As to whether or not the DP will save you money-- You HAVE to run the numbers for the dates of your trip, your eating preferences and your unique traveling party.[snip]
And I would add that the numbers you run have to be REALISTIC AND ACCURATE. Don't run fantasy numbers of you *never* wanting an alcoholic drink, of the kids *never* begging and whining for a smoothie or milkshake or float, of the four of you sharing two snacks total each day, that you or the kids won't eat more on a park day than you would in your more sedentary daily life.
Consider the possibility that your wants and needs might be different on the actual day than you trying to economize at home. Normal life doesn't have treats, drinks, restaurants, and vending carts every 50 feet. Park life does.
Running the numbers is probably much easier for people who have been already rather than first timers. Lots of people spend less going OOP. Lots of other people spend less with the DDP. And then there are people in between where it's about choices about the vacation and dining experiences they want to have.
I did three big park trips where I drank zero alcohol because I could not bear the cost they charge for anything that isn't beer, which I don't drink. Then I did a January 2020 trip where the DDP included alcohol and specialty drinks. My kids got root beer floats at Woody's, smoothies at CRT, and other special drinks at many place we went. For the first time in the parks, I had alcoholic drinks. At every meal, QS and TS. I had a cocktail at Story Book Dining, a raspberry mimosa at Garden Grill, a Takodana Quencher in a galaxy far, far, away, and prosecco at every other TS meal.
I'm never going back. That was *vacation* (to me, a person who also doesn't order alcohol at restaurants back home for the same cost reasons). It doesn't mean I have to do DDP. I spent the same as a QS plan in May 2022 doing all QS and getting alcoholic milks in Batuu, 3-4 snacks/day with my first-time visitor companion who needed to try everything. So I know I have the choice. But it's based on experience and knowing what I really will want to do to fully enjoy the time in the parks I spent thousands of hours and dollars to experience.
So just
be honest, and cushion for some unexpected wants.
Having said all that, I'm really on the fence for future trips because going down to one snack not only reduces the $ value for my family, it reduces the *fun* we had as a group of six trying half the menus at some snack locations with each of us getting something different and sharing. Now it seems that I can't feed a picky kid three snacks instead of one QS meal? Yeah, it will take some concerted number crunching to like
@crazymomof4 (hey! I'm a crazy mom of 4, too!) did.