Why I Hate the DDP

[apostolic4life]

To me, I don't see how people are "saving" money on the DDP. Call me crazy, but how many families would actually eat all 3 meals plus several snacks all at WDW without the introduction of such a plan? It seems to me that people are led to believe that they are "saving" hundreds of dollars on the plan....but in actuality, they are actually spending more money than they would if they only ate a few meals and snacks on property and the rest off. JMHO, and I'm sure many people here would disagree with me. But to me, it only appears to be a value in the sense that you are not spending as much money as you would by paying for ALL of that food for each person in your party out of pocket....this is true, its like buying in bulk. But how many WDW vacationers would really eat that much food, 3 times, every single day of their vacation? Not us, thats for sure. And pre-DDP, I'm guessing very few. But of course, thats just our personal family opinion. We save so much money eating off property/at our villa (and back in the day, our hotel room) than what we would "save" with the DDP. Truth be told, even if we got the DDP, we would actually be spending more money than if we ate the majority of our meals OP. I'm by no means trying to speak for every family out there, but my personal opinion is that there really is no value in the DDP; Disney is just leading everyone to believe that they are "saving" hundreds of dollars on food. Again, its JMO and I am not really against all the people out there who do use the DDP. More power to ya.

...????

Maybe!

 

[marivaid]

OH, I see Marivaid. I guess the other thing I did know and didn't care for was the daily counter service vs. the 2 TS we enjoy. We have too many favorite TS restaurants, we wouldn't get them all in!!! Like I said something for everyone, we're grateful for the DDE card, but again, we have AP's, so I feel for us I'm happy with the discounts we get on everything all put together.

I would definitely rethink if we only went once in a while I guess.

I'm with you on the CS. I'd rather pay a little more and do 2 TS a day, so I really look forward to having the DDE. But we couldn't get it last time, and the DDP worked great for us then.

 

[apostolic4life]

....at least those of us who like the DDP. I know many people try to claim the DDP user must be gluttonous simply by using the plan, but just because you get all that food does not mean you should clean every plate. Actually if I am not mistaken, "proper" table etiquette dictates one should not clean your plate. That little rant aside, let's get the facts of DDP straight:

1 CS
1 TS
1 Snack

This is not three full meals and multiple snacks. Funny how things get misconstrued on these boards. Hope the clarification helps!!!

I will be at the trough getting my fill....if anyone needs anything just squeal.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But how many WDW vacationers would really eat that much food, 3 times, every single day of their vacation?

A snack, a sandwich/dessert/soda, and a single full-service meal every day? Most people eat three FULL meals every day. I don't get your point. Could you be confusing the DDP with the Premium or Platinum Dining Plans?

 

[MaryKatesMom]

A snack, a sandwich/dessert/soda, and a single full-service meal every day? Most people eat three FULL meals every day. I don't get your point. Could you be confusing the DDP with the Premium or Platinum Dining Plans?

I doubt it. I don't know any family that does three TS's a day which would be three FULL meals. I doubt anyone does 2 CS & 1TS and one snack.

 

[5boyz]

TinkeR in tr The DDP is DEFINATELY not saving me money that is why I just did 6 out of 14 nights, I split my ressie, I just wanted to try the dining plan. For 4 of us DH ME DS10 DD7 it is $820. for 6 days, I think it works out to like $35. a day each.

 

[gokenin]

I doubt it. I don't know any family that does three TS's a day which would be three FULL meals. I doubt anyone does 2 CS & 1TS and one snack.

I dont know of many people that do three meals in one day or as you say two counter-services and a table service but I can easily imagine someone doing a breakfast (TS), getting an ice cream or popcorn or water in the park during the day(snack) and then a simple counterservice meal at the resort or park for dinner or 2) simple snack breakfast as your (cs) then to the parks where you use your snack and then your dinner at the park or hotel at night (ts). I dont see how these actions are soooooo unbelievable for people to do on there vaction its not like you are talking huge amounts of meals at least not as i read the plan. I would also guess that most people in the real world eat two to three meals during there normal day so i can't imagine why they would be thought of as pigs or gluttons when they are on vacation for eating like a normal person would day to day

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would also guess that most people in the real world eat two to three meals during there normal day so i can't imagine why they would be thought of as pigs or gluttons when they are on vacation for eating like a normal person would day to day

Yes, thank you - that's what I meant. In real life, don't people eat three meals a day? Plus the occasional snack?

 

[DonaldTDuck]

To me, I don't see how people are "saving" money on the DDP. Call me crazy, but how many families would actually eat all 3 meals plus several snacks all at WDW without the introduction of such a plan? It seems to me that people are led to believe that they are "saving" hundreds of dollars on the plan....but in actuality, they are actually spending more money than they would if they only ate a few meals and snacks on property and the rest off. JMHO, and I'm sure many people here would disagree with me. But to me, it only appears to be a value in the sense that you are not spending as much money as you would by paying for ALL of that food for each person in your party out of pocket....this is true, its like buying in bulk. But how many WDW vacationers would really eat that much food, 3 times, every single day of their vacation? Not us, thats for sure. And pre-DDP, I'm guessing very few. But of course, thats just our personal family opinion. We save so much money eating off property/at our villa (and back in the day, our hotel room) than what we would "save" with the DDP. Truth be told, even if we got the DDP, we would actually be spending more money than if we ate the majority of our meals OP. I'm by no means trying to speak for every family out there, but my personal opinion is that there really is no value in the DDP; Disney is just leading everyone to believe that they are "saving" hundreds of dollars on food. Again, its JMO and I am not really against all the people out there who do use the DDP. More power to ya.

