Cancelled Dining plan and getting the DDE card

[cemeb4dk]

I know this has been talked about before. We have used the dining plan the last few times and have been very pleased, but everytime it included the tip. I truely believe when we where on the plan it made us revolve our vacation around eating. Which by the end we got sick of food.

So this trip over Thanksgiving we had scheduled to use the plan once again. But as I was planning things out we only booked 6 ADR's for our 10 nights. Because we didn't want to be forced into schuduling our days around meals.

So I was doing some math adding average dinner prices, and counter services and I came out cheaper by doing the Experience card ( I know its no longer called that). By getting 20% off everything it will be cheaper. The biggest factor is the tip. On the old plan the tip was included, now on todays tip is required for both, so in my opinion makes the DP less favorable. So the wife and I will do more counter service meals, and eat when we want and where and feel less pressured to be somewhere at a certain time.

I am not knocking the DP at all it just didn't work for us this trip. Just sharing my 2 cents.

31 days to go......

 

[lilclerk]

So I was doing some math adding average dinner prices, and counter services and I came out cheaper by doing the Experience card ( I know its no longer called that).

It's okay, the new name is kinda dumb :lol:

If it were worth it for me to get an AP at this point, I'd do the same thing.

 

[DznyGrlSD]

I did the same thing :wave:

I canceled my DDP, bought an AP and the DDE (TiW) card and both are probably going to pay for themselves in the 11 days I'll be at WDW.

My biggest complaint about the DDP is dessert vs. appetizer. I'm more of an appetizer-girl and with the TiW card, I can do that instead :wave:

 

[lilclerk]

My biggest complaint about the DDP is dessert vs. appetizer. I'm more of an appetizer-girl and with the TiW card, I can do that instead :wave:

Same here, I never order dessert. Last trip, we went with no dining plans and it actually worked out cheaper. DDE would be even better if I could swing two trips/one longer trip in a year.

 

[cemeb4dk]

Fallen angel, I agree. When we made our reservations back in Dec we just booked it with the meal plan, as we always did. But when the 180 day mark came as we where getting our ADR's in, we just booked the major ones we wanted to do with my daughter.

The meal plan is a great thing, but with ressies so hard to get, or having to plan your days around a meal, just wasn;t to relaxing to me. So we are going with food we bring with (first time driving), and counter services. So it should be more laid back, less onthe wallet and not force us to eat so much.

 

[blackthidot]

On my last trip we had 9 dining credits and ate close to $900 in food. That way made most sense for us. It is true you revolve alot around eating but I figured out a trick im gonna use next year to fix that.

 

[chipndale76]

I will be in Disney next week, I had planned to do the dining plan, what is this card that you're talking about? I've never heard of it. Thanks!

 

[yankspy]

I will be in Disney next week, I had planned to do the dining plan, what is this card that you're talking about? I've never heard of it. Thanks!

Here is a link that will tell you all about the DDE (now called "Tables in Wonderland") card.:wave:

http://allears.net/din/dde.htm

 

[chipndale76]

Thanks!!!

 

[yankspy]

Thanks!!!

Anytime. I replied to your Boardwalk post as well.

 

[davinakb]

So this trip over Thanksgiving we had scheduled to use the plan once again. .and I came out cheaper by doing the Experience card

Just a reminder, the card will not be good on Thanksgiving day. We've had several DDE cards over the years, always saved $$. Since we're TS, app, wine, signature dining people it just makes more sense for us. Anyway, enjoy the card and the trip.

 

[palminnie]

We did the same thing. Last trip did not book the DDP and used the DDE and it worked out to be cheaper for us. We are leaving for WDW next Wed. and didn't book the DDP instead we will use the DDE. The DDE is a much better value for us.