Weird question about Disney Dining Plan

[mjy]

I am thinking of trying the DDP when I go to BWV September 30-October 6.

However, I am wondering if it would be worth it for me.

As a diabetic, I try not to eat big meals in the evening because they go to sugar and stay at sugar too long for my system. So I tend to eat my big meal at lunch.

Knowing that, would I get the value out of the DDP by eating my TS meal at lunch time? And, if so, would you recommend some good TS lunch places?

Additionally, what are the better CS places that one can get breakfast -- particularly if I remain in the Boardwalk/MGM/EPCOT area?

I hope this question is in the correct area. If not, moderator, kindly move it to the correct forum.

Many thanks, ahead of time, to you expert DISers out there for giving me some good tips and telling me if I would be money ahead if I do not do TS in the evening.

 

[hematite153]

Yes, you can get your money's worth by eating lunches.

We found that when we ran the numbers on using TS credits for breakfast it was roughly a wash between OOP and DDP. However, for TS lunches there are some places where you can get a great meal that would cost more than the DDP for the day if you were paying OOP. It is still true though that you get "the most for your money" with dinner but I'm not convinced that you actually get much more food.

If you aren't certain whether or not you want to DDP you could consider splitting your reservation into two and try the DDP for the first half knowing that you could call and cancel it for the second half if you don't like it. (Personally, I think it's adding a lot of work to the middle of the vacation but I know some people who do this. We've done it when we were splitting our stay between resorts and enjoyed the mix of fancy meals and cooking in the kitchen.)

I found that the best CS breakfast in the BW area was actually to use 2 snack credits at the BW Bakery. You can get slightly more by using a CS credit but it really felt like using a much more valuable credit to add coffee to the meal (and I don't drink coffee!). If you like eating big meals early, you could consider a TS breakfast at Cape May Cafe and then a CS lunch later in the day.

If you are a crazy planner like me, try using the restaurant menus to plan what you'd eat and compare costs.

Have a magical trip!

 

[CarolMN]

I'm a diabetic (Type 2) and did the DP for our trip just after Thanksgiving last year. My DH & I stayed at the BWV. I won't get the DP again.

It's not a question of "money's worth", because I'm sure we came out ahead and we didn't even order everything we could.

It was simply too tempting for me - I ate much, much more than was good for me and it took a long time to get my blood sugars back under control when I returned home.

The TS restaurants are actually easier places to make good choices than are the CS restaurants, but an appetizer, entree and dessert are simply too much food for me to eat at one time - overloads my system. I know I didn't have to order & eat everything, but as I said, the temptation of "free" was just too much for me.

For breakfast, I stocked our room with the same low carb items I eat at home - IMHO, the BW Bakery is not a good place for diabetics. Too many pastries and sweet treats. They do have some sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch, but those are not low carb either.

I'm going back to the DDE card and paying OOP for TS meals. Will supplement that with groceries so that we can eat some meals (most breakfast) in the room.


P.S. I'm going to move this to the DisAbilities Forum - there are several diabetics who read & post there so I think you will get more opinions and relevant advice there than here or on the Dining Plan Forum. Feel free to post on the Dining Plan Forum if you think differently (or just want generic "Is it worth it" opinions.

 

[Chuck S]

While I'm not diabetic, I agree with Carol, the DDP would be very tempting, and I would never normally eat that much food. We dine at a table service restaurant almost daily, and even sometimes do dinner shows. While some days we spend more on a daily basis than the DDP would cost, most days we spend less, and over a 9 or 10 day stay, using the DDE, we usually spend $100 to $150 less than the DDP would cost us (two adults), including gratuity.

 

[Selket]

My 5 yr old is a type 1 diabetic so clearly a different situation (we'd get the DDP more for the family). I was thinking that on the positive side that it does let you perhaps try some of the more expensive restaurants (a better cut of steak perhaps?). Or if you like character experiences the character buffets are possible. I don't know how that would work out for cost of the plan vs. the cost of paying OOP. I was thinking that places like Le Cellier is a good lunch spot. I also wonder if combing 2 of the TS credits to get the fancier meal would be worth it for you too? Possibly an interesting way to try one of the more upscale places. I was trying to think if there were places were you could get better food or experience without getting MORE food - if you know what I mean.

I'd suggest going to a website that has the menu's of all the restaurants with the prices and see if you can find enough to order to make it worth it.

I will add that for us one downside of the DDP is getting desserts with the meal (as other mentioned). I wonder if you could ask for the dessert "to go" (assuming you had a place to store it!) - for eating later, etc.

