dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
That's a tad too black and white. We have run the numbers each and every trip with the DDP and we, up until now, have used it every time. The difference was usually a $350 savings by using the DDP. So, by your analogy we threw away a $350 pack of fries.
People should still run the numbers to see if it benefits them to use the DDP. Look at the menus, see what you think you would order, tally it all up (plus tax), and see how much the savings would be. If the savings are less than $100 to $150, or no savings at all then skip it and pay out of pocket. Simple. But skipping one item is not going to throw your DDP into a waste.
For the day? It usually will unless you always order the most expensive thing on the menu. $34.99 for QSDP for 2 entrees, desserts, and non-alcoholic drink and one snack. If you do the combo at Cosmic Rays twice (one of the more expensive CS meals) at $14.19 each, two desserts at $3.59 each, two sodas at $2.59 each, and then a Mickey bar at $3.50, it costs you $44.24, so you would save ~$9 on the QSDP that day. However, it you chose to order say the chicken nuggets at $8.19, and a 1/3 bacon cheese burger at $9.19, with rest of your food choices that day the same, your total for the day would be $33.24, or a LOSS of $1.75. The average cost of an entree at Cosmic Rays is $9.25, and BoG for lunch is $8.85, and Pecos Bills is $8.68. So assuming you eat somewhere in the middle, you do just about break even. Maybe even get ahead a smidge. But skipping that dessert, or sharing a soda, suddenly you are $3 bucks in the hole.
Lets look at the regular DP. $51.54/$53.54 for 1 TS entree/dessert/drink, 1 CS entree/dessert/drink and 1 snack. So assuming you go non peak, at $51.54 per day. Sticking with our MK examples from above, say we do lunch at the CP at $26.62, and then the same combo from Cosmic Rays at $14.19, $3.59, $2.59 and our Mickey bar at $3.50 our total is $50.49. So we lose money again. If we swap the meals, do dinner at CP for $39.40, and lunch at Cosmic Rays, then it's $63.27. So you do save $12 bucks. If instead of CP you happened to luck out an have a BoG dinner ressie, eating the steak at $29.99, with $3.99 cupcake and $2.99 soda, you still come out $9 ahead. But if you don't get the most expensive choice, and say instead get salmon, it's only $20.99, so basically breaking even at $51.84. And suddenly we are back at the skip a single item, or choose not to order a dessert, and you lose money. Never mind if instead of going with the Cosmic Rays combo and we instead order the nuggets.
Trying to pick examples to show both good and bad. If you try to game the system, and order pretty much the most expensive item on the menu, you can definitely come out ahead. But at the same time, if you choose to eat less, or skip an item, you will almost definitely lose money.
(All prices from the current AllEars menu pages)
Even if those "accurate numbers" from allears.net are right and a child is $35 , than the cost of Chef Mickeys would be $161.58.
Where are you seeing $35 for a child? I see Adult price range: $41.53-$45.79; Child (ages 3-9) price range: $20.23-$22.36 from here -> http://allears.net/menu/menu_cmk.htm for dinner, and Adult price range: $30.88; Child (ages 3-9) price range: $17.03 from -> http://allears.net/menu/menu_cmb.htm for lunch. That would be $136.30 for dinner, not your $161.58. These prices match what Steve has posted here on WDWMagic as well here -> http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/chef...2011-chef-mickey's-restaurant-dinner-menu.htm