I thought I'd do an illustration for those of you who question the regular DP (1TS, 1CS and 1Snack per night per person) being 'enough' food. This was my family's experience:
It is me, dh, ds10 (little thing but eats full meals), dd7(picky and will eat any sweet in sight). We went for 9 nights and stayed at POR.
We purchased and shared 2 refillable mugs.
Qualifications: We brought 2 boxes of cereal in our luggage along with 1 package of mini muffins (about 12 of them) that the kids love and are easy and quick on the go. Some of the 'excess' below is because we got lucky and a friend was going at the same time and rented a car for one day so picked up a gallon of milk and a case of water for us. If not, we would have used several more snack credits I'm sure on both of those. However, I'm big with bringing a sports water bottle and just filling it at CS places so likely wouldn't have bought too many waters. I think we would have had a perfect amount and no excess if we didn't have these things.
9 nights x 4 people = 36 TS credits, 36 CS, 36 snacks
Day 1 - arrived late afternoon. Resort around 5-ish. Got CS at POR food court - 1 large pizza, 2 drinks (I got myself some Orange Juices and put them in our frig for myself for the morning) we used our mugs for the drinks for the meal and 2 desserts (we split one of the huge brownies and 1 of the double scoops of ice cream). We had 2 slices of pizza leftover - threw them in the frig for later. I still think this is one of the best deals on the Dining Plan fed a family of 4 for 2 CS!
Remaining 36 TS, 34 CS, 36 snacks
Day 2 - ate breakfast in room - cereal and muffins. Had a late lunch planned at Beaches & Cream so we just did snacks at about 11:30 - split a couple of pretzels and a drink. Ate at B&C at 3:00pm. We were STUFFED from B&C that even the kids didn't ask for another snack - and we watched F! - plan was to split 1 - 2 CS meals if everyone was hungry enough later but that never happened.
Remaining 32 TS, 34 CS, 33 snacks
Day 3 - ate breakfast in room. Had Chef Mickey's scheduled for 11:10am. Ate a huge meal (plus brownies and donuts for dessert) so no snacks this afternoon EXCEPT for hitting Main St Bakery on the way out of MK for breakfast stuff for next morning. Got 2 huge chocolate muffins and 1 huge cinnamon roll. Headed back to resort for dinner and only 3 of us were hungry enough so had 3 CS meals.
Remaining 28 TS, 31 CS, 30 snacks
Day 4 - Yummy Main St Bakery snacks for breakfast in room. Went to Blizzard Beach - had CS at Lottawotta Lodge (note: we had WAY too much food here as we each got a CS - wasted a bunch - we ordered 1 eight piece nuggets, 1 cheeseburger, 1 chicken wrap and 1 pizza - all that plus large drinks and desserts). Had our nice meal at Narccoossee's scheduled for this night. YUMMY! Instead of paying 2 adult TS credits for ds to get a kids cheeseburger we opted to pay OOP for his meal. No problems whatsoever with this and total bill was $7.00 since he and I split my dessert. No snacks at all this day - too full.
Remaining 22 TS (two credits each at Narcoosee's except for ds paid OOP - VERY worth it!), 27 CS, 30 snacks
Day 5 - CS meal in the food court at POR - split 3 CS plus dd wanted a few snacks as her meal (muffin, toast and fruit), ds got the bounty platter (dh had the potatoes and pancakes, ds had eggs, muffin, bacon, strawberries and some of a split cinnamon roll), I got the a ham and cheese omelet. Late lunch scheduled at LeCellier so had snack at EPCOT. For snack before lunch ds had chips and dd had a pretzel. LeCellier at 2:30 and then later a snack each from German bakery caramel square, chocolate/caramel strawberries and caramel popcorn.
Remaining: 18 TS, 24 CS, 21 snacks (yes that is 9 snacks used today!)
Day 7 - breakfast in room. Lunch at Pizzafari - split 3 CS meals and purchased OOP one order of breadsticks - it was way too much - should have split 2 pizza meals (comes with a salad and drink) used a snack credit for the 4th drink since we were all very thirsty in the heat. A snack or two in the park - mickey ice cream bars. Dinner was Hoop De Doo - tons of food.
