DDP- still worth it if you do a few 2 TS credits

[rentayenta]

Our "dream" trip would consist of 10 days which means 10 TS per person. I am thinking of doing 2- 3 different 2 TS meals. Still worth it budget wise? My head is spinning from all of the numbers and choices......................


There are 5 of us, 2 adults and 3 children (who often share meals) ages 10, 8, and 5.

 

[5starmom]

I personally think it only matters if you don't want to spend ANY extra money on food.

When I called to make our ADRs, the CM was so nice to tell me which two restaurants were the *least* value on our dining plan so that if we decided to call back and do a character meal or add a table service at a nicer restaurant, we'd know the restaurants at which to pay out of pocket.

Soooo, we are going to book a Fantasmic package at Mama Melrose and then pay OOP for our Cape May character breakfast buffet on our last day because it's one of our most inexpensive meals. I'd rather use our credits on the really BIG stuff!

We've also got a day or 2 where we only do counter service meals and snacks to give us more wiggle room. It's all in the planning!

 

[rentayenta]

I personally think it only matters if you don't want to spend ANY extra money on food.

When I called to make our ADRs, the CM was so nice to tell me which two restaurants were the *least* value on our dining plan so that if we decided to call back and do a character meal or add a table service at a nicer restaurant, we'd know the restaurants at which to pay out of pocket.

Soooo, we are going to book a Fantasmic package at Mama Melrose and then pay OOP for our Cape May character breakfast buffet on our last day because it's one of our most inexpensive meals. I'd rather use our credits on the really BIG stuff!

We've also got a day or 2 where we only do counter service meals and snacks to give us more wiggle room. It's all in the planning!

Yes, it is all in the planning which I am struggling with! I am liking the Mama Melrose F! package too and Cape May Buffet for dinner though.


I am thinking that we could easily do a late breakfast, mid day snack, and counter service dinner to make up for the 2 TS days. It seems if we were to use all 10 TS separately, we would be constantly eating and missing lots of park time. California Grill, Artist Point, Yachtsman's Steakhouse, and Jiko all look great but then it means lots of traveling to other resorts as well but maybe it's worth it?

Would you mind sharing which 2 restaurants have the least value on the DDP?



Decisions, decisions................

 

[5starmom]

The restaurants/meals with the lowest value on my plan were the Whispering Canyon Cafe (particularly if we get the "skillet" meal, which is the all you can eat thing) and the Cape May Cafe character breakfast buffet.

Those may not be the lowest cost meals out of what you decide, but those were it for us.

If you really want to figure it all out yourself, you could take a look at the menus (I get them from www.allearsnet.com or www.wdwinfo.com) and then think of what you would probably order and add it up to compare.

That's about all I can suggest because we haven't been to WDW yet! LOL I'm sure others have more ideas and experience to share...hopefully they will.

 

[mint julep]

We are four over in our plans for this coming September. We will actually pay out of pocket for our Cindy's lunch and our Cali Grill dinner as they are the most expensive ones...but NOT by double the other meals we have planned. SO since they each cost 2 table service credits...we will pay OOP for those two meals and then have all of the rest of our meals included in the plan. For us this is the cheaper way to work it. If we just wanted one meal we would just have paid for our lowest priced meal. BUT...our two lowest priced meals exceeded the cost of either of the 2 credit meals.

The DDP still makes a lot of $$ sense to our family. But that is just how it figured out for our family.

Good luck and enjoy yourself!!

 

[bicker]

Unless you choose very specific items (very expensive items at 2TS, and very inexpensive items at 1TS), generally I've found that 1TS restaurants are far better values then any of the 2TS options.

 

[bookworm2]

Hijacking this thread... this brings up such a good point! Do you think it would be better to pay OOP for Hoop Dee Doo or use DDP for it and have to pay OOP for possibly 2 meals?

 

[bicker]

Pay OOP for HDD.

 

[bookworm2]

I seriously would never have thought of that. Thank you.

 

[heather360]

Our vacation package is for 8 nights and we're planning to do 2 2TS restaurants. That would use 1/2 of our total TS credits but we think it's worth it for the more expensive signature restaurants.

For example we're planning on Narcoossee's and either California Grill or Flying Fish. I know we'll be getting the lobster at Narcoossee's and this alone will be over $50 not counting appy and dessert.

We followed the same plan last trip with the DP. We payed out of pocket for one meal and then for another meal we used an extra CS credit for dinner.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Sorry to hijack, but I am having the same dilemma. Do I use up 2 TS for California Grill or go to Le Cellier for 1TS, allowing me to pick another restaurant to eat at as well, and not paying OOP for anything during my vacation.

The dinner at CG would be for my wedding anniversary. I know that Le Cellier doesnt have that view, but would LC be a good substitute food wise?
Are there any limitations or exclusions at California Grill that may not make it worth it to use my 2 TS?

TIA!

 

[ballarinamom]

I agree with mint julip. So many posters have been sweating the 2 credits needed for CRT. I don't see the value in that! we're OOP for CRT and that frees up the credits to do Sci Fi AND 50's Primetime.

 

[bicker]

DeeCee, I'd swap in Chefs de France for California Grill, even for steak, rather than Le Cellier.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Thanks for the advice, bicker. I actually already had Chefs De France on the itinerary. We decided to keep Califormia Grill for our wedding anniversary night dinner and I let Le Celiier go. We will still end up paying OOP for one dinner bc we'll use 2 TS for Cali Grill. We decided on Whispering Canyon for our OOP dinner as it is the least expensive option (other than booking a breakfast, of course.).