Honestly the DDP has been great for the Mrs and I. We have racked up big food bills over 10 day stays. I also like the peace of mind of just having to show up at a resteraunt and have anything I want and not even care about the price and so on. I have found the DDP to be well worth it and very convienent. We are on vacation and this is an extra perk that makes us feel spoiled for the 10 day stay and makes us feel a little pampered. I save up for this plan and the wife and I have a ton of fun trying to decide were to have our meals at. Also nice that we get two snacks a day so we always get our its-a-Kadoozle and Mickey shaped Ice cream.
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The Dining Plan WAS a good deal but not anymore
- Thread starter Now Is The Time
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lebeau
Well-Known Member
We found ourselves very concerned about prices because of the dining plan. Just for the opposite reason. For example, at the Sci Fi my wife would ordinarily have ordered the chicken sandwich. But it was too cheap. Instead, she ordered the butcher steak to get the most bang for her table service credit.
Every snack, every counter service meal, every menu, we were constantly analyzing to make sure we were going to at least break even on the dining plan. And at the end of the day, I'm still not sure we did.
The dining plan cost us about $670.00. Had we paid out of pocket, we probably could have come in closer to $500.00. We wouldn't have eaten at as amany sit-down restaurants and we certainly wouldn't have ordered dessert with every meal. But we wouldn't have thrown away nearly as much food either.
For example, one day my wife ordered a plate of nachos at the Mexico pavillion in Epcot. Because we were on the dining plan, she also got a coke and a churro with carmel sauce. This fed three of us for lunch easily but used 1/3 of our counter service credits for the day!
There's a freedom that comes with the dining plan. But there's also a lot of constraints. For us, the limitations of the dining plan far outweighed the benefits.
DisneyGator
New Member
I actually just bought the DDP for the first time last night...we made our reservations for our 1 night stay this Saturday and went with the Deluxe Dining Plan for $72 (I think it was an AP rate). We go to WDW all the time and have never tried it, but in talking to the girl on the phone, I learned that we are entitled to 3 TS meals and 2 snacks for the $72. We can trade 2 TS meals for 1 Signature Dining...and we already had reservations for dinner at California Grill. I checked out the menu for CG, and I think we would have spent the $144 on the meal alone there (with the DDP we can each get 1 app, 1 entree and 1 dessert)...so it seems like it's a no-brainer for us. We will pretty much get the lunch (we are going to the Italian place in Epcot) and our snacks for free! I'll let you know if I change my mind after the experience, but I think it is going to be a good thing for us!
scarpiapiano
New Member
The inconvenience is in having to pay for something a month after you've digested it. When I go to WDW I like to go with "no worries". The last thing I want to be doing is calling the bank to see how low my balance is getting after I've been using a debit card or how big my credit card bill is going to be. I think many people have learned recently that it may be easy to hand the waiter a credit card. It may also be very foolish for a lot of folks. Any debates over how expensive the dining plan has become are blown out of the water when you factor in someone who's still paying for a meal two years later with a 15% to 23% APR.
One Lil Spark
EPCOT Center Defender
100% fully agree! That's why we'll be experiencing the DDP on our next trip. DF (at the time of the trip DH
) isn't really into WDW like I am. When I approached him with the idea of a trip, the food was one of the things that interested him. Why not try new, fun restaurants where he can eat all the steak he wants when it's free? :shrug:DisneyGator
New Member
Just wanted to share our first DDP experience from this weekend....we bought the Deluxe plan for $72/each for 2 of us for the 1 night that we stayed. In the end it was a GREAT deal for us. We had lunch at DHS at the Sci Fi Drive In...since the DDP came with apps, entree and dessert, we had WAY more food than we would normally order, but it was good. We would normally eat at a QS or even pack lunch, since most of our trips are just day trips, but this was a nice change. The lunch bill was about $65 I think. We used 2 meal credits for our dinner at California Grill (which, might I add, was AMAZING). That meal came to about $180 ($30 of it was for wine, which was not included). Dinner alone more than paid for our DDP purchase....so basically our lunches and snacks were free!
That being said, we probably won't buy the DDP for the majority of our Disney trips...it is a lot of food, and we generally are not big eaters. On a normal trip, we would bring our lunch and probably eat a QS dinner for about $30 and buy a snack or two during the day. This was a special occasion trip though, and when we come back and plan on eating a special celebratory dinner again, we will definitely take advantage of the DDP.
