Maximizing Dining Plan Credits

[MAGGIED]

Would love to hear your suggestions about getting the most out of the dining plan..... both table service and counter service for each park....

 

[eeyore45]

Well, I maximize my credits by reading menus at allearsnet.com... and eating what we like, that we normally couldnt afford.

For instance, the Cali Grille at the Contemporary may be a 2TS restaurant, but the food, and view are so amazing, its a must do... but, my kids not so much... so my dd choses to eat before our later ressies (like chicken nuggets or fries from a counter service place) Then she doesnt use her TS - as she wouldnt like anything anyway... since she is older she brings her drawing pad, and works on caricutures, or drawings... or she brings a book and reads (she loves loves to read)

Also, we maximize our Counter service by getting the largest combo for breakfast and maybe buying a side of bacon etc and splitting it.

Same for lunch... buying a double burger and paying OOP (out of pocket) for an extra bun... and a large soda, no ice... and splitting it...

 

[The Sweetness]

Some of the parks have a half chicken combo, w potatoes, and veggies. If you arent big eaters, you may do well to share it, and perhaps add an extra side of something like fries, onion rings, or slaw. The one dessert you get w a meal may be enough to share (a few bites each) as long as you arent greedy w dessert (I can be that way)

Keep in mind, you need to save room for a yummy snack every day too

 

[beagle744]

I don't know if this qualifes as maximizing credits, but last Oct we were on the DDP for five days while staying at SSR and didn't use any of our snack credits. We were doing a split stay so on day 6 we checked out of our room at SSR and moved to BC. We could still use our snack credits on the day of check out. So we went to Epcot and used all of our saved snack credits to graze through the F&W festival. 5 days of snack credits used at F&W was enough food to satisfy us for the whole day.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Maximize Your $40/day Coupons:

1) Snacks
. . . should be worth $3-$4
2) Counter Service
. . . should be worth $7-$9
3) Table Service:
. . . should be worth $27-$35
. . . do not use for breakfasts or (most) lunches
. . . do not use for character meals of dinner shows
. . . do not use for dinners under $27/adult
4) Plan ahead of time to maximize the use

 

[lil5tarz]

mousesavers.com has some helpful hints on maximizing the dining plan like which TS restaurants are most expensive and what CS meals can be split.

sorry can't post the direct link but just add www in front of it:
mousesavers.com/diningplantips2007.html

 

[Princess Stitch]

All I can suggest is at Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe they have a rib and chicken combo that costs about $15.99 and you only have to use a counter service credit to get it! It's really big enough to share, or at least big enough for dinner.

 

[cttjones]

Is there an amount limit per day or something? How does the dining plan work? I THOUGHT we got 1 TS, 1 CS, and 1 snack. Do they take the amount of dollars spent at those meals into consideration?

 

[bicker]

No, they don't take dollar amounts into consideration, at least not generally.

Here's a link to all the basic information about the Dining Plan:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=16079998

 

[M 'n C]

Honestly the way bf and I maximized ours was to do the things we normally wouldn't have done if we hadn't been on the dining plan such as eating at character meals, eating TS meals, splitting lunches at Epcot so we could try all the countries food. I think people get too bogged down in trying to squeeze the most money out of the plan without thinking about what they would like to eat or do. I would definetly try to look at all the menus on allearsnet.com and see what is appealing and forget about the prices. There is so much food on the plan you will definetly have credits left at the end of the week and you will definetly not starve. Have fun!

 

[AStamm]

By sharing meals you should easily be able to pay NOTHING out of pocket while on the DDP. Last August we had the free DDP and we spent about $6 on food the whole 10 days we were there, simply because there was a problem with the computer system at a snack cart at Epcot. We'll be there for free dining again this August and September/October and I'm not anticipating spending one penny for food.

The portions are so large and you get SO MUCH food on the DDP that sharing isn't a big deal. DH isn't much of a breakfast eater, so he plans on using a snack credit most mornings. DS will split whatever CS I get at breakfast. Grand total for breakfast = 1 SC, 1 CS. At lunch the three of us generally share two CS meals. For dinner some days we plan on sharing, some days we plan on getting our own.

We've got 10 night trips booked for both August and September/October. In August I've got ADRs at 11 table service places (including HDDR--at two credits per person) and in September/October I've got 10 table service ADRs (including Mickey's BYB--another two credits per person).

