Disney Dining Plan

[weddingbelle]

With all the holiday vouchers and money we got as wedding gifts, we have enough to get to Florida, stay in a value resort, buy park tickets, and take the DDP. (I know, we're very lucky and have fabulous friends and family! :))

Now, what I want to know is this - is the DDP worth it, or would be better of taking the money we would have spent on it and using that to buy food while we're there?

[Cinders Mum]

depends how much you do sit down meals ..... that sounds flip and it's not meant to be but honestly you need to sit down and work out how much meals cost you, and whether you want the opportunity to try a lot of different sit down restaurants .....

sorry I can't be more specific than that, some people make major gains because they enjoy TS every day... personally we don't so for us it didn't make financial sense to commit to that programme.

[weddingbelle]

We have no idea how much things will cost as we've never been. (probably should've said that in my first post! ;))

I think, as we're going to stay value, we'd like to travel round a bit and sample some of the moderate/deluxe restaurants. It's our compromise, stay value (after all, it's just somewhere to lay your head), but eat a bit more extravagantly

[weddingbelle]

One more question - can you still use the DDP if you make an ADR?

Having just read up on it on the WDW site, I think it's better value than I originally thought - it's also cheaper to book with them then with our agent

[Lil_Missy]

Hi Claire

If you go onto http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm it has the menu's from the different restaurants with the prices.

This website http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/tickets/packageDetail?id=PackageDetailMYWDiningPkg06Page
has a link which shows what restaurants you can use on the plan and whether it would be 1 table service or 2 table service.

When I was working out whether we should do the DDP or not I went and priced up what our meals would be at different restaurants which we fancied for 7 table service meals... worked on an average of about $13 for a counter service and $2.25 for a snack (oh and plus remember that the DDP includes tax and tips at the table service) and it worked out that we would be better off having the DDP by about £50.

So I would say do your homework plan it out and then decide.

Hope this helps.

Toni

[weddingbelle]

Thanks for the input, Toni. (and yours too, Val - forgot to say earlier :))
I think DDP is probably the way to go for us - didn't realise it included tips too

[Cinders Mum]

Claire

you do know that Thomas Cook Signature offer Disney Dining Plan on their packages don't you? Thinking about your vouchers ...LOL

[weddingbelle]

Val, yep, I do :). We have enough in vouchers for the holiday and tickets, but the DDP would be coming out of the actual money that we have left over. So it's a case of whether we think we want it, or whether we'd be better spending the money on food when we get there.

[weddingbelle]

Reading that again, am I being dense? Are you saying the DDP is included in TC Signature packages?
Think I'm confusing myself! lol

[Cinders Mum]

no it is not included in the package price, however DDP must be booked with the same supplier that provides your hotel and park tickets

[weddingbelle]

Thanks for clarifying, Val :)

[Vabeth]

We will be doing the DDP for the first time this year! It will give us the opportunity to try out many of the more expensive restaurants we may not have considered before! I also like the fact that the character meals are included on the plan - very handy when you have a 10 year old DD and her friend with you! We are planning on eating at Boma, 1900 Park Fayre and Beaches and Cream among others so it's also a great excuse to have a wander round those deluxe resorts!;) For us it looks like it's going to work out at very good value for money! DH's latest hobby is trawling through all the menu lists working out what the most expensive dishes are!:nonono: I also like the fact that all the meals will have been paid for in advance so there's not that extra large sum of spending money to find just before the holiday!:wave:

[Amyrlin]

I think if you are planning on having all or most of your meals onsite and eat two meals a day then it can work out much better, and there is the advatage that you do not have to worry about budgeting and paying for meals when you are there.

If you want to eat offsite or only eat small meals then it may be a waste, as it is a lot of food and you may not make a saving.