why don't you like the DDP?

[hsmamato2]

just wondering....I've been going to WDW for a LOT of years- this upcoming trip, we will be using the DDP- now,I am saving a bundle b/c after using Disrewards from the card I'm only paying 675.00 for the plan,4 'adults' for 7 days (I'll stretch it into 8)
Even if I hadn't used the rewards, the cost of all the TS places I've got booked,plus the cs lunches planned,plus the fun snacks,it still more than covers the DDP cost! At worst,we'd break even...so why not?
This will also change the way we vacation,as we won't rent a car,will use Dis transport only and eat on property....in years past we always rented and drove offsite to save on meals.....
I know I'll owe for tax/tip on TS,but it all comes out ahead...we're looking forward to a relaxed,food centered trip!

 

[wdwlinz]

I think whether or not you like the DDP depends on what/how you normally eat. For us, it never works out to be the best deal. If you compare dollar for dollar what you would order on the DDP with what those same items cost if you were to pay OOP, then yes, the DDP is the better deal. But if you compare what you would normally order vs the cost of the DDP, it may turn out to be cheaper to just pay OOP. For example, DH and I normally get water with dinner and rarely order dessert, especially at lunch. DDP includes drinks and desserts with your meals, so we are essentially paying for something we normally wouldn't even want.

 

[TDC Nala]

Should I count the ways? I think I can get up to a top 10 reasons why I don't like DDP.

1) I'm single. It won't save me that much. I also have a TIW membership.
2) I like going to places that don't accept it.
3) It is not the best value for signature restaurants (2 credits per meal) and I prefer those.
4) Too much scheduling is necessary. There's always someplace I can get into without an ADR. Or if I can't get an ADR, there are lounges that serve full meals - but not on DDP. On DDP if you don't keep the ADRs you have to worry about losing the credits.
5) I don't eat CS very much and when I do I never order dessert, or any beverage but the free cup of water.
6) I usually prefer to order appetizers and have those as my meal. They are not covered. If you get deluxe DDP they're covered but you also have to eat an entree AND a dessert as well.
7) Booze is not included (except at the dinner shows).
8) I would probably use all the snacks for Diet Coke which is not the best value. When I used DDP I discovered that I didn't want more food for snacks.
9) I am a DVC member and "free dining" is not available to me. Not that I'd want it even if it's "free."
10) The best value is obtained by ordering the most expensive items on the menu. I prefer fish or chicken to red meat, and fish or chicken is usually not as expensive as red meat. I do not want to feel like I should pick my entree based on its price.

Most of my trips are food centered. But without the added complication of DDP. Yes, although most people seem to consider DDP to be a bargain and a convenience, I think it's a complication.

 

[leebee]

Hi-

DDP, combined with Magical Express, changed the way we vacation, too. My only real complaint with the DDP is that we couldn't eat all the food, but it was incredibly hot this summer and at least half the time, DD16 and I ended up sharing one cs meal in the late morning then each having our own ts meal at a late dinner (8pm of later). I honestly think it's an amazing plan, and when we were there this summer, tax was included. We only had to pay the tip.

For us, an improvement would be to offer appetizers, meal, and beverage rather than meal, beverage, and dessert, or give a choice of appy or dessert, as we are not big dessert eaters.

I think many people are PO'd about the dining plan because it so many people are using it during free dining that it makes it very challenging to get an ADR. I've also heard people say the the quality and variety of food at the restaurants have gone downhill since so many people started eating on the DDP; I guess they think Disney is producing cheaper, easier-to-make food. I am not really sure what there is to NOT like about the plan, but this is what I've been able to figure out. Oh well... we were SO very happy with it in August!

 

[Pakey]

just wondering....I've been going to WDW for a LOT of years- this upcoming trip, we will be using the DDP- now,I am saving a bundle b/c after using Disrewards from the card I'm only paying 675.00 for the plan,4 'adults' for 7 days (I'll stretch it into 8)
Even if I hadn't used the rewards, the cost of all the TS places I've got booked,plus the cs lunches planned,plus the fun snacks,it still more than covers the DDP cost! At worst,we'd break even...so why not?
This will also change the way we vacation,as we won't rent a car,will use Dis transport only and eat on property....in years past we always rented and drove offsite to save on meals.....
I know I'll owe for tax/tip on TS,but it all comes out ahead...we're looking forward to a relaxed,food centered trip!

Saving money is not a primary goal of mine; it's more important for me to be able to eat what I want. I don't want to eat dessert so the DDP forces me to pay for food I don't want. I generally want to eat 2 appetizers rather than an entree, again I'd be forced to eat something I don't want. We love to dine at the Dolphin/Swan restaurants and Bistro de Paris, which are not on the plan. We prefer to do a signature dinner (no dessert) with just a snack during the day. We've tried the regular DDP once and the deluxe DDP twice and we have found in every instance that it was more food than we wanted so therefore didn't save us anything.

I agree, the DDP works great for the masses and Disney was very smart to implement it as it keeps people eating on property and putting more money in their pockets. But for the reasons stated above, it's not the ideal plan for us.

 

[Cafeen]

There are many reasons why someone would choose not to get a plan. The biggest is the setup of the plan itself. It lends itself to purchasing meals a certain way, which while it works for many, also isn't ideal for many others.

