OMG huge MISTAKE.... need opinions

[emmaleigh47]

OK so it has come to my attention now that I miscounted the days for the DDP (thought it was for the length of the ticket not the nights of the stay) so now i am in BIG trouble. Here are the options...

I have 21 credits... not 24

1. Pay out of pocket for 3 meals

2. Get rid of Cape May Cafe's breakfast at 8:55am, Boma breakfast on our last day at 8am and Marakessh at 2pm (thus evening out credits)

3. Get rid of Jiko or arrival night at 9:30pm and one of the above meals or get rid of Liberty Tree Tavern at 2pm

4. Can I convert my snack into a CS meal?

Thanks again!

[kevw67]

OK so it has come to my attention now that I miscounted the days for the DDP (thought it was for the length of the ticket not the nights of the stay) so now i am in BIG trouble. Here are the options...

I have 21 credits... not 24

1. Pay out of pocket for 3 meals

2. Get rid of Cape May Cafe's breakfast at 8:55am, Boma breakfast on our last day at 8am and Marakessh at 2pm (thus evening out credits)

3. Get rid of Jiko or arrival night at 9:30pm and one of the above meals or get rid of Liberty Tree Tavern at 2pm

4. Can I convert my snack into a CS meal?

Thanks again!

Cape May and Liberty tree aren't that great. If you have other character meals planned then ditch these. Neverb been to Marrkessh or Jiko so I can't comment on those. You cannot convert credits to a different part of the plan. I can say that by the end of your trip you might be so sick of eating that you may decide against Boma breakfast as well. If you decide to keep all these then you would have to pay out of pocket but check the menus online to find the cheapest ones to pay for. Have a great trip!:yay:

[Crystal_27]

If it were me, I'd nix Jiko and LTT. For us, eating at 9:30 p.m. just doesn't make sense and I've read more bad than good about LTT. However, you might just want to get rid of your lunch TS meals and just use CS credits for lunch instead (unless you are using those lunches as your "big" meals) and just pay out of pocket for one of the breakfasts. If it makes you feel better, we are also having to pay out of pocket for two meals, CRT and Kona breakfast on the last day.

[septbaby]

I assume you are staying 7 nights on the Deluxe Plan. Unless you've booked 21 TS meal you don't need to cancel any. If you booked 24 TS meal you probably can't eat them all anyway, you'd explode. :rotfl2:

Can you list your entire meal schedule? There may be other ways to do this. So far only 6 credits are listed.

[Evan&Kimberly]

I think you should consider posting your ressies,this way we can see all of your TS,but if I had to judge I would pay OOP for the cheaper meals,that is what I am doing instead of upgrading to the Deluxe plan,What I did, I have a total of 6 TS,I booked all meals that require 1 TS for my 6 night 7day stay ,but I am paying out of pocket for Tusker House(B),Crystal Palace(B),Kona,Coral Reef(L),CRT(B) Now I decided to pay OOP for the CRT because it frees me up to eat at Ohana's and Princess Storybook which would cost me over 60.00OOP,and CRT,or if you have a few ressies that require 2 TS I may consider using it for 2 one TS credits, for instance turning in the JIKO for the Boma,and Marrakash or LTT,hard to say!I think it is smart to keep Boma for breakfast on the last day,this will hold you over. Snack Credits can not be exchanged.Good LUCK!

[emmaleigh47]

Here is my schedule...


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch
2. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner

Friday September 19
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast
2. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch
3. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
2. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch
3. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner

Sunday September 21
1. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch
2. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 12pm)
3. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast
2. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner
3. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner

Wednesday September 24
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
3. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch

This is one of the worst decisions ever, I have my heart set on this schedule... but... here is the list of things I could cancel without crying openly (only silently inside). LOL one of the rule of DH allowing the upgrade to DxDP was no out of pocket meals...

Jiko (we arent very adventurous people, but then I would need to replace it with something), Marakesh (would just get snacks then), LTT (although the dessert looks to be one of the highlights)

Cape May Cafe breakfast (would just eat Sunshine seasons lunch earlier than planned), and Boma breakfast on the last day (we have a ressie there earlier in the week).

So what is a girl to do? Yes, it is a seven night trip...

[septbaby]

Actually I think its a pretty easy solution and would cancel the following:

2pm at Marakeesh, Boma breakfast is very filling and you'll want room for Chef's, fill in with some of the great snack items available in the WS if you need a bite.

2:45 LTT, CP meal will also be filling and there are many great snack items in MK to enjoy. You want lots and lots of room for dinner at Boma.

9:40pm Kona, H&V is a filling buffet and you'll be able to use snack credits again for something late night. Some might tell you cancel H&V, but I'm assuming its for the Fantasmic package, we did it last yr and I'm glad we did; keep it.

8am Boma If you don't have the credit for this on the final day, cancel you won't need much before a lunch at CP. In fact since this is a been there done that meal I'd cancel it and keep one of those other meals I suggest canceling.

[disneyfav4ever]

I think you should maybe ditch Marrakesh, Sunshine Seasons, and Hollywood and Vine.

[smartestnumber5]

Here is my schedule...


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch
2. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner

Friday September 19
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast
2. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch
3. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
2. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch
3. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner

Sunday September 21
1. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch
2. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 12pm)
3. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast
2. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner
3. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner

Wednesday September 24
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
3. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch


We also have the DXDP and are leaving in two days :yay:. I know what you mean about not paying anything OOP--I would have trouble justifying that to myself given that the DXDP is so much food.

So the first thing *I* would do if I were you is scrap the Sunshine Seasons meal. It's a nice CS, but in terms of getting your money's worth for the credit you'd do better at pretty much any TS. Could you just eat snacks that day for lunch? We're planning to only eat 2 TS meals a day--either breakfast or lunch and then a signature dinner most days--and then use snack credits to fill in the 3rd "meal." We found the regular DDP a lot of food, so I know for us we'll have no problem going from breakfast to dinner with just snacks in between, but I don't if that's a possibility for you.

Second thing *I* would do is nix Hollywood and Vine. My family and I went about 6 years ago and we were not at all impressed. I've seen some not great reviews of it on these boards as well. Is there any chance you could change Kona Cafe to earlier in the evening and again just do snack credits in between breakfast and dinner?

If you did that, then you'd only be over by 1 meal credit per person. You could just pay out of pocket at the cheapest meal (probably a breakfast buffet) or pay for one of your non-buffet TS lunches and make it a lighter meal by sharing some things or forgoing an appetizer to keep the cost down.

OK so it has come to my attention now that I miscounted the days for the DDP (thought it was for the length of the ticket not the nights of the stay) so now i am in BIG trouble. Here are the options...

I have 21 credits... not 24

1. Pay out of pocket for 3 meals

2. Get rid of Cape May Cafe's breakfast at 8:55am, Boma breakfast on our last day at 8am and Marakessh at 2pm (thus evening out credits)

3. Get rid of Jiko or arrival night at 9:30pm and one of the above meals or get rid of Liberty Tree Tavern at 2pm

4. Can I convert my snack into a CS meal?

Thanks again!

I do not think you can convert snacks to CS meals.

Unfortunately I haven't been to Cape May, Marakesh, Jiko or Boma breakfast so I can't be much help there. We are trying Jiko this trip, though, and are really looking forward to it. I've only heard good things about it so I wouldn't suggest canceling that one.

Of those, I would probably cancel Boma breakfast on the last day since you're already going there earlier in the week for both breakfast and dinner. Plus, by the end of the trip you might be a little less enthusiastic about another all-you-care-to-eat meal (at least, that's how we have felt in the past after a trip full of lots of eating-there have been a few times when we've actually canceled some ADRs toward the end of the trip because we just couldn't imagine having another big meal.)

Good luck!

[CarolA]

Am I the only person who got ill just reading that?

I am sorry but really I would drop to two a day. That's a TON of food and it also means you are spending your vaction going from resturant to resturant!

JIKO is one of the best meals on property so I would keep it if at all possible.

Actually I really enjoy Marrakesh, but I seem to be the minority.

LTT is a NEVER AGAIN. Service horrid, food "not very good" LOL!

I would also skip that second Kona in one day. The meal to eat there is breakfast.

[Cookie Princess]

I think I just gained 5 lbs reading your list. My only comment is that 4-6 hours between big TS meals would not be enough time for me to fully digest. We did this with the DDP one year and DH and I sat looking at meals while we were still full from the previous meal. It was disappointing.

I would cancel the 4:40 H&V dinner as you have a 2nd TS dinner planned @ 9:40. Just my 2 cents...

[NWOhioAngela]

You realize Jiko is a 2 credit meal, right? I don't want you to miscount again!

[marivaid]

IMO

1.cancel Boma on the 25th (you already went once) and Crystal Palace breakfast on the 20th; instead, book CP for breakfast on the 25th instead of lunch. There's nothing special about lunch at CP anyway.

