Wow..can't decide to do DDE or the plan...

[Esmerelda]

Ok...I know this should go on the restaurant board but I want my fellow DVCers' opinions!

My hubby and I are doing our first ever 'adult' trip to Disney. We are staying at Saratoga which is our absolute fav place to stay. We have a studio which we have never stayed in before.

I noticed when we were there last July with my boys that the servers would quickly ask if we were on a 'plan' right off the bat. They almost seemed relieved when we went on to say that we weren't. I don't want to be treated any differently than normally if we are? Did that make sense? I realize its a good deal as one meal alone for 2 people can run well over $70 bucks if you eat like say at the CG etc.

What were your family's experience? Were you happy you went with the plan, or had you wished you would have skipped it? We had the DDE card last year and did quite well with it.

Any and or all experiences bad or good would be appreciated by me. I'm not looking for a big debate on this topic just experiences as a DVCer using it. I know economically its worthwhile.

Thank you,
Esmerelda

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm subscribing to this because I'd like to know too. We usually do short stays of 3-4 nights throughout the year, so my initial thought is that we'd save more by having the DDE.

 

[Boston5602]

My family and I have done both in the past. We feel in really depends on the TYPE of vacation you want to do.

We have found that sometimes its a huge benefit to do the DDP and sometimes its not. When we do the plan we sometimes feel TIED to our meals. The whole vacation turns out to be timed for eating.

The DDE is a great help for us weather we have the plan or not. It paid for itself the first week we had it . We are fortunate enough to get to use it for 35 days before it expires.

this summer we are not doing the plan and made reservations for only part of our time. We will also do a grocery stop before getting to BWV so that should help.

One suggestion is if you want to see if the DDP will be worth it to you. Plan out your meals for the whole time estimate how much each would cost and calculate it out . You can see the menus HERE

 

[Deb & Bill]

When we were discussing our June trip, I asked my husband if he wanted to do the DDP again this time. We did it in Nov. I told him we could get the DDE card since we have our PAPs and use that instead. He thought about a minute and said, let's use the DDE instead. We ate too much on the DDP.

He's a runner and he still is trying to get rid of the extra pounds he gained from Nov (he injured his foot/ankle and wasn't able to run as much). Now, weather is better and he's still trying to recover his old times.

We left about four CS credits between the three of us.

So instead of trying to get eight or nine TS ADRs, we only got five, with two of them breakfast, two lunch and one dinner.

 

[shellybaxter]

On an adults only trip DH and I generally tend to eat at more of the signature dining restuarants. Because those restuarants "cost" two dining credits on the plan we much prefer the DDE card. Plus the DDE card gives a discount on all those yummy mixed drinks and fabulous wine selections

 

[Esmerelda]

I appreciate all the feedback....

Could you also give me feedback about how you were treated on the plan? I know we were asked numerous times last year if we were on a 'plan' and when we replied 'no', the servers looked relieved at times. All 4 of us noticed it. My oldest son even said 'what's up with the plan thing?"....

all feedback appreciated....

I do agree with the other posters that said they felt like their trip was based around food and meals. I'm more of a spontaneous person than that...some days I may eat more than the next so I'm not sure just yet...

thanks!
Esmerelda

 

[alldiz]

I have been 3 times....always with DDP...

We love it...We do a lot of character meals...and I always
like to plan 1 adr a day....Makes it real easy to have
everything prepaid...

Never had a problem with service....if anything they are HAPPY...
cause....usually everyone orders and app and dessert...
The bill is more...and their tip is automatically 18% on all that
food...

However...if DDE gives discount on drinks
I might need both
Kerri

 

[DVC Grammy]

When we did the DDP, we found no difference in the service. We'll stick with the DDE, though, because we found it to be not only a meal-centered vacation with the DDP, but just too much food for the two of us! I'd definitely consider getting it when we have heartier eaters with us.

 

[beacher]

DH and I have done the DDE for all the "just us" trips, since it applies to drinks and we often do 2 TS per day (ESPN or Plaza-type for lunch) so the plan wouldn't work well. However, when we take a family group in August, we do the DDP. It is a different type of trip, more focused on park and pool time, definitely only one TS per day. For that trip the DDP is better.

For a decision maker, I think a big question is how many drinks you plan to order. 20% off a nice bottle of wine at dinner is a great savings, and the DDE buys you that. The DDP does not.

 

[Jimbo]

Well, the DDE suits the way we vacation. First of all we drink, and the thing can easily pay for itself by getting 20% off for wine and mojitos (in the Jimbo household anyway). The other thing we like about it is that there's no planning required. You just show it wherever you go, and you get your discount.

I haven't investigated DDP in any detail, but it seems complicated. Maybe it's just me. But when I read some of the DDP threads on the Dining board, my head hurts.

The only thing we didn't like about the DDE is that the DTD restaurants don't take it. Since you're staying at SSR, you may be planning to go to DTD a lot. If so, that may make a difference.

 

[Merylj]

We`ve done the dining plan twice now, once for twelve days and once for fourteen. We`ve also done a trip with just the DDE.
For us the DDP is great we love to eat out at the TS restaurants and its good to know its all paid for.
We`ve always been treated very well and we always think the servers like the plan, after all they are getting a guarenteed 18% tip on the check!

 

[Muushka]

We did the DDP (as a couple) last Dec. We did not find any difference in the way they treated us with having the plan than without the plan. (I would think they would like the DDP, guaranteed 18% tip, right?)

