Best use of DDP?

[oooooh]

Hi all,
I could really do with some advice re the DDP. We got the DDP for free for our stay in July which is great. However, we are not a family that generally eats an awful lot and was wondering what the best use of the DDP would be for us. As a rule, we tend to eat a decent size breakfast, pick at chicken tenders and fries or pizza for lunch (quite often only 2 portions between the 4 of us) and then have an evening meal, although this can vary from day to day depending on how we are feeling. We are a family of 4 adults but DD has a tiny appetite and quite often only has a starter or dessert for her main meal. We don't particularly appreciate fine dining so that would be a total waste on us. Three out of four of us enjoy steak so thought we would try California grill which I think will use up 2 credits each, please correct me if I'm wrong, also yachtsman steak house. I feel that the DDP will give us much more food than we can all eat and although it is technically for free I really hate the thought of wasting any of it.
So, my question is, how would you suggest we get the best use out of our 6 days worth of credits.
Also, wondering whether we could use a table service credit for say, just a dessert and drink for DD. I know its a waste of a credit but otherwise we would be paying out of pocket for it.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Ciorsdah]

We went last Nov with free DDP and had the same concern as you. The way I worked it with my DBF was that we simply booked all our credits (except 1) as dinners.

We grabbed snack breakfast and didn't tend to eat lunch, if we did we would get a QS to share. That meant we were hungry enough for dinner around 7:30pm. Our ressies were :

Yachtsman (AMAZING and well worth the 2 credits)
Cali Grill (so so, I preferred yachtsman for the atmosphere but still good)
Saana
O'hana
Sci-fi diner (early dinner at 4pm prior to Fantasmic)
Grand Floridian Cafe (didn't enjoy this)
Via Napoli
Rose and Crown
Tusker House (breakfast)

We used up a lot of QS credits at EOS, used 3 on our last day to get sandwiches for the travel home. Also there were times that a QS breakfast was grabbed and we snacked in the park (the days we had our signature dinners, as they were later on).

Not sure if this helps you at all, but we did find using the credits for dinner mainly and then just wing it and be flexible with the other credits.

K

 

[wayneg]

Using credits at the Signature retaurants is generally poor use of your credits, when we ate at Cali Grill(worse meal I have had in Disney) the bill came to about $180 for 3 adults, we used 6 credits. 1 credit meals had a value of between $100-$135 for our 3 credits. So value wise not as good.
Yachtsman we have had 1 perfect meal(for our 20th Anni) and one not so great meal there, again 2 credits but not worth double the 1 credit meals.
Saying that they are places we would never pay OOP for so if you want to experience the Signatures and you have spare credits try them but like you we are not into fine dining.
We have always done free DDP on longer trips, upto 21 nights so always plentyof credits to play around with, on a 6 night trip I guess you are more restricted.
For us the best use of 2 credits is always Hoop Dee Doo dinner show. The Dinner shows also include alcholic drinks and tips plus the food is more what i prefer to eat, endless Ribs & chicken.
Breakfast is a poor use for a CS credit, we don't eat breakfast (or use a snack credit for something) then eat CS lunch and TS evening meal.
Many like to do character breakfasts, again poor use of TS compared to an evening meal, we don't enjoy them so only do them if we need to use up credits.
Best way to use them is read the menus and eat where you think you will like, we all enjoy different dining experiences so try do a bit of research.

 

[flortlebap]

You get dessert with pretty much everything, so we tended to use "dessert" and save it in the fridge for lunch or breakfast (pastries, cookies, fruit, cheesecake etc).

You're right though - you get a LOT of food. We came back having used maybe 2/3 of our credits last time (7 of us). And we were never hungry and just eating for the sake of it most of the time.

We had 2xsnack credits per day though in those days and even then we had about 50 left after filling a suitcase with bags of candy! And we filled up on the buffet QS breakfast at CSR which is no longer there. We will probably use them all next trip as we have a couple of signature restaurants planned to use the credits saved on our off site days.

