Would the DDP be for us?

[mrudman]

This is gonna be kinda lengthy so bear with me,


At this time, I'm trying to decide if it would be worth it to me to buy the DDP over just paying for food down there...

Just to give you some info about us, and what we're planning:

We are going in very early December, for 8 nights....

It'll be me, dh, and our 2 daughters who will be just turning 8 and 6 (b-day trip, .

Both dd's aren't real picky eaters although they do have their favorites.. but being only 7 and 5 now, we usually find that we can split most kid's meals between them, and they get filled up.

They do like to snack... but we are planning on packing a lot of snack-type food that they like, to bring along to the parks in a backpack.

We are definitely planning on eating breakfast in our rooms for the most part.. we might eat at our resort 2-3 of the mornings.. but we're planning on either bringing along (or having delivered ahead of time), a lot of "breakfasty" type foods.

We're not morning people per se, but planning on eating breakfast, getting ready, and being to the parks by about 10 - 10:30.

Planning on having our main meal of the day around 2:00 or so.. and planning on having that meal as a sit-down type pretty well every day.. as far as the actual places, this is what I am thinking tentatively...

Ignore the order of these days... but just planning on have 2 days at MK, 2 at
Epcot, 1 at MGM, 1 at AK, our arrival day we'll probably stick around the resort, or might do DD, and then departure day, not sure what the plans are yet.

These are what I'm thinking for our "main" meal of the day...

For MK day, hoping to do Cinderalla's Royal Table
for MK day #2, maybe Tony's Town Square (or might be CS day)
For Epcot, possibly Garden Grill
For Epcot day #2, meal in one of the "countries"
For Hollywood Studios (MGM), either Sci-Fi or 50's cafe
For AK, either Rainforest cafe, or might just do CS place that day

Then when we get hungry later in day (which probably won't happen till 7 or so since we'll be eating around 2, we'll do CS places or snacks at that time.

And we're definitely planning on buying the resort mugs.. filling them at beginning of day to take along for dd's.... and taking bottled waters for dh and I... so won't need much purchased drink through the day.

So to summarize, we'll most likely be eating 2-3 breakfasts at the resort (counter style), 5-6 "fancy" sit-down places, 7 counter style places for meals/snacks in the evenings, and the occasional snack/drink that we might see... we're not real big eaters, so would probably share the snacks/drinks... so guessing maybe 1 snack per day on top of what we'd be packing along.

If you're still here, thank you very much for following along!

And in your opinion, does it sound like we'd be better off with DDP or with just buying everything as we go?

 

[Tricia1972]

You sound a lot like us in your dining style. We're more grazers than eaters of three giant square meals a day.


Looking at your Plan:

An adult CS Split will cost you about $13 - Burger $7-$8, three soda's $6.27 + tax so approximately $13.85, but we'll call it $14 for roundness.

A child CS Split will cost you about $5

Your total CS cost will be approximately $19

TS Meals - again assuming you eat like we do, an appetizer split between the two of you & two entrees at:

$119.96 CRT ($35.99x2 + $23.99x2 = $119.96 (Lunch))
$60.00 Tony's Town Square ($6.50 appetizer + $40.00 for two entrees $8.00 beverages + $7.49 kids meal = $60.00)
$65.96 Garden Grill - 20.99x2 + 11.99x2 = 65.96
$54.00 World Showcase (San Angel) $38.00 two adult entrees + $7.49 childrens meal + $8.00 beverages = $54.00
$48.48 50's PTC - $5.99 Onion Rings + $17.00 potroast + $10.00 sandwich + $7.49 children's meal + $8.00 beverages = $48.48

$348.40 TS Meal Value
$22.65 Tax
$371.05 - OOP Cost for TS Meals (6 TS Credits)

$133.00 - OOP Cost for CS Lunch Meals (7 CS meals @ $19 Each)

OOP - $504.05
DDP - $685.72 ($153.86 - Children $531.86 - Adults)
Difference $181.67
(Not including Rainforest cafe in this equation, as it's not on the plan, nor am I including the breakfasts, as the 7 dinners at CS will use all of your CS Credits, all TS figures are based on 'average' lunch prices. Sometimes I used the most expensive item, and sometimes I used an expensive item and a more moderate item)


You would have to spend $181.67 on snacks and beverages in order to break even having the plan versus paying OOP and eat the way that you normally would eat. It's up to you, just wanted to break down your numbers for you.

(I am assuming you are staying 7 nights from your post (6 park days, arrival day and departure day)

 

[Hootch]

of you Tricia.

 

[mrudman]

Wow, thank you so much!!! That was very nice of you to add that all up, and break it down like that.

So it seems like I'd be saving almost $200 by just paying OOP... plus if I remember right, the character meals count as 2 TS meals, so might even be saving more than that.

I think I'll stick with just paying as we go.. and that way we'll also not have to worry about "well this counts as a CS item" "this counts as a snack item", etc, etc.. will just be able to buy what we want and when we want it.
Will make the trip that much more relaxing..

Plus, I see where you had added in appetizers and stuff... and that's one thing our family rarely gets.. so that'll just save even more then I suppose.

