The least OOP cost challenge

[Neesy228]

Alight you savvy DDP users -- I have a challenge for you!

We are leaving in a few short weeks for free dining -- our first time ever using the DDP. There are 5 of us: 2 adults, 2 children and 1 child under 3 (so does not have her own credits.)

I've been thinking that we'd have very little OOP costs for food because our two smallest eat like birds, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm underestimating what we'll need? Anyone have any experience going with a little one who isn't on the plan?

Whats our best approach to minimize our OOP costs? How do you handle breakfasts? I was reading on another thread that some have gone to the Main Street Bakery and gotten a sandwich, pastry and drink. That would be great to split between two of our kids...

Since this is all new to me, I feel like I'm not thinking outside of the box enough. Like the MS Bakery thing would have never occurred to me. I would have just gone to the food court and gotten something for a snack credit. Does that make sense? I would appreciate any "been there, done that" tips, tricks of the trade etc.

Thanks!

 

[estherhead]

We went last Sept. and had a 6 month old baby. She didn't eat much, but our family was basically laid out just like yours. We spent hardly any OOP at all. I wrote a full food TR in my signature if you want the whole story. But mostly we just got 2 adult CS meals for breakfast & 2 adult CS meals for lunch and split them. Generally we had enough food. The few times we didn't, I used a snack credit for something for myself shortly after the meal as I was usually the one short changed. I think I bought extra bacon once. I bought bananas & peanut butter for myself a few times. But it was very minimal. We loved the DDP. Of course, it included an appetizer & tips last year & it was free! That helped.

But seriously, our OOP was almost nothing.

 

[miprender]

Alight you savvy DDP users -- I have a challenge for you!

We are leaving in a few short weeks for free dining -- our first time ever using the DDP. There are 5 of us: 2 adults, 2 children and 1 child under 3 (so does not have her own credits.)

I've been thinking that we'd have very little OOP costs for food because our two smallest eat like birds, but I'm starting to wonder if I'm underestimating what we'll need? Anyone have any experience going with a little one who isn't on the plan?

Whats our best approach to minimize our OOP costs? How do you handle breakfasts? I was reading on another thread that some have gone to the Main Street Bakery and gotten a sandwich, pastry and drink. That would be great to split between two of our kids...

Since this is all new to me, I feel like I'm not thinking outside of the box enough. Like the MS Bakery thing would have never occurred to me. I would have just gone to the food court and gotten something for a snack credit. Does that make sense? I would appreciate any "been there, done that" tips, tricks of the trade etc.

Thanks!

We went in 2006 and with my DD3 and my DS10mths. He mostly picked off our plates and when there was a buffet I got him his own plate and there was never a problem.

 

[mrsltg]

Most meals can be shared. My DH is a big eater but I am not. I usually share with my oldest (this is the first trip where my middle dd will be eating more substantially) and DH gets his own meal. This time I figure we'll use three credits at counter location between the four of us. At buffets the baby will be allowed their own plate. At TS non-buffets they can definitely share with you. Our biggest OOP cost are extra snacks but even those run only about $10 per day (total, not pp.)

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[gigi1313]

we have a different family make-up but have done the DDP quite a few times and have found a few ways to maximize credits... breakfast is the easiest... if your children are not picky (one of mine is) it's even easier! we would get the "big" breakfast platter (different resorts have diff't names for it) for one CS credit and a bagel w/a snack credit and share it like this: eggs and biscuit for DD, bagel and sausage patty for DS, potatoes and bacon for me... DH would get his own b'fast and we'd sometimes pick on that too... b'fsst comes w/two drinks on the DDP so we'd each get a drink (yep, i'd snag DHs! LOL)... it worked very well and everyone was sated...

we'd do similar sharing at lunch time too

 

[maggiew]

Truthfully the dining plan was so much food for me when my friend and I used it during Mousefest. I wouldn't have been able to eat 3 full meals per day. What I did was purchase a box of donuts at the resort gift shop with a snack credit the first day and ate one or two every morning in the room for breakfast. Then we had an early lunch and an early-ish dinner. I didn't spend one cent for food outside the dining plan.


But, some options. There are some counter service meals that are shareable. I'm thinking the chicken meal at Cosmic rays. So share one of them for lunch and then share a counter service credit for breakfast (between 2 people).

Maggie

 

[HM]

Use two CS credits for two breakfast platters at your resort in the morning to split....will be plenty for two adults and small kids. Use two snacks for juices so eveyone has a drink. Use two CS credits for two adult lunches and split, ask for the large size drinks and share with the kids. Use your TS for dinner for each of you. You'll still have two snack credits to use in any way you like. The only thing you pay OOP this day is the tip on your TS meals.

 

[gigi1313]

Use two CS credits for two breakfast platters at your resort in the morning to split....will be plenty for two adults and small kids. Use two snacks for juices so eveyone has a drink. Use two CS credits for two adult lunches and split, ask for the large size drinks and share with the kids. Use your TS for dinner for each of you. You'll still have two snack credits to use in any way you like. The only thing you pay OOP this day is the tip on your TS meals.

you can save the snack credits on the drinks as breakfast automatically comes with two drinks ('cause there is no dessert)...

 

[ReneeA]

We spent $18 OOP on our trip 8/14-21 (not including the tips for TS - that was about another $15-20 per TS meal). The $18 I did spend was all on Lattes for me.

I packed 2 boxes of Poptarts (we ate 1 1/2 boxes) and 3 boxes of Granola Bars. I went to Costco.com and ordered a case of water, and shipped it to CSR (you do not need a membership and shipping was free). We grabbed the Poptarts and granola bars on our way out the door and ate waiting at the bus stop. I had just enough water for the week...we went through 3-4 a day, and ordered the bottled water at times at the counter service meals and took them with us. One day I went down to the Pepper Market and got the HUGE breakfast platter to go using 1 CS credit(includes a big scoop of eggs, 4 sausages, lots of potatoes, and a blueberry muffin) - it came with 2 drinks as sides so my Latte and a big juice for the kids came with it, and I got a big pastry with a snack credit. It was more than enough food for the 4 of us to share before heading out to the parks. That and it was the last day...I had 5 or 6 CS credits left, so thought I would start to use them more liberally.

We ate early CS lunches - normally right about 11am - worked out great because the restaurants were empty. No waits, fresh food. We ate early dinners at TS - normally between 4:30 and 5:30 ADR's. Then we shared snack credits most of the time...we shared 2 snacks in the afternoon and 2 snacks in the evening. With every meal coming with a dessert, I was on a bit of sweet overload and didn't always want a snack (just the darned coffees ).

Edited: I forgot! My DH wanted the French Onion Soup as an appetizer at the GF Cafe, so tack on another $6 to my total!