When to pay OOP for snack?

[LibrarianBecky]

My family and I will be going to Disney for our first trip in September.

We'll be on the DDP. Knowing our patterns of eating, I think that we will probably end up using all of our snack credits and will need to pay for some snacks OOP. Is there a cut off point that someone else has figured out whether someone should use a snack credit or pay OOP? Maybe I'm being too frugal about the whole thing...but if we're going to end up paying OOP for some snacks, I would rather it be the 95cent applesauce, rather than the $4 sundae. I hope this makes sense!

Thank you for your help!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Don't buy the bottled water, with a credit or OOP. If you're at any place with a soda fountain, you can ask for a glass of ice water and it should be free. If you're not water drinkers, buy some of those single serving mix in packets. I took Arnold Palmer and Ocean Spray Cran Lemonade mix in packets (they take up virtually no room in a bag) and both were yummy.

 

[lroger01]

You'll be surprised at how few snack credits you do use. We went last August (HOT) with the Quick Service Dining Plan. With the drinks and desserts we got with meals and the refillable mugs, we didn't use very many snack credits. I ended up with about 8 credits left from 3 people after a week's stay. We ended up taking home a bunch of mickey head crispy treats.

I say use your snack credits up first and only then pay our of pocket for anything.

 

[boufa]

If you happen to be going in very late September, you can use your snack credits for some of the Food and Wine Festival items. It begins Sept 30th. I figure that is a good way to literally eat them up. 2 of use sampling 6 or 7 items each will burn 12 - 14 credits quickly... and since they are fairly expensive little tastes ( $4 - $7+ each) you could save quite a bit of money.

My 2 little ones (5 and 8) are happy with a fruit roll up for a snack, so 2 snack credits a day is over kill for them. I have a hard time imagining using up 56 snacks in a week. Then because of our arrival time, we are going to have extras of everything. We are doing 7 nights, but only 6 days... you are allotted by the number of nights.

 

[LibrarianBecky]

I"m planning on ordering water and some small snack/breakfast items from garden grocer, so I"m definitely hoping to not have to pay OOP for water. I drink like a camel and know I could use up my entire family's credits right there!

The counterservice people don't mind if you ask for ice water if you aren't buying something else? I"m going to have to try some of those drink mix add ins. I like water, but those could be yummy too!

We're going Sept 17-24, so no F&W for us...but I would love to 'eat up' some snack credits that way! Maybe our next trip. (Our first trip is 6+months away and I"m planning our second trip? That might make me an official disboarder.... )

 

[maggiew]

You'll be surprised at how few snack credits you do use. We went last August (HOT) with the Quick Service Dining Plan. With the drinks and desserts we got with meals and the refillable mugs, we didn't use very many snack credits. I ended up with about 8 credits left from 3 people after a week's stay. We ended up taking home a bunch of mickey head crispy treats.

I say use your snack credits up first and only then pay our of pocket for anything.

I agree with this!

Maggie

 

[dizziedupbaby0127]

This Sept will be our 3rd trip using the dining plan. We tend to get the regular plan even when staying at the value resorts, so only 1 snack credit per night. Here's my rule of thumb, if its under $2.50 we pay OOP, Over $3 use a snack credit and inbetween depends on how many credits we have left! I REFUSE to use a credit worth $3-4 on a $1.39 bagel for breakfast! I would rather save it for a $3 dessert, $3.99 fruit cup, frozen lemonade, milkshake or an ice cream sundae.

I like to take a peek at the snack credits thread on here, before each trip, get an idea of which items I might want and make a note of where and each price. We always pay OOP for normal drinks.

Snack credit thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2640292

 

[kaybird]

I agree in theory with not using a snack credit for the cheaper items, but it is a rare trip that we aren't scrambling on the last day to use them up. Wait til the end and pay OOP then. (but have that expensive sundae early in the trip!)

 

[ThreeKMom]

We usually use our snack credits for breakfast and never have any left over.

This trip we are staying in a villa and plan to bring breakfast foods and waters with us. I'm looking forward to getting to use my snack credits for fun stuff like dole whips, mickey waffles etc.

If by some odd chance we have left over credits, we will use them to bring home special disney treats!

 

[Sandisw]

What we have always done is pay OOP for the first few days for drinks (ie: soda, water) instead of using them.

However, at the midway point, we evaluate what is left. IF we find we just aren't using them that much at that point, we start using them for drinks as well.

I don't want to end up with tons left and this has worked. However, last summer, with the QSDP, we ended up with 8 left anyway the last day and just brought home fudge for my older children who didn't come with us.

 

[disneymayz]

You'll be surprised at how few snack credits you do use. We went last August (HOT) with the Quick Service Dining Plan. With the drinks and desserts we got with meals and the refillable mugs, we didn't use very many snack credits. I ended up with about 8 credits left from 3 people after a week's stay. We ended up taking home a bunch of mickey head crispy treats.

I say use your snack credits up first and only then pay our of pocket for anything.

We use snack credits of breakfast when we are on the QSDP. Coffee Cake, pastries, doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, etc.

Since OP is only getting 1 snack credit per day then I would say anything under $2 I would pay OOP. When we did DDP we would eat lunch about 11:30 then have an afternoon snack (dole whip, etc.) then have dinner. Some days we would share afternoon snack (pretzel) and share a night time snack (Sundae).