Why don't you purchase the DDP?

[TinkRBel_In_Training]

We don't do the DDP for several reasons. First of all, we don't like to spend tons of $$$$ eating out. Eating out is a rare for us, even on vacation. An average vacation lasts about 12 days for us and typically we will eat out only 3-4 times each vacation, usually dinner. Second of all, we stay in a villa/timeshare and we have a full kitchen and therefore spend around $300 (give or take some) on groceries from the grocery store that will last our entire vacation. $300 versus $1,200 (for the DDP) on food.....hmmm, simple choice for us! The DDP is very expensive, and we'd rather spend our money on things other than food. Thirdly, we like to eat healthy and cook our own healthy food. My dad cooks delicious meals, much more healthy and considerably cheaper than those at WDW! We like to bring our own lunches into the parks because the park dining options are severely lacking in the "healthy" department. We also like the option and freedom to eat at other restaurants in the Orlando/Lake Buena Vista area, which you typically get the best bang for our buck. Lastly, we really don't eat on WDW property, save for the occassional soft pretzel or turkey leg as a special treat (again, because food on property is pretty expensive).

So I guess to sum up our reasons, we don't do DDP because we don't care to "eat out" every meal, we save TONS of money just buying our own groceries, we like to eat healthy and cook our own food, we like the freedom of being able to eat wherever we want, when we want, and we typically only buy the occassional snack at WDW. So the DDP is totally not worth it to us!!

 

[Laura]

I would do the free DDP if I wanted to go to WDW at that time of year. Otherwise, no.

I prefer not to have to make ADRs far in advance so I "get my money's worth". I actually like the CS restaurants in the parks; there are far better choices for vegetarians now.

DH and I don't eat that much, and we have no children. We often share appetizers--if we get them--as well as desserts, again, if we get them. We also don't eat that many snacks. When it's hot I really don't like to eat a huge meal at the end of the day. I'd rather have a bigger breakfast; breakfasts are usually much cheaper meals. So this doesn't maximize the cost of the DDP.

As a vegetarian, my meals are often cheaper at a non-buffet TS restaurant. Even at a 2TS restaurant, it could be cheaper than a meat-eater's 1TS dinner. I also want to be able to order just appetizers instead of an entree. For example, the vegetarian entree at Jiko doesn't appeal to me, so I'd probably get a salad and two of the appetizers for my dinner.

After our trip last year, I added up the amount we spent on dining (sometimes I had to include alcohol in our receipts), took out what would not have been included on the DDP, and we spent less than what the DDP would have cost us. Even including the alcoholic drinks that I didn't know the cost of.

So, for me it's a no-brainer. No DDP.

 

[plutolovr]

We don't do DDP because I'm a TA and my daughter is a CM, so we get 50% off rooms, discounts on APs. I use the DDE card. Last year we had a 2br villa at OKW, there were 8 of us and I save a ton using the card at places like Cali Grill. We love the signature restaurants and you can't beat the 20% off on alcohol, especially since they accept it at Raglan Road (our favorite latenite hangout). We're going back again this August (8 of us again) 2br at Saratoga Springs. My AP expires so my daughter will renew it for me when we get there and my DDE card doesn't expire until the end of August. Since I got the card last August, we have made 3 trips and I saved over $300.

 

[TandCmum]

we are not gettng the DDP on our tripo in May because

1) we are going for 18 nights and I don't want to have to plan food for 18 days

2) my kids are only young so we need to have some time to go with the flow

3) we will hire a car so can eat offiste and get breakfasts and snacks in for the room

4) my kids will not touch the CS kids meals and would prefer to share an adult CS

5) i doubt we could all eat 3 courses at every meal, kids would probably just share an entree and dessert as they are grazers and tend to eat small amounts all day, and we would never normally eat 3 courses

 

[TDC Nala]

I go too often to afford it. Most of my trips are short, usually over a weekend.

I don't really eat all that much and I usually purchase alcoholic beverages.

I have a DDE card and that is enough most of the time. Although I have two trips coming up on free dining packages. Will book at least one signature dinner each trip to cut down on the amount of big meals.

 

[fla4fun]

Having an AP and being a Fla Res, I can usually come out ahead with room discounts and paying food OOP than paying rack rate and getting DDP. I even priced it out for my fall trip during free dining, and it actually works out better for me to discount the room and pay for food, than to pay rack rate and get the food free. I think it works out best for families staying in the value and mod resorts with at least two adults and two kids. When you're traveling solo and staying deluxe or DVC, it just doesn't make as much sense economically.