NO MORE Dining Plan for us..my reasons

[keishashadow]

Two big considerations for my family is that:
1) Holiday surcharges can be significant over a week without DDP.
2) DDE is not accepted on many holidays or for Candlelight Dinner Package.

So we are begrudgingly back on DDP, but in no way is it the value that it was. But it's time for me to get over it!

In addition, note that the average cost of EVEN THE LEAST EXPENSIVE meals (e.g. Hoop-de-doo and Mara) on DDP for 2008 exceed the cost of the plan.

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/DisneyDiningRanking2008.htm

So, IF your dining choices match that of DDP, it will likely save you a bit of money.

Finally, I don't entirely buy into the argument that the DDP is to blame for the lack of ADR availability. Disney needs to a) crack down on no-shows by implementing a $5 per person nonrefundable (within 24 hours) charge for ALL TS restaurants, and b) build more restaurants.

very cool link - thanks for posting

isn't hoop-de-doo 2 DP TS credits?

 

[PEANUT1]

Wow i am amazed how many people actually make spreadsheets about food spending. Way too much analyzing for my vacation. For me, i simply enjoy paying ahead and not thinking about the cost of food. I really liked the dining plan in october and will use it again in May. It does stink that we now have to pay for the tip, but I still feel its worth it to us.The CS desserts are mostly terrible, but sometimes you can opt out of the dessert for a yogurt, fruit or something like that. I got a parfait at a CS in MGM and it was really good.

 

[robinb]

very cool link - thanks for posting

isn't hoop-de-doo 2 DP TS credits?

I did that speadsheet. The restaurant prices are listed per credit. So HDD is listed at $29,29, but the real price is twice that: $58.58 per adult for 2 credits.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Here is my spreadsheet:

I also didn't use the holiday pricing in my breakdown.

That would, I think, make the gap narrower between DDE and DDP, since the DDE total would go up, but the DDP price should not.

Tips would increase for both, cancelling each other out.

Edit: Yup, robinb's spreadsheet breaks it down to a T. Looks like savings is around 18%-ish over the cost of using the DDE.

Holy cow guys, thanks! We got the DDE in Sept. so it has already paid for itself. What continues to irk me is we have Aker and Beirg. on Easter Day. How does that impact the bottom line? So no DDE discount then I guess I would use a DDP TS for those and use the DDE for another day. It would be safe to assume we would use all the snacks on the plan and probably get sandwiches or salads at the BC marketplace or something in the park.
You guys are great. Thanks

 

[igitur]

Two big considerations for my family is that:
1) Holiday surcharges can be significant over a week without DDP.
2) DDE is not accepted on many holidays or for Candlelight Dinner Package.

So we are begrudgingly back on DDP, but in no way is it the value that it was. But it's time for me to get over it!

In addition, note that the average cost of EVEN THE LEAST EXPENSIVE meals (e.g. Hoop-de-doo and Mara) on DDP for 2008 exceed the cost of the plan.

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/DisneyDiningRanking2008.htm

So, IF your dining choices match that of DDP, it will likely save you a bit of money.

Finally, I don't entirely buy into the argument that the DDP is to blame for the lack of ADR availability. Disney needs to a) crack down on no-shows by implementing a $5 per person nonrefundable (within 24 hours) charge for ALL TS restaurants, and b) build more restaurants.

Same here...I'm realizing we'll do better with DDP especially since DDE isn't good on the holidays when we're there for Christmas. That plus the fact that we're staying in a Studio to stretch our points and stay longer. No kitchen this time! We'll be doing lots of eating out this time so I'm sure we'll be getting our money's worth from the DDP.

I totally agree with you on the ADR availability. They really need to crack down on no shows. Just my guess but I think many people make multiple ADRs on any given night and then don't cancel the ones they don't use.

Deb

 

[Disneypal]

Thanks for the answers but now I have some more questions. The spread sheet was great but I couldn't really decided if the DDp saved you $20 or if you Had $200 left on it? Also what is a DDE? I am not up on the abreviations.

