DDP... worth it, or not?

After talking to a fellow WDW fan about the Disney Dining Plan (DDP), I figured I should write my opinion on it.  It's a really difficult topic to discuss simply because the DDP isn't for all guests of WDW. 

I feel like there are essential "qualifications" in order to determine if the DDP will work best for you and your family. 

• You have to be able to consume a large amount of food... or be okay with letting some food go to waste.  With getting one snack, one quick service meal, and one table service meal a day... it's a ton of food. 
• Your family needs to be willing to take some extra time out of the day in order to have a sit down meal.  Disney service is very quick but you obviously have to wait for each course to come out.  If you're on a tight schedule it's probably not best to take the time out of your vacation to have long meals.
• Make sure that you're willing to maximize the DDP.  That requires you to use your quick service meals on lunch instead of breakfast and your table service meals on dinner.  Breakfast is the cheapest in WDW so my advice is to use your snack credit getting a pastry in the morning.  Lunch time is when you want to use your quick service.  Use the table service credit wisely!  Choose restaurants that cost more per person.  Be willing to choose entrees that are higher priced as well. 

There are a lot of questions that come up as far as if the DDP is financially worth it.  After lots of number crunching i've laid out how much it costs on the DDP and how much it is to dine the exact same way while paying out of pocket.  Here are a few facts that I took into account.  I don't think I forgot anything.

• Florida sales tax is 6.5%
• I used a straight 15% tip for all table service meals.
• I never order pop at table service restaurants.  Matt sometimes does. 
• I used a price of $3.00 even for every snack.  Just for the sake of keeping it easy.
• The price of the DDP does NOT include gratuity.

The basic Disney Dining Plan is $39.99 per person per night.  We're staying 7 nights. 
$39.99 x 7 = $279.93 x 2 people = $559.86  (I'll add the OOP gratuity later)

Biergarten -   $26.99 x 2 = $57.49 w/ tax and $10.00 tip = $67.49
Coral Reef -   $20.99 + $25.99 + $7.99 x 2 = $64.96 w/ tax and $10.38 tip = $79.57
Le Cellier -   $36.99 x 2 = $73.98 + tax = $78.79 + $11.82 tip = $90.61
Tusker House -   $28.99 x 2 = $57.98 + tax = $61.75 + $9.27 tip = $71.02
Cape May Cafe -   $26.99 x 2 = $53.98 + tax = $57.49 + $8.63 tip = $66.12
Chef Mickey's -   $34.07 x 2 = $68.14 + tax = $71.55 + $10.74 tip = $82.29
'Ohana -   $30.99 x 2 = $61.98  + tax = $66.01 + $9.91 tip = $75.92

Table Service Total = $544.96

Yak & Yeti -  $10.99 x 2, $3.29 x 2, $2.50 x 2 = $33.56 + tax = $35.75
Studios Catering Company -  $8.39, $6.49, $3.59 x 2, $2.50 x 2 = $27.06 + tax = $28.82
Pizza Planet -  $7.79 x 2, $1.79 x 2, $2.00 x 2 = $23.16 + tax = $24.67
Tangerine Cafe -  $7.95 x 2, $2.00 x 2 = $19.90 + tax = $21.20
Pecos Bills -  $6.79 x 2, $1.99, $3.99, $2.50 x 2 = $24.16 + tax = $25.73
Columbia Harbour House -  $8.09 x 2, $3.59 x 2, $2.50 x 2 = $28.36 + tax = $30.21
Sunshine Seasons -  $8.59, $9.99, $2.89, $3.99, $2.50 x 2 = $30.46 + tax = $32.44

Quick Service Total = $198.82

Snacks - $3.00 x 7 nights = $21.00 x 2 people = $42.00    Note:  I couldn't remember if they charge tax on snacks or not.  So I just did without.

