Paying OOP for additional meals?

[bweagle]

Do many of you find yourself paying OOP for additional meals when on the DDP? I am tossing around the idea of paying OOP for CRT because I don't believe its the best use of two credits and then using those two credits for other meals during our 9 days at WDW. My DH thinks I'm nuts. He thinks if we have the meals prepaid for, there is no reason to pay OOP.

 

[brendaziz]

On our last trip it was our first tiem using dining and we had free dining so we actually paid for quite a few meals oop. B/c the other ones were free I could justify "well these are the only ones we're really paying for".
That being said- this next trip we have a free dining pin but i'm trying to stay as close to not paying oop as possible- though there will be 1 or 2 meals most definitely.
But no you're not crazy I would say either a cheap table service or a 2 credit one is a good one to do oop. On our last trip we did Tuserk house and Jiko and something else I can't remember oop.

 

[DizneeMommy]

We're doing one meal off the DDP. . .Rainforest Cafe at AK. However, I will be using gift cards I've earned from MyPoints, so it won't actually cost anything OOP either! We're using 2 TS for the Luau at the Poly one night.

 

[Tara922c]

We have the basic dining plan, we made 3 extra ADRs. We are going to pay oop for Kona breakfast, Cape May breakfast, and California Grill. I have a feeling we wont make our first night ADR (Boatwrights at POR), because we are driving 16 hours with a two year old, overnight, so we may only have to pay for two. I just looked at the menus at allears, and tried to pick the least expensive meals to pay oop for. It is only going to be my boyfriend, me, and DD2 who is free, and will eat off my plate. If I had a larger family, I probably wouldn't have scheduled extra meals, and would just grab a CS meal if we needed something else to eat.

 

[Priskillet]

I am up against the same thing...However I figured that I would use my DP for things like CRT even if it counts as 2ts only because I figured I would oop pay at the ressies that are cheaper. You never know by the last day you may be too full to eat and just opt for a qs meal so why pay oop if not necssry?

Just my 2 cents!

 

[septbaby]

Do many of you find yourself paying OOP for additional meals when on the DDP? I am tossing around the idea of paying OOP for CRT because I don't believe its the best use of two credits and then using those two credits for other meals during our 9 days at WDW. My DH thinks I'm nuts. He thinks if we have the meals prepaid for, there is no reason to pay OOP.

I side with DH on this one. Disney sides with you because they pull even more $ out of your wallet. You don't have to eat TS everyday to be full. We found with sharing we had plenty to eat and actually had extra CS credits at the end of our trip.

For me the "trick" for value on the DP is the following:
1. Did my family get enough to eat?
2. Did we eat at the places and get the items we wanted?
3. Did we enjoy most of our food and dining experiences?

If you try to maximize individual meals you'll talk yourself into your position "CRT by itself isn't worth it" and your response is to give the Mouse more dining$. DH isn't buying it , thus your post here. CRT equates to a $36-46 meal with taxes OOP depending on which meal you choose. Also you are getting a photo package for those 2TS as well.

Please don't take away my "girls club" membership card because I side with DH here.

 

[Jennifer in WA]

We are in the same boat. We booked 2 extra ADRs and are considering paying OOP for CRT. Makes sense to pay for that one, then two other OOP. We could cut out one or two of those....but totally can't decide which one(s) to cut out. We are celebrating all 6 of our birthdays, so it's a special trip for us. We may end up with extra CS, but I don't know. I know we won't ever be hungry.

I've played with the numbers so much. It was DHs suggestion to pay OOP for CRT. Still not 100%, but that's what we are thinking.

 

[2manypets]

Yes, if we decide to go to the Brown Derby in DHS, we'll go OOP. That restaurants prices don't justify a 2TS charge especially at lunch. I really want to eat there again though.

