Cannot believe price increases on DDP for 2012

[DoctorK]

I think Disney has finally priced us out of the dining plan. Starting in 2012, prices during non-peak times will be $51.54 per adult and $15.02 for children. That's a 12% increase on the adult prices and a 25% increase on kids. It will include the refillable mug, though. Here's some historical pricing:

2009 - Adults $40, Child $11
2010 - Adults $42, Child $12
2011 - Adults $46, Child $12
2012 - Adults $51.50, Child $15

So in the last three years, the adult plan is up 29% and the child plan is up 36%. Wow.

I did an analysis on our family's eating habits when the 2011 price increases came out, and found that the price was about equal to what we would spend out of pocket if we were ordering off menu (including maybe sharing a dessert but also sharing an appetizer). We stuck with the plan because it's "easier" for us not to think about the prices when ordering off the menu. But this tips the scales back to paying out of pocket.

Our upcoming October trip is a low-budget "bonus" trip, using three SW tickets that soon expire, using annual passes that expire the following month, no rental car, staying on DVC points, eating in the room and packing a lunch most days. I'm guessing our food budget for the week will be only slightly more than one day of the DDP.

[josh]

It just means out of pocket prices are going to go up that much more :RpS_glare:

[clanmcculloch]

I saw somebody on the DIS figured out all the prices for all levels. Here's what he listed. In case you don't notice, they've added holiday pricing to the DxDDP. QSDP is the only plan without a price increase, but the loss of a snack credit IMO is a price increase since it's a loss in value. The percentages shown for increases are pretty remarkable.

QSDP
Adult
Base: $34.99
Cost change: $0
Percent change: $0
Child
Base: $11.99
Cost change: $0
Percent change: 0.00%
No holiday pricing
DDP

Adult
Base: $51.54
Cost change: $5.55
Percent change: 12.07%


Child
Base: $15.02
Cost change: $3.03
Percent change: 25.27%

Adult
Holiday Pricing: $53.54
Cost change: $5.55
Percent change: 11.56%
Child
Holiday Pricing: $16.02
Cost change: $3.03
Percent change: 23.33%

DxDDP

Adult
Base: $85.52
Cost change: $6.53
Percent change: 8.27%


Child
Base: $23.79
Cost change: $1.80
Percent change: 8.19%


Adult
Holiday Pricing: $89.52
Cost change: $10.53
Percent change: 13.33%


Child
Holiday Pricing: $25.79
Cost change: $3.80
Percent change: 17.28%


I'm afraid to see how much they'll be charging for the fixed price restaurants in 2012 since we KNOW they'll increase those prices to go along with this.

[mousefan2]

I thought the same thing - even before the price increase was announced - (that our family was better of going OOP) but Thanks Trudy - just thinking of how much the price is going to increase :RpS_scared:

I wonder if we'll be able to split meals! We're going to try and eat at more of the non Dining Plan restaurants (Boardwalk's Brewery is one place and some of the Swan and Dolphin Restaurants )

[clanmcculloch]

I'm loving going without a dining plan now that I finally gave it a try. It has changed how we eat at WDW though because we're doing a lot less fixed price meals (still scared to see what those will be increasing to), especially now that both of my kids are Disney Adults. We're also branching out now to some signature restaurants and some cheaper restaurants like Plaza, all of which were terrible uses of dining credits. I'm trying to convince myself that we need to go back again next February while I still have our TiW card (not renewing our AP which expires in a couple weeks, but TiW goes through the end of March I think because we bought in this February). Mickey Math is telling me that we have to go. Gotta love Mickey Math. Hopefully there'll be a good bounceback for 2012 when we go this August.

With the Swalphin restaurants, make sure to check out the gift certificates on Restaurant.com. There are also some restaurants at DTD that are on Restaurant.com. Great way to save some money OOP.

We split CS sometimes but typically at TS we all want something different. If we do actually want the same things then we may split but we won't do it just to save money and typically if we're splitting then we'll order something extra like an app or dessert or else get additional snacks later. We all have very different tastes in food. Well, DD13 and I like the same things but she eats her whole meal. I can't believe how much we spent on sushi last week (at home, not at WDW) when we were splitting. We had to order seconds. Yummy but $$$$. I need to learn how to make sushi at home.

