1st Timer on the Dining Plan. Thoughts???

[nateryan]

We are doing the Basic Plan. 2 Adults, 1 Child (6 yrs) and a 2 year old. Now, my 2 year old eats kids meals so unless my 6 year old shares, we may be paying OOP for one of them at least.

Saturday November 1st
Fly
Lunch at CBR (CS Meal)
EPCOT
Dinner at Coral Reef (TS Meal)

Sunday November 2nd
Breakfast at CBR (OOP)
Animal Kingdom
Lunch at Flame Tree (CS Meal)
Downtown Disney
Dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express (CS Meal)

Monday November 3rd
Breakfast at Spoodles (TS Meal) (BW)
Hollywood Studios
Lunch - Snack Credit (Apple Cinnamon Stuffed Pretzel)
Dinner at Sci Fi (TS Meal)

Tuesday November 4th
Breakfast at CBR (CS Meal)
Magic Kingdom
Lunch - Snack Credit (Sleepy Hollow Funnel Cake)
Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern (TS Meal)

Wednesday November 5th
Breakfast at CBR (OOP)
EPCOT
Lunch at Beaches and Cream (CS Meal)
Dinner at Canada (TS Meal)

Thursday November 6th
Breakfast at CBR (CS Meal)
Magic Kingdom
Lunch - Snack Credit (Pinocchio Haus Figaro Fries)
Dinner at ‘Ohana (TS meal)

Friday November 7th
Breakfast at CBR (OOP)
Animal Kingdom
Lunch at Flame Tree (CS Meal)
Dinner at Hoop Dee Doo 5 PM (TS Meal)


I figured it was better to use my CS Credit for lunch to get the dessert but plan on using it for breakfast if we don't like the lunch options in the parks.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions??
TIA

 

[MyKidsMom1820]

oh! your dining plan is making me hungry!! That looks like a great schedule for eating. Thank you so much for sharing, I have a similar family age wise and your post has given me some great ideas!

sorry I can't be of more help to you though

 

[septbaby]

We are doing the Basic Plan. 2 Adults, 1 Child (6 yrs) and a 2 year old. Now, my 2 year old eats kids meals so unless my 6 year old shares, we may be paying OOP for one of them at least.

Saturday November 1st
Fly
Lunch at CBR (CS Meal) Share this meal for 1 CS; you'll need the room for dinner at Coral Reef. We got the pizza combo meal: small pizza, side salad, dessert(carrot cake) and bottled drink. I think there is a pasta combo meal also.
EPCOT
Dinner at Coral Reef (TS Meal)

Sunday November 2nd
Breakfast at CBR (OOP)Use that saved CS credit here, especially if you get the adult bfast platter: eggs, potatoes, french toast, biscuit, meats and two beverages. You can do the same for the kids version of this meal.
Animal Kingdom
Lunch at Flame Tree (CS Meal)
Downtown Disney
Dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express (CS Meal)

Monday November 3rd
Breakfast at Spoodles (TS Meal) (BW)
Hollywood Studios
Lunch - Snack Credit (Apple Cinnamon Stuffed Pretzel)
Pizza Planet only has adult menu so you could use child CS credit for a combo meal here too
Dinner at Sci Fi (TS Meal)

Tuesday November 4th
Breakfast at CBR (CS Meal)
Magic Kingdom
Lunch - Snack Credit (Sleepy Hollow Funnel Cake)
Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern (TS Meal)

Wednesday November 5th
Breakfast at CBR (OOP)
EPCOT
Lunch at Beaches and Cream (CS Meal)
Dinner at Canada (TS Meal)

Thursday November 6th
Breakfast at CBR (CS Meal)
Magic Kingdom
Lunch - Snack Credit (Pinocchio Haus Figaro Fries)
Dinner at ‘Ohana (TS meal)

Friday November 7th
Breakfast at CBR (OOP)
Animal Kingdom
Lunch at Flame Tree (CS Meal)
Dinner at Hoop Dee Doo 5 PM (TS Meal)

You have the following TS meals booked:
Coral Reef
Spoodles
Sci-Fi
Liberty Tree Tavern
Beaches & Cream (not a CS)
LeCellier (Canada)
Ohana
Hoop Dee Doo (2TS)

That's 9TS credits on a plan that only give you 7. I would suggest dropping Spoodles or paying OOP for it and doing the same at Beaches and Cream. Another option would be to pay OOP for one of the adults at Hoop Dee Doo.

