Looking for advice about DDP and CRT

[Jennifer in WA]

Okay, so we are going to be at WDW for 7 days (march 31-apr7). We have the regular dining plan for the 6 of us, 4 at adult price and 2 at child price. I have made plenty of ADRs for our stay, with a few extra.

Need some advice about what to do with CRT. I know it counts as two credits. We are going for my DD12th birthday. That would leave us with 5 other TS credits. We actually have reservations for 6 other restaurants and just planned on paying for one OOP. When looking at overall costs for things, my DH thought maybe we should just pay for CRT OOP and then we would have 2 more TS meals....one that we were already planning on, but now could do another one.

Here's the money thought - CRT will cost us approximately $190 (plus tip...oh and I guess there would be tax, too). The other TS meals that we have booked are about $135-$150 for our family. See our dilemma?? We could use $190 credit for two TS or we could use two different meals for $270-300.
Now, we don't need to do the extra meal, but we would still be paying for one more meal. So, we could keep it as using the 2 TS for CRT and then pay about $135 OOP for one of the meals. Or, we could pay OOP for CRT and then pick another restaurant that we will use our TS at.

Does that make sense at all? Any input would be GREATLY appreciated!!

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

I'm having a similar dilemna. I think I have decided to pay for CRT OPP. It is just not a good deal on DDP.

 

[janloz]

Okay, so we are going to be at WDW for 7 days (march 31-apr7). We have the regular dining plan for the 6 of us, 4 at adult price and 2 at child price. I have made plenty of ADRs for our stay, with a few extra.

Need some advice about what to do with CRT. I know it counts as two credits. We are going for my DD12th birthday. That would leave us with 5 other TS credits. We actually have reservations for 6 other restaurants and just planned on paying for one OOP. When looking at overall costs for things, my DH thought maybe we should just pay for CRT OOP and then we would have 2 more TS meals....one that we were already planning on, but now could do another one.

Here's the money thought - CRT will cost us approximately $190 (plus tip...oh and I guess there would be tax, too). The other TS meals that we have booked are about $135-$150 for our family. See our dilemma?? We could use $190 credit for two TS or we could use two different meals for $270-300.
Now, we don't need to do the extra meal, but we would still be paying for one more meal. So, we could keep it as using the 2 TS for CRT and then pay about $135 OOP for one of the meals. Or, we could pay OOP for CRT and then pick another restaurant that we will use our TS at.

Does that make sense at all? Any input would be GREATLY appreciated!!

We paid OOP for CRT when we went instead of using 2TS and it was the best deal for us. You can always use the extra TS for a lunch for everyone and will still come out ahead. CRT is beautiful and great place to celebrate a birthday.

 

[Faldred]

I think the general rule is if you are planning on using the credits elsewhere, that many, of the 2 credit meals aren't particularly cost-effective on basic DDP, and that paying for it OOP makes sense to save those credits for other meals.

But the bolded part makes all the difference -- if you aren't really using the extra credit for any reason than to just use it, it doesn't sound like much of a bargain to me. If you really want the extra TS credit, then paying OOP for CRT makes sense.

 

[kcashner]

I totally agree that in my experience, the meals that use 2 TS are not worth it on the DDP. It is a better value if you pay for that OOP.

Of course, as PP said, this is ONLY true if you will be using all your credits. If there is something that you are going to waste, then by all means, use it for a 2 TS.

It's kind of like the character breakfasts--they aren't the highest dollar value use of a TS credit, but by all means, use a TS there rather than wasting it.

 

[Bellybean]

The other thing you can do is use 4TS adult credits for 2 adults and 2 TS credits for one child and pay for the other 3 people OOP. Then you'll still have credits left for the meal you have planned already and won't have to force yourselves to add an extra meal. If you really want to add another TS meal, I'd just pay OOP for the everyone at CRT.
We're going in a couple weeks and just using the 2 credits per person for CRT because we arrive late afternoon the first day and I don't want another TS meal. We definitely wouldn't want to sit through 2 TS on any of the other days with the kids, so it works out best for us to use them even though we aren't getting maximum value from the CRT credits. I don't really care as long as the plan makes sense overall.

 

[brendaziz]

ALSO don't forget to factor in the price of the meal considering that CRT INCLUDES tip. So for me, i'd wanna use TS credits for it cuz that'll save a little as well. But i guess it depends on where else you're eating.
just wehn u do all the math, don't forget to factor in that other places you'll pay tip and CRT it's included on the DDP.

usually if i have to pay for one oop i'll pick one of the cheaper bfasts

 

[brymolmom]

Have you done the DP before? What ages are your kids? My kids were 3 and 5 on last trip with DP for 8 nights. By the last night, we were so sick of restaurants! Our kids are pretty well behaved, but night after night (some mornings as we did some breakfasts) - they became so bored of coloring and waiting for their food. And mom and dad were sick of it too. We swore if we went that long again we would do one or two 2 credit meals to cut down on the total restaurant time while on that vacation. So for our upcoming September trip - we have at least one 2 credit meal planned. Even though they're older now - 7 and 5 on the trip - I think we will all be happier the last night with take out pizza from the food court in our room or by the pool instead of another sit down meal.

