How can I get the most out of the dining plan?

[Catie.Hiltz]

My husband and I are going to be using the 1 table service/1 quick service/1 snack per day meal plan.

My question is: how can we get the most of the dining plan, money and food wise what are the best ways to utilize this plan?

If we find ourselves hungry/out of meals, what places are good deals for quick service/snacks? We are staying at the POP century resort, and have heard good things about it's food court....

Any advice is appreciated

 

[JLR]

My husband and I are going to be using the 1 table service/1 quick service/1 snack per day meal plan.

My question is: how can we get the most of the dining plan, money and food wise what are the best ways to utilize this plan?

If we find ourselves hungry/out of meals, what places are good deals for quick service/snacks? We are staying at the POP century resort, and have heard good things about it's food court....

Any advice is appreciated

Plan ahead - This is hard!

It can be challenging to use up all your meal credits and the longer the trip, the harder it is in my opinion.

Plan your table service meals early: For the busiest times and during free dining promotions, please consider making your reservations 90 - 180 days in advance.

You can learn all about different restaurants including the costs of meals at allears.net, and browse here for what people have to say.

I love to do as many TS in Epcot as possible, but that really only works if you've got the park hopper option and are willing to use it. There is no TS at POP so you'd have to go somewhere. If you don't have PH consider enjoying resort restaurants on the Boardwalk, or at the deluxe hotels, but be sure to give yourself plenty of travel time, drive, or take a cab.

Best of luck!

 

[Cafeen]

As Julie mentioned, planning is key.

For the DDP (this is the one you are on, DDP = "Disney Dining Plan"), it's a bit tougher to make worthwhile per credit as the "target" number is a bit higher (that is the estimated/rough cost per TS credit). This target number for the DDP is around $31. So if you can average $31 per meal (Entree, Drink, Dessert, Tax on those 3 items), then you'll be fine. (This is assuming $14 CS average and $3 snack average.) If you're close to that, and the convienance is something you like, go ahead as well. No sense in worrying if you're going to "make it" if it's only a few dollars off .

Some tips on getting the highest return:

Plan TS dinners. Dinners are typically the most expensive meal at the restaurant (when compared to the same restaurant).

Character buffets are also usually quite pricey and most of them (especially the dinners) will easily run over $31 per adult.

Use all entitlements per meal. Don't skip desserts. At CS locations, you can often get a bottle of water in place of dessert if that's desired.

Use all meal credits. Having extra CS credits could cost you, having extra TS credits will.

Limit paying for 2TS locations with the DDP. You don't have to skip all of them, but typically a 2TS meal will be cheaper OOP than the cost of the credits. However, if it's either pay with DDP and have 0 TS left over, or pay OOP and have 1 or 2, definitely pay with DDP.

Plan ahead. You may feel like you're tied down to your meal plans, but it's just the way it is. With DDP you only need to average 1 TS meal per night, so it's not that bad. (You should see my puzzle I have with DxDDP! ) If you're unsure which park you may be in, use the resorts. There are many great options at the resorts for you to try .

If you have questions, concerns, need a sanity check, whatever, give us a shout and we'll be more than happy to help.

 

[cluelyss18]

As Julie mentioned, planning is key.

For the DDP (this is the one you are on, DDP = "Disney Dining Plan"), it's a bit tougher to make worthwhile per credit as the "target" number is a bit higher (that is the estimated/rough cost per TS credit). This target number for the DDP is around $31. So if you can average $31 per meal (Entree, Drink, Dessert, Tax on those 3 items), then you'll be fine. (This is assuming $14 CS average and $3 snack average.) If you're close to that, and the convienance is something you like, go ahead as well. No sense in worrying if you're going to "make it" if it's only a few dollars off .

Some tips on getting the highest return:

Plan TS dinners. Dinners are typically the most expensive meal at the restaurant (when compared to the same restaurant).

Character buffets are also usually quite pricey and most of them (especially the dinners) will easily run over $31 per adult.

Use all entitlements per meal. Don't skip desserts. At CS locations, you can often get a bottle of water in place of dessert if that's desired.

Use all meal credits. Having extra CS credits could cost you, having extra TS credits will.

Limit paying for 2TS locations with the DDP. You don't have to skip all of them, but typically a 2TS meal will be cheaper OOP than the cost of the credits. However, if it's either pay with DDP and have 0 TS left over, or pay OOP and have 1 or 2, definitely pay with DDP.

Plan ahead. You may feel like you're tied down to your meal plans, but it's just the way it is. With DDP you only need to average 1 TS meal per night, so it's not that bad. (You should see my puzzle I have with DxDDP! ) If you're unsure which park you may be in, use the resorts. There are many great options at the resorts for you to try .

If you have questions, concerns, need a sanity check, whatever, give us a shout and we'll be more than happy to help.

wow I am totally lost now! I now HOPE they don't offer me free dining, I wouldn't understand it apparantly. I thought I did.

 

[kchughes]

We often split CS meals, especially if it is really hot at the time of year we are traveling. I am not a huge breakfast eater, but DH and DS are. So we will use a CS meal for an adult breakfast platter and get a bottle of water to drink. Use the refillable mug for soda or drink a canned soda that we have in the room. (we drive, so getting to the grocery if needed is not a problem. Otherwise, go to the Hess station for a case of soft drinks). In MK, we go to Cosmic Ray's and get 2 of the chicken and rib combos and an extra drink using a snack credit. We split it 3 ways and often throw stuff away. CS meals are also easily split at Sunshine Seasons and Flame Tree BBQ. Pop's food court is one of the best for a variety. You can also stick a jar of peanut butter in your luggage (put it in a large ziplock bag first) and get a couple slices of bread for about $1.00. Jelly is out in the Pop food court. Easy, cheap sandwich. A lot of places will let you sub fruit for a dessert, so I will get apple slices and eat them with peanut butter for a light breakfast or snack. But I love peanut butter and could eat it everyday! Earl of Sandwich at DTD is relatively inexpensive, if you need to pay OOP. Or just have ice cream for dinner!

 

[iX.]

Substitutions are almost always allowed, eg get a snack instead of a drink or two deserts instead of a desert and a snack, that sort of thing. Bring bottled water from Wal Mart and swap your fountain drink for something.

If pressed they will usually turn a CS meal into 3 or 4 snacks, which works great if you split CS meals form time to time (easy to satisfy two normal adults on 1 full CS meal)

Snacks, are generally anything under $4. So, using a snack credit on something that's $3.99 is good value. A banana at $0.75 is not. so, buy the banana with cash. In fact anything less than about $2.50 is probably better bought with cash, provided you're using all your snacks up. Some snacks (especially at Epcot during food & wine) are tasty and pretty filling. Just watch carefully for the symbol. (why aren't corn dogs at AK included? sigh)

My best advice really is buy bottled water and bring it, and use the credits for actual food.