Using meals from dining plan or paying for character meals?

[stacyim]

We are going to Disneyworld and getting the dining plan. I know we can trade 2 sit down meals for a character meal or pay for the character meal out of pocket. If a sit down dinner could run $150 for my family, why would I trade $300 of value for two sit down meals for a character meal that only costs $90-118? It seems better to just pay out of pocket for the character meal. Thoughts?

 

[lucytootsie]

Not all character meals are 2 table service. CRt is 2. But you can go to Chef Mickey for 1 credit.

 

[aceys_h0ney]

We are going to Disneyworld and getting the dining plan. I know we can trade 2 sit down meals for a character meal or pay for the character meal out of pocket. If a sit down dinner could run $150 for my family, why would I trade $300 of value for two sit down meals for a character meal that only costs $90-118? It seems better to just pay out of pocket for the character meal. Thoughts?

As the PP said not all the meals are two credits. The biggest draw for me on the dining plan is that I do not plan to pay for anything out of pocket. If you want to eat at the Castle then you will use two credits each but there are other options for dining with the princess' unless it is the castle you are after.

 

[TDC Nala]

Of the character meals, only Cinderella's Royal Table costs 2 TS credits per person. All other character meals are 1 TS.

 

[stacyim]

Thanks for this information. For the Princess Breakfast, would you pay for it or use 2 TS and then pay for the sit down dinners to replace the 2 we are giving up?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I won't repeat what others have said...but mostly we find DDP is more than enough food. The only exception we make is that we sometimes buy tiny things like drinks oop, instead of using a snack credit for them, since snack credits are worth up to $4, essentially. We also share quick service credits.

The only other time we've paid cash is when we knew we were going to be there almost the entire first and full last day (had an extra night split stay/airfare deal during free dining promo). In that case, I didn't want to cancel our double credit meal.

I'd also say, if you are doing a breakfast buffet, it's not a super great (money value wise) use of credits. In that case also, I'd consider paying oop - typically $18 per adult during non holiday week - and add an extra double credit meal. To clarify, there's a surcharge during 'peak holiday weeks,' so then I'd just use DDP credits.

 

[Elmo888]

Thanks for this information. For the Princess Breakfast, would you pay for it or use 2 TS and then pay for the sit down dinners to replace the 2 we are giving up?

It depends. For 7 nights with 2 adults and 2 children, I find that one 2 TS meal works, but I wouldn't do two 2 TS meals. It depends on your number of nights and your number of kids 3-9.

I made a spread sheet, picked our restaurants, picked our approx. menu items (or took an average by eyeball), and then crunched the numbers. I would try this. Some people suggest paying OOP for 2 TS meals, but I haven't found it necessary (I would do it if needed). On top of that, if you pay OOP for a 2 TS meal, you will need to make up those 2 TS credits at another time.

If you don't want to do CRT because it is 2 TS credits, try the princess meal at Akershus (breakfast, lunch or dinner), which is only 1 TS credit.

Have a great time!

 

[stacyim]

I thought the the Princess Breakfast was the meal to do for this character. Am I wrong? Also, if I has to use 2 TS for this character meal, then won't we be at least one TS short for our trip? Thanks.

 

[stacyim]

What did you think of the All Star Music? We are trying to decide which value resort to stay at. Thanks.

 

[Elmo888]

I thought the the Princess Breakfast was the meal to do for this character. Am I wrong? Also, if I has to use 2 TS for this character meal, then won't we be at least one TS short for our trip? Thanks.

CRT - Cinderella Royal Table in the castle.
Akershus - restaurant in Norway at Epcot.

Do a search on this board - some people prefer Akershus over CRT. Of course, the castle is magical, but I found it orchestrated and rushed. At CRT, you have a pic with Cinderella in her ball gown downstairs and then see four different princesses upstairs. At Akershus, you have a pic with Belle in her yellow ball gown before your meal and then see four different princesses during your meal. If you have a DD who is in love with one princess or the other, that might sway you.

With DDP you have one TS credit per night. If you go to a 2 TS credit meal, you just don't have a TS on your arrival day and departure day (or that's how we do it). We didn't find this to be a problem. There is plenty of food on the DDP.

You might have to pay for one CS restaurant at the end of your trip, but we managed to use leftover snack credits to eat our last CS meal (I think that I paid for a sandwich or something). And we were able to tour on our departure day instead of going to a TS meal. It just depends on what you want. You could pay OOP for your 2 credit TS meal and then have 2 more meals on the DDP, but that seems more expensive than paying for a couple or 3 or 4 CS meals.

Does that make sense?

 

[Elmo888]

What did you think of the All Star Music? We are trying to decide which value resort to stay at. Thanks.

We loved ASMusic, but we were in a Family Suite. We just really liked the extra room and privacy from the kids. It was quiet (I asked for a room that didn't face the pool). The food court was fine, and the kids enjoyed the pool.

If you aren't looking at the Family Suites and you do have little kids, I'd look at ASMovies...my DD really wants to stay there (but we'll stick with the Family Suites for now!).

 

[lucytootsie]

I am using 2 table service for CRt and paying oop for the other meal. I figure we can eat at Earl of Sand. for way less than CRT

 

[Elmo888]

I am using 2 table service for CRt and paying oop for the other meal. I figure we can eat at Earl of Sand. for way less than CRT

EXACTLY! That was the point that I was trying to make (in a roundabout way!).

 

[TDC Nala]

Which character are you trying to see? there are two different princess meals available, CRT at MK and Akershus at Epcot. CRT is two DDP TS credits per person. Akershus is 1 credit per person.

 

[stacyim]

We are not going to Epcot so we will have to do CRT.

 

[Tomskatt]

I thought the the Princess Breakfast was the meal to do for this character. Am I wrong? Also, if I has to use 2 TS for this character meal, then won't we be at least one TS short for our trip? Thanks.

You can also go to the Grand Floridian ~ 1900 Parke Fair and see all the Cinderella characters ... Cindy, Prince, STepMom and STep Sisters ... others too! Recomm end highly!

 

[dzorn]

I thought the the Princess Breakfast was the meal to do for this character. Am I wrong? Also, if I has to use 2 TS for this character meal, then won't we be at least one TS short for our trip? Thanks.

Don't forget you get a credit for each NIGHT of your stay. If you plan on going to the parks on arrival and departure days you will be short anyway. If I know I am going to be short credits I usually pay OOP for a breakfast as it is usually the cheapest. And for the two credits I would pay for CRT I could be eating at 1900 Fare and LeCellier. So that really is up to you. You have to decide what the trade off is. Two meal vs one.