Table Service Total -  $544.96
Quick Service Total - $198.82
Snack Total -             $42.00 
________________________
                                 $785.78

Out of pocket expense total =           $785.78
Disney Dining Plan price + tip total = $632.17

Difference saved by using DDP = $153.61

Keep in mind that if your goal is to spend the least amount possible on food then it's not in your best interest to use the DDP.  Your best option would be to eat quick service for your entire vacation.  Have breakfast in the room, share large quick service servings, and cut back on pop.  If you can reuse water bottles then you'll save a bit more as well.

If there is anything flawed that you notice in my calculations please let me know.  I'm sure there are some small errors in there somewhere.

Polynesian Resort, Here We Come!

I got the most wonderful e-mail from Erin at Orbitz telling me that my family and I will be staying at the GORGEOUS Polynesian Resort.  I've only dreamt of staying at this place.  I never really thought that it could happen because it's just so darn expensive.  I've walked around this resort before thinking, "someday, i'll get to stay here.  Someday."  And in October, i'm going to.

During my first trip to WDW I remember traveling on the monorail and going by the Poly and thinking to myself, "Eww.  Why would anyone want to stay there?  It looks like big brown buildings.  I don't get it." 

Then I actually went to the Polynesian for dinner when I was 17 with my family.  I walked in the doors and before me was this lush, tropical atrium.  I could hear the polynesian music playing all around me.  I was sucked in!  Finally, I understood what the big deal was.

For those of you that haven't been to the Polynesian, here are some amazing photographs.

This is what you see as you walk through the lower level doors. 

A beautiful view of the atrium from the second story.

Gorgeous, yes?

Boats of all kinds are available to rent right at the resort.

The beautiful beach at the Polynesian Resort.

The volcano pool has a slide and as well as an amazing view of the Magic Kingdom.

There is a quiet pool at the Poly as well.

Love the bathroom!

The rooms underwent a fairly recent renovation.

Our moms will switch on and off sleeping on the bed and the daybed.

 

I just can't believe I get to spend 8 nights at this... my dream resort.

Bummer Major

I got a little ahead of myself I think.  Got my hopes up.  Orbitz wasn't able to book the DDP with Disney for us. 

We have the $250.00 gift card so I think that we'll just use that on our food.  I hope that's enough for lunch and dinner for the both of us.  The F&WF will probably be able to hold me over a bit for a meal when we're at Epcot. 

We'll probably do counter service meals for lunch and dinner.  Maybe we can pick one or two restaurants to eat at so Diane (my mother in law) can experience table service restaurants at WDW.  We probably, in this case, won't choose the most expensive.  I'd love to do Biergarten and Tusker House.  Something different and not "italian" or "american" food. 

I'm hating that I have to break the news to Matt and my mom.  They're gonna be super bummed.

I do see an upside to it all though.  We don't have to worry about being at a certain place at a certain time.  We won't have to bother with giving enough time from place A to place B.  We can just eat whenever we're hungry with no time table.  I'm looking forward to that.

I'll let you know more when I know more!  No word on the accomdations yet!

What Would You Do?

One of the "perks" that we got with our Disney vacation from Orbitz is a $250.00 gift card.  I can't figure out exactly what to do with that extra play money.  I've thrown some ideas around but i'm curious of what other people would do if they had $250 in their pocket.  Here are some of my ideas...

A Behind the Scenes Tour - Matt wants to do the Epcot Seas Aqua Dive again.  We did that back in 2008 and it was a blast.  The price has gone up to $140.00 a person with all the proceeds going towards marine life conservation.  We'd have to pitch in a bit of our own money but that's not a big deal.  I'd also like to do the tour that takes you "backstage" and gives you the secrets inside of the Magic Kingdom.  I don't know that all of the people traveling with us would find it as interesting as me though. 

Parasailing or water craft rental - To rent a pontoon boat only costs like $30 for a half hour (or hour) and it's a flat fee as long as you stay within their maximum party size.  They also have parasailing offered at the Contemporary Resort.  I've always wanted to do that and I think Matt and I would have a blast!

Archery Training Class -  I just read this morning that at Fort Wilderness you can learn how to shoot a bow and arrow.  It's only $25 per person.  Ever since I was a kid when I played with the plastic suction cup arrows I've wanted to actually try the real thing.  Pretty much the whole class you are doing target practice in a safe environment. 

