Why I love the DDP

[msujroot]

I know that there are some people on here who haven't decided on whether or not to do the DDP, so I thought I'd offer our reasons about why we do it. Of course, this means no disprespect to anyone who has other views...

First of all, some background...my wife and I both had never stayed at Disney overnight until our honeymoon. Any trips to WDW as kids had been strictly day trips, and as such, days were spent trying to cram every single second of the day in with rides, shows, and other fun stuff. Food was CS or snacks, and we were usually super tired and cranky by the end of the day. Additionally, I am a HS band director, and I take my students to WDW to perform once every 4 years, so I am well aware of trips where you can only eat at CS places.

So...after all that, here is why we do the DxDP if we can

1. Better food - when you eat better food, you feel better at the end of the day . I cannot tell you how much better I feel on my vacations to WDW when I eat at TS places than I do on trips with my band where I eat at CS places. Plus, we really feel like WDW has some of the best restaraunts that we have ever eaten at.

2. More rest during the day - my DW and I are lucky in that we get to WDW once a year or so. Because of that, we do not feel the need to cram activity into every second of the day. It is very nice to have three times a day where we sit down in air-conditioned comfort and can relax.

3. Atmosphere - it is really nice to be able to get out of the crowds during the day...especially during super busy lunch and dinner times.

It seems that many people don't like the DDP because they see TS places as a waste of time...we could not feel more opposite. The DDP (or DxDP) has been fantastic for us, because they allow us to experience WDW in a more relaxed and enjoyable way.

 

[Tricia1972]

Glad that it works for you! It's great to hear the success stories. Every family tours differently and the plan works very well for some - like you.

We tour differently. Breakfast in room in our kitchen as kids and we are getting ready, we go for rope drop in the morning, have a CS lunch around 11, afternoon nap, TS dinner (either on or off site) around 5, more touring/parade/fireworks, go to bed early.

For us it is not a time issue, it's financial. The way we eat/what we eat, means that we'd be money behind on the DDP or the DxDDP. We have the DDE though and our villa at SSR, so we are not 'every' family. We're just representative of some families.

I am glad that you had a great vacation with the Plan! That's fantastic!!

 

[Brygida]

So...after all that, here is why we do the DxDP if we can

1. Better food - when you eat better food, you feel better at the end of the day . I cannot tell you how much better I feel on my vacations to WDW when I eat at TS places than I do on trips with my band where I eat at CS places. Plus, we really feel like WDW has some of the best restaraunts that we have ever eaten at.

2. More rest during the day - my DW and I are lucky in that we get to WDW once a year or so. Because of that, we do not feel the need to cram activity into every second of the day. It is very nice to have three times a day where we sit down in air-conditioned comfort and can relax.

3. Atmosphere - it is really nice to be able to get out of the crowds during the day...especially during super busy lunch and dinner times.

It seems that many people don't like the DDP because they see TS places as a waste of time...we could not feel more opposite. The DDP (or DxDP) has been fantastic for us, because they allow us to experience WDW in a more relaxed and enjoyable way.

Agree 100% about the reason to do DDP. However, one sit down meal a day is about all the food I can eat. If I did DxDDP I would have to cram lots of 2 TS meals in there to try to use up the credits.

 

[aurorafan]

We're thinking about doing the DxDP in Dec., we'll definitely at least do the DDP. For us it's worth it for the peace of mind alone--knowing that the food is already paid for and we can order whatever we want without thinking about what everything costs. The last thing I want to do on vacation is be worried about keeping track to maximize our costs . Also we like to have at least one sit down meal a day, and sometimes 2, so for us both plans work nicely .

I can see where others who tour differently and/or have different financial situations/priorities would do differently and that's great--but for us the DDP is well worth it financially as well as peace of mind wise

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

We are taking guests. My husband and I have decided to do the DDP so that they don't feel like they should order cheap. We want them to get what they want and this will help them with that!

 

[madge]

We are taking guests. My husband and I have decided to do the DDP so that they don't feel like they should order cheap. We want them to get what they want and this will help them with that!

you're allowed to do that? I thought I read that you couldn't ...

 

[Tricia1972]

You cannot share your credits with guests not on the dining plan, however if you would like to buy the dining plan for your guests you are certainly free to do that.

I assumed that the PP was buying the plan for their guests, and thus it would be allowed.

 

[Schrute Farms]

Thanks for the info, we are going in November and I am on the fence as to do it or not.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Good input. I think I've decided on DP for my family in Feb. 2009. we've been so many times and DP question at CS always annoyed me (who knows why). But, now after trying to really think through our options, I think DP will save us $$. I do worry that we'll feel like we need to eat more than usual: we would never get dessert at CS or even a TS meal. So, I anticiapte some wasted food. This just seems wrong.
Are we better off to do without DP??
Any feedback is appreciated. I'm thinking this through too much! Which means I've tried to figure day by day whayt we'll eat and I hate to plan that sepcifically! We like to do what we want each day and not be ruled by a "plan" to spend our time at WDW.

 

[hill6]

I think that the DDP is great as a budgeting tool for the trip. You pretty much know what your meals are going to cost. Yes there are additional out of pocket expenses such as tips and appetizers (if you want) but you know your meal budget is smaller at the end.

 

[TifffanyD]

We are doing the deluxe dining plan for the first time this Saturday! We decided it's perfect for a quick overnight trip... so we will do Lunch and Dinner on Saturday and Lunch on Sunday. We're also planning on using it for an overnighter Xmas eve (Dinner Xmas even and then Lunch and Dinner on Xmas day!) and for half of our honeymoon. I'm not sure if we have any days with 3 sit downs - that may be a bit much. Glad to hear other people like it!!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

May I add another reason.

We have always stayed offsite. First trip I didn't know about TS restaurants so we did all CS.

Last tripped offsite again and I booked 3 TS meals. Tusker HOuse, CP and Garden Grill. When DH would get the bill he would be all . Well not that much but you get the point. And these were lunches and BF. No dinner since it's more money.

DDP is actually going to save us money since we prefer to do a TS (character meal preferred too!!) every night and dinner also. So dinners will be about $100 a pop so we are going to save some cash! We are also snackers so I don't think we will have any trouble buying snacks. LOL Especially my kids. My DS can probably use all of ours in one day just on himself!!! We are foodies. WE love to eat! Well except DS. He's a snacker!

Well when I booked POP I told DH I got the dining plan, gave him the total and he just thinks this is price to go to Disney and he knows our food will be "free." So now i don't have to hear him semi complain about the tabs!!!