Getting the most out of the Dining Plan

[madalynns mom]

I've booked a 7 day trip in Sept 2006 for my dd(3 and 1/2 at trip time), dh and myself at the POFQ. I got the magic your way plus dining plan and I was curious how to get the most out of the plan? We're not big breakfast eaters so I imagine most of our TS will be used for dinner.
Also, I would like to do atleast 1 character meal but not sure which one is best suited for a 3 and 1/2 yo girl. I would also like to know if it is worth using 2 credits for signature dinners or dinner shows? If so which one?
The last time we went to Disney (on our honeymoon)we were only there for 3 days and the only ts dinner we had was at the California Grill. None of us are picky eaters so the sky is the limit!! Thanks ahead of time for any opinions!!!

 

[byoung]

Try Chef Mickeys . Don't think the double credits are worth it.

 

[ameraumi]

We are going for 6 days and right now we are using most of our TS for Character meals. I'm not sure if this is wise, but with a 4 yr old, as well as a 32 yr old kid at heart, we wanted to have fun!

 

[lustergirl]

We are trying the Luau show next September, it requires 2 TS credits per person so we are saving a day and eating light that day. Heard nothing but great reviews on this show.

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

I've booked a 7 day trip in Sept 2006 for my dd(3 and 1/2 at trip time), dh and myself at the POFQ. I got the magic your way plus dining plan and I was curious how to get the most out of the plan? We're not big breakfast eaters so I imagine most of our TS will be used for dinner.
Also, I would like to do atleast 1 character meal but not sure which one is best suited for a 3 and 1/2 yo girl. I would also like to know if it is worth using 2 credits for signature dinners or dinner shows? If so which one?
The last time we went to Disney (on our honeymoon)we were only there for 3 days and the only ts dinner we had was at the California Grill. None of us are picky eaters so the sky is the limit!! Thanks ahead of time for any opinions!!!

Value = Dinners only for table service.

If you figure it out price wise Signiture Dinners price wise is about 1 1/2 TS but costs you 2.

If you do a show with Kids I suggest the Hoop De Doo. The Story part of the Luau is a bit long Winded. The hoop de doo is flasher, and more active and funny. Kids tend to like it better. Me too. I went to both this past summer and the food is better at the hoop de doo I thought. But neither is as good as Ohana.

We are going for 6 days and right now we are using most of our TS for Character meals. I'm not sure if this is wise, but with a 4 yr old, as well as a 32 yr old kid at heart, we wanted to have fun!

There are diffrent values. when you pass people in line for 45 min in the sun to get 10 sec with Mickey you will see you got a whole diffrent type of value.

We are trying the Luau show next September, it requires 2 TS credits per person so we are saving a day and eating light that day. Heard nothing but great reviews on this show.

It was good. but i wish the whole show was like the last main part of the show.

 

[DeborahA]

Just a suggestion on using your credits. We, DH and I, purchased the dining plan in Nov. We split breakfast in the morning, split lunch, then snacked in the afternoon. By 5-6:00 we were ready for all the food you can order with a TS credit. I think you can do better-value wise- if you don't do the 2 credit TS. But, if you have your heart set on one of them go for it. I have heard it discussed on this board that using the credits for character meals is not getting the most for your dollar, but it depends on what you consider valuable--the meal or the experience. I think you will find the dining plan to be worth the money. We did and plan on using it again in Dec. 06.
HTH Deb

 

[madalynns mom]

Thanks. I think if we do signature dining we may just pay for it and use credits for something else. I'm probably going to take our daughter to Chef Mickey's, I always hear great things about it! We'll definiately be splitting breakfast since my idea of breakfast is 4 cups of coffee

 

[cyndibelle]

you cant go wrong with chef mickeys..that is our favorite place for breakfast...

 

[zinkie]

Just a suggestion on using your credits. We, DH and I, purchased the dining plan in Nov. We split breakfast in the morning, split lunch, then snacked in the afternoon. By 5-6:00 we were ready for all the food you can order with a TS credit. I think you can do better-value wise- if you don't do the 2 credit TS. But, if you have your heart set on one of them go for it. I have heard it discussed on this board that using the credits for character meals is not getting the most for your dollar, but it depends on what you consider valuable--the meal or the experience. I think you will find the dining plan to be worth the money. We did and plan on using it again in Dec. 06.
HTH Deb



DeborahA...