For example, if I were someone who preferred two apps instead of an entree at a dinner, I'd be paying for a Dessert with the DDP (or, not order the way I want).

Others are more inclided to dine at locations that do not accept the DDP (Swan/Dolphin locations, RFC/TRex, Fultons, or even off site restaurants). Again, like the above, they can either go DDP and eat at places that aren't their ideal, or they can skip DDP and go to the places they really want to go.

Some people just don't eat that much. They're more into sharing an entree between two people or ordering kids meals. Again, this isn't a good use of the DDP as you will not likely break even, thus costing more than you would otherwise.

And lastly, some people would rather not be "tied down" by the reservations needed to make the plans worthwhile (ok, QSDP is an exception here). You can "wing it" to some extent when paying OOP, but when you've already bought into a dining plan, it's a bit more risky. In the same vein, they may only want one or two sit down meals during their whole trip.

Now, those are the four key reasons that I've heard most people say. For myself, since I do want to dine the way the plans suggest, I enjoy them. My upcoming trip is saving about $200 due to the DxDDP (over what I'd pay for the same orders OOP). Of course, I'm spending about $200 more that I would if I were actually paying OOP, but in that extra $200 I'm getting much more food and much better experiences. Essentially I'm getting $400 worth of experience for $200. I do totally understand those that would rather pay OOP or use TiW (if available) though and it's all about finding what works best for you and your family .

ETA:
Boy we sure pounced on this question didn't we? heh

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Our last 2 trips were on the DDP, both times free. We really liked the DDP, however mid-trip last time we got in a bad situation at 50s PT. We made ADRs for a late lunch, I think around 2. We checked in about 15 minutes early and waited, and waited and waited. We asked a few times to be sure we had not been forgotten and they said we had not been, they were running behind but wuld not tell us where we were on the list, had they we would have left. We waited 2 hours pastour ADR time and then sat again at the table waiting for service. It was then that my kids started complaning that all the meals took too long and by the end of the trip the begged us to not do the DDP again. DH was game cause of the cost of all the tips. So we decided for this trip we'd book the QSDP and just pick a few special meals to pay for OOP. As it turned outthe values got free QSDP so we lucked out!
So the only thing I can complain about for us is the time. Looking back we spent a lot of time eating (and sometimes waiting) and since we only get to go on a big vacation oncce every other year we want to do more rather then eat more, that is just our preference though and everyone is different.

However, overall, we were pleased with our 2 trips on the DDP, look forward to see how the QSDP goes this trip and will reevaluate for our next trip based on that.

 

[Tiger926]

- too restrictive
- my kids eat adult meals, and not yucky kids meals
- we rarely eat dessert
- we like to get appetizers once in awhile too (have done DxDP - too much time in restaurants)
- if someone is ill, you might lose credits
- eat at restaurants that are not on DP
- don't like the wastage and overeating that DP encourages (we didn't take part in this, but we still don't like that)
- since DP, menus and service have gone downhill, so we don't want to support that

These are our reasons, and we've done DP and DxDP several times now. Much prefer TIW.

Tiger

 

[summerlady]

We've done the DDP once and the QSDP twice so far and much prefer the QSDP. My only real problem with the DDP is the fact that we have to be tied to ADRs and that restricts the way that we like to vacation. That said, our next trip in Nov. we'll be using the DDP because it was free and a few hundred dollars in savings over the 35% room discount that I had originally booked for 3 adults and 1-10 year old "adult". By the way OP, I think you mentioned that you'll have to pay tax on your meals? Tax is included in what you paid for the dining plan, you'll only be responsible for tips at TS restaurants and anything else you might order OOP will be taxed.

 

[btwitkin]

The main reason we don't like it is because it seemed we had to plan our days around it. It is difficult to get ADR's during free dining, so it seemed that we had to work hard to get ADR's, and then we had to schedule our day around our dining. We want more flexibilty, so for us the QSDP is better. We get more snacks and we don't mind eating CS for breakfast and lunch and then going off-site for dinner. We have 2 TS ADR's for our next trip, which we will pay OOP, but that's it.

 

[nurtz]

We often share an appetizer and entree.
We rarely get one dessert to share, let alone one for each of us.
We don't like to be tied to an ADR we may not feel like keeping that day...I like that I can cancel and not worry about making up the credit somewhere. I don't really want to prepay for food I may not want.
We would much rather have the room discount especially since we usually stay deluxe or moderate.
We don't mind paying as we go...just use our debit card so no bills when we get home.
I have an AP so we can use TIW.
I agree with others who say the menus and food choices have changed a lot since the dining plans started.
I have been to WDW over 20 times since 1974 and have never felt the need to use any type of dining plan and I still eat where I want and order what I want.
I just don't see where using it would be to our advantage.

 

[hsmamato2]

wow...thanks for all the replies! If I hadn't had special circumstances this next trip,I probably would agree with each of you! ( Ihave in the past)
But,our room is taken care of (incredible deal) and now I find out the tax is included? whoopee!!! when I wrote it all out,including tax, I way overestimated what we'll pay!
With our room special,and the Dis rewards for the plan, I think for this one trip, the 4 of us will eat our way around WDW...... even if it's the only time it ever works out monetarily,I'm gonna like this!
p.s.,wish I had a TIW card....using some old hoppers this time tho....
also, b/c we've visited so often, I think the change of pace will suit us fine.....