Your thoughts on the DDP

I think with a 2 year old you might want to go with the QS DDP if any at all. Like you said, with a child that age, I don't think you'll want to be having that many sit down meals. The DDP isn't nearly the value it once was, and every time we go now, we consider it only to decide against it. We also usually have Tables in Wonderland which makes it even less sensible for us.

But I totally agree with you that because of the changes, and because of the fact that you'll have a toddler, you won't need or want the DDP. The QS plan may be something to think about. We've gone as far as to look at the menus of where we may eat, figure out what we'd order and then decide if it's worth the DDP. Most of the time, for us, it's not.

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Upcoming Trips

July 2010 - Old Key West

Oct 2010 - Boardwalk Villas

We go through the same dance every year. We wouldn't mind the DDP, but only with free dining. And we can't get free dining and an AP discount. The free dining works out to about the same discount as AP discounts on the rooms BUT we can get Tables in Wonderland like Imagineer said. I'm not sure we'd use up any non-TS credits anyway so we skip it.

In your case I think QS makes sense if anything. I might just skip it altogether, especially for the first trip where you won't know how doing Disney with the baby will work.

I enjoyed the dinning plan just because it let me have a number of meals paid for and it forced me to plan and make ADRs. I would agree though it doesn't sound like you'll want to do any sit down with a toddler.

I've heard a rumor that they're going to be taking the dessert off of the DDP, so, in that case, forget it. While the 2-yr old will still eat free, it might make sense to take a trip w/o the DDP to figure out how much you really end up eating in restaurants. Or do the QS, as you said.

Something tells me a first trip with Mr. Holden (that's his name, right?) will be full of surprises!

If there is no dessert, it is no longer a good deal...which is disappointing.

I love it because I love having the meals paid for beforehand, one last thing you have to pay for while you are there!

It seems like it defeats the purpose if I still have to pay for dessert if I want it. Not only does it make it a worse deal, but I eat dessert at most of my meals at Disney. If I'm still having to pay for things manually it's no longer all inclusive. That's too bad.

I like the DDP because it takes the question of money way from my dining choices. I'm one of those who looks at the prices before I order and think...maybe I shouldn't spend that much on "such and such". With my dining all paid for, I just order whatever I'd like. Can't wait for Le Cellier!!!

I can totally see the appeal of that. I worry though as they change the plans around they risk losing some of that appeal. I really like the idea of just walking in and eating and not worrying about it, but I also don't want to spend more than I have to on my trip. Such a balancing act.

I say definitely skip the DDP until you have some idea of what traveling with the little one is like. The of course he can grow enough in a year that everything will be different the next time!

I read that if they take away dessert they will offer an extra snack credit. People were saying they were too full to eat dessert after eating a full meal (I have no idea who those people were but it wasn't me!) I wonder if you can use the snack credit to grab dessert at a restaurant if you do choose to get dessert or if this will not be allowed. Guess we will have to wait and see!

On the other hand a lot of people were having to use up their surplus snack credits at the end of the trip. And like you said, who doesn't eat dessert?!?!?

DDP is really valuable for us because it and we makes our Disney's trip more pleasant don't want to miss any Free DDP chance! We are happy that we will be in Orlando during December and enjoy the Free DDP. I was wondering, which value resort do you recommend us for stay?

Best Regards,

I thought I'd also add here that I was surprised at how much stuff was considered a "snack", pretty much every time we stopped for any little thing they offered it for snack plan, even at the confectionary shops.

Someone was even mentioning that quite a lot of the Food & Wine booth items can be gotten with snack credits. It really is surprising what they'll give you for one, isn't it? You can waste them pretty easily too since some of the things they offer are quite inexpensive.

I'd estimate the cut off was around $6.50. If it was more expensive than that it's no longer a snack. Am I remembering correctly?

I've seen a lot of people on their last day just wandering around the Confectionary trying to find stuff to use up all their snack credits.

Disney posted their prices for 2011 today! With just a quick peek, it looks as though the dinning plan has not changed other than the price. I only really looked at the deluxe plan. I could see no changes in it other than the price. I believe they increased it $6 per day per person.

Thanks, Scrappy.

Does anyone know if you can trade two counter service meals for a table service meal still?