Remaining: 10 TS (two each for hoop), 21 CS, 17 snacks
Day 8 - CS meal in food court at POR - split 3 CS. Pirate cruise this morning so hung out at resort. Kids had CS at food court for lunch = 2 CS, headed to DTD and had Wolfgang Puck but no one was too hungry so we split 1 adult and 1 kid meal. Then headed to MK for Extra Magic hours and split another 2 meals at Columbia Harbor House before staying til midnight. Used some snack credits on candy from the confectionary.
Remaining: 10 TS, 14 CS, 14 snacks
Day 9 - Another EPCOT day Used 3 CS for lunch 1 in Morocco and 2 in Mexico; Dinner at San Angel Inn; A few snacks during the day
Remaining: 6 TS, 11 CS, 9 snacks
Day 10 slept in and then had late breakfast in POR food court 4 CS/3snacks Went to DTD and to DisneyQuest. Dinner ressie at Wolfgang Puck Café still LOVE this place! Kids meals are fantastic! Desserts are wonderful!!
Remaining: 2 TS, 7CS, 5snacks
Day 11 On our way to our 7:30 Magical Express bus, Used up 3 of our remaining CS on regular CS meals, used 2 cs for 2 bagels, used 2 TS remaining for 4 bags of snack chips (yes the cashier let me do this figured it would be good snacks for the plane). Our bellies were nice and full for the trip home!
Remaining: 1 or 2 CS cant remember how we ended up exactly but there was a bit extra but we did very well overall.
Total Out Of Pocket purchased: 1 TS kids meal at Narcoossees, 1 snack (dh thought he was using too many one day so paid for one of his), 1 appetizer at a TS meal and a couple handfuls of alcoholic drinks.
Overall we had way more than enough food and only ended up using the breakfast foods we brought with us a few times. And I dont feel deprived at all I was actually asking for no dessert with our CS meals for the last 3 or so days because we honestly had too many cookies, chocolate cake, etc. and didnt feel like any more.
Also please note that we spent very little OOP and also did 2 two-credit meals/shows. I cant imagine eating at 2 additional sit down meals on our trip I think you would have had to roll me out of there!
So if youre questioning it, believe me, with planning it IS doable, even with a couple two credit meals in there.
I realize this planning, etc. wouldnt be for some people but if budget is a consideration and you are thinking you wont have enough on the regular DDP, just wanted to show you it can be done!
It is me, dh, ds10 (little thing but eats full meals), dd7(picky and will eat any sweet in sight). We went for 9 nights and stayed at POR.
We purchased and shared 2 refillable mugs.
Qualifications: We brought 2 boxes of cereal in our luggage along with 1 package of mini muffins (about 12 of them) that the kids love and are easy and quick on the go. Some of the 'excess' below is because we got lucky and a friend was going at the same time and rented a car for one day so picked up a gallon of milk and a case of water for us. If not, we would have used several more snack credits I'm sure on both of those. However, I'm big with bringing a sports water bottle and just filling it at CS places so likely wouldn't have bought too many waters. I think we would have had a perfect amount and no excess if we didn't have these things.
9 nights x 4 people = 36 TS credits, 36 CS, 36 snacks
Day 1 - arrived late afternoon. Resort around 5-ish. Got CS at POR food court - 1 large pizza, 2 drinks (I got myself some Orange Juices and put them in our frig for myself for the morning) we used our mugs for the drinks for the meal and 2 desserts (we split one of the huge brownies and 1 of the double scoops of ice cream). We had 2 slices of pizza leftover - threw them in the frig for later. I still think this is one of the best deals on the Dining Plan fed a family of 4 for 2 CS!
Remaining 36 TS, 34 CS, 36 snacks
Day 2 - ate breakfast in room - cereal and muffins. Had a late lunch planned at Beaches & Cream so we just did snacks at about 11:30 - split a couple of pretzels and a drink. Ate at B&C at 3:00pm. We were STUFFED from B&C that even the kids didn't ask for another snack - and we watched F! - plan was to split 1 - 2 CS meals if everyone was hungry enough later but that never happened.
Remaining 32 TS, 34 CS, 33 snacks
Day 3 - ate breakfast in room. Had Chef Mickey's scheduled for 11:10am. Ate a huge meal (plus brownies and donuts for dessert) so no snacks this afternoon EXCEPT for hitting Main St Bakery on the way out of MK for breakfast stuff for next morning. Got 2 huge chocolate muffins and 1 huge cinnamon roll. Headed back to resort for dinner and only 3 of us were hungry enough so had 3 CS meals.
