How to get the most out of DDP???

[becca011906]

Ok this is the first time we are using this so we are kinda clueless My dh just added it b/c the guy on the phone suggested it and it sounded good to my dh! LOL so we are 7 nights there so 7 TS, 7 CS, 7 snacks for all 5 of us, 2 adults, 3 kids that are DS 7 who eats very well and usally most of his food and sometimes has seconds, DD 5 who eats like a bird some days and others will sit and eat and eat and eat but it's usally the bird! LOL DD3 who usally eats well for a 3 year old and can usally keep up pretty close to dd5 in terms of eating! LOL For TS meals we have ... Chef Mickey's, Le Celliers, 50's Prime time, 1900 Park Fair, Liberty tree tavern, Crystal Palace so almost all these we will all need to use a credit, but at like Le Celliers can the girls split or at Prime time? I'm not sure how to streach the counter service meals either, i'm kinda worried if we don't all use one each time we sit down to eat then we'll end up with some left and not know where/how to use them before we leave. We are staying at POR so we do have fridge so we could bring left overs back if they could be eaten cold... As for the CS my dh always orders his own meal, he hates sharing food! LOL before me and ds have gotten a meal to share and dd's have shared a kids meals and we were fine... but we kinda wanta be more laid back this trip and not always feel like we are watching our pennies to that's why dh added the DDP i think... any tips!!!!

 

[Tricia1972]

I felt that the kids portions were just about right for a child. I went with my 4 (almost 5 yo) and my 1 (turning 2 on the trip) back in October.

DS4 disliked almost all of the kids appetizers, so we'd give the appetizer (usually soup) to our DS2

When we received our meals, the 4-5 adults would take a portion of their main dish and cut it up for DS2 to eat. DS4 would eat all of his entree, and he's not usually a big eater. For this reason I don't think it'd work to have your daughters share.

Your best bet, being that your husband isn't into sharing at CS, would be just to plan to eat where you want and everyone order their own meal. If you have to pay OOP for anything, breakfasts are the least expensive and lunches are the next least expensive meal.

 

[sz9144]

we usually try to book buffets for our TS, so that we don't feel limited to one entree choice or portion. We plan a late dinner, and an early lunch (around 10:30-11am)- and just skip breakfast. this yr we'll be at BCV so we'll probably keep breakfast stuff in the room, and use the DDP for lunch (cs) and dinner (ts) again.

for CS, we loved going to pizza planet in MGM- we got a pizza, salad, dessert and drink per CS credit. so we got two individual pizzas (my twin 3 yr olds shared one, and my dh and I shared the other, and then we got 2 salads with them so my dh and I had that as well), and we were able to save up our CS credits. by the end of our trip we ended up having to pile on CS meals to use up all of our credits.

 

[Krmrr]

There is at least one, often more, good value CS spots in each park. As previously mentioned, Pizza Planet at MGM, also look at Flame Tree in Animal Kingdom, Tangerine & Sunshine in Epcot, and Cosmic Rays in Tomorrowland. All of these places have selections that can easily be shared. If you get three pizza's and three salads, three drinks and three desserts at Pizza planet (the cookies are LARGE), you may find that it will feed everyone. If not, you can always make a run down and pick up another lunch.

Also remember, you do not all need to order at the same place. We have stopped at the McD (not called that, but they serve McNuggets) in Epcot and gotten the kids' meals then walked up to France for ours.

 

[pubugg]

i'm kinda worried if we don't all use one each time we sit down to eat then we'll end up with some left and not know where/how to use them before we leave.

On the old plan, there was a way to trade in leftover counter service and table service meals for snacks before leaving (want to think that it was 3 snacks that = a counter service; one for beverage, one for appetizer and one for entree). Not sure how it would work with this new dining plan (haven't studied too much since not planning to return in 2008). May be worth asking the cashier at the food court (or CM when you check in).

 

[wezee]

We usually had a few snacks left, but now that you can use them on most items under $4, we had no problem buying snacks to bring home and bottled juices and gatorade for the frig in our room. Love those huge pretzels around the world, which can be bought with a snack credit. And try to visit Goofy's Candy Co. in DTD to create your own rice krispie snack or gourmet pretzel sticks (snack credits can be used for all).