That being said, we probably won't buy the DDP for the majority of our Disney trips...it is a lot of food, and we generally are not big eaters. On a normal trip, we would bring our lunch and probably eat a QS dinner for about $30 and buy a snack or two during the day. This was a special occasion trip though, and when we come back and plan on eating a special celebratory dinner again, we will definitely take advantage of the DDP.
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
scarpiapiano
New Member
I'm glad that these last postings have become much more civil. Granted, I get really hot and heated, but I get a bit angry at those who think the DDP is the downfall of WDW and blame those of us who like it for everything from the moral decline of civilization to global warming.
I think whether the DDP is a good deal or not makes for a good discussion. I think it's good for some/not so good for others. The dining plan is great for my family. We enjoy trying out restaurants that we'd otherwise skip. There are some elitists who hate folks that look for good deals and ways to save money at WDW. I'm sorry that folks like me may inconvenience those who think that Disney World should never offer deals.
I think whether the DDP is a good deal or not makes for a good discussion. I think it's good for some/not so good for others. The dining plan is great for my family. We enjoy trying out restaurants that we'd otherwise skip. There are some elitists who hate folks that look for good deals and ways to save money at WDW. I'm sorry that folks like me may inconvenience those who think that Disney World should never offer deals.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
Of course it is good for some and not for others, nobody is stating it is not. There are a number points that are being made. 1 and 2 deal with Free dining and how it impacts non DDP users.
1) When the DDP is being offered as free, it makes the restaruants more crowded. You can't argue that. If WDW is giving away free meals, of course there are going to be more people eating than there otherwise would be. I don't think anyone hates anyone because the are using free dining and taking up a seat. What people are upset about is that WDW did not plan to accomodate the added influx of diners.
2) The massive use of the DDP has "dumbed down" the menu at many places. Many of the more expensive items have been taken off the menus. Items that would be 'free' if using the dining plan. This change is fact. Just look at some past menus compared to current menus. We can debate if the DDP is the cause of this change or not, but the change has happend.
Point #3 deals with the value intrinsic to the plan itself.
3) Since raising the price and changing the rules (dessert but no app and you pay the tip) the DDP has become less of a value for those PAYING for it. Unless you plan your meals around expensive items, you will pay more for the plan than paying in cash. It makes eating at WDW an effort in logistics. As for the 'added benefits' of having it paid for before hand, I guess some people see that as a benefit. Maybe the same people who think it is a benefit to send extra money to the Feds each month so they can have a bigger tax return. There are much better ways to save and budget your money than the DDP.
-dave
RiversideBunny
New Member
Well said.
To that I would add that even when the DDP is 'free', people need to do the math for their particular family, resort, and eating habits to see how 'free' it really is compared to room discounts or to the Tables in Wonderland dining discounts.
Also, 'free dining' now doesn't always mean the regular dining plan; it may only be counter service dining depending on the resort level.
Tks.
But if money is that big of a concern, I don't see how the DDP is beneficial. We, fortunately, are not on a tight budget, but we never spend $40 per day each on food (averaged over the trip). We just don't eat that much. If money is such a concern, then a couple TS and a bunch of CS may be a better, more affordable option.
If you put the DDP and your rack rate room on your credit card even before your trip, the problems down the road will be the same. And I suspect people are doing this and paying that interest. And you still have to pay the tip and for any appetizers or bottled drinks. And spend money on the phone making ressies.
scarpiapiano
New Member
Alright, let me state my case. We're planning on going to WDW in early October. Now I know that free dining has only been offered through September in years past but last year it was extended. Even if free dining isn't offered when we go, I'll still purchase the plan. My wife and I are going without the kids. We're looking forward to Chefs de France, Tutto Italia, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Narcoossee's, Brown Derby and other more modest venues. We would never have chosen these restaurants without the Dining Plan. (I know that Yachtsman, Narcoossees and Brown Derby take two credits).
Last time we went to WDW I purchased a "Stay 7 days for the price of 4 days" package and combined it with 5 days at the Boardwalk Villas. I purchased the DDP with the first package but didn't bother to get the dining plan for the five days at Boardwalk Villas (we "rented" points for our stay at BWV.) We ended up canceling all but one of our reservations the last five nights because we simply ran out of money buying other things.
