"Wasting" a TS credit at breakfast...

[MellyBeans]

DH is a HUGE breakfast fan, and his only request for our upcoming trip is that I finally give in a book a nice breakfast somewhere. Characters, no characters...he doesn't care. He just would like a nice breakfast.

Being the good DW that I am, I relented even though I've never been a big breakfast fan, and I know it's a waste of a credit, and booked Crystal Palace before park opens, just cause I've always wanted to do that anyway. I KNOW that this isn't a good use of a TS credit. I thought about just paying for it out of pocket, and booking another lunch or dinner somewhere else for the TS credit, but as it is, the DDP is almost too much food for us, and I really don't want to book an additional meal and pay out of pocket AFTER we are already paying for the dining plan. If we do that, I can see leaving Disney property with a CS credit or two unused, and that would also hinder the value of the plan.

So...have you used a TS credit on breakfast? Does it really screw up the value of the plan? Thoughts? Opinions?

For the record, our other ADR's are:
1. Le Cellier Lunch (only because it's 1 TS compared to 2 for dinner come this Spring)
2. 50s Prime Time Lunch (also not a super great deal, I realize, but I don't like the CS options in DHS, and last time I was at 50s I was a kid and I LOVED it...been wanting to return ever since, and have never gotten around to it.)
3. Whispering Canyon Dinner
4. Boma Dinner
5. Cape May Dinner

(May switch one of the 3 dinners for Ohana if a time that works for us becomes available...but then again, maybe not, as all three dinners are also places I would like to try in addition to Ohana)

 

[Faldred]

Don't worry about "maximizing" credit use at every meal. Yes, on the whole, breakfast is a "bad" use of a dining plan credit, given the relative cost of the meal. But once over the course of a stay probably isn't going to make the entire plan not cost-effective, especially if you're going to "make up" for it at other meals.

 

[ccgirl]

Do it all the time and find we still come ahead using the plan vs. what we would have paid OOP. The plan is like $42 a night (forget the exact amount). Figure what your OOP costs would be had you not had the DDP and there you go. We always come out ahead. But, we may eat differently than you.

 

[purple figment]

Actually I think using a TS credit for breakfast at Crystal Palace is a pretty good idea. It's about $30 per person because you're paying for the character interaction as well as a meal. You'll be in the park before opening so it's a great opportunity to take pictures without the crowds. And you'll be making your husband happy.

Enjoy!

 

[MellyBeans]

Thanks guys! All of this is very reassuring! I think I'll let my 8:05 CP reservation stand, and stop fussing with it. If I loose a little money, oh well. It's not the end of the world. In the end, I like the DP because it allows us to try so many different restaurants! No way would DH let me book a TS every day of our trip if we were also paying out OOP. He'd have a heart attack after every meal, and it would seriously put a damper on his trip, and by extension, mine too. Somehow, pre-paying off-sets this phenomenon. Even if we loose a little value, somehow it doesn't matter cause it was all paid months ago as part of our package. For that reason alone, I like the DDP.

 

[3pletprincesses]

This past trip and our upcoming trip, we had/have reservations for breakfast at Ohana, Tusker and Crystal Palace and would change it. The were all good and worth every penny IMO. The only one I would never pay again is Chef Mickey.

Being at MK before park opening is the best and you get to take pictures with next to no one around you of the castle. another added value to your breakfast meal.

 

[2Tiggies]

It would be a wasted credit if you had it left over at the end of the trip and/or if you just used it somewhere for the sake of using it, when a breakfast would be more appealing or convenient to you.

It's the same as the snack credits used on water debate - it may be a 'waste' if you tend to run out of snack credits, but if you are buying water OOP and then having to quickly spend credits on your departure day.

Dining plans can work very well, but most of the time we need to put a little work into it so that it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of our trips or cause inconvenience.

Enjoy your breakfast. What you 'lose' in value you will gain in park time.

 

[kaybird]

Don't miss the WONDERFUL CS breakfasts @ WPE. My DH is a major breakfast lover too, and we always stp here at least once!

