DDP?? Attention all those who have used the DDP well! Please help!!!

[momofbuzzfan]

I have 3 little ones at home and don't have as much time as I need to read though all of these threads, so please bear with me! I was wondering if a few of you would fill me in on some ways to make the most of the DDP or lead me to the right threads . I've been known to like to get the most for my $$$ My goal is to not have to bring or buy extra food. Here are the logistics: "We" consist of me, my Dmom, my DS7, DD3, and DS1. We are staying 6 nights at the pop century in early December. The TS restraunts we would like to go to are:
CRT (8 credits)
LeCelliar sp? (3-4 credits?)
Hollywood & Vine (4 credits)
Chef Mickeys dinner (4 credits)
and possibly Crystal Palace (4 credits)...we are open to ANY other suggestions on Excellent table service restraunts...these are just the ones we have been to and have liked and fit well with the kiddos

Some questions I have are: Are the credits in one "pool" so we can order adult or kids meals? What are good breakfast ideas that don't use many credits...we aren't huge breakfast people but the kids will need a little something. I read that someone used a snack credit for purchasing a box of donuts? (not something I would EVER normally do, but hey we are on VACATION) Do TS restraunts have bottle water that you can get for your beverage?

 

[TammyBell]

We did purchase a box of doughnuts in the gift shop at our hotel and had them in the room. We did not have any children with us, but we enjoyed watching others at Whispering Canyon. We usually had a counter service and a table service each day and would occassionally forget about our snack. Because of that we found out that we could get a large bag of chips and a 2-liter Coke in the gift shop with a snack credit.

 

[momofbuzzfan]

We did purchase a box of doughnuts in the gift shop at our hotel and had them in the room. We did not have any children with us, but we enjoyed watching others at Whispering Canyon. We usually had a counter service and a table service each day and would occassionally forget about our snack. Because of that we found out that we could get a large bag of chips and a 2-liter Coke in the gift shop with a snack credit.

Good to know! Thanks for the tip!

 

[bicker]

Are the credits in one "pool" so we can order adult or kids meals?

This is a common question. The Dining Plan's rules preclude child meal entitlements from being used for adult meals. Per forum rules, please contact Disney Dining if you would like more details on that.

 

[Frantasmic]

The easiest way to stretch your CS credits would be for the children to share a meal and your mother and you to share a meal, where allowed.

Your choice of TS restaurants, combined with the Disney rules, indicate that you can share at most of those places (with the exception of CRT, H & V, and CP).

The DDP probably was not designed to provide ALL the food in a day that one can consume. People can stretch it with snack items and sharing however. You seem to have thought it out TS wise. However, some or all of you will always need to share with the 1 year old, so you have a built-in sharer there. Granted, they don't eat much, but most of your choices won't provide anything separate for that person.

 

[cinderellamom123]

The one year old will be free, you do not have to pay to share a plate. Anyone under 3, I believe is free

Would strongly rec. a box of cereal, nutrigrain bars, etc for breakfast.

Children's and Adult meal credits are separated. There is a link for the 2007 Disney dining plan somewhere, but not sure where. It is the official Disney Dining plan and is very descriptive. Some things have changed this year.

Good Luck

 

[reeeoga]

I would dump CRT if you want to get the most out of your DDP (and I have CRT scheduled for our next trip , but I am paying OOP for it).
You could go to 2 TS for the same credits, and I would consider that a better value.

Perhaps a 50's PrimeTime or even (dare I say it, yes I does) Sci-Fi Dien In. You would easily be able to share at both, and Sci-Fi is fun for kids (mine liked it).

For CS go to Cosmic Rays for the Rib/chicken combo.

 

[Muushka]

We got the refillable mugs at our resort and when we ate CS there (which we really enjoyed) we got a bottle of a drink for later (like OJ or lemonade or milk).

We got some bagels (package of 6) for a snack credit at the hotel store and ate them for breakfast several mornings. Use the mugs for coffee. Fast and inexpensive. The resort had a toaster.

