Out of Pocket

[ExtinctJenn]

Hi folks! Counting down the days until our big trip next month (click here for Pre-Trip Report w/ Details) and started thinking about our dining plans. We're doing the regular DDP and are staying for 6 nights. I booked 7 TS meals, knowing one would have to be paid out of pocket and not on the dining plan.

In looking through the myriad of restaurant details on the official site, this site and Allears, it looks like the best option for our "out of pocket" experience is going to be 50's Prime Time Cafe, leaving the others as the best option for using the DDP. Here's what we have booked, can you guys weigh in and let me know if I'm correct?

Chef Mickey's - Dinner
Crystal Palace - Breakfast
Garden Grill - Dinner
Boma - Breakfast
50's Prime Time - Lunch
Be Our Guest - Dinner
'Ohana - Breakfast

Thanks in advance!

 

[Magical Dreamer]

Looks correct to me... enjoy!

 

[Dafid Duck]

Yes, without looking at prices myself, it seems like 50's would be the best on your list for out of pocket. Character meals are usually more expensive and a great way to use dining credits. I did notice that you are not seeing any princesses at your meals. I'm assuming you have young boys (or not interested in princesses). Garden Grill and Chef Mickey's have similar characters. You could switch out Garden Grill for Akershus to get more variety. People may be canceling reservations last minute, so if you didn't get someplace you wanted it may just open up. It looks like you have a great plan! Have a wonderful trip.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Yes, without looking at prices myself, it seems like 50's would be the best on your list for out of pocket. Character meals are usually more expensive and a great way to use dining credits. I did notice that you are not seeing any princesses at your meals. I'm assuming you have young boys (or not interested in princesses). Garden Grill and Chef Mickey's have similar characters. You could switch out Garden Grill for Akershus to get more variety. People may be canceling reservations last minute, so if you didn't get someplace you wanted it may just open up. It looks like you have a great plan! Have a wonderful trip.

Thanks for the feedback! Your observation re: the princesses is mostly correct in that yes, I have only a son, but if mommy wanted to see princesses, we would, whether he and daddy like it or not. LOL! In fact, I was initially going to make one of our breakfast ADRs for the castle but alas, refurb up there killed that one. We've been many many times and of all of these, 50's is actually the only one we've not done before. While Garden Grill and Chef Mickey's do have similar characters (though obviously dressed differently), we do GG because my son loves the view of Living with the Land!

 

[Dafid Duck]

We've never been to either. I'm not a big fan of vegetables, which I hear GG is famous for and I dont want to get yelled at for not eating my veggies at 50's. With our one daughter, we spend a lot of time with the princesses. Have a great trip!

 

[ExtinctJenn]

We've never been to either. I'm not a big fan of vegetables, which I hear GG is famous for and I dont want to get yelled at for not eating my veggies at 50's. With our one daughter, we spend a lot of time with the princesses. Have a great trip!

Believe it or not, our favorite things at GG are the meats and carb sides. They actually give you very little veggies (ironic I know with a name like Garden Grill). LOL!

 

[BrianV]

Can you decide on the fly? (We've never had a dining plan.). I would think there might be a night when you are not that hungry and that would be the night to share an appetizer, skip and entree and pay out of pocket.

 

[WhatJaneSays]

Can you decide on the fly? (We've never had a dining plan.). I would think there might be a night when you are not that hungry and that would be the night to share an appetizer, skip and entree and pay out of pocket.

Sure! You can always pay out of pocket if you like. Normaly your server will ask if you are on the dining plan before you order, you can say you're not or tell them you don't want to use it for the meal.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Can you decide on the fly? (We've never had a dining plan.). I would think there might be a night when you are not that hungry and that would be the night to share an appetizer, skip and entree and pay out of pocket.

Sure! You can always pay out of pocket if you like. Normaly your server will ask if you are on the dining plan before you order, you can say you're not or tell them you don't want to use it for the meal.

Yep yep! Although... as we are doing a lot of buffets, the real answer is that we can't really decide on the fly. Whether we are hungry or not, if we all show up to a buffet we'll have to pay for it. That's another reason choosing a restaurant that works off menu as my "out of pocket" meal is a good once... if we don't each much I won't have to pay for much. Unfortunately it can go the other way too and we pig out! LOL

 

[pug]

Hi folks! Counting down the days until our big trip next month (click here for Pre-Trip Report w/ Details) and started thinking about our dining plans. We're doing the regular DDP and are staying for 6 nights. I booked 7 TS meals, knowing one would have to be paid out of pocket and not on the dining plan.

In looking through the myriad of restaurant details on the official site, this site and Allears, it looks like the best option for our "out of pocket" experience is going to be 50's Prime Time Cafe, leaving the others as the best option for using the DDP. Here's what we have booked, can you guys weigh in and let me know if I'm correct?

Chef Mickey's - Dinner
Crystal Palace - Breakfast
Garden Grill - Dinner
Boma - Breakfast
50's Prime Time - Lunch
Be Our Guest - Dinner
'Ohana - Breakfast

Thanks in advance!

50s would be the best out of pocket