NEW!!!! 2008 DDP Poll and comments About This Page:

[Pamela2768]

We used the DDP in June 2006 & January 2008.
We won't use it again for a few reasons:

• we were always worried about being on time for our ADR's.
• If we decided last minute that we did not want to eat dinner at the appointed time or place we felt we would be losing $$ because chances of getting a table service we liked that fit our schedule would be impossible. We felt we were wasting $$ using a table service credit for counter service.
• We never ate the dessert offered at counter service for lunch. We would take a brownie, thinking we would eat it later, but at the end of our 10 day stay we had so many brownies we did not know what to do with them.
• I wanted to make good use of our table service coupons so I booked a table service every night which cut into our "fun time" as we prefer to go to the parks after lunch until close.

It is a great plan and it did save us $$ but we ate more often and more food than we normally would eat on vacation. Our amount of meals were drivin by the meal plan and not by our bellies.
Next time we will share the HUGE portions at lunch, do more counter service for dinner and only book one or two dinners that really appeal.

[lindawdw]

My first time using the DDP was last September when it was offered for free. Although we weren't able to get an AP room discount since we took the free dining, it was still worth it in the long run for all the free food we got! We paid to have the DDP in December 2007 and really enjoyed it once again. I was very disappointed that Disney changed the plan. It didn't bother me that much that they took away the appetizer but taking away the tip inclusion really bothered me. We never had to think about how expensive an entree was when ordering or how much a dessert would cost added on to a meal before the change, but now it will increase the bill which means the tip payout will cost even more OOP. If Disney had decreased the DDP plan by about $5.00 per person then I would have thought about doing it again but it's just not that cost effective anymore since we tend to do more counter service when in the parks.

[Tammie1966]

We used the Deluxe Dining in February and found it very very nice! It was great only having to be responsible for paying for the tip OOP no matter where we ate. Using the DDP made it so we could eat at restaurants we may not eat at other wise due to $. I didn't think of keeping track of costs until near the end of our vacation but plan on doing that next time since my DH and I will be returning to the World November 28 for 5 nights/6 days for our 10th Anniversary. Our DD (19) enjoyed being able to order whatever she wanted and even tried things she wouldn't have tried without using the dining plan.

[disneyallday]

Found this one on line

2008 Disney World Vacation Package Descriptions

[jvpsr3]

I have used the dining plan several times with good success. Howver with what you can can consume on even the basic plan I do not see how anyone can take advantage of the premium plans; with three table service meals per day what time would you spend in the parks and be comfortable. I maintained a spreadsheet during my last two trips and have been ahead by at least 120.00 both trips. With good planning you can have breakfast's and dinners using your table service vouchers. Nothing beats wishes though!

[spindletop24]

What does DDE mean and also I see people talking about an AP discount.....what is that and how do i get it

Thanks for the help

[nbodyhome]

I have done the free dine - I didn't do the bounceback last year, because I am not sure that the "free" dine will be worth it this year without the tip/appetizer included. I think it'd be hard to really make the plan worth it full price, unless eating at a Le Cellier/Tutto Italia, etc. each day. I will likely (if staying on property in September) use a AP discount instead.

[fstyne]

TheGoof,

We have the Deluxe DDP...three table meals and two snacks per day (and a few other perks thrown in).

[TheGoof]

fstyne,

Great... you should do well then based on what I saw.

[graygables]

Originally Posted by Princessdreamer

What I meant was 37.99 a piece to get the DDP, it would cost us 75.98 a day plus tax, plus tip , and the restaurants that are on the DDP that we would try, would not add up to enough to make up the money for the DDP. We also plan on going to TS restaurants for lunch but we will share a meal. Since they took the appetizer and tip out and only lowered the plan $1.00 it is not as good a deal for us. So what I meant to say was we can eat for less than $75.98 plus tax.

Sorry for the confusion.

Tax is included, tip is not. There is not tax added to the $37.99, either, so I don't know if that changes the calculations any.

[elainefair]

I had never even considered doing one of the dining plans until I started tracking how much my DH and I were spending for food. In February, we were at SSR for 6 nights. We spent over $1400 for dining!!! We ate lots of great places, but all of them would have been on the dining plan. Our more expensive meals were at the Brown Derby (more than $200 for the two of us - all we ordered would have been covered by the Deluxe plan) and at Marrakesh where we had the big Morroccan feast for 2 (which I am not sure would have been covered). Raglan Road $124. Even Turf Club was $86. All of these prices include the tip.

We did not even get to some of our favorite places like Artists Point or Citricos.

So. for the next trip, we are doing the Deluxe Plan and I have made all of our ADRs. Now my DH is complaining that we will be spending all of our time eating and less of our time in the parks! I am concerned that he may be correct!

In the past, to avoid having to plan our meals, we would not make any ADRs and then we would just try to get in to a restaurant without them. That usually worked well, but not always. One night we ended up eating at a food court because we could not get into any TS. I figure if I am going to have to make the ADRs then I am going to be spending my vacation around food any way, so I might as well try to save $$.

So, for May I have ADRs at Narcoosee's (our first time to try), Ohana (our first time for anything other than breakfast), Rose and Crown (first time), and Brown Derby. I also made breakfast ADR at Kona Cafe (I just love the stuffed French toast).

I doubt that I have maximized the experience for the $$ but my purpose was to maximize for the fun and new.

Elaine

[Joanne929]

We did use the dining plan in 2006 and LOVED it! I'll definitely look into it for our next trip and see if it will work for us again.

[obsessedwiththemouse]

I've used the DDP in the past and absolutely love it. The price isn't too bad and it is very convenient. My son and I are able to split the counter service meals so we get a lot more variety! I love not having to take extra money for food, it is taken care of in advance. Just another wonderful thing Disney has done to make my life easier. I am not extremely happy about the changes but I think it will still be worth it when you factor in the convenience of the plan. Just sayin'

[BettyLou]

I have done DDP for my last two trips. The first one was the "old" plan and this was the new plan. I still find it to be a great value. Yes, we spent time away from the attractions, but really appreciated the rest, relaxation, ambiance of the restaurants. Next time, I think we might try the deluxe plan and try a few more signature meals. I must admit that I only really missed the appetizer a few times--especially when it was cooler and I wanted soup! It was certainly not a problem to add appetizer cost along with adult beverage and tip to the room charge.

[applejenn]

We have used the DDP in April 06 and August 07, we are looking at the Deluxe DP for our trip next year. We luvd the DDP, both times, and this last time we actually kept track of how much the bill was at each resturant, we would not have been able to eat at most places had it not been for the DDP.