2.Forget about lunch at Sunshine Seasons on the 22nd, use your snack credits somewhere instead (lots of options in World Showcase). No way will you be hungry enough after Cape May especially if you have Chefs that night (if you can get an earlier ADR for Chefs, you can be done before Illuminations starts!)

[Quacktatty]

Why not just leave them as is...I bet you won't want to eat that much after a few days anyway. You can always pay OOP for a CS meal here and there.

[dreamin_disney]

sounds like a lot of food and i got full just reading it. If your family loves to eat and are big eaters then it ok. I just dont think i can handle that much food then go on rides. I'd get really sick. Have fun hope things workout for ya

[aribelle]

Here is my schedule...


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch
2. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner

Friday September 19
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast
2. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch
3. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
2. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch
3. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner

Sunday September 21
1. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch
2. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 12pm)
3. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast
2. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner
3. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner

Wednesday September 24
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
3. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch

This is one of the worst decisions ever, I have my heart set on this schedule... but... here is the list of things I could cancel without crying openly (only silently inside). LOL one of the rule of DH allowing the upgrade to DxDP was no out of pocket meals...

Jiko (we arent very adventurous people, but then I would need to replace it with something), Marakesh (would just get snacks then), LTT (although the dessert looks to be one of the highlights)

Cape May Cafe breakfast (would just eat Sunshine seasons lunch earlier than planned), and Boma breakfast on the last day (we have a ressie there earlier in the week).

So what is a girl to do? Yes, it is a seven night trip...


Lot's of thoughts here...pick and choose what works for you.....

What time do you arrive the first day? You have your first meal at 2pm. Remember if you're flying in, after you land you still have a 20 minutes wait for luggage....if you're taking ME it can take up to 60-90 minutes to get to your resort, then you have to check in. Technically check in isn't until 4pm, so you'll only be signing in leaving your baggage with the desk and getting your tickets, etc. You'll then need to get from your resort to HS, depending on what resort you're in that could be another half hour depending on when the bus gets there, etc. So frankly, unless you are landing at 11:30 or so, you may be hard pressed to even make that first ADR.

JIKO is TWO credits, and so is California Grill so you still need to eliminate more, or pay out of pocket for these. Check a menu to see what you might order and decide if it's worth two credits each, or if you may want to pay cash for one or both of them.

Sunshine Season is a very inexpensive meal compared to the others you have....so go, but pay cash for it. Depending on what you order at some places of course, but Marrakesh would be the other that isn't likely to be as expensive as some you've chosen. In fact, you can get some really good alternatives that are still Morrocan by eating at Tangierne Cafe which is Morroco's CS, of course, without the belly dancer show.


While I love Kona Cafe, I'm not sure I'd do it twice in the same day, so if you decide to cancel somewhere, that'd be my choice. OR....I'd probably skip the second Crystal Palace....good food, but it's the same characters so unless your family is extremely fond of Pooh and friends, this is an expensive meal just for the characters that you'll have already seen.

Cape May Cafe and Crystal Palace are also a comparatively inexpensive meals, so that's others that'd I'd pay cash for it you really want to go.

Also, what time do you leave? If you're doing ME, I believe you are supposed to be at the ME bus stop 3 hours before your flight leaves. Crystal Palace has always been at least an hour meal for us because we want to interact with all the characters and take our time. Then you'll still have to get back to your resort and pick up your luggage (which because check out is 11am, you'll have had to stow with the desk again), and get it to the ME stop. Again, it all depends on the bus to your resort, but remember that for Crystal Palace in MK you have exit the park, take a monorail to the TTC then take a bus back to your resort. Depending on the resort you could be looking at 30-60 minutes easy from Crystal Palace to the resort.


You don't have to give up any of the meals (ok, so long as the first and last one you can make it work timewise). You just may need to pay out of pocket for the ones you won't have credit to cover. Choose to pay cash for the least expensive after checking menus and seeing what you might order. Be sure that you spend some time thinking about this before you eat....you'd not want to get to your last two days and realize that you have to pay for them out of pocket and they're not the least expensive.

What I would do...is go through the menus of each place you have an ADR....guess what you might want to eat for each person in your group. Calculate what that would cost. Remember to DOUBLE the estimated cost of JIKO and California Grill since they cost 2 credits. Now, just list them in order least to most expensive and you'll know which ones it's best to pay out of pocket, or eliminate so that you get the best value for your credits.

[aribelle]

4. Can I convert my snack into a CS meal?

Thanks again!

Forgot to answer this....you can't "convert" them to a CS meal per se, but a lot of CS places have ala carte type things that "cost" a snack credit that can easily be made into a meal. This is especially so at most of the resorts. Remember, in addition to all that food that you'll be eating 3 times a day, you also will have 2 snacks or 14 total for a 7 night stay. Use a handful of snack credits to build your own meal at many places. Not all items counted as snacks are desserts or popcorn, some are actually healthy hearty filling items.


Check this thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1683477 it shows the confirmed 2008 snacks for many places.

At Boulangerie Patisserie you can get a yummy croissant sandwich, a drink and a dessert....a very nice little meal for 3 snack credits.

Sunshine Seasons there are LOTS of wonderful items to piece together a meal with snack credits (I don't think they're all listed on that thread though).

In AK at the Anandupur you can get some of the asian foods similiar to what you'll get at Yak & Yeti...obviously not all of them, but a touch of asian food to sample.

The MK bakery has many items to make a hearty breakfast, as do several other places.

Almost all the resorts have snack items to make a meal, either breakfast or lunch.

If you find yourself with lots of snack credits near the end of your stay it's popular to head over to Goofy's Candy place in Downtown Disney and stock up on items to take home, either as treats for when you return, or as gifts for those you left behind. Or, you could mail some to my house, :woohoo:

[Evan&Kimberly]

:teacher: Here is my schedule...Woop there it is!!!! I think you will be happy:cool1:


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch
2. Jiko got to go lol.. replace it with 1 TS (Grand Flordian Cafe,Spoodles
easy 2 get ressies here)

Friday September 19
3. Boma
4. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch
5. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner

Saturday September 20
6. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
7. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch
8. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner

Sunday September 21
9. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch
10. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
11. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
S. Snack Credits Figaro Fries,Danish,Soda, or Bottled water(12:30 or 1:00)
12. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner

September 23Tuesday
13. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast
14. Any 1 TS(Sci-Fi)
15. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner

Wednesday September 24
16. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
17. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
18. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
You had a chance to eat Boma once save the taxi money and grab some
snacks this will give you a chance to try CP for Lunch we know
how Boma's brkfst taste,also take in consideration you will havehad a late
heavy Dinner from Ohana the night before!
19. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch

This gives you 19 TS add 1 credit for Cal grill and another 1 for Crt =21


Please let me know what you think,This is the reason I did not upgrade to the Deluxe, So what I did ,is with the free dinnig plan, I am paying for all of my breakfast meals because it is the cheapest,any other places that I want to try for lunch I will pay OOP,It would have cost me about 200.00 to upgrade just for me,I will pay OOP 140.00 and It may be cheaper,because if I dont feel like eating,or I change my mind then I can cancel,helping to lower my OOP,where as with the Deluxe with the appy and all I would have felt like I had to eat all courses 3 times a day which is not a bad thing,but this trip is about the rides and then the food,but not next year,I needed to be flexiable,only because this is my first time to WDW,but next year with no doubt I will get the Premium Dinning Plan,because food will be on the top of my Agenda,and I feel your husband you guys are going to spend big time money on your tips,no reason to pay more money for food,and use those snack credits,you can easily satisfy your tummy with them!

[srdipert]

I think you should maybe ditch Marrakesh, Sunshine Seasons, and Hollywood and Vine.

I agree with this. Use your snack credit to fill in if you get hungry during the day. But I wouldn't cancel anything just yet I would just play it out and cancel as you go. Lots of people will be looking for last min. ADR so just remember to cancel if you are not going some lucky person will be thankful.

[mjhd]

How many people in your party? Could you share at the non-buffet restaurants? This would allow you to keep all of your ADRs, not be so full, and if you plan it just right, not have anything oop.

[Evan&Kimberly]

You can not share at buffets,you can share when you have a child under 2.

[francie57]

I have a question. It seems from your saying that you have 21 TS credits you are a group of 3 staying for 7 nights. You do realize that eating at Prime Time for lunch is actually a TS meal and not CS. Mostly all of the restaurants listed are TS and not CS. You get 1 TS and 1 CS per day. You may have to pay for a lot more than you figure if you think some of your lunches will count as CS meals because if its a sit-down restaurant it doesn't matter the time of day, it is TS. Not sure if that was how you understood the plan to work.

[plutolovr]

I have a question. It seems from your saying that you have 21 TS credits you are a group of 3 staying for 7 nights. You do realize that eating at Prime Time for lunch is actually a TS meal and not CS. Mostly all of the restaurants listed are TS and not CS. You get 1 TS and 1 CS per day. You may have to pay for a lot more than you figure if you think some of your lunches will count as CS meals because if its a sit-down restaurant it doesn't matter the time of day, it is TS. Not sure if that was how you understood the plan to work.