 

[MPHARJ]

We always buy the mugs at our resort, so we have them for breakfast, then we use our snack credits to grab some fruit or pastries and then we have breakfast, use our CS for lunch. A lot of times we just pack granola bars or easy things for breakfast and we have plenty to last us our entire trip. Use up your CS first and remember you can get all sorts of things already packaged with your snack options to take with you so you don't have to let them go to waste. Unless we opt for a special treat, like caramel apples at DTD, we never pay out of pocket when using the DDP! Love it!

 

[MAGGIED]

Thanks everyone... we have picked out our meals based on what we want to do....Chef Mickey for Dinner, Cap'n Jacks, Crystal Palace for breakfast, 1900 Park Fare for Dinner, Chef de France dinner, Mama Melrose Fantasmic package..... it will be fun for my Aunt - she is 65 and has never been there... she is so excited... also along will be my Mom and my DD(17)....

 

[M 'n C]

Thanks everyone... we have picked out our meals based on what we want to do....Chef Mickey for Dinner, Cap'n Jacks, Crystal Palace for breakfast, 1900 Park Fare for Dinner, Chef de France dinner, Mama Melrose Fantasmic package..... it will be fun for my Aunt - she is 65 and has never been there... she is so excited... also along will be my Mom and my DD(17)....

That sounds like a great plan. I think it will be even better since you are bringing someone with you that has never been. It will make it fun for you esp with the character meals.

 

[JeffZ]

Table Service:
1900 Park Fare-Dinner@GF
Coral Reef@EPCOT
Planet Hollywood@DTD
Raglan Road @DTD

Counter Service:
Wolfgang Pucks -Express@DTD
Riverside Mill-POR

Snacks:
Soft Pretzels
Entennmans donuts
cinnamon rolls

Just to name a few

 

[Dizneydaz]

We don't actually try to maximize DDP but we kinda of do, in a way.

#1 We share alot-can't stress how much food you get on this plan. I either share with my DM or my DD7. This allowed us to go to more restaurants (inc. 3 Signatures (2 TS) last Sept. when we were there for 10 nights.) You can read my reviews on link in signature-incs. value per credit for most TS.

#2 We almost always eat breakfast in our room-we either have some cereal (I started a fridge swap last Sept. that's still ongoing) or we have toast or bagels. (bought a cheap toaster at Walmart). Towards the end of the trip we realized we had alot of CS to use up so we did eat 2 breakfasts using them. We still gave away 7 credits the last few days.

#3 Used most of our TS for dinners and our CS for lunches.

#4 When we didn't share our dinners (and weren't buffeting it) we would almost always have our desserts leftover. These we brought back to the room (we got a lot of use out of that fridge) and either had the desserts for snacking, or for breakfast.

#5 With having the refillable cups we ended up with alot of snack credits left on the last day. (9 total) This next trip we will buy more snacks during our trip so were aren't trying to use them all up on the last days.

#6 If you do use CS for breakfast (at your food court) and you have a refillable mug, get a juice, or bottled water, etc. for later. No reason to use up your beverage when you already have a refillable mug.

Hope this helps. Happy Dining!

(FYI-our highest value per credits were Kona Cafe, Narcoossee's and California Grill.)

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

A couple of things we did, was like the others, we had the refillable mugs. When we did CS at SSR, we would use our mugs for the drinks and get water bottles for the parks. Worked out great. Another thing we did was on the first day, use 2 snack credits to get a pack of Thomas's Bagels and a jar of peanut butter. We used those 2 mornings for breakfast. Just toasted them up, spread on some peanut butter, and off we were. Very convenient for those 7 am entrance into the park days! One last thing we did was end up with 2 CS the last day (my dd and I split 2 cs during the week - forgot we did that). I was able to use the CS for just the drinks and dessert for the way home. Got 2 bottles of water (the big ones) and 2 large boxes of character cookies to take home with us. Not a great value since we skipped the entree, but we are still enjoying those cookies .

 

[wiskband]

O f course sharing meals is a good idea, I realized on my last trip we could use our snack credits in the hotel lobby store by buying a 2 liter soda, family size chips bag etc. Stuff for the room that lasts a couple of days instead of individual snacks.

 

[firemist]

Anyone know if you are allowed to share table service or pay one oop? BF is a big eater but I'm not, usually when we go out I get a taste of his food and a desert for myself. Can you do that at TS or will they still charge both people? reheated left overs is never as tasty

 

[bicker]

At buffets and other AYCE options, each diner will be charged credits. Otherwise, "we don't know." That's because Guest Communications is very consistently broadcasting the policy statement that, "sharing is not permitted on the Dining Plan" while the restaurants apparently are waiving that restriction for all of their guests.

Your best bet: Ask when you place your order.