We are struggling to equate the value for a signature meal on the DDP. It would have to be worth $76 total (if we try to cover it all with the one meal - which you can definitely do at 1 TS credit meals). When we add up the average cost for the menu items, we can't even come close to $76! Are we missing something. Do you get your monies worth at a signature meal? Thx!
I think it all depends on your perspective. It's like asking if you are getting your monies worth at a deluxe resort vs a moderate vs a value. How much do you like an excellent all round dining experience? It is more than just about the math, but if you do wish to crunch numbers, I think you have to consider the cost of a snack and CS lunch. Here's a good example .. Flying Fish .. lobster appy .. $18 steak .. $38 chocolate sampler .. $12 that's $68 .. and it was the best meal I had on my trip in June. Take 4 bucks for each day's snack .. and $7 for CS lunch ..makes a total of 68+8+14=90.. so you do come out ahead.(edited to add that I forgot tax and tip is included so that raises the 68 even higher.) I would have gladly used 2 TS for this wonderful meal if I were on the dining plan. The service and the wonderful atmosphere at a restaurant like the Flying Fish certainly adds into my dining choices.
I'm not sure where your math is coming from on this one. Maybe you are thinking $37.99x2 for each of you? A better way to look at it would be where might you add up to $50.00 per person including tax and tip--which would be a cinch at any of the 2TS credit venues except CRT. Remember your CS will add up to about $12 per person per day and your snack about $3-4. $38 (plan rounded)-$12 (CS)=26 $26-$3.50 (we'll split the difference)=22.50 $22.5x2=$45 So when you look for a signature dining spot look at if the total including tax and tip is $45. each, then you are at breakeven.
You don't have to. The average cost of the 2 CS meals and 2 snacks would be about $30 (or higher depending on what you choose) So to "break even" with a 2 TS restaurant your own dining bill would need to be about $46 (tax and tip included). If you are intrigued by the menu or ambiance at a 2 TS restaurant and it fits with your touring plans and family's needs, then eat there. If you aren't, then skip it! I look at the dining plan as the whole package- sure, some days we didn't get our full "value" from it- like the day we ate a total of 6 CS meals and 2 snacks for my family of 4.... but over the course of the week, we certainly came out ahead and I think that if you use all your TS credits ONLY, most people would break even, at least. For me, the main benefit of the plan is the pre-paid aspect and the freedom to choose basically anything we wanted to eat whenever we wanted to eat it. If I worried about getting my money's worth, I may as well have just paid cash for our food on our visit.
The dinner shows, around $50, but two credits are a very bad buy. Same with CRT. If you're not going to have enough credits the signature meals are probably the meals to pay out of pocket.
When I do the math for my family of 4 (3 adults/1 child) we easily save money useing credits at California Grill, and my DH is a vegitarian so he orders the least expensive meal they have on the menu.
our dinner at Yachtsman's for 3 was $210 and we had 3 CS today and 3 snacks. So basically even using 2 credits for Yachtsman we got our CS and snacks for free today. It was worth it to us.
CRT is probably the least cash-value of any meal on the Dining Plan. Even the dinner shows, at 2TS, typically run about $50 (cash), but CRT runs from $31 to $39.