They have the Deluxe Dining Plan, so yes they can have 3 table service meals per day.

We just returned using the regular dining plan, and let me tell you, we had so much to eat that we left with 3 counter service meals each that we did not use.

There were some mornings that I was still full from dinner the night before.

JMO, but I would NOT cancel Jiko. This was the best meal of the trip. With that said, be prepared for a lengthy meal. We were there for 3 hours, but we had a great experience, our server "Marty" was very knowledgable in wine and the food, and spent a lot of time with us discussing. We also had six in our party. The filet with the Mac and Cheese was absolutely wonderful. :cloud9:

I already decided that if we ever go again and do dining plan, I would do the Deluxe plan, but only eat 2 meals per day. That would be breakfast or lunch and a signature restaurant for the evening. I just could not do 3 meals per day. :sick:

[bsusanmb]

Here is my schedule...


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch
2. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner

Friday September 19
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast
2. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch
3. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
2. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch
3. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner

Sunday September 21
1. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch
2. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 12pm)
3. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast
2. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner
3. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner

Wednesday September 24
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
3. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch

This is one of the worst decisions ever, I have my heart set on this schedule... but... here is the list of things I could cancel without crying openly (only silently inside). LOL one of the rule of DH allowing the upgrade to DxDP was no out of pocket meals...

Jiko (we arent very adventurous people, but then I would need to replace it with something), Marakesh (would just get snacks then), LTT (although the dessert looks to be one of the highlights)

Cape May Cafe breakfast (would just eat Sunshine seasons lunch earlier than planned), and Boma breakfast on the last day (we have a ressie there earlier in the week).

So what is a girl to do? Yes, it is a seven night trip...

Been there, done that a few times...you will be so sick of food...3 table services a day is a lot, and you just won't feel like eating. Jiko is a great dinner. Boma breakfast is overkill to me. Liberty Tree and Yak and Yeti would be my choice by looking at your ressies to delete. Also, you won't want to do Boma breakfast and CP lunch. But they are your credits. Kona Cafe twice in one day? I wouldn't miss Ohana dinner, Ca Grill or Jiko. What we did with our DDP was to book one Signature restaurant a day if posssible.
But even with eating 2 sit down meals a day I didn't want to look at food after a few days. Have a wonderful vacation. Give us a trip report when you return.

[gigi1313]

Here is my schedule...
my thought are in red...


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch
2. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner

Friday September 19
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast
2. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch
3. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
2. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch -- ditch this... there are no characters at lunch time and you can have snacks like a dole whip for "lunch" after a big buffet breakfast... at lunch it is not the "all you care to eat" meal w/the yummy dessert...
3. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner

Sunday September 21
1. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch
2. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 12pm)-- go w/snacks around World Showcase instead of CS... remember you'll have 14 snacks *each!*
3. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast
2. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner if you are still looking to cut a meal, i'd cut this one... again, no characters for dinner, and while it's a good buffet, it's nothing special... it will also cut way into your park time as they are often slow to seat people... we've always had a wait!
3. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner

Wednesday September 24
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
3. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch

This is one of the worst decisions ever, I have my heart set on this schedule... but... here is the list of things I could cancel without crying openly (only silently inside). LOL one of the rule of DH allowing the upgrade to DxDP was no out of pocket meals...

Jiko (we arent very adventurous people, but then I would need to replace it with something), Marakesh (would just get snacks then), LTT (although the dessert looks to be one of the highlights)

Cape May Cafe breakfast (would just eat Sunshine seasons lunch earlier than planned), and Boma breakfast on the last day (we have a ressie there earlier in the week).

So what is a girl to do? Yes, it is a seven night trip...

hope that helps...

[chabs]

I think you will find that you may not end up using all of those reservations, so you'll probably be ok. I would use up all of your DDP credits until they're gone, and then pay after that. I wouldn't pay out of pocket until all of your credits are gone-we did that one year and ending up with extra credits.

[Claire&TheBoys]

Here is my schedule...


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch
2. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner

Friday September 19
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast
2. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch
3. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
2. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch
3. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner

Sunday September 21
1. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch
2. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 12pm)
3. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast
2. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner
3. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner

Wednesday September 24
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
3. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch

This is one of the worst decisions ever, I have my heart set on this schedule... but... here is the list of things I could cancel without crying openly (only silently inside). LOL one of the rule of DH allowing the upgrade to DxDP was no out of pocket meals...

Jiko (we arent very adventurous people, but then I would need to replace it with something), Marakesh (would just get snacks then), LTT (although the dessert looks to be one of the highlights)

Cape May Cafe breakfast (would just eat Sunshine seasons lunch earlier than planned), and Boma breakfast on the last day (we have a ressie there earlier in the week).

So what is a girl to do? Yes, it is a seven night trip...

I would cancel the Marrakesh lunch because it's only 4-ish hours after a huge breakfast at Boma. I would cancel the late-night Kona Cafe - you'll have had a huge buffet at H&V only 5 hours earlier. I would cancel the second Boma breakfast and try for something else. I would outright cancel LTT and just snack.

[jenjersnap]

IMO

1.cancel Boma on the 25th (you already went once) and Crystal Palace breakfast on the 20th; instead, book CP for breakfast on the 25th instead of lunch. There's nothing special about lunch at CP anyway.

2.Forget about lunch at Sunshine Seasons on the 22nd, use your snack credits somewhere instead (lots of options in World Showcase). No way will you be hungry enough after Cape May especially if you have Chefs that night (if you can get an earlier ADR for Chefs, you can be done before Illuminations starts!)

I agree with this.

I assume that H&V is part of the Fantasmic Dining Package? If not, I would cancel that one - it's the least appetizing buffet on property.

[budbeerlady]

If you want to keep them all just pay out of pocket for Breakfasts. Thats what we do with all of our breakfast Ts, I just pay out of pocket since they are the lowest value/cost.

[mickeysgirl17]

It's too late for Jiko and LTT isn't so good. If not, get rid of Chefs de France, and hollywood and vine. Even if its for the fantasmic package, I think I'd rather chance it than eat at Hollywood and vine.

[kelleigh1]

I feel full just looking at that schedule. It seems like a lot of time being spent eating TS meals. We did the DDP last year with 1 TS per day and 1 CS plus snacks and we had plenty. Some days you have 3TS in and I think you're going to find that is just too much.

[OneTreeHillAddict]

Here is my schedule...


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch
2. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner

Friday September 19
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast
2. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch
3. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
2. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch
3. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner

Sunday September 21
1. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch
2. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe) :confused: See below...
2. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 12pm) Are you using a meal credit for this? If so pay OOP and use the meal on another. If not then cancel Cape May since it will require a taxi.
3. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast Pay for this one OOP. It's not expensive at all!
2. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner
3. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner

Wednesday September 24
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
3. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe) Skip it...you already did it.
2. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch


This is one of the worst decisions ever, I have my heart set on this schedule... but... here is the list of things I could cancel without crying openly (only silently inside). LOL one of the rule of DH allowing the upgrade to DxDP was no out of pocket meals...

Jiko (we arent very adventurous people, but then I would need to replace it with something), Marakesh (would just get snacks then), LTT (although the dessert looks to be one of the highlights)

Cape May Cafe breakfast (would just eat Sunshine seasons lunch earlier than planned), and Boma breakfast on the last day (we have a ressie there earlier in the week).

So what is a girl to do? Yes, it is a seven night trip...

Have fun!

[7beasley]

Hi

As others have already said -- I think you have too much food - too close together and too many are buffets all on the same day - you won't be hungry for all that food!

If it was me - I would do the following

Sept 19th
Cancel either the Boma breakfast or the Marakesh lunch -- you aren't going to be hungry for both credit saved = 1 dropping you from 24 credits to 23 credits.

Sept 20th
Cancel any of the buffets -- 3 buffets in one day is a ton. If it was me - I would probably do breakfast and dinner and snacks for lunch -- maybe move breakfast later in the morning so its more brunch like. credit saved = 1 dropping you from 23 credits to 22 credits.

Sept 22nd or Sept 25th
Cancel Cape May for breakfast (its a clambake - dinner is the time to go - breakfast is just standard fare - use your snack credit for a donut or bagel instead). --OR-- cancel breakfast at Boma on Sept 25th. I am guessing that is your last day. You aren't going to eat breakfast buffet at 8am - finish around 915am-930am and go to MK and then eat a lunch buffet 3 hours later. Plus - you can use the extra time to spend at the MK on your last day and you can use a snack credit at the MK Main St. Bakery for breakfast. credit saved = 1 dropping you from 22 credits to 21 credits.

The rest of your meals look fabulous!

Have a great great time!!

