Dining credit advice

[JackieO]

Maybe I'm overcoming this (obsessing) but would someone like to help me think this through?

I've just made reservations for CRT for 4 in Sep. I'm counting on FD but I've already had to pay in full. I was thinking we would use our FD and get our cash back, but now that it's paid for it seems like a lot of credits to give up. It would cost us 8 sit down credits 8x$35 (sit down value) that's $280. I spent $230. Is it silly of me to give them $280 in credits to give me back $230 cash?

Oh boy, my head is going to explode if I don't stop thinking about all of this.

Any thoughts? (I'm going to stalk the wait times on MDE and then read through the Free Dining rumors thread AGAIN)

 

[DisBuckMan]

Most* deluxe restaurants are a poor value (from a dollars and cents standpoint) on the standard DDP. You've stated a perfect example.

*I'm sure people will come along and post examples that are against this, and that's why I said "most".

 

[supersnoop]

The dining plan is rarely worth the price when you are an all-adult party. If you're going to stress over extracting the most value, you should probably just forego the dining plan all together. On the other hand, if it's "free," then you should figure out how much it really cost, because those credits won't be worth $35. (On the regular plan, they're closer to $38, and closer to $30 on the deluxe plan)

 

[Faldred]

It comes down to whether or not you really have other, better uses for the credits. If you're adding meals just to add meals, then I don't know if it's worth it. But if you were already going to do the additional TS meals and are deciding which ones to not use credits on, CRT is an excellent place to start paying OOP vs. plan credits.

 

[JackieO]

It comes down to whether or not you really have other, better uses for the credits. If you're adding meals just to add meals, then I don't know if it's worth it. But if you were already going to do the additional TS meals and are deciding which ones to not use credits on, CRT is an excellent place to start paying OOP vs. plan credits.

Good point, will I actually need those TS meals? See, this is why I ask for help. My mind gets too crowded to make sense of all of this alone.

 

[Lisa F]

breakfast is always a worse value on the DDP than other meals.. I am assuming you are going for breakfast. I'm not sure how you got $230 for 4 though, current prices look like about $63 per person for breakfast with tax, which is more like $252.. unless some are kids.

 

[Lisa F]

Good point, will I actually need those TS meals? See, this is why I ask for help. My mind gets too crowded to make sense of all of this alone.

Also you need to look at your typical food budget vs. the discount you would get room only if there is a discount running at the same time. Sometimes free dining isn't such a good deal on a more expensive room... but with 4 adults it is probably a great deal on a lower priced room.

 

[DisBuckMan]

breakfast is always a worse value on the DDP than other meals.. I am assuming you are going for breakfast.

Yes, breakfast is a killer on the DDP, outside of a handful of character meals breakfasts....CM and Akershus come to mind. Cheaper meals overall, plus you lose the dessert part of your credit.

 

[ibela]

Are there other restaurants you want to use the credits for or are you strictly thinking about maximizing value?

Before every trip, I make a list of where we want to go, figure out how much it'll cost, then compare to dining plan costs and figure out which plan, if any, works for the trip.

I understand wanting to maximize value but if you're going places for the sole purpose of the dining plan, you ultimately likely won't enjoy yourselves.

Last trip, I paid for Hoop de Doo. Then we had to make a last minute change and I wanted to switch to use credits so I was able to do that day of, they refunded my credit card. So if you're not sure, you can decide later when you're sure of your final plans/costs.

 

[JackieO]

breakfast is always a worse value on the DDP than other meals.. I am assuming you are going for breakfast. I'm not sure how you got $230 for 4 though, current prices look like about $63 per person for breakfast with tax, which is more like $252.. unless some are kids.

I don't know, that's just what they charged my credit card. It will be me and my 3 kids (23, 21, and 13) I assumed we would all be considered "adults" by Disney pricing standards.

 

[JackieO]

Last trip, I paid for Hoop de Doo. Then we had to make a last minute change and I wanted to switch to use credits so I was able to do that day of, they refunded my credit card. So if you're not sure, you can decide later when you're sure of your final plans/costs.

That's good to know!!

 

[purple figment]

I don't know, that's just what they charged my credit card. It will be me and my 3 kids (23, 21, and 13) I assumed we would all be considered "adults" by Disney pricing standards.

For 3 adults and 1 child it comes to about $227, but four adults would be about $252 so it looks like the CM thought one of your kids is under 10 years old.