I would book Flame Tree just once. I would go to Boma on one of the AK days for either Bfast or dinner. That would mean dropping another of your TS choices.

Don't be so quick to pay OOP for your 2yo. Consider using a snack credit to augment a meal so there is enough for both.

Funny thing, if you ate all of the meals you've listed that's 18 credits, just 3 shy of what you'd get on the Deluxe plan! The Deluxe doesn't distinguish between CS and TS meals.

 

[DisneyRN51207]

It might either be worthwhile for you to consider the DxDP since you have so many TS meals planned. It's actually a better value anyway when you figure that the cost difference is only $32pp/night for an adult as opposed to spending so much OOP on meals. The other suggestion that I have (I don't know your vacationing style either) is having late breakfast at the resort or having early lunch (skipping breakfast) at 11:00 when the CS places open and are empty. If your dinner ADR is early (say before 6) it works out very well. We usually don't pay for more than 1 or 2 CS meals when we're there by using them for breakfast/lunches. If you have your heart set on Spoodles and Beaches 'n Cream then I'd go Deluxe. By going Deluxe, you still get snack credits as well we your refillable mugs for at the resorts.

 

[nateryan]

WOW! Thank you so much for your help!

I didn't realize Beaches and Cream was TS, silly me. I also thought that Hoop was one TS if we requested Category 3, guess I still have my research to do.

Is it easy to upgrade to deluxe or do you have to completely rebook? That is DH's job

My meal itinerary didn't really change, this is always what we have done. Breakfast at CBR with one TS Meal during the week and a TS meal for dinner excpet for WGE at DTD, just so yummy!. I just want to make sure I get my money's worth.

Thanks for your help?

anyone else suggest we do the deluxe with this itinerary??

 

[septbaby]

WOW! Is it easy to upgrade to deluxe or do you have to completely rebook? That is DH's job

Telling Disney you want to give them more money is never hard. Just have hubby call and upgrade to Deluxe once you are sure you want to do this. It will cost you $74 more per night to upgrade to Deluxe (2 Adults, 1 Child). You and hubby have to decide how much you think you'll spend on the plan.

I would say if this is the dining schedule you want, upgrade. If you're OK with scaling back some meals stay where you are.

 

[leahjade]

are the tips added in on the deluxe plan? That would definitely make it a good deal and I would switch if they are.

 

[ssawka]

Unless your family needs big breakfast, I would use snacks for breakfast. You can get muffins, cereal, etc. This should reduce some of your OOP expenses.

 

[jjnv]

We just got back from a 5 day trip on dinning plan. If you 2 year old eat kids meal, it would be worth it to pay $9.99 a day to get him to the dinning plan. The kids meal at TS usually cost that much any ways. You still get CS and snack for him. You probably have to pay for his park ticket. But you don't have to use them.

 

[DisneyRN51207]

are the tips added in on the deluxe plan? That would definitely make it a good deal and I would switch if they are.

No, the tip isn't included in the deluxe plan, but you get your appetizer back. it's a much better value if you can handle all of the food or like signature dining places.

 

[septbaby]

Is it easy to upgrade to deluxe or do you have to completely rebook? That is DH's job

So did you decide to upgrade? If so did you add anymore ADRs?

 

[nateryan]

Still thinking about it. The DxDDP sounds like a lot of food. Apps, Entree, and Dessert! Plus, if I did that, I would want table service for lunches as well to make it worth while. I will have to sit down and figure out which is the best for us.
I told DH about HDD being 2 TS credits and he said that he may even pay OOP for it.
DH surprised me with this trip which he decided to get the DDP so I didn't have time to prepare.