How to Maximize Table Service credits?

[heather0809]

Our trip is from Dec. 13-18. I'm planning out our dining reservations and I'm finding it hard to choose....

With only five TS credits, I'm afraid we will miss out on something, esp. since CRT takes 2 credits.

My choices were:

CRT (2 credits)
Le Cellier (I know...almost impossible to get)
California Grill (another 2 credits for an "adult night")
Crystal Palace
Chef Mickeys
Park Fare

Obviously, that's way more credits than I have! Any suggestions?

 

[Nadjalu]

I have heard of some people paying OOP for CRT and using the other credits for meals.

Personally what I would do is pick the top 5 of my choices and go with that, then if there is a 2 TS meal in there pay OOP for the cheapest meal at another place. You can find the prices on the menus online.

 

[JenGC]

I found a blog that gives suggestions on how to maximize your credits. For instance, they list certain Quick Service places that serves HUGE amounts of food that would serve more than one person. If you share, then you would be able to save that credit for something else...like a 2TS credit place. I am wanting to do the same thing. I am going for 3 nights and I would like to eat at 4 TS (I desperately want to eat at the Port Orleans Riverside TS restaurant and get authentic Jambalaya but everyone else have their favorites and they dont include that place). So I thought it would work if I shared with someone else, then we could have that too...maybe the day we leave or even the night before as take out! lol

There is a place in Epcot...I think Sunshine Seasons, that serves a half of a chicken for one TS! I know my daughter and I could TOTALLY split that! Then I have another TS to save for something else. Also, they list all the places that you could use a snack for a breakfast. They also said that if you get ice cream as a dessert, then you could say you wanted to save it, and then get it later.

The blog is http://www.onlywdworld.com/ REALLY great site.

 

[Cafeen]

Our trip is from Dec. 13-18. I'm planning out our dining reservations and I'm finding it hard to choose....

With only five TS credits, I'm afraid we will miss out on something, esp. since CRT takes 2 credits.

My choices were:

CRT (2 credits)
Le Cellier (I know...almost impossible to get)
California Grill (another 2 credits for an "adult night")
Crystal Palace
Chef Mickeys
Park Fare

Obviously, that's way more credits than I have! Any suggestions?

A lot will depend on the actual meals you are planning to eat. (e.g. Breakfast is typically cheaper than Dinner). If they are all "must-dos" then look into booking breakfasts for a few of the cheaper ones and paying oop there.

Right now you have 8 credits planned, so we'll need to "cut" 3 of them out.

My gut would tell me that paying OOP for CRT breakfast and 1900PF breakfast may be the best option. Of course, 1900PF breakfast is different than dinner (different characters available). So, if you're planning a dinner there for Cinderella and Company, I'd then pay OOP for a Crystal Palace breakfast. (It's cheaper than Chef Mickey's breakfast last I checked).

Some actual numbers (note these are approximates based off of prices found at the WDWInfo menus portion (http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm#disneydining)
1900PF: Breakfast: $22/$12, Dinner ~$40/$20
CG: Dinner: $30 + $12 dessert ($19/credit) / $9 ($4.50/credit)
CM: Breakfast: $27/$14, Dinner: $34/$17
CRT: Breakfast: $32 ($16/credit) /$22 ($11/credit), Dinner: $57 ($28.50/credit)/$35($17.50/credit)
CP: Breakfast: $21/$12, Dinner $33/$16
LC: (this is assuming fillet) $26 + $7 dessert / $9

Note: both CRT and CP also serve lunch, but we're comparing lowest cost (oop) vs highest value (ddp) here, so they do not come into play. Le Cellier also serves both lunch and dinner, but the prices above reflect choices that remain the same price at either. Also note that the menu service locations (CG and LC) are only estimates based off of the general pricing of the entrees, you're actual amount may vary based on what you actually order. I don't think it would change my recommendations below any though.