 

[Elise79]

The best use of a free DDP to me is use the credits as you want to - not necessarily to get best value.

The DDP doesn't really fit out style of eating either however when it's free and combined with a discount at OKW it makes sense for us.

We will use our TS credits for a mixture of character breakfasts for DD and evening meals of which 3 will be 2 credit meals.

It is ok to split meals and you don't have to use all your credits at each meal. For lunch I will usually share 2 meals between 3 of us and won't take the dessert.

The only thing that I did note from your post is that won't allow you to get an appetizer at all on the standard DDP at TS meals. Only entree and dessert courses they won't/can't substitute it for the entree.

We came home with loads of QS credits last year unused but before going knew we would as we just don't eat that many QS meals anymore and certainly not one each every day!

 

[Tink2312]

I guess it depends on whether you're looking for the food or more the experience. I say that because, for the experience, I'd recommend Sci-Fi Dine in Theatre (eating in a replica drive in movie theatre), Coral Reef (eating next to a big aquarium), 50s Prime Time Cafe (fun atmosphere), San Angel Inn and O'hana (again, fun atmosphere), but we found the food in all of those good, but not the best.
California Grill is a definite favourite of ours and I'd also suggest Kona Cafe, Rose and Crown, Raglan Road, Boma, Yachtsman Steakhouse (2TS), Cape May Cafe and Chefs De France (which is probably one of the highest cost 1TS restaurants) - all for the food. If you'd like a character meal, I'd recommend Crystal Palace (breakfast or dinner), Garden Grill (dinner) or 1900 Park Fare (again, breakfast or dinner).
It is really hard as what appeals to one family doesn't to another - you can find menus on WDW info and a lot of restaurant pics/ info on the dining board to check out what you think your family would like best.
Good luck with the planning

Edited, because I forgot to mention Artist Point over at Wilderness Lodge . Also a 2TS but it is well worth it IMHO. If you're a fan of heartier food this is definitely your place. For food alone, I'd put it above Cali Grill (although admittedly we've not eaten at Cali Grill since the re-vamp).

 

[joolz1910]

I guess it depends on whether you're looking for the food or more the experience.

QUOTE]

I agree with this. We didn't necessarily get 'value for money' when we went but instead opted for experiences. We had a lot of snack credits left at the end of the holiday, so we bought loads of sweets and took them back as gifts for the kids to give their friends at school. We ended up with a ts credit and a couple of qs credits.

 

[DLPDreams]

It is ok to split meals and you don't have to use all your credits at each meal. For lunch I will usually share 2 meals between 3 of us and won't take the dessert.

Just jumping in here as I am wondering about this as well. Does this mean my two children can share a meal rather than us having to use 2 credits (I'm still pondering about the child's v adult's DP!). In the UK my children often split meals as adult sizes are too much for them both (and the US sizes are even bigger). This would be amazing if we could do this for the odd meal - it saves waste.

We do intend to do a fair few character meals so this may not even come into fruition but it's useful to know and depending on our appetite we can interchange.

 

[Elise79]

Just jumping in here as I am wondering about this as well. Does this mean my two children can share a meal rather than us having to use 2 credits (I'm still pondering about the child's v adult's DP!). In the UK my children often split meals as adult sizes are too much for them both (and the US sizes are even bigger). This would be amazing if we could do this for the odd meal - it saves waste.

We do intend to do a fair few character meals so this may not even come into fruition but it's useful to know and depending on our appetite we can interchange.

You can share at CS and a la carte TS meals and will only be charged the credits for the food you order.

At fixed price meals you will be charged one credit per person regardless of what anyone actually eats.

 

[DLPDreams]

You can share at CS and a la carte TS meals and will only be charged the credits for the food you order.

At fixed price meals you will be charged one credit per person regardless of what anyone actually eats.

Good to know that - thanks - I hate food waste. It wouldn't be something we'd abuse but I don't think either of my kids will be up for a full adult TS meal every day especially with portions being so large. Having said that, we are looking to book a fair few character meals and buffets so it may not even come into the equation much!

