CS for Lunch, Signatures for Dinner

[DisneyStarWisher]

On our last five trips to WDW, we have used either the DDP or the DxDDP. I used the DxDDP for the first time in June 2011 when we went for three nights but as a DVC member we were allowed to segment the reservation and so added the DxDDP for only one night. Great deal since we ate at Trail's End for breakfast the first day, Ohana for dinner that night, and Le Cellier for lunch the next day. On our trip in December 2011, we again stayed 3 nights but they were no longer allowing segmented reservations so I did a split stay and was able to get the DxDDP again for one night. I used it for the Candlelight Processional and Teppan Edo. I didn't really mind doing the split stay, so I decided to try a split stay again for a longer trip. Earlier this month, we stayed at AKV for 2 nights with the DxDDP and then moved to VWL with no plan. This is what I learned:

• The DxDDP even for two nights was too much food for us!
• We didn't enjoy having to move with the split stay.
• We didn't like having so many ADRs with the DxDDP.
• We fell in love with most of the Signature restaurants we tried.

I think after several trips we have discovered the way we like to eat at WDW. The ideal plan is to eat breakfast in the room, CS for lunch for the spontaneity of it, and then a Signature dinner. Because of this, I'm not sure we will do the dining plan again. I realize we can use a DxDDP credit for CS, but it's just not as good of a deal. We will probably get the TIW card instead. But I will crunch the numbers just to make sure.

Does anyone else use this pattern for dining at WDW? If so, what do you do?

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

Ok, I guess we are the only family out there that likes this dining style. On our next trip, we will probably eat at Earl of Sandwich, Wolfgang Puck Express, Columbia Harbor House, and Flame Tree Barbeque for lunch. That's a good variety! We will probably make a lunch ADR for Via Napoli because we can eat a Mezzo Metro pizza for about the same price as all of us ordering separate CS meals. Then we will eat at several signatures for dinner including Le Cellier and California Grill, and we will probably try some new ones, maybe Jiko, Citricos, or the new French restaurant in Epcot. We will probably also do Ohana one night. After thinking this through, I think the TIW card will be our best best. We'll get 20% off at all the TS restaurants and at Flame Tree Barbeque. We'll also get a 15% off AAA discount at Earl of Sandwich. This will work much better than any dining plan!

 

[amandaC]

I agree. We are DVC members and have done the DxDDP for one night as well and it's too much food- even when broken up over 2 days. Plus, I always feel compelled to order an expensive entree so that I feel like I get my money's worth.

I do it a little different, esp during the summer: we eat lunch at table service restaurants to get a break from the heat, then a light dinner, often by the pool.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I agree. We are DVC members and have done the DxDDP for one night as well and it's too much food- even when broken up over 2 days. Plus, I always feel compelled to order an expensive entree so that I feel like I get my money's worth.

I do it a little different, esp during the summer: we eat lunch at table service restaurants to get a break from the heat, then a light dinner, often by the pool.

Well I'm a little different from you. I don't mind ordering the most expensive entree. That's usually the one I want anyway! That's what makes the dining plan good for us, but with wanting to do a CS instead of a TS at lunch, it just doesn't work. I sure wish they had a plan similar to but less expensive than the DxDDP that includes 1 CS credit and 2 TS credits per night. We still each want an appetizer, entree, and dessert (mainly because we have different tastes and different types of food allergies and can't share), but we want that much food only for dinner, not twice a day! I just prefer CS (without dessert) and some snacking so I'm not too full to enjoy my larger dinner.