Tp DDP or not....

[lck33]

Hi, I am hoping to get some opinions for our upcoming trip. Originally we thought it was a no brainer to get the DDP, so I made all of our ADR's. Got some really good restaurants at all good times. Now with times getting tighter, we are starting to rethink this and maybe just catch can and do mostly counter service meals. It would be for me, DH, DD8. My husband is a big eater, but myself and daughter not so much. Usually on the plan, we have had way too much food. I have looked at the menus and can see that counter service would cost maybe $35.00 each time for the three of us, so about $70.00 a day, since we eat breakfast in the room and a snack or two here and there for maybe $15.00 would be around $85.00 a day, With the dining plan, would be about the same except no gratuities or tax would be included so we would save money there. My question is, if i cancel the ADR's, do you think I would regret it? Has anyone else not done the plan and then regretted later. We are going the first week in December for the first time and are not sure about the crowds either? Thanks for reading this post and any insight would be helpful.

 

[borgthe]

If you are going in 2008, the dining plan will cost you $86 per night. Add another $20 for tip and you get $106 per night. You believe you will spend $85 a day doing only counter service. My belief is, for an extra $21 per day, it is worth it to have the sit down meal. It's a nice break and the food is great.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Probably you feel the plan is too much food because you are eating breakfast in the room. We found the DDP to be about perfect, since we share meals. The one thing though is that maybe you are eating breakfast in room to save time - and there I'll agree.

REmember too, unlike last year DDP no longer includes the appetizer or tip.If you are comparing this year to last - they are not the same.

If limiting the time you spend eating meals is your angle - then skipping DDP and TS meals will save you time - like if you made trip shorter to save money, and want to be more commando.

I do kind of feel that some sit down meals are a no-brainer way to take breaks - but I also concede that on our most recent trip - using DDP - many TS meals took about two hours. Yikes! That doesn't count time to get to the meals - just waiting for table, meal - including dessert - and paying our bill.

Eating more QS meals will cost you less time - provided you don't end up taking more breaks a different way.

Overall, I think I like DDP, but next year we might use some of our DDP TS credits to eat a few more QS meals...just to save some time.

 

[Goofy&Sleepy]

We just got back (DH, me, DD3 & DD6). Did DDP for 4 days of 6 day trip (split ressie Okw & SSR /DVC members). Had done it last year w/much success....will we do it again, probably not, why? The desserts! Way too many, would like the option of doing an appetizer or dessert.

Did Le cellier for lunch/Cape May dinner/O'hana b'fast/ESPN. DEFINITELY won't do ESPN on DDP again....desserts had really changed & it wasn't worth it. DD3 wasn't much of an eater this trip & I think she & sister could have 'shared" adult size burger or fish sandwich & not had to do pizza/hot dog/hamburger/nuggets at EVERY meal.

We had 6 snack credits when we left &, although we LOVE them, I brought 6 Earl of sandwich BROWNIES home (which we don't need after all the other desserts).

I tried to do the math & yes, we did save $ BUT we NEVER would have ate (or felt like we had to get) the desserts .

 

[mdurette]

Well - I have done the math for 2 adults. Gone to the dining section on this site and checked out the menus and prices for what I would order and eat OOP. (alot of buffets since we will have a 2YO with us).

For our 2008 trip - it is pretty much a break even - $5.00 better with the plan with mostly charachter meals.

For our 2009 trip - we will spend about $20 more per day on the plan - so I don't think I will get it for that trip.