Trip Planning/Trying to see if the DDP is worth it/Math Questions

[ProjectGemini]

Hey Everybody,

So I'm in the midst of planning our august trip, and I'm trying to see if it will be cost effective to add the DDP to our reservation (We are outside the dates for free dining, so unfortunately, I have to do this extra step). I added up all of our potential TS costs, and now am looking to figure in CS and Snack credit costs.

Does anyone have a figure/price they use to sub in for CS and snack costs? I'm stuck at where to get this number from, as it really depends on where we are in a particular park on that particular day. Thanks for any help you can give!

 

[Master Yoda]

I use $15 for a QS meal (entree, drink and dessert) and $3.50 for a snack.

 

[ProjectGemini]

Thank You So Much!

 

[disneygirl76]

Hey Everybody,

So I'm in the midst of planning our august trip, and I'm trying to see if it will be cost effective to add the DDP to our reservation (We are outside the dates for free dining, so unfortunately, I have to do this extra step). I added up all of our potential TS costs, and now am looking to figure in CS and Snack credit costs.

Does anyone have a figure/price they use to sub in for CS and snack costs? I'm stuck at where to get this number from, as it really depends on where we are in a particular park on that particular day. Thanks for any help you can give!

I use the same figures as Master Yoda.

 

[nolatron]

Last labor day I used the DDP for the first time with my DD and I. I kept track of everything we ordered.

After the trip, I went back and compared what I ordered on the DDP to what I would've with cash. Some meals we could've split, didn't need dessert, or one night I could've skipped dinner actually. I found had I paid cash I would've saved about $50 or so.

Don't think I'd ever use the DDP again.

 

[bgraham34]

I use 17$ for a snack, meal, and drink. I don't include a desert because our snack tends to be a desert.

 

[draybook]

Please remember that the DDP being worth it depends on your party size. For our party of 4, it's well worth it over the 7 days.

 

[crispy]

For me, there is an intangible value, too. I am a bit of a cheapskate so if I'm paying out-of-pocket I have a tendency to avoid certain table service restaurants, order the cheapest thing on the menu instead of what I really want, etc. Since the DDP is prepaid, I don't even worry about those things and it makes me whole vacation a lot more pleasant since I am not constantly worrying about how much everything costs. It's a false economy, for sure, but it works for me. :lol:

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

For me there are other variables to consider with the dining plan.

If I wasn't on the dining plan I would often not do table service at all. We would usually do 1 or 2 special dinners but definitely not one every night of the trip. The dining plan opens us to new experiences where we don't have to worry about going over our "food budget" for the trip.

Also, we tended to not get snacks as much or often shared when we were kids. Popcorn was the easy snack to share but that meant my sister and I had to both want popcorn at the same time and we rarely agreed on anything :lol: so the dining plan also opened us up to trying new snacks.

It's nice to look at a menu and not even glance at the prices - I just order whetever I'm in the mood for, not what fits into mu budget for the day.

Finally - I like having my trip paid in full, including my meals months in advance. I realize that paying for the DDP up front doesn't mean that it's free or anything but it means that after we pay, the rest of the money we save up until the time we leave is for souvenirs.

It makes it a lot more fun to shop when I don't have a food budget to worry about - (hmmmm....can I buy this t-shirt or should I wait and see how much we spend on dinner tonight?)

We used to save all of our souvenir shopping for the last day with our "leftover money" and while the parks merch is sometimes found park to park it really sucks to wait until your last day to find out that Downtown Disney doesn't have the one thing you were eyeing at Epcot. Now my shopping style is - I see it - I want it - I buy it!

So for me - opening up my dining and shopping options and making my trip a little less stressful (yes even with ADR's - I've never not gotten an ADR that I wanted so I may just be lucky there) the dining plan is worth it to me - even if it does end up costing a little bit more.

 

[Obi]

i've done the math as well. i've found that, with my family, the more people in the party the better the ddp is. with 4 or more through the week we have managed to break even on the costs... so, we usually will go with it so that we don't have to worry about it later at the parks, plus getting to eat at places we would like to.

the only thing is that with the ddp, it's a lot of food. i'd say crunch the #'s to see if you break even or even save money on the plan...

find out how much it is per person per day. then you can check out pricing on the menus of the places you would like to eat at and see where you come out at.

 

[disneygirl76]

I also agree with several of the above posters...I like having things paid for so I know exactly how much to budget. Also, I tend to go cheap if I was paying out of pocket. I know, in the end, i'm still paying. But dropping $50 on a meal is harder then handing my key to the kingdom over. Its all in my head, I know!

 

[Master Yoda]

I also agree with several of the above posters...I like having things paid for so I know exactly how much to budget. Also, I tend to go cheap if I was paying out of pocket. I know, in the end, i'm still paying. But dropping $50 on a meal is harder then handing my key to the kingdom over. Its all in my head, I know!

This is true for so many people. What some people tend to forget is that it is a vacation. Anything you can do to mitigate stress and increase enjoyment has a dollar value. Sure, you might be able to tweak what you order and save a few bucks over the DDP, but there is something so relaxing about being able to never look at the prices when you are at dinner or getting sticker shock from the bill.

 

[Crush Dude!]

This is true for so many people. What some people tend to forget is that it is a vacation. Anything you can do to mitigate stress and increase enjoyment has a dollar value. Sure, you might be able to tweak what you order and save a few bucks over the DDP, but there is something so relaxing about being able to never look at the prices when you are at dinner or getting sticker shock from the bill.

Agreed!!

Free Dining enhances this even more :sohappy:

 

[Monty]

There are a lot of intangibles when talking DDP... As has been said, convenience of pre-paying, no sticker shock, being able to pretend it's "free", etc.

For me, the cost isn't worth it even during free dining! I have an AP and the TiW card and can save much more with the AP room discount and TiW food discount. A lot more flexibility for dining too.

 

[UPbeekeeper]

For my budgeting purposes, I am estimating approximately $55 per person per day for lunch and dinner. We will eat grab & go breakfast in our room. I'm sure that some days we will eat much more and some days less, so it will even out. Knowing my tendencies, I know that I would eat way too much if on the DDP because I would feel I have to "get my money's worth" every day. Too much focus on food. We don't eat dessert with every meal, but it would be nice occasionally. Maybe we may want an appetizer, but would be hesitant to try because we have to save room for our "free dessert". :dazzle:

I can most definitely understand the issue raised by others, that the plan is more about convenience and less stress than money, but if I have a reasonable budget and I know I'm going to spend more than I am used to, it's not stressful to me. I just know I have XX amount of money to spend and when it's gone it's gone. I'm quite sure we won't starve.

I plan on eating exactly how I desire(not being extravagant & not being cheap), and saving my receipts to crunch numbers when I get home to see how things even out vs the DDP. I think this is the only way to figure out what's best for your individual family's needs.:wave: