DDP at FW: Help Me Understand My Dining Options

[TigerlilyAJ]

My family of six is visiting the Fort this December with the DDP. What can you tell me about QS and snack-credit options? I guess I can't really tell what's up with Crockett's Tavern, the Meadow, and Trail's End at non-dinner times. Breakfast, lunch, and what counts as snacks, I want to know it all!
We expect to eat dinner at TE at some point, possibly paying out of pocket because it is lower-cost than some of the other many, many TS options we want to try, including using two credits on our day of arrival for MBYBBQ. We are not pop people, so we're not too concerned about the refillable mug issues at FW, but any insights and advice would still be appreciated, too.
Can you get anything at the grocery store with snack credits?
Is there so little DDP input from FW lovers because peole there use their campers or the cabins' kitchens to make their own food, if only enough that the DDP is not a good fit for their vacations?
TIA!

 

[G719]

Crocketts does not take the dining plan. They have a few food options but I'd consider it mostly a bar. At the snack bar at the pool, you can get some standard QS fare such as pizza and hot dogs. They also have snack options like mickey ice cream bars. Here's the menu: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/cabins-at-fort-wilderness-resort/meadow

You can also use QS credits at the take out counter at trails end. Last year they only had breakfast and dinner but according to the website, it looks like they have lunch hours now too. Menu here : https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/d...resort/p-and-js-southern-takeout/menus/lunch/
Last year we got 2 of the lone rider chicken meals and fed our family of 4. The only that stunk was that strawberry shortcake wasn't included in the dining plan covered desserts. But I got it anyway and just paid separate! It was yummy. I believe we also swapped our drinks for an extra side.
Another place to use snacks credits is at the 2 stores for grab and go snacks. Not sure what all is considered a snack there but I do know that I saw the little symbol on many items there. And I saw people come in and use up their snack credits in the store.
We also took the boat to WL and the contemporary and ate at the QS at each of those. Contemporary had the better selection and if you're headed to MK or back from MK, it would be convenient enough to make a stop.

I do think most people eat at their site. We only got it last year because we were lucky enough to go during free dining. This year we are doing a big grocery order and having food at the cabin. We will eat out some. We will get that fried chicken and strawberry shortcake again for sure!

Hope this helps!

 

[peg110]

Are you looking for feedback on the QS and Snacks at the Fort Only? G719 did cover it pretty well. I will add that most places that will let you use the "Snacks" will generally limit the "Snack" items to a value of $5 or less. You can use the DDP snacks at the Meadows, but I don't know if you can use it on "Grocery" type items. Certainly the ice cream bars, snack crackers, etc... but If you tried to go for a gallon of milk, I am not sure they would allow it.

I will add that, depending on which DDP you have (Quick Service, Regular, Deluxe), you will likely NOT go hungry. (Maybe on the QSD).
We had the Regular DDP (1 TS, 1 QS, 1 snack per person/day) in the past. Because we don't spend every day at the park (or even on property) but still have the meals for those days, we were able to do things like the CRT (2-TS's each). Also the QS meals generally include an entree drink and a side or desert. Many "Entrees" come with a side already, so the extra side is generally a desert. Table Services are large and will fill you up too. In the end we had "Extra" QS meals that we just couldn't use. (Tried to convert them to snacks... but we had no luck doing that).

My DW loves the DDP because she doesn't have to worry about food.... at all! Me, I am not a big fan of it, because it's a challenge to get the "Value" out of it. If you are a foodie (one who eats a LOT of food) then it could be worthwhile, for us, in combination with eating in the camper, it's cheaper to NOT get the DDP. If you are a DIE HARD Foodie or you love the Higher End restaurants (which require 2 or my TS credits) you can get the DxDDP too. We just can't justify it.

 

[bama_ed]

TigerlilyAJ,

I can help a little with the options at the P&J takeout location which is the double set of doors between the Hoop Dee Doo Review entrance and the Trails End Restaurant entrance.

I took this picture this past March 2016 of the handout menu they had. The pizza options are 2 dining credits each and the rest at the top appear to be 1 credit. Also the Lone Chicken rider meal at the bottom of the picture is a credit. (sorry it's a little fuzzy). If they more recently have more expanded hours than what's shown here, that's good.



(my wife makes fun of me for taking pictures of signs at the Fort but I hope this helps).

I also remember that there was a breakfast option covered as well which IIRC was the Bounty Breakfast. So I bet the cheaper Mickey Waffle breakfast is covered too.

Finally the handout did indicate choices for the snack options but I don't recall what they were and the photo chopped those off. But they are there.

Yes, most campers don't get the DDP. I never have. But I understand its appeal to some folks. The main thing is having to pay EVERY DAY for EVERY PERSON.

So you do have choices at the Fort but not many honestly. As previously posted, folks make use of the quick rides to WL or CR to use their dining choices.

Enjoy your visit.

Bama Ed

PS - are you from the North? You mentioned "pop" when referring to the refillable mugs and it reminded me of my relatives in Ohio who use it. That's not a term for that I hear much down south (I'm in Alabama). Here we refer to soda, soft drinks, or coke (small "c" which does not mean Coca Cola)

 

[G719]

I'll be there 55 days so I'll get a picture of the take out menu and see if anything has changed.

For the mug, there's a pop station at the Meadows snack bar and a pop station at the take out counter. And your mug will also work and you're allowed to use it at the pop stations at the other resort QS. You can get tea and coffee too of course.
At the store, just look for the DDP logo on items to indicate what is a snack. Almost anything that would be considered a single serve pack is included. For example, you could get a 20 oz bottle of pop but not a 2 liter.

PS Did you notice I used the word pop alot so the southerners could get used to the word?
I think the dividing line for the pop word is the Mason-Dixon line. We live north of it and have always called it pop. My Dr is from a town only a little bit south of the line. One time he told me to make sure not to drink too much coke. I wanted to ask, so is dr. pepper ok?

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

Drive-by reply:
TY so much, everyone. This helps a lot. OK, I guess I'll start looking at WL QS, too. Wish I could take our golf cart there instead of waiting for a boat. ;-)
Yes, I am going during Free Dining. My family would be more than $200/day OOP.
Yes, I'm from Michigan, now living in Ontario. Pop, pop, poppity pop all around. ;-)

 

[bama_ed]

You can also take a bus from the Settlement Depot (the big bus stop up by Trails End where all three internal bus lines (Orange, Yellow, Purple) terminate to the Wilderness Lodge) too. The boat, although it's fun, is not your only option (good to know if bad weather also).

If you are at WL to eat and want to go to a park, you can hop on one of theirs (including going to the MK although they have a direct boat run also).

6 people and free dining makes good economic sense if you don't have a camper/rv. The cabins are a good choice for a group that size. Especially if, like me, if you have kids who are old enough to require ADULT Disney tickets which makes sense because they EAT like adults (the kids menu just wouldn't do ). Or if you have more than two adults, it all makes more $en$e.

Bama Ed

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I am going during Free Dining.

OK, so you are doing a cabin, not a campsite.

 

[mmouse1239]

Drive-by reply:
TY so much, everyone. This helps a lot. OK, I guess I'll start looking at WL QS, too. Wish I could take our golf cart there instead of waiting for a boat. ;-)
Yes, I am going during Free Dining. My family would be more than $200/day OOP.
Yes, I'm from Michigan, now living in Ontario. Pop, pop, poppity pop all around. ;-)

When are you going? We are in the same situation...free dining, first time at FW cabins.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

We will be there Dec 10-20, excited to see campers' decorations. Four crazy kids, so we need a cabin to give us some space and less worry about their noise disturbing others. Plus, my sons freaked out when I showed them pictures of the Fort, where other resorts I showed them, like AoA, just looked like hotels, places they'd been before.

 

[rally]

This is why I love staying at FW you get to BBQ and make your own food if you want.

 

[PrincessCooper's Mom]

Are there TV's at Crockett's?

 

[mmouse1239]

Drive-by reply:
TY so much, everyone. This helps a lot. OK, I guess I'll start looking at WL QS, too. Wish I could take our golf cart there instead of waiting for a boat. ;-)
Yes, I am going during Free Dining. My family would be more than $200/day OOP.
Yes, I'm from Michigan, now living in Ontario. Pop, pop, poppity pop all around. ;-)

There are six of us, so the cabins and the free dining provided us with a great savings. We were looking to do dining anyway, but we were going to look at two rooms elsewhere. This became available and seemed like the best choice for a lot of reasons. My grandsons will love the outdoors feeling of the cabins. We can't wait!!!

 

[spikesmom]

Are there TV's at Crockett's?

Yes there are TVs, one or 2 , I can't remember, but there is TV !

 

[mich1073]

The sandwiches at the pool can be used on the DDP too.

 

[bama_ed]

Are there TV's at Crockett's?

There are two tv's. See the thread I started on the EasyWDW review of Trails End and Crockett's Tavern. It has a couple pix. Josh mentions 2 in the write-up.