2 TS Credit Meal Newbie Seeking Advice

[Little E]

I really need the scoop on 2TS credit meals. We have never eaten at 2TS credit restaurants at WDW, and my hubby and I (on our kid free trip in November) are now booked at both Citricos and The Boathouse. We have the regular Disney Dining Plan. We are very excited to be eating at both restaurants during our quick trip, but we are not sure how things work. Any info or advice would be awesome. Here are my questions:

1. What do you actually get at a 2TS meal? Not necessarily the meal itself, but how does it work? I've looked at the menus for both restaurants, and they look amazing. Does the meal come with an appetizer, entree and dessert, or is it a different combination of things? I'm assuming beverages are included, although I assume any beverages included would be non alcoholic?

2. Pardon my ignorance...what makes these restaurants 2TS credits vs the regular 1TS credit? Is it that the quality of the food is superior (trust me, the menus seemed amazing, so I'm very excited!) or is the volume of food different? I'm just trying to understand the differences between 1 and 2 credit meals.

3. Because we have the regular DP, doing two 2 credit meals really depletes the meal credits on our meal plan. For those who have eaten at both Citricos and The Boathouse, is there one you would recommend paying OOP for over the other? I think my DH and I are considering paying OOP for at least one of these meals to save some credits on the dining plan, but we weren't sure which one would be better to pay OOP for. Or, is it better to use the 4 credits for these meals, and pay OOP for other meals during our trip? Not sure which way to do this.

Any advice anyone has would be so amazing! Thanks in advance!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

1. No appetizer on Disney Dining Plan, even at a 2TS credit meal. Volume of food is not really different; if anything, it's less than at a 1TS meal.

2. Signature Dining is generally chef-driven, uses seasonal ingredients, has location, location, location. The entrees are generally actually smaller. At a steakhouse, you're generally getting the plate of meat, no side, with your 2TS credits.

also, drinks are included at standard: Milk, iced tea, soda. Alcohol is extra.

 

[sharonabe]

3. Because we have the regular DP, doing two 2 credit meals really depletes the meal credits on our meal plan. For those who have eaten at both Citricos and The Boathouse, is there one you would recommend paying OOP for over the other? I think my DH and I are considering paying OOP for at least one of these meals to save some credits on the dining plan, but we weren't sure which one would be better to pay OOP for. Or, is it better to use the 4 credits for these meals, and pay OOP for other meals during our trip? Not sure which way to do this.

The best way to do this is BOTH. Whoever orders the higher priced entree, uses the DDP. The other person pays OOP. This way you still have at least one dessert to share. You could even have the OOP person order a couple apps to share, and share the entree and dessert.