How to maximize the DDP?

[minnie2002]

I was reading on another thread about how to get the most bang out of the DDP. They had an awesome tip about buying a double cheeseburger meal and then adding on another bun for .80. That way you get two meals by making two cheeseburgers with the extra bun and sharing the rest. I loved that idea. Then you have an extra credit you could use for breakfast that maybe could be shared too. I was just curious if anyone else had any cool ideas. I thought that tip was great!

[AmberB]

My family has found that often the meals are too big for us, so we do a lot of sharing on the DDP. We have 2 adults and 1 child. Our typical daily meals are:

Breakfast
Large adult breakfast (1 CS credit)
Bowl of fruit (1 Snack)

Lunch
Large adult CS meal (1 CS credit)
Kids CS meal (1 CS credit)

Dinner
Everyone orders a TS meal (3 TS credits)

We try to pick the combo meals like the chicken and ribs at Cosmic Rays to get the biggest bang for our buck. Also, look for places that don't have kids meals (i.e. Pizza Planet). The kids can have an adult meal which gives more food for the entire family.

[Taja]

I was reading on another thread about how to get the most bang out of the DDP. They had an awesome tip about buying a double cheeseburger meal and then adding on another bun for .80. That way you get two meals by making two cheeseburgers with the extra bun and sharing the rest. I loved that idea. Then you have an extra credit you could use for breakfast that maybe could be shared too. I was just curious if anyone else had any cool ideas. I thought that tip was great!

I've seen it reported that the charge for the extra bun has increased significantly. No personal experience, but that's what I've read.

Why not just cut the double cheeseburger in half? Condiments are added by guests after it is served, so that shouldn't be an issue. My friend (who like just about everything on her hamburgers) and I (who like hamburgers plain) buy one and just split it between us. Much easier. :)

[GoinGoofyPlanninThisTrip]

Why not just cut the double cheeseburger in half?:scratch: That's what I was thinking!

[onjbj]

Seriously??? I cannot imagine buying a double cheeseburger, ordering an extra bun, and splitting it to get an extra meal. I'm a pretty frugal person, but that seems a bit extreme to me. JMHO-:)

[minnie2002]

I liked the bun idea for someone who’s child is picky and wants his "own meal'' this way they are none the wiser. I got the idea from another board. This board shows families how to stretch their grocery budget. I didn't know you could order an extra bun, and thought maybe someone would find it useful information. I personally would just share a meal if I wanted to stretch the ddp too. It is much easier.

[Dulcee]

As a family of four we've just always done two counter service breakfasts and two counter lunches and split them. For us it tends to be more then enough food especially with a big meal at the end of the day.

[Mickey91]

We use our snack credits for a breakfast danish and fill our mugs with coffee or Hot Chocolate. We then make sure to get something that can be carried with us for dessert at lunch, if possible, for a snack later in the day.:mickey:

[SAHDad]

Seriously??? I cannot imagine buying a double cheeseburger, ordering an extra bun, and splitting it to get an extra meal. I'm a pretty frugal person, but that seems a bit extreme to me. JMHO-:)

It's an interesting idea, but it would never fly in my family. Not due to frugality, but because I consider a double cheeseburger to be, at best, only part of a meal. Now, a double cheeseburger, some fries, a drink, possibly a dessert and a snack in about half an hour? I'm good with that. . .

[GrumpyFan]

There's another web site that has a pretty good plan for getting the most for the DDP. I can't put the name of it here, but it's the web site for the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. PM me and I will send you the link.

Also, here on Intercot, there is a spreadsheet that is an estimator for getting the most out of the DDP. Disney Dining Plan Estimator (http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/dining/diningplan/estimator.asp) Personally I find it a little bit complicated to use, but I can see where it would be helpful in planning your meals as well.

[TheRustyScupper]

First Rules for better value
. . . never use TS for a breakfast
. . . never use TS for a character meal
. . . never use TS for dinner shows
. . . seldom use TS for a lunch

[TBY2225]

I agree with splitting the counter service meals. Our family of 4 uses 2 for breakfast and 2 for lunch. we can always take or use a SC for a snack later if we get hungry. The portions are very large and at the places where you can add your own toppings, you can really maximize your lunch!

[bobpfef]

First Rules for better value
. . . never use TS for dinner shows
. .

I don't think is this is true any longer. With the changes to the dining plan, you no longer get an app, though the dinner shows are buffets so you DO get an app and an entree and desert, so there is more value right there. Plus the tip *IS* included with the DDP on diner shows, so there is and exact 18 - 20 % right there. If you do the math you'll see that using 2 DDP credits for a $55 seat at HDDR isn't that bad of a deal anymore.

