Should I spring for Regular Dining Plan?

[disneyfan4life2012]

****I had previously posted on budget board for some reason***
Hopefully moderator will delete other posting. Sorry about that!!

Me and my fiance are staying at Pop during the free dining period and got the QSDP. We initially didn't really want any table service meals, but now he sort of wants to go two different table service restaurants ( Le Cellier for lunch and Boma for a early dinner/late lunch). He's already made reservations for them as well. I'm guessing the total for both of them will be around $200, but I haven't really checked. I looked at the price of upgrading our plan and it's around $250. I really don't like the idea of going back and planning each day around a restaurant, but it's doable. (We won't be able to see as much, but we both have been here multiple times as kids and teens). Guess I'm off to try and grab some reservations..any suggestions as to which we should do? We will have 3 left. (can we split meals at a table service restaurant?)

 

[AirGoofy]

****I had previously posted on budget board for some reason***
Hopefully moderator will delete other posting. Sorry about that!!

Me and my fiance are staying at Pop during the free dining period and got the QSDP. We initially didn't really want any table service meals, but now he sort of wants to go two different table service restaurants ( Le Cellier for lunch and Boma for a early dinner/late lunch). He's already made reservations for them as well. I'm guessing the total for both of them will be around $200, but I haven't really checked. I looked at the price of upgrading our plan and it's around $250. I really don't like the idea of going back and planning each day around a restaurant, but it's doable. (We won't be able to see as much, but we both have been here multiple times as kids and teens). Guess I'm off to try and grab some reservations..any suggestions as to which we should do? We will have 3 left. (can we split meals at a table service restaurant?)

We have never split a TS meal on DP, but we have split them on QS, so I think you can. You cannot split at a buffet like Boma, as each person will be charged a TS (unless child under 3).

 

[disneyfan4life2012]

We have never split a TS meal on DP, but we have split them on QS, so I think you can. You cannot split at a buffet like Boma, as each person will be charged a TS (unless child under 3).

haha, was never thinking about splitting a buffet. I'm not a heavy eater, so I was thinking about my fiance buying his meal and whatever, and me ordering an appetizer as my meal. I don't think I'll be saving much this way (will have some credits left over this way), but i feel bad about throwing away food.

 

[sharonabe]

If you think you'll just order an app at Le Cellier and share some of his meal, then staying with QSDP is probably okay. Boma is $35-39 each, so you may still come close to that $200, but you will also have two QS meals to use somewhere on your current plan. Plus, if you do upgrade, you have tips to consider on those 3 additional meals, so the actual upgrade cost is more than the $250.

 

[AirGoofy]

haha, was never thinking about splitting a buffet. I'm not a heavy eater, so I was thinking about my fiance buying his meal and whatever, and me ordering an appetizer as my meal. I don't think I'll be saving much this way (will have some credits left over this way), but i feel bad about throwing away food.

I enjoy TS most nights when we are there. We split a app as a family, each order entree. I may get a soup or bisque if it is rally appealing as well. We may do a dessert or just wait for later elsewhere. With that said, we no longer do DP. We at DVC members and we get 10% off at some restaurants, but not many. I actually calculated (because I am a nerd) the actual price of our dining against the DP. The thing is, if you compare item for item, thn yes, th DP is cheaper. But, if for example you want to split an app which is not covered on DP, you either pay extra or don't order it. What my calculations were was that if we did th DP, we basically got our 1 snack a day for free. Thus, my conclusion was that $10 or $15 a day was not worth the hassle of the DP.

The best way to look at DP is that it is a prepaid plan. As PP said, when you add those extra TS, you now have the tips that used to be covered by DP, but no longer are. If you really only want two TS meals, I would just pay them OOP and go with your original plan.

 

[Cafeen]

There are several restaurants that either flat out don't allow it, or are very strict when it comes to splitting meals on the DDP (or even OOP). Hacienda, Via Napoli, and Beaches and Cream are all reported to be much stricter in this case.

There's also wind of changes to the way that servers have to handle stuff when not everyone orders an individual item (which, isn't really the case here, but it may still fall under that umbrella) which may make it more difficult to split stuff in the future. (It was posted in the middle of the Hacienda Kids' Meal thread not too long ago).

However, right now, you'll be fine at 99% of the non single price restaurants. There is no limitation that you MUST order food to fill the credits, only that you cannot exceed the credit count as shown on your KTTW card (e.g. if you have 2 adults and 2 children on your reservation, it'll say 2A2C, the servers/cashiers are not supposed to to above 2 adult and 2 child credits for a single sitting).

 

[sillylily]

I have had bariatric surgery, and will be a VERY light eater on our next trip!lol I have made a point of avoiding the restaurants listed above that frown on meal splitting. I have planned in for the extra TS credits that we're going to have, because we have enough to cover another TS for the entire family! It's definitely doable, you just have to think about it differently when planning. We will have one buffet (the only TS credit that I need) at CP, we're doing lunch at LTT, lunch at LeCellier, dinner at the Sci-Fi Cafe, and (HOPEFULLY!) our farewell meal at BOG, as long as it's open. If you're really not sold on the TS though, just keep the extra $50 and pay OOP for the ones your fiance wants to do. We did free CS last time and discovered a lot of good alternatives for the standard burger and fries.