Using cash over the dining plan

[ch1975]

Does anyone know if I can use my band to charge to my room for snacks and meals if I don't want to use my dining plan? Or does I automatically deduct from the dining plan first?

 

[Elise79]

You can choose to charge or use credits just tell the CM what you want to do

Personally, I would always use credits first and only pay cash after as you may not need to

 

[Azza1987]

You can choose to charge or use credits just tell the CM what you want to do Personally, I would always use credits first and only pay cash after as you may not need to

I agree with the above! We didn't charge enough snack credits and ended up taking home lots of chip & dale snacks with us!

 

[scoobydooby]

I agree with the above! We didn't charge enough snack credits and ended up taking home lots of chip & dale snacks with us!

Triple agree. We have had the dining plan 5 times and have only managed to use all the snack credits once and this was when me and DH took to using them for nice coffees as we knew from experience we never used them all before.

 

[ch1975]

We've got afew signature and character meals booked so didn't want run out and wanted to use credits for those, we were also warned not to waste snack credits on drinks and bits but if you're all saying you couldn't use em ill have to look into it

 

[Elise79]

Always had snacks left - it's better to use credits and then pay cash if you run out.

With TS credits signatures are some of the worst values as you are using 2 credits but the meals are not usually double the cost.

Again though unless you are going to be well over I would use credits first and cash last as you never know why you could end up cancelling a meal. :thumbsup

 

[pickers1982]

If you re going to run out of credits well worth being clever and charging the cheaper items/meals to your room. There is no issue doing this

 

[tinkerpea]

We are a little different.
We always charge any snacks under that are a few.$$ and save the credits for the expensive items,
Every day we do Mk we always stop buy the sweetshop on our way out and get choc strawberries or some other treat

The kids love getting the bags of sweets or something they want and those bags are normally around 5 dollars.
We always spend our credits as the kids like bringing a few bags of sweets back for the plane.and friends..

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

Haha! We had no problen using all our credits in Oct 2012! We had a 'main meal' at the food and wine festival, and used about 15 of our 24 credits on tasters. The only things we used cash for were drinks (but we could have charged to the room... we just forgot!)
X

 

[BigMommaMouse]

Triple agree. We have had the dining plan 5 times and have only managed to use all the snack credits once and this was when me and DH took to using them for nice coffees as we knew from experience we never used them all before.

I was adding up all our recites from past trips, and I said to DH "We do the dining plan wrong." Then up pops the thread! Last time we had 17 snack credits left, but spent $609 in tips, extra food, and (too many drink tasting at F&W).

This time I plan to use them, then cash.

 

[chmurf]

wether you choose to use credits or pay cash entirely depends on the meal/snack you're buying.

Most of us will have a hard time using all of our snacks. But snacks can be used to purchase Goofy Candy Company candies, for example 6oz. sour gummy worms/characters. They make perfect gifts for kids back home. You can find the same online on amazon or ebay for prices in excess of $15 a pack ... when you can get them for a snack credit at WDW ...

So you'll always be able (have the opportunity) to redeem all of your snacks at the end of your stay, as there are lots of prepackaged food options in resort/park stores. But you need to think about that option on your packing day, which very few people on the DDP do. (the only reason why we had snack credits left on our last stay was that we were already at our weight limit for the luggage allowance, and we just couldn't pack more, even in carry ons ... but always think of snack items at hotel stores on your last day to finish off your snack credits)

That's why you should choose wisely between using a snack credit and using cash to buy a snack.

for example, let's turn to POFQ where you can find the famed "beignets". A snack credit will get you a pack of 3 which is valued at $2.99+tax OOP.
For that same snack credit, you can get the Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich which is valued at $5.29 + tax OOP.
As a comparison, you can get 6 beignets for $4.99 + tax.

So, as you can see, you might probably want to pay for your beignets Out Of Pocket and get a bigger value item for your snack credit and still have those credits for "souvenir food items".

But in the end it's yours to decide.

For CS meals. Consider that you get a dessert with a CS meal. You can ask to have that dessert put in a clear box to take away. But this will only happen at resorts, because desserts at parks are often impossible/impractical to take away (mousse, ice cream, and very perishable items that won't last through the day in your bag ...)

