restaurant.com certificates

[stitchfan18]

Does anyone know how long they are good for? I'm looking at some different options for food during our trip next summer since the DDP is getting so expensive for a week. Since we're hoping to stay in the BW resort area, eating at the swan and dolphin would be easy enough, and they seem to have a good variety of restaurants with certificates. Has anyone had experience with these? We've used them around here, but never at disney. Did you feel like you saved money, or did you end up spending more to meet minimum purchase requirements? Any feedback would be much appreciated!

 

[milleali]

I got three last Thursday that say they do NOT expire!

 

[Ariel224]

They used to expire one year after purchase. That has changed, however, and they do not expire. They actually sent me an email stating that if I had unused certificates in my account that were over a year old (which I did!), that I could reprint them and get the ones without expiration dates.

The best way to know if it will be a good deal for *you* is to look at the sample menus that they have, and see what the you would likely spend if the certificate wasn't in the picture. If you can easily make the minimum expenditure, then you've got yourself a deal. If it's close, as in ordering a dessert or two would put you over, then it's still a pretty good deal. If you have to order the equivalent of 3 dinners per person to get to the minimum, then skip it, lol! Remember too, that they usually add an 18% gratuity (which doesn't count toward the minimum) to the bill BEFORE subtracting the gift certificate, so take that into consideration as well.

If you create an account and sign up for their emails, you will frequently (very frequently in fact) get coupon codes for 60, 70 or 80% off, meaning you can get $25 gift certificates for as little as $2 apiece.

 

[stitchfan18]

thanks for the info on the no expiration date policy now! I get emails from them since I buy them for restaurants here, but the places I buy them for don't really have restrictions like the ones for swan/dolphin and HOB have. I'm thinking this might be a good option to avoid DDP and still get some sit down dinners at disney. Especially if you can buy them for $2! I just wish we could have more than one at a table since we're going with my brother and his family!