[lisapennie]

Honestly - I'm not surprised by the cost increase. Everything is more expensive now than it was a year ago, so it only makes sense that cost on the dining plans would go up as well. I think this increase might finally force more people to weigh if the dining plan is worth it - and for the vast majority, the answer is probably no.

[josh]

Prices are going to go up "out of pocket" too though. So if it "makes sense" now it would still make sense, even with higher prices.

[Jenny]

:lalala:

Not going to think about meal prices.

:lalala:

[peachygreen]

Prices are going to go up "out of pocket" too though. So if it "makes sense" now it would still make sense, even with higher prices.

Except eventually it won't make sense to pay for table service and or counterservice for the week if the prices continue to go up. I know I'm already planning to cook more meals in and bring more meals into the park (but some of that is taht over a 10 day vacation I get really sick of park food- and some of it is because the price of food is more than I want to spend).

[josh]

Yeah, I'm a big proponent of table service lunch where lunch menus are offered. $15 will get you a quality meal most places and you can still enjoy the same ambiance/air conditioning/service as you would for dinner.

[3Caballeros]

the thing about making my families' meals at WDW is that ... I'm on vacation, too! :rant:

breathe. It's just that it seems I am cooking all the time, ya know ? I like taking a break from the kitchen when we visit Mickey. :Cry:

[Claire]

I love TS for lunch - works great in my touring plans and then we dont have a firm return time. My grocery bill has gone up too though!!!! Its everywhere.

[Lovedisneymagic]

the thing about making my families' meals at WDW is that ... I'm on vacation, too!

breathe. It's just that it seems I am cooking all the time, ya know ? I like taking a break from the kitchen when we visit Mickey.

HEAR! HEAR! That is exactly what I was thinking. I do love the dining plan. I love feeling like I am on vacation, not cooking, not cleaning. I love living in a fantasy world where it feels like we don't have to think about the money with dining. I know we pay for the dining plan but it isn't at each meal so it just feels like it is easier and vacation.

I agree with Gregg, it does seem to be big increases. As my husband says, "they print money at WDW" but we love it. It still seems to be cheaper for us to get the plan for this year anyway. When I added up the cost of the restaurants we are planning it is almost equal to the dining plan. Considering with the dining plan we will be also getting a CS and a snack it makes it worth it.

I do order a few things from Garden Grocer mostly drinks (bottled water, milk, juice) and a few snacks and we use our snack credits to pick up things for breakfast a lot of times as well.

2012 pricing will have me :decision: looking a little closer again for that trip...

Ali

[Rowan]

I think the dining plan prices go up and value goes down (losing a snack or app) simply because the dining plan did its job and they dont need to sell it anymore.

When I went in 2006 and found out about the dining plan, was the first time that we really ate at any sit down restaurants. (We had eaten some but not alot do to cost. I think I had been to Boma, Prime Time, and Marrakesh)

Then we got the dining plan that year and tried several new places I would have never looked into without it. It was definetly a good deal then. I imagine we arent the only family who since then has changed from quick service people to more sit down.
I had been to theme parks through out the midwest and never had a great meal and just assumed most of the restaurants at Disney were the same so why spend vacation dollars on them. Now, due to the dining plan, I know there are some fantastic restaurants in Disney and sometimes eating is part of the experience.
I could be wrong, but I bet they started the DDP as a way to get more people to try the restaurants, and now that more people are hooked and ADRs go faster, it has done its course. It no longer needs to offer a savings, a certain percent will purchase it for the simplicity of having their meals prepaid and others already have favortie restaurants that they will eat at, with or without the plan.

Just my thoughts, they really mean nothing...:RpS_lol:

[jilly7896]

On our first trip with the dining plan, it included apps and tips! It was an awesome deal. Now, not so much. But we still end up getting it every year. With my twins turning 10 next year, this may be our last year on it. Unless of course we get free dining. Which is always bigger than any room discount, for us, anyway.

