Paying OOP...Need advice

[alex9179]

We also have drinks and snacks in the room for our afternoon break. We aren't doing this to cut costs. It's purely an efficiency issue. I want a nice bottle of white chilled and waiting in my room when I come back for my break!

I second this!

 

[samsteele]

I do OOP at least once a year and I definitely second the PP who suggested TS lunch rather than dinner. Check out the online menus (esp for Epcot World Showcase restaurants) to see if there is a lower-priced lunch menu. If you have a heavier lunch, then consider a lighter CS dinner. Perhaps share a counter service dinner like Flame Tree BBQ, Sunshine Seasons rotisserie chicken, etc. I have a standard list of restaurants that I look to if OOP (& I make the ADRs asap): Beaches & Cream (dinner), Trails End buffet (dinner), Biergarten (lunch), Marrakesh (lunch), San Angel (lunch), Yak & Yeti TS (appies for lunch) and Sanaa (lunch and/or dinner). The full bread service at Sanaa would make an incredible lunch for 2 shared. There are lots of decently priced CS spots out there (Earl of Sandwich, etc). Enjoy!

 

[Dean Marino]

OK - all opinion, as it relates to two ADULTS. IF you have children? What we do could be a really bad idea .

Sandy and I wouldn't get a DDP plan if it was free . But the reasons are off topic.... We always have a GREAT breakfast, grab a coke around 12:00 (skipping lunch altogether), then hit a really GOOD SIG every night for dinner. Never been hungry, and I still weigh what I did in High School . But we're both in our 60's... if I were bringing children again (mine are grown)? DDP could be a good thing (quantity over quality). Now - two people? I generally allocate a good $275 per day for this route.

 

[Arielismyfave]

Do TS restaurants let you share meals or let an adult eat off the kids menu? (Non-buffet restaurants of course)

Was thinking it might be another option to save money if paying OOP.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Do TS restaurants let you share meals or let an adult eat off the kids menu? (Non-buffet restaurants of course)

Was thinking it might be another option to save money if paying OOP.

We've never attempted to share but my understanding is that you can, unless of course you are at a buffet.

Whether the DDP is a "good deal" depends primarily on the age of the individuals in your party and dining habits (but that's a discussion for another thread). The Plaza at MK and Beaches & Cream at Beach Club are two TS restaurants that are reasonably priced and don't cost much more than counter service meals. You can find reasonably priced lunches at Chefs de France, The Wave and Rose & Crown among others.

 

[alex9179]

Do TS restaurants let you share meals or let an adult eat off the kids menu? (Non-buffet restaurants of course)

Was thinking it might be another option to save money if paying OOP.

Yes, sharing isn't a problem at non-AYCE places. DH and I sometimes like to split an app and entree. My 3 kids split the fried chicken platter at 50's without an issue. Most don't bat an eye over an adult ordering a kid dish, either, but each place is different so you could be denied.

 

[crostorfer]

We're buying Disney gift cards from Target with the Red Card debit card. You can get them for 5% off that way. You can also buy them online if you are not near a Target. For our last trip, we paid for all of our food and trinkets with gift cards. You can charge to your room and pay the charges with the gift cards, too. Just pay the charges by the night before you check out to avoid having your credit card charged instead.

This is exactly what I do. We load several hundred dollars on to gift cards and use that as our dining plan. The bonus to that is that it covers your apps and alcohol too.

 

[TravelMommy]

Our Disney "Dining"- We order a large order from Gardengrocer.com: Cases of water, iced tea, organic juices/juice boxes, snacks,etc. We bring in bottled water and organic juice boxes and snacks to the parks. We purchase WDW gift cards at Target with 5% off for the WDW meals we eat in the parks/resorts and DTD. We choose QS that are not the typical" fast food/theme park fare", like MK-Columbia Harbour House- Salmon or Lobster Rolls, E-Sunshine Seasons-delicious pork chop and chicken or Morocco QS-Tangierine Café-Chicken wraps, lentil salad,baklava are awesome! Disney Springs-Wolfgang Puck Express-we eat here several times each trip-the QS that eats like a TS! Their chicken dinner, salmon dinner and creme brulee are fabulous! We love to resort hop and try the best QS meals at our favorite resorts-a lot of fun! I have found we do less and less TS over the years. (though we do cook in our villa, too) For our favorite TS we often both share an app and share an entrée, maybe share a dessert. We sometimes have had the kiddos split adult meals at TS, better options for them. We have not done a WDW Dining Plan in a long time and won't do them in the future, not cost effective for us nor does it work with our vacation style. Have a great trip!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We haven't done the Disney dining plan in about 4 years. For OOP TS I like Via Napoli, the Plaza, Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch, Chefs de France, Kona, Beaches and Cream, Biergarten for lunch and Sci Fi. We also do 1 or 2 character meals usually one breakfast and one lunch.