Where to Eat - The Easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit 2015 - page 201

The economics of two-credit meals are even worse. Signature restaurant prices generally
are about 1.5x the cost of regular restaurants, but cost twice the number of credits, resulting
in a lower per-credit value. For example, the most expensive meal you could put together
on the Dining Plan at California Grill is a $50 Bison Tenderloin, $13 Pudding Cake, and $4
Coke. That's $67, or just $33.50 per credit for the most expensive meal at one of the most
expensive restaurants on property. To compare, Teppan Edo in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot
offers several entrees for $28-$32. Add dessert and a drink and your single credit has a
value of about $10 more than California Grill.
The Deluxe Dining Plan
The Deluxe Dining Plan includes per person, per day:
• Three meals per day—either quick service or table service. Table service meals in-
clude an appetizer where applicable.
• Two snacks
In addition, each guest receives a refillable mug for the duration of the stay. At press
time, after-tax pricing is:
• $109.53 per night for adults
• $29.86 per night for kids ages three to nine
On paper, there is a lot of value potential here, particularly for kids under the age of ten.
To maximize that value, however, you could be spending more than three hours a day din-
ing—even more if you avoid two-credit meals—and building an itinerary largely around
being at specific restaurants at specific times. And let's not forget the actual cost. A family
of two adults, a 15-year old, and a 7-year old would cost a whopping $380 per day. For
that, Josh and Dave will cook and serve your family of four both lunch and dinner, while
intermittently breaking out into song and dance. (A word to the wise though: Josh's spe-
cialty is Hot Pockets and Dave's favorite ingredient is Sriracha.)
Saving Money on Dining
Purchasing ingredients and preparing meals where you're staying is the easiest way to slash
a food budget. This works best for quick breakfasts in the room. Pack or purchase a dozen
bagels or donuts, fruit, cereal and milk, and some protein bars and you can easily elimin-
ate busy breakfasts at the resort food court, in addition to cutting meal time down to a few
minutes from 30+.
Unfortunately, Disney doesn't make purchasing these items economical at its resort gift
shops, for reasons you might be able to guess. Other than Fort Wilderness and the Disney
Vacation Club properties, pickings can be slim and prices are high. On top of that, only
Ft. Wilderness cabins and the villas in the DVC resorts have kitchens, making even simple
prep work difficult in most situations. If you have a car and the time to shop, we recom-
mend the Hess stores on property for convenience. One is located across the street from
the BoardWalk Inn near Epcot, another after the exit to Magic Kingdom parking, and the
third is across the street from the Marketplace section of Downtown Disney. For a better