 

[Sencybil]

Agree with lots of things that have been said here. I spent literally days perusing menus and 'maximising' value in the planning stage, and that paid off by and large. Equally though, we had a lot of credits spare (My brother was only with us for a week but we had his credits for a fortnight, we paid for my 6yo as an adult to get adult credits, and paid oop for her for a lot of things where she ate as a child - because I knew we wanted to do lots of 2 credit things, would use up the adult credits more efficiently and were prepared to pay a bit extra to do exactly what I wanted to do). So yes, the general principles of TS dinners, QS lunches and snacks or non DDP breakfasts is the basic value guiding principle.

However I'd also agree that to some extent you should ignore the $value and eat as you wish. E.g. as Wayne said breakfast is a poor $ use of a QS credit, but one bounty platter fed all 3 of us very happily quantity wise and I really enjoyed the food - so for me it turned out to be 'good value'. Also, as Wayne said, signature restaurants are a poor $price per credit, but we loved our dining experiences, and also found the signatures gave a few extras (eg an amuse bouche at Jiko, big bottles of sparkling water included as a single person's soft drink, more interesting soft drinks than the fountain sodas at regular TS restaurants) so that for us the experience was well worth the 2 credits.

Snack credits also have a lot of disparity in their value - don't use them for bottled water, do use them for Venti Caramel frappucinos (if that's something you like). However, I think so longingly of the $4 treats at Karamel Kuche, but didn't at all enjoy the $5.49 cupcake at Backlot Express, so even there its not all about the $price.

Some of the joy of the dining plan is having some 'spare' credits so that you can try something you're not sure whether you'll like or not - or if you do end up with something that disappoints then leave it and get something else.

Not sure if you're planning on visiting the water parks - but that was definitely my 'worst value' use of QS credits (really long wait and very average food) so I'd try to avoid using credits there is I could.

Overall I was really impressed by the food we had at Disney (Oct / Nov 13), I hope you really enjoy your dining experiences however you decide to spend your credits.

Sencybil x

 

[DLPDreams]

we paid for my 6yo as an adult to get adult credits, and paid oop for her for a lot of things where she ate as a child - because I knew we wanted to do lots of 2 credit things, would use up the adult credits more efficiently and were prepared to pay a bit extra to do exactly what I wanted to do).
Sencybil x

Can I ask how you did this? Did you just ring up and upgrade her (was there a cost for this and how much was it?), or did you have to change her age like it has been suggested here?

TIA.

 

[tinkerpea]

Agree with lots of things that have been said here. I spent literally days perusing menus and 'maximising' value in the planning stage, and that paid off by and large. Equally though, we had a lot of credits spare (My brother was only with us for a week but we had his credits for a fortnight, we paid for my 6yo as an adult to get adult credits, and paid oop for her for a lot of things where she ate as a child - because I knew we wanted to do lots of 2 credit things, would use up the adult credits more efficiently and were prepared to pay a bit extra to do exactly what I wanted to do). So yes, the general principles of TS dinners, QS lunches and snacks or non DDP breakfasts is the basic value guiding principle.

However I'd also agree that to some extent you should ignore the $value and eat as you wish. E.g. as Wayne said breakfast is a poor $ use of a QS credit, but one bounty platter fed all 3 of us very happily quantity wise and I really enjoyed the food - so for me it turned out to be 'good value'. Also, as Wayne said, signature restaurants are a poor $price per credit, but we loved our dining experiences, and also found the signatures gave a few extras (eg an amuse bouche at Jiko, big bottles of sparkling water included as a single person's soft drink, more interesting soft drinks than the fountain sodas at regular TS restaurants) so that for us the experience was well worth the 2 credits.

Snack credits also have a lot of disparity in their value - don't use them for bottled water, do use them for Venti Caramel frappucinos (if that's something you like). However, I think so longingly of the $4 treats at Karamel Kuche, but didn't at all enjoy the $5.49 cupcake at Backlot Express, so even there its not all about the $price.

