Does anyone pay OOP for signature restaurant?

[Miss Frankie J]

I have always paid OOP when it comes to Table service and Signature Restaurants. I've been to WDW over 15 times and have eaten at Many different TS and only have maybe 2 that I disliked. The only Signature I disliked and tried was Hollywood Brown Derby. I felt like the food was no better than say another TS in disney and that particular day the service was horrible. So for me Hollywood brown Derby wasn't worth what I heard about it but I know part of that opinion is skewed due to my poor experience as well.

As far as Le Cellier $50 is way too much for a steak and I'm from New york, but I bet the atmosphere is wonderful and that is also part of the price. When I ate at BOG for Dinner last summer the prices seemed high but the experience and food was totally worth it IMO. If you have the money I say try it. My boyfriend was hesitant about eating at BOG for dinner and now its one of his favorite places in WDW to eat. If we didn't try it we wouldn't have found out we love it. You are on vacation and that sounds like a lovely way to end it, I'd say try it and go in with an open mind.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

All the time. I do not ever use the dining plan. I do have a Tables in Wonderland though.

Be Our Guest isn't a signature restaurant, its prices may be a little bit lower than actual signatures, so if you want atmosphere without paying signature prices that could work if you can get an ADR.

 

[wilkeliza]

I did misread it at first. As soon as I realized it, I edited my post. You were too fast for me. Sorry for the misunderstanding. No offense intended.

No offense taken haha.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I've gone to signatures, paid OOP, but only ordered things like appetizer and dessert. At Cali Grill i've had the flatbread followed by dessert. At Citrico's I ordered 2 apps instead of an entrée. Eating at a signature doesn't have to be expensive.

 

[AngiTN]

We pay OOP for all meals at Disney. We don't care for the dining plan restrictions.

 

[Eddie]

I would recommend Narcoossee's. You could easily to an app and I did the side dish of Mac & Cheese and Lobster and it was more then enough. As an app we got the cheese plate but the entree menu is really good as well and no more then a real nice resturant in the real world!!! BTW you want to leave room for dessert.

 

[crabbygal902]

California Grill:
I have been happy to pay the OOP prices here for the stellar view, great service and good food/beverage. I order differently here. I get wine, salads, and apps which is less expensive than ordering an entree.

Hollywood Brown Derby:
While nothing was bad, it also wasn't worth the very large check. We have had many 1TS meals that were much better. I won't be going back soon.

 

[SurferStitch]

DH and I dine at mostly signature restaurants for dinner (with some exceptions), and always pay OOP (we do use TiW, though). It's worth it, and I don't think you'll be disappointed at all.

I would go with Cali Grill or Yachtsman. Better food for the same price (give or take) as Le Cellier.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

We paid OOP for Citricos and I loved it. I think I'd be more likely to pay OOP than to use 2 dining credits.

 

[areno79]

I've read breakdowns of paying OOP vs. using dining credits. I believe 1 TS credit equals roughly $37. So it only makes sense to use 2 TS for one signature dining restaurant if you're going to spend more than $74 pp on an entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink (no app or tip included.) That's why so many people just pay OOP for signature restaurants

 

[Meriweather]

Always.....don't like the dining plan, don't do the dining plan.
We eat at a lot of TS places, signature and not and pay for it all.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I've read breakdowns of paying OOP vs. using dining credits. I believe 1 TS credit equals roughly $37. So it only makes sense to use 2 TS for one signature dining restaurant if you're going to spend more than $74 pp on an entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink (no app or tip included.) That's why so many people just pay OOP for signature restaurants

I agree that paying OOP at a signature is wise. If I were on the DP I wouldnt want to use 2TS credits. Not a good value IMO.

 

[smcabee]

If we did not have the TIW card, we would not pay oop, we would eat more offsite. Would never use DDP as it is of no value to me.

