Dining Plan Tricks??

[cheeseburger]

We are traveling with 2 children. Can you give some suggestions to get the best value from our Dining Plan? Thanks so much.

 

[Smokeyspawn]

Use snack credits for breakfast. (Buy muffins,doughnuts, fruit, etc.)
Plan ahead early and use your TS credits for character meals.(Crystal Palace is our favorite)

I don't think there are any better tricks than planning and booking early

 

[Cruellatoo]

Use your TS credits for DINNER. You will get your best value that way. We've even wanted to do a character breakfast and paid OOP so as not to waste a TS credit. Also, as long as the list is still not as limited as it was in the beginning, you can use it at the bakeries and the gift shops in the resorts. You can use one snack credit for a full box of Entenmann's donuts. Sometimes, Dh and I will use a CS credit and share(such as the 1/2 chicken and ribs combo at Cosmic Ray's{MK} or the Schwarma platter at Tangierine Cafe in Epcot). This frees us up to use more CS for breakfast at the food court and sometimes even some of the breakfasts are big enough to share. We don't do this often, but it does help a little, esp. if we aren't overly hungry. The same goes with my kids. Sometimes they're too hot to eat and will share a meal.
All in all, we never really NEED to share, as the DP gives you more food than anyone could possible handle on an every day basis.

 

[cheeseburger]

I booked Boma, Mexico, Cinderella's castle, Akershus, and Sci Fi. Are those any good? I had a hard time getting certain restaurants because we are going Nov. 16-22. Pretty full... Do you have some suggestions for good counterservice? I heard about some places that you could share 2 meals and use later. Thanks for the help.

 

[TxRabbit]

We just ate at Mexico and Sci-Fi on our Aug 19-25 trip. I did a very detailed review...link in my sig. I can say that we enjoyed both of these and would eat there again.

I ate at Boma and Cindy's CRT on our March trip. We also fully enjoyed both. I did write a review of CRT, if you are interested...lots of character pics for that one and not too many food pics...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1438746

Value is a relative term...for this past trip we really used our meals as a break from the day...a time for our family to interact with each other and SIT. So, we ate meals at a somewhat off time...so that the restaurant would be a little quieter and little less crowded, even CS meals...and so doing this was a great value to us.

Taking advantage of the DDP to try eating in whatever restaurant strikes your fancy is also getting a great value...

Doing character meals is a great value...For the two trips we've taken, I have asked DS which characters he really would like to meet...and made it a point to find a restaurant where they would be...and so that was great...

The great thing about Disney dining is that there are so many options, you really can tailor your dining plan to whatever strategy you are pursuing for each trip...on our first trip, most of our TS meals were for lunch...I knew what our morning plans would be and then I thought that we would be really ready for a nice sit down meal by lunch...and then I felt comfortable having the rest of the day be more open...it was our first trip...and this really worked for me...so while dinner may be more bang for your buck...lunch may suit your plans better...and it was the better VALUE...you understand what I mean...

Where are you staying?

 

[cheeseburger]

We are staying at All Star Sports. It is a special.

 

[Pumbaa_]

your post was moved from the Review board to the DDP board. You will get more responses here.

 

[TxRabbit]

We are staying at All Star Sports. It is a special.

I'm not familiar with that gift shop...which is why I asked. Generally, there is an area in the gift shop that sells food items, including milk, chips, the aforementioned box of donuts, etc., and a lot of these are purchased for a snack credit. The box of donuts is so popular I think, because it's an easy thing to eat, fast and in the room, eating while you get dressed almost, so that you can get out early, even for rope drop, and generally be satisfied with maybe another snack thing and go for an early lunch.

 

[MBELSANTI]

The Bounty Platter for Breakfast at the foodcourts is HUGE. Eggs, hash browns, bacon, 2 pancakes and a biscuit. It comes with 2 drinks so we chose chocolate milk for DS and OJ for me. All for only 1 CS credit. We split this and it was more than enough!

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

The Bounty Platter for Breakfast at the foodcourts is HUGE. Eggs, hash browns, bacon, 2 pancakes and a biscuit. It comes with 2 drinks so we chose chocolate milk for DS and OJ for me. All for only 1 CS credit. We split this and it was more than enough!

Did you get the reg chocolate milk, or can you get the Nestles Quik chocolate milk??? I have asked this a couple of times and no one knows???? Anyone???

 

[raenyny]

we just got back and nestle quick chocolate milk is definitely included my so had it almost every morning while my daughter complained they didn't have small bottles of the strawberry I don't think that the larger bottle was included

 

[MBELSANTI]

Did you get the reg chocolate milk, or can you get the Nestles Quik chocolate milk??? I have asked this a couple of times and no one knows???? Anyone???

We were able to get the large Nestle quick chocolate milk and Large OJ with 1 adult CS. The small drinks were for the children's credits, but 2 kids can easily split this as my 10 year old son and I did.

 

[dodukes]

i have never seen the bounty plater, what food court is this at?

 

[BillyFeat]

The WL serves the bounty platter.

 

[dodukes]

Thanks, that woul be a perfect platter for me and dbf to split, too bad pop doesnt have it.

 

[mrzrich]

We split the CS meals at Pizza planet we get 2 pizza and salad deals. DH and I each eat a salad and half a pizza and DS's 4 and 7 each eat half a pizza. Comes with large drinks and cookies too . Its plenty of food for us.

We use the 2 extra CS credits for breakfast at the Main Street Bakery. You get one savory item, one pastry and a drink per credit. So we get 4 items and 2 drinks. Its plenty for us.

 

[mrzrich]

BTW here's an old thread with some tips on mazimizing the plan

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1422721

 

[Rustysmom]

We split CS meals. DD would not eat what they offered on the child's plan, so I usually just got a couple of orders of chicken strips and we all picked on them and it was enough.

 

[texasteacher35]

I booked Boma, Mexico, Cinderella's castle, Akershus, and Sci Fi. Are those any good? I had a hard time getting certain restaurants because we are going Nov. 16-22. Pretty full... Do you have some suggestions for good counterservice? I heard about some places that you could share 2 meals and use later. Thanks for the help.

If the character meal/TS is a buffet, you cannot share credits...if it is plated, then you can! If you have kids <3, then they can always eat off your plate whether it is a buffet or plate...you should be fine! The Castle and Akershus should be a really fun environment! Sci Fi is really fun, too! I cancelled my ressie @ Akershus because my DS2 is not that interested in the Princesses,although I am sure he would like them...we opted for Garden Grill w/ Chip and Dale...and I think Goofy/Donald or Pluto...not sure exactly. I looked the menu over for Akershus and it did not appeal to me, but I am sorta picky!!

 

[Justntime]

Great tips. Thanks