UPDATED -- Critique my 6n meal plan; $150 savings w DDP?

[sharonabe]

Counter service. We're eating a late lunch at 3:40 at Mama Melrose so I figured 2 counter service meals later before the Fantasmic show should suffice?

What time is F!?

 

[Paigevon]

What time is F!?

9 pm, pretty late. Small chance we may miss it, but I'm crossing my fingers that DD will nap so we can go back to the park. If it doesn't work out, I'll be okay with it.

 

[sharonabe]

Your MM meal will probably not be over until 5:00 or so. You'll want to be IN the theater by 8:30. That just doesn't leave much time for going outside the park by the time you're hungry. I think I would look at the different places along Sunset and choose a couple things you can share. Your earlier thought of Fairfax would be the easiest one to split. There is a snack place inside the theater, but that would be just snacks.

 

[Paigevon]

Clarifications may be in order.

1. You do not tip at Counter/Quick Service. This is the easiest place to swap a dessert for a side.

2. You DO tip at Table Service. Not every TS will let you swap out dessert, and those that do have a restricted group of items that dessert may be swapped for (i.e., it's not a swap for another menu item, it's a swap for a specific item for that swap). Very few TS are offering this.

That's fine. Thanks!

 

[Paigevon]

Your MM meal will probably not be over until 5:00 or so. You'll want to be IN the theater by 8:30. That just doesn't leave much time for going outside the park by the time you're hungry. I think I would look at the different places along Sunset and choose a couple things you can share. Your earlier thought of Fairfax would be the easiest one to split. There is a snack place inside the theater, but that would be just snacks.

True. Okay, so we'll need to bring her out to nap by 12:00 then I believe, in order to make it back by 3:40 ADR.

We may not even be hungry again before the show, I guess it depends.

 

[sharonabe]

I was just sitting here browsing the DIS when I happened to think of your plan. You MAY have one problem and that will be your Akershus meal. There have been many reports of people on the DELUXE plan being able to use their credits for people not on the plan and being able to use more credits than people on the plan. I've not seen anyone on the REGULAR plan report back being able to do that. QS credits aren't a problem, but that last TS at Akershus COULD be. They may not allow you to use 4 adult credits, since you only have 2 adults on the plan. That would be an expensive meal to pay OOP. You might want to try to get by there one day and ask before the cancellation fee would apply if you decide not to do it.

 

[Paigevon]

I was just sitting here browsing the DIS when I happened to think of your plan. You MAY have one problem and that will be your Akershus meal. There have been many reports of people on the DELUXE plan being able to use their credits for people not on the plan and being able to use more credits than people on the plan. I've not seen anyone on the REGULAR plan report back being able to do that. QS credits aren't a problem, but that last TS at Akershus COULD be. They may not allow you to use 4 adult credits, since you only have 2 adults on the plan. That would be an expensive meal to pay OOP. You might want to try to get by there one day and ask before the cancellation fee would apply if you decide not to do it.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/disney-dining-plan-faq/
I've read multiple places including the link above that it's fine to use your TS credits to pay for others dining with you. I thought I had an actual Disney source but I've looked at so many pages about the dining plan, I couldn't track it down.

 

[sharonabe]

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/disney-dining-plan-faq/
I've read multiple places including the link above that it's fine to use your TS credits to pay for others dining with you. I thought I had an actual Disney source but I've looked at so many pages about the dining plan, I couldn't track it down.

I hope they're right. Please come back and let us know if this works for you.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I agree with PP, the BoG prices are inflated and so is 1900 Park Fare. However, some of your other CS will definitely go over the $15, so it may even out.

Pepper Market on HS day?? Pepper Mkt is over at Coronado Springs Resort. It would be a nice break in the middle of the day, but it will take some time out of your touring to get over there. We like Fairfax Fare; it's not that different from Flame Tree, so if you're BBQ'd out, you might want something different.

Curious, what snacks are you planning on at Pecos Bill? The allears menu only has desserts as snacks.

Edit: I went over to easywdw to see his pics of Pecos Bill and there is a soup for a snack credit, but it's pretty small. Here's his review, if you haven't seen it: http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/ci...-magicband-customization-magic-kingdom-11815/
You'll need to scroll down a bit through the pics to find where he starts talking about Pecos.

