Please tell me, how exactly does the DDP work..

[LdyApxr]

I have searched and can't find what I am looking for and I am wondering exactly how the plan works. I know it does not include tip or alcohol but are there any other limitations such as Entree only, or does it cover the entire meal(minus aforementioned exclusions)? We have the basic dining plan in place for our trip in May and even though I have a teenage boy(17 next week), he is not a big eater and not a big person either. LOL Granted he may grow before the trip but he may top out at 5'2", 90lbs too. LOL

 

[BigRedDad]

You prepay for your meals, plan your reservations, and use your credits at meal time. Tip is not included. If you include Table Service on the DDP, you have to plan extremely carefully. If you are looking to break even, you are committing to purchase the most expensive items on the menu whether you want it or not. Otherwise, you will lose money purchasing it.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan/

Open the above link and follow the links at the side of the page.

 

[sxeensweet]

This is the link to the 2016 regular dining plan brochure. It explains what is included in each meal type etc. *****IGNORE LISTS OF RESTAURANTS INCLUDED AS THIS LIST IS NOT FINALIZED USUALLY UNTIL DECEMBER/JANUARY WHEN MOST RESTAURANTS NOT LISTED WILL BE ADDED******

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me...alog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2016Dining.pdf

 

[LdyApxr]

Thanks! So from reading I am guessing that appetizers are not included(I hope I am interpreting that correctly). I am wondering if we would spend $1750 over 7 days between the four of us(two adults, 17yr old and 13yr old) but then if I did the math correctly(and not sure I have since I failed algebra so correct me please LOL) 1750 / 4 = 437.5/person so $438 / 3( quick, table & snack) = $146/day/person. While I know it is possible to spend that on dinrks and food at any theme park, we also don't always have a full breakfast or we have a big breakfast, snack/light lunch and then dinner thing. While I like the idea of the dining plan, I am not sure that it does make sense for us now.... hmmmm well at least I have a while to think about it. LOL

And please, if I am wrong in my calculations, correct me! LOL

 

[Tuvalu]

Thanks! So from reading I am guessing that appetizers are not included(I hope I am interpreting that correctly). I am wondering if we would spend $1750 over 7 days between the four of us(two adults, 17yr old and 13yr old) but then if I did the math correctly(and not sure I have since I failed algebra so correct me please LOL) 1750 / 4 = 437.5/person so $438 / 3( quick, table & snack) = $146/day/person. While I know it is possible to spend that on dinrks and food at any theme park, we also don't always have a full breakfast or we have a big breakfast, snack/light lunch and then dinner thing. While I like the idea of the dining plan, I am not sure that it does make sense for us now.... hmmmm well at least I have a while to think about it. LOL

And please, if I am wrong in my calculations, correct me! LOL

Appetizers are not included in the Dining Plan.

The number of meal allotments you receive is based on the number of nights you stay, not the number of days...for example, a 7-day/6-night stay would give you 6 table service/6 counter service/6 snacks per person per day.

For your family of 4:
61.84 (cost of dining plan) x 4 adults = 247.36 per day
247.36 x 6 nights = 1484.16
247.36 x 7 nights = 1731.52

Remember, this plan only gives 2 full meals (plus a snack) per day. So you may need to bring additional money for breakfast (some folks use a snack credit for a light breakfast) in addition to money for tips and anything else (appetizers, alcohol) not covered by the plan.

 

[LdyApxr]

Appetizers are not included in the Dining Plan.

The number of meal allotments you receive is based on the number of nights you stay, not the number of days...for example, a 7-day/6-night stay would give you 6 table service/6 counter service/6 snacks per person per day.

For your family of 4:
61.84 (cost of dining plan) x 4 adults = 247.36 per day
247.36 x 6 nights = 1484.16
247.36 x 7 nights = 1731.52

Remember, this plan only gives 2 full meals (plus a snack) per day. So you may need to bring additional money for breakfast (some folks use a snack credit for a light breakfast) in addition to money for tips and anything else (appetizers, alcohol) not covered by the plan.

Thanks! I thought I might be off on that somehow. Now I am wondering if it would not be better to just pocket the $1750 and just use it for covering food charged to the room and snacks in the park. I might just do that too. Since this is our first trip to WDW I was thinking it would be easier but I can put charging privileges on the teenager's card(he's 17) so if he wants to grab something and they are not with us, we don't have to worry about dining credits.

 

[Tuvalu]

We never get the dining plan because it is not cost-effective for us. If you enjoy the pre-paid aspect of it, I suggest purchasing gift cards in advance to use for your food. We use our credit card to purchase gift cards (and receive reward dollars) and purchase the gift cards when Kroger offers 4x fuel points (so we save upwards of $30 off gasoline). It's a built-in discount off our food and our meals are paid prior to our arrival.

