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[Tinker'n'Fun]

Help me fix this mess I have created. We are going to WDW Sept 29 - October 6th. I have free dining (DDP) and will pay OOP because I can't decide and we would have paid for food if it wasn't free. Here is my tentative plan. Days/Parks may change when the hours are officially released. Please let me know which ones you would do OOP and which ones would be best on the plan. If it helps there are 4 of us, two adults, two teenagers.

Sept 29 - Magic Kingdom
Breakfast - airport
Lunch - Resort (we are staying at Pop Century)
Dinner - CRT (first time for us)

Sept 30 - MGM
Breakfast - Pop Century
Lunch - CS
Dinner - Fantasmic Package Mama Melrose

October 1 - Epcot
Breakfast - Pop Century
Lunch - LeCellier
Dinner - Snacks at F&W and CS if needed

October 2 - Animal Kingdom
Breakfast - Boma
Lunch - CS
Dinner - Hoop-De-Doo Review 7:30 show

October 3 - Magic Kingdom
Breakfast - Crystal Palace
Lunch - CS
Dinner - The Plaza
Evening - MNSSHP

October 4 - Our 19th. Anniversary (park that the kids want)
Breakfast - Kona Cafe
Lunch - open
Dinner - DH & I Yachtsman Club (DD and DS are giving us one of there TS)
- the kids will eat CS or at TRex (have gift cards)

October 5 - Waterpark, DTD, Disney Quest
Breakfast - Pop Century
Lunch - Rainforest or Trex
Dinner - WPE

October 6 - Park open, whatever park we missed the most
Breakfast - Chef Mickeys
Lunch - CS
Dinner - At home.

I am 4 over on TS per person and even on CS (we will share a few meals so on our anniversary there will be enough CS left for the kids to eat). I am planning on paying OOP for the Pop Century Breakfasts.

So what would you change, what would you avoid, and what would you improve on. Plus since I am paying OOP, where would you apply that.

To upgrade to DDXD it would be approx $840.00 and I really think my OOP would not be anywhere near that.

Thanks for looking and helping.

 

[tinkmom2]

Rainforest isn't on the plan. You probably want to eat character meals on the plan. They are pricey along with LeCellier and Boma. Kona you can probably pay for. But for sure anything character involved you should do on the plan. Some of them do take 2 credits like CRT (not sure how many HDR.) You could probably pay out of pocket for meals at PoP they aren't too bad.
PS You can look at menus before you go on the Disney site to scope out prices.
PS PS I forgot to add sometimes we would eat a really big breakfast and skip lunch all together only using snack credits for a midday snack and then used our credits for dinner.

 

[beroh2253]

If you would pay OOP for the HOOP-Dee-Doo this frees up 2 credits each for something else and you would also get catagory 1 by paying OOP. But like mentioned Rainforest and T-rex are not on the plan so you have to pay OOP for those anyway.
The days you are doing a TS breakfast and a TS dinner on the same day use those days to split a CS lunch or just use SC for something at lunch.

 

[pooch]

CS meal for TS price.

Now this is just my opinion so take it for what it's worth (nothing really!) With all adults do you really want to do CRT (2TS credits)? It always seemed to be a "princess" type of experience & I'm not sure my kids would have wanted to go there when they were teens.

I would also suggest that you might not want 3 meals every day and you may be able to split some CS meals. They can be huge and DD (25) and I always split 1 CS (at POP) for breakfast & another for lunch.

As for OOP, I'd pay for breakfasts as they tend to be cheaper in general.

just some random thoughts

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Should have mentioned I have gift cards for Rainforest/Trex in the amount of $100.00 (maybe $150.00).

CRT is 2TS
Hoop is 2TS

I am aware of that. This is where we will be over, I am sure. DS wants DD to be treated to the Castle cause she is starting college and HDDR is a tradition.

I will add up the breakfast's that are TS's here and see if that eliminates the 4 over.

 

[gigi1313]

my best advice is to use all your credits before you go OOP... circumstances beyond your control may cause you to miss a meal and that way you don't go home w/credits leftover and cash having been spent!!

 

[pooch]

12 TS meals listed (only counted Yachtsman as 1 since your kids are "comping" the other 2 credits) so you're currently 5 credits over

 

[pooch]

my best advice is to use all your credits before you go OOP... circumstances beyond your control may cause you to miss a meal and that way you don't go home w/credits leftover and cash having been spent!!

lat year we paid for Yak & Yeti OOP to save an extra credit for BD FP. The next day we noshed around F & WF and really didn't need or want a TS dinner but ate at R & C anyway. Should have used credits for Y&Y and skipped R&C. So GIGI has a point!!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Sept 29 - Magic Kingdom
Breakfast - airport
Lunch - Resort (we are staying at Pop Century)
Dinner - CRT (first time for us) 2TS

Sept 30 - MGM
Breakfast - Pop Century
Lunch - CS
Dinner - Fantasmic Package Mama Melrose 1TS

October 1 - Epcot
Breakfast - Pop Century
Lunch - LeCellier 1TS
Dinner - Snacks at F&W and CS if needed

October 2 - Animal Kingdom
Breakfast - Boma 1TS
Lunch - CS
Dinner - Hoop-De-Doo Review 7:30 show OOP

October 3 - Magic Kingdom
Breakfast - Crystal Palace 1TS
Lunch - CS
Dinner - CS
Evening - MNSSHP

October 4 - Our 19th. Anniversary (park that the kids want)
Breakfast - Kona Cafe OOP
Lunch - open
Dinner - DH & I Yachtsman Club 1TS(DD and DS are giving us one of there TS)
- the kids will eat CS or at TRex (have gift cards)

October 5 - Waterpark, DTD, Disney Quest
Breakfast - Pop Century
Lunch - Rainforest or Trex
Dinner - WPE

October 6 - Park open, whatever park we missed the most
Breakfast - Chef Mickeys 1TS
Lunch - CS
Dinner - At home.