Actually that is the standard counter service soup size everywhere, resorts and parks. The soups at CHH are the $5.99 now too, so that is apparently the price they are asking now. They may not look like it, but they are 8 oz portions. A cup of soup in table service is also 8 oz, and a bowl 12 oz. Once I got a carryout bowl of soup at Big River Grill (people said it was as good as LeCellier's beer cheese soup----it is not.) They gave it to me in a small drink cup that was barely over half full. I complained about how little there was in the cup, and asked if that was a BOWL of soup. They said they use a 4 oz ladle, 2 ladles for a cup, and 3 ladles for a bowl. I let it drop, but there wasn't 12 ounces in that small drink cup they gave it in. I often get the soup at CHH, and it never seems like enough. But with you two sharing the platter and dessert, the soup will help supplement it. You do have extra snack credits, so you could get 2 soups.

 

[lpereira]

Are the people you are sharing credits with staying in the same cabin as you? I ask because most times someone is in a cabin because of the size of their party and you are only 3. There are people who just like cabins regardless of party size.
Anyhow if they are then everyone in the cabin is on the dining plan or no one is.

 

[Nancyg56]

Counter service. We're eating a late lunch at 3:40 at Mama Melrose so I figured 2 counter service meals later before the Fantasmic show should suffice?

First, did you book the Fantasmic Dining package? It is only one credit and it includes an appetizer. It also includes vouchers for the show. Well worth it!

Also, if Backlot Express is open, we like it there. We can often split a CS meal between two people and it is plenty, especially if you are having a late TS lunch.

I cannot remember is I shared my viewpoint in gratuity and the DDP. I know that the plan can drive the cost of a meal up....we always order dessert..... However the tax is included, and so I geneally consider the additional tip a wash. I know that I could build a spreadsheet and calculate the difference, but I won't.

 

[Paigevon]

I hope they're right. Please come back and let us know if this works for you.

I will! If not, my MIL and FIL won't mind paying out of pocket and we'll juat have to try to find a last minute TS to use it on the next day.

But with you two sharing the platter and dessert, the soup will help supplement it. You do have extra snack credits, so you could get 2 soups.

Thank you for the information! Yes this is what we plan, depending on how hungry we are.

Are the people you are sharing credits with staying in the same cabin as you? I ask because most times someone is in a cabin because of the size of their party and you are only 3. There are people who just like cabins regardless of party size.
Anyhow if they are then everyone in the cabin is on the dining plan or no one is.

My husband, daughter and I are the only ones on the reservation, so the only ones that would be included in the dining plan. We're arriving the first night, will be there with just the thee of us the first 3 nights, then they are joining us over the weekend for the last three nights. Already confirmed we could check them in as a "day guest" for three nights for no additional charge as long as we don't exceed 6 people total.

 

[Paigevon]

First, did you book the Fantasmic Dining package? It is only one credit and it includes an appetizer. It also includes vouchers for the show. Well worth it!

Also, if Backlot Express is open, we like it there. We can often split a CS meal between two people and it is plenty, especially if you are having a late TS lunch.

I cannot remember is I shared my viewpoint in gratuity and the DDP. I know that the plan can drive the cost of a meal up....we always order dessert..... However the tax is included, and so I geneally consider the additional tip a wash. I know that I could build a spreadsheet and calculate the difference, but I won't.

Yes we got the Fantasmic package! Didn't realize it included an appetizer, that's fantasmic! (.... lol sorry haha)

Thank you for the Backlot Express lunch recommendation!

I've heard that you pay gratuity regardless except like CRT, so no point in adding it in. If you consider that ddp may make you purchase a more expensive meal, say an average of $10 more more per entree would be only an extra $1.80 in tips per meal, tipping 18%. That makes the fact that a more expensive meal costs more in tips sorta trivial imo.

Feel free to correct me if my math is wrong, though. Sometimes I get mixed up lol.

I appreciate your suggestions!!

 

[lpereira]

I will! If not, my MIL and FIL won't mind paying out of pocket and we'll juat have to try to find a last minute TS to use it on the next day.


Thank you for the information! Yes this is what we plan, depending on how hungry we are.


My husband, daughter and I are the only ones on the reservation, so the only ones that would be included in the dining plan. We're arriving the first night, will be there with just the thee of us the first 3 nights, then they are joining us over the weekend for the last three nights. Already confirmed we could check them in as a "day guest" for three nights for no additional charge as long as we don't exceed 6 people total.

Yup. You can. Let me know how fp+ works out with that. I'll file the information away for future reference.