To Get DDP or Not Get DDP?

[Minniekins]

Wondering if we should get the DDP this coming Nov when we take a 9 night trip. It will be myself, my DD17 and possibly, my DN13. Last 3 trips DD17 amd I took, we, well we've always paid oop. I checked our receipts from last Nov and we spent near 600.00 for the two of us, don't know if I might have missed any receipts, and it included snacks, water, etc. It would have cost 700.00 for DDP last Nov, with appy's and gratuities included. It would cost us each about 350.00 this yr plus gratuities, which adds approximatley another 60.00 per person. Just not sure if its worth it. We do like character meals but don't always have to have a ts per day, though we usually did. DD17 was sick one day last year so we did get less food that day. Just keep going back and forth on what to do that day! I also find it hard to decide what food and places to eat now to figure a plan if it's worth it. That seems a lot of work to figure on 'what if". Help! How do you decide?
Thanks!

 

[Booknut]

I've done so many calculations re the DDP that i'm pretty sure i'm going DDP insane!

The conclusion i've come to is that it is only worth it if you are going to do a TS each day, at least half of which are going to be in the evening (as meals tend to be a lot cheaper at a TS for lunch).

We had the dining plan last time we went (free dining) and for DH and I it was fab, we ate at pricier places for dinner like Le Cellier, Kona Cafe, Wolfgang Puck Cafe etc and even if we'd had to pay for it we would have come out ahead.

This next trip we are bringing our baby girl and there is no way we can work around an ADR schedule. I'll still make a few reservations and hope to make them but realistically most of our TS meals will be breakfast or lunch and because they are cheaper (typical TS character breakfast around $20) they wouldn't be a good use of dining credits.

Plus (and I speak for only me on this) I find having the DDP maddening because my brain just won't allow me to go and have what I want, I always feel this urge to 'maximise' the plan. When I pay OOP I don't have those urges

Sorry if that was long and rambling, hope it helped!

BTW, love the photo of you guys with Minnie!!!

 

[jagar100]

I also had a very hard time making this decision. Ultimately I decided to go with the DDP. Think if your meals as pre-paid. You get to not worry as much and not have to watch your money as much that way. You know you're gonna eat good. You're at Disney World...go for it!!!!

 

[septbaby]

Since this is a bday trip and you plan to eat TS meals (maybe even a Signature meal?) I'd do the DP. The pre paid, pick what you want feature is great. Also you can simply select meals you really want to try and not worry about $ cost of one vs another, they're all the same with your credits.

Good luck!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I am not a DDP person.. I never know exactly where I want to eat and the last thing I need is to be worrying about counter service credits vs table service credits and how to make the plan work to the best for us.. I am on vacation....I may want to eat off property (Lately that sounds real good) so I do not want to tied in to anything with Disney holding the strings for my food.. no way..

I know it works for some, but not for this family. Many years ago I did a food plan with Disney, back in the day, I would never do it again....it was the most screwed up thing I have ever been through.

 

[agentpleakley]

I've been debating this issue too. We have done the DDP the past 2 years. Both times, I have felt it was way too much food -- 2 years in a row, we had 24 snack credits left -- needless to say we brought home lots of Mickey Rice Krispie treats.

There are 4 of us, Me, DH, DS(12) and DD(5). -- I've relentlessly done tables with our meal selections etc. Here is what it boiled down too.

Out of pocket, 8 days, 3 TS meals: Sci Fi, CRT & Ohana, budgeted for one snack per person per day and water separate: 758.64 (including tax and gratuity)

DDP: 8 days: cost including gratuity: 1016.78


Not that much difference considering we would be adding 3 more TS meals. However, 2 things about the meal plan are leaning us to no DDP this year:

1. We felt that our touring plans were dictated by our ADRs

2. We were always so filled from food that we never got to sample all the other good stuff -- we were drooling over funnel cakes, etc. the entire trip, but we were just too full to get anything.

 

[creativeamanda]

Although we don't think we HAVE to have the DDP, to me, it is nice to go to WDW and not worry about money. With the DDP, everything is prepaid, so you don't have to worry about it.

 

[Bete]

DDP is good if you go to the pricier restaurants and order the pricier entrees and want to eat your bigger meal late in the day. If you are not a dessert person, the value of the plan decreases. For counter service there are combo meals that make it advantageous on that count. If you leave credits on the table then the plan decreases in value, too. A hidden bonus with the plan is that sales tax is included which is 6%. For both meals that tax adds up which goes a long way towards paying for the gratuity on each TS meal. It lessens the blow on OOP for the tip. Now, this is the money part of the plan. The next step is timing and likes and dislikes. It's a commitment to do a TS meal and a counter service meal and a snack each and everyday. You do need to make ressies to get the best places and times for the TS meals. It takes longer to do a dinner TS than say a second counter service meal. I've never seen anyone get in for TS without a wait even with a ressie. Some people rather have extra time doing the park and not the restaurants. If your 13 year old is not use to these types of restaurants she may be very unhappy with it. The more unhappy, the less value you will probably get from it. Finally, it is slightly more convenient to have the dining plan, but it does take more planning time.

