Plan for light eaters, but deluxe eaters

[Scarlett81]

So I'm trying to figure out the best plan to get (if we get it at all)..we are booked for 7 nights. DH and I, 6 yo and 3 yo.
So far our booked restaurants are 1. Artist Point 2. California Grill 3. Narcosee's 4. Le Cellier 5. 1900 PF bkfst.
Other than the last, all deluxe, 2 point places.
What we usually like to do is have a light bkfst together in the room (cereal, fruit from the market) or QS, my hubby and I share a light lunch, salad or sandwich while the kids split a burger and fries type thing. Snack for the kids in afternoon. Then for dinner we go all out.
So with 7 nights, by table service dinner #3 under the disney dining plan we'd be out of table service dinners.
Is it worth it to go for the deluxe plan? We are NOT going to sit down 3x a day to eat. Never will happen.
But $20 a day for the kids off the disney plan is tempting..thats a good deal.

The last several trips we stuck to out of pocket dining. Just want to get the best bang for $.

 

[Polish Hammer]

Signature restaurants are a very poor "bang for the buck" strategy, especially when you have 4 of 5. You could either share entrees to conserve dining credits, pay OOP for a few or cut back and spend the credits more wisely at non-Signature restaurants. If you truly insist on keeping them, I'd suggest you share an entree at a couple of them, pay OOP for an appetizer to help fill you up and then also pay OOP for a few of the children's meals as well.

 

[quandrea]

Go oop. Eat what you want, where you want and when you want. Not a fan of the regimentation of the plan. We always come out ahead oop. We are a family of five. Three disney adults, two kids. I don't want the hassle of bending my habits to fit the plan. We too enjoy the odd signature. We also enjoy some of the cheaper one credit places that are a poor value on the plan.

 

[LovesTimone]

So I'm trying to figure out the best plan to get (if we get it at all)..we are booked for 7 nights. DH and I, 6 yo and 3 yo.
So far our booked restaurants are 1. Artist Point 2. California Grill 3. Narcosee's 4. Le Cellier 5. 1900 PF bkfst.
Other than the last, all deluxe, 2 point places.
What we usually like to do is have a light bkfst together in the room (cereal, fruit from the market) or QS, my hubby and I share a light lunch, salad or sandwich while the kids split a burger and fries type thing. Snack for the kids in afternoon. Then for dinner we go all out.
So with 7 nights, by table service dinner #3 under the disney dining plan we'd be out of table service dinners.
Is it worth it to go for the deluxe plan? We are NOT going to sit down 3x a day to eat. Never will happen.
But $20 a day for the kids off the disney plan is tempting..thats a good deal.

The last several trips we stuck to out of pocket dining. Just want to get the best bang for $.

DH and I prefer DDXDP, as we enjoy the 2 TS restaurant's. By going with DDXDP you can add in some more Character breakfast, brunch or lunch. Which the kids will love, and you will be inside in the air-conditioning getting autographs instead of standing in line outside in the heat. Also it gives the kids time to regroup as well as the grown ups. With you preferring lighter meals, there are more choice for lighter options in TS restaurant's.

I personally would rethink Cali Grill, some friends just went and said it was not worth it, super slow service, and the food was not on par for the cost.

Check the reviews and menu's here and on allears.net. There is always a lot of conversation about the dinning plan, you know how your family eats, and what will work best for you. Have a great trip.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you prefer signature restaurants, the regular plan is not for you. If you are light eaters at signature restaurants, the deluxe plan is not for you. Go planless, it will suit your dining preferences better.

The only reason you might want to use a dining plan is if you have plans to do a lot of character meals, buffets or family style all you can eat restaurants. You have only one character meal booked. Nothing else you have booked is a fixed price buffet/family style.

 

[Scarlett81]

Thanks for all the great replies!!

Hubby and I are kind of foodies, and we just prefer to eat light on vaca, but enjoy that one awesome sit down experience a day.
I am going to calculate the cost of DDXDP, but I think it may just be overkill. We only have 5 sit downs booked for a 7 night stay.

I do love the concept however, of paying ahead and not having to watch every cent spent. The MP's do help you easily keep track...
decisions decisions!

 

[SGMCO]

There are some very good 1credit TS restaurants. I would check out the menus on these and if you only go with the basic DP, that's what we do, you will be able to eat 1 nice sit down meal per day. I've ate at a few of the 2 credit TS restaurants and can say that I didn't get more of a stand out meal that eating at a 1 credit TS.

 

[Scarlett81]

One more question-if I get the DDXDP that comes with 3 TS a day, but I want to use a QS instead of, is that ok?
WE will not use 3 TS a day. No way

 

[purple figment]

On the DxDDP you receive 3 dining credits per night per person. They can be used for either table service or quick service. However, considering the cost of the DxDDP you would be hard pressed to reach the value of a credit when using them for quick service.

For adults the DxDDP is $109.53 per night per person. Figure $9 as the value of the 2 snack credits. That leaves $100.53 ÷ by 3 = $33.51 for the value of each dining credit.

 

[smiths02]

You can do the math, but just looking at your ADRs, you don't come close to any plan working well for you.

QSDP-none of your TS is covered

DDP-you are choosing mostly 2-credit places which are not generally a good value on DDP and you would run out of credits and be paying out of pocket anyhow so not really "convenient"

DxDP-This would be convenient and cover all your expenses except tip and alcoholic drinks, but the old rule of thumb was that you needed to use at least 2/3 of your credits for TS. So far, you have 9/21. You would need to add some TS, you would also need to want some of your snacks and to want app, entree, dessert, and drink at each of your meals.

 

[Scarlett81]

Thank you for all the great replies and tips!
So we have decided to go OOP this trip. I think this will give us the flexibility we want and we will just keep track of all those little food purchases!
Secretly I'm hoping we will get to CL once we're there and be able to enjoy those added treats..
We shall see!
Thanks again