Worth two dining credits?

[cy1229]

Even in September,we could never get a reservation for Lecellier in Canada when it was worth 1 credit! Now it takes 2 credits and we still cant get a reservation!:( Is it worth 2 credits? The Hoop-dee-doo is worth 2 credits! The castle is worth 2 credits! The luau at the Polynesian didnt seem worthy of 2 credits! at the 2 credit resturants, your 2nd helping of meat isnt the same quality as your 1st helping! i

Are you sure that Le Cellier is two credits? I was under the impression that the only thing that are two credits are the character meals (and even some of those are only one).

Yes, for dinner it is two credits. For lunch, it is only one.

But even if Le Cellier is two credits.. YES YES YES it is worth it.

Three words:

CHEDDAR CHEESE SOUP.


That ALONE is worth it... seriously. But yes the food is WONDERFUL,. make a reservation early and spend the credits,I swear you wont regret it.

ZOMG you're so right, I had forgotten about the cheddar cheese soup!!!!

[theBIGyowski]

Is Le Cellier really worth the two credits at dinner? As in...would it be cheaper to use 2 credits...or pay for the meal yourself and save those credits for other dining during your trip?

I can understand certain dining experiences being worth the extra credit because of the entertainment value, but there is nothing about Le Cellier that would make me want to essentially pay double for it compared to eating lunch there.

[cy1229]

Is Le Cellier really worth the two credits at dinner? As in...would it be cheaper to use 2 credits...or pay for the meal yourself and save those credits for other dining during your trip?

I can understand certain dining experiences being worth the extra credit because of the entertainment value, but there is nothing about Le Cellier that would make me want to essentially pay double for it compared to eating lunch there.

4 or 5 years ago, I would have said YES it is totally worth it! But we ate dinner there in 2010 before they made it a signature dining experience, and I didn't think it was as good. For one thing, they took the dining plan people and kind of corralled them into this special package deal of appetizer, entree, and dessert. And I thought the portions were smaller, not as good or carefully done, and just plain lacking in the quality it had. Daughter #1 had the tomato balsamic vinaigrette salad in 2008 and loved it, and it wasn't available on the dining plan in 2010. We're not going back, we don't think it's now worth 2 credits. UNLESS you can get some kind of affirmation that they've returned to the quality that was present several years ago.

I don't know, is this a helpful answer? LOL

[theBIGyowski]

I went to Le Cellier in 2008 as well and absolutely loved it.

The Basic Dining Plan costs about $52 per day. That includes 1 Snack, 1 CS, and 1TS. You can assume that the snack is equal to about $4 max and the CS is about $16. That leaves $32 for the TS meal. If you eat right...it is worth only paying $32 for that meal. Now...double that amount to $64. I'm sorry...but the dining experience at Le Cellier is not worth $64...especially compared to the Yachtsman Steakhouse which is just a 15 minute walk from Le Cellier.

Maybe it's just me...but there are so many fantastic dining experiences in and near Epcot that using 2 TS credits seems a bit high for Le Cellier.

[cy1229]

I went to Le Cellier in 2008 as well and absolutely loved it.

The Basic Dining Plan costs about $52 per day. That includes 1 Snack, 1 CS, and 1TS. You can assume that the snack is equal to about $4 max and the CS is about $16. That leaves $32 for the TS meal. If you eat right...it is worth only paying $32 for that meal. Now...double that amount to $64. I'm sorry...but the dining experience at Le Cellier is not worth $64...especially compared to the Yachtsman Steakhouse which is just a 15 minute walk from Le Cellier.

Maybe it's just me...but there are so many fantastic dining experiences in and near Epcot that using 2 TS credits seems a bit high for Le Cellier.

Good point, BIG. It's actually *more* than $52 per day, when you figure you have to pay the tip for the TS meal. Broken down that way, it's DEFINITELY not worth it. I think if we ever go on our own dime, we'll probably do the all-CS dining plan, and just spring for a TS meal or two in cash.

[Goofyfan]

Boy. Never ate at the Brown Derby because it is 2 dining credits.... we feel that there are so many other amazing eateries out there that we just can't seem to be able to spend 2 credits on one meal.

[theBIGyowski]

I went to Le Cellier in 2008 as well and absolutely loved it.