If you're not going to eat dessert, then it might be a good idea to pay OOP in the parks. (But only if you're 100% certain that you will use that credit later, to have breakfast CS instead of a planned snack for exampel, if not, use the credit now.)
At your hotel you will be able to have a muffin, a brownie, or even a fruit cup as a dessert. You can put those in your room fridge and eat them for breakfast the next day, or as a midnight snack when the food court is closed.

So here again, you need to plan and decide if you're going to pay OOP or with credits
but bear in mind that lots of us do not manage to redeem all our CS credits.
Some use their remaining CS entitlements to go to Earl Of Sandwich to get some sandwiches for the trip, right before going back to MCO

On that chapter, if you're not able to take the dessert in a doggy bag, and you're not hungry enough for dessert, decide if you prefer to pay OOP and take the risk of losing a CS credit at the end of your stay.

But all things considered, it's always best to spend your credits first and then pay OOP if you run out.

Now for TS meals
2TS meals are a very poor value on the Dining Plan.
Only exception, dinner shows like Spirit of Aloha or Hoop Dee Doo, for the sole reason that alcohol is included. So if you like your drink, those are good value on the DDP

Consider the value of your dining plan credit.
It costs $60 per adult (even if you got it for free, it still has a value, the higher value you redeem your credit for, the biggest discount you will have received in the end.)

consider an average snack of $4
consider an average TS meal of $9 for the entrée, $3 for the beverage and $4 for a dessert (only at lunch and dinner)
consider an average value of $1.5 for the refillable mug per day.

the "non-TS" part of your dining plan has a value of $21.5
So, your TS credit has a relative value of 21.5 - 60 = $38.5
so this means that you're losing out if you have a TS meal valued at less than $38

Now consider going to California Grill and have the most expensive items on menu
entrée : Bison Center Cut Strip Loin $50
dessert : the plate of cheese at $20
and a beverage at $3

grand total for that meal is $73
when you pay with your TS credits you use 2 credits valued at $38.5, or $77
so you're already losing a relative $4 but bear in mind that you have ordered all the most expensive items on the menu (and will pay a tip accordingly)
most of the times you will have the $40 entrée and the $12 dessert plus the $3 beverage for a total of $55 when you will pay a relative $77 in TS credits.

Once again if the purpose is to have all meals paid for, then so be it, but if you want to maximise your entitlements (especially if you've paid for the DDP) then 2TS meals are really poor values

some 1TS meals are also very poor value.
For example Ohana breakfast is between $22 and $26 (prices vary by season and weekdays/weekends)
so you might pay your meal $22 with a $38.5 credit.

For those "prix fixe" restaurants with a low value, you might want to consider paying them OOP and save your credit for a more expensive restaurant, and treat yourself with one more TS venue.

But some guests will consider that, since they got free DDP, the value of the meal is irrelevant as long as they can eat for free

but also never forget that free DDP is not free at all. The more expensive the restaurant, the higher the tip, and tip is not included (not anymore)

 

[BigMommaMouse]

wether you choose to use credits or pay cash entirely depends on the meal/snack you're buying.

Most of us will have a hard time using all of our snacks. But snacks can be used to purchase Goofy Candy Company candies, for example 6oz. sour gummy worms/characters. They make perfect gifts for kids back home. You can find the same online on amazon or ebay for prices in excess of $15 a pack ... when you can get them for a snack credit at WDW ...

So you'll always be able (have the opportunity) to redeem all of your snacks at the end of your stay, as there are lots of prepackaged food options in resort/park stores. But you need to think about that option on your packing day, which very few people on the DDP do. (the only reason why we had snack credits left on our last stay was that we were already at our weight limit for the luggage allowance, and we just couldn't pack more, even in carry ons ... but always think of snack items at hotel stores on your last day to finish off your snack credits)

That's why you should choose wisely between using a snack credit and using cash to buy a snack.

for example, let's turn to POFQ where you can find the famed "beignets". A snack credit will get you a pack of 3 which is valued at $2.99+tax OOP.
For that same snack credit, you can get the Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich which is valued at $5.29 + tax OOP.
As a comparison, you can get 6 beignets for $4.99 + tax.

So, as you can see, you might probably want to pay for your beignets Out Of Pocket and get a bigger value item for your snack credit and still have those credits for "souvenir food items".

But in the end it's yours to decide.

For CS meals. Consider that you get a dessert with a CS meal. You can ask to have that dessert put in a clear box to take away. But this will only happen at resorts, because desserts at parks are often impossible/impractical to take away (mousse, ice cream, and very perishable items that won't last through the day in your bag ...)