[kwhitt3202]

The dinning plan has changed this year the snacks are different and on the regular dinning plan you only get an entree and dessert. We always have leftover snack credits and sometimes counter service. What we do is get things that travel well.

We have been this year and did the deluxe and we did a late breakfast and an early signature dinner most days and that was more than enough for us and we still had plenty of snacks to burn the last day with bagged cookies, candy, and snack mixes.

Also if at the end of your entree you are stuffed get a dessert that you can take back to your room to munch on.

[minnie2002]

Why shouldn't you use a TS for a character meal? any insight would be great !


Thank You

[nicjohn3]

I personally would use my TS for character meals because my kids 4 and 2 loved them. I did not have to wait in 20 -30 min lines to get autographs and pictures. We did Crystal Palace with Pooh, Chef Mickeys, Hollywood in Vine(Playhouse Disney)--pretty much covers them all. It was nothing to get a receipt totally $80-$90 for LUNCH. I personally would not spend the money oop for these. They are buffets, however, they have different/better selections that your ordinary buffets at casinos or other restaurants.

[Sam&Alex&Josh'sMOM]

We actually did the "order a double cheese burger and buy a bun" thing when we were there last year. We had free dining and my daughter was almost 3 (Still free to eat off parent's plates in Disney standards) But certainly a "big girl " in her mind and wants her own "big girl burger" not just half of Moms. This worked great! I asked for the extra bun,,, which was 80 cents, on its own plate. Put one of my burgers in it... half my fries, etc... and she was none the wiser. I certainly dont need a double cheese burger... and why pay for a childrens meal if we don't have to!.. Go ahead and call me frugal... I stay at Value Resorts too! We rent a mini fridge and we bring breakfast food for the resort room in the morning while we are getting ready... That way our kids are leaving for the Parks with a full belly, no whining at the first snack cart they see in the parks, and we can use our credits on lunches and dinners.

[magicofdisney]

We actually did the "order a double cheese burger and buy a bun" thing when we were there last year. We had free dining and my daughter was almost 3 (Still free to eat off parent's plates in Disney standards) But certainly a "big girl " in her mind and wants her own "big girl burger" not just half of Moms. This worked great! I asked for the extra bun,,, which was 80 cents, on its own plate. Put one of my burgers in it... half my fries, etc... and she was none the wiser. I certainly dont need a double cheese burger... and why pay for a childrens meal if we don't have to!.. Go ahead and call me frugal... I stay at Value Resorts too! We rent a mini fridge and we bring breakfast food for the resort room in the morning while we are getting ready... That way our kids are leaving for the Parks with a full belly, no whining at the first snack cart they see in the parks, and we can use our credits on lunches and dinners.
I also split a meal with my son this way. I thought it was a great tip. :mickey:

[TheRustyScupper]

Why shouldn't you use a TS for a character meal? any insight would be great !

1) Because you loose money if you pay for DDP.
2) You need approx $26-$31 per TS credit.
3) Character meals are less than $20.
4) CRT is 2-TS coupons, but only costs $39.

[Deesdisney]

I did not know that some of the cs have no kids menu. Besides Pizza planet which other ones have no kids menu? I find it hard for me to eat all my food on the DDp plan and would love to share with my DD 5. However she wants other food than what I would want but pizza is one that we both could do. And if the pizza comes with a salad well there is my lunch.

[hnybear22]

We ordered the extra bun last September at the Electric Umbrella at Epcot.
Best I can remember the bun, by itself was over 2.00!! I was expecting the .80 that everyone was talking about so I had a very bad case of "sticker shock" !!
Maybe someone else can verify this but I know it was over 2.00 for the bun!!!

[jszczur5]

First Rules for better value
. . . never use TS for a breakfast
. . . never use TS for a character meal
. . . never use TS for dinner shows
. . . seldom use TS for a lunch

Oh dear, I've broken the first three rules. Even worse, one of our TS meals is a character breakfast - that's a double fault. Good thing we got Free Dining again this year.

[TheRustyScupper]

Oh dear, I've broken the first three rules. Even worse, one of our TS meals is a character breakfast - that's a double fault. Good thing we got Free Dining again this year.

1) Free DDP is a good thing.
2) Unless staying at a Deluxe resort, and sometimes a Moderate.
3) Since you pay rack-rate, a room discount at a Deluxe could save more than Free DDP.
4) Obviously, Free DDP at a Value is a no-brainer.

[ElenitaB]

1) Because you lose money if you pay for DDP.
2) You need approx $26-$31 per TS credit.
3) Character meals are less than $20.
Character dinners are now up to $27.99 (Crystal Palace) and $28.99 (Liberty Tree Tavern and Garden Grill).

But I do agree with Rusty on when to plan your TS meals... we very rarely use a TS credit for breakfast or lunch.