My sister and I shared many CS meals. Then when dinner came, we were hungry.

We did not have to, but I can see ordering just an entree at a TS to conserve a TS for a different restaurant.

At the store at the hotel there are many large snack items you can get. I got a large bag of pretzels and a mix of raisins, nuts and M&M type things. We just finished that bag the other day, took it home!

For your dessert at the CS they will let you get it later. Worked out great.
Just save the stamped receipt and return that day whenever you want.

Enjoy!

 

[momofbuzzfan]

Thanks for all the great tips!!

 

[castleri]

We used some of our snack credits for fruit bowls at Ak as a late breakfast snack. You could use a couple of your CS credits as suggested at Cosmic Rays and feed everyone on the chicken and ribs as a dinner one night and then share another plus some add ons with snack credits and you would be set with the TS meals you have planned. If you really want good return on the CS meals go to the Pepper Market at CS for one meal. We took the bus there from a park and then back again. Make certain you have your ADRs in place or you may be disappointed for TS meals. It may not be as bad when you are going but we were unable to change any of ours when we were there from 9/19-9/29. We needed to eat between 5-6 because of 2 little ones and one adult with blood sugar issues so did not have much flexiblity but the only other times we could get when we tried to change some just before we left for the trip we very late at night. At least we had them and were not turned away as many people were. Good luck and happy planning.

 

[Delaware Mike]

I envy you....you're going back to WDW before I get to....

We had a rental car, so it made it easy to make a stop at Publix after leaving the POP. The Publix we use is on Route 417. (When leaving POP, get to Rt. 417 West, and go past the Motel 6, all the fast food places. Continue west on 417 for about 2 miles....it's on the right.)

At Publix, we got a $5.00 cooler, grapes, apples, cheese, instant coffee and juice. We took a little electric kettle to heat water. When we got back to POP, we used a Snack credit for a box of doughnuts. This was our breakfast in the room each morning. When the doughnuts ran out, hey...there's another box waiting for you in return for another Snack credit.

I like your TS selections...and I'm sure the kids will like them too.

As I write this, I don't have your original post on the screen, so I don't remember the kid's ages. If they're "Disney Adults", sharing adult CS services for them will help maximize food value. If they get child credits, I believe those serving might be a little small to share.

There are a couple threads concerning Snack credits... one for "usual" Snacks and one for Snacks available during the Food and Wine Festival. I'll try to edit this post with the URLs for them.

I hope this helps.

 

[disneygal2007]

K I hope this makes sence. We went in feb and we had so much food. U wake up and eat then a snack then u eat a big lunch and then u have your tale service. I was not hungry the whole trip. Not even at night. When we wwee out late. U will have enough food to cover each day. For each person.


U hould try Ohana Dinner sooo good and sooo fun. HAve fun we still have 8 months to go.

 

[ballarinamom]

We got the adult breakfast platter and split it between us. DH ate the biscuit and sausage, DD5 at bacon ( her usual brekky ) and I ate the potatoes and eggs. I brought my own individual packs of salsa as they only have Tabasco at the food court. We ate two dinners in the food court and picked up muffins as our dessert. Ate those for breakfast on another day. We split a few TS meals and OOP an extra entree or app to fill in the gaps. DD5 is not a big eater. We split two platters for breakfast. For lunch, 50's primetime. We ordered kid's salad, meatloaf/ fries, drink and sundae PLUS fried cheese, fried chicken/veggies/potatoes, angel food cake and milkshake (came with the extra tumbler) and a shrimp cocktail OOP for DD5. We had more than enough to share and had leftovers!
Snack was Soft pretzel, churo and popcorn.
Dinner at SciFi we ordered spinach dip, rueben/fries, chocalate tart and milkshake PLUS kid's salad, pizza, drink and sundae. Nothing OOP. We still had leftovers. One CS leftover after all of that. We only paid $12.00 OOP ($10 for shrimp plus the tip) Planning helps and DDP is alot of food