Are my plans good use of my Deluxe Dining Plan?

[Rich M]

I am wondering if we are getting our biggest bang for our buck with our Deluxe Dining Plan with my current reservations. What do you think?

Liberty Tree - Lunch
Ohana - Dinner
Rose and Crown - Dinner
BOG - Dinner
Coral Reef - Dinner
Hollywood and Vine F - Package

 

[HatboxGhoul]

Um, not the best, good choices already like Hollywood and Vine package F and Coral Reef but there are better for the Deluxe Dining Plan.
Go here: https://www.distripplanner.com/ and fill in where you want to eat and it will show you the value, change out restaurants with higher price tags to make it worth every penny.

On average a meal has to cost $54 to become worth it in the dining plan cost equivalence.

 

[CraigInPA]

I see only one credit restaurants there. Since you get 3 credits a day on DxDDP, a better use of credits would be to have some signature meals. For example, instead of Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic Package, why not have the Hollywood Brown Derby Fantasmic package? Instead of Rose and Crown for dinner, why not have it for lunch, and follow up that day with dinner at Monsieur Paul's, or Yachtsman steak house (a short walk from Epcot's international gateway entrance to Yacht Club)?

Or, did you really sign up for the regular Dining plan? That has one table service a day, in which case your restaurant selections are pretty good?

 

[Rich M]

I see only one credit restaurants there. Since you get 3 credits a day on DxDDP, a better use of credits would be to have some signature meals. For example, instead of Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic Package, why not have the Hollywood Brown Derby Fantasmic package? Instead of Rose and Crown for dinner, why not have it for lunch, and follow up that day with dinner at Monsieur Paul's, or Yachtsman steak house (a short walk from Epcot's international gateway entrance to Yacht Club)?

Or, did you really sign up for the regular Dining plan? That has one table service a day, in which case your restaurant selections are pretty good?

Sorry I should have provided more details. It is 5 of us eating off of a Deluxe Dining Plan for 2 people. We got free dining so we kept 3 people on a reservation with the QS plan and upgraded to one plan to deluxe. We did the math and the cost difference from doing all on the Regular DP is only $55 total. I figure we will eat more than $55 worth of Apps to justify the difference in price.

 

[jillt2ph]

It is a good use if these are places you want to eat. Also, on the Dlx plan, a table service meal has a lower break even point. Closer to $37, vs the $54 mentioned above, right? My main concern when I am on the Dlx plan is choosing places where I can find an app and a dessert in addition to an entree that I like.

 

[shoney]

Doesn't the deluxe include an app too?
At ohana everyone gets the same food. No advantage of having the deluxe.
Hollywood and vine is a buffet so no extra app for the deluxe
Liberty tree didn't have great apps when I looked. Soup or fritters?

So if ur looking to get extra apps as a bang for ur buck I don't think these are the greatest choices

 

[GillianP1301]

You are getting decent value for your deluxe dining credit with the meals you've chosen. You want to average about $34 per credit to get your money's worth and I don't think you're much below that, if at all, with any of your choices.

The most important thing in getting value, is eating where and what you want so if those restaurants have the food and/or experience you are most interested in, then that's the most important, IMO. But if $ is your only or primary focus, then you are doing fine with the choices you made.

 

[shoney]

I am wondering if we are getting our biggest bang for our buck with our Deluxe Dining Plan with my current reservations. What do you think?

Liberty Tree - Lunch
Ohana - Dinner
Rose and Crown - Dinner
BOG - Dinner
Coral Reef - Dinner
Hollywood and Vine F - Package

You are getting decent value for your deluxe dining credit with the meals you've chosen. You want to average about $34 per credit to get your money's worth and I don't think you're much below that, if at all, with any of your choices.

The most important thing in getting value, is eating where and what you want so if those restaurants have the food and/or experience you are most interested in, then that's the most important, IMO. But if $ is your only or primary focus, then you are doing fine with the choices you made.