-Nicole

[Dallas_Lady]

Wow, that's a lot of food! Not only would we not be hungry enough to make use of all that (and we are big eaters) but I'd feel like I spent my entire vacation sitting in a restaurant or trying to get to a restaurant.

Case in point, Sept. 19. If you are using Disney transportation, this is how your morning is going to go: Check in at Boma at 9:30. Wait for a table (because you will have to wait, even with ADRs). Start eating around 10am or so, finish by 11am. Head to the AKL bus stop and maybe be at Epcot by 11:30. In just two hours you will have to head over to Marrakesh for lunch.

[honeymo78]

I'll be the seemingly only one to say that I DON'T think its too much food. My family likes to sit down to 3 meals a day on vacation and we eat however much or little, as we like at each meal. I rarely post my ADRs anymore b/c of all the "you'll get fat, that's too much food, you're wasting your time" etc comments. There have been several great suggestions on what to change, or to pay OOP for breakfast. Don't let anyone here tell you how many meals are too many or too few for your family and vacationing style.
FWIW I'll be at the world for 10 days and have 3 meals a day, almost all TS, scheduled for all but our arrival and departure days - this is what we have always done and it still works best for us.

[kim_d]

I'll be the seemingly only one to say that I DON'T think its too much food. My family likes to sit down to 3 meals a day on vacation and we eat however much or little, as we like at each meal. I rarely post my ADRs anymore b/c of all the "you'll get fat, that's too much food, you're wasting your time" etc comments. There have been several great suggestions on what to change, or to pay OOP for breakfast. Don't let anyone here tell you how many meals are too many or too few for your family and vacationing style.
FWIW I'll be at the world for 10 days and have 3 meals a day, almost all TS, scheduled for all but our arrival and departure days - this is what we have always done and it still works best for us.

I agree! Everyone does WDW differently. Especially if you aren’t traveling with young children and are not hampered with naps and earlier bedtimes it allows for lots of park time even with 2-3 TS meals especially at the peak times when the park is open early and stays open late. I have a 3yo and 5yo and we are trying the Deluxe DDP in January- our plan is 2 TS per day. We are DVC members and go at least once a year (we already tentatively have plans for 3/2009 and 10/2009) so we aren’t so concerned in ensuring we get everything done in one trip. We like to try different places and thought we should at least try the deluxe once.

[terri01p]

You will find once you get to WDW that you won't be able to eat all that food...my dh and myself are pretty big eaters and thought not a problem...breakfast, lunch and dinner...ya right after eating at Primetime Cafe for lunch we didn't want to see supper and this went on and on...just way to much food for the normal person, and we are heavy set people that can eat!

I'll be super suprised if you keep to your plans.

[terri01p]

Wow, that's a lot of food! Not only would we not be hungry enough to make use of all that (and we are big eaters) but I'd feel like I spent my entire vacation sitting in a restaurant or trying to get to a restaurant.

Case in point, Sept. 19. If you are using Disney transportation, this is how your morning is going to go: Check in at Boma at 9:30. Wait for a table (because you will have to wait, even with ADRs). Start eating around 10am or so, finish by 11am. Head to the AKL bus stop and maybe be at Epcot by 11:30. In just two hours you will have to head over to Marrakesh for lunch.


Exactly...until you get there you just don't see how true this is, and this is how we felt, going basically from one meal and rushing to ride one ride and back for another meal...this is something I won't do again!

[honeymo78]

You will find once you get to WDW that you won't be able to eat all that food...my dh and myself are pretty big eaters and thought not a problem...breakfast, lunch and dinner...ya right after eating at Primetime Cafe for lunch we didn't want to see supper and this went on and on...just way to much food for the normal person, and we are heavy set people that can eat!

I'll be super suprised if you keep to your plans.

Exactly...until you get there you just don't see how true this is, and this is how we felt, going basically from one meal and rushing to ride one ride and back for another meal...this is something I won't do again!

And this is exactly the opposite of our experiences - we are plenty hungry at each meal (8am breakfast, 12:30 lunch, 6:30 dinner). We don't "lick our plates clean" at every meal and never fell rushed to get to the next meal. Then again, we take longer trips and take our time - we never have a problem riding all the rides we like, or eating all the meals we want. Meals are a welcome respite and are selected as an experience unto themselves. And to be completely honest, at the end of a park day, a few hours after dinner, knowing we have a breakfast buffet in the morning, we still get hungry for some snacks or even some casey's hot dogs. A normal day in my life doesn't even come anywhere close to the amount of energy I expend in just a few hours in the park and my appetite often reflects this.

[jenjersnap]

I'll be the seemingly only one to say that I DON'T think its too much food. My family likes to sit down to 3 meals a day on vacation and we eat however much or little, as we like at each meal. I rarely post my ADRs anymore b/c of all the "you'll get fat, that's too much food, you're wasting your time" etc comments.

You might be the only one to say it but you aren't the only one thinking it. :thumbsup2 See, I stick to offering advice that is asked for. The OP didn't ask whether it was too much food so I figured s/he, you and I were on the same page on that one. :-)

I won't be posting my ADRs either *** I would be irritated at someone telling me "you'll get fat, that's too much food, you're wasting your time" when it wasn't the question being asked.

[terri01p]

This is what an open fourm is all about, different opinions, it doesn't take away from her experience if she hears how some thought it was too much food, come on, if we stuck strictly to the subject asked, every thread would be two post long...come on here people...so what if we " lick our plate clean ", I blame that on my mom....heehee.

I'm sure she'll have fun regardly of my post or anyone elses...geez, plus don't you like to hear different view on things? I do every now and again someone post and I can stop and say ' ya, that's true why stress about it".

Don't hate the plate cleaners..ha :lmao:

[CarolA]

Welll while she wanted advice.. she hasn't come back to check in so at this point.. I don't think it matters what we said LOL!

[jenjersnap]

Welll while she wanted advice.. she hasn't come back to check in so at this point.. I don't think it matters what we said LOL!

True dat! :lmao:

[emmaleigh47]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their assistance. Unfortunately I work 7am and just got out of work now (9pm) now you see why I need a vacation.

I did read every single post and I agree with alot of you... it might be too much food. DH and I went to Vegas a couple years ago and had breakfast daily buffet at 11am and a dinner planned for 8pm, and two nights we had to cancel dinner and eat late because he wasnt "that" hungry. Now, cancelling is not an option at Disney because it is all paid for -- quite frankly I would like a plan in between the dining and the deluxe because I think it would be perfect.

Anyways, after evaluaing the choices I decided to cancel Marakesh for lunch on the 19th (dinner too early and breakfast too late), I cancelled Cape May Cafe on the 22nd for breakfast and Boma breakfast on the 25th.

Ironically those are the only two days that we have an early dinner. I do think it might be too much food, but I REALLY wanted to eat in the Castle for our anniversay (2TS) and I LOVE breakfast buffets -- so I couldnt see paying that much out of pocket so I figured it out and cheaper to DEluxe......

BUT i agree with the OP that said just because you have the meals doesnt mean you have to stuff yourself....so who knows.

I am planning on posting my first trip and dining report, so we will just have to see how we do.

Thanks again for all of the assitance!

[septbaby]

Congrats on figuring it out! I will give you a couple of things to keep in your back pocket.

1. Since you canceled Cape May and plan to be in Epcot that day you could still try to schedule Marakeesh instead of Sunshine Seasons.

2. If you really aren't that hungry for LTT and since dessert really was the driver in going to LTT. Slide over to Main Street Bakery. The desserts there will make you forget all about LTT and you can get a sandwich too as a CS meal if you just want a little something.

[patsal]

Not to sound like a meanie, but did you plan on having any park time? If you are going only to eat, eat again and then eat again then your plan is fine. If you were planning on really touring the parks you need to trim that whole paln down. Most TS will take at the very least an hour and more like two especially with three courses--any signature dining should be 1.5 to 2 hours. CS can go as long as you'd like so you do have control but I'd think you'd need at least an hour--if you are going at regular meal times you will be in line for a while to get your food, finding a table and then eating the food should be about an hour all together. Park hours are fewer as well so it isnt' like you hav ethe luxury of having the MK open until 3 am--or do you?:confused3 Good luck and I hope you enjoy your vacation.

[Tricia1972]

I agree, nobody should comment on what someone must weigh because of all of the food that they eat.

For those that have done the DDP & DxDDP before and enjoyed every morsel - good for you!

However, I do think it's relevant to mention - especially to a newer person on the plan - what some of the drawbacks may be. Until I went to Disney I had NO idea what it really was like. I used a travel agent and she took care of everything for me. I though CBR, being that she said it's an Epcot resort, was just a path walk away from Epcot. Seriously!! THAT'S what I thought. I didn't research the heck out of the trip, I researched my travel agent and I paid her to do the worrying for me.

Imagine my surprise when I got to Disney and experienced the bus system! It took an hour to get ANYwhere. Get to bus stop, just miss your bus, wait 20 minutes for next bus. It's crammed full, so you squeeze on and stand with your 2 year old for the ride to the Magic Kingdom. Squeeze off, set up stroller, walk in. It was easily an hour - maybe more.

