Best bang for the buck DDP restaurant at a resort?

[Donna M]

We are staying at the Beach Club for one night after our cruise and I'm debating on whether or not to get the dining plan. We won't be going into a park, so that limits our selection of restaurants, but we're willing to travel. I've been looking at menus, but may have overlooked one.

I'm sure there are people out there who have checked into all this. I really have a hard time justifying the $54 cost when I see the menus.

 

[abdgeek]

You can definitely get value from the DDP, but you would have to order the most expensive entree from the menu. The dinner buffet at BC is at least $38. To get value for your money on the DDP you would need for your beverage, entree and dessert to be more than $35. Kouzzina would also be an option.

Since you're staying at BC, you could always do DxDP and go to the Yachtsman Steakhouse or Flying Fish. You shouldn't have any problem spending more than $50 on dinner there.

 

[sharonabe]

Unless you are DVC, an AP holder, or using a military discount, the dining plan requires a package purchase which includes tickets. You can always save the unused tickets for a future trip, but you need to add that cost in to your plans.

 

[figment_jii]

We are staying at the Beach Club for one night after our cruise and I'm debating on whether or not to get the dining plan. We won't be going into a park, so that limits our selection of restaurants, but we're willing to travel. I've been looking at menus, but may have overlooked one.

I'm sure there are people out there who have checked into all this. I really have a hard time justifying the $54 cost when I see the menus.

Do you think you'll use the QS and snack credit on the DDP? If you answer is "no", then it's not worth getting the DDP. It's really hard to get a $48.50 (pre-tax) tab on an entree, dessert, and drink at a non-Signature venue. Most desserts are about $10 and drinks are about $3, which means the remaining $35.50 has to be from the entree. There are a few entrees that in that category, but not many at a non-Signature place.

Likewise, it's really hard to justify the cost of the 2TS places on the DDP. On the DDP, you need to spend 2 credits, so your pre-tax sub-total (non-alcoholic drink, entree, and dessert) needs to come to at least $61. Drinks are about $3 and desserts are usually around $10, which means you need to order an entree that's about $48 to justify the credit. So unless you're going to order the most expensive item on the menu, then it's probably not worth going to a Signature when on the DDP.

For one night, I think I would just pay out of pocket, so I don't have to worry about "justifying" the cost of the DDP.

Here is what I use when I'm looking at the economic costs of the DDP (using 2012 pricing):
Cost of DDP (per adult): $51.50
Assumed Average QS Cost: $15
Assumed Average Snack Cost: $4
"Value" of TS Credit: $32.50
"Value" of 2 TS Credits: $65
Tax Rate: 6.5%
So, pre-tax Signature sub-total: 1.065x = $65 => x = $61

 

[Wood Nymph]

We are staying at the Beach Club for one night after our cruise and I'm debating on whether or not to get the dining plan. We won't be going into a park, so that limits our selection of restaurants, but we're willing to travel. I've been looking at menus, but may have overlooked one.

I'm sure there are people out there who have checked into all this. I really have a hard time justifying the $54 cost when I see the menus.

We have never used the dining plan and I'm not sure if it is worth it for one day. We've stayed at the BC lots of times, and we have a few favorites. We love the buffet at the Cape May in the Beach Club. We will also do the character breakfast on our last day of the trip. It is a good way to end the vacation before heading off to the airport.

Other restaurant choices are the Yachtsman for very expensive, but delicious, steak and the restaurants at the Boardwalk or Swan and Dolphin. We usually include the Big River Grille and Brewing Works in our visits. It is nice to sit outside and watch the people walk by on the Boardwalk.

The desserts are great at the Boardwalk Bakery. So if you did buy the dining plan you could get one of these with less guilt.

 

[smidgy]

Unless you are DVC, an AP holder, or using a military discount, the dining plan requires a package purchase which includes tickets. You can always save the unused tickets for a future trip, but you need to add that cost in to your plans.

I don't believe this is true. It IS true regarding the "free dining".

 

[purple figment]

I don't believe this is true. It IS true regarding the "free dining".

sharonabe is correct. Paid dining requires a package that includes at least a one day ticket unless you have an AP, using military tickets or a DVC member staying on points. For Free Dining everyone three years old and up would have to purchase 2 day tickets.