The Basic Dining Plan costs about $52 per day. That includes 1 Snack, 1 CS, and 1TS. You can assume that the snack is equal to about $4 max and the CS is about $16. That leaves $32 for the TS meal. If you eat right...it is worth only paying $32 for that meal. Now...double that amount to $64. I'm sorry...but the dining experience at Le Cellier is not worth $64...especially compared to the Yachtsman Steakhouse which is just a 15 minute walk from Le Cellier.

Maybe it's just me...but there are so many fantastic dining experiences in and near Epcot that using 2 TS credits seems a bit high for Le Cellier.

Good point, BIG. It's actually *more* than $52 per day, when you figure you have to pay the tip for the TS meal. Broken down that way, it's DEFINITELY not worth it. I think if we ever go on our own dime, we'll probably do the all-CS dining plan, and just spring for a TS meal or two in cash.

I looked last night at the dinner menu at Le Cellier and if you chose the most expensive things for your meal, it would be cheaper than $64.

[Amy]

I think some people like not having to think about paying for their meals. I doubt many people would take the time to look at a menu online and figure that out ahead of time. It's good info for us to know though... If someone asked me, I would have guessed the most expensive meals at a signature restaurant to run above the dining plan price...

[Wizzard419]

That's exactly what they bank on, the customers don't think of it fully and then end up paying more for less.

[cy1229]

Ok, so question, then. Has anyone looked at the menus for all the signature dining places / experiences (such as Aloha dinner show) and calculated if the $64 price tag is worthwhile? Because it sounds like it's not worthwhile anywhere. It might be worth the experience in true dollars, but in dining credits, something tells me no. Who has the free time to look at that? Maybe someone who's rehabbing from surgery?

[Jacca5660]

Ok, so question, then. Has anyone looked at the menus for all the signature dining places / experiences (such as Aloha dinner show) and calculated if the $64 price tag is worthwhile? Because it sounds like it's not worthwhile anywhere. It might be worth the experience in true dollars, but in dining credits, something tells me no. Who has the free time to look at that? Maybe someone who's rehabbing from surgery?

If you go to All Ears, Deb Willis has all of the menus from WDW.

[Amy]

Ok, so question, then. Has anyone looked at the menus for all the signature dining places / experiences (such as Aloha dinner show) and calculated if the $64 price tag is worthwhile? Because it sounds like it's not worthwhile anywhere. It might be worth the experience in true dollars, but in dining credits, something tells me no. Who has the free time to look at that? Maybe someone who's rehabbing from surgery?

If you go to All Ears, Deb Willis has all of the menus from WDW.

Maybe a "it's summer and I'm really bored" sort of thing. It's probably hard to completely figure out the costs as the menus are probably always a little in flux. I would guess the convenience is more what you pay for with the dining plan ~ knowing everything is sorted. I kept track of our counter service costs this time around just to see, but our plan was "free" with the package so we really didn't have any out of pocket expense, other than if the package price was jacked up a bit to compensate....I haven't sat down to actually add it all up yet. One of those things that becomes drastically less important and feasible once you return to civilization...sigh...

[momeja]

Ok, so question, then. Has anyone looked at the menus for all the signature dining places / experiences (such as Aloha dinner show) and calculated if the $64 price tag is worthwhile? Because it sounds like it's not worthwhile anywhere. It might be worth the experience in true dollars, but in dining credits, something tells me no. Who has the free time to look at that? Maybe someone who's rehabbing from surgery?

I honestly think that the best value for your TS credit is the one credit dining experiences. The 2 TS experiences are rarely double in price. The only exception to this rule is if you got the DXDP - the deluxe plan. There, your best option is to use a snack credit for breakfast, 1 TS for lunch and 2 TS for dinner.

[Len90]

Is Le Cellier really worth the two credits at dinner? As in...would it be cheaper to use 2 credits...or pay for the meal yourself and save those credits for other dining during your trip?

My theory on all this is that it is better to pay out of pocket. You don't want to be committing yourself and forcing yourself into eating things just so you don't feel like you are losing out on the money. The dining plan, IMO, will dictate your vacation.

Ok, so question, then. Has anyone looked at the menus for all the signature dining places / experiences (such as Aloha dinner show) and calculated if the $64 price tag is worthwhile? Because it sounds like it's not worthwhile anywhere. It might be worth the experience in true dollars, but in dining credits, something tells me no. Who has the free time to look at that? Maybe someone who's rehabbing from surgery?

