DDP Vets thinking about going off the plan...

[Jessica Meier]

So we have done the DDP for all of our WDW trips, but for our upcoming trip we are going to go off the plan and just do out of pocket. My DH was recently diagnosed with diabetes and I have been having stomach issues for 8+ months. I have lost over 25 lbs in 2.5 months due to these issues and we are trying to figure out what is happening. So as much as we love the food at WDW we just honestly fill like we should cut back a bit this trip. I think we will probably explore more and try different things because we won't be tied to the rules of the DDP. We plan on sharing meals so some places that we maybe didn't try in the past because of signature meal credits we may now try. We will be going during F&W too so imagine there will be lots to try. For all of you who go off the plan, tell me some of your fave places and please include pics and descriptions of your fave food if you can. For all those with dietary restrictions (Diabetes, Gluten, etc) please feel free to share your fave dishes you have eaten too. THANKS!

 

[Monty]

How often do you go? If you have APs, it would be worth looking into the TiW card.

I absolutely love three Signatures: Le Cellier, Artist Point and Citrico's. Sharing meals at any of those would work.

 

[Jessica Meier]

We don't get to go but every other year. So no APs for us.

 

[Monty]

We don't get to go but every other year. So no APs for us.

Depending where you stay, one AP might work out.

My son and I did an 8-night stay at Beach Club. With an AP room-only discount, the discount was enough to pay for the AP, 9-day Hopper for my son, the TiW card and using that discount, everything we ate/drank during the trip. At the time, it was a 42% discount, they aren't as generous these days, but it might be worth looking at the math depending on when you do go and for how long...

 

[TXDisney]

We are in the exact opposite boat. I've never done the dining plan and want to try it. M big thing is when we do table service restaurants we only do nice ones like steak houses, which I hear cost 2 table service vouchers per person. If that's the case, it's not worth it for us. For you, I'd try not using it for 1 trip and see the price difference. Do everything the way you normally do and compare.

 

[Kosmo1986]

I have done the math over and over again and for me the DDP does not work. I tend to share a meal with my BF and maybe share an app or dessert. We only drink water. As much as I would like to try the dining plan 1 table meal and 1 quick services meal a day generally only cost us about 50pp per day so its not really worth it.

 

[Roakor]

In my experience the DDP is merely a convince. I have figured it up and it would roughly cost us the same with or with out it. I think for us the biggest difference without it is we would do fewer of table service restaurants in all but hit the pricier signatures.

 

[Bairstow]

We are in the exact opposite boat. I've never done the dining plan and want to try it. M big thing is when we do table service restaurants we only do nice ones like steak houses, which I hear cost 2 table service vouchers per person. If that's the case, it's not worth it for us. For you, I'd try not using it for 1 trip and see the price difference. Do everything the way you normally do and compare.

Same here.
We usually skip breakfasts and/or prefer to grab things on the run, and rarely get desserts.
We've done the math over and over and we would have lost money, sometimes a lot of money on the dining plan every time.

 

[Jessica Meier]

DDP really is about convenience and making the trip stress free by planning and paying for it all up front. That is why my DH agrees to go. Thus, the nervousness on my part.

 

[Tuvalu]

If pre-paying for your food makes your vacation less stressful, may I suggest purchasing Disney gift cards (as your budget allows) prior to your trip? We purchase Disney gift cards when Kroger offers 4x fuel point rewards so it's a win-win....we save money on gas and then use the gift cards to pay for our meals, so no food expenses to pay once we get home.

 

[Jessica Meier]

We are already working on that @Tuvalu! I've already got about $150 bought. Will probably cut it off at $400 and use cash for whatever else. Hubby is afraid we will have money left of GCs. Hehehehehehehe

 

[Tuvalu]

We are already working on that @Tuvalu! I've already got about $150 bought. Will probably cut it off at $400 and use cash for whatever else. Hubby is afraid we will have money left of GCs. Hehehehehehehe

That sounds like a savvy financial plan!

 

[Jessica Meier]

Just read LTT is gonna be closed while we are there. one thing I can't try that I wanted to (ooey gooey toffee cake).

 

[HouCuseChickie]

If pre-paying for your food makes your vacation less stressful, may I suggest purchasing Disney gift cards (as your budget allows) prior to your trip? We purchase Disney gift cards when Kroger offers 4x fuel point rewards so it's a win-win....we save money on gas and then use the gift cards to pay for our meals, so no food expenses to pay once we get home.