Now start tacking those travel times onto your dining reservations. Hour to the park in the morning, hour to get to lunch, hour to get back, hour to get to dinner, hour to get back, hour ride home. You can easily spend over 3 hours just getting from A to B to C.

If I had found this forum, before I went the first time, THAT is advice that I would have greatly appreciated. I would have also appreciated those saying it's a lot of food. My thinking is I eat three meals a day at home - why not three at Disney? I even ate two to three meals a day in Vegas (where we always went before Disney) Portions at Disney are LARGE - you walk a lot, but it's always a slow shuffle so you don't run over the people in front of you, so I do not burn calories like I do when I walk at home. It's hot and humid and I am just not as hungry at Disney.

Now I know, and it's advice that I would have appreciated before my first trip. Everyone is different and it's good to hear everyone's opinion. :goodvibes

[MOM POPPINS]

My vote is to cancel Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner it is such an average dinner and with the late dinner already in place.. I would skip this one. :)

[creativeamanda]

I'd seriously just drop to 2 meals a day--breakfast and dinner--and use snack credits for a quick lunch. As a matter of fact, that is what I did.

[kelleigh1]

Maybe I missed it but I don't see anywhere that someone said "you'll get fat if you eat that much" or made any mention of how much the OP must weigh in order to want that amount of food.

Yes, there were plenty of us who commented that it might be too much food and/or too much time spent eating or in transit to eat. I think all those posts are justified. OP (or anyone else for that matter) might be new and not realize what a meal plan such as this would entail - meaning the amount of food and/or the amount of time needed to stick to it. And they might not realize that with park hours differing depending on the season, they could be seriously limiting their park time in order to fit in all their meals.

And then there is always the old saying: "your eyes are bigger than your belly."

[creativeamanda]

Here is my schedule...


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch Change to early lunch or breakfast at Hollywood and Vine
2. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner

Friday September 19
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast
2. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch cancel
3. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
2. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch cancel
3. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner change to a 2ts meal, like a dinner show

Sunday September 21
1. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch change to breakfast
2. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 12pm)don't do it unless using snack credits. If you can use snack credits for the food and wine festival, that's what I would do.
3. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast
2. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner cancel
3. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner What about Ohana?

Wednesday September 24
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunchcancel
3. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner what about Yak and Yeti Here?

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)IDK. . .Maybe a CP breakfast instead?
2. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch what about Chef Mickey's?

This is one of the worst decisions ever, I have my heart set on this schedule... but... here is the list of things I could cancel without crying openly (only silently inside). LOL one of the rule of DH allowing the upgrade to DxDP was no out of pocket meals...

Jiko (we arent very adventurous people, but then I would need to replace it with something), Marakesh (would just get snacks then), LTT (although the dessert looks to be one of the highlights)

Cape May Cafe breakfast (would just eat Sunshine seasons lunch earlier than planned), and Boma breakfast on the last day (we have a ressie there earlier in the week).

So what is a girl to do? Yes, it is a seven night trip...


My advice in bold :)
That would give you either 20 credits used with one you can use at a cs location somewhere. I just think if you don't do this, you will end up too full to maximize your snack credits and have wasted that $$.

[Tricia1972]

OP - one question about your schedule before I look at it for timing, etc. Are you bussing or do you have a rental car? That makes a BIG difference in how long it takes to get from point A to point B.

I am assuming that you're staying at AKL?

[bsusanmb]

I liked the post about consider being a "newbie" and not realizing how enormous the World is....and the time it takes to get from place to place via bus or car! Parking and walking take time too.

I consider myself a Disney veteran...and we used the DDDP once, just to be able to eat at all of the signature restaurants. I got so sick of gourmet food, seafood, filet mignon, I just wanted a good old Italian sub when I got home. It was an experience, but if you don't know Disney well, trying to get to restaurants takes up all your time. And you are right about the time it takes just to get through a meal...2 hours at many.

It is a lot of food also...the portions aren't small...also, it was a HUGE tip bill at the end. Don't think I will do it again.

I missed the part that someone may have insinuated that the DDDP was somehow related to obesity...oh well.

[septbaby]

OP has made her plan changes already and is comfortable with her decisions.

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Now that the OP has her issues settled... I'm a little disappointed in all of you... bagging on Sunshine Seasons like that. That's one of our favorite CS in all of WDW. Salmon, salad flatbreads, great desserts. I've had better lunches there than many TS!

(off my recently delivered shoebuy box)

Thank you :)

[sunshine43]

That is alot of food. Years back I did what is now called the DDP, then it was the only plan. It was sooooo much food I didn't want to eat for two weeks after getting home :lmao:

robin

[inkedupmomma]

why does everyone keep saying that it is too much food?? There is no rule that says you have to eat every last bite at every meal.. I'm so sick of hearing how ridiculous it is to plan like this or do that. Just because you are offered all that food doesn't mean you have to get yourself sick and eat it all. you can easily eat some of your app, lunch and the a couple bites of dessert. If your normally eat more than that and do so in disney, if you normally eat less then that do that in Disney. Thats the beauty of the different dining plans and what they include. I think it is incredibly rude and judgmental when all i read on most posts is "oh don't do that its too much, or you'll get fat" she didn't ask for your opinions on her eating habits, she asked which restaurants she SHOULD keep and which ones to let go. This board is supposed to be helpful, and sometimes I'm afraid to post because of judgments/unwanted opinions that I have seen passed :sad1: :sad2:

[Tricia1972]

why does everyone keep saying that it is too much food?? There is no rule that says you have to eat every last bite at every meal.. I'm so sick of hearing how ridiculous it is to plan like this or do that. Just because you are offered all that food doesn't mean you have to get yourself sick and eat it all. you can easily eat some of your app, lunch and the a couple bites of dessert. If your normally eat more than that and do so in disney, if you normally eat less then that do that in Disney. Thats the beauty of the different dining plans and what they include. I think it is incredibly rude and judgmental when all i read on most posts is "oh don't do that its too much, or you'll get fat" she didn't ask for your opinions on her eating habits, she asked which restaurants she SHOULD keep and which ones to let go. This board is supposed to be helpful, and sometimes I'm afraid to post because of judgments/unwanted opinions that I have seen passed :sad1: :sad2:

I can totally understand your frustration. I feel the same way when I read that the dining plans are the be all end all of Disney and if you don't get one you're stupid.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I can speak for myself. I never ever mean to sound like I am passing judgment on a person who gets the DDP. However, to me it is too much food and I do feel compelled to share that when someone asks about it.

I agree with you - you do NOT need to eat all of the food that is offered to you. However, for me, if I just order and pay for what I will eat then it's not as cost effective for me to use any of the dining plans. Traveling with my usual group - I can eat three meals a day at Disney - including one TS or one Signature - cheaper without the plan.

The DDP is great for some and not so great for others. In order to decide what works best for your family, it's best to hear all sides of the story. Then you can make an informed decision for your group.

I am glad that they're there, they are obviously fantastic for a good number of people. I also mean NO harm or judgment when I share my dislike of the plan or the fact that it's too much food for me.

[inkedupmomma]

I can totally understand your frustration. I feel the same way when I read that the dining plans are the be all end all of Disney and if you don't get one you're stupid.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I can speak for myself. I never ever mean to sound like I am passing judgment on a person who gets the DDP. However, to me it is too much food and I do feel compelled to share that when someone asks about it.

I agree with you - you do NOT need to eat all of the food that is offered to you. However, for me, if I just order and pay for what I will eat then it's not as cost effective for me to use any of the dining plans. Traveling with my usual group - I can eat three meals a day at Disney - including one TS or one Signature - cheaper without the plan.

The DDP is great for some and not so great for others. In order to decide what works best for your family, it's best to hear all sides of the story. Then you can make an informed decision for your group.

I am glad that they're there, they are obviously fantastic for a good number of people. I also mean NO harm or judgment when I share my dislike of the plan or the fact that it's too much food for me.



heres the difference, and I should have made this clear earlier. You always have constructive things to say! You explain why it doesn't work for *YOU*. Putting it that way makes a huge difference in how you come across. Saying things like "I just gained 5lbs reading this",well... is just annoying.

I agree it is great to hear all sides of the story. But I think only if that is the question asked. If I am asking how I should switch my adr's around I certainly do not want to hear well thats too much food so just cancel. If I wanted to cancel I would have.

I'm not trying to come off as a rude you know what, but reading some of this stuff makes me shake my head. Everything I've seen you write has been almost all helpful (could be 100%, i'm just leaving room for error :rotfl2: ) Theres just a way to say things sometimes and I guess some people don't care:confused:

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

I didn't read all the posts so forgive me if this has been said, but man - that is A LOT of food to eat each day!! All those buffets, and steaks, and seafood, and running from one restaurant to the next. Just gives me a headache thinking about it. I think the word that comes to mind is "overindulgence".