I find it hard to justify the plan in most instances. With the free dining plan, do the plan. I think your kids would probably enjoy two, counter service meals over a TS meal most of the time. You can still do a few TS character meals or whatever and probably still be money ahead not on the plan. You don't have to make ressies and you have more flexibility with your time. Lunch TS is much cheaper and it has most items that are offered during dinner at most places. Simply said, it's just more freedom not being on the plan and many times cheaper, if you are not following all the guidelines above.

I will say I think there's better value as adults with the plan. I like the rest from the parks with doing a TS and the air conditioning, especially, when it's the hot season. I can last longer at the parks this way. I don't go out all the time at home; so, dining out each day can be special and you are on vacation, afterall. I like the conversation over a TS dinner, too. Some of these moments are priceless. This is where it gets difficult to analyze the pros and cons of the plan.

You really need to do the math on the places you would like to go and you need to understand it's a greater time commitment with the plan. You need to know your children's likes and dislikes to know if they can tolerate being on the plan. You need to look at it as a group effort.

There's no easy answer to do the plan or not anymore. It really depends on how you utilize the plan or not. In the past, it was easier to get your so-called money's worth from the plan like you could leave some credits on the table or choose cheaper places to eat, etc. and still make out with the plan. It was more forgiving in the past. Also, appetizer and gratuity were included in the past for almost the same cost in 2007. That made it a better bargain. You didn't have to analyze every move you made on the plan in the past. Now, you need to dot every "i" and cross every "t" to make sure you get your money's worth. It's more work now to make sure you get your money's worth. It still can be a good deal, but you have to make all the right moves, now to come out ahead.

 

[pakhowe]

Considering getting the DDP. Can you use TS credits at CS? Have a feeling we will be eating more CS meals i/o TS. I don't want our vacation plans dictated by ADRs.

 

[VMK_Mouse]

The way I decide is this: If you plan to eat one table service meal a day, it is worth it. If you only want a few during your entire stay, it is not.

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

I think it is a great value and suggest it to anybody who is staying on property. But, if you are not going to eat much or are happy with CS, it is not worth it at all.

 

[JustLikeHeaven]

I've been driving myself crazy over this decision as well. I did decide to cancel though. Here are my reasons....

I too don't want my whole trip dictated by our ADR's. I don't want to leave what I'm doing an hour early just because we're at the mercy of the transportation system (busses, etc.). We're going for the attractions first, then the food... not the other way around.

Our favourite places tend to be the counter service type. Another issue we have is that all the "must do" places are NOT included on the DP.

I really liked the idea of our meals being "prepaid", but I've come up with a better option which gives more flexibility. We're going to load up a Disney Gift Card with about $700 for our meals. Any money left over, we can spend on souvenirs, etc. Our meal plan was going to be just short of $700, so money wasn't the real issue with us. We just don't want to be tied down.

We probably will make one or two TS ADR's just for treats, but not 9 like we'd have on the DP. Another thing for us is that after looking at many of the TS menus, we'd be hard pressed to find something that we REALLY want (9 times over). We're not steak, pork or fish eaters (myself, I don't like fish). I LOVE shrimp, but most of the menus offer very little shrimp.

That's our plan anyways.

We can't wait!!!

Jill

 

[septbaby]

We're going to load up a Disney Gift Card with about $700 for our meals.

I don't think you can put that much on a gift card. For safety sake you would't want too, if its lost its fair game to the finder. Be sure to guard/manage those cards to have a magical time.

 

[Minniekins]

Well, thanks for all your points of view of whether or not to get DDP. People have good reasons for going either way. I have to say it's still hard to decide for sure. One minute I'm thinking, yeah, lets go for it, all prepaid and easy, and then the next I'm in thinking we should just do OOP, that is easier and not such a schedule for every single day. We usually do like 6 TS or so, usually character meals, on a ten day trip but it just happens that way, we have cancelled an ADR or two, or added. Our cost last time was about 100 dollars under what the DDP would have been, but then again there's that pressure of getting the value out of your money and having to get to the ADRs or it's like you pay too much for CS. Cause, if lets say we did it, then I added up our meals after, and find it would have cost less per day I'd be mad and frustated at myself for deciding wrong, or if it went the other way and we did spend more than DDP.... Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh! it makes me crazy, first deciding one way, then changing the other way!

The one thing that nags at me a bit is that the value has changed this year with having the gratuity not included, that really adds another $60 - 70 dollars to the cost per person at 18% tip. When I think of it that way, the value doesn't seem as good, that's for sure. And a lot of the TS would be character meals such as CP, CM, or Ohana's brkfst.

Which brings up what is the right amount to tip for buffett meals? Really, they often only bring you silverware and drinks, napkins,... 18% just seems way too high to tip compared to someone who brings you most all your food, etc.

Anyway, I think I've talked myself out of it again for sure this time! The value just doesn't sound as good as it did before since the tip is not part of prepaid cost as it used to be.