Our ADRs and some DP ?'s - Suggestions? Advice?

[Wendy31]

We're staying at the WL for 9 days/8 nights and have the DP. Following is our current ADR schedule:

Arrival Day -

Lunch - Casey's Corner = 4 CS credits (28 left)
Dinner - Liberty Tree Tavern = 4 TS credits (28 left)

Day #1 -

Lunch - Garden Grill = 4 TS credits (24 left)
Dinner - Cantina de San Angel = 4 CS credits (24 left)

Day #2 -

Lunch - Crystal Palace = 4 TS credis (20 left)
Dinner - Columbia Harbour House = 4 CS credits (20 left)

Day #3 -

Lunch - Toy Story Pizza Planet = 4 CS credits (16 left)
Dinner - Mama Melrose FDP = 4 TS credits (16 left)

Day #4 -

Breakfast - Chef Mickey's = OOP
Lunch - Sunshine Seasons = 4 CS credits (12 left)
Dinner - Le Cellier = 4 TS credits (12 left)

Day #5 -

Lunch - CRT = OOP
Dinner - Roaring Forks = 4 CS credits (8 left)

Day #6 -

Lunch - Flame Tree BBQ = 4 CS credits (4 left)
Dinner - Whispering Canyon Cafe = 4 TS credits (8 left)

Day #7 -

Lunch - Coral Reef = 4 TS credits (4 left)
Dinner - Ohana = 4 TS credits (0 left)

Departure Day -

Lunch - Earl of Sandwich = 4 CS credits (0 left)

QUESTIONS -

We've had the DP before (in 2005 and 2006), so I'm familiar w/ how it works. However, w/ some of the recent changes to the DP and character meals, I have a couple of questions:

We were going to pay OOP for Chef Mickey's, but, now because of the holiday surcharge (June's a holiday, you know... ), I'm thinking we should pay OOP for another meal. I don't think I've seen anything on Crystal Palace or Garden Grill. Will both of these places also have surcharges as well in June? I'm just trying to decide which of our TS meals we should pay OOP.

I know that appetizers are no longer included in the DP. However, the Fantasmic Dinner Package includes an appetizer. Since we'll have the DP, will we be allowed an appetizer at Mama Melrose with our FDP? In 2006, our FDP at Mama Melrose included a flatbread appetizer, a family-style salad, our choice of entrees, and dessert. Has anyone on the DP been to Mama Melrose for a FDP recently?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Em&Bec'sDad]

I just got done with my analysis of all of the menus and costs on the wdwinfo to see what makes sense as far as value is concerned, so this question is right up my alley. Based on average prices (and the fact that you should get dessert whenever possible), here are the average costs for your TSs.

Liberty Tree Tavern (Dinner) - $25.99 (good value)
San Angel (Dinner) - $28.48 (good value)
Crystal Palace (Lunch) - $18.99
Mama Melrose's (Dinner) - $21.99 (I'm not sure if the FDP is included)
Chef Mickey's (Breakfast) - $20.99
Le Cellier (Dinner) - $30.17 (excellent value)
CRT (Breakfast) - $34.99 for two (a poor value for your TS credit)
Whispering Canyon (Dinner) - $18.74
Coral Reef (Lunch) - $26.18 (good value)
Ohana (Dinner) - $24.99

From this view I would use the TS credit for LTT, San Angel, Crystal Palace, Mama Melrose's, Chef Mickey's, Le Cellier, Coral Reef, and Ohana. There are a lot a cheaper things on the Whispering Canyon menu which tend to throw the average cost of the meal down.

Hope this helps.

 

[Ilovefozzie]

We're staying at the WL for 9 days/8 nights and have the DP.

QUESTIONS -

We've had the DP before (in 2005 and 2006), so I'm familiar w/ how it works. However, w/ some of the recent changes to the DP and character meals, I have a couple of questions:

I know that appetizers are no longer included in the DP. However, the Fantasmic Dinner Package includes an appetizer. Since we'll have the DP, will we be allowed an appetizer at Mama Melrose with our FDP? In 2006, our FDP at Mama Melrose included a flatbread appetizer, a family-style salad, our choice of entrees, and dessert. Has anyone on the DP been to Mama Melrose for a FDP recently?

Thanks for the help!

The DH called Disney last night about this very thing. We are also doing the DDP and FDP at Mama's and no, they will no longer offer us the appetizer. Hope that helps!

 

[Wendy31]

Thank you, Em&Bec'sDad! W/ your list and some of my own research, I'm thinking of paying OOP for either our lunch at Crystal Palace, lunch at Garden Grill, lunch at Coral Reef, or (surprising to me!) dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe. We were already planning to pay OOP for Cinderella's Royal Table. You think paying OOP for dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe is a better value than paying OOP for lunch at Coral Reef?

At WCC, DH & I would order the skillet + drinks (probably not dessert if paying OOP), and 2 kids would probably order the kids' skillet.

At Coral Reef, even if we used TS credits off of our DP, we would still pay OOP for appetizers (salads) and maybe some speciality drinks as well.

Crystal Palace and Garden Grill are set prices and all inclusive (all parts of meal are included), but both meals include a holiday surcharge of (I think) $4.00.

When I put together a spread sheet of the above 4 meals, WCC was coming out the least expensive meal... which was surprising to me. However, at Coral Reef, in addition to our TS credit, we would be paying OOP for appetizers. So, which becomes the better value - using TS credits for WCC w/o any OOP (besides tip) cost or using TS credits for CR w/ some additional OOP costs?

And, wow, so no appetizer w/ the FDP at Mama Melrose if you have the DP? That's sad... I love a salad before my entree...

Hmmm....