You have my interest in splitting units on the dining plan..

We are a family of 4 and I am worried about being gorged
w/ food. I want each of us to use a unit for dinner, but I
like your idea on splitting breakfast,lunch.

Each day you get a CS meal and a Dinner unit. How do
you split breakfast and lunch (with the CS unit)???


Please explain..

Thanks,

Steve



D

 

[wright1baby]

The splitting of units works exceptionally well for kids that might night eat a "whole" burger. We did this a lot for lunches and breakfasts also. Electric Umbrella had enormous burgers and even my DD 6 & DS 8 couldn't finish their halves!

 

[zinkie]

I have my DW, DD (15) and DD (16) with me.. The thing
that intrigued me on the 'sharing' was the breakfast and
lunch aspects..

I would like each person to have a dinner (so all the dinner
units would be gone).

--> Is there a way to share the CS units between breakfast and
lunch?


I was trying to follow DeborahA's post above on sharing...


Does anyone see a way we could share breakfast and lunch
using Counter Service units?


Steve

 

[wright1baby]

I think, and correct me if I am wrong, when she DeborahA says "split" she is saying her and her husband were sharing a meal. Used 1 CS credit and both ate it.

 

[pedro2112]

I think, and correct me if I am wrong, when she DeborahA says "split" she is saying her and her husband were sharing a meal. Used 1 CS credit and both ate it.

Exactly.

Zinkie, each member of your party doesn't have individual "units" assigned to each day. Rather, all your dining credits are pooled together and anyone in your party can use any of the credits at any time. You can even use a credit for a meal and split it with others in your party (buffets and family style meals are an exception). For your family, you multiply the number of people in your party (4) by the number of nights you in your package. So if you are staying 7 nights, you will get a pool of 28 TS credits, 28 CS credits and 28 snack Credits. Any member of your family can use any of the credits, at any time up until midnight of the day you check out of your hotel.

 

[DeborahA]

Thanks everyone. I meant to say "split a meal for 1 cs credit"
We found that if we bought an extra order of toast and a coffee oop, we could easily share an omelet. At lunch we would buy an extra drink(or use a snack credit) and use our cs credit for a sandwich. We are not really light eaters but found the portions large enough to share.
HTH Deb
P.S. you won't feel the guilt when you eat a big dinner later on with this plan.

 

[zinkie]

Hi DeborahA...

Thanks for your explanations..

The question I have is about breakfast...


Can you use a Counter Service (CS) for breakfast and omelets,
etc... ????

I do NOT want to use any of my Table Service (TS) for
breakfast...

I saw that you guys were splitting breakfast and I am
wondering HOW you do this, ie. I assume (if you are using
the Disney Dining Plan and not paying OOP, that you are
indeed using CS for breakfast somehow)...



Thanks,

Steve

 

[GeorgiaAristocat]

I've booked a 7 day trip in Sept 2006 for my dd(3 and 1/2 at trip time), dh and myself at the POFQ. I got the magic your way plus dining plan and I was curious how to get the most out of the plan? We're not big breakfast eaters so I imagine most of our TS will be used for dinner.
Also, I would like to do atleast 1 character meal but not sure which one is best suited for a 3 and 1/2 yo girl. I would also like to know if it is worth using 2 credits for signature dinners or dinner shows? If so which one?
The last time we went to Disney (on our honeymoon)we were only there for 3 days and the only ts dinner we had was at the California Grill. None of us are picky eaters so the sky is the limit!! Thanks ahead of time for any opinions!!!

I will throw in, too, that after my husband and I were on dining last September (for virtually free), we found that it was WAY too much food. Ironically, we found that it would have been easier to split a TS meal at most places. Some CS meals are bigger than others. In general, we found the CS at a food court/resort to be bigger than in the parks. In the parks we generally would eat a full CS meal each (for lunch). Then, at dinner, while we DIDN'T share meals (b/c we didn't know), we had SO MUCH FOOD left over. I confess to being a very light eater, but in general, I had 50-75% of my entree left on my plate at the end of every TS meal.

