We've done both the deluxe and regular plan. To decide which one to get, we figure out where we'd like to eat each day, and estimate a cost for each meal looking at online menus. Then, we compare the OOP cost of no plan, with the regular dining plan + what we'd still have to get OOP (we generally like 3 meals/day), and also with the DxDPP.
The key is to match the plan that suites what you would like to do. Not try and match your vacation to the plan you happen to get.
The calculator mentioned above does everything I suggested, and is a really good way to start. But, I've found some of the values it places on the meals to be a bit wonky from what I'd estimate our meal to cost. That said, I compared the calculator with my own research, and while I calculated we'd save 14% by getting the
DDP, it said we'd save 15%. Pretty close.
However, for the DxDP, I estimated it would cost us $77/day more to go for the DxDP v. paying for the extra meals OOP (family of 5).
The calculator said the DxDP would only be about $16/day more for the DxDP.
So, while the conclusion were the same, and the quantitative analysis of the DDP was about the same, the quantitative analysis of the DxDP was way off based on those wonky TS cost estimates.