What are the WORST values on the DDP?

[ksoehrlein]

Odd question, I know. It's just that this upcoming trip will be a non-DDP trip for us. We tend to eat at good value DDP restaurants when we're on the plan (dinner TS at Le Cellier, lunch CS at Tangierine, etc), so I'd like to try something new this time around.

So far, we have a lunch ADR at the Plaza. What else is a "waste" of a credit, but a decent value when paying entirely OOP? We have a DDE card, if it helps.

 

[DebbieB]

2 credits for CRT breakfast. I paid OOP, mainly so my niece could have the experience.

 

[Colleen27]

The Plaza, Beaches & Cream, any breakfast TS, any place where you wouldn't want the full DDP meal (for us, ESPN Club is one of those - 2 or 3 appetizers and 2 desserts is all we want between the 4 of us).

 

[beroh2253]

What else is a "waste" of a credit, but a decent value when paying entirely OOP? We have a DDE card, if it helps.

I would do Sci-Fi, never been there but don't want to waste a DDP TS credit there, but is not expensive so would do OOP if not on the DDP or were doing many 2 credit TS and wanted to do OOP for an additional TS.
Eventually I will get to the SCI-FI

 

[kato0627]

We usually pay OOP at the Yacht Club Galley, The Plaza, House of Blues (planning this time). YCG is really good, nice walk over to EPCOT after your meal. Food is good, and yet inexpensive so we do not waste a TS There. The spinach dip appy is great.
Have fun

 

[aubriee]

TS: Plaza or LTT (lunch) at MK, Sci fi at MGM, Nine Dragons (lunch or dinner--both fairly cheap) at Epcot, Beaches & Cream at Beach Club, ESPN Club at BW, Trail's End Bufet at FW, or Olivia's at Old Key West. It might also be a good time to try restaurants not on the DDP, like Rainforest Cafe, Bongos, House of Blues, or lunch at Portobello Yacht Club in DTD. Most of the breakfast buffets are fairly cheap, or for that matter the buffets in general aren't bad pricewise.

For CS: Flame Tree BBQ at AK, Pecos Bill's or Liberty Square Market at MK, Backlot Express at MGM, La Kringla Bakeri, Sommerfest, or Yorkshire County Fish Shop at Epcot, and the Earl of Sandwich has very good, but cheap sandwiches in DTD. If you like those nasty turkey legs, they are fairly cheap.

 

[aristocat]

CRT! not worth 2 credits

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

The worst value on the DDP is the meal you hated but booked because it was the best use of credits. Value is a meal YOU and your family will enjoy.

 

[ElizabethB]

CRT, HHR and Luau.

 

[ElizabethB]

Sorry, HHR should have been Hoop De Doo Review.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

For us the photo package makes CRT better value as we don't buy photo packages. HDDR I would gladly miss but for DH it's an important event. As we are one free dining everything is great value.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Trail's End buffet is only 7.99 for breakfast, 12.99 for lunch and 17.99 for dinner. If I were going there I'd probably pay OOP.

 

[Spaceman Spiff & Co.]

I agree with Pooh Bear Hugs and will add -- the meal you order the expensive dish instead of the cheaper entree that you wanted.
Also when you eat app, entree and dessert when you were full without eating all that food

 

[jdb0822]

I always find myself trying to make sure I exceed the 38.99 I paid each day for the DDP.

 

[Deweysgirl]

Seems like a total waste of 2 TS credits for my 12 and 9 year olds to eat at Brown Derby, I can't bring myself to do it!

 

[JimMIA]

In addition to CRT for 2 TS (just way overpriced -- compare to California Grill and see which you like better), I'd add:

Yorkshire Fish & Chips at the UK in Epcot as the worst CS in WDW -- small portions, mediocre food, wonderful staff. (There is room for other nominees. There are some very good CS options, but there are a number of pretty poor options as well.)

Alfredo's at Italy in Epcot is the worst 1 TS, for reasons too numerous to list, but including average portions, lousy food, worse service. (May be other options here too, but I think Alfredo's is in a class by themselves.)

 

[ElizabethB]

I have to agree with those who say ordering something you don't like just because it's expensive is a poor use of credits. Last fall, we chatted with a couple of waiters who said that, with the DDP, people are inevitably ordering the most expensive things on the menu --- and that they often don't know what they are ordering and are shocked and don't like it when they get it. One waiter said he's had tons of mussels ordered and then sent back when people see what they ordered and say, "I didn't know it was this." The waiters we spoke with are at 2TS restaurants.

Another thing that is not important to us is portion size. For some, if portions are small, they consider it a poor use of credits. For us, small portions of quality food are far preferable to large portions of mediocre food. For that reason, we avoid 'Ohana, WCC and other all your care to eat places, as well as buffets whenever possible. Our boys like eating in the castle, so we pay OOP for that.

Second and third class seating at HDDR and the Luau means those shows aren't worth 2TS for us. The food is always bad, leaving the show the only value. If we have bad seats on top of it, we've really wasted our dining credits. We'd rather pay OOP for those shows and use the 2TS for something really good, like Jiko. Fortunately, our boys said they don't care about HDDR anymore. Happy day!

And, as an aside, Alfredo's has always been one of our favorites. Best Fettucine Alfredo anywhere. Of course, it's a moot point, now.

 

[Cindy B]

CS- Earl of Sandwich. You can pay OOP for that with a AAA discount. The AAA discount is 15% off with a diamond card.

I didn't realize that Trails End breakfast was only 7.99. That's actually a great price--even cheaper than most of breakfast meals near our home.

I would agree with CRT as well. I can't do it--I did it two years ago when it was a one credit meal but I just can't justify 2 credits for it.

 

[ahonjen]

Lunch at the Brown Derby in MGM. I love it there--it's great to take a break at a nice restaurant. But definitely not worth the 2 TS credits.

 

[patsal]

The worse value on DDP is eating anywhere you really didn't want to just because the food cost more, or ordering the most expensive item on the menu even if it wasn't what you wanted.

Now the best places to eat when you don't have DDP that's a different story!
MK--Plaza, LTT Lunch and Casey's
MGM--can't think of any maybe HBD since I think it is a stretch to call that signature dining
Epcot-any worldshowcase fast food not owned by Disney--the meals add up to about $9.99 including the dessert!, a good bang for your buck would also be Sunshine Seasons
AK-Rainforest Cafe, Flame tree meals are large and priced fairly
DTD--HOB, Earl of Sandwich, Puck's express
Resorts: Spoodles--easily ordering 3-4 apps and eating them Tapas style and then ordering 2 desserts as well, resort character breakfasts are a bit less than theme park character meals, the buffett at the campground