TouringPlans.com has a really enlightening blog post about the diminishing value of the Disney Dining Plan over the years since its debut in 2005. This story also gives a detailed explanation of why the DDP may not be the best deal for every family (yes, they even crunched the numbers), and bring up points that you might not have considered.
I contend that, even when it's free--yes FREE--the DDP is not the best deal for my own family. We always get a room-only discount (either a PIN code or a discount for the general public) and we also get our tickets either from an approved vendor or through Disney's YES programs. We would never eat enough as a family to justify having the DDP. (That said, if my husband and I ever get to go to WDW on a romantic getaway without the kids, we'd definitely consider it as a splurge!)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thanks so much for reading and sharing my article!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome! You make great points that I have been sharing with clients for a while now. I'm a big fan of "doing the math"--so I especially loved the detailed analysis.
ReplyDeletewhat is the YES program? and do you save money on tickets through vendors?
ReplyDeleteYouth Education Series. Basically, these are Disney's educational programs. They are usually about 3 hours, and happen in one of the Parks. Tend to be science-oriented, but not always. You do have to have a valid park ticket for that day, as they are in the parks, so it cuts down on your regular touring time. But we've found them to be fun. And, yes, you can get ticket discounts when you enroll in these programs. They are generally intended for school groups and homeschool families, but some are available for individual enrollment.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, you can save money on tickets by using and official Disney ticket vendor, such as Undercover Tourist. I do NOT recommend buying tickets from just anyone--lots of scams out there.