[breezy2]

Am I thinking correctly though, That you now get the refillable mug with the dining plan and nothing has been removed this year? If I am correct about that, so far we will still pay for the DDP. I eat much cheaper when I pay OOP. As in, I pick the cheapest thing on the menu, even if I don't care for it. I like that I can eat what I want when paying for the plan. We buy the mugs anyway, so for us it is still a value. For those who do not like soda or do not allow their kids to drink it, not as much of a value in getting a free mug.

And don't forget to factor in the increase of admission on top of this increase. Soon many people will not be able to afford to go. Of course now, many can't afford it, but many more if the prices keep rising. Sure it is a fact of life that prices go up, but it is also a fact of life that many people can't afford to live, let alone go to Disney. Happily so far, I can still afford to go! :hippie::Banane34:

[jilly7896]

Am I thinking correctly though, That you now get the refillable mug with the dining plan and nothing has been removed this year? If I am correct about that, so far we will still pay for the DDP. I eat much cheaper when I pay OOP. As in, I pick the cheapest thing on the menu, even if I don't care for it. I like that I can eat what I want when paying for the plan. We buy the mugs anyway, so for us it is still a value. For those who do not like soda or do not allow their kids to drink it, not as much of a value in getting a free mug.


Yes, it includes the mug now.

[lisapennie]

Josh, while OOP prices will go up, I'm not sure that they'd go up by the same amount as the dining plan. Plus, there's also that whole not being locked into ordering what Disney wants you to order if you're not on the dining plan.

[josh]

Maybe not in percentage terms, but in actual cost terms I would imagine the pricing will meet or exceed the difference in the Dining Plan cost. On any given day on the Basic Dining Plan you're ordering:

1 snack
1 quick service beverage
1 quick service dessert
1 quick service entree
1 table service beverage
1 table service entree
1 table serve dessert

So the snack goes up 30 cents, beverage goes up 10 cents, quick service entree up 50 cents, table service beverage up 30 cents, table service entree up $2.50, and table service dessert up 50 cents you've got an increase of $4.20 without really trying.

[BlountFam5]

Let's just hope with all these increases there will be some great "Disney" discounts to go with them in 2012. :RpS_thumbup:

I honestly think most people do not realize the price of the DDP when they plan a trip. At least I didn't until I started hanging out on the boards. If you go to the Disney site as a first timer, you start plugging in dates and making your choices of where, when and figure out how much. You don't realize there is actually a set price somewhere in the formula until you begin hunting around. The average family is still going to pay for the DDP b/c it's "easier" and they believe it's cheaper w/o the research. My sister feels that way.

I've learned enough here on the boards to be slightly dangerous. :nerd:

[DoctorK]

Maybe not in percentage terms, but in actual cost terms I would imagine the pricing will meet or exceed the difference in the Dining Plan cost.

I think you're probably right, but I am starting to think of it another way. For instance, I would probably never get the little chocolate cake or carrot cake they have for dessert at the CS restaurants. I do when they're included in the DDP, but I wouldn't pay $3-$4 for one. I also wouldn't pay $2.50 - $3.00 for a soda at a counter service restaurant out of principle. I carry bottled water with us in the parks, and you can even ask for free ice water when you order and they'll give it to you.

At the TS restaurants, we'd also typically share 1 appetizer or 1 dessert (or maybe not even get dessert if we're too full). Right now, we both get dessert because it's included.

I'm just trying to think if DD8 was an "adult," or if I had two kids. Is it reasonable to expect, vacationing anywhere else for a week, that you would budget $206/day for two meals (one of them fast food) and a snack with a family of two adults and two pre teens?

[Rowan]

For instance, I would probably never get the little chocolate cake or carrot cake they have for dessert at the CS restaurants. I do when they're included in the DDP, but I wouldn't pay $3-$4 for one. I

No kidding, I hate those nasty chocolate cakes. Last year I gave my cake to my DD and ate her cookie. If we werent on the plan we would eat alot less. No desserts, shared drinks and meals, and Im sure we would still be full because we dont tend to finish our meals on the plan. When we go to dinner at home we rarely order and app or dessert. So I dont count the price of those in my figures when I am deciding if it is a good deal for us. I do count the price of the snacks though, because plan or no plan I am going to be eating a mickey bar, dole whip, cinnamon roll, etc when I am in Disney.

