DDP Experts, I need Advice Please

[mom2mykids]

We are going in Sept with the free dining. Sept 16-21, 4 adults, one child, so 30 TS credits right? We have 2 ADRs that require 2 credits each since we have the free dining would it make sense to use the credits than pay OOP? I have seen some posts suggest paying for CRT OOP than to use the credits. I had planned to pay OOP for the character breakfasts, they are a must do request from the kids.

I guess what I'm asking is what do you think we should pay for and what should we use the credits on since we have the free dining? Thank you in advance!! I appreciate all your advice!!

CRT dinner (2)
Princess Storybook Lunch
CP Breakfast
Mickey's Back yard BBQ dinner (2)
Resturansours breakfast
Whispering Canyon Cafe dinner
Chef De France dinner
Chef Mickey Breakfast
Hollywood and vine Fantasmic package (1 credit)

 

[pooch]

go to the menus here and on allears and compare prices. Pay for the cheapest. You do realize that you have 11 TS reservations and only get 5 TS each? DDP is ONE TS, one Counter Service and one Snack Credit each per night of your stay. You're going to have to pay for a lot of these OOP!

 

[mom2mykids]

go to the menus here and on allears and compare prices. Pay for the cheapest. You do realize that you have 11 TS reservations and only get 5 TS each? DDP is ONE TS, one Counter Service and one Snack Credit each per night of your stay. You're going to have to pay for a lot of these OOP!

Yes I know I have 11 TS. But trying to get someone to give up their request has been difficult, LOL!! When we originally booked our trip we paid for the DDP so with the "refund" of the free dining we have some extra to pay for the oop. I figured since it was free dining paying ofr the cheapest was the better way to go.

 

[pooch]

that in my experience, and mine alone, this is going to be a LOT of food!!!! As it stands now, you have 2 TS per day. We couldn't finish a TS and a CS each per day when we went last year. Always shared our CS or wasted a lot of food if we didn't. And my DS (16) is an eating machine. And you will be spending a lot of your time in restaurants. Our TS meals averaged 1 - 1 1/2hrs each. That's a lot of park time!!

This is truly JMHO. You have to do what's best for your family!! Just trying to help.

 

[mom2mykids]

This is truly JMHO. You have to do what's best for your family!! Just trying to help.

I appreciate the input! Really I do. Its just so hard when you are trying to please everyone and get in all their requests! I really wasn't going to do the CRT, it was DH's request for DD. She could care less. I figured we are doing the Storybook one so why bother, especially the dinner when its the godmother and mice. So I may still cancel that one! I've been trying to talk DS out of the AK character breakfast. I might be able to if I can tell him it may just allow us to ride EE more than once. Also I wasn't going to do the CP breakfast but someone had to mention it to DD and then it was all over from there!! I'm trying to please everyone knowing full well thats just not going to happen. I really want to do the Mickey's BBQ and WCC other than that I'm good.

 

[gigi1313]

maybe my math is off, but you've got five nights and five people so 25 TS (5 of which are children's) (not 30 as you stated in your OP) no?

that being said... we're big eaters... we like multiple TSs per day and often do a breakfast and a dinner... that being said, we usually do our meals in parks... from the looks of your lineup you are going to be spending a LOT of time travelling to/from restaurants...

it took us nearly an hour to get from WL to MK after dinner via boat due to the electric light parade... and we missed spectro because of it... (just one example of travel woe)

therefore, i would skip WCC, ByBBQ, and maybe CM...

 

[Luv2Roam]

I think the OP is confusing Counter Service and Table Service, and treating them as the same.
With the DDP -- For each night, each person receives, One Table Service credit, one Counter service credit and one snack credit.
Counter Service is walk up to the counter, order and pick up your food. Table service is a restaurant where guests sit and have servers.

This would be different of course with a Platinum and possibly a premium plan package. But I don't think those are covered by free dining.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

I would definitely pay both breakfast buffet OOP.

 

[lowie]

We are going in Sept with the free dining. Sept 16-21, 4 adults, one child, so 30 TS credits right? We have 2 ADRs that require 2 credits each since we have the free dining would it make sense to use the credits than pay OOP? I have seen some posts suggest paying for CRT OOP than to use the credits. I had planned to pay OOP for the character breakfasts, they are a must do request from the kids.

