pricing of lunch vs dinner, same dish same restaurant?

[bumbershoot]

(actual question in bold. fluff chatter in normal font.)

I'm doing advance food planning for our planned December trip. DH is sure, without looking into it, that the DDP is not worth it for us. I'm fairly certain that he's right, but I have to figure it ALL out.

Since we're vegetarian, WDW is not the vast sea of choices that it is for omnivores, so it narrows everything down quite a bit. Yay for that, at least.

While going through all the restaurants, finding things we would be likely to eat, and finding combos of places we'd be likely to eat in one day (we know from our DLR trips that we don't, actually, eat all that much in a day at Disney...just not that hungry), I noticed the price differences from lunch to dinner.

I've also noticed people saying that to maximize the DDP it's best to eat table service dinners rather than table service lunches, because you are getting more value.

My question is this...do you actually get anything more at dinner than you do at lunch, or is the cost just raised for the sake of raising it (like this holiday surcharge I'm reading about)?

As an example, if we go to Chefs de France, depending on the time, we have this as a solid choice: Gratin de Macaroni - Baked macaroni with cream and gruyere cheese.

It's $13.95 at lunch, but 17.95 at dinner

Do they give you MORE mac and cheese (er, gratin de macaroni) at dinner, or is it just "because"?

While traveling, we tend to eat bigger meals at lunchtime, and I'm against paying a higher price "just because", and part of the "just because" to me would be planning a dinner rather than a lunch, simply to maximize a dining plan.


That is a LONG way of asking that question. Sorry. But thanks in advance for any answers!

 

[patsal]

I have never noticed larger servings based on later dining. But I guess that could be part of it.

We are doing essentially the same thing, besides I'd rather have my larger meal at lunch and be able to walk it off. Prior to DDP we pretty much always had our TS at lunch and loved that the venues were less crowded, and a nice respite form the hot uly sun.

FWIW, DH said the same thing to me, I ran all the numbers and found he was right, Now we'll save money, eat exactly when and where we want and not run around on our last night using up credits, but rather enjoying that last bit of our vacation.

 

[Northern_Julie]

I find the lunches plenty big. I don't think I could eat more at dinner even if they gave it.
Not doing the plan because we prefer lunch and a very light dinner. I also don't eat dessert at lunch much.
Plus it allows more flexibility with the afternoon and evening.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thank you very much!