[lisapennie]

That's my point, exactly - the cost of the food might go up, but most people order differently than how the dining plan dictates they should order. DH and I typically share CS meals, I'm notorious for ordering soup and then an app for my meal, I hardly ever get dessert (I don't really like most desserts - I know that's odd, but they tend to consist of a lot of cake, which is just not my thing), and I'm far more likely to order an adult beverage at dinner time than a soda. While I realize that the adult beverage costs more than the soda - I would order it either way, but I often order the soda or something else with my adult beverage because it's included on the plan. In the real world, I'd probably just get a water with the adult beverage. If others order the same way, not being on the plan can be a considerable cost savings, even with an increase in costs.

[DoctorK]

plan or no plan I am going to be eating a mickey bar, dole whip, cinnamon roll, etc when I am in Disney.

+1, 2, 3, etc :RpS_laugh:

[baloocrew]

Holy :tape:!! Only Disney could continually increase prices across the board in economic times like these.


Yeah, I'm a big proponent of table service lunch where lunch menus are offered. $15 will get you a quality meal most places and you can still enjoy the same ambiance/air conditioning/service as you would for dinner.

I'm with you, Josh. We did this last year for the first time ever at Yak and Yeti and it was GREAT - great meal, much cheaper, more relaxed than during dinner hours, a nice break from the heat. We'll do this next time if we are payng OOP.

[josh]

Just make sure they have a dedicated lunch menu. Yak&Yeti table service doesn't anymore :RpS_crying:

[MontanaRHR]

I think the dining plan prices go up and value goes down (losing a snack or app) simply because the dining plan did its job and they dont need to sell it anymore.

When I went in 2006 and found out about the dining plan, was the first time that we really ate at any sit down restaurants. (We had eaten some but not alot do to cost. I think I had been to Boma, Prime Time, and Marrakesh)

Then we got the dining plan that year and tried several new places I would have never looked into without it. It was definetly a good deal then. I imagine we arent the only family who since then has changed from quick service people to more sit down.
I had been to theme parks through out the midwest and never had a great meal and just assumed most of the restaurants at Disney were the same so why spend vacation dollars on them. Now, due to the dining plan, I know there are some fantastic restaurants in Disney and sometimes eating is part of the experience.
I could be wrong, but I bet they started the DDP as a way to get more people to try the restaurants, and now that more people are hooked and ADRs go faster, it has done its course. It no longer needs to offer a savings, a certain percent will purchase it for the simplicity of having their meals prepaid and others already have favortie restaurants that they will eat at, with or without the plan.

Just my thoughts, they really mean nothing...:RpS_lol:



This makes a lot of sense to me. Not only did it get people into restaurants, but got them trying different snacks,too. Once you've had a Mickey Ice Cream Bar there's no going back.


Ruth, who's off to Yellowstone tomorrow where the food is abysmal. :RpS_thumbdn:

[Lovedisneymagic]

I could be wrong, but I bet they started the DDP as a way to get more people to try the restaurants, and now that more people are hooked and ADRs go faster, it has done its course
If this is the case it completely worked on us! Dining is part of the experience now. I was beginning to think we might not get the dining plan this trip but a few weeks back I added up the cost of our what our meals at our ADRs would be and the dining plan covered them. I do agree that most don't take the time to do this and are probably just suckered into going with what the disney website offers. I think it depends on the family and if dining is a big deal to them. If the dining plan covers the or equals one meal a day then it is worth it because it is like getting the QS and snack for free daily.

Anyway you look at it, as we all know, Disney is just expensive. The prices we pay for there we would never pay for at home. Even the quality of food sometimes compared to price would never fly at home but it works there. I guess we are all just caught up in the magic while there!