Remaining 28 TS, 31 CS, 30 snacks
Day 4 - Yummy Main St Bakery snacks for breakfast in room. Went to Blizzard Beach - had CS at Lottawotta Lodge (note: we had WAY too much food here as we each got a CS - wasted a bunch - we ordered 1 eight piece nuggets, 1 cheeseburger, 1 chicken wrap and 1 pizza - all that plus large drinks and desserts). Had our nice meal at Narccoossee's scheduled for this night. YUMMY! Instead of paying 2 adult TS credits for ds to get a kids cheeseburger we opted to pay OOP for his meal. No problems whatsoever with this and total bill was $7.00 since he and I split my dessert. No snacks at all this day - too full.
Remaining 22 TS (two credits each at Narcoosee's except for ds paid OOP - VERY worth it!), 27 CS, 30 snacks
Day 5 - CS meal in the food court at POR - split 3 CS plus dd wanted a few snacks as her meal (muffin, toast and fruit), ds got the bounty platter (dh had the potatoes and pancakes, ds had eggs, muffin, bacon, strawberries and some of a split cinnamon roll), I got the a ham and cheese omelet. Late lunch scheduled at LeCellier so had snack at EPCOT. For snack before lunch ds had chips and dd had a pretzel. LeCellier at 2:30 and then later a snack each from German bakery caramel square, chocolate/caramel strawberries and caramel popcorn.
Remaining: 18 TS, 24 CS, 21 snacks (yes that is 9 snacks used today!)
Day 7 - breakfast in room. Lunch at Pizzafari - split 3 CS meals and purchased OOP one order of breadsticks - it was way too much - should have split 2 pizza meals (comes with a salad and drink) used a snack credit for the 4th drink since we were all very thirsty in the heat. A snack or two in the park - mickey ice cream bars. Dinner was Hoop De Doo - tons of food.
Remaining: 10 TS (two each for hoop), 21 CS, 17 snacks
Day 8 - CS meal in food court at POR - split 3 CS. Pirate cruise this morning so hung out at resort. Kids had CS at food court for lunch = 2 CS, headed to DTD and had Wolfgang Puck but no one was too hungry so we split 1 adult and 1 kid meal. Then headed to MK for Extra Magic hours and split another 2 meals at Columbia Harbor House before staying til midnight. Used some snack credits on candy from the confectionary.
Remaining: 10 TS, 14 CS, 14 snacks
Day 9 - Another EPCOT day Used 3 CS for lunch 1 in Morocco and 2 in Mexico; Dinner at San Angel Inn; A few snacks during the day
Remaining: 6 TS, 11 CS, 9 snacks
Day 10 slept in and then had late breakfast in POR food court 4 CS/3snacks Went to DTD and to DisneyQuest. Dinner ressie at Wolfgang Puck Café still LOVE this place! Kids meals are fantastic! Desserts are wonderful!!
Remaining: 2 TS, 7CS, 5snacks
Day 11 On our way to our 7:30 Magical Express bus, Used up 3 of our remaining CS on regular CS meals, used 2 cs for 2 bagels, used 2 TS remaining for 4 bags of snack chips (yes the cashier let me do this figured it would be good snacks for the plane). Our bellies were nice and full for the trip home!
Remaining: 1 or 2 CS cant remember how we ended up exactly but there was a bit extra but we did very well overall.
Total Out Of Pocket purchased: 1 TS kids meal at Narcoossees, 1 snack (dh thought he was using too many one day so paid for one of his), 1 appetizer at a TS meal and a couple handfuls of alcoholic drinks.
Overall we had way more than enough food and only ended up using the breakfast foods we brought with us a few times. And I dont feel deprived at all I was actually asking for no dessert with our CS meals for the last 3 or so days because we honestly had too many cookies, chocolate cake, etc. and didnt feel like any more.
Also please note that we spent very little OOP and also did 2 two-credit meals/shows. I cant imagine eating at 2 additional sit down meals on our trip I think you would have had to roll me out of there!
So if youre questioning it, believe me, with planning it IS doable, even with a couple two credit meals in there.
I realize this planning, etc. wouldnt be for some people but if budget is a consideration and you are thinking you wont have enough on the regular DDP, just wanted to show you it can be done!