From the looks of this above, I would suggest booking CRT and either CP or 1900PF breakfast. (This can be decided by what experience you want at 1900PF, Alice in Wonderland + Mary Poppins (breakfast), or Cinderella, Prince Charming, Stepsisters, and Lady Tremaine(dinner)). I would pay OOP for only the adults at these meals though (yes, the check can be split like this) and use the DDP if you have children going. For the kids, if they're going to CG, pay OOP both here and at Le Cellier for them (and use the adult DDP credits). If they aren't going to CG, then you should just be able to pay OOP at Le Cellier.

Ok, I reread and realized it was kind of tough to disseminate the information there. In short:

• Book CRT and either 1900PF or CP Breakfasts. Pay OOP for Adults at these. Pay with DDP for children.
• Book the rest as dinners (or lunches where applicable).
• Pay OOP for Children at Le Cellier and if they are going to Cali Grill. Pay with DDP for Adults at these locations.
• Pay with DDP for other meals

 

[Cafeen]

I found a blog that gives suggestions on how to maximize your credits. For instance, they list certain Quick Service places that serves HUGE amounts of food that would serve more than one person. If you share, then you would be able to save that credit for something else...like a 2TS credit place. I am wanting to do the same thing. I am going for 3 nights and I would like to eat at 4 TS (I desperately want to eat at the Port Orleans Riverside TS restaurant and get authentic Jambalaya but everyone else have their favorites and they dont include that place). So I thought it would work if I shared with someone else, then we could have that too...maybe the day we leave or even the night before as take out! lol

There is a place in Epcot...I think Sunshine Seasons, that serves a half of a chicken for one TS! I know my daughter and I could TOTALLY split that! Then I have another TS to save for something else. Also, they list all the places that you could use a snack for a breakfast. They also said that if you get ice cream as a dessert, then you could say you wanted to save it, and then get it later.

The blog is http://www.onlywdworld.com/ REALLY great site.

A couple issues with that though.

Unless on the DxDDP, you can't swap QS for TS credits (and you can on DxDDP because credits aren't specific, they are just "credits" instead of "TS Credits" and "QS Credits"). Sometimes (rarely) they'll let you swap a TS for a QS, but that's not going to help the OP any in her situation.

Sharing meals is a good way to conserve credits though, for sure. (Or money if paying OOP). Disney's portion size is notoriously large for the most part, so this helps things along a bit. It would (and does) work for both TS and QS locations as well. Unfortunately for the OP (well, depending on viewpoint ), she's doing mostly buffets and other fixed price experiences, so at those you pay per person, not per order. So, again for this situation it's not exactly going to work .

 

[JenGC]

A couple issues with that though.

Unless on the DxDDP, you can't swap QS for TS credits (and you can on DxDDP because credits aren't specific, they are just "credits" instead of "TS Credits" and "QS Credits"). Sometimes (rarely) they'll let you swap a TS for a QS, but that's not going to help the OP any in her situation.

Sharing meals is a good way to conserve credits though, for sure. (Or money if paying OOP). Disney's portion size is notoriously large for the most part, so this helps things along a bit. It would (and does) work for both TS and QS locations as well. Unfortunately for the OP (well, depending on viewpoint ), she's doing mostly buffets and other fixed price experiences, so at those you pay per person, not per order. So, again for this situation it's not exactly going to work .

Sorry, I dont mean to SWAP, I mean either one day you can eat 2 QS meals and take that days TS and use that for a 2 TS meal or share a QS with someone else and save that TS for a 2 TS meal. No they wont let you use a TS meal for a QS meal. I do know that they will let you use all your credits in one day (meaning you dont HAVE to eat 1 snack a day, 1 Table service a day, and 1 Quick service a day). You can save up and use 3 Table services in one day and 3 quick service meals in one day. I am just saying, switch them around or share and use the ones you dont use another day.

 

[Cafeen]

Sorry, I dont mean to SWAP, I mean either one day you can eat 2 QS meals and take that days TS and use that for a 2 TS meal or share a QS with someone else and save that TS for a 2 TS meal. No they wont let you use a TS meal for a QS meal. I do know that they will let you use all your credits in one day (meaning you dont HAVE to eat 1 snack a day, 1 Table service a day, and 1 Quick service a day). You can save up and use 3 Table services in one day and 3 quick service meals in one day. I am just saying, switch them around or share and use the ones you dont use another day.