Ali

[mdsd8700]

I think you're probably right, but I am starting to think of it another way. For instance, I would probably never get the little chocolate cake or carrot cake they have for dessert at the CS restaurants. I do when they're included in the DDP, but I wouldn't pay $3-$4 for one. I also wouldn't pay $2.50 - $3.00 for a soda at a counter service restaurant out of principle. I carry bottled water with us in the parks, and you can even ask for free ice water when you order and they'll give it to you.

At the TS restaurants, we'd also typically share 1 appetizer or 1 dessert (or maybe not even get dessert if we're too full). Right now, we both get dessert because it's included.

I'm just trying to think if DD8 was an "adult," or if I had two kids. Is it reasonable to expect, vacationing anywhere else for a week, that you would budget $206/day for two meals (one of them fast food) and a snack with a family of two adults and two pre teens?

We are very much like this as well. We rarely if ever order dessert. We almost always order appetizers. I am not a soda drinker, neither is DH we always order "free" water and will generally have wine or an adult beverage. I almost always split my entree with someone, if not I will order just an appetizer. We also would never each eat 1 snack per day either. We always have a few small things with us and plenty of others back in the room. It is for these reasons I could never make the dining plan work for us, although I always want to try it but can never take the plunge. Now with the additional cost, I am just not sure how I could justify it. I know it really works for some and they enjoy it, I hope that for those it will still continue to be a good idea.

[MichaelColey]

With the continual declines in offerings (no tips or appetizers now) and the continual price increases and getting less with "free dining" (only QSDP for values now), we have already moved away from the DDP. We can eat offsite and cook (in our timeshares) for FAR less. We had considered getting the DDP for a trip next year during the Food & Wine Festival, but that's highly doubtful now. I can just imagine what they'll be after the NEXT round of increases.

The mugs really don't make much sense to me. They're only good in your resort's food court. If I'm on the dining plan, I already have a drink. And I'm probably not going to go anywhere near the resort's food court. No benefit at all to us.

[daleNchip]

I think my issue with the dining plans is that my family never quite fit any of their plans exactly, so it ended up that I changed my vacation to meet how Disney wanted us to eat.

:RpS_confused: Wait a minute. I have to eat X CS, X TS and X Snacks? What if I want Y CS and Z TS? And B snacks? Whose vacation is this?!

With our every-other-year AP plan (thank you DVC, for the discount!) we are eligible for the TIW card, which helps. But we'd still pay OOP. It just works better for us.

mk

[Janine]

I originally had the DDP for our May trip (because of the kid and doing a lot of buffets, it was cheaper than OOP). When I then factored in the $75 cost for TIW across 3 trips, that became the clear winner. So glad we didn't do the DDP. On our break day, we just didn't feel like getting up for that bfast (I know wasted ADR :RpS_blushing:) and then on departure day DH slept in and didn't join us for CM bfast. We would definitely not have liked to have to go to a TS, because we already paid for it. I learned that we liked having the flexibilty (i.e. too full from lunch and feel like staying in the pool? no big deal, cancel the ADR).

[DoctorK]

Dining has absolutely been a large part of the overall WDW experience for us over the last few years. And while I have enjoyed it, I'm not sure that's such a great thing. I ate a ton more than I usually do, and I probably put on 5-10 lbs from the week of DDP. I'm kind of looking forward to our low-budget trip to see if/how it changes our experience. I think we'll have a little more time in the parks and/or more time to enjoy the resort, since we won't be spending so much time at a sit down ADR.

[wendycooper]

We like the dining aspect of being on vacation and have found that getting an AP is the way to go with our DCV membership. We purchase the TIW card and it saves us the most amount of money and we get to eat how we want to eat. On the DP, I ate dessert at every meal just because it was included and passed up appetizers and salads because they weren't included. Now we eat at as many sit down restaurants as we want and order what we like, not what is the best DP value. We will continue to plan our trips so we can purchase an AP and use the TIW card. I hate cooking and cleaning up while I am on vacation!!!! Especially after a tiring day.