I know we should have planned better but I don't like carrying around alot of cash or putting additional expenses on my credit card. With the dining plan we tried out several restaurants that we would have never gone to i.e. Le Cellier, and Akershus. My two daughters were younger than 9 so I spent $102.00 per day for the plan. Akershus alone would have cost $112.00 before tax. 1900 Park Fare would have been $102.00. Le Cellier, Boma and O'hana would have been $92.00. Best scenerio, I'd of had $10.00 for the rest of the days meals. Anybody know where I could get 4 quick service meals, and 4 snacks at WDW for $10.00?
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
What I have bolded in your statement is the problem.
You would have never gone to those places had you not been on the plan.
You are NOT saving money then
It's like a person who goes to buy a car and has no intention of getting leather seats, but then the salesman says "look, the leather is normaly $1,500 but I can cut you a deal and you can have it for $1,000"
Then they come home and say they got the leather seats and saved $500. No, you did not save $500, you spent $1,000 more than you were going to.
If you would have normaly ate at the places you listed, and if you would have normaly ordered the most expensive items on the menu, had a dessert, and had a QS meal and a snack during the day, the yes you would save money. But if you ended up getting those BECAUSE you were on the plan, then you spent more than you normaly would have.
When I go to WDW, my kids and I eat at a TS every night. However breakfast is something like cerial, yougurt, granola, We may grab a quick bite during the day - maybe a QS maybe a snack - but thats it.
With our dining habits we can order what we want and not have to worry about if we are saving money. My oldest has two favorite dishes. Filet and Chicken - opposite ends of the price range. I don't worry when she orders one or the other.
If the plan helps you to manage your money, then thats all well and good. But there are much better ways to manage cash than paying up front for a product, locking into a price, and then loosing what you paid if you end up not consuming the product. Of course if a person cannot manage their funds, then the extra money spent may be a good thing. Thats why they make those pay in advance 'creadit card' things as well.
-dave
scarpiapiano
New Member
I see your point and I should state that my primary goal isn't to save money. If I just wanted to save money I'd never go to WDW and if I did I'd stay off-site and/or only stay at the value resorts.
The Dining Plan made our trip much more enjoyable. I really liked the restaurants I mentioned and because I purchased the Dining Plan I was able to save quite a bit of money. I also like leather seats in automobiles and I'd pay extra for the option. I'd also want a good deal from the auto salesman. Admittedly, the Dining Plan isn't for everyone but it was great for us. We saved money on what we would have had to pay if we went to those restaurants with nothing more than cash in my pocket.
When I'm at WDW I don't want to have any worries. I don't want to have to carry around cash or travelers checks. I don't want to call the bank to see what the balance is on my debit card and I don't want to have to face a big credit card bill when I get home.
Last June for the first time visiting WDW, I didn't have to keep track of my money. Even if I'd only broken even, that convenience was worth it for me. In fact, I've never met anyone personally who didn't love the Dining Plan when they visited WDW. The only contrary opinions I see are from the visitors to this website. This leads me to believe that the DDP haters are a small but very vocal minority.
mickey2008.1
Well-Known Member
we ahve done it both ways, ddp, and no ddp. for us its pays to have ddp. we are not big eaters, volume wise, and have found restaurants to be very accomodating. if the food is bad, cold, over cooked, ect we send it back, its the service that makes a dining service complete, and that is where the tip comes in. I want my drinks on time, i want the chef to know my food was over cooked, made wrong, if its not relayed to the kitchen or mgr, its the wait staff, tip goes down. i do it for a living, its about the experience, and food quality should be number 1, as should service. i have had great food, but poor service, and it ruins the whole experience.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
You have been going on and on about saving money on the DDP. Now you say your primary goal is not to save money. :shrug:
Yes, if someone's eating habits would normally match the DDP then they are going to save money. But I am going to go out on a limb and say the average guest who is paying for the DDP, if they are on cash, would not be eating 1 snack, 1 QS, and 1 TS per day
If they need some sort of crutch to manage their money on a vacation and they want to pay for that feature, then the DDP may be worth it to them. Thats one of the reasons all inclusive resorts are so popular - people don't want to have to think. But that is not a money savings, it is an added value.
If the DDP works for you, then great. I really have no problems with people using it (aside from the aforementioned decline in menu offerings) but let me give you something to think about. With Disney as masters of making cash, do you think they would have priced the DPP so that the average use spends MORE or LESS than they would have on cash?
-dave
I imagine most people are spending more. $40 per day each is certainly more than we ever spend on average. And Disney has these people for their entire stay, and paying rack rates.