 

[hematite153]

- IMHO, the BW Bakery is not a good place for diabetics. Too many pastries and sweet treats. They do have some sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch, but those are not low carb either.

Yes. I don't like pastries, so I didn't have to worry about this temptation. I found that as a vegetarian (with a meat allergy) it was one of the few places I could safely get protein in the mornings. I ate yogurt and fruit cups from the bakery.

btw, if you do get the DDP, I found that several restaurants were willing to give me a bowl of berries for dessert instead of the sugary things on the menu.

 

[BCV23]

Two diabetics in our family. Our second son is type I juvenile onset and my husband is type II.

Yes, the DDP is good value even if you choose to use your TS credits at lunch. We used 60% of our TS at lunch first time we did this DDP. I second looking at the menus but any of the restaurants in Epcot are good choices. At MK, Liberty Tree Tavern is a la carte and very good at lunch. Kona Cafe and Grand Floridian Cafe are good choices as well. We like both Mama Melrose and Brown Derby at MGM for lunch. In the Epcot resort area, the Yacht Club Galley is on the DDP and open for lunch. We've not had any recent experiences there though.

At the BCMarketplace, there is a wonderful yogurt and berry parfait. Chock full of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries and the yogurt is plain. Granola and chocolate chips are options but they make these to order so you can choose your berries and leave out what you like. The parfait can be either part of a QS meal with a beverage or a snack credit.

The Marketplace also serves tasty baked omelets on croissants. We typically split an omelet sandwich and parfait between two of us whether on the DDP or not.

I do agree that it can be tempting to order those wonderful desserts when on the DDP. My husband does just that which obviously is not ideal. For our son, we usually ask for a small scoop of plain ice cream which works well for him. I find describing it as the size of a serving of sorbet works well most places. But any restaurant will make a sugarfree dessert for you with advance notice. Since we don't know the carb count of those, we don't choose that option for our son.

hematite, thanks for the hint about the berries. Sounds like a great option for our family.

 

[mjy]

Great ideas thus far. Please keep 'em coming. I am learning a lot about some of the options out there. I, too, liked the fresh fruit substitution idea.

The Brown Derby? Isn't that a 2-ticket place to eat, or is that just TS for dinner?

This DDP sounds like such a great idea but has so many variables. I get more and more confused each time I look it over!

 

[BCV23]

Oh, you're absolutely right. Sorry! Brown Derby is two credits on the DDP. We do usually go there for lunch but not on the DDP. In fact, other than CRT, I guess it is the only two credit option for lunch....or at least that I can recall.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[mjy]

Does anyone know if Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney is a part of the DDP?

If so, what would you think about the following as table service lunches?

Mama Melrose
Le Cellier
Rainforest Cafe
Marakesh
Coral Reef

Thanks, again, for the input . . .

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think Rainforest Cafes accept the DDP.

 

[hematite153]

This DDP sounds like such a great idea but has so many variables. I get more and more confused each time I look it over!

I assume you've already found these resources, but just in case you haven't. Check out the DIS DDP FAQ thread and the actual Disney Brochure.

 

[hematite153]

If so, what would you think about the following as table service lunches?

Mama Melrose
Le Cellier
Rainforest Cafe
Marakesh
Coral Reef

Rainforest Cafe won't work with the DDP (as you feared). However, the rest look good.

If you have Rainforest Cafe on the list because you're planning to spend the day at AKL consider either Breakfastosaurus or using two CS credits that day and two TS credits another day.

 

[mjy]

I assume you've already found these resources, but just in case you haven't. Check out the DIS DDP FAQ thread and the actual Disney Brochure.

"Finding" and "Understanding" are two totally different realities!

I just printed out the actual brochures because that has the answers to all my questions (except, of course, for individual opinions). I appreciate the link.

I think that I am going to go with the DDP for my Sep/Oct vacation. If I like it, I'll add it to future trips. If not, perhaps I'll go with the DDE since I am also an annual passholder.

Many thanks!

 

[mjy]

Rainforest Cafe won't work with the DDP (as you feared). However, the rest look good.

If you have Rainforest Cafe on the list because you're planning to spend the day at AKL consider either Breakfastosaurus or using two CS credits that day and two TS credits another day.

I was planning on DTD not AK for the Rainforest Cafe. I really like that place. I notice that Planet Hollywood is on the plan, though. I've never been there, so I can give it a try.