DDP - should we/can we?

Sorry if I%26#39;m asking a question that has been posted and answered many times before - I have done a quick search and not found the answer.

Staying on-site for Christmas week. 2 adults, 1 child age 6 and 1 child age 2. We know 2 yo will have to share of buy meal separately, and I know we can also add DDP to our existing reservation.

Are we able to get DDP without the park tickets? We can get 6 day park hopper MYW for about $750 so don%26#39;t need the park tickets. If we CAN get only the DPP, is it worth it? We were planning to hire a fridge and have breakfast in our room, then take sandwiches and snacks into the park for lunch and go out for dinner, maybe Golden Corral or Ponderosa. We%26#39;ve estimated about $100 on groceries for the week for breakfast and lunch, and maybe $200 for 6 buffet meals (the last night we%26#39;re going to Outback).

Are these fair estimates? I can get DDP for 拢320 (about $500) for the week for all of us.

Any thoughts?

TIA

CarolineJ

DDP - should we/can we?

No, you must at least buy one day%26#39;s park admission to qualify for the DDP as it must be a package deal.

At Xmas time, with the extra dining surcharges they have, the DDP is more of a good value than ever; you must make sure you get reservations as soon as possible though as everything will book up very fast.

If you don%26#39;t have a car to go out and about to other locations, I%26#39;d say definitely go with the DDP, but sounds like you will have a vehicle, so that may not be as much of an issue. Just make sure you can use all the credits for the DDP during your stay before you choose to buy it.

DDP - should we/can we?

Ah I see. The only meals we were thinking of having at Disney (and therefore booking) are the Crystal Palace Character Meal on Dec 23, Chef Mickey%26#39;s on Xmas Day and Wonderland Tea Party on Dec 28. (Though subject to change, depending on EMH!)

Of course we%26#39;ll have ice creams etc, though our main lunch is going to be sandwiches. Just don%26#39;t want to tie ourselves down with reservations.

Is the $300 for food all week a fair estimate?

Thanks

CJ

Food budgets are somewhat hard to predict as prices may rise during the year, but even snack food and sandwich food can be expensive.

Plan on budgeting about $10 per adult for smaller meals and $5 per child except for the 2-year-old.

For larger, ';sit down'; style meals, usually need about $15 to $20 per adult and probably $10 or so for the child, and this is outside Disney.

Here%26#39;s the current menu pages for the Disney food venues and their current prices:

http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

Well chef mickeys and crystal palace are going to set you back over $75 a piece so thats $150 just for those two!

For us..there are 6 of us altogether, kids want to do chef mickeys, garden grill at epcot and ohana breakfast at the poly. I added the cost of those three together and that came to over 拢300 (for us that is) where the dining plan came to just over 拢500. I felt it was worth paying the extra 拢200 for all the extra meals and snacks we would get. My lot love those frozen colas that cost around $3.50 a time, they are classes as a snack on the plan and my lot always like to eat in pizza planet which is always around $10 a head so it all adds up.

I suggest you go through calculate the cost of your meals you really want to do then add on the 拢300 you think you will need with eating sandwiches and snacks and off site meals, i think you will be surprised. I know what you mean about being tied down to dinner reservations but you dont have to do that with them all just the ones you really want to do then organise the rest later.

I wasnt going to get the passes either but i got a good deal on 14day passes fro the price of 7 and i was lucky enough to get free dining (but im going before christmas and free dining finishes before then)

One other option to keep in mind where you say you will be doing dinner outside of Disney most nights is the Quick Service Dining Plan. It includes 2 quick service meals, and 2 snacks per day plus the refillable mug. Just another option instead of having breakfast in your room. I%26#39;m not sure the cost of this one.

Well we%26#39;ve worked it out, doing a ';DIY'; dining versus DDP and (providing my calculations are correct) there%26#39;s a MASSIVE 拢7 difference! We%26#39;re going with DDP!

Here are our choices (Disney say each of these are 1 credit table meals too - even on xmas day!)

22/12 ESPN for quick service after check-in

23/12 Crystal Palace

24/12 Rose %26amp; Crown

25/12 Chef Mickeys

26/12 50s Prime Time Caf茅 (Half day AK for picnic)

27/12 Garden Grill

28/12 Eating out at Outback Steakhouse

29/12 check out day

I know we%26#39;re not going to be using all our table service credits, but any extra we can use on check out day.

Any thoughts?

You are staying 7 nights, yes ?

You have listed 6 Table Service Meals ( ESPN will be a Table Service , not a Quick Service )

The DDP Credits can be used for any Meal, not just for Dinner so I recomend a Nice Big Breakfast on the Day you Check-out, to use your last Table Service Credits. Your Credits are good until midnight the day you check-out

I agree with partypa reserve something on your check out day. We booked a early lunch at Whispering Canyon to give us time to pack. We left Disney full. If you want a good breakfast that is not a buffet I would pick Kona Cafe in the Polynesian. Great breakfast!!!!

I would also make on on your Outback day in case you decide not to leave Disney to go to Outback, then you can cancel the last day if you use your disney reservation instead of Outback. you might find once you get there you don%26#39;t feel like leaving to go to Outback.

Heya,

Party, will do that - can anyone recommend a good buffet-breakfast for that morning? Doesn%26#39;t matter if it%26#39;s park or resort as our tickets will be valid that day.

Outback is a family tradition for the ';last meal'; so to speak, so I doubt we%26#39;d cancel, but will make a reservation ';just in case';. I quite fancy Supercalifrag.... breakfast. We%26#39;ll have a car, so can always get a late breakfast/early lunch, pack in the morning and then go.

One thing that suprised me though, considering the meal prices are increased for the holidays, I was suprised to find that Chef Mickeys on Christams day is still only one credit and not two. I think had we been travelling at a different time of year, DDP wouldn%26#39;t work out such good value!

CJ

The Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare is Lovely, that would be a good choice. We also quite enjoy the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Norway in Epcot, food is yummy and the Princessess are great. Crystal Palace and Cape May Cafe are also good. Hard to go wrong with Breakfast at Disney :)