Anyway, just wanted to give you another thought. You could use your credits on CRT and just not have a sit down meal one day. Do take out pizza or just share CS meals with a few credits that day and do a smaller food/less wait time day.

 

[Jennifer in WA]

Wait??!! Are you saying that the TIP is included on the DDP at CRT?? We are a party of 6, so that is an automatic 18% for us. That is something to factor in to the decision.

Here are our reservations right now.... Our family is DD15, DD turning 12 (at CRT on her bday), DS9 and DD5. The girls LOVE the princesses and DS loves any character. We booked a lot of character meals so that we see them there, and don't have to stand in line at the parks for them. Plus, we are celebrating all 6 of our birthdays....they are all within 8 weeks around our trip. Some before, one during, some right after. Everyone got to pick one place that they wanted to go.

Day 1 - Akershrus Breakfast. Celebrating DD15 bday. Later that day, we have an ADR at Coral Reef, but we weren't sure about using it. When we thought about paying OOP for CRT, then we thought we would definitely use that one on the DDP.
Day 2 - CRT for DD actual 12th birthday. Then that night we are having a late dinner at WCC. That was a last minute addition after reading about all the fun. My kids and DH will LOVE that stuff.
Day 3 - Dinner at Cape May DH loves seafood, celebrating his bday here.
Day 4 - Dinner at Ohana's
Day 5 - Dinner at Chef Mickey's - celebrating DS bday
Day 6 - Dinner at 1900 Park Fare - celebrating DD upcoming 6th bday

So, you can see that we have 8 reservations. We could not use the Coral Reef one, use the DDP at CRT and still pay OOP for one reservation. Or pay OOP for CRT and then use the DDP for the other 7, including Coral Reef. We also have a ADR at 50's PT, but it is the same night that we have at WCC. Couldn't decide what to do! Guess we'll have to come back again to try MANY other restaurants that I want to go to. Most of our meals are "set" prices as buffets or all you can eats, so that makes figuring out the $$ easy.

Input???

 

[Jennifer in WA]

Bump....hoping to get an answer about the CRT including the tip on the DDP.

 

[Faldred]

Gratuities are included for CRT, pizza delivery, dinner shows, and in-room dining.

 

[smiths02]

I am not doing it by math...but here is what I would do...

Coral Reef reviews seem bad, so I would cancel that, make Askerhus Breakfast later in the morning (go get your fast passes, etc.), and just snack/counter service around Epcot...

I would pay CRT with the plan and then pay OOP for a 1 table service meal....bottom line is that you have spent less money, whether or not you got the best "value" that is less OOP that you paid for (and if your OOP is not a fixed price meal, you don't have to order drinks, dessert, entree for everyone, you could share, order water, etc.)

One thing I considered is that we are bringing breakfast stuff with us (driving), so when I had all these TS meals over what the DDP provides, I was not making full use of the counter service or snacks on the DDP or the fact that I had really inexpensive breakfast food/snacks already with us. A LOT of people on this board talk about maximizing dollars and splitting credits, etc., etc. and then say they had all these CS and snack credits left...well, then those credits weren't maximized.

 

[Jennifer in WA]

But only if you use the DDP? If you pay OOP, then you have to pay the 18% tip (party of 6), right? That isn't included in the price, I would assume.

So, now I really have a decision to make about which meals to pay for. Do I skip Coral Reef and then pay for one of the cheaper meals OOP? (Since we have extra ADRs made anyway....see list above) Or do I pay OOP for CRT and then use the DDP for the other 7 TS meals we have??

Wow....gonna have to crunch some more numbers to see the worth.

 

[JaimeK]

The other thing you can do is use 4TS adult credits for 2 adults and 2 TS credits for one child and pay for the other 3 people OOP. Then you'll still have credits left for the meal you have planned already and won't have to force yourselves to add an extra meal.

I think this option is perfect. You'll pay for half of your family OOP for CRT, use the 2TS for the other half, and have exactly the right amount of TS credits left for the meals you have planned with forcing yourself to add another.

 

[Colleen27]

But only if you use the DDP? If you pay OOP, then you have to pay the 18% tip (party of 6), right? That isn't included in the price, I would assume.

No, the tip is included in the price whether you're paying OOP or on the DDP.

 

[Jennifer in WA]

No, the tip is included in the price whether you're paying OOP or on the DDP.

Thanks for that. I'm really surprised that it's 2 TS credits then. When I compare the cost to other buffets, if you add in the tip....it ends up being about the same cost. Bummer that they charge you twice.

One other question...Tax. Tax is included on the DDP. I'm assuming it's not included if you pay OOP. Correct? Meaning, any of our meals that we use on the DDP, the tax is included. But if we pay OOP, the tax will still be added in. 6.5% right?

 

[Faldred]

Correct. The sales tax on the DDP is built into the quoted price. OOP would have to pay an additional 6.5% sales tax (7.0% at some value resorts located technically inside another tax jurisdiction), unless the menu specifically says the price includes sales tax.