Using DDP on Cindy's... or not?

[gopherit]

OK, made some ADRs for August and need some perspective.

I have dd and I booked for bfast w/ Cindy at the Castle during our trip. If we use our DDP, that is 2 TS per person. The cost of the meal is 31.99 adult, 21.99 kid, plus tax and tip. Am I nuts, or does that seem like a waste of 2 TS and I should just pony up the cash instead? If the adult is 37.99 per day, then for 2 TS that's $75.98, which buys the character b'fast plus 2 CS meals and 2 snacks. Somehow - I can't see me eating $43.99 worth in 2 CS and 2 Mickey bars! Not a good deal at all.

The kid's DDP is 10.99 per day, which means for two TS (and $21.98), I get the bfast and 2 CS and 2 snacks. Not TOO bad a deal - but I think I come out better using those TS on our other meals. Our most likely "cheapest" kid day is at MGM, where we plan to do CS, grab a snack, and eat at Sci-Fi. By the time DD gets a drink, meal, and dessert at Sci-Fi, she will be up around $10 in TS costs. All the other planned TS kids meals are either fixed price buffet (around $11-13) or more costly. Combined cost for 2 TS used that way is bound to be higher than $21.99. So it seems to me it's not prudent to use the 2 TS option for Cindy's. If we were doing HDDR - then YES (adult cost there is about $50, $25 for kids)... but not for Cindy's.

Since Cindy's is in the middle of our trip - will I have any problem paying separately? They won't automatically take it off our DDP will they? Never seen Disney turn down more money from my credit card before, LOL, so don't know why they would start now, but just something I thought I'd ask.

Anybody found any other places that aren't prudent to use the dining plan?

 

[vascubaguy]

I personally don't think it would be worth using 2 TS credits. I mean you could go eat at LeCellier for 1 TS and easily rack up $35 for just yourself. Of course I couldn't really justify the cost paying cash either... basically for the same reason.

We had ADRs for dinner at CRT and the total came to around $45 per adult (including tax, tip, and the DDE discount). When I looked back at the menu, I can go somewhere else and get a better meal with more options for less $$$. I just won't have that castle experience, which we did enjoy during our last trip (before the changes).

Long story short, we decided to cancel our ADR and decided to do lunch at the Concourse Steakhouse. Currently, we have left the dinner option open... but I might check out 1900 PF for dinner...

Ok, I went way off on a tangent there... anyway, yes... I think it is a waste of 2TS. Though I do think that depending on where you go, you could spend $45+ on 2 CS and 2 snacks.

 

[gopherit]

Yes, I had also considered the fact too that even for cash, it might not be the best way to spend my moolah, LOL. I mean, dd's main interest is Princess Aurora, who also appears at the Storybook b'fast in Norway, which we attended the trip before last and which is only 1 TS (and half the price in cash). It's all in the "castle ambiance", I guess! And in this case, the extra cost of the castle versus Norway is a location issue too, since I wasn't planning to do EPCOT that day, more likely spending our day at MK. We would spend less money, but we would have to hoof it to the b'fast, then hoof it out of EPCOT to catch transportation over to MK. Our ressie for Cindy's is at 8 am.... It's so nice to exit the castle around 9 am and already be right in Fantasyland, ready to see Philharmagic, ride Dumbo, Pooh, etc. I guess in that regard, I'd pay the price. Besides, I'm never sure how many more trips I'll squeak in while dd is still interested in princesses and has the "awe" over them.... before too long, she's gonna be oggling the teenage boys at Disney instead and I'll be willing to give my right arm and 50 bucks to have her back as a little girl in a fancy dress, off to dine in the castle, LOL.

 

[vascubaguy]

Yes, I had also considered the fact too that even for cash, it might not be the best way to spend my moolah, LOL. I mean, dd's main interest is Princess Aurora, who also appears at the Storybook b'fast in Norway, which we attended the trip before last and which is only 1 TS (and half the price in cash). It's all in the "castle ambiance", I guess! And in this case, the extra cost of the castle versus Norway is a location issue too, since I wasn't planning to do EPCOT that day, more likely spending our day at MK. We would spend less money, but we would have to hoof it to the b'fast, then hoof it out of EPCOT to catch transportation over to MK. Our ressie for Cindy's is at 8 am.... It's so nice to exit the castle around 9 am and already be right in Fantasyland, ready to see Philharmagic, ride Dumbo, Pooh, etc. I guess in that regard, I'd pay the price. Besides, I'm never sure how many more trips I'll squeak in while dd is still interested in princesses and has the "awe" over them.... before too long, she's gonna be oggling the teenage boys at Disney instead and I'll be willing to give my right arm and 50 bucks to have her back as a little girl in a fancy dress, off to dine in the castle, LOL.

Very true... it's something your daughter will remember!

BTW, after writing that post, I called dining and booked a ressie at 1900 Park Fare. I knew dp would be disappointed if we didn't have a meal with at least one princesses at some point.

 

[Sleeping Jedi Beauty]

The only way it's worth 2 TS credits is if you absolutely have to do it and can't afford to pay OOP. There are two other princess meals in the parks, and plenty of places to see the princesses even if you don't dine with them.

 

[MAGGIED]

Even with the price increase this is a must do for our family - we just love the atmosphere...we have the dining plan this time but we are paying OOP for this - just couldn't see using 2 TS credits for it. With the other ADR's we have I am comfortable that we will get our money's worth out of the dining plan so I am not to worried about it. My kids DD(16) and DS(13) love eating in the castle!!! And so do I (shhhh!)

 

[jloz]

We went in Feb and dined at CRT for Daughter's 5th birthday so it was a MUST do for us. We were on the DDP but decided to pay cash since I didn't think it was worth using 2TS for it. Just let the server know that you are paying for it instead of using the DDP, that is what we did.

The plan was worth it for us 2A and 2C for 5 days the DDP cost us $450 and our receipts were almost $800.

 

[DebbieB]

I am taking my niece in June and have a ADR for CRT for breakfast. I opted not to use the dining plan, I don't think it's worth 2 credits, especially for breakfast. I want her to experience it since it was a highlight when I took her older sister. I saved the credit to use at Crystal Palace for lunch the last day of our trip (you only get credits for the number of nights, not days).

 

[emma'smom]

I know it is expensive...and I almost cancelled our ADR because of the cost. However, I had already mentioned it to our dd3 and she was counting on it. We paid OOP for breakfast (with the idea that we would want to use our TS credits for two dinners which would cost more anyway). It really was the magical highlight of our trip! We also did PSB because it was included in the dining plan. That was fun too, but CRT really was magical! I can still see my dd3's face when she saw Cinderella and her little scrunched up nose when she closed her eyes to make the wish with the wishing star! If you can afford it, do it for the experience- not the economic value!