I guess where I am stuck is that they got the deluxe for the
Apps and it doesn't seem like he is choosing restaurants that have the added bonus of an app like a buffet or ohana.

Restaurant like Ragland road or yak n yeti would have a much better app selection whereby adding to the value of a deluxe credit

Am I missing something?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

In general to really get the best bang for your buck with the DxDP you should be using all credits for TS/Signature restaurants.
No QS and don't use them for breakfast.

 

[Rich M]

I guess where I am stuck is that they got the deluxe for the
Apps and it doesn't seem like he is choosing restaurants that have the added bonus of an app like a buffet or ohana.

Restaurant like Ragland road or yak n yeti would have a much better app selection whereby adding to the value of a deluxe credit

Am I missing something?

No your right that was the reason why I wanted it. O'hana we got because we have gone there every trip and it is our favorite TS so we want to take my sons GF to be apart of the family tradition. The Hollywood and Vine is to get a picture with Santa Goofy with the baby. Other than those 2 I want to try to find places with good APPS. I choose Liberty Tree based on the excellent reviews for the dessert and that they have option of family style or a menu. The app of the dip sounds good also.

Thank you all for your input. It is much valued.

 

[GillianP1301]

I guess where I am stuck is that they got the deluxe for the
Apps and it doesn't seem like he is choosing restaurants that have the added bonus of an app like a buffet or ohana.

Restaurant like Ragland road or yak n yeti would have a much better app selection whereby adding to the value of a deluxe credit

Am I missing something?

I don't think you're missing anything. If you're looking for the best appetizers then the choices made are not the best, I agree with you there. And further to your argument, the cost for your Ohana meal is the same whether your on the regular dining plan or the deluxe dining plan. But if you're looking straight dollar per credit, then the choices work out fine and that Ohana dinner (or many of the character dinners), although equal to the value on the regular dining plan, may be a higher value than some of the a la carte restaurants, even with an appetizer ordered. So, it really depends on what the priority of the diner.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I guess where I am stuck is that they got the deluxe for the
Apps and it doesn't seem like he is choosing restaurants that have the added bonus of an app like a buffet or ohana.

Restaurant like Ragland road or yak n yeti would have a much better app selection whereby adding to the value of a deluxe credit

Am I missing something?

OP said it is only $55 total more to do it this way, which breaks out to $11 per person divided by 6 meals. Ohana and H&V reduce it to 4 meals they will order apps at, easily exceeding $11. As these are their dining choices, it is quite smart use of plans.
OP, I think you will have 20 snack credits from the Dx and 30 from the regular DDP, and 30 QS to share. Sounds like a smart plan. Enjoy your trip.

 

[NicoleLarson]

I think you could do way better in EP besides R&C. Most bang for your buck is tutto italia, chefs de France is a great use, the cheese plate is a meal by itself. La hacienda is very good and has great apps if you like Mexican.

 

[samsteele]

In addition to the good info provided by PPs, also check out Tom Bricker's disney tourist blog. He has a section devoted to getting the best value out of your DP credit meals. Always helpful to find a comfy intersect between price (value) and your own tastes.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that based on how you are using the plan, and that these are the restaurants you want, yes, the value is there. Could you generate more value? Of course, but you woudl need to swap out the buffet/AYCTE options for those that have individual aps and desserts on the menu. I never suggest choosing meals that boost up the cost if they are not the ones you enjoy.

 

[SouthJersey]

I am wondering if we are getting our biggest bang for our buck with our Deluxe Dining Plan with my current reservations. What do you think?

Liberty Tree - Lunch
Ohana - Dinner
Rose and Crown - Dinner
BOG - Dinner
Coral Reef - Dinner
Hollywood and Vine F - Package

We've vacationed using the DxDP our last 8 trips and we always make great value of it, but that's been by using 1 credit for a table service lunch and then a 2 credit signature restaurant each evening.