DDP Worth it for us?

[poohluvrs]

Staying 7nights concierge (which will take care of a quick bite in a.m.) & travelling w/ 2 3yrolds that dont eat much at all, & doing lots of CM's...is the DDP worth it to buy for our family?

 

[kcashner]

A 3 year old at a character dinner costs $10 not including tax and tip. The plan for that 3 year old costs $11 and includes tax and tip--as well as a snack and a CS meal. Your 3 year olds pay at character dinners whether they eat everything on their plates or eat nothing at all.

For an adult, a character dinner is $28 not counting tax and tip. Adding tax and tip makes it in the 34-35 range. THe package costs $38 and includes tax and tip, so your adult snack and CS costs about $5 for the day. Worth it? I'd say it sure is unless you don't plan to do one TS each day.

If you do TS at a restaurant where you order off the menu, you might choose to share with the kids (rather than them each ordering a meal.) However, the meals there tend to be more expensive than character dinners.

If you do a TS each day, you can't go wrong.

If you have left over snack credits, you can buy treats for the trip home (cookies, rice krispie bars, bottled drinks, etc.)

 

[bicker]

I've found that the Dining Plan is less valuable if you're just doing fixed price meals (like character meals) but still save money overall, as long as you were already planning on doing at least one TS each day anyway.

 

[poohluvrs]

Thanks! We'll do 1TS/day so will look into, is there any discrimination from waitstaff as already have paid the tip?!

 

[bicker]

Reports haven't mentioned any that have been particularly noticeable.

 

[poohluvrs]

Despite having snacks & continental breakfast at concierge, our food plans include over 7 nights:
CM
CRT lunch
Ohana
MGM H&V
CP
PSB
1900PF
So if I go by bicker's analysis, the cost of 1 CM will be almost the cost of the DDP which will also provide a CS & snack?!
Anyone know what drinks (water/juice/milk) run at the parks? This is the only definate purchase we would have.
Also, which, if any GF restaurants offer DDP in case of a quick stop?

 

[kcashner]

Correct--cost of character dinner is almost equal to cost of plan. Other TS meals are more expensive than character buffets. By the way, CRT requires 2 TS credits per person....so either you save some credits somewhere along the line or you will need to pay OOP for the cheapest meal.

GF restaurants on TS are 1900 and I believe the Cafe. For CS, check the list on the WDW site.

Water (bottled) in the parks counts as a snack credit. You can get a cup of ice at any place that has fountain service drinks and fill with tap water at drinking fountain. Milk/juice is available at resorts, about $3 per 1/2 gallon. Sorry, don't know about in parks. Milk is available with character meals.

If you need juice in the parks, can you consider bringing some juice boxes along? THey can easily pop in your bag each day.

Just from your planned TS, you will come out ahead on DDP...significantly ahead!

 

[poohluvrs]

Just from your planned TS, you will come out ahead on DDP...significantly ahead!

I just hope its easy enough to use w/out making DH crazy! We really dont need much food as concierge breakfast & small snacks, but guess will still be worth it!

 

[kcashner]

The plan is very easy to use. You do need to make ADRs for your table service, but you need that whether you have the plan or not.

At a character meal, you just present your KTTW card and the CM runs the card--it deducts the appropriate TS used (in your case, 2 adults and 2 children would remove 4 TS credits).

At a regular TS (where you order off a menu), you decide how many meals you are ordering. Are you sharing with the kids? Your meal includes an appetizer, entree, dessert, and beverage. If sharing, tell the server--they will bring an extra plate/plates. You may want to order an extra beverage (and pay OOP) or water. If you order 2 adult meals and share with the kids, the CM will deduct 2 TS credits.

At CS, you decide what you are ordering. An adult meal is a combo meal or entree+side. A beverage and dessert comes with it either way. You find a seat with the kids and send DD to the counter (ok, he can sit...the bottom line is you don't have to stand there with the whole family!). He gets your order and brings it to the table. You can get 2 adult and 2 kid meals or you can get 2 adult meals and share with the kids. It's your choice.

You may end up with some extra CS since you have concierge breakfast, but so what? You still came out ahead on $.

 

[poohluvrs]

Holy cow, thanks kcashner for the breakdown!