etc.

 

[mousescrapper]

Any suggestions as to what to do special for my soon-to-be 5 year old daughter's B-day? I thought about CRT again, we did that last year though and not sure if it would be as "cool" as the first time there. I just want to make it a special trip for her and not positive what to do, dining wise. We've done 1900 Park Fare also, we've done Chef Mickeys..... Don't know what to do for her to make it a b-day to remember.

What about Mickey BBQ or the Hoop Dee Doo Revu or does she like the WTP characters a meal at the Crystal Palace.... now I don't know when you're leaving but most of these you have to book far in advance!

I'm sure what every you pick will be very special!

 

[shoes99]

Teppan Edo? I thought that there were no discounts at any of the restaurants in Japan. I tried to use my TIW card at Tokyo Dining in December and it was refused.

Teppan Edo will give you the Annial pass discount 10% Mon-Fri..

 

[Flyin2MCO]

I'd say skip the DDP...based on your trip framework I think you'll do fine with eating in and hitting the dining establishments of your choice...

We did the regular DP once and will never do it again...too much dessert, and overall just too much hassle. Our approach is to do breakfast in the room, usually a buffett or CS for lunch, and then a TS or grazing for dinner. I'd rather just shell out the cash and not worry about planning/tracking the DP.

Cost wise, after dropping thousands of $$ for airfare, park tix, room/DVC fees and other stuff, I just don't get too pumped by saving 50 bucks on figuring out an eating strategy, whether it's DP or dining in....

 

[photobob]

For our eating and ordering habits, the DDP isn't for us. We don't order the most expensive items and we rarely have dessert. We usually have a snack bfast in the room, TS for lunch and a lite dinner in the room or at a CS.

 

[Crystal_27]

For us, eating out on vacation is just part of the vacation experience. I wish I loved to cook (and I wish I was good at it) but, to me, cooking is just a chore and would be unbearable on vacation.

My expectation is that we'll use the DVC kitchen only for refrigerator (chilling water, fruit, etc.) and continue to buy the standard DDP. Because of the way that CS meals are still "pooled," we are usually able to split 2 CS meals between the 3 of us which really makes us able to maximize our credits. We have also found that using our TS meal for dinner is really a great way to wind down and talk about the day's events. And, unlike many, I love getting dessert with every meal - - it's another luxury that screams "vacation" to me, and certainly something I would never do in "real" life. Also, having 3 snacks a day is heavenly as well. For us, the DDP just works perfectly, and having our meals pre-paid makes it a lot easier to stomach the "invoice" at the end of the trip - LOL.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

We do love Disney dining and have many favorites that just need to be included in our trips. With that being said, I obviously still want to be saving somewhere and so this is how we handle it.

We split our resorts over our stay even if a 5 night stay. Then we do DDP (usually DxDP) for 1/2 the stay and cook the 2nd 1/2. This works well for us as if we do DxDP for 2 nights we stretch those out over 3 days. Then for 2 1/2 days remaining there, we cook. We also have stuff for breakfast or lunch depending on when/where we are scheduling for the other times. Then during our non eating days, we enjoy a snack or two or turkey leg (sons only YUUUCCK) that we don't normally get during dining because we are too full.

 

[poohbear7]

Can someone please tell me the cost of the dinning plan through DVC for adults and children.
What is included. thanks

 

[robinb]

The cost of the DDP is the same for DVC guests as it is for guests who book packages. With DVC you do not need to purchase park passes.

More info on the DDP options and prices can be found here:
http://www.mousesavers.com/packages.html#2009

 

[hockeyprincess]

Can someone please tell me the cost of the dinning plan through DVC for adults and children.
What is included. thanks

Basic DDP is I believe around $40 per adult per day and $12 per child per day (child being ages 3-9) and it includes 1 CS meal, 1 TS meal, and 1 snack per day per person. It's a great deal if you're going to do TS meals at all, because our TS dinners were well over $100 each meal if we were to pay OOP. So the cost of the dining plan itself more than pays for dinner, and you get a free lunch plus free lunch in my eyes!

My struggle is that we're not going to alot of parks this trip so it will be harder for us to make our ADR's and with a full kitchen, hate to waste it! Although I'm NOT cooking every day!! Told hubby we would go out to eat when we wanted, after all we are on vacation! And if it costs us more than the DDP would have, well we know what to do next time!

 

[robinb]

My struggle is that we're not going to alot of parks this trip so it will be harder for us to make our ADR's and with a full kitchen, hate to waste it! Although I'm NOT cooking every day!! Told hubby we would go out to eat when we wanted, after all we are on vacation! And if it costs us more than the DDP would have, well we know what to do next time!

I just want to point out that with two children, you are in the DDP "sweet spot". Your 9-year old will be an "adult" next year and you'll have to pay $40 per day for him! You may want to give the DDP one last try and then cut back next year when your DS is more expensive.

 

[mom2rb]

I did the DDP the last two trips. My boys were nine and it worked well. My boys will be eleven during our next trip. They still eat like little boys so it won't be a good deal for us. Now from what I've heard, when they turn thirteen my grocery bill will double. Then I might go back to the dinning plan.

 

[Alexander]

We do like the dining plan. We didn't get it when we were at the BCV 2 weeks ago and realized just how much money we were spending on our meals. I know it's not the best plan for some families, but for us it does work out well, and we definately get our money's worth out of it.

The dining plan is $37.99 for adults and $9.99 for children (3-9).