[Rhonda]

It's depressing looking at those percentage increases. I just voted yes on a contract that takes away 3% of my salary (based on a freeze from last year) and freezes me there for 4 years!!!! It was either that orpotentially lose my job............ Wish I was getting the same increases at WDW (tickets OR dining~either would be fine):RpS_mellow:

[niatpac]

My family has never been in to the dining plan at all. We've stayed offsite at a townhome the last few times and had a few meals, as well as all of our b-fasts in the townhome. We ate TS lunches and sometime CS dinner. I'm sure we came out better overall than paying for any of the dining plans. Like previous posters have said, you eat differently and in my opinion better, by paying OOP. I just can't rightfully pay Disney more for the pleasure of eating more calories and weighing more than when my vacation started. Just tain't right. :RpS_laugh:

[mousefan2]

I think this trip will be our first without the dining plan -

I'm wondering if I need to go to some program to help with the anxiety!! :rapture:

:RpS_lol:
I would love it if I could purchase the TIW card, but we dont qualify!

[josh]

I have one. You can just add one extra person to all your reservations and I'll bring it with me. :RpS_thumbup:

[Janine]

Good thinking, Josh.

[josh]

Just saying I'm always available and I always have my card with me.

[josh]

Just the card though, I have a tendency to forget the rest of my wallet....

[jatamio]

We love the DDP. Our DD6 has some food allergies, and I have been forced into domestic divahood (at least in the kitchen). I have no idea what it would cost for a Disney chef to bring out a handmade dessert, or a "lets see if we can make a mac and chese she likes- if not we will try something else" entree. We spend so much time and energy on her eating habits, that the DDP just makes everything seem even more like a vacation. For us it really is a little more peace of mind. No having to think about what the bill will be at the end of dinner is worth it to us. You know- something we do not get at home.

[clanmcculloch]

We love the DDP. Our DD6 has some food allergies, and I have been forced into domestic divahood (at least in the kitchen). I have no idea what it would cost for a Disney chef to bring out a handmade dessert, or a "lets see if we can make a mac and chese she likes- if not we will try something else" entree. We spend so much time and energy on her eating habits, that the DDP just makes everything seem even more like a vacation. For us it really is a little more peace of mind. No having to think about what the bill will be at the end of dinner is worth it to us. You know- something we do not get at home.

I used to worry about that as well. I do know that at CS locations when paying OOP there's a premium charge generally of around $2 for the premade allergy foods like the chicken tenders and pizzas but otherwise we've never been charged more for the allergy foods. Actually, since my girls get a lot of ice cream/fancy sundaes for dessert they seem to ring it in as kids ice cream regardless of the portion (my girls are 10 and 13 and typically order adult meals so it's not about age) so it's cheaper than the adult desserts. We've also had chefs see DD10 not like her food (she's the fussy one in the family) and take it away and make something else and we only get charged for the final meal (we don't ask for this; this is just what they seem to do). Generally the meals get rung in as something on the menu that is somehow comparable. There's always something comparable. We've never been surprised by how our food's been rung up even when our food is very off menu since the basic ingredients are generally somewhere on the menu (they have to have the ingredients in order to prepare the dish). Fixed price restaurants cost the same even with all the custom made food.

I'll admit that I was REALLY nervous to give up the dining plan. The first time we tried it on a 3 night second leg of a split stay just so I could see how we did. It worked our really well and I haven't looked back.

[RuthAnn]

The mugs really don't make much sense to me. They're only good in your resort's food court. If I'm on the dining plan, I already have a drink. And I'm probably not going to go anywhere near the resort's food court. No benefit at all to us.

We buy the resort mugs every trip whether we're on the dining plan or not, but we have only stayed in the WL, BC, and Poly so it's not a hike to get to the quick service food unlike some of the mods and values. We eat a light breakfast at the resort, using snack credits if we're on the DDP, so the resort mugs come in handy then. We also find ourselves there during breaks and at night getting sodas and coffee. So for us, it's a not a bad deal. Plus it's kind of a vacationy, souvenir thing for us. The kids look forward to drinking unlimited sodas/ice tea on vacation, something they never get to do at home!

I agree that adding the mugs to the dining plan isn't a big selling point. But it costs Disney peanuts and may get guests into the resort food courts where they might buy some extra snacks. And if they discover they like the mugs, maybe they'll buy them on a future trip when they don't purchase the DDP.