Pay for food - If Orbitz can't book us the dining plan with Disney then we'll probably just eat all quick service meals for the entire trip.  We'll need to come up with that money somewhere.  This would be the most economical option.

Anyone else have some brilliant ideas as to what might be fun to blow some extra cash on?

Possible Stroke Of Genius

Last night when I was talking to Matt about being hopeful that we can add the Disney Dining Plan I had a thought. 
Back in the fall of 2009 the "Free Dining" promotion got extended from the beginning of October through mid December.  The only difference is that what is offered as "free" is staggered.  Value resorts get the Quick Service Dining Plan free and the moderate and deluxe resorts can get the Basic DDP. 

Given that Orbitz books a Magic Your Way package for us and places us in a deluxe resort, couldn't we call up Disney and have them apply the pin code for free dining?  Assuming that it's offered in a few months of course. 

I can't figure out why there would be a stipulation.  As long as there is a MYW package booked, you qualify for free dining.  If Orbitz books the room and park tickets seperately though, you don't get to apply a pin code. 

Guess I'll just have to wait and see!

Food Food and More Food!

One of my favorite parts of vacationing in WDW is the amazing restaurant selection.  I've become quite the foodie and have recruited my mom and husband into the world of WDW dining. 

I sat down with those two on Friday night to discuss possible dining option if we can add the DDP onto our package.  It was a bit frustrating as Matt and I don't always see eye to eye when it comes to dining.  He prefers atmosphere over good food and doesn't care how much the meal is.  I on the other hand prefer good food over good atmosphere and I take into account getting the most bang for my buck on the DDP.  My mom is very "go with the flow" and as long as the menu isn't too out there then she's fine. 

The three of us decided to pick two restaurants that we've previously dined at that we'd like to go back to and one restaurant that we'd like to try.  This is what it looks like.

Matt - Coral Reef
           Mama Melrose
           Tusker House

Mom - 'Ohana
           Cape May Cafe
           Chef Mickey's

Me - Le Cellier
         Biergarten
         Chefs de France

Obviously, my mom likes buffets and family style dining.  She likes to be able to eat as much as she wants of whatever she wants.  Matt has this odd obsession with Mama Melrose that I just can't seem to grasp.  All he gets is the $13 Four Cheese Flatbread.  Please tell me why we're eating PIZZA in Disney World.  I'm definitely the adventurous eater of the group.  

It was somewhat hard for us to pick which ones we'd like to save because we've all become attached to so many restaurants.  If I had to pick another save it would be Tusker House.  That was great for vegetarians.  I'm a bit nervous about my "new" pick, Chefs de France.  I've heard some crummy reviews but the menu looks really good.  I have a feeling that for my family though, the menu looks a little "weird" to them.  I also can't believe I put Biergarten on my "save" list.  What can I say?  I'm a sucker for an Oktoberfest and red cabbage.

The woman from Orbitz is booking the flight today and we should hopefully know what resort we'll be staying at sometime this week.  I also hope she'll be able to tell us if we can add the DDP or not.  Our 180 day ADR window opens April 12th.

The Negative

After doing some research we'll still have to pay a hefty amount in taxes for the "free" vacation.  The retail value is $8000.00.  Some people say that you have to pay around 25% of the retail value.  Another person said that if you can prove that you could have paid for the exact same trip for less money then you only have to pay taxes on THAT amount. 

I'm going to have to sit down with my financial advisor, AKA my brother, and get this all sorted.  If I need to ahve more money taken out of my paycheck to make up for it then so be it.  We were still planning on taking a vacation this fall anyway.  Maybe not a $2000.00 vacation but still. 

Matt threw the idea out there yesterday about asking our moms to help us out a bit with the owed taxed.  I'd feel bad because we told them they wouldn't have to pay anything.  I wasn't even thinking about the taxes and what not.  Bah!

I guess i'll cross that bridge when I come to it.