Question about signature resturant on regular dining plan

[Tinkerbellie16]

I have done the regular dining plan before (1 TS, 1 QS, 1 snack per night per person) but have never eaten at a signature restaurant (on or off the plan). I am considering using 2 TS credits for a signature restaurant. I'm looking at the prices and am trying to figure out how they can charge 2 TS credits when the menu only looks to be 25 - 50% more than a 1 TS credit restaurant (not 100% which would make more sense if you are 'paying' twice as much). So I assumed that you are actually getting more food but now I'm not so sure...

Can someone please tell me what you get at a 2 TS meal?
(Not a show or CRT but somewhere like Artist point.)

At a 1 TS meal, you get one non-alcoholic drink, 1 entree, and 1 dessert with taxes included but tip not included.

At a 2 TS meal - is it the same???? Or do you actually get an appetizer too?

Thanks!!

 

[TDC Nala]

On the basic dining plan, you get exactly the same allotment at a signature restaurant as you get at a non-signature. One entree, one dessert, one non-alcoholic beverage.

Appetizers are included only on the deluxe dining plan.

 

[Cafeen]

And this is why 2TS restaurants aren't such a good deal on DDP. It's a lot tougher to get close to the cost of the credit (that is the cost of the credit to you for buying the dining plan, not the cost of the food that credit will buy) on DDP than it is on Deluxe due to lower cost per credit and greater entitlments.

Now, that's not to say you should never do 2TS and pay with the plan, just that doing so can affect the bottom line and should be done sparingly if you want to maintain savings.

As far as "are they worth it"? On DDP, for most I would say no, at least to paying for them with credits (I'd still go to Citrico's and Jiko if I were on DDP instead of DxDDP, just would be paying OOP if I needed to ).

 

[Bete]

the lobster at Narcossee at the Grand Floridian. To me that's one place where 2 TS credits are worth it for that meal even though you don't get an appetizer. Then, we will do OOP for a QS meal to make up for the lost credit. At times we will even do OOP for a cheaper TS like Tusker House or Biergarten if we went to a 2TS credit restaurant.

For us, it's hard to justify going with the deluxe plan; so, I'm satisfied with this arrangement. You have choices.

One of the best deals out there that's still available is doing Mama Melrose with 1 TS credit for the Fantasmic dinner package. Because, it's a package you get an appetizer for 1 TS credit. Then, as a bonus you get reserved seating at the show. You can do the same for Brown Derby which is a 2 TS restaurant and you would get an appetizer there.

If we venture out of Disney World like say going to SeaWorld for the day then we will eat outside of Disney and then have an extra credit to use for a 2TS restaurant.

 

[Nadjalu]

Basically you are "paying" the extra credit for "atmosphere".

Signatures are not about more or even better food (although some ppl think so. Yes some dishes can be better, but not always).

Eating at these restaurants are more "fine dining". The atmosphere is a bit different, more sophisticated. Not that they are not kid friendly. But it isn't like going to a restaurant in your local town. Unless you are in a city like New York, or Chicago. If that makes sense.

So as said above, they aren't a good use of credits unless that is what you really really want.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

On the basic dining plan, you get exactly the same allotment at a signature restaurant as you get at a non-signature. One entree, one dessert, one non-alcoholic beverage.

Appetizers are included only on the deluxe dining plan.

Thank you for the information - although I would have preferred a different answer

the lobster at Narcossee at the Grand Floridian. To me that's one place where 2 TS credits are worth it for that meal even though you don't get an appetizer. Then, we will do OOP for a QS meal to make up for the lost credit. At times we will even do OOP for a cheaper TS like Tusker House or Biergarten if we went to a 2TS credit restaurant.

For us, it's hard to justify going with the deluxe plan; so, I'm satisfied with this arrangement. You have choices.

One of the best deals out there that's still available is doing Mama Melrose with 1 TS credit for the Fantasmic dinner package. Because, it's a package you get an appetizer for 1 TS credit. Then, as a bonus you get reserved seating at the show. You can do the same for Brown Derby which is a 2 TS restaurant and you would get an appetizer there.

If we venture out of Disney World like say going to SeaWorld for the day then we will eat outside of Disney and then have an extra credit to use for a 2TS restaurant.

I am the type that sits down and calculates every penny we will spend on a meal out of pocket then see if the dining plan will save us any money. I wasn't going to use the dining plan this time but it actually will save us money based on where we are dining. But I will pay out of pocket for the signature restaurant!

Now, I had no idea about Mama Melrose's...That is a great thing to know! Although we'll see if anyone can get me back to Fantasmic. Didn't think the show was worth the wait and the sore bum when I went in 2006 and I haven't been back since. But 1 TS credit and an appetizer...hmmmm....