Ahh yes, that makes sense. My brain's a little fried today, 12th day in a row working 8am - 7pm, I'm not thinking very straight . That plan works well if you have fewer "must-dos" than you have nights.

 

[KTJAY]

Our trip is from Dec. 13-18. I'm planning out our dining reservations and I'm finding it hard to choose....

With only five TS credits, I'm afraid we will miss out on something, esp. since CRT takes 2 credits.

My choices were:

CRT (2 credits)
Le Cellier (I know...almost impossible to get)
California Grill (another 2 credits for an "adult night")
Crystal Palace
Chef Mickeys
Park Fare

Obviously, that's way more credits than I have! Any suggestions?

I would pick Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's for breakfast and pay oop. The breakfast buffet's are cheaper!!

 

[minniemoms]

Subscribing to learn more

 

[skier_pete]

OP - you should provide a little more detail - specifically what meals (Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner) you are booked for. This would make suggestions easier.

I'm going to also assume you want to keep all your ADRs as is...even though I don't know exactly what they are. AND, since you don't list how many are in your party...I'm going to assume that for CG you are getting a sitter, and all adults will be dining at CG.

Previous Posters already covered this....but in general, breakfasts are poor uses of dining credits. Also, CRT is a terrible use of 2 TS credits, particularly for adults, even for dinner. Signature restaurants in general are not great use of dining credits either, but CRT is a particularly bad offender.

So...I would pay OOP for CRT for the adults, and use the 2 TS credits for the kids there. The adults would then use their 2 TS credits for CG. Of the remaining choices, if any of them are for breakfast, I would pay OOP for that meal for everyone. If none of them are for breakfast, I would switch one to breakfast or skip one completely.

By the way...we went the same week in 2009 (Dec 12-20) and ate at all the same restaurants except 1900 PF...including CG for adults only. If you'd like to, check out my December TR which covers dining reviews of all the restaurants. (Link is in my signature.)

 

[minniemoms]

The blog is http://www.onlywdworld.com/ REALLY great site.

Really liked this.
It mentions Wolf Gang Puck. Is that really a quick service ?
Maybe only a few things on the menu. I couldn't find anywhere that it lists it.

 

[skier_pete]

Really liked this.
It mentions Wolf Gang Puck. Is that really a quick service ?
Maybe only a few things on the menu. I couldn't find anywhere that it lists it.

There are 2 Wolfgang Puck restaurants at DTD. One is a QS one - Wolfgang Puck's Express - and is a good value for QS. The other - Wolfgang Puck Cafe - I have never tried so can't comment on.

 

[minniemoms]

I just saw an alfredo dish. My DS18 LOVES alfredo. Just wondering

 

[dixonsontour]

Yes the Wolfgang puck express at DTD marketplace is fabulous value for a QS credit - your order at a counter but the food is brought to you, real plates and knives and forks.

We ate there 3 or 4 times last trip.

 

[JerseyJanice]

One way I have found to stretch credits is to split them over ala carte meals.

The OP is listing mostly buffets, and this advice does not apply to them, but it works in our situation. My son and nephew (both 13 now) are "adults" in Disney dining, but for the most part, they still eat like kids. I can order them kid's meals or an appetizer and save their TS credits to cover another meal.

So for example, on our upcoming trip, we will be eating at Chefs de France, Mama Melrose and LeCellier. All three of those offer nice kid's meals that we can order and ask to pay OOP for--my nephew lives on chicken nuggets. My son is a huge soup fan, so I can order him a French onion at Chefs or the cheddar cheese soup at LeCellier, and he'll be happier to eat that than anything else.

We'll take the leftover credits and use them to cover another meal at an ala carte restaurant like Sci Fi Dine Inn or a breakfast buffet. This way, if we don't have enough TS credits to cover an entire meal for everyone, what we do pay OOP for won't be very expensive.