Some of the joy of the dining plan is having some 'spare' credits so that you can try something you're not sure whether you'll like or not - or if you do end up with something that disappoints then leave it and get something else.

Not sure if you're planning on visiting the water parks - but that was definitely my 'worst value' use of QS credits (really long wait and very average food) so I'd try to avoid using credits there is I could.

Overall I was really impressed by the food we had at Disney (Oct / Nov 13), I hope you really enjoy your dining experiences however you decide to spend your credits.

Sencybil x

We always upgrade the boys and pay oop at signatures for them do we can use the 2 credits!! Done this for years now! As the kids enjoy the signature kids meals and in no way would they enjoy a £50 meal as much as daddy & I would lol

 

[2Tiggies]

The best use of a free DDP to me is use the credits as you want to - not necessarily to get best value.


We came home with loads of QS credits last year unused but before going knew we would as we just don't eat that many QS meals anymore and certainly not one each every day!

My view exactly

I want to eat what I want to, where I want to and when I want to. After the first year when we actually paid for the DDP (it really was good value for money then and totally worth it) we did slightly better than a break even but would have saved more if we had wasted less.

After that we started ordering what we wanted to. So if we wanted to split french toast for breakfast for $6 with a juice as a CS credit, that's what we did.

Same goes for snacks. People tell you not to use your snack credits and waste them on a soda or water or similar 'cheap' item. Honestly, my take is that if you have credits left over at the end of your trip but you paid out of pocket for waters and sodas, you wasted even more.

It's such a personal thing but I would hate to feel I needed to eat something because it cost more rather than the grilled cheese and salad I'm in the mood for

 

[queendisney]

My view exactly

I want to eat what I want to, where I want to and when I want to. After the first year when we actually paid for the DDP (it really was good value for money then and totally worth it) we did slightly better than a break even but would have saved more if we had wasted less.

After that we started ordering what we wanted to. So if we wanted to split french toast for breakfast for $6 with a juice as a CS credit, that's what we did.

Same goes for snacks. People tell you not to use your snack credits and waste them on a soda or water or similar 'cheap' item. Honestly, my take is that if you have credits left over at the end of your trip but you paid out of pocket for waters and sodas, you wasted even more.

It's such a personal thing but I would hate to feel I needed to eat something because it cost more rather than the grilled cheese and salad I'm in the mood for

yep exactly this. Eat what you want and enjoy it, you're on holiday

 

[oooooh]

Thank you all so much for your replies, I really appreciate all of them.
I definitely will go along with the idea of eating what we want, when we want.
I would rather get 'poor use' of a credit to use them up and get what we want rather than having credits left over but paying oop for some things.

Would definitely like to try Yachtsman and Cali grill and Boma is a must as we love it there.

Thanks again for all your advice.

x

 

[WiganTony]

As a few people have mentioned, we also tend to do a few 2TS meals. Last time, we ate at Narcoossee's twice and at Hoop de Doo, made possible as we had three days away from Disney so wouldn't have used our TS credits on those days.

We did enjoy Narcoossee's as I suspect that without the DDP, it would have been very unlikely we would have visited.

Again like others (and yourselves), we found that on quite a few days DW and myself shared a QS meal at lunch (sometimes with an additional snack item), so we had quite a few "spare" QS credits. However, on our aforementioned days away from WDW, we used a couple of QS credits for breakfast at Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD, which meant we only needed a small meal when out, and if we were only in the Orlando area, we would maybe have another QS meal in the evening.

 

[Disney Frenhines]

You now get one snack credit a day with the DDP. I'd never waste mine on drinks or a snack under $2, under $3 if i can really help it. A tip to save on drinks, I ordered drinks and small snacks with Garden Grocer, I had 32x 500ml bottles of water for under $10, stocked up on Mountain Dew and Dr Pepper for my room and to take in the parks as they don't sell either on Disney and tended to have Blueberry scones at Starbucks or Cinnamon Buns as snack credits. I did find I wasn't eating all the desserts as I didn't find the choice all that great in most QSD spots and I felt that was a bit of a waste.