[gcbdad]

Okay. So our trip is a few months off and I do not have any ADR's yet.
Mostly because I am still trying to figure out if we should use the DDP or our DDE card. I know I can make ADR's anyway but it has been weighing on my mind.

On the trip will be 4 adults one 11 year old and 3 kids.(3, 9 & 9). We are going to be missing the Free Dining Plan this year but as DVC members we are able to purchase it if we want too.

If my calculations are correct, the DDP will cost us $911.68 for 4 nights. It looks like a good deal but part of me is not sure. With the DDE we get 20% off of all sitdown meals.

Help!!!!!

Someone please talk some sense into me.

[Thumper Girl]

[quote=gcbdad]Okay. So our trip is a few months off and I do not have any ADR's yet.
Mostly because I am still trying to figure out if we should use the DDP or our DDE card. I know I can make ADR's anyway but it has been weighing on my mind.

On the trip will be 4 adults one 11 year old and 3 kids.(3, 9 & 9). We are going to be missing the Free Dining Plan this year but as DVC members we are able to purchase it if we want too.

If my calculations are correct, the DDP will cost us $911.68 for 4 nights. It looks like a good deal but part of me is not sure. With the DDE we get 20% off of all sitdown meals.

Help!!!!!
This might take some time but I would try to figure out where you would like to eat at each day. I always look at allears.net, you can see places to eat and the menus, also prices. This is where the time comes into the plan, try to figure out what you think each person would order. Don't forget appetizer, entree, desert, tip and tax. Add this up and see what that all comes to. We added about $4.00 a day for snacks(for the each of us, there are 3 of us), around $30.00 for lunch each day, and a sit down meal. I did all of this before we went, just to see if we come out better. We were there for 7 nights. We saved around $400.00 doing the DP. The only thing is that I don't know if we would have ordered appetizer and desert each time, but it was nice having this already paid for. We also ordered stuff we wouldn't have ordered, just about each time it was the most expersive thing on the menu. The only drawback is that there is not much on the childs menu. Usually what kids like, but it's the same everywhere you go. I hope this helps some. For us it was worth it! Sorry this is so long, and I hope it makes sense. Have fun planning!

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by Thumper Girl

This might take some time but I would try to figure out where you would like to eat at each day. I always look at allears.net, you can see places to eat and the menus, also prices. This is where the time comes into the plan, try to figure out what you think each person would order. Don't forget appetizer, entree, desert, tip and tax. Add this up and see what that all comes to. We added about $4.00 a day for snacks(for the each of us, there are 3 of us), around $30.00 for lunch each day, and a sit down meal.

I would suggest doing the same thing. I have looked over the menus, picked what I thought we would order and added up what each meal would cost then compared it to the cost of the DDP.

We have used both and both have good points. With DDE you only pay for what you actually want to order and with DDP you get to try things or restaurants you might not other wise order or visit. Basically, the DDE card takes care of the tip, other than that you are paying for everything you order.

Are your kids going to eat an appetizer, entree, and dessert at each sit down meal? If not it may not be your best deal. My son will be an adult on the DDP soon and when that happens we will pay out of pocket for our meals. My son might eat $40 worth of food in a week but never in a day.

[missymouse]

We have gone both not on the dining plan and on the dining plan, and we have found that we saved money by being on DDP! None of us is a big eater either, and we never ordered anything off DDP that we wouldn't eat (ie: no desserts!)

I am a big fan of DDP because I think that it's incredible that you can get so much food and actually pay less per meal!

[Soundgod]

Here's my standard breakdown for an adult on the dining plan.

At a sit down meal your appetizer and dessert will both be about $6. Your beverage will be about $2. Your entree will be at least $20. That's $34. Multiply by 1.24 (18% tip and 6% tax is included). That's $42 and change for your sit down meal, which is the only place your DDE card will be accepted, excepting the food courts at the value hotels because they have no table service. Your quick service or counter service meal, usually lunch, gives you a beverage, entree and one side or a platter, and dessert. Figure any platter is at least $7 and as much as $14, dessert $3.50 and beverage $2.50. Minimum is $13, max can be $20 for the chicken and rib platter at Cosmic Ray's. To be fair well use $13 times 1.06 (tax) or almost $14. Snacks can be as much as $4. Your daily adult meal total on meal plan is $60. It's not a bad idea to get the DDE membership if you plan to eat at two table service locations a day or you can do what I do. We're on the dining plan, but have a DDE for the mornings we do character buffets, or any time we do buffets because, especially breakfast, is a waste of a TS credit. Also, you can split your check at the two credit locations and have one person on plan and the other pay out of pocket and sharing appetizer and dessert in order to save credits or even just pay the less expensive meal out of pocket and the more expensive on plan.
I'm sorry I don't have numbers for children, but I'd guess your results will similar, though again, you might benefit from a DDE if the kids want a little more than the standard kid's meal.

If I didn't hit this point before, the DDE gives you a 20% discount on food and beverage, including alcohol, for you and 5 guests in your party. that pretty much covers the tax and tip, or just the tip depending on how you calculate.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by Soundgod

If I didn't hit this point before, the DDE gives you a 20% discount on food and beverage, including alcohol, for you and 5 guests in your party. that pretty much covers the tax and tip, or just the tip depending on how you calculate.

When did that change? When I had the DDE card in 2005 it was good for up to 8 people. I hate to see few benefits for the same cost.

[dznylvr]

I think that if you plan to take the time to do a TS meal each and every day, it would pay to do the DDP. If you may only do a TS meal every other day, and eat CS the rest of the time, I think it would make more sense to use DDE card. We have used the DDP multiple times and love it. We have saved an average of 50% with the DDP, which of course is more than the 20% you save with the DDE. Plus, your tip is already included, so you don't have to add more, unless you want to.Either way you better decide and get those ADR's made!! You are going to WDW after my family is there, there may not be any food left after we are gone!!

[Soundgod]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

When did that change? When I had the DDE card in 2005 it was good for up to 8 people. I hate to see few benefits for the same cost.

According to All Ears it's a party of 10. I double checked the WDW site and it is a party of 10.

[gcbdad]

I was pretty sure that using the DDP was the way to go but I needed a little reassurance. I appreciate all of your advice. We are going to go with the DDP and like some have already mentioned I can still use the DDE for breakfast and other incidentals.

Now to sit down and figure out what ADR's to make.