I am 4 over on TS per person and even on CS (we will share a few meals so on our anniversary there will be enough CS left for the kids to eat). I am planning on paying OOP for the Pop Century Breakfasts.

So what would you change, what would you avoid, and what would you improve on. Plus since I am paying OOP, where would you apply that.

To upgrade to DDXD it would be approx $840.00 and I really think my OOP would not be anywhere near that.

Thanks for looking and helping.

Okay I edited to add TS's and yes it is 12. (Chef Mickey's hiding at the end) So with 5 over I have decided to pay OOP for HDDR and Kona Cafe so far.

That is $204.00 (kids like cat. #3) and $70.00 at Kona. So that is $275.00 OOP. That leave Chef's Mickey (last day) my only over. We will share CS's as needed, I also agree some of the restaurants have tons of food. Even at the $275.00 and tips for the other meals, I think I am below what we would spend on DXDP.

Now is there any meals that still exist that you would change? Any CS's that you feel are a must-must do? Does the food look balanced throughout the days? Thanks, after doing this so much, everything is so jumbled in my head.

 

[gigi1313]

have you considered upgrading to the deluxe plan? we did a few years ago and it was sooo sooo worth it!!

 

[Beckypooh1972]

I'd pay OOP for the Hoop de Doo show too. Only because you'll get a better view of the stage by being in category 1. Also be careful about "saving" up too many of your credits for using towards the end of your trip. We've found sometimes it is better to use the credits as you go. If you happen to skip an adr near the end of your trip due to circumstances beyond your control at least you'll have used your credits instead of going home with them not being used. You know the old saying about a "bird in hand is worth two in the bush". I'd use up my credits first then see if it is necessary to pay out of pocket at all. The DDP is really a lot of food.

 

[gigi1313]

at 5TS credits over, as well as a few CS credits over and having two teens (like me)... doing the math (i.e. $125/TS for family x 5 + $12.50/CS x 5 + $4/Sn x 28 [1/person/day] + all your CS OOP b'fasts = $840+) will make me say it again... upgrade to deluxe!! plus, you will get appetizers, and if they are anything like mine, those teens can (and will) eat!!

 

[bamor]

I would pay for the breakfasts OOP. Those are the cheapest of the meals.
I believe two breakfasts will not even equal one adult at the HDDR.
Check the menus/prices on allears.

 

[seadd67]

We are doing something like you,but its me and my teenage DS. Where doing the DDP(we change our mind about DxDDP) and oop on a couple of meals, we are also haveing our Breakfast(for the most part) at POP. I decided to do oop at Trex and Planet Hollywood(i know Its on the DDP) because T-rex Is not on the plan and we get a 15.00 discount card with our package. I would also doo OOP for Kona,I am going back and fourth with going there,I actually made a adr for the very frist morining we are there. Its not to expensive and IMO Is kind of a waste with a TS credit.

 

[cassie58]

I would pay for the breakfasts OOP. Those are the cheapest of the meals.
I believe two breakfasts will not even equal one adult at the HDDR.
Check the menus/prices on allears.

I agree - I think if you pay OOP for brft.(Boma, CP, CM, & Kona) it would be about $330, as ooposed to HDDR & Kona +CM - $370.(as PP said, check allears.net for exact pricing). This isn't saving you a huge amt., but you can use that towards an extra CS or brft. at Pop! You're still way under DXDP, but you also have to figure in your brfts & lunch at Pop as well. HTH!

cassie58
11/08-ASMo & Timeshare
8/09-CSR

 

[amshowers]

As previous poster suggested I would pay oop for all the breakfast you have planned. Chef mickey's is 22.99, Crystal Place is 20.99,Boma is 18.99 and the most expensive breakfast item at Kona is 15.00. Even if you had to pay for a few cs breakfast your total oop including tips will definitely be less than 500.00.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Thanks everyone, DH took me out this evening so I will re-figure the breakfasts OOP and use the TS for the Hoop. I will also re-add at that point. Thanks alot everyone, it is really helpful...

Now don't forget if you feel something should be changed, suggestions are always welcomed. Diane.

 

[Mickey country]

I would not buy breakfast in the food court, bring some granola bars with you, or use your snack credit for a bagel or muffin, then eat an early lunch. Food court breakfast is not so good anyway.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I would pay for the breakfasts OOP. Those are the cheapest of the meals.
I believe two breakfasts will not even equal one adult at the HDDR.
Check the menus/prices on allears.

I agree.

Also, it looks to me like you have a TON of meals planned. You might want to drop something. We very easily stayed inside of the DDP credits by having only 2 meals per day and then adding in the snack credits in between if needed and usually they weren't. We had 25 snacks left over. We would have late breakfast and then an early dinner. Most of the time we used the CS credits for breakfast and the TS for dinner but a few days we switched it around. It worked perfectly. On other trips we did the 3 melas per day thing and it was entirely too much food. Remember that the portions are huge and if you are going to buffets you will end up eating more than planned anyway.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I would not buy breakfast in the food court, bring some granola bars with you, or use your snack credit for a bagel or muffin, then eat an early lunch. .

I like this idea as well. There are lots of things you can bring to have an in-room breakfast.