What to pay out of pocket for vs what to use the DDP for

[DLM1980]

For some reason I was planning on having 8 not 7 credits per person and I had thought I was only needing to pay OOP for one meal, however upon reflection of my plans it seems I goofed.

I have reservations for:

Citricos
Chefs de France
Coral Reef
Chef Mickey
The Hollywood Brown Derby
Jiko

I was originally planning on just paying OOP for Coral Reef, however my plans now leave me one credit short for some of my two credit places leaving me to either pay OOP for Chef Mickey or Chefs de France. OR just paying OOP for one of my two credit places and not having to pay for Coral reef.

I had just read last night on one of the forums mention that they wouldn't pay 2 credits for the Brown Derby.

I know there are 2 different thoughts on the dining plan as to if it saves them money vs a room only discount. The damage is done, dining plan it is.

Will it save money to pay for 2, 1 credit table service places or will it save money to pay for 1, 2 credit table service place?

Is there a 2 credit place you wouldn't bother wasting credits on?

I appreciate your thoughts!

 

[starousse]

In my opinion, because you have three signature meals, I think you'd probably be better off upgrading to Deluxe. If you only had one signature planned, then I'd say do the regular and just pay out of pocket for that one meal. The regular dining plan is not a good deal for two credit meals.

When we did Deluxe last year, we found the HBD to be the worst use of two credits out of all the signatures we did.

 

[sharonabe]

Even with the most expensive entree at Brown Derby, you will spend less than $60 for a meal there, so I'd pay OOP for that. That would be less than $30 per credit and I think all of your other meals will be more than that.

You can easily share desserts at HBD that will save even more.

 

[DLM1980]

In my opinion, because you have three signature meals, I think you'd probably be better off upgrading to Deluxe. If you only had one signature planned, then I'd say do the regular and just pay out of pocket for that one meal. The regular dining plan is not a good deal for two credit meals. When we did Deluxe last year, we found the HBD to be the worst use of two credits out of all the signatures we did.

Going deluxe is going to be a waste of money, I'd eat three meals a day, but my partner is happy with breakfast and then the equivalent of peanut butter and jelly for dinner, so we would end up with leftover unused credits, really wish I could book just a separate dining plan for both of us, he can be qs, and I'll take deluxe....we run into this problem in buffets at Vegas, I don't want to eat alone but he doesn't eat enough to justify the price, so we end up either not going or I try to find some 2-4-1 coupon just to get him in.

Even with the most expensive entree at Brown Derby, you will spend less than $60 for a meal there, so I'd pay OOP for that. That would be less than $30 per credit and I think all of your other meals will be more than that. You can easily share desserts at HBD that will save even more.

So far the derby seems to be the do not use credits for.

 

[figment_jii]

I would probably opt to pay OOP for one of the Signatures, but no necessarily HBD just because. There are less expensive items at all of the Signatures, so it depends really on what you order. For example, let's say you decide you want the the filet mignon at HBD ($43) and the West African Jerk Scallops at Jiko ($35), depending on which desserts you ordered, it might be more economically efficient to pay OOP at Jiko and use the credits at HBD. If you are going to HBD, it might be worth consider the Fantasmic Dining Package because then it includes an appetizer and it still costs 2 TS credits.

 

[DLM1980]

I would probably opt to pay OOP for one of the Signatures, but no necessarily HBD just because. There are less expensive items at all of the Signatures, so it depends really on what you order. For example, let's say you decide you want the the filet mignon at HBD ($43) and the West African Jerk Scallops at Jiko ($35), depending on which desserts you ordered, it might be more economically efficient to pay OOP at Jiko and use the credits at HBD. If you are going to HBD, it might be worth consider the Fantasmic Dining Package because then it includes an appetizer and it still costs 2 TS credits.

I guess maybe I'll have to look at the menus right before I go...honestly at 60 days out I don't know if the menu will change or what I'd want to eat to say "this place goes OOP and this one goes DDP"

I'm learning my lesson not to eat appetizers cause then I fill up on that and don't eat my main dish, much less go for a dessert.

 

[disneychristmasx3]

If he isn't as into eating as you are pay for him out of pocket at any non-buffet and save the TS credits for you. He can order an appetizer or whatever he wants and he can always taste yours if you are willing to share

 

[DLM1980]

If he isn't as into eating as you are pay for him out of pocket at any non-buffet and save the TS credits for you. He can order an appetizer or whatever he wants and he can always taste yours if you are willing to share

I'll have to look into that, that actually might be the best idea yet, I just assumed since we were both going we would both be using credits, this would allow for more places to eat without me having to pay OOP for the whole meals

Thanks!

 

[ibela]

If he isn't as into eating as you are pay for him out of pocket at any non-buffet and save the TS credits for you. He can order an appetizer or whatever he wants and he can always taste yours if you are willing to share

This is what I was going to suggest. If you do this a few times, all your meals are covered by credits. No need to use 2 credits on his meal if he'll nibble and eat 1/2 an entree, easier to order an appetizer or soup and side or whatever he's interested in eating, then you can use the extra 2 credits towards one of your 3 signature meals.