Oh how I LOOOOOOVE racking up Kroger fuel points with gift cards. We do it with more than Disney. I'm taking the kids to the movies tomorrow...buying a couple of AMC cards to cover the expenses just knowing that it will help with my fuel costs.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

You know how I feel about DDP But for others who haven't had the joy of me climbing up on my soapbox (LOL)...

I think it's VERY difficult to get any real savings in any of the dining plans. Yes, it's convenient and people love that psychological aspect of having it paid for before you go, but to me it's just throwing $ away. I love @Tuvalu 's suggestion of Disney gift cards. I mean, anything left over on cards can go towards souvenirs OR any overage can be paid OOP.

I guess I just can't do DDP because I often want an appetizer, but no dessert...sometimes I just want all appetizers...sometimes I want to share with DH...sometimes I eat enough breakfast and dinner that I don't need snacks...sometimes I want chicken and don't want to feel guilty for ordering it when I know I'm wasting DDP credit value by ordering a cheaper entrée...I often want to eat signature and don't want to feel like Disney's making $ on me b/c the cost per credit when broken down is more than the cost of my meal...or maybe I want water and cocktails but not a soft drink...or maybe I want TS breakfast and dinner every day but not always signature to burn all those credits...or maybe I hate doing counter service. OK...you get my points I like freedom! I like being able to go where I want and ordering what I want.

***Stepping down from my soapbox***

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

You know how I feel about DDP But for others who haven't had the joy of me climbing up on my soapbox (LOL)...

I think it's VERY difficult to get any real savings in any of the dining plans. Yes, it's convenient and people love that psychological aspect of having it paid for before you go, but to me it's just throwing $ away. I love @Tuvalu 's suggestion of Disney gift cards. I mean, anything left over on cards can go towards souvenirs OR any overage can be paid OOP.

I guess I just can't do DDP because I often want an appetizer, but no dessert...sometimes I just want all appetizers...sometimes I want to share with DH...sometimes I eat enough breakfast and dinner that I don't need snacks...sometimes I want chicken and don't want to feel guilty for ordering it when I know I'm wasting DDP credit value by ordering a cheaper entrée...I often want to eat signature and don't want to feel like Disney's making $ on me b/c the cost per credit when broken down is more than the cost of my meal...or maybe I want water and cocktails but not a soft drink...or maybe I want TS breakfast and dinner every day but not always signature to burn all those credits...or maybe I hate doing counter service. OK...you get my points I like freedom! I like being able to go where I want a order what I want.

***Stepping down from my soapbox***

Is there a 1,000,000 likes button?

 

[Jessica Meier]

I see good and bad to both but am really looking forward to having freedom to do what I want. I am gonna make reservations and if we don't want to keep them or feel we want to go light on one day then I can call and cancel. Since we are going for longer this time I am just gonna enjoy it and not overthink it all. I want to experience more this time but also enjoy it more too.

 

[rt06]

Life was easier without the DDP, believe it or not.

 

[Tinkerfan4ever]

Back when we were planning our Oct trip I did some calculations as to if we would be better doing DDP vs out of pocket, as we have done the basic dining plan all but one of our trips when we did the quick service plan, and I wanted to make sure we were spending our money wisely.

Once we had all our meals booked and I looked at all of the menus to take a best guess as to what each member of our party would order if paying out of pocket. All said and done... the dining plan would cost us $1.00 more than paying out of pocket. And since we are DVC members I also calculated out with the Tables in Wonderland card, but because we do not order appetizers or alcohol we would only save $40 with the TiW card. Now I am not saying that $40 is nothing, because it is still a savings, but with it being so close, we prefer the convenience of the dining plan. (I was actually shocked there wasn't more savings with the TiW card, because it is recommended so much, but I think it is because we don't get appetizers or alcohol.)

I think each family really should calculate which option is best for them because it certainly isn't a one option is best for everybody deal.

I now feel better about being a DDP family and I enjoy having it all paid for up front.

 

[Jessica Meier]

I used one of the calculators online and DDP was only saving maybe $20 so not sure. Plus I would be much more likely to just order soup or an appetizer if I wasn't worried about getting my money's worth.