I guess what I'm asking is what do you think we should pay for and what should we use the credits on since we have the free dining? Thank you in advance!! I appreciate all your advice!!

CRT dinner (2)
Princess Storybook Lunch
CP Breakfast
Mickey's Back yard BBQ dinner (2)
Resturansours breakfast
Whispering Canyon Cafe dinner
Chef De France dinner
Chef Mickey Breakfast
Hollywood and vine Fantasmic package (1 credit)

hmmm, too much food for me to even fathom! my family are HUGE eaters and we can't get through all of our credits, let alone having to spend OOP.

do you really want to spend so much time and money on eating?

also, you have adult credits but you say "kids" how old are the kids? and can they share a few meals here or there. also maybe save the adult TS credits for the 2 credit places and order kids meals and pay OOP for some of the others. did that make sense? then for all buffets pay OOP as they tend to be a little less money.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I did the math for you. I ignored tax and tip as the percentage for both would remain the same no matter were you ate. I looked up the prices for all the meals on Allearsnet.com. I estimated WCC to be $30/adult and $7.50/child. I estimated Chef de France to be $40/adult and $13/child. You could spend more at both places. I then took the cost of the 2 point meals and divided by 2 to get a cost per point. Here's the ranking per point (for all 5 of you) that I got:

Chef de France $173
WCC $127.50
Princess Lunch $113.95
H&V $107.95
BBQ $103.48
CRT $92.48
CP $86.95
Donalds $86.95
CM $86.95

Gigi is right in that you'll have 25 points-1 per night not day. So my math would say you should use the meal plan for Chef de France, WCC, Princess lunch, H&V and BBQ. You would pay OOP for CRT, CP, Donalds, and CM. With a 6% (I have no idea what it really is) meals tax and 15% tip you would pay OOP $540 for the remaining meals.

Hope that helps. I agree with pooch that is a lot time spent eating! I went last August and we only had 1 TS meal per day and I felt like I spent too much time eating.

Good luck!

 

[gigi1313]

lovesdumbo... you rock in doing all that math for the OP!

 

[Dizneydaz]

lovesdumbo did alot of the work for you but you can also check out this link (updated April 2007) which can help you get the most "bang for your buck" on DDP

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1085399

Of course, the value per credits numbers take into account an appetizer, entree, and dessert. If you're paying out of pocket, you probably won't order all 3 (I wouldn't). Here are that links top 13 ranking using $ per credit (average food, not most expensive.) .

1 Coral Reef $52.35
2 Chefs de France $52.29
3 Maya Grill $51.05
4 Alfredo $50.05
5 Marrakesh $49.74
6 Le Cellier $47.25
7 Spoodles $47.19
8 Cap'n Jacks $46.50
9 San Angel $46.25
10 Tony's $45.07
11 Wolfgang Café $44.82
12 Kona Café $43.33
13 Concourse $43.26

Based on that info, I would use my TS for PSB, H&V, WCC, CM( or another buffet), and Chefs De France. (or use lovesdumbo's plan-main difference is BBQ) Either one should work for you but you can get a better number by checking the menus yourself, and estimating what you would order. Again, this ranking is based on a value per credit ordering all 3 items. I do agree that you are planning alot of sit-down meals. Last Sept. we used all our TS, but we ran out of time to use all our CS too.

You'll notice that buffets and some of the 2 TS meals are your lowest value per credit. On our last trip our highest value per credit was Kona. And we ate at HBD, CG, and Narcoossee's.

Happy Dining!
HTH.

 

[mom2mykids]

You guys ROCK!! WOW Lovesdumbo, thanks for the prices!! I actually did a little myself, figuring 6.5% tax and 15% tip. Also Dizneydaz thanks for the link and the other pricing info!
Gigi1313, I should have made myself more clear, we check out on the 22nd and will be in the parks from the 16 to the 21, 6 days in the parks 6 x 5 = 30. The kids ages are 11, 10 and 4 (almost 5). The 11 year old can put away some food. My 10 will probably order from the kids menu, so we can pay OOP for some of his stuff and bank the credits. He is really, really picky! No sauces, ketchup, nothing!