 

[penjen]

We have had the ddp 3 times now and haven't bought anything oop. Actually every year we have CS and snack credits left over. We like to eat too so I don't know why we always have so many left over. I have brought home tubs of cotton candy, bags of jelly beans. For us I can't justify buying any more oop. As for the left over CS credits we actually let them expire or get something small and no drink since you can't take the drink in a carry on any way.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

We have found that if we do a character breakast we don't really need a full meal at lunch and eat a bit earlier for dinner. We did use snack credits as food snacks and still had a ton of them left for junk stuff to take home. I think you will find that there is a ton of food and that 3 meals a day are not really always needed. We did share a couple of CS's between us etc.

 

[n2mm]

We have never considered the basic ddp to cover all of our meals. We see it as a supplement. We like sit down breakfasts almost daily, so we always pay OOP for all breakfast meals. We use the CS for lunch and the TS for dinner. This works great for us, but we don't always buy the DDP, just a couple of trips a year. We also have the TIW card too, so we use both dining options in a combination. We also pay OOP for the granddaughter's meals too (2 yo).

 

[smiths02]

I basically looked at my bottom line....

For instance, we are doing 2 character breakfasts (but more of a "brunch" time frame)...this isn't the largest value for the DDP, but we are 4 adults and a 2 year old, so the buffets can come in handy b/c I don't have to really share with the 2 year old and then I don't have to eat lunch (we can do a snack until an early dinner)

We have 1 lunch, 2 breakfasts, and 4 dinners TS, 7 QS, and 7 snacks each...even as 4 adults, we come out ahead in terms of value for the DDP for the week

I think some people worry too much about coming out ahead for the day and therefore will not "waste" credits on breakfast or signature...but if that is where you really want to eat and you come out ahead the whole trip, then you saved money and it was prepaid..

Our vacation is already costing 1000s of dollars, I don't want to put out more money on dining.... so do you NEED 2 extra TS meals or are you just doing it for "value"???...overall, if you go to 2 more meals you will have to pay CRT OOP and pay 2 more tips OOP (I thought I read that CRT included the tip as well as the pictures...making it more worth it to me for 2 TS)....if your family would really eat those 2 extra meals then go for it and pay CRT OOP, but if not, why spend even more?

 

[sherabby]

We are using two credits (if we can get in for dinner!) and paying OOP for one night at T-Rex.

 

[brymolmom]

Wow - I'm surprised how many pay OOP for meals. We don't find a need to do that. For our trip in Sept we're staying 8 nights and have 7 meals planned (2 TS Luau being one of them) at TS places. Between C/S, eating some quick breakfast things in the room (cereal and bagels that I will bring with us) and using takeout pizza from the food court one night for dinner (2CS) - we should have all our meals covered and not need to pay anything OOP. Well, except for the Soup at Chefs De France - I HAVE to try that and it isn't included on DDP - so I will be paying out of pocket for one appetizer.

If budget is a concern - paying OOP is definitely not necessary, but can be done if you have lots of places that you really want to try.

 

[Sandy321]

ITA - with everyone!!

It just depends!

We share our CS meals - for breakfast and lunch - so we do eat 3 meals a day..

I usually want to eat at one 2TS place, and eat a sit down (TS meal) everyday - but it certainly isnt necessary! Sometimes if DD wants to go to Cali Grill, we'll pay for that OOP and just eat appy's (she'll only eat the flatbread pizza) and maybe one meal - but certainly not a full meal (apps, first course, dessert) If she's not interested, then she'll stay with friends and dh and I will eat there, and then we pay OOP for our last meal - a breakfast at Ohana's! (by then we may have 1 tS left, or none)

so like others say, we dont try to "maximize" the plan, we just organize our touring styles, have a plan for lunch and dinner, and just enjoy our vacation!

 

[septbaby]

We are in the same boat. We booked 2 extra ADRs and are considering paying OOP for CRT. Makes sense to pay for that one, then two other OOP. We could cut out one or two of those....but totally can't decide which one(s) to cut out. We are celebrating all 6 of our birthdays, so it's a special trip for us. We may end up with extra CS, but I don't know. I know we won't ever be hungry.

I've played with the numbers so much. It was DHs suggestion to pay OOP for CRT. Still not 100%, but that's what we are thinking.

Because you want more TS meals than the DP allows you have no choice but to pay OOP for the extras, enjoy!

We are using two credits (if we can get in for dinner!) and paying OOP for one night at T-Rex.