 

[robinb]

Thanks for the answers but now I have some more questions. The spread sheet was great but I couldn't really decided if the DDp saved you $20 or if you Had $200 left on it? Also what is a DDE? I am not up on the abreviations.

DDE = Disney Dining Experience which is a card that gets you 20% off most TS restaurants.

(1) The $202 "Left Over" was the price of the (DDP + tips) - DDP over all 6 days of her vacation. That means that DISNEY FIX would have to "spend" $33.71 per day in CS meals and snacks to break even between using the DDE card for her TS meals and the DDP.

(2) Since snacks would be worth $10 per day, that leaves $23.71 to "spend" on 3 Adult CS meals and 1 Child CS meal per day.

(3) Adult CS meals average $13 per day and kids meals average $5 per day, which comes up $44 per day, that leaves a NEGATIVE of $20.29.

(4) DISNEY FIX is getting $20.29 per day more in value using the DDP v/s her DDE card.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Robinb, you did a great job on that spreadsheet!

I agree, the counter service desserts are throw-aways. I wouldnt pay a dime for them, because they aren't worth the calories. I'd much rather have something divine and sinful if Im increasing the size of my posterior

What about this new Holiday Pricing for May 25-July 5 2008?


How will this affect the calculations.

That square room with all the funny looking equipment in the Villa is looking a whole lot better. We dont eat like that everyday and no way Im paying those prices for the mediocre food we had on the DDP.

There are less than 5 restaurants at WDW that we would consider returning.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Robinb, you did a great job on that spreadsheet!

I agree, the counter service desserts are throw-aways. I wouldnt pay a dime for them, because they aren't worth the calories. I'd much rather have something divine and sinful if Im increasing the size of my posterior

What about this new Holiday Pricing for May 25-July 5 2008?


How will this affect the calculations.

That square room with all the funny looking equipment in the Villa is looking a whole lot better. We dont eat like that everyday and no way Im paying those prices for the mediocre food we had on the DDP.

There are less than 5 restaurants at WDW that we would consider returning.

I couldn't make the regular DDP work, no matter how hard I tried. The DDE won't save us as much as the DxDP. We do a lot of character meals and 2 credit dining. I suspect Disney has the regular plan fine tuned to where they want it. I'm sure it won't take long before the deluxe isn't as attractive.....but for now.....I'll enjoy.

 

[keishashadow]

I did that speadsheet. The restaurant prices are listed per credit. So HDD is listed at $29,29, but the real price is twice that: $58.58 per adult for 2 credits.

gotchawe've never tried it-rest of family just doesn't want to sit thru it

btw, great work; makes me finally want to open up my excel & try & figure it out lol

 

[jim and meesie]

I have great respect for your spreadsheet and it actually played a part in my not having the dining plan this past weekend when we were at BWV.

My husband and I had the dining plan in November and we know we definitiely saved money and ate more than we really should have (but would have saved money if we had eaten less. This past weekend I had it on my ressie and at the last minute (2 days before check-in) took it off. I was with my 15 year old daughter and she and I eat quite differently than I do with my husband. We ate where we wanted, when we wanted (had ADRs but ended up cancelling 2 dinner ADRs).

This is how and what we ate;

Sat dinner Kimonos at the Swan Sushi $95. incl tip (not on DDP)
Sun bfast Cape May Character $44. incl tip (2 TS)
Sun late lunch Fudruckers in Orlando $20. (off site)
skipped dinner, weren't hungry
Mon bfast Room Service at BWV $56. incl tip (4 TS)
Mon lunch Hurricane Hanna's $22. (2 CS)
Mon dinner Wolfgang Puck Cafe $30. (2 CS)
Tues lunch Polynesian Pool Cafe $30. (2 CS)
(2 snack)

So for 3 nights we used 6 TS, 6 CS and 2 snacks and paid $182. incl tx & tip

For the standard plan we would have paid roughly $234. plus tip

So for the $65. (more or less difference) we could have have had a couple more snacks and desserts with our meals.

I think the bottom line is deciding how you want to eat ahead of time. The plan was good for us in November and it would have still been good if we ate the same way we did on that trip.