It all comes down to making things equal out. The dining plan gives you a snack, QS, and TS credit each day for about $54 in peak season. The snack will be about $3-4, and the QS will cost you around $13-15 ($8+ for burger, $2.80 for soda, $2.20 for cookie). Therefore the TS is left about $35-$38 for either the entree, dessert, soda, or buffet. Now you book at a place like Le Cellier and the cheapest entree on the menu is the chicken for $34. HOWEVER, this is a steakhouse and of course you are going to want that strip steak or filet for $44. Add in the dessert and beverage which is another $12-13 more and you have a meal that would have cost close to $60+ tax. Hence the reason for the double credit as meals like this would be a steal. Consider you always have about $35-$38 of your dining plan devoted to dinner each day, then that meal at Le Cellier is really costing you $70-$76... a lot more than that $60+tax if paid out of pocket.

Now, let's look at some single table service credit places. First up is O'hana. An adult buffet is $33, still within that $35-38 range I figured out before. Say you want a meal at Tony's. The most expensive entree on the menu will be $29, dessert is $6, and a drink is about $3. Your bill total per person is $38+ tax.... virtually breaking even on this meal. Finally, a place like Prime Time where the most expensive entree is $21, dessert is around $6, and a drink is $3. Your bill will be $30+ tax and once again you come up short of that goal to spend I calculated.

I know I probably lost everyone with this breakdown, but if you look at it and follow my math you will start to see how the dining plan is no longer a good deal at all. It used to be pretty good so long as you stuck to the plan perfectly. Now it seems like living to the the plan will only let you break even. The plan will rule your life as you strive to spend the most amount so you don't lose out.

[Amy]

Is Le Cellier really worth the two credits at dinner? As in...would it be cheaper to use 2 credits...or pay for the meal yourself and save those credits for other dining during your trip?

My theory on all this is that it is better to pay out of pocket. You don't want to be committing yourself and forcing yourself into eating things just so you don't feel like you are losing out on the money. The dining plan, IMO, will dictate your vacation.

Ok, so question, then. Has anyone looked at the menus for all the signature dining places / experiences (such as Aloha dinner show) and calculated if the $64 price tag is worthwhile? Because it sounds like it's not worthwhile anywhere. It might be worth the experience in true dollars, but in dining credits, something tells me no. Who has the free time to look at that? Maybe someone who's rehabbing from surgery?

It all comes down to making things equal out. The dining plan gives you a snack, QS, and TS credit each day for about $54 in peak season. The snack will be about $3-4, and the QS will cost you around $13-15 ($8+ for burger, $2.80 for soda, $2.20 for cookie). Therefore the TS is left about $35-$38 for either the entree, dessert, soda, or buffet. Now you book at a place like Le Cellier and the cheapest entree on the menu is the chicken for $34. HOWEVER, this is a steakhouse and of course you are going to want that strip steak or filet for $44. Add in the dessert and beverage which is another $12-13 more and you have a meal that would have cost close to $60+ tax. Hence the reason for the double credit as meals like this would be a steal. Consider you always have about $35-$38 of your dining plan devoted to dinner each day, then that meal at Le Cellier is really costing you $70-$76... a lot more than that $60+tax if paid out of pocket.

Now, let's look at some single table service credit places. First up is O'hana. An adult buffet is $33, still within that $35-38 range I figured out before. Say you want a meal at Tony's. The most expensive entree on the menu will be $29, dessert is $6, and a drink is about $3. Your bill total per person is $38+ tax.... virtually breaking even on this meal. Finally, a place like Prime Time where the most expensive entree is $21, dessert is around $6, and a drink is $3. Your bill will be $30+ tax and once again you come up short of that goal to spend I calculated.

I know I probably lost everyone with this breakdown, but if you look at it and follow my math you will start to see how the dining plan is no longer a good deal at all. It used to be pretty good so long as you stuck to the plan perfectly. Now it seems like living to the the plan will only let you break even. The plan will rule your life as you strive to spend the most amount so you don't lose out.

Unless the meal plan is included in your package deal as a free bonus. Then it is more than likely worth it, unless the room price is hiked up higher to offset the "free" dining plan they are including...right?