If you're not going to eat dessert, then it might be a good idea to pay OOP in the parks. (But only if you're 100% certain that you will use that credit later, to have breakfast CS instead of a planned snack for exampel, if not, use the credit now.)
At your hotel you will be able to have a muffin, a brownie, or even a fruit cup as a dessert. You can put those in your room fridge and eat them for breakfast the next day, or as a midnight snack when the food court is closed.

So here again, you need to plan and decide if you're going to pay OOP or with credits
but bear in mind that lots of us do not manage to redeem all our CS credits.
Some use their remaining CS entitlements to go to Earl Of Sandwich to get some sandwiches for the trip, right before going back to MCO

On that chapter, if you're not able to take the dessert in a doggy bag, and you're not hungry enough for dessert, decide if you prefer to pay OOP and take the risk of losing a CS credit at the end of your stay.

But all things considered, it's always best to spend your credits first and then pay OOP if you run out.

Now for TS meals
2TS meals are a very poor value on the Dining Plan.
Only exception, dinner shows like Spirit of Aloha or Hoop Dee Doo, for the sole reason that alcohol is included. So if you like your drink, those are good value on the DDP

Consider the value of your dining plan credit.
It costs $60 per adult (even if you got it for free, it still has a value, the higher value you redeem your credit for, the biggest discount you will have received in the end.)

consider an average snack of $4
consider an average TS meal of $9 for the entrée, $3 for the beverage and $4 for a dessert (only at lunch and dinner)
consider an average value of $1.5 for the refillable mug per day.

the "non-TS" part of your dining plan has a value of $21.5
So, your TS credit has a relative value of 21.5 - 60 = $38.5
so this means that you're losing out if you have a TS meal valued at less than $38

Now consider going to California Grill and have the most expensive items on menu
entrée : Bison Center Cut Strip Loin $50
dessert : the plate of cheese at $20
and a beverage at $3

grand total for that meal is $73
when you pay with your TS credits you use 2 credits valued at $38.5, or $77
so you're already losing a relative $4 but bear in mind that you have ordered all the most expensive items on the menu (and will pay a tip accordingly)
most of the times you will have the $40 entrée and the $12 dessert plus the $3 beverage for a total of $55 when you will pay a relative $77 in TS credits.

Once again if the purpose is to have all meals paid for, then so be it, but if you want to maximise your entitlements (especially if you've paid for the DDP) then 2TS meals are really poor values

some 1TS meals are also very poor value.
For example Ohana breakfast is between $22 and $26 (prices vary by season and weekdays/weekends)
so you might pay your meal $22 with a $38.5 credit.

For those "prix fixe" restaurants with a low value, you might want to consider paying them OOP and save your credit for a more expensive restaurant, and treat yourself with one more TS venue.

But some guests will consider that, since they got free DDP, the value of the meal is irrelevant as long as they can eat for free

but also never forget that free DDP is not free at all. The more expensive the restaurant, the higher the tip, and tip is not included (not anymore)

Thank you for such a detailed explanation.

 

[Tink1987]

Haha! We had no problen using all our credits in Oct 2012! We had a 'main meal' at the food and wine festival, and used about 15 of our 24 credits on tasters. The only things we used cash for were drinks (but we could have charged to the room... we just forgot!) X

I was just about to ask about F&W lol I can see us using all our snack credits in the first day lol

 

[MinnieMallons]

I'm also looking into getting the most out of the dining plan. We are off to WDW in three weeks.

I would add that some breakfast venues require a TS credit, such as Kona and character breakfasts etc.

Using a TS credit for a breakfast at Kona seems a poor choice as it will likely only cost around $15.

As we are short on TS credits after our ADRs my plan is to pay cash for meals which cost less than about $25 and intend on using two TS credits for our visits to Cinderella's Royal Table and Jiko, which would likely cost in excess of $60 each if paying cash.

 

[chmurf]

As we are short on TS credits after our ADRs my plan is to pay cash for meals which cost less than about $25 and intend on using two TS credits for our visits to Cinderella's Royal Table and Jiko, which would likely cost in excess of $60 each if paying cash.