[bumbershoot]

But I think only if that is the question asked. If I am asking how I should switch my adr's around I certainly do not want to hear well thats too much food so just cancel. If I wanted to cancel I would have.


Well, sometimes people just don't think about it until someone says something like that. If we all just answered the exact question asked, much less learning would go on. It's possible the OP, or another poster, had gotten so caught up in making all these decisions that they hadn't thought about how much food that would be. Appetizer with Dx, entree, dessert, and drink, yes? every meal, every day, every night. And if you don't get those things, you run the risk of making the meal and maybe the meal plan not worth it. If you're just going to eat bites here and there, why get the Dx, you know?

My family is vegetarian, we don't eat much in the heat, and we actually don't eat all that much anyway. We know our Disneyland eating style, and we figure it will be about the same at WDW (will be hotter, but will be doing FAR more walking so it might even out). We have figured it out on paper and even the normal plan wouldn't work for us. But I still WANT to do it! What if I were in total charge of our vacay plans, and I wanted it, but hadn't thought about it, and no one said something like "wow that's a lot of food" to me. Then I have to learn all on my own, with our money wasted, and be disappointed.

I think it's fine that people say that, and although I did skim many replies, I didn't see anyone say that the OP would gain weight, or that the OP must be heavy to plan to eat in all those places.

[jenjersnap]

Well, sometimes people just don't think about it until someone says something like that. If we all just answered the exact question asked, much less learning would go on.

Yes, but there are more constructive ways to add info and less helpful ways. we've seen examples of both in this thread.

In addition, being the 20th person to say "That's too much food!" ... to me, the point has been made so it's unnecessary unless you are trying to increase your post count. :laughing: (Oh, but I understand that the dogpiling of opinions is part of the message board experience even if it bugs me.) It's an open forum and people can do it, whatever, I won't be because I stand by the mantra of offering the advice asked for. :-)

[inkedupmomma]

Yes, but there are more constructive ways to add info and less helpful ways. we've seen examples of both in this thread.

exactly

In addition, being the 20th person to say "That's too much food!" ... to me, the point has been made so it's unnecessary unless you are trying to increase your post count. :laughing: (Oh, but I understand that the dogpiling of opinions is part of the message board experience even if it bugs me.) It's an open forum and people can do it, whatever, I won't be because I stand by the mantra of offering the advice asked for. :-)
agreed again. it's an open forum, but is also a disney forum..unofficial or not some of the answers are very un-disney:headache:



:hippie:

[aribelle]

why does everyone keep saying that it is too much food?? There is no rule that says you have to eat every last bite at every meal.. I'm so sick of hearing how ridiculous it is to plan like this or do that. Just because you are offered all that food doesn't mean you have to get yourself sick and eat it all. you can easily eat some of your app, lunch and the a couple bites of dessert. If your normally eat more than that and do so in disney, if you normally eat less then that do that in Disney. Thats the beauty of the different dining plans and what they include. I think it is incredibly rude and judgmental when all i read on most posts is "oh don't do that its too much, or you'll get fat" she didn't ask for your opinions on her eating habits, she asked which restaurants she SHOULD keep and which ones to let go. This board is supposed to be helpful, and sometimes I'm afraid to post because of judgments/unwanted opinions that I have seen passed :sad1: :sad2:



Well, I respectfully disagree .....one of the things that I loved MOST about reading this board before our first trip was the folks sharing their experience. I can read in any of the zillion guidebooks how things work....and that's what we all did before the Internet became such a huge part of our lives (at least those of us old enough to remember pre-Internet life). Now I can learn more than the guidebooks could ever tell me, because I can "talk" to people who have actually been there done that....about Disney and any other destination too. While guidebooks sometimes give you one person's first hand experience, most of them, back then especially were facts and figures. And I'd much rather have dozens of people's first hand experience than just one.....because everyone does it different. Personally....I LOVE the responses where the opinions vary....and I especially like when people say WHY they have their opinion, because that helps me to decide whether MY experience is more likely to be like his, hers or that persons' over there.

My family eats 2 to 3 meals a day, so it would seem logical that in Disney we would follow the same guidelines. But you know what.....those are mostly meals eaten at home, and planned and prepared moments before we actually eat them, when we know how hungry we are at the moment. That is quite different from reserving an all you can eat brunch and a 3 course meal for dinner. It sounds heavenly of course to eat out every meal, but it's really not.....I can say this first hand from our experience our first trip to WDW which lasted for a month......after less than a week of that we were cancelling a lot of ADRs and eating some simple meals at our vacation rental home and doing a lot more CS where we could pick and choose when and how much we ate.....and we shared a lot of meals, which we also tend to do when we go out locally as well. I didn't spend nearly what I had budgeted for food beause we stopped forcing ourselves to eat simply because we'd made a reservation months in advance because the restaurant menu sounded wonderful. They still all sound wonderful, but EXPERIENCE tells me NOW that not only was it more food that we wanted, but TS meals even right in the same park can take 1 1/2 to 2 hours from your park time....and frankly FOR US we want more park time than food time. Maybe OP's experience would be completely different....maybe they'd read my experience and say, well we love food, it's why we're going to Disney (as some people do), so eating 3 Table Service meals a day WILL be heavenly. Or maybe, just maybe, it will make them stop and think, wait, at home we don't eat 3 course meals for breakfast lunch AND dinner, how will we do that at the World???


AND...yes, I agree just we could just eat a little of our appetizer, leave some of our entree and take a bite or two of our dessert.....but you know what, that is a LOT of wasted food, because unlike at home, I'm not likely to put it away for another meal (who wants to lug a to go box around all day?)...and besides with a Deluxe plan you won't need to because another meal is just a couple hours away. And frankly, that means it's a lot of wasted money as well. And I think that most people come to chat boards like this is learn how to save money, not throw away food that they didn't realize they may not be able to finish. Restaurant portions are huge....everywhere, and Disney is no exception. My kids are preteens and we still share a lot of meals when we go out.....and still walk away full and satisfied, but with money in our pocket and no guilt for throwing away perfectly good food.

I haven't read every single post, but most of them, and don't recall anyone saying "you'll get fat". I have read a lot of people with real World experience saying that these meal plans are a lot of eating to them.

If MULTIPLE people didn't share their experience, their opinion and why/how they would do things, than this board would be awfully dead. When I was in the initially thinking stages of our trip, I devoured every post about the resorts, thinking I needed to make a decision about which one to stay at.....but you know what....the more I read about people who stayed OFF site....the more I realized that MY FAMILY would be happier in a full house not a tiny resort room, and we could stay LONGER and still spend LESS money. Had I only read the guidebooks, I wouldn't have even realized that you COULD stay offsite in a real house. For all my travelling I'd never rented a vacation home....I thought that was for the rich....and it's not. So THAT advice alone saved us money, not only at Disney....but now when we've travelled to other places for a week, I've looked into vacation homes in those locations, and TWICE in the past year we've enjoyed the comforts of home instead of a hotel. That has changed how I think about our travelling forever.

I think that opposing views, even criticism, done respectfully, can be a very good thing not only for those going to the World for the first time, but for seasoned Disney guests. And I also respectfully disagree with you that after "It's too much food" has been said once, others shouldn't repeat it....because if I got one opinion, how would I know if they are the exception or the rule? Case in point....on the budget board there is a thread about eyeglasses and buying them super cheap online.....when I read it this morning it had 86 posts, and of those only 1 person said that company was horrible (and it was their very first post, so that makes them suspcious to me)....and one eye doctor that was almost ranting about the business they were losing to online and how it had to be poor quality (how do they KNOW that if they haven't ordered for them?), and one poster saying they had some problems with the quality but were working it out with the company. Half of the other posts were people saying they'd received their glasses already (the thread started months ago) and were VERY happy with them, so much so that some had ordered more glasses so they now had glasses in different colors and styles, because the price was so much lower than the local doctor or mall. We're in the market for glasses, so I soaked this up eagerly.....had I only read the doctor's rant and the 1st time poster's negative response and then only ONE positive response (because all the rest would have been redundant and annoying by your standards)....I wouldn't have decided to give this company a try. What swayed me was that out of 86 people responding not just a majority, but an OVERWHELMING majority had FIRST HAND experience and felt positive about it. That doctor with the dire warnings about poor quality and wrong Rx......wasn't even speaking from experience.....they didn't order from this company, they never mentioned that they even KNEW someone who had ordered from this company. Now, some people may take that doctor's advice and stay away "after all they're a doctor, they'd know"......but me, I actually don't feel their post is a completely valid opinion, because they aren't speaking from experience. Sure, as an eye doctor they may know that there are different grades of quality in lenses, something frankly I've never thought much about so didn't even think of.....but since they had no experience with THIS company, and so many others were reporting first hand positive experience.....I'm going to take the opinion of the first hand experience much more heavily.