Thanks again so much for spelling everything out for me!

Michelle

 

[WDmommyof4]

In all honesty, unless you are doing a ton of expensive character meals which force you to pay for each person, or you like to treat yourself to an appetizer, entrée and dessert for each person, then the dining plan is not a value for you.

I on the other hand take a full vacation when I go to Disney World. I do not leave the World once I am in it . I will not drive outside the world, I will not eat outside the world, all arms and legs must remain inside the world while I am there. I am just quirky that way though. I also like to treat myself and my children meal wise while I am there, because I don't do it at all when we are at home. In fact all year long at home, I only eat at a nice table service restaurant maybe 1 or 2 times a year. So, even though I have annual passes, I still purchase a package with a one day ticket just so I can get the dining plan. It is better for me to do it this way, because I save at least $100, and get to order whatever my heart desires. For you, I would say definitely skip it, and enjoy the savings !

 

[conmama]

May I also add that once you are down there, you may decide you would rather try a counter service instead of table service, or decide to keep going because you're not as hungry as you thought you would be at that particular time or not hungry at all.

The first time we went I had all my days planned, all my ADR's planned, etc. I ended up canceling at least half of them because we just didn't feel like eating at that particular moment that we thought we would months before.

I don't do the DDR because I would only be saving about $100 AND I have to live my time down there around planned meals and eating the whole time. I love the flexibility and that is worth more than the $100 savings. For this trip, I did plan several ADR's knowing that I have t hem if I want them...but can cancel at will.

 

[photobob]

Your style and planning pretty much mirrors ours and we always do everything OOP.

 

[septbaby]

You would have to spend $181.67 on snacks and beverages in order to break even having the plan versus paying OOP and eat the way that you normally would eat. It's up to you, just wanted to break down your numbers for you.

(I am assuming you are staying 7 nights from your post (6 park days, arrival day and departure day)

The cost of all those breakfast items, snacks, food deliveries etc. are also included in that $182 so it may be closer than you think.

Once you factor in those additional costs and get a smaller "difference" you then have to decide how important prepaying or having to consider price at every meal is for your family.

We were a family of two adults and a 5 turning 6yo. The plan worked for us and we'll use it again on our 2008 trip. A few weeks before the trip I distinctly remember smiling that I didn't have to finish putting together the side/spending $ as food was already accounted for. I had a budget for golf and I don't tend to buy a lot of souveniers (I like to spend on experiences vs things) so all I had to do was shore things up at work then take off.

 

[TDC Nala]

This does belong over on the DDP board.

 

[LSchrow]

honestly, your choices are most of the lower cost options (TS being lunch rather than supper, eating at tony's, sci-fi, etc), so the DDP would prob not work as well for you.
fyi, DDP is most advantageous when using TS at higher cost restaurants (tutto italia, wolfgang puck cafe, le cellier, etc) in the eve. also, if you prefer CS to TS for your main dinner (as many do), it again loses value.

we don't try to "maximize" the DDP, but we do enjoy a nice TS for dinner daily (& most of our tried & true fav's happen to be on the more costly side, averaging easily over $40 for entree, dessert, & beverage). CS is the most flexible: we've had Shawarma Platters, etc at Tangierine Cafe (bill about $19) to paninis, etc at the BW bakery (about $13).

btw, there are some excellent CS options (wolfgang puck express (DTD) is the best, imho , earl of sandwich is also very good), which would fit your family perfectly (& for much less money than the DDP)

 

[Tricia1972]

The cost of all those breakfast items, snacks, food deliveries etc. are also included in that $182 so it may be closer than you think.

Adding in the snacks, assuming that they can get the full $4 value for all snacks will affect their bottom line savings but not nearly to $182

They'll have 24 snack credits total (4 people x 6 night)

24x4=$96 Assuming that they used those 24 snack credits they still save close to $100 (I say this because the OP said that they wouldn't order the $12 in appetizers, and in fairness to the plan the regular DDP does not include appetizers so that should have not been included in the original equation)

 

[septbaby]

Adding in the snacks, assuming that they can get the full $4 value for all snacks will affect their bottom line savings but not nearly to $182

They'll have 24 snack credits total (4 people x 6 night)

24x4=$96 Assuming that they used those 24 snack credits they still save close to $100 (I say this because the OP said that they wouldn't order the $12 in appetizers, and in fairness to the plan the regular DDP does not include appetizers so that should have not been included in the original equation)

I was not referring to things ON the plan, but rather all those snacks she planned to buy to bring to Disney. Those things may not be necessary on the plan.

 

[mrudman]

Thanks again everyone for all your replies and input!!

I'm thinking we'll probably not do the DDP... we may find out that we could've saved some money on it, but I think at this time, I'd rather just play it by ear, and spend what we will, and when we want.... although I may totally change my mind in a couple months, lol!

Like one of you had mentioned, maybe after the big lunches, we all might decide we're not hungry for dinner, other than a small snack.. and with the DDP, we'd have a lot of leftover credits then.

But anyway, thank you all for your opinions!