Are character meals the worst way to use the dining plan? What are your favorite 1 table credit restaurants? Do any 1 credit meals have characters?

[Artemis Fowl]

This is a gripe as much as a question, but it seems like any "2 table service credit" meals really sink any 'value' of the dining plan.

We bought the dining plan only because we wanted to end the fight with the in-laws about who is paying for all the meals. My MIL and FIl are very generous and paid for everyone's airfare and prk tickets. We're DVC so we covered everyone's rooms. My brother in law and I decided to each pick up 1/2 the groups DDP (He paid for his family of 6 and 1 grandparent, I paid for my family of 4 and 1 grandparent) so that the grandparents wouldn't be able to foot the bill for every meal.

Now that we're making ADR's, my BIL and SIL are booking a lot of character meals so we'll end up burning double credits and paying for extra meals. I don't really care except that it makes me feel like the DDP is an extra waste of money. It just seems to me that using double credits is paying way over the cash price.

Any suggestions on how to navigate this? Should I try to push them towards more 1 credit meals and use cash rather than credits for the '2-credit meal"?

 

[Brian Noble]

I don't really care except that it makes me feel like the DDP is an extra waste of money.

it is---unless you have Disney Kids (9 and under), which helps. But you didn't buy the DDP to save money. You bought the DDP to avoid arguments about who is buying every meal.

One compromise: Have the usual fight over the "extra" meals. They get to do the thing they want to do, but they can't do it all the time (or even most of the time) and everyone is happy. Disney gets a little extra money. Maybe that's okay.

I'd book the meals you want first, and figure out how to optimize cash vs. credits later.

 

[OhThePain]

I'm pretty sure the only character meals that are 2 TS credits are CRT (BLD), Akershus (LD) and Storybook Dining. All the others are just 1 TS credit.

If they have any of these booked, you are better off paying for them OOP instead of using 2TS credits. If they have 2 booked, pay for one OOP and use 2 credits on the other.

 

[Artemis Fowl]

I'm pretty sure the only character meals that are 2 TS credits are CRT (BLD), Akershus (LD) and Storybook Dining. All the others are just 1 TS credit.

If they have any of these booked, you are better off paying for them OOP instead of using 2TS credits. If they have 2 booked, pay for one OOP and use 2 credits on the other.

So far we have ADRs at Akershush, Story Book, and Be My Guest which are all 2 credits.

 

[Artemis Fowl]

it is---unless you have Disney Kids (9 and under), which helps. But you didn't buy the DDP to save money. You bought the DDP to avoid arguments about who is buying every meal.

One compromise: Have the usual fight over the "extra" meals. They get to do the thing they want to do, but they can't do it all the time (or even most of the time) and everyone is happy. Disney gets a little extra money. Maybe that's okay.

I'd book the meals you want first, and figure out how to optimize cash vs. credits later.

Agreed. Any thoughts on the optimization though?

 

[Brian Noble]

I would use as many as possible on 1credit meals first. After that, just use menu price for the 2-credit meals to decide which one is the least bad.

 

[reddog21]

If everyone can agree that's where they want to eat and it stops the arguments then it's worth every credit. The value isn't always measured in $$$ not having to deal with the drama......priceless

When I had a bigger family and we would vacation together it was always whatever makes things simple and easy. If I had to pay for a couple of table service meals because they wanted use credits at character means then that's what I did. It's easier to nod and say "sounds good" then to deal with the constant arguments on which credits were going to be used where.

 

[PrincessKL]

If you want character meals that would optimize the dining plan, I have found that Hollywood and Vine with Fantasmic package would be a super good deal. Otherwise, Tusker House lunch/dinner seems to be the best food to get your money worth, Crystal Palace, 1900 Park Fare, and Chef Mickey lunch/dinner are okay (value-wise) and you just make decisions based on what characters you want to see.

You could also research on what quick service restaurants will get the most out of the dining plan to offset the the less money saved on the table service credits.

 

[Anthony1971]

So far we have ADRs at Akershush, Story Book, and Be My Guest which are all 2 credits.

Are they aware these are 2 credit meals? which in the end is 2 nights of a TS. In other words there will be other meals to pay for CS or TS on a few nights. With that you may be better off canceling the DP pooling the $ and paying cash. If everyone is an adult? the price includes liquor without liquor the plan rarely makes $ sense. A way around this is to buy Gift cards with the $ and use that so it is sort of prepaid. Also do not forget tips are not included so either way with other meals and tips with that many people you can easily plan on an additional 1.5-2K. But as others have stated if it stops any arguments just leave it as is and enjoy.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

There are plenty of character meals that are ONE table service credit so as a compromise go to those.

Chef Mickey's
Crystal Palace
Garden Grill
Ohana Breakfast
1900 Park Fare
Tusker House

Go to Akershus for BREAKFAST as its only ONE table service credit.
Suggest skipping Be Our Guest as its not a traditional character meal and the food is meh.

If you want to meet plenty of characters without the lines then yes they are worth it.
And which ones are more worth it is also gonna depend on the characters you're looking for.

 

[Skippyboo]

California Grill is a better experience than Be Our Guest. BoG you probably get put in main room which is super loud and tables are super close. The Beast does a walk through the aisle so it’s not really a great character interaction. The food is meh.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I think they are a great way to use a credit, as they usually are more expensive because the cost is preset; you also get some characters done so you can avoid standing in line. We also use the credits for "special" meals, such as the Fanstamic! VIP seating meals. They are usually 1 credit as well. I can't remember, but I also think we have used them at the Candlelight Processional meals, too. Just think: Hollywood and Vine + characters + VIP Fantasmic seating = 1 credit.

 

[JimmyBean42]

As many others said, 1 credit character meals are definitely the way to go. You absolutely get more bang for your buck with a 1 credit meal (dare I say you save some money with lunch / dinner as they are pricey). But general rule of thumb is never use DDP for any 2 credit meal, character or otherwise.

 

[Pyxie]

Character meals are the BEST use of the DDP as *most* of them are 1 credit meals. Which ones have already been covered, but I always come out ahead when doing character meals on the DDP.

 

[dcassetta]

There are plenty of character meals that are ONE table service credit so as a compromise go to those.

Chef Mickey's
Crystal Palace
Garden Grill
Ohana Breakfast
1900 Park Fare
Tusker House

Go to Akershus for BREAKFAST as its only ONE table service credit.

You can also add Cape May for breakfast, Topolinos for breakfast, and Hollywood & Vine for all three meals.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I think the first post of this thread (@Brian Noble ) nailed it for the best advice on the topic given the circumstances.

Have fun!

 

[erinch]

Do you all need to be together at all meals? They could go to CRT, you could go to Crystal Palace, they could do quick serve the next day at Satuuli and you do Tusker, and grand parents pick which they want? Just as a for instance example

 

[Disnsyncey]

all good thoughts....like others said, the 1 credit ones are awesome, the two credit ones are lame....

do the math of where all the credits are going and then see which you're going to end up paying for and not let yourself be surprised....

 

[Artemis Fowl]

thanks everyone for your thoughts. we defintely made some changes from this feedback!

 

[jillt2ph]

Another vote for using credits for the fantasmic package at Hollywood and Vine and Topolino breakfast.