Which meals should I pay OOP for?

[Shellee999]

I'm going over my itinerary, and it looks like I'll be paying out of pocket for 2 CS meals. I will do some research, but just to get me started, any advice on where I'd do best buying on my own vs. using a CS credit? Thanks!
1 or 2 lunches at POFQ
late breakfast or early lunch at Animal Kingdom
lunch at the Grand Floridian
dinner at Fort Wilderness Campground
lunch or dinner at Magic Kingdom
lunch in DTD

 

[Cafeen]

I'm going over my itinerary, and it looks like I'll be paying out of pocket for 2 CS meals. I will do some research, but just to get me started, any advice on where I'd do best buying on my own vs. using a CS credit? Thanks!
1 or 2 lunches at POFQ
late breakfast or early lunch at Animal Kingdom
lunch at the Grand Floridian
dinner at Fort Wilderness Campground
lunch or dinner at Magic Kingdom
lunch in DTD

Without knowing details, the breakfast jumps out at me. Breakfasts are usually pretty cheap, and thus better to pay OOP for than the plan.

Take a look at the menus on here (See the menu navigation at the top) or AllEars.net to get an idea of what you're looking at as far as pricing. If in doubt, just pay with credits (except at breakfast) until you run out and then save the OOP until the end. This works as it gives you a buffer, in case you decide to skip a planned meal earlier in the trip, you won't have that credit hanging at the end.

 

[sharonabe]

A lot of this depends on where you want to eat at those locations.

For example: your lunch at DTD. If you go to Wolfgang Puck Express, that's one of the best values on the DDP. However, you can get a sandwich and drink at Earl of Sandwich of about $8 which would be a great value OOP.

Same for MK: a combo meal at Cosmic Rays gets you full value on DDP. A hot dog meal or corn dog nuggets at Casey's with a drink is around $10.

I think you need to decide where you want to eat and then decide on the OOP.

 

[iamfishie]

One of the suggestions I saw was to eat breakfast at your hotel and order b off the kids menu and pay OOP. Often the it's enough food and several dollars cheaper.