[mousefan2]

Just the card though, I have a tendency to forget the rest of my wallet....

always willing to go above and beyond for us! :peace:

We're going to be staying at BWV - so its a hassle for sure with the mugs - I'm wanting to do Flying Fish this year (never been, but enjoying reviews) we'll be celebrating 30 years of marriage, its our only trip away - i'm so torn! I really just need to win the lottery

(first we have to play the lottery, but that's besides the point! ) :RpS_lol:

[debbs0723]

I agree with most of you on this topic. We were huge fans of the ddp the first year we went and that was even after appetizers and tips were removed. We also had young kids and did 7 character meals in 7 days. The second year we did the counter service plan and loved it even more because of the two snacks and the fact we ate when and where we wanted to and weren't tied to ADRS. We used our refillable mugs once so that was not a factor. This is the first year we are going to go without the use of the dining plan and I hope I don't hate it. I am a stay at home mom and I feel like I'm always cooking and packing for everybody. We are staying in a condo off site this year which is also new to us. DH said no matter what he wanted to rent a car. My oldest is now considered a disney adult as far as dining goes, they took a snack credit away, and the list goes on and on why we have decided to do it this way.

All that said, I love not having to worry what everyone is spending at every meal. I liked that about the DDP because I'm frugal. I don't plan on spending a lot of time packing food for us and have no intention of taking anything other than bottled water or juice boxes into the park. I do have small ways that we plan to help a little and the first one is that we would never order what we call the tasteless desserts at counter service restaurants anyway. Disney is the only time my kids are allowed to have caffeine so we will either have them share a large soda or get a soda with their lunches. We will cut out all sodas at dinner, which saves us approx $10 a day on caffeine we do not need at night. I'm actually looking forward to snacking around the world a little more. It is vacation. If the kids want popcorn or a hot pretzel for lunch so be it. I'm going to try to keep up with receipts so we can see the difference though.

Debbie

[debbs0723]

Dining has absolutely been a large part of the overall WDW experience for us over the last few years. And while I have enjoyed it, I'm not sure that's such a great thing. I ate a ton more than I usually do, and I probably put on 5-10 lbs from the week of DDP. I'm kind of looking forward to our low-budget trip to see if/how it changes our experience. I think we'll have a little more time in the parks and/or more time to enjoy the resort, since we won't be spending so much time at a sit down ADR.

I could not agree more with this. Although we loved all the character meals our first trip, now my kids are all "been there done that". They don't care about food like adults do. We had SOOOOOO much more time to enjoy the parks during our last trip when we had the counter service plan. With a little research we also did not eat only burgers for 7 days. Columbia harbour house had a fantastic fried shrimp meal. We drove over to french quarter one night and ate at their counter service on the way back to our resort and did things just a little differently. I still ate a lot. I still probably gained 5 lbs but we just had so much more time. Overall taking away the buffet aspect for me, even though I still ate a lot, I felt so much more energetic.

Debbie

[MaddiesMom]

The quote feature isn't playing nice. Boo.

Anyhow, Debbie - you said: I love not having to worry what everyone is spending at every meal.

This is a major stressor for me. As in, it ruins my day if I worry about money while on vacation. As a result, we're a Deluxe Dining Plan family.

I did the math last time, and I think I saved like $20 by doing the DxDP for the week. Essentially, I just prepaid for our meals. But it was so nice to not worry about having to have enough money for meals put back.

[MichaelColey]

Food was a HUGE part of Disney for us the first several times we went (all on the Free Dining Plan), but since we started staying in timeshares (with no dining plan and eating FAR cheaper than what it would cost to buy the dining plan), we haven't missed it one bit. We keep talking about how we'll do one or two table service meals "on our next trip", but then when it gets closer and we look at the prices, we ask "Why?". For the price of one TS meal at Disney (for one person), we can buy nice steaks for the whole family and grill them. When we were on the dining plan, we could get about $20 in "value" out of a CS credit, but now that we're paying OOP, we skip the dessert and soda and it costs us less than $10.

We do usually hit Beaches & Cream a few times on each trip, just for dessert.