I'm probably going to cancel the CRT dinner. DD is not all into the princess thing, it was DH's request and since its just FG and mice...... She likes Sleeping Beauty because she wears pink, LOL. So the Epcot lunch is the best chance of seeing her. I was also going to see if I can talk DS out of the Donald breakfast at AK by telling him maybe we can ride EE more than once by being ready to go at rope drop instead of sitting and eating.

Thank you again for all the input, the info and math you did for me!! You all are awesome!! Thanks!!

 

[mom2mykids]

here are some of the figures I did BUT i wasn't thinking about paying OOP for the 10 y.o. ordering from the kids menu so these are 4 adults, 1 child 6.5% tax and 15% tip (I did tip on meal only not meal + tax). I haven't added them all up yet but just posting what I have

CRT dinner (2) Adults: $39.99/Children 3-9: $24.99 $224.71
Princess Storybook Lunch Adults $24.99; Children 3-9 $13.99 $138.35
CP Breakfast $18.99 adults; Children $10.99 (3-9) $105.60

CP Dinner $27.99/Adults, $12.99 Children ages 3-9 $151.81

Mickey's Backyard BBQ dinner (2) $44.99 Guest ages 10 and up, tax and gratuity included $26.99 Guest ages 3-9, tax and gratuity included $206.95

Resturansours breakfast $18.99 for adults / $10.99 for kids $105.60

Whispering Canyon Cafe dinner Canyon Skillet All You Care To Enjoy
$22.49 per person adult, $8.50 child (estimate) $119.63

Chef De France dinner $40.00 Adult/ $13.00 child (estimates) $210.20

Chef Mickey Breakfast $18.99 for Adults, $10.99 for Children 3-9 $105.60

Hollywood and vine Fantasmic package Adults $23.99/Children $11.99 $130.97

I did a spread sheet for 4 adult and 1 child oop for a total of 1497.37 and another with 3 adults adn 2 child for a total of $1354.47! Thanks goodness for the free dining!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I was also going to see if I can talk DS out of the Donald breakfast at AK by telling him maybe we can ride EE more than once by being ready to go at rope drop instead of sitting and eating.

I thought Donald's breakfast was just OK. I've done 1900 Park Fare and CP and I thought they were both much better.

I also wouldn't want to do EE right after eating a big breakfast.

 

[mom2mykids]

I thought Donald's breakfast was just OK. I've done 1900 Park Fare and CP and I thought they were both much better.

I also wouldn't want to do EE right after eating a big breakfast.

LOL, My thought exactly!!!!

 

[mom2mykids]

OK....Look at the link for the "More Bang for your Buck" and my ADRs
I think, if I cancel the CRT and Donald this will work:
DDP for :
Chef De France
WWC
Princess Storybook
Mickey's BBQ

OOP as 3 adults, 2 child for:
CP Dinner $131.57
(insead of breakfast, have that ADR already was going to cancel but holding just incase of this exact situation!)

CM $95.92
Hollywood & Vine $116.58

for a total of about $350

If you see me making a major mistake speak up! LOL Thanks for all your help!! Sorry to be such a mutli-poster on the same topic. I htink I have it now

 

[Dizneydaz]

Glad the link helped!

 

[rigs32]

Why let all those free counter service meals go to waste and pay OOP for extra TS meals? There a some really fun CS places with yummy food if you know where to look. For us, the place in Morocco is a must do, as is Flame Tree BBQ.

I think if you present it to the kids as more time for rides/shows if you pick some fun CS meals (that don't require leaving), they'd be all for it and you'd be saving hundred by not having to pay OOP.

 

[pooch]

Why let all those free counter service meals go to waste and pay OOP for extra TS meals? There a some really fun CS places with yummy food if you know where to look. For us, the place in Morocco is a must do, as is Flame Tree BBQ.

I think if you present it to the kids as more time for rides/shows if you pick some fun CS meals (that don't require leaving), they'd be all for it and you'd be saving hundred by not having to pay OOP.

You can't do everything at WDW on one trip. There's just too much. The same can be said about fun places to eat. You'll never hit all the great places on one trip. THAT'S WHY WE GO BACK!!! I realize that free dining has saved you some $$. My suggestion is to put it toward your next trip. Use the free plan to its fullest and look forward to trying new places next time!