For a first-timer w/ a 3 1/2 yr old - it depends on what characters your child really loves. My 3 yr old daughter is CRAZY for Cinderella and princesses, so its Akershus and 1900 Park Fare for her. My 18 mo. old son doesn't much care at this point, so probably Crystal Palace and either Chef Mickey's or the new character meal at MGM (if it comes through) for him. Le Cellier, Alfredo's and Cali Grill for mom, dad, and grandma. I am planning to do ALL of that on points (for seven nights) with only a kid's meal or two OOP. (yes, I have charts and spreadsheets, LOL).

I am putting the links to my dining review from last September HERE
and also, check the menus on allearsnet.com HERE , finally, the character meals are outlined HERE .

BTW, we stayed at POFQ and LOVED it - with a child I would probably request building 5. We were in 7 and were quite happy, but didn't have kids with us. We would have preferred to be closer to the playground, pool, and food court with kids.

Have a wonderful time planning and an even more wonderful trip!

 

[TLPL]

We should have a thread call "Best TS/ CS to split a meal" list whish location serve big enough portion that people can easily share the meal. (I am afraid to start a new thread)

 

[aviva5675]

We are going for 5 nights in Nov. We have the dining plan, md, DH and DD14...We are going to do Citricos, and CG (use 2 ts for each adult, dd to eat our appetizers and a dessert for DD, Spoodles or Kona for a dinner, Le Cellier for a dinner, CP for a lunch...Boma oop for breakfast and BD for fantasmic package, oop...Now Im seeing that alot of people dont feel a charachter mean (ie my CP lunch) is worth using the TS. But already paying oop for fantasmic and Boma breakfast - pay another meal oop, not getting much value out of my dining plan--maybe we are over planning our ts

 

[DeborahA]

Steve
We found alot of choices at Pop Century for breakfast. We usually ate there to save time after arriving in the parks. There are alot of places that serve a larger breakfast that you can share very easily. We found that in the food courts they would allow you to get a full meal--omelet, potatoes, bread and coffee for 1 cs credit. Plenty to share.
Deb

 

[Dale-Not-Chip]

I have heard it discussed on this board that using the credits for character meals is not getting the most for your dollar, but it depends on what you consider valuable--the meal or the experience. I think you will find the dining plan to be worth the money. We did and plan on using it again in Dec. 06.
HTH Deb

Your absolutly right. I was just talking money for Food.

But. If you are with Kids that want to stop and Get in line for every Character signiture. That is a huge part of your Day in line for a couple seconds with Characters. Lees Rides = Less value of your addmissison. If you go to a Character Breakfast everyday on your meal plan. You will save extra money when you pass the 1 hour line of kids waiting to see Mickey. (especially at Toon Toon Fair) Then you can See the other Characters that are not as popular because you got the big ones at Breakfast.

do whats right for your Family. Your Still saving Money even doing a CD everyday.

And to add my comment Earlier about signiture dining. while even though you get a bit more value for the buck by not doing any. Except for the Shows, the Food quality is definetly 2 credits worth. They are really good compared to the 1 credit TS. the shows food is better but there is a show. If there is a SD you want to go to and wouldn't go otherwise. Do it. Once again your still saving Money it's just not as huge of a saving.


About Saving Money.

As long as you are eating the way you want, If you save .01 it is worth doing the dining plan just for the hassle you save not worring about money for food on your trip. So don't go into it thinking that you need to save 20, 50, 100 dollers. Have fun. Eat quality food. Go beyond the chicken and the chop steak. Try the apps you wouldn't order at home because if you don't like it you waisted Money. Don't Worry about waisting Fod if your full. This isn't home it's a resturant. It was waisted as soon as it hit the loading dock. If it goes beyond the shelf life it goes to the trash. And they always order more than they need because they don't want to have to tell a guest Sorry. If you feel your getting way to much food Split Counter luches and do the Sig. Dining every other Day. the Dining Plan is flexable for a reason.

Have fun.