T-Rex isn't on the DP so you really don't have a choice. Hope you have fun.

OP stated she'd pay OOP just because she didn't think it was a good value, not because she wanted other meals. Though that might be her code to get DH to go along with her plan?

In all fairness we did pay OOP for one character breakfast. We had dinner at Narcoossee's (so so worth it) and were unwilling to drop any other meal. Coral Reef, Boma, Chef Mickey's and H&V Fantasmic was mandated by mom. We had a 5 night trip so we paid OOP for the adults at CM's and for the child at Narcoosee's. His meal was $6, certainly not worth 2TS.

 

[bweagle]

I'm not so sure my original post came across the way I intended it to. I'm not just thinking about adding additional OOP meals because I don't feel CRT to be a good use of dining credits. Maybe if I lay out my plan it would make more sense...

Day 1: Arrive - Supper at 1900 Park Faire - to MK for EMH
Day 2: EC - Supper at Akershus
Day 3: AK - Brunch at Tusker House
Day 4: DHS - no TS (Fantasmic is scheduled)
Day 5: MK - Lunch at CRT
Day 6: AK - Breakfast at Ohana
Day 7: EC - breakfast at 1900 Park Faire (Evening EMH)
Day 8: MK - Supper at Crystal Palace
Day 9: DHS - Supper at Chef Mickey's

So....my thought is.....if I paid OOP for CRT, that would free up two TS credits. I could use one on Day 4 so we had a table service meal and would use the other for a supper at Coral Reef on Day 7. This would give us one CS not used, which we could use on Day 6, so that we could have a CS quick lunch and supper.

 

[septbaby]

Day 1: Arrive - Supper at 1900 Park Faire - to MK for EMH
Day 2: EC - Supper at Akershus
Day 3: AK - Brunch at Tusker House
Day 4: DHS - no TS (Fantasmic is scheduled)
Day 5: MK - Lunch at CRT
Day 6: AK - Breakfast at Ohana
Day 7: EC - breakfast at 1900 Park Faire (Evening EMH)
Day 8: MK - Supper at Crystal Palace
Day 9: DHS - Supper at Chef Mickey's

I would still use 2TS for CRT. I would make a couple of other changes though:

Move the 'Ohana breakfast to Day 4. DHS probably gets the poorest reviews for Dining options, so having a solid meal before entering should last for a while. You can then grab a lighter meal before Fantasmic. If you are unable to move 'Ohana here I'd make sure to have a solid breakfast at the resort prior to entering DHS. I would then try to move 'Ohana to Day 7 if that meal is a top priority. You will have been to 1900PF for dinner already and will get to dine with Pooh at CP, so missing 1900PF breakfast won't be so bad and you can always plan it for the next trip.

Day 6: Plan a CS dinner at the Pepper Market at Coronado Springs Resort. You can take a bus directly from AK to CSR. The Pepper Market is a CS meal the "eats" and "seats" like a TS. By that I mean you will pay with CS credits, but have a server. I pick that day because AK closes early and you are probably leaving the park around dinner time and can get a bus directly to that resort.

Again hope that helps.

 

[disney4us2002]

Did you price the meal at CRT to see how much OOP you're talking about? I have never been and it is expensive but remember a few things. One, you're getting photos in the cost. Two, tip is included with DDP, not if paying OOP. Three, you're going when there is a summer "upcharge" so how much more is the cost?

I was going to suggest you spread your DDP TS credits by sharing at some meals but it appears you are planning all buffets so that isn't an option. Personally, I would pay OOP for the least expensive meal.

I have read that others have had room charges credited and TS credits charged at the end of a stay if you find you have leftover TS credits, either thru mistake, illness, or a cancelled ADR which left TS credits unused. Just a thought.

 

[George69]

If you average your menu total dinner price PER tableservice, CRT is worth paying OOP. Add up cost of everything you get for a table service at a one credit restaurant and this is what you pay per credit. Take CRT price, divide by 2 and this is price per credit. CRT TS, per credit, is cheap compared to everywhere else when you add dring,meal,dessert.tip,tax.