 

[jeepwreck]

we are always on the dining plan

but I can say, that if I was to ever pay OOP for I signature I think it would be worth it

we have eaten at several and every time the food, service and atmosphere are wonderful

 

[DINKsAtDisney]

We aren't usually on the DDP (unless we get it free in the offer, this upcoming trip being the second) so always pay OOP for signatures. We are just two adults and have at least one sit down meal a day. We haven't ever had any complaints with one exception.

That exception is when we used our free DDP at Le Cellier and still felt ripped off. If we had paid, I would not have been happy.

ETA: I'd happily pay OOP at Yachtsmen or Cali Grill again! They both were great for us.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have a tables in wonderland card but have never gotten a dining plan. Too much food for us. We always get a one bedroom at least, have breakfast in room, lunch at pool or whoever we are (rarely go to parks any more) and dinner out, usually at a signature where we can use the tables card for 20% off including liquor. We often either share an entree or get an appetizer and a salad each with a bottle of wine. Works for us. Our favorites are Jiko, California grill, Sanaa, narcoosees, artist point, Rsglan road. And boathouse, even though we only get the 10% DVC discount.

 

[GaryDis]

I've read breakdowns of paying OOP vs. using dining credits. I believe 1 TS credit equals roughly $37. So it only makes sense to use 2 TS for one signature dining restaurant if you're going to spend more than $74 pp on an entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink (no app or tip included.) That's why so many people just pay OOP for signature restaurants

$37 seems at the high end for me, but I get he same result anyway. Looking at 50sPT, I'd get either the veggie lasagna or the salmon Caesar. Call it $19, plus $4 for beverage and $6 for dessert. That's $29. Double it, and that's $58. At Tiffin's, the only signature on my agenda, I'd get the curry or the halibut. Assuming $10 dessert and $4 beverage, that's either $43 or $56, so still less than the value of two TS, or at best $2 more if I got the salmon at 50sPT.

Or maybe this just shows why the dining plan is a poor deal for me, because I eat pescatarian, avoid buffets, and simply don't spend that much at TS meals. Ymmv.

 

[vinotinto]

Yes, of course, lots of people go to signatures and pay OOP. We usually go to 1-2 signatures on a typical 5 night vacation. Like PP, I rarely order steak, though. I just feel anyone can cook a steak, just sear it well, finish it in a hot oven, don't overlook it, put some butter on top, and let it rest 10 minutes. $15 instead of $50. I've lived most of my life in major cities, so a $30-$45 entree doesn't sound out of line, as long as it's got some nuance to it.

I tend to order items that sound like they would be more work to do at home. For example, I love whole fish, but every time I make it at home, it's a big, messy production, so I order that out a lot. I also order a lot seafood and fish fillets in brothy sauces. I just don't have the time to infuse a lot of flavor in broths, so it's a good deal for me to get it at a Signature.

 

[FuzzyPants]

Ok, set me straight I am on the DDP and have booked Jiko, Yachtsmen and Narcoossee's for my Dinners ( Check-in Monday, Check-out Saturday AM). Should I NOT use my DDP for any of these or should I limit myself to different TS Dinners? Kind of late to make dinner reservation changes..thoughts?

 

[AngiTN]

Ok, set me straight I am on the DDP and have booked Jiko, Yachtsmen and Narcoossee's for my Dinners ( Check-in Monday, Check-out Saturday AM). Should I NOT use my DDP for any of these or should I limit myself to different TS Dinners? Kind of late to make dinner reservation changes..thoughts?

There are dining plan calculators out there that guide you towards figuring out what is a better use of the credit and what is a better to pay for. And if the dining plan is even worth getting, even when it's free.
If you have the credits and you haven't cut out any meals to get those 2 credit meals in then you may as well use them there. Having credits left over doesn't do you any good, even if the "value per credit" is lost at a signature. The worse thing you can do is leave credits unused or trade those credits down. Even using your snack credits on take home treats is a bad value per credit, even if it's still better than leaving them unused.