Signature Restaurants-OOP or DDP?

[mrg013]

We're going to be on the dining plan for our trip, and I'm wondering which meals I should pay for out of pocket. We have mostly 1 credit TS places for dinners, and California Grill as our one signature restaurant. Does it really make sense to use two TS credits there, or has anyone found that at the signature restaurants, you're better off just paying OOP? We probably wouldn't really be interested in any of the appetizers they have there anyway, and would just get entrees and maybe one or two desserts to share amongst our family. Otherwise we will be paying for two meals OOP- a breakfast at 1900 Park Fare and 50s Prime Time Cafe dinner. Once you figure in the cost for what you expect to get there plus tax and tip, those meals OOP start to add up! Should we use two credits on California Grill, or not?

 

[yecats]

I thuink CG is a wonderful rest. and worth the 2 TS credits. However, I would tell you that if you do use the credits be sure to get everything out of it, order the appetizers and deserts for everyone. It would be cheaper to pay OOP for a dinner at 50's PTC and save that credit to use toward CG than to pay OOP at CG even for the entree and combined desserts. Either way, enjoy your trip and meals.

 

[Bibbidybobbidy]

I am planning on using the 2TS credits for California Grill. When i looked up the prices for that dinner I decided the experience was worth 2 credits. I will pay OOP for Whispering Canyon Cafe or something similar in price to make up for it.

 

[bicker]

I would do the math very carefully. My figuring showed it better to pay for CG OOP ($26 + tax and tip per TS credit used) and use the Dining Plan credits at Whispering Canyon ($33 + tax and tip per TS credit used).

 

[Merriwind]

If you are not planning to order everything that is included with the DDP, you are probably better off going OOP at Cali Grill. Enjoy!

 

[bicker]

Actually, either way, you're better off going OOP at California Grill. The earlier numbers I gave ($26 per TS for CG and $33 per TS for WCC) were for "ordering everything" -- just entrees would be about $12-$18 per TS for CG and $17-$23 per TS for WCC.

 

[Bibbidybobbidy]

When I ran my numbers for CG, it came to $43.50 per TS credit (not including tax or tip); the numbers for WCC were 32.87 (not including tax or tip). The Whispering Canyon numbers matched yours but the California Grill was far off. I based it on what I would eat ($12 first course, $35 filet, $10 dessert and $3.00 bevarage). So for me it would be worth the 2 TS.

Thank you for suggesting I redo my math in a different light. I am going to do this with all the restaurants I would like to go to; this way I can figure out what to pay oop much more easily.

 

[bicker]

When I ran my numbers for CG, it came to $43.50 per TS credit (not including tax or tip);

I don't see how that is possible. The most expensive appetizer costs $15. The most expensive entree is $39. The most expensive dessert is $10. Soft drinks are $2. That yields a maximum possible value per TS credit at California Grill of $33.

the numbers for WCC were 32.87 (not including tax or tip).

So, in that extreme example, Calfornia Grill is about thirteen cents more valuable than our shared number for Whsipering Canyon.

The Whispering Canyon numbers matched yours but the California Grill was far off. I based it on what I would eat ($12 first course, $35 filet, $10 dessert and $3.00 bevarage). So for me it would be worth the 2 TS.

I believe your math is wrong. 12+35+10+3 = 60 / 2 = 30 per TS credit. Whispering Canyon is still a greater value per TS credit.

 

[TikiGoddess]

I too am using a 2TS credit restaurant and I am using the dining plan and paying for our lunch at PT as our out of pocket. I went through and added each restaurant up and found it would be the cheapest to pay out of pocket. I think Bicker's differs because he divides it by 2. However, the actual money out of your pocket would be less for Whispering Canyon. Remember it all depends on whether or not you will have apps, dessert, etc. At Whispering Canyon you may not want all that so it's actually cheaper to pay OOP there. It's all a case by case situation.

 

[Bibbidybobbidy]

Oh, bicker, You are so right! I actually used a clculator this time to check the figures and it came to $60. I really better go over my numbers to make sure they are correct. Warning: May need remedial math.

 

[fenfur]

Wouldn't it be better to pay OOP for a signature meal becuase it uses 2 TS credits, thus the cost comparison would have to be doubled?

The way I see it, if I pay OOP at CRT I am "getting" 3 meals worth (2 TS and the 1 meal OOP) and if I use DDP then I am "losing" 1 meal (1 meal for 2 TS credits).

Since you will have to pay OOP for a few meals, I would rather pay OOP for a signature meal and get 2 more other fancier meals paid for, rather than lose the 2 credits on one meal.

 

[Bibbidybobbidy]

that is a very good way to see the OOP/

 

[Bibbidybobbidy]

That is a very good way to see the OOP/DDP dilemma. I could actually "gain" meals that way, being mindful that the plan ends at midnight on check out day. So, I could pay OOP for CG and Brown Derby while still keeping my TS meals to use whenever. Those were the only SignatureTS in which I was interested. Thanks!

 

[TikiGoddess]

How do you "lose" 2 tables services? You still get one table service so you actually only lose 1 table service which is the one you pay out of pocket for. If I have 8 table service meals and I have one which is a 2 TS credit, I only pay out of pocket for one of my table service meals. Why does it not then make sense to pay for the cheapest table service meal you are having OOP regardless of the number of TS credits? You are having to pay one of them out of pocket whether it be the 2 credit or the one.

 

[Bibbidybobbidy]

Ya know, I think all this thinking is to much thinking.

It sounds so much easier to just pay OOP for every meal.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We had 9 days of credits last year. We found that we can schedule California grill, 7 one credit restaurants, and stretch our counter credits to fill the gaps. It was still plenty of food for us.

Hope that helps.