 

[LdyApxr]

We only have two credit cards and neither of them are rewards cards(plus they are low limit cards) because we try to manage everything with cash and never seem to earn enough rewards to do anything with(my husband plans on taking it with him.... ). LOL I think we will take the dining plan off though. We like simplicity but charging to the room is just as simple without having to worry about anything else.

 

[Nubs70]

Just my 2 cents,
Family of 4
Each table service meal, Bill averaged about $140-$160 for a 1 credit meal.

Use snack credits for breakfast stuff but watch the price of what you spend a credit on. Milk is better paid with cash than burning a snack credit.

 

[DarthVader]

I found this spreadsheet to be extremely helpful in calculating the costs of my meals and how it lines up against the meal plans
http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0
There's also this site as well:
http://www.distripplanner.com

For me here's how it fleshed out, I could pay out of pocket 1,971 for a family of 4 or I could pay 2,381 with the meal plan. That is I'm 409 dollars more for the meals with the DDP. The issue is that my family now consists of 4 adults since Disney considers 10 year olds as adults for the meal plan (ludicrous I know). I was going to get the meal plan until I ran the numbers now I'll just pay out of pocket.

 

[The Mom]

No need to argue about the merits of the plan - the OP can decide for him/her self.

 

[Jon81uk]

Doesn't include tip or appetiser.
Lunch and dinner are beverage, entree and dessert for both quick service and table service.
You may find that you don't want dessert with every quick service meal, so if that is the case I would advise not paying for the plan.
Breakfast doesn't come with dessert.
You also get one snack per day which you can use for an ice cream, a small salad, a slushie etc
and you get a mug for refills at the resort food court (worth $16.49)

 

[DarthVader]

You also get one snack per day which you can use for an ice cream, a small salad, a slushie etc

What we found useful is to use our snack allotments for breakfast. Not every day but since we weren't using our snack every day, we had an abundance of snacks to use up near the end of our stay, it worked great. Getting a pastry and using out free cups for coffee or juice. That's one way to help stretch your dollar imo

 

[LdyApxr]

Well when we do QS Lunch, we don't bother with deserts and that calculator is an eye opener. I really thought that the DDP would be a savings but it would not be for us I can see. Most TS dinners we split a desert(none of us are huge sweet fans so 1 or 2 deserts serves us) and with the boy with the bird appetite, we would certainly be losing money(not sure of how my 13yr old niece's appetite is but probably losing on her too). Thanks everyone it helped a lot!!

 

[LdyApxr]

Oh, Also, since we are flying in from CA, we will not be arriving until late on the first day and flying out the morning of our last day so while we are there for 6 days and 7 nights. we are not going to be doing anything on that last day other than getting to the airport(early flight) and the only thing we will be doing on the arrival day would be dinner(not sure what time the park closes in early May on a weekday) and we will probably be tired from a day of flying/airports, jetlag etc. Plus, my husband wants to see Kennedy Space Center and that will beat least half a day away from the park for either he and I or all four of us(He's a NASA nut, having grown up during the Friendship 7 era whereas I was born just months before we walked on the moon. LOL)

 

[LdyApxr]

No need to argue about the merits of the plan - the OP can decide for him/her self.

Thanks but that was kind of what I was looking for, the reasons for and against so I am good with all input!

 

[DManRightHere]

I like the concept of DDP, but I don't like the stipulations and structure.

We like to eat table service just a couple times a trip and QS the rest. We also don't like being forced to get our dessert at a QS location, there are much better dessert options at a bakery , specialty, or cart.

We also prefer to split some meals so we can snack more often.

So until Disney comes up with a point system (different number of points for TS, QS, and snack; and you can choose hoe many points you need), we will stick to cash and it comes out cheaper.

They will probably never do this because it will likely be more complicated...

 

[Mukta]

Well when we do QS Lunch, we don't bother with deserts and that calculator is an eye opener. I really thought that the DDP would be a savings but it would not be for us I can see. Most TS dinners we split a desert(none of us are huge sweet fans so 1 or 2 deserts serves us) and with the boy with the bird appetite, we would certainly be losing money(not sure of how my 13yr old niece's appetite is but probably losing on her too). Thanks everyone it helped a lot!!

I think that is a great decision. I am also not a big eater and dessert twice a day was too much. If you do one QS meal for lunch, 1 TS for dinner and order whatever you will actually eat, you'll be fine. If your kid only wants 2 appetizers and will be full, paying out of pocket is a better deal.

 

[Disney4family]

We used to do the DDP. We even tried the deluxe once. We went back to the regular, but started to question it's value after the changes made to it. After using the calculators above, we will not be using the DDP (any version) this trip. Our kids are now both considered "adults". For us, the price no longer matches the value. We will take advantage of our APs and DVC membership and purchase TIW.