TS credits strategies in DDP

[SantiJB]

We are a family of 4, that we are planning our next WDW trip in which we are going to use de regular DDP. We are two adults and two children; however one of our sons is 10, so for Disney he is considered an adult.

In principle we are going to stay in one of WDW resorts for 14 nights with the regular DDP.

We want to visit a lot of TS restaurants, characters meals, signature restaurants…

In this sense and in order to maximize out TS credits, we have thought some strategies and we want to know your opinion about them:

a) First, considering that the TS credits not distinguish between adults and children, we have thought that never to use the TS credit of our little son (7 years old) to play his food: neither in TS restaurants nor in 2TS restaurants. We are going to pay his food OOP, because in “a la carte” restaurants (i.e. California Grill), he can order food from kids menu; while in buffets or dinner shows, he can pay OOP the price of the kids meal

If the approximate value of 1TS is $41, the use of the credit of our little son to pay his food always will be a waste of money, even in Cinderella Royal Table where the price of kids’ dinner is $47 or 2TS.

b) Second, we consider that the previous strategy doesn’t work for our older son. He is considered an adult for Disney so the price of his food in buffet restaurants and dinner shows will be the adult price, which is considerably higher than kids’ price.

However, for “a la carte” restaurants, we have thought that we can use TS credits (1 or 2, depending on the restaurant) and pay OOP for the food of our sons. Is it possible?

In this case, we consider that it could be possible that our 10 years old son ask for food of the children menu?

Thank you very much for your advice

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

a) First, considering that the TS credits not distinguish between adults and children, we have thought that never to use the TS credit of our little son (7 years old) to play his food:

This is true for only the Deluxe Dining Plan.

It’s also true for Quick Service (a.k.a. Counter Service) credits across all Dining Plans.

Your strategy of paying OOP for some your sons’ meals is still a good one though. Especially if, when you arrive at the restaurant, they are in the mood for something inexpensive such as a $15 children’s entree.

In this case, we consider that it could be possible that our 10 years old son ask for food of the children menu?

Yes, your 10yo can order from the children menu.

 

[mekay1012]

This is true for only the Deluxe Dining Plan.

It’s also true for Quick Service (a.k.a. Counter Service) credits across all Dining Plans.

Your strategy of paying OOP for some your sons’ meals is still a good one though. Especially if, when you arrive at the restaurant, they are in the mood for something inexpensive such as a $15 children’s entree.

Wouldn't this end up leaving them with a bunch of unused children's credits since on the regular dining plan there is a difference in adult and children credits?

 

[SantiJB]

OH sorry, I think there is something that I forget in my strategy. I was confused but it is true. Only in deluxe DDP the TS credits are the same for adults and children, but not in the regular DDP.

In this case, the only way to "save" TS credits will be pay OOP for our sons food when we eat in "a la carte" restaurants; correct?

For instance, in California Grill we can pay the parents food with 4 credits and "save" the 4 credits of our sons paying for their beverage and entree OOP (we can share the desserts).

Any other strategy to "save" TS credits???

Kind regards

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Wouldn't this end up leaving them with a bunch of unused children's credits since on the regular dining plan there is a difference in adult and children credits?

That would depend on how many TS meals they are scheduling into your trip.

For example, if you sit down to a TS meal and realize your 10yo doesn’t happen to be very hungry at the moment, you can pay OOP for an inexpensive meal from the childrens’ menu. You’ve now saved a TS credit that can be applied to either a signature (2TS) meal. Or you could use it on a day when you plan to visit more than one TS restaurant.

The following is only my personal experience. We have two children ages 10 and 3. In years past we found good value in Dining plans. We would book the Deluxe Plan and use our older child’s credits to feed both children. Now that our older child is considered an “adult” and our younger is now required to purchase a dining plan too, we find it to be more expensive than paying OOP.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

OH sorry, I think there is something that I forget in my strategy. I was confused but it is true. Only in deluxe DDP the TS credits are the same for adults and children, but not in the regular DDP.

Correct. I mentioned that in my previous post.

In this case, the only way to "save" TS credits will be pay OOP for our sons food when we eat in "a la carte" restaurants; correct?

For instance, in California Grill we can pay the parents food with 4 credits and "save" the 4 credits of our sons paying for their beverage and entree OOP (we can share the desserts).

Sure, you can do that.

Any other strategy to "save" TS credits???

Maybe, invent a time machine and visit DW when your children were just a little bit younger???

 

[sharonabe]

If the approximate value of 1TS is $41, the use of the credit of our little son to pay his food always will be a waste of money, even in Cinderella Royal Table where the price of kids’ dinner is $47 or 2TS.

That is the approximate value of an ADULT credit. The CHILD TS credit's value is less than $10, so you WANT to use the child's TS credit at ALL buffet, fixed price meals.

For your 10 yr old, he will be charged the adult price at all buffet, fixed price meals, but if he wants a child's meal at the a la carte places, you can pay OOP for that meal and save his credit.

The other way to stretch credits is for the adults to split. The one who wants an expensive entrée uses the TS credit and the one who isn't pays OOP, and then you split the dessert.

Also, since you can get 4 adult QS meals, you can stretch these credits by getting 2 or 3 QS meals and sharing them between the 4 of you, perhaps with a snack credit to get extra fries or veggies or something. This gives you more QS meals, so you could do one day of just QS meals, saving those TS credits for signature meals.

 

[SantiJB]

Good strategies!

Thank you very much

In relation to the option to split food for adults (considering that it is only possible in "a la carte" restaurants), are there any restrictions? restaurants where are not possible to split?

 

[sharonabe]

Good strategies!

Thank you very much

In relation to the option to split food for adults (considering that it is only possible in "a la carte" restaurants), are there any restrictions? restaurants where are not possible to split?

Not that I know of other than Via Napoli. Still, as long as you all order something, even if you pay some DDP, some OOP, you should be okay. VN will not let you just order one meal with the DDP and share. Everyone has to order something.