The same can be said about the dining plans....those that are reporting it is too much food, I believe that every single one of them has been to the World...eaten at some of the OPs restaurants, and therefore knows that at home it doesn't seem that big of a deal, but at the World it will be too much food for most of us. Not all, as I said, there are self-named "foodies" that can and do eat a TS full meal three times a day at the park.....to them it's about a lot more than fueling their bodies for the dash to the perfect seat for the parade. For me, eating is about fueling my body, and maybe satisfying a taste craving I'm having. No, I don't want to eat gruel only because it's good fuel, I do want good tasting food. But personally, I'd never spend $125 per person to eat at Victoria & Albert, yet others talk about this with a certain reverence that just isn't comprehendable to me. But it sure is to them.

Back when I was pre-planning and before I learned about off site values.....I was thinking I would get one of the dining plans....made sense, sounded easier to have it all paid for, so that the cheapskate in me didn't spoil our chance at having a fun memory by going "what, $20 for THAT, forget it". But then someone posted a link to their spreadsheet where they compared their dining plan with how they ACTUALLY had eaten at the park.....and it showed that they had wasted a LOT of money, because they couldn't eat that much, didn't want to order the more expensive items that the dining plan price is geared towards, and also ended up with unused credits at the end of the trip. That got me to thinking even more....and being the cheapskate, rationale thinker that I am....I pulled out my own spreadsheet and started reading....no studying.......the menus posted at Allears, making the kids look at them and think about what they might want to order almost a year from then, lol. But that person's post got me to thinking.....and between the results of my research that resulted from their post, and the offsite recommendation......we were able to double the time we spent in Disney and enjoy ourselves a lot more than if we'd taken the guidebook's advice, or only read the posts about staying on site is the only way to have a REAL Disney vacation and you have to have the dining plan or you're ruining your budget.

So....my personal opinion, bring on the multiple opinions....bring on the "me too" responses, and please, tell me your reasons too, because that's most helpful even to me who's spent over 30 days this year at Disney, and am going back for almost the same amount.

BUT....you know what, I also appreciate posts like yours.....that disagree with the majority here, that voices an opposing view to the masses, and even, that does so a little less tactfully than I would have.......because someone reading this thread may have been feeling that they were wrong to want the deluxe dining.....that they had made a mistake thinking it didn't sound like too much food for themselves....that they were about to waste their money on the dining plan. Because maybe, just maybe, even reading all these pages and pages of people saying it's too much food, it's a waste of time and money, don't do it, don't do it......maybe they got to your post and thought "gosh, finally, someone who thinks like I do....I agree with what they posted and therefore I'm not gonna feel bad about it anymore.....and I'll just nibble at my dessert and be happy with that". And I say, more power to you then. But I also want to know your secrets to pushing away the chocolate cake after two bites......my fork has a mind of it's own and is very diligent in making sure that I don't even leave two bites. :rotfl:

[Tricia1972]

heres the difference, and I should have made this clear earlier. You always have constructive things to say! You explain why it doesn't work for *YOU*. Putting it that way makes a huge difference in how you come across. Saying things like "I just gained 5lbs reading this",well... is just annoying.

I agree it is great to hear all sides of the story. But I think only if that is the question asked. If I am asking how I should switch my adr's around I certainly do not want to hear well thats too much food so just cancel. If I wanted to cancel I would have.

I'm not trying to come off as a rude you know what, but reading some of this stuff makes me shake my head. Everything I've seen you write has been almost all helpful (could be 100%, i'm just leaving room for error :rotfl2: ) Theres just a way to say things sometimes and I guess some people don't care:confused:

Thank you! I really appreciate what you said and wanted to let you know how much it means to me.

I try to be helpful, but sometimes don't know how I am coming across. It's nice to hear positive feedback.

:hug:

[bsusanmb]

Excellent post, Aribelle!

[inkedupmomma]

Personally....I LOVE the responses where the opinions vary....and I especially like when people say WHY they have their opinion, because that helps me to decide whether MY experience is more likely to be like his, hers or that persons' over there.



I don't see where you were disagreeing with me. If you read all my posts you can see that I also enjoy when someone has a varying opinion and can tell me why it did not work for them.What I find annoying is when people have nothing more then to say then "thats too much food", "ugh I gained weight just reading this"etc.... get my point.. see the difference??

Like I said, If I wanted advice on "do you think this is too much" then I would post that, as a matter of fact I have posted numerous topics asking about what people thought about my adr's,schedule,etc... If I post a topic asking how I can tweak my adr's then really there is no need for comments like "ugh I gained 5lbs reading this". Constructive criticism is helpful.Judgmental comments are not. If people can't see the difference between the two then...idk:sad2:

[inkedupmomma]

Thank you! I really appreciate what you said and wanted to let you know how much it means to me.

I try to be helpful, but sometimes don't know how I am coming across. It's nice to hear positive feedback.

:hug:

Everything I have read from you has come across with a true sense of care. Like you actually feel for the person and want to help. I think we often forget there are real people behind these keyboards. It may be an open forum, but people still have feelings. Open forum doesn't mean be rude because there not in front of you. Snarky comments aren't helpful in real life face to face, so why would it be on here?:confused:

So thank you for your positive and helpful words!:hug:

[emmaleigh47]

As the OP who originally posted the question, I thought I would weigh in.

My husband and I like to eat out, when we are at home we eat pretty healthy, exercise regularly and rarely eat out. When we go to Disney, I have to admit the Dx plan started from a desire to have our first anniversary dinner in the Castle. Also, we love breakfast buffets and wanted to include some of them as well. Third, every time we go out we always get appetizers because those are some of our favorite things. Therefore, either we paid out of pocket for some breakfasts and the dinner in the castle and maybe for some appetizers that we just had to have -- or we went Dx knowing it was probably going to be too much food for us. After talking about it and crunching numbers, we opted for the Dx plan.

I took great care in the dining reservations -- if you will see after my changes there is only 3 days that I have THREE meals planned, all of the other days only have 2 meals planned, usually almost 12 hours apart (with very late dinners). The one day that is kinda ridiculous is the Kona Cafe/HV/Kona Cafe day because after I did my reservations I realized that I somehow left out Kona Cafe for dinner, so I had to add it in. I KNOW that this particular meal will be prolly be just bites of everything, but I had another credit to use (at the time I was planning) so though I would slide it in.

Futhermore, I appreciate everyone's opinions but I have to agree that posts discussed gaining weight from looking at my dining schedule although prolly intended to be comical or constuctive really come across as offensive. As stated before, I didnt ask what you thought of my ressies, I asked which 3 credits you would get rid of.

I am anxious to see how we deal with it... my guess is that this will be the one and only time on the Dx plan, but usually I wouldnt want to eat in the Castle either (or Cali Grill and Jiko).

I am excited to post my first food report though.
Thank you again for your assistance -- I have learned so much since coming to this message board. :cheer2:

[inkedupmomma]

As the OP who originally posted the question, I thought I would weigh in.

My husband and I like to eat out, when we are at home we eat pretty healthy, exercise regularly and rarely eat out. When we go to Disney, I have to admit the Dx plan started from a desire to have our first anniversary dinner in the Castle. Also, we love breakfast buffets and wanted to include some of them as well. Third, every time we go out we always get appetizers because those are some of our favorite things. Therefore, either we paid out of pocket for some breakfasts and the dinner in the castle and maybe for some appetizers that we just had to have -- or we went Dx knowing it was probably going to be too much food for us. After talking about it and crunching numbers, we opted for the Dx plan.

I took great care in the dining reservations -- if you will see after my changes there is only 3 days that I have THREE meals planned, all of the other days only have 2 meals planned, usually almost 12 hours apart (with very late dinners). The one day that is kinda ridiculous is the Kona Cafe/HV/Kona Cafe day because after I did my reservations I realized that I somehow left out Kona Cafe for dinner, so I had to add it in. I KNOW that this particular meal will be prolly be just bites of everything, but I had another credit to use (at the time I was planning) so though I would slide it in.

Futhermore, I appreciate everyone's opinions but I have to agree that posts discussed gaining weight from looking at my dining schedule although prolly intended to be comical or constuctive really come across as offensive. As stated before, I didnt ask what you thought of my ressies, I asked which 3 credits you would get rid of.

I am anxious to see how we deal with it... my guess is that this will be the one and only time on the Dx plan, but usually I wouldnt want to eat in the Castle either (or Cali Grill and Jiko).

I am excited to post my first food report though.
Thank you again for your assistance -- I have learned so much since coming to this message board. :cheer2:

When do you leave again?(sorry, bad memory) I believe you said you were planning a TR and Dining report.. are you doing a PTR? Let me know!! I def wanna see how it all worked out for you. There is no exact science to it. All I know is I got to upgrade to dxdp and paid half of what I was originally gonna pay and couldnt be more excited!!! I also based ADR's around recommended desserts (shhh..don't tell df!) We will be there 8 full days and I actually only have one day with 3 meals. I figured I'll fill in the blanks with cs.. ? I'm on my crash diet now so when I gain in disney I'll look the same as I did all summer:rotfl2: :lmao: :rotfl2:


What did you decide to do in the end..or are you still debating? I also almost had a double Kona day.. I def want breakfast, but dinner looks tempting too!!