 

[princessvacg]

What new Holiday Pricing for May 25-July 5 2008?? Is this for meals??

 

[Chuck S]

What new Holiday Pricing for May 25-July 5 2008?? Is this for meals??

The buffet restaurants and character meals will charge more.

Boma Breakfast and Dinner, Cape May Breakfast and Dinner Buffet, Chef Mickey's Breakfast and Dinner, Trails End Buffet, 1900 Park Fare Breakfast and Dinner, 'Ohana Breakfast and Dinner, Captain's Grille Breakfast Buffet, Tusker House, Garden Grill, Princess Storybook Dining (Norway's Akershus Banquet Hall), Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern Character Dinner, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Play 'n' Dine at Hollywood and Vine.

 

[VrBchJ]

The buffet restaurants and character meals will charge more.

Boma Breakfast and Dinner, Cape May Breakfast and Dinner Buffet, Chef Mickey's Breakfast and Dinner, Trails End Buffet, 1900 Park Fare Breakfast and Dinner, 'Ohana Breakfast and Dinner, Captain's Grille Breakfast Buffet, Tusker House, Garden Grill, Princess Storybook Dining (Norway's Akershus Banquet Hall), Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern Character Dinner, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Play 'n' Dine at Hollywood and Vine.

This really frosts me. They overcharge for these buffets in the first place and then adding these surcharges is really outrageous. They'll push on these prices until we start pushing back.

 

[Topo Bella]

I have never really looked at the DDP as a "deal" but rather, I liked the convenience of pre-paying for my meals. We saved for the DDP as part of the trip cost and so the only money we had to bring was for the fun extras.

Under the new plan, however, we do have to bring extra funds for tips and appetizers... that is the only thing that puts me on the fence with the new plan. The convenience of the plan has been eliminated because it doesn't really cover everything.

 

[DonnaL]

We used DDP for first time a few weeks ago (1/4 thru 1/11) therefore, didn't have the old plan to compare with. In the past, we've used DDE. We did enjoy the DDP and based on my calculations we did save about $140 for three of us over a 7 day period. However, that said, I don't believe it will be a good choice for us on every trip. I also would like the option of either appetizer or dessert. This time it was DH, myself and DS, age 18. As DVC members, we've been to WDW many times and didn't have a problem with "vacationing around mealtimes" so to speak, which is what I feel in most cases DDP does. However, when we vacation with the whole family.......DS (27) DD (24) and DGS (6) in addition to the three of us.....I don't think DDP would work well, so, while we may use DDP for some trips in the future.....most we will not, but, may go back to DDE on those years we plan several trips and purchase AP's.

 

[Disneypal]

Thanks for explaining the spread sheet and the lingo. I think we are going to try and do it on our own. We can still charge to our room without carrying money around, we can eat where we want and if we want 3 table service one day and one another that is fine also. The other thing we have found is some of the table service meals are large portions and we can share, which saves some money for dessert.

 

[igitur]

One reason that I think they should allow you to choose between appetizers or dessert is because we tend to like to split our appetizers and desserts. We're not big sweet-eaters, therefore, we would probably between the four of us, get 2 appetizers and 2 desserts and share them all.

Four desserts between the four of us is just not how we eat.

Deb

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

One reason that I think they should allow you to choose between appetizers or dessert is because we tend to like to split our appetizers and desserts. We're not big sweet-eaters, therefore, we would probably between the four of us, get 2 appetizers and 2 desserts and share them all.

Four desserts between the four of us is just not how we eat.

Deb

Unfortunately, I believe this is the exact reason why they won't let you swap out an appy for a dessert. If you're not big sweet eaters, then there's the chance all of you won't even order dessert...thereby allowing Disney to make even more money off the DDP.

 

[robinb]

Unfortunately, I believe this is the exact reason why they won't let you swap out an appy for a dessert. If you're not big sweet eaters, then there's the chance all of you won't even order dessert...thereby allowing Disney to make even more money off the DDP.

I think the reason is that 2 appys and 2 desserts means that you are taking up a table longer than 0 appys and 4 desserts. I would bet that the new plan squeezes an extra seating in per table, making even more money for Disney.