confused on what to Pay OOP / use credits for

[chimo2u]

Hi All Planning my trip for Oct 2012....currently have the free Dining Deal, staying at the POLY. I made a tentative schedule to see how I might use my credits/ where I might dine, but am having a hard time figuring out the best/most economical way to do this. I really want to try a Signature Meal at California Grill this trip, and my son and I both love sushi...I will definitely be paying out of pocket for an appy with that evening meal, I am sure! So can you help me by looking over what I have so far and let me know if it sounds good, or where I could tweak it??? I know MNSHP might not be on the night I have in the tentative plan, but I can change dates around once I know the actual dates....Thanks so much! (PS....I thought about upgrading to the DLX dining plan but it is an extra $99/ night of our 5 nights...and I figured even paying out of pocket for some things, I'll still do better than $500! )

Here is what I have planned thus far:

ENTITLEMENTS FOR 3 Disney Adults:

Basic Dining Plan= 5 TS Credits PP (5x3=15 Total TS Credits)
5 QS Credits PP ( 5 x 3=15 Total QS Credits)

Saturday September 29 RESORT POOL/ Epcot Evening??

Arrive MCO at _________ approximate arrival POLYNESIAN Resort: __________AM (lounge breakfast)

1.) Lunch: QS Captain Cook’s (adult grilled chs.?) (15 QS – 3QS = 12 QS Left)
2.) Dinner: 7:50 pm?? California Grill confirmation # ______________ 3 People,. Watch Wishes from Contemporary/Cali Grill (2 TS PP = 15-6 = 9TS left)

Sunday Sept 30, 2012 ANIMAL KGDM DAY??

1.) Breakfast: Lounge
2.) Lunch: QS in AK : Yak and Yeti?? (12-3 = 9 QS remaining)
3.) Dinner: 6 pm? Beach Club Cape May Clambake (9-3=6 TS remaining)
Confirm# _______________________ 3 ppl

Monday, October 1, 2012 MK Day/ Resort Pool/MNSSHP??

1.) Breakfast: Lounge Visit MK a little then come back to pool?? /RELAX before party
2.) Lunch: QS PAY OOP?? Kona Sushi Bar??? / Captain Cooks?/ or Downtown Disney QS ie) Earl of Sandwich?
3.) Dinner: QS at MK. Columbia Harbour house/ Pecos Bills COSMIC RAYs (9QS – 3QS= 6QS left)

Tuesday October 2, 2012 EPCOT DAY??
1.) Breakfast: Lounge
2.) Lunch: Sunshine Seasons QS (The Land) ( 6QS – 3QS = 3QS Left)
3.) Dinner: Teppan EDO 5:45 PM (6TS – 3 TS = 3 TS Credits remain) Bkg# _________________________ 3 PPL Then watch Illuminations @ 9pm ** monorail to the POLY after??

Wednesday Oct 3, 2012 DHS DAY??
1.) Breakfast: Lounge
2.) Lunch: Sci- Fi Diner Conf # ________________________3ppl (3 TS – 3 TS = 0 TS credits remain.)
3.) Dinner: Downtown Disney: Wolfgang Puck Express (3QS – 3QS = 0 QS remain)

Thursday Feb 10 Checkout day move to Hard Rock Hotel Universal Studios

1.) Breakfast at 8:45 am Kona Café Pay Out of Pocket for breakfast prior to Pick Up for Universal Studios

 

[havoc315]

What boat to the Poly from Epcot? The only boat service to the Poly is from MK.

You have a good well thought out plan.

1 consideration though, California Grill is often a poor value on the ddp. At most TS dinners, it's not hard to get $35+ in value per credit. On the ddp, it can be hard to break $30 per credit.
What some parties do -- use the ddp for 2 meals at CG, share 2 desserts, and pay oop for the cheapest 3rd entree. That will give you 2 credits to use some other time.

 

[chimo2u]

What boat to the Poly from Epcot? The only boat service to the Poly is from MK.

You have a good well thought out plan.

1 consideration though, California Grill is often a poor value on the ddp. At most TS dinners, it's not hard to get $35+ in value per credit. On the ddp, it can be hard to break $30 per credit.
What some parties do -- use the ddp for 2 meals at CG, share 2 desserts, and pay oop for the cheapest 3rd entree. That will give you 2 credits to use some other time.

Thanks for noticing that and awnsering my ? In a roundabout way that was actualy a side note on my plan to check into that! now I know. Thanks for the tip as well about paying oop for 1, might be an idea depending on what people want to eat?! I know my son and I will get best value as we want steak, my gf might be the one to pay out of pocket for.....guess we could use those left over credits for Kona Breakfast on departure day, and pay oop for 1 that day depending on what she eats at Cali Grill, she's not a big eater. I know we will have to pay oop that night anyway for an appetizer, as I have to try Cali Grill Sushi

 

[havoc315]

Thanks for noticing that and awnsering my ? In a roundabout way that was actualy a side note on my plan to check into that! now I know. Thanks for the tip as well about paying oop for 1, might be an idea depending on what people want to eat?! I know my son and I will get best value as we want steak, my gf might be the one to pay out of pocket for.....guess we could use those left over credits for Kona Breakfast on departure day, and pay oop for 1 that day depending on what she eats at Cali Grill, she's not a big eater. I know we will have to pay oop that night anyway for an appetizer, as I have to try Cali Grill Sushi

Because it's 2 credits, even the steak at Cali Grill is a marginal value on the DDP.
For comparative purpose.... Let's look at the 3 restaurants at the Contemporary:
Chef Mickey -- Adult dinner buffer price, about $40, 1 credit.
The Wave: (prices may be slightly higher, this is an old menu) -- Beef Tenderloin, $30, beverage -- about $3, desserts are all $8 -- So Up to $41 in value at The Wave for 1 credit (plus tax).
Now, California Grill -- (prices are up to date on this one) -- Filet of beef, $44, beverage about $3, and desserts are all $12. So the total with your steak order at Cali Grill-- $55 for 2 credits.
So looking at the most expensive options at all 3 restaurants:
Chef Mickey -- $40 per credit
The Wave -- $41 per credit
California Grill -- $27.50 per credit.

Of course, Kona Breakfast is also a good OOP option --
Breakfast at Kona Cafe will give you a value of $12-17.

TS-non-buffet breakfasts are very poor uses of credits.

Finally, transportation -- The Poly is on an entirely different lake than Epcot. Standard transportation from Epcot would be the monorail back to the TTC. From the TTC, you can switch to the resort monorail, or just walk -- The Poly is right next to the TTC. Depending where your room is, it's a 5-15 minute walk from the TTC to the Poly.