For us, we find that if we stay in a 1 BR (which is where we usually stay) we will not get the DDP. If we stay in a studio, we will get the DDP. I feel much better (physically) when we do some of our own cooking in the room. If we are in a studio, we tend to not hang around the room too much. Great time to use the DDP.

 

[carone0318]

We've done the DDP 2 times now and love it. It is very similiar to the way we ate when we were at Disney in the past. Although we are DVC, we never cooked in our room (other than the one time we cooked breakfast because we were stuck in our room due to a hurricane!) We always ate 1 TS meal a day and would use CS for another time during the day. That would be plenty of food, now with the snack credit, we used it for breakfast at the Boardwalk bakery and now I don't buy food to bring with us for our trips.

As for quantity of food, I didn't feel like it was that much food. Also, there was never a gun to my head to each that much food. With the CS, I rarely ate the french fries that came with the meal. And for TS, I may not finish the entire appetizer or entree and I might possibly share a dessert or leave some on my plate. The service people do not stand over you and force you to eat everything on all of your plates (well maybe at 50's Primetime )

As for service, never noticed a difference. I think it is a lot easier to notice a difference if you are sitting there looking for one. I remember when we went folks were saying that at Coral Reef that the waiter was asking for your entire order at the beginning. Well, I specifically told her that I have no idea what I will want for dessert, or if I will even be having a dessert. She was ok with that and waited until after our meal for our dessert order.

When I read some of the posts about negative response with the plan from the waiting staff, I feel that some have very "sensitive" views and if they had a negative experience, I have to wonder if the same experience would have happened if they paid out of pocket. Remember that you need to read all reviews with a grain of salt. Some things that people find absolutely negative, you might not of even noticed.

 

[LSchrow]

absolutely LOVE the DDP for "adults only" trips.
DH actually asked if we could do it again this year (his 1st input on any WDW trip! )
it was great having the meals prepaid (btw, i bought disney dollars & GC's throughout the year, so there wasn't a CC bill for it), & no noticing menu prices, etc.

this year we will be doing it a little differently: we are planning at least one signature meal, & i will not even think of ordering dessert!!
DDP makes the vacation have more of a cruise "feel", imho

 

[jco_direwolf]

I'll add my voice to this. We use the DDE, but it's because we eat table service mostly. We like to sit down and take our time, it adds "pacing" to our trips.

There are a few exceptions, Fish and Chips at Epcot, and my wife always needs atleast one Mickey Head Ice cream bar. But for the most part, coffee for breakfast, and a nice sit-down dinner/lunch is what we prefer.

It's our style. You have to mostly look at what you do for meals, and which ever is better just falls out.

johno

 

[LarryM]

We've used both and for us the DDP wins hands down. If you plan one sit down dinner say Spoodles or Lecellier the cost of the plan for the day would pay for itself for the day with that one meal and leave a CS and Snack left. Also if your unsure look at the menu prices and figure it out. It's quite easy the 20% from DDE would be a wash for the tip so the menu price would be the actual price paid with the DDE. For us we plan one meal a day that we would need a ADR so either way its better for us. Yes the DDE works just about anywhere but at any of the sitdown restaurants you would need a ADR anyway.

 

[castleri]

Ok...I know this should go on the restaurant board but I want my fellow DVCers' opinions!

My hubby and I are doing our first ever 'adult' trip to Disney. We are staying at Saratoga which is our absolute fav place to stay. We have a studio which we have never stayed in before.

I noticed when we were there last July with my boys that the servers would quickly ask if we were on a 'plan' right off the bat. They almost seemed relieved when we went on to say that we weren't. I don't want to be treated any differently than normally if we are? Did that make sense? I realize its a good deal as one meal alone for 2 people can run well over $70 bucks if you eat like say at the CG etc.

What were your family's experience? Were you happy you went with the plan, or had you wished you would have skipped it? We had the DDE card last year and did quite well with it.

Any and or all experiences bad or good would be appreciated by me. I'm not looking for a big debate on this topic just experiences as a DVCer using it. I know economically its worthwhile.

Thank you,
Esmerelda

My DH and I did DDP when it was just him and me and as you noted it was a good deal. The TS meal paid for the days plan and the rest was extra. We have the DDE card and used that for the wine and adult drinks. We never had any difference in service when using either plan. I always tell the server at the beginning and that way they can run the bill correctly the first time and don't have to redo it if you wait until they bring the check and then they have to sort it out. The cost of the DDE card made me think twice and do some calculations as to whether it would pay for itself. Last year we used it on three trips over 24 days so it worked out well. Two trips we had DDP and one didn't.
I never noticed any difference in service when we were on the plan or not so will do it again when it fits the type of trip we are taking. I do think you need to make the ADRs either way if you have some place you really want to go to. I was able to get into Mama Melrose on Jan 2 with a last minute call and a mad dash from SSR to MGM. I called at 4:25 and the reservation was for 5:15. I do not suggest this as a way to do things however.
I actually think the trips with DH and I alone are the best times to use the DDP plan as we don't do the parks as much and the TS meals are a real part of the vacation. When we have GC with us it is more parks and being tied to ADRs is sometimes a nuisance.

If you do some menu planning and compare costs remember to add in the tax and tip as they are included with the DDP. Hope you have a fun trip

 

[NARM Forever]

I did notice a difference in attitude with the servers when using the DDP, but only when the Free Dining came into affect - which was half way through our stay. I think it was mostly because the restaurants became very full, with lots of line-ups, some servers were obviously under pressure and keen to clear tables as quickly as possible.

Having said that, we will be there on Sunday and we will use the DDP, it was good value but a lot of food. However, I will probably purchase the DDE too - Am I supposed to do this before I leave?

NARM