What I'm curious to know is how the DDP works with non-Disney owned restaurants, such as Japan. Do Disney pay them a set amount for every customer that they get? All of that money can't go to Disney or Mitsukoshi would be going belly up.
DrummerAlly
Well-Known Member
Many of the anti-DDPers argue that the only way people save money on the DDP is when they go to the more expensive restaurants (that maybe they wouldn't have normally went to) and order the more expensive meals with dessert (meals they wouldn't have normally ate). I agree - this is how you save money on the DDP, but for us this is fantastic.
On our last trip to WDW, we ate only at counter service restaurants, split meals and ate at one TS restaurant our whole trip. We could have afforded to eat more but with the prices, we just decided to be cheap. The DDP lets us go to the more expensive restaurants and order the most expensive things AND order dessert, giving us a nicer over-all vacation experience. Do we spend more money? Yes.
For us, its the same as staying at Pop Century vs. the Yacht Club. We'll spend more with the DDP, but we'll get a much nicer, much more relaxing & enjoyable trip. There is certainly convenience for us knowing that all of our meals are prepaid and we can order whatever we want without blowing up the food budget.
On our last trip to WDW, we ate only at counter service restaurants, split meals and ate at one TS restaurant our whole trip. We could have afforded to eat more but with the prices, we just decided to be cheap. The DDP lets us go to the more expensive restaurants and order the most expensive things AND order dessert, giving us a nicer over-all vacation experience. Do we spend more money? Yes.
For us, its the same as staying at Pop Century vs. the Yacht Club. We'll spend more with the DDP, but we'll get a much nicer, much more relaxing & enjoyable trip. There is certainly convenience for us knowing that all of our meals are prepaid and we can order whatever we want without blowing up the food budget.
Some days our food budget is low. Others, it's not.
Day one - We'll grab pastries for breakfast or eat at the Captain's Grille (which could be about $25). We'll go to the AK and split a Smoked 1/2 Chicken at the Flame Tree ($10). It's more than enough food for two adults. We don't drink soft drinks. We'll have a snack probably mid-afternoon. Then in the evening we'll head Downtown and grab a pizza at Puck Express. Again, one is enough for the two of us. We may spend $30 - $45 that day.
Next day we'll have lunch at Chefs de France. But we'll have flatbreads and Perrier (not included with DDP). Tab around $80 (before tip). Light breakfast and din.
Next day will be similar to day one - $35 if we have a light breakfast.
Next day we'll eat at Citricos. Two apps x $10 (or probably split one). Two entrees x $35 (fish most likely). Bottled water. Dessert $16. Total bill probably $110. Light breakfast and lunch.
So in four days we've spent about $320. That's $160 each or $40 per day - similar to DDP. But we ate at a Signature Dining spot and had appetizers and bottled water. And over the course of a ten-day trip the average spent will go down as Citricos cost is spread out. I think we spent about $700 for ten-days (including Fantasmic dessert party!)
I agree though that if you eat at buffet and character dining and order a lot of steak, and have children in tow, the DDP sounds financially viable.
I think the best answer for "Is the DDP worth it" will always be: "It depends on the guest."
Day one - We'll grab pastries for breakfast or eat at the Captain's Grille (which could be about $25). We'll go to the AK and split a Smoked 1/2 Chicken at the Flame Tree ($10). It's more than enough food for two adults. We don't drink soft drinks. We'll have a snack probably mid-afternoon. Then in the evening we'll head Downtown and grab a pizza at Puck Express. Again, one is enough for the two of us. We may spend $30 - $45 that day.
Next day we'll have lunch at Chefs de France. But we'll have flatbreads and Perrier (not included with DDP). Tab around $80 (before tip). Light breakfast and din.
Next day will be similar to day one - $35 if we have a light breakfast.
Next day we'll eat at Citricos. Two apps x $10 (or probably split one). Two entrees x $35 (fish most likely). Bottled water. Dessert $16. Total bill probably $110. Light breakfast and lunch.
So in four days we've spent about $320. That's $160 each or $40 per day - similar to DDP. But we ate at a Signature Dining spot and had appetizers and bottled water. And over the course of a ten-day trip the average spent will go down as Citricos cost is spread out. I think we spent about $700 for ten-days (including Fantasmic dessert party!)
I agree though that if you eat at buffet and character dining and order a lot of steak, and have children in tow, the DDP sounds financially viable.
I think the best answer for "Is the DDP worth it" will always be: "It depends on the guest."