Suggestions and or assistance please

That's a great question! I guess my response is that it depends on why you believe that not having the DDP is suffering? What is it about the DDP that makes it important to you?

I understand completely, that's why I use it. It keeps me from adding every last penny in my head as my whole family orders, eating differently than I want to, and having panic attacks at the table.

That being said, on my last two trips I haven't had the DDP (once I stayed off property and once we had a very small food budget) and I have been just fine. I had gotten so tied to the DDP in my head (usually the deluxe) that I had worked myself up into a tizzy that it's difficult to eat on cash at Disney. It's not, not at all.

If my budget was a concern, I would probably buy the 5 day tickets and just eat on cash during those last few days.

Another way to work around DDP without totally stressing yourself out is to start buying Disney gift cards (if possible at your local Target with a red card so you save 5%). Go online and look at the menus. Pick out the most expensive thing that you think each person in your party would possibly order and calculate your total cash meal cost. (Changes are that it will be slightly less than you would end up paying per person on DDP). Remember to add tax and tip and then total up how much cash you need for your non-DDP days. Make sure that you buy at least that much in gift cards (any leftover can be applied toward snacks, souvenirs, etc.) and you'll have the same pre-paid as using DDP, but you'll have more flexibility in what you order.

"(already got threatened with being fired for taking a vacation this year and taking time off to tend to my daughter's birthplan and complications.)"

OMG for real? Holy Smokes. Totes UNCOOL.

Personally we love the dining plan. Partly because we pay upfront and partly because eating at nice TS places is a big part of our trip. Plus we are two meal a day kind of people. So it works for us.

talk to the HR department where you work. Lots of variables to this situation, but i'm reasonably confident looking after a daughter with post delivery complication is covered under the Family Medical Leave act. Plus, if you have a vacation benefit, your employer must honor it. They can't fire you for a benefit that is part of your compensation.

I've worked for abusive jerks before. It pays to know that your compensation is a legal contract that they can't violate because it's inconvenient for them to honor.