This is only available to people staying on property. Leaving property to eat is a GREAT inconvenience. One full sit down meal a day, a cs and a snack ain't enough to keep this country boy going. But last year, my girl and I kept our receipts and on a 5 night plan, we ate $550 worth of food. We also paid for a few meals because we were there six days, the day we arrived, and the day we left. Your three full meals a day is one of the most uninformed statements ever made on this board. Although, I'd love to get the premium plan with three ful meals each day, it is quite expensive. That would not save money. Oh yeah, you're crazy.

. Call me crazy, but how many families would actually eat all 3 meals plus several snacks all at WDW without the introduction of such a plan?[SIZE] :

 

[phyllis1966]

Well, we must really be hogs, because even though we don't use the DDP, we eat a TS breakfast and a TS dinner! We just have a snack instead of lunch, so we don't roll around all day (DD is still young, so she eats a little at breakfast and dinner and needs to have lunch every day). So, don't worry - not all of us non-DDPers think DDPers are gluttons!

This has been a mostly pleasant and very interesting thread - it was nice to hear from a CM server for a fresh perspective.

 

[Katiebell]

I think one of the biggest factors in the "it's just too much food" line of thinking is that the CS includes a dessert (which often isn't even worth eating), and dinner includes an appetizer and dessert for every single guest, and most people don't really order that way OOP. Appetizers and desserts are typically shared if they are even ordered at all. And it may not seem like much, but if you estimate $8 appetizer and $6 dessert (and that's conservative, many of them are much more expensive), that would be an extra $14 per person if you were paying OOP.

Outside of WDW, restaurant meals often include a soup or salad starter, but I didn't see that at any of the WDW restaurants -- although one could be ordered as the appetizer course. So...one CS meal, one snack, and one TS meal really is not a ridiculous amount of food. Especially when you consider that we walk miles and miles every day there, which most of us don't do at home.

 

[sunee]

I honestly don't know if it would save money and I don't care.

I like to have two sit down and get waited on meals a day. I don't need a third meal and don't need many counter service meals. Plus, like others, I rarely get an appetizer or dessert.

So, the Dining Plan is not for me. I do use the DDE, though.

But if people like it - or it helps with their budget - who cares? I couldn't care less who eats on the dining plan and who doesn't and cannot imagine why anyone would.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I often see people on the DIS telling other people that they should be on the DDP to save money on food cost. But they're not realizing the true cost of the DDP.

I'm going in December, and if history repeats itself, will probably be able to get an AP discount. But that discount is available for "room only" reservations and not packages (which I would need in order to purchase DDP). So here is some math I did based on last year's discounts:

With DDP
DDP for two adults: $78/day
WL Woods View Rack Rate: $240/night
Total: $318/day

Without DDP
WL Woods View Discount Rate: $179/night

Difference: $139/day

Under the above scenario the DDP actually "costs" $69.50 per day for each of us. There will be very few days that we will spend more than that on food OOP.

Would I be "saving" money on the DDP? No, my total vacation cost would be higher.

If I were staying at a value and the discount was less then perhaps the math would favor the DDP.

Each person needs to look at their own situation to determine if the DDP is a good value.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

A snack, a sandwich/dessert/soda, and a single full-service meal every day? Most people eat three FULL meals every day. I don't get your point. Could you be confusing the DDP with the Premium or Platinum Dining Plans?

I doubt it. I don't know any family that does three TS's a day which would be three FULL meals. I doubt anyone does 2 CS & 1TS and one snack.

I dont know of many people that do three meals in one day or as you say two counter-services and a table service but I can easily imagine someone doing a breakfast (TS), getting an ice cream or popcorn or water in the park during the day(snack) and then a simple counterservice meal at the resort or park for dinner or 2) simple snack breakfast as your (cs) then to the parks where you use your snack and then your dinner at the park or hotel at night (ts). I dont see how these actions are soooooo unbelievable for people to do on there vaction its not like you are talking huge amounts of meals at least not as i read the plan. I would also guess that most people in the real world eat two to three meals during there normal day so i can't imagine why they would be thought of as pigs or gluttons when they are on vacation for eating like a normal person would day to day

Yes, thank you - that's what I meant. In real life, don't people eat three meals a day? Plus the occasional snack?

I never called anyone names so please stop right there.

I disagree that people can eat a FULL breakfast, appetizer, entree and dessert for lunch and and appetizer, entree and dessert for dinner PLUS a snack for their entire vacation. Maybe for one or two days but that would be impossible to mantain. So yes I find it unbelievable.

