Hi Bart,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! Thank you for bringing this question to us!
Although there is no definite answer to this question, I can offer some perspective. Signature dining is an experience, so I would suggest that you consider more than the basic cost of the meal when trying to make a decision. On our last visit to California Grill, we used our Deluxe Dining Plan credits to pay for the dining experience. Our actual charge for that meal would have been about $250 (not including gratuity) had we paid out of pocket for the four of us (two adults and two children). On the Deluxe Dining Plan, we each received an appetizer, entrée, dessert and nonalcoholic beverage with our meal.
When we had the
Disney Dining Plan, we did not use our dining plan for Signature restaurants. On one trip, I sent my girls with another family member to dine at Cinderella's Royal Table and I just paid for them to dine. Prior to making that decision, I checked the dinner menus for
Be Our Guest and
Coral Reef restaurants. At the time, when I considered the cost of two meals and drinks at Be Our Guest and Coral Reef, it seemed like a better deal for us to pay for Cinderella's Royal Table. I suggest that you do the math considering the meals you would lose if you use two table-service credits for one signature dining experience.
Bart, having said that, the dining experiences at California Grill and Cinderella's Royal Table are spectacular - fireworks and princesses, what more could we ask?
Magic, memories and Minnie Mouse hugs,
Donyell