Newbie to DDP, couple ?'s

[momma2gap]

First time poster...please go easy on me I'm in awe of how much I've learned from you amazing Disney guru's!!

1- We love doing early-before-park-opens character breakfasts...no particular reason, I suppose, other than making sure we're up and out the door early. So I've been reading for a few days and from the "gist" of what I've seen, Character Breakfasts are a waste of $$ on the DDP because they are cheaper than lunches and dinners... have I comprehended that correctly? If so, than it's in our better interest to book lunch/dinner character meals?

(Obviously there are varying opinions, but in terms of the cost of the DDP vs. just paying OOP, I've concluded this, please correct me if I'm wrong.)

2-We are going for a few days in January, staying at a rented points DVC. Arriving late on Thursday...if I get the DDP will have credits for that day even though we're arriving late. In other words can I use my TS from that day to eat at CRT(God willing) on another day since it uses 2 TS credits. My understanding is that the DDP goes by night stays...true or false

3-Here's a general idea of what I'm thinking in terms of eating TS. We are not looking for "best" food, I'm basing this on what I know the kids will love. They are 5 & 3 y/o. Not our first visit (I'm an ex-CM) but 1st chance to do DDP as we're finally staying on property.

Day 1-MK-- CP, CRT or Chef Mickey's for late lunch.
Day 2 Epcot-- Biergarten or Coral Reef for dinner
Day 3 HS & MK-- Possibly Ohana, if available, for dinner. If not, late lunch at H&V (Playhouse Disney is my son's life)
Day 4--CMC breakfast
(If I can get CRT I'd not do CMC on our last day depending on whether our arrival day will be an extra TS.)

Thanks for any advice!!

 

[sharonabe]

If you're staying 5 nights, you will have 5 TS credits per person to use however you choose. So, yes, you can use 2 of them for CRT whenever you can get in, and then you will be able to do 3 more 1 credit TS meals.

Yes, you are correct that lunch/dinner is a better value on the DDP.

 

[TDC Nala]

Breakfast is the cheapest meal of the day. Dining credit values are maximized when used for more expensive meals. If it matters to you how much "value" you get out of your dining credits it is usually recommended that you not use them for breakfasts; in fact, dinners cost the most, so the maximizers are going to use them all for dinner.

If you're not all that concerned with squeezing the most out of each credit, use them for whatever you have decided would be preferable, including breakfasts if that is what your group really wants. In that case they might not be characterized as "a waste of money" but using the credits as YOU see fit.

2-credit meals aren't that great a deal on the regular plan either - the best way to squeeze out that value is to use all your credits for one credit meals. But if you really want CRT and are interested in maximizing the credits, that would mean you'd have to put CRT aside for value's sake and it sounds like you really want CRT. It's up to you how you use the plan.

 

[Nadjalu]

Yes you are correct many times paying for breakfast OOP is better than using a credit. As dinners are most expensive (depending on the entree you choose). Lunchs follow that (if you are eating at TS for lunch) then breakfasts.

What you need to do is this:

Pick your restaurants for which meals you want to attend (B,L,D).
Then choose the entree everyone "may" pick, total that up.

Write everything down so you can see which is more expensive.

For example:
If a couple uses their DDP credits for TS breakfasts each morning and then eats dinner in the parks/resorts (TS) then yes it is a waste. They will pay more OOP for each meal.

Now if you are going to eat offsite for lunches and dinners, then using the majority of your credits for character breakfasts aren't a loss for you.

Just figure out how you will use the plan, that is how you save your money.

Lastly, your credits are based on nights stayed at the resort. When you check in they are pooled together on your KTTW card. You can use them all in one day or split up during your stay.

 

[havoc315]

I would not seriously consider using credits (or at least not many credits) for breakfast...

So economically, you have a few choices:

1-- Go ahead and do character breakfasts. But skip the DDP entirely. If you do character breakfast, and other meals CS, it will probably be cheaper than the DDP.

2-- Get the DDP, use your credits for other TS meals, but pay for breakfasts OOP -- Thus, pay breakfast OOP, CS lunch, and then use a TS credit for dinner. May be way too much food, but it would possibly give you value out of the DDP.

3-- As you suggested, do character lunches and dinners, instead of breakfasts.

 

[momma2gap]

Thanks everyone...lots to consider!

 

[Cafeen]

I would not seriously consider using credits (or at least not many credits) for breakfast...

So economically, you have a few choices:

1-- Go ahead and do character breakfasts. But skip the DDP entirely. If you do character breakfast, and other meals CS, it will probably be cheaper than the DDP.

2-- Get the DDP, use your credits for other TS meals, but pay for breakfasts OOP -- Thus, pay breakfast OOP, CS lunch, and then use a TS credit for dinner. May be way too much food, but it would possibly give you value out of the DDP.

3-- As you suggested, do character lunches and dinners, instead of breakfasts.

^^ This.

And to add...

On shorter stays, it makes more difference how much value you get out of each credit, since there is far less opportunity to "make it up" with other meals. Doing multiple breakfasts and a CRT within 5 days is not likely to reach the break even point.

I'd sit down and take a look at the 2012 DDP prices and compare them with today's OOP prices, you may be surprised to see what you come out with.