If you meant 3 times a day plus a snack, yes normal people do that but that is not what you said. You said three FULL meals and that is NOT what normal people eat every day.

 

[TinkRBel_In_Training]

This is only available to people staying on property. Leaving property to eat is a GREAT inconvenience. One full sit down meal a day, a cs and a snack ain't enough to keep this country boy going. But last year, my girl and I kept our receipts and on a 5 night plan, we ate $550 worth of food. We also paid for a few meals because we were there six days, the day we arrived, and the day we left. Your three full meals a day is one of the most uninformed statements ever made on this board. Although, I'd love to get the premium plan with three ful meals each day, it is quite expensive. That would not save money. Oh yeah, you're crazy. :

And your statement was probably one of the rudest I have read on this board. I wasn't attacking anyone on the DDP, I was merely pointing out a hypothetical situation/question. There is no reason to attack me.

And thank you to everyone who was actually nice about responding to my post and constructively contributed to the discussion.

 

[gokenin]

I never called anyone names so please stop right there.

I disagree that people can eat a FULL breakfast, appetizer, entree and dessert for lunch and and appetizer, entree and dessert for dinner PLUS a snack for their entire vacation. Maybe for one or two days but that would be impossible to mantain. So yes I find it unbelievable.

If you meant 3 times a day plus a snack, yes normal people do that but that is not what you said. You said three FULL meals and that is NOT what normal people eat every day.

actually I never said three full meals a day I said two or three meals a day and I tend to think that most people do that you have something for breakfast, something for dinner and something for supper. I never said that people have a full breakfast a full lunch and a full dinner if you are going to quote me please do it accurately.

 

[LilyWDW]

and maybe the way the guest treats the server might have something to do with it?

This was a quote from a few pages back, but YES YES YES YES YES!!!!

I would say the vast majority of the time, this is what it all comes down to! I never ran into a rude CM or waiter my whole trip, but I smiles, engaged them in conversation, and didn't scream/shout when something wasn't 100% right. I said please and thank you... my mom was teasing me about how nice I was, but it worked! I got CMs that seemed to be having a bad day smiling and laughing with me. Our service in the restaurants was amazing, above and beyond what one would expect. One's mood can and will rub off on someone else, good OR bad.

I saw this actually happen at dinner at Le Cellier. Our server was great, as sweet as could be, quick, and came back to check on us. She engaged us in conversation and it was wonderful. Then this annoying and rude couple was seated beside us... and you could tell that the server was having problems with them. She would have to explain stuff 4-5 times, they would change their order AFTER she had taken it to the kitchen, and when she asked them if they were ready to order they would say yes... and then take 15 more minutes to decide with her standing there (yes, I timed it, I felt sorry for the server!). The server was still professional, but yes her personality did change between her table and ours. Not her fault. Anyone would have been frustrated with these people.

 

[apostolic4life]

I often see people on the DIS telling other people that they should be on the DDP to save money on food cost. But they're not realizing the true cost of the DDP.

I'm going in December, and if history repeats itself, will probably be able to get an AP discount. But that discount is available for "room only" reservations and not packages (which I would need in order to purchase DDP).

If we all had AP's your scenario would be 100% accurate. People with AP's would be better off with DDE not DDP. As for most people who do not have the AP discount available to them, the DDP is their only option outside of AAA or other occasional promotions. With AAA we get a pretty good discount on the entire package so the DDP is a better buy for us than most. We priced packages last year for trip to the Poly with Disney Travel, Dreams Unlimited and AAA. AAA saved us approx. $200 off the price quoted by the other two agencies. With that kind of savings I would be nuts to pass up the DDP. Just my two cents!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

actually I never said three full meals a day I said two or three meals a day and I tend to think that most people do that you have something for breakfast, something for dinner and something for supper. I never said that people have a full breakfast a full lunch and a full dinner if you are going to quote me please do it accurately.

Please read the entire post. kaytieeldr said three FULL (kaytieeldr emphasis not mine) meals I responded saying I doubt it, people don't eat three FULL meals but do probably eat three TIMES a day.

Your agreeing with me but saying I'm wrong.

I quoted your post exactly. How can that possibly be inaccurate?

 

[gokenin]

Please read the entire post. kaytieeldr said three FULL (kaytieeldr emphasis not mine) meals I responded saying I doubt it, people don't eat three FULL meals but do probably eat three TIMES a day.

Your agreeing with me but saying I'm wrong.

I quoted your post exactly. How can that possibly be inaccurate?

ok I will admit that maybe I was mistaken about which post you were making a comment on but the quote from me was if i am not mistaken is that you think its impossible for people to eat three times a day i never said three full meals in my quote just one full meal a snack and a counter meal thats all that i wa commenting about. but I agree I dont think I could eat three full meals and still do all the walking and riding that you do all day long. Hope everyone has a good day and still thinking about getting the DDP when I go down still doing the math to see if its worth it