At jiko's, your average entrée is $39, your average dessert is $10 and beverages are roughly $3
so a meal will most likely cost $52 on average.

depending on the season, there are very few TS venues that cost less than $25. Even Ohana for breakfast can reach $26 which means that with paying 2 low price TS like Ohana, out of pocket, you only get even with paying Jiko OOP

of course, if you only pay OOP for 1TS to save a credit for Jiko's then it's a valid strategy, but as you need to save 2 credit for CRT and Jiko's

most TS meals are over $26 (half your average Jiko's meal) which means that, unless you order the most expensive meals at Jiko's, you will pay less by paying Jiko OOP than by paying 2 other TS meals OOP
for example, in regular season, Ohana Breakfast and Tusker House breakfast will cost, together, $55
so, considering that your party will not all eat the most expensive things on menu, you would pay, on average $3 more (per person) by using credits at Jiko's than paying OOP

but you need to do your maths depending on the meals you have selected.

Using credits for a signature is rarely a good bargain.

CRT is only a good value on credits for dinner.
Breakfast and lunch will easily be on par with the price of 2 1TS meals

if you don't have any meal under $26 or $30, you'd probably be better off paying signatures OOP

you mentionned Kona Café. This restaurant for breakfast requires a TS credit, but the overall value of the meal is about the same value as a CS meal, so it's absolutely useless to spend a TS credit there for breakfast.
Dinner is another story. If you order the NY strip @ $29.99 and the chocolate fondue @ $6.99 + $3 for beverage, that's a $40 check.

now compare those $40 against the $60 of a signature for 2 credits ($30 for each credit)
you probably would want to pay the signature OOP.

one of the biggest value I found onsite was maybe at Bongo's (DTD)
Parrillada de Mariscos (skillet of seafood) $40
and Churros for dessert ($12 for 2 so $6pp) + $3 for beverages, so that's $49pp for just one TS credit.
that's almost the price the average guest will pay at Jiko's, and that's a few dollars short of CRT's price (even though the photo package does the trick at CRT)

also things can change heavily with children the strategy and cost can be very different due to the low cost of their dining plan.

 

[MinnieMallons]

That all makes sense.

We are currently 3 TS meals over our 14 credits, including 2 each for CRT and Jiko.

Our CRT booking is for 6pm dinner. Paying OOP for CRT with would be $55-60 plus gratuity, so around $70 each.

Think I'll end up only paying OOP for Kona Cafe and Boma breakfasts.
Tonga Toast and coffee at Kona, only $16.74
Boma breakfast, only $21-24

 

[chmurf]

We are currently 3 TS meals over our 14 credits, including 2 each for CRT and Jiko.

Our CRT booking is for 6pm dinner. Paying OOP for CRT with would be $55-60 plus gratuity, so around $70 each.

Think I'll end up only paying OOP for Kona Cafe and Boma breakfasts.
Tonga Toast and coffee at Kona, only $16.74
Boma breakfast, only $21-24

the trick is that, no matter if you pay OOP or with credits, you need to pay the gratuity. So the higher the price of the TS meal you pay with credits, the higher the tip you'll need to pay.

Now if I may give you an advice.
If you're going for Tonga Toast, skip Kona Café altogether.

You're on the dining plan, so you have a refillable mug for coffee.
Refillable mugs now work at any Hotel. So you can get coffee at Captain Cooks which is the CS restaurant downstairs from Ohana's and Kona's.

Captain Cooks will sell a Tonga Toast for $5.19 the only difference with the one at kona's upstairs will be that there is no strawberry compote, and bacon or sausage with the tonga toast.

So that's a $5.19 meal OOP instead of a $16.74 ... are you really willing to pay $11.55 ($16.74 - $5.19) for half a cup of strawberry compote and 2 sausage links ?

 

[Elise79]

That all makes sense. We are currently 3 TS meals over our 14 credits, including 2 each for CRT and Jiko. Our CRT booking is for 6pm dinner. Paying OOP for CRT with would be $55-60 plus gratuity, so around $70 each. Think I'll end up only paying OOP for Kona Cafe and Boma breakfasts. Tonga Toast and coffee at Kona, only $16.74 Boma breakfast, only $21-24

CRT includes gratuity in the cost you pay up front and is one of the few places the tip is included on the DDP.

 

[JarAHunny]

Thank you for such a detailed explanation.

That was very informative. Thank you!

 

[ch1975]

Thanks for the replies,
Our dilemma is the missus like the nice buffet breakfasts, which will be the days ts gone, so we've some careful planning to do, tbh I didn't expect the plan to last all 2 weeks but if we get a weeks free dining at the nice restaraunts I'll be happy