 

[Cherinva]

I've done that and I don't think it's a waste at all. The breakfast at CP is great, and you get into the park before it opens....I love walking down Main Street when no one is there, but us early birds going to breakfast. Enjoy !!!

 

[ericf70]

Don't miss the WONDERFUL CS breakfasts @ WPE.

Those look great. What does WPE stand for?

 

[Reddy]

I say fill up then have snack mid-day then use CS for supper - unless you are leaving that day then snack for the road

 

[ccgirl]

Those look great. What does WPE stand for?

I think it is Wolfgang Puck Express. It is at DTD and very good. They have great pizzas and lunch/dinner too.

 

[Jessma9902]

Thanks guys! All of this is very reassuring! I think I'll let my 8:05 CP reservation stand, and stop fussing with it. If I loose a little money, oh well. It's not the end of the world. In the end, I like the DP because it allows us to try so many different restaurants! No way would DH let me book a TS every day of our trip if we were also paying out OOP. He'd have a heart attack after every meal, and it would seriously put a damper on his trip, and by extension, mine too. Somehow, pre-paying off-sets this phenomenon. Even if we loose a little value, somehow it doesn't matter cause it was all paid months ago as part of our package. For that reason alone, I like the DDP.

We try to do Tusker House on every trip- we think it is well worth the credit! They have an awesome buffet and fantastic character interaction!

 

[GovieMom]

No way would DH let me book a TS every day of our trip if we were also paying out OOP. He'd have a heart attack after every meal, and it would seriously put a damper on his trip, and by extension, mine too.

I hear you! My DH is the same way, especially since we're a family of four adults now. And if we did pay OOP at a TS restaurant, we'd probably have to order the cheapest items. Thank goodness for the dining plan! (I never told him how much it costs, lol.) Due to changing our schedules mid-trip, we've had to use a couple TS credits at places that certainly weren't very pricey; namely The Plaza, and Boma for breakfast. But boy that breakfast was outstanding. The only TS credits I felt we wasted were the ones we used for dinner at Sci-Fi ... the food was awful! Good luck on your trip, and enjoy the food!

 

[2Tiggies]

Oooooh, what is that? It looks

 

[eyor44]

I ate breakfast at CP two weeks ago and the cost of the buffet plus tax was $24.49 for one adult. Granted a dinner would cost you more, but if your DH is like mine, he will eat a lot and then not want another big meal that day.

 

[kaybird]

Oooooh, what is that? It looks

cornflake crusted french toast! AMAZING!!!

 

[MSLRAC]

Breakfast is one of many reasons that we opted for the DxDP. We like breakfast and we don't like cold, grab and go or sweet pastry type things for breakfast. So we used a TS credit every single morning during our last trip and we will do so again for our upcoming trip. All of our breakfast bills were over $75 and a few were closer to $100, so depending on where you have breakfast, I think it can be a very good use of a credit.

 

[sjs314]

Breakfast is one of many reasons that we opted for the DxDP. We like breakfast and we don't like cold, grab and go or sweet pastry type things for breakfast. So we used a TS credit every single morning during our last trip and we will do so again for our upcoming trip. All of our breakfast bills were over $75 and a few were closer to $100, so depending on where you have breakfast, I think it can be a very good use of a credit.

I so totally agree and like you we too opted for the DxDP this trip because we like to start our day off with a TS Breakfast. I think one has to just go with the flow and enjoy the fact you are at Disney and can order what you want and not worry about checking out the price side of the menus.

With the DxDP you can use TS credits for CS which is surely not considered "best value" but you can not beat the fexiblity of being able to use your credits that way.

I think if you are going to stress out as to whether or not your getting the best value each time you sit down to eat, it is probally better to just pay OOP instead of going with the DP

 

[FloFlo71]

Are the omeletes on the menu for breakfast at WPE?

Can you sit inside at WPE with a cs option?

Thank you not long until I can book my ADRs