 

[smidgy]

really? hmm.. I could've sworn.... (famous last words)...

 

[smidgy]

I knew you had to get a package. you can always apply a "room only" discount to a package.

OK, maybe there is where my confusion lies. (see, when you "lie" you get confused! tangled web we weave and all) but I digress..

we have had room only discounts, then added the DDP, turning it into a package, but we were buying the tickets anyway. I could have sworn we once had the 10 day no expiration, and then added the DDP to the 2nd trip, with 5 day tickets remaining.

on another note, once you turn a room reservation into a package, you change the cancellation policy. a room only is only a few days ahead of time.

a package requires payment 45 days before check in.

 

[Donna M]

I guess what I was looking for were the restaurants that charged the most for the meal but only used 1 TS credit and weren't in a park. I'm having a hard time finding high priced meals (sounds strange, doesn't it?) using the single credit and non park. We are staying on DVC points and will be there to use all credits.

 

[sharonabe]

I guess what I was looking for were the restaurants that charged the most for the meal but only used 1 TS credit and weren't in a park. I'm having a hard time finding high priced meals (sounds strange, doesn't it?) using the single credit and non park. We are staying on DVC points and will be there to use all credits.

Sorry, things got off track there.

It looks like your best bet would be Kouzzina or Cape May. You will easily "spend" $38 at either of these (Cape May prices could be more depending on season and day of week). Then you need to find a $4-5 snack and use all entitlements for your QS meal. You may just break even. If you don't want the QS dessert or the higher priced snack, you'll do better OOP.

 

[smidgy]

what about Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club?

we used to say buffets were a waste on the DDP.. they were reasonable enough to pay out of pocket.

not any more! the prices of a buffet went up so much, they are a good "bang for the "buck". and since there is no longer an appetizer on the DDP, with a buffet you get appetizers, too. Boma is really good at AKL.

we loved the Concourse steakhouse at CR haven't tried the Wave.

 

[sharonabe]

We are staying at the Beach Club for one night after our cruise and I'm debating on whether or not to get the dining plan. We won't be going into a park, so that limits our selection of restaurants, but we're willing to travel. I've been looking at menus, but may have overlooked one.

I'm sure there are people out there who have checked into all this. I really have a hard time justifying the $54 cost when I see the menus.

I missed the line about willing to travel, so went and checked some other places too.

What you have found is what many of us have discovered: it's getting more difficult to get your money's worth on the DDP. Since you are only staying one night, you don't have the rest of the week to "make up" for any shortages and so that difficulty is well defined. Unless you are wanting steak or a character buffet, you will have a hard time "spending" $55.

Now you can make up for any short fall at your TS by going over to DTD and eating at Wolfgang Express for your CS credit.

 

[robinb]

This is about 2 years old, but it gives you an idea which restaurants have the "best bang for your buck": http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/2010/DisneyDiningRanking2010.htm

I did the same thing for the previous 3 years and the top-10 was pretty consistent.

 

[lilstint]

This is about 2 years old, but it gives you an idea which restaurants have the "best bang for your buck": http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYW Dining/2010/DisneyDiningRanking2010.htm

I did the same thing for the previous 3 years and the top-10 was pretty consistent.

I found your charts very interesting. I know that all the prices have gone up since 2010 and I'm wondering what percentage would have to be added to these prices to guesstimate the value of the 2013 plan for our family. Any idea??

 

[robinb]

I found your charts very interesting. I know that all the prices have gone up since 2010 and I'm wondering what percentage would have to be added to these prices to guesstimate the value of the 2013 plan for our family. Any idea??

Sorry, no clue. You can go to the last couple of tabs "Table All" and "Counter All" and see what items I used to create the most expensive meals and compare them to what things cost now. Do that for about 10 restaurants and you should be able to get a good idea of the % difference.

 

[Nancyg56]

I like the DDP and always buy it but under your circumstances I would pass. I think that for one night I would want to ensure that I got my money's worth and that would take the fun out of choosing a restaurant. I would pay OOP.