[bsusanmb]

As the OP who originally posted the question, I thought I would weigh in.

My husband and I like to eat out, when we are at home we eat pretty healthy, exercise regularly and rarely eat out. When we go to Disney, I have to admit the Dx plan started from a desire to have our first anniversary dinner in the Castle. Also, we love breakfast buffets and wanted to include some of them as well. Third, every time we go out we always get appetizers because those are some of our favorite things. Therefore, either we paid out of pocket for some breakfasts and the dinner in the castle and maybe for some appetizers that we just had to have -- or we went Dx knowing it was probably going to be too much food for us. After talking about it and crunching numbers, we opted for the Dx plan.

I took great care in the dining reservations -- if you will see after my changes there is only 3 days that I have THREE meals planned, all of the other days only have 2 meals planned, usually almost 12 hours apart (with very late dinners). The one day that is kinda ridiculous is the Kona Cafe/HV/Kona Cafe day because after I did my reservations I realized that I somehow left out Kona Cafe for dinner, so I had to add it in. I KNOW that this particular meal will be prolly be just bites of everything, but I had another credit to use (at the time I was planning) so though I would slide it in.

Futhermore, I appreciate everyone's opinions but I have to agree that posts discussed gaining weight from looking at my dining schedule although prolly intended to be comical or constuctive really come across as offensive. As stated before, I didnt ask what you thought of my ressies, I asked which 3 credits you would get rid of.

I am anxious to see how we deal with it... my guess is that this will be the one and only time on the Dx plan, but usually I wouldnt want to eat in the Castle either (or Cali Grill and Jiko).

I am excited to post my first food report though.
Thank you again for your assistance -- I have learned so much since coming to this message board. :cheer2:

Gosh, I certainly hope I didn't come across as being negative. I know exactly what you mean about the DDDP. Like I posted, I thought it was a great way to get to all of my favorites and all of the signature restaurants. I loved the DDDP. My DH nagged about it all week..."I dont' want to eat again". We are a product of the 1950's when your parents made you be a member of the "clean the plate club" and it is engrained in us to eat everything...also "there are starving children in China" ...so we know that buffets are not a good choice for us...but we go anyway. When I looked at your list, I just thought of how close a couple of the ressies were, and went on my knowledge base. When I said it was a lot of food, it's just IMHO, not meant to demean you in any way. I love the dis board, in fact, I made a lifelong email friend from this board. I have learned so much and have shared so much of what I know, only in hopes of giving someone another view.

I truly hope you have a magical trip and happy anniversary. Please let us know when you do your trip report. Oh, if I hadn't done the DDDP, I would probably never have tried the buffalo sirloin at Artist Pointe. I always got the salmon, but I thought I would be adventurous. Oh, and Jiko was fabulous...some of the best meals I have ever had were at WDW!

Sorry if I insulted anyone, it wasn't my intention..

Grandma Susan

[patsal]

As the OP who originally posted the question, I thought I would weigh in.

My husband and I like to eat out, when we are at home we eat pretty healthy, exercise regularly and rarely eat out. When we go to Disney, I have to admit the Dx plan started from a desire to have our first anniversary dinner in the Castle. Also, we love breakfast buffets and wanted to include some of them as well. Third, every time we go out we always get appetizers because those are some of our favorite things. Therefore, either we paid out of pocket for some breakfasts and the dinner in the castle and maybe for some appetizers that we just had to have -- or we went Dx knowing it was probably going to be too much food for us. After talking about it and crunching numbers, we opted for the Dx plan.

I took great care in the dining reservations -- if you will see after my changes there is only 3 days that I have THREE meals planned, all of the other days only have 2 meals planned, usually almost 12 hours apart (with very late dinners). The one day that is kinda ridiculous is the Kona Cafe/HV/Kona Cafe day because after I did my reservations I realized that I somehow left out Kona Cafe for dinner, so I had to add it in. I KNOW that this particular meal will be prolly be just bites of everything, but I had another credit to use (at the time I was planning) so though I would slide it in.

Futhermore, I appreciate everyone's opinions but I have to agree that posts discussed gaining weight from looking at my dining schedule although prolly intended to be comical or constuctive really come across as offensive. As stated before, I didnt ask what you thought of my ressies, I asked which 3 credits you would get rid of.

I am anxious to see how we deal with it... my guess is that this will be the one and only time on the Dx plan, but usually I wouldnt want to eat in the Castle either (or Cali Grill and Jiko).

I am excited to post my first food report though.
Thank you again for your assistance -- I have learned so much since coming to this message board. :cheer2:

I too hope I did not come across as harsh. I just was not sure if you knew the travel time involved in getting around from meal to meal and how much that might interfere with park time. Ultimately we all do what is best for each of us and our individual circumstances. I hope you have a great vacation and enjoy all of your dining experiences.

[inkedupmomma]

group hug!!!:grouphug:

[miprender]

Just to add my two cents... my DH swore he would never do the DDP again because it "forced him" to eat too much!!! I just laughed and told him he didn't have to eat all that.

But I understand you want to get your money's worth and lick the plate clean just to make sure Disney isn't pulling one over on us :rotfl:

Shockingly, with all the eating we did and walking I actually came back 5lbs lighter, temporarily as it was!!!

[inkedupmomma]

Just to add my two cents... my DH swore he would never do the DDP again because it "forced him" to eat too much!!! I just laughed and told him he didn't have to eat all that.

But I understand you want to get your money's worth and lick the plate clean just to make sure Disney isn't pulling one over on us :rotfl:

Shockingly, with all the eating we did and walking I actually came back 5lbs lighter, temporarily as it was!!!

If there is one thing some people have done for me on the dis is to convince me that all the walking i'll be doing will even out the amount of food I eat on the DXDP. I think I have a different mindset than most though. IMO I feel I got my money's worth just by being there and enjoying my meal, whether it be 2 bites or the whole app,entree and dessert. When i go into NYC to an upscale restauraunt i don't walk in saying I better eat every last bite or I won't get my money's worth, so why would I do it in disney?? I get that in NYC I could potentially bring my food home, but if i'm there for a night out, chances are I won't. But I had fun, and I enjoyed my meal. I mean if someone is a real budget type person to begin with, chances are they wouldn't choose the dxdp, and if they did they would figure out a way to be able to heat up left overs, or use the credits in the smartest way possible. For me the DXDP is no skin off my back because we only paid the difference between the free dining and the dx.. so I feel like I got away with murder:lmao: and no I won't be pushing that chocolate cake away after 2 bites.. i'm much smarter than that:rolleyes1 I'll only eat half the app and half the entree:rotfl2: :hippie:

[choirfarm]

Putting the issue of too much food aside, my question would be time. Is it ok that you are going to be spending A LOT of time traveling and eating instead of enjoying the rides and attractions. For me personally, I can eat anywhere and want to enjoy the time as much as possible. I hope you have your own car. I am going to act like you will have a car:
[QUOTE=emmaleigh47;27126361]Here is my schedule...


Thursday September 18
1. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch So you must be spending the day at Studios. It will be 4ish by the time you finish here. You must not be wanting to see Fantastic. You need to leave by 8pm to get out of there or at the latest 8:30 before the crowds from Fantastic jam and you miss your reservation. If you are using Disney transportation then leave at 8!!!
2. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner Can you really eat this late? Will you really want a ton of food right before bed, but then again, my bedtime is 9 so I would already be asleep most nights.:)

Friday September 19
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast You are missing prime park touring time by having breakfast at this time. I cannot tell what park you are going to, but I'm guessing Epcot. You may miss Soarin . You will finish here around 11 ish and travel to Epcot and get there and in the gates at 11:30/11:45, so you will have less than 2 hours to tour before lunch. I am now revising this if you are taking Disney transportation, you won't get here until noon or later.
2. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunchFinish here around 3:30 ish. So you will have 4 and a half hours to tour. OOH you are going an EMH night. YUCK. Lots of crowds...
3. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinnerAlso, you will be eating during Illuminations. Is that ok??

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast Great place for breakfast, but once again you are losing VALUABLE touring time by eating at this time. The park opens at 9, so you will be in line rather than enjoying Space Mountain or wherever. You finish here at 11ish. So you have 3 and a half of the most crowded time of the day to tour.. ARe you sure you want to do this????
2. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunch Ok, you finish here around 4ish. It is liable to be crowded because this is one of the few Spectros. Spectro is at 8. I'm not sure you could watch Spectro and make it out of the parking lot and over to AKL for your dinner reservation. It will be tight. Obviously no Wishes as Spector will be pushing it.
3. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner

Sunday September 21
1. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch I'm guessing this is an AK day. This day doesn't look too bad.
2. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)ACK... taxi. Does this mean you WON'T have a car. You need to add time to what I have estimated for you so far as Disney transportation can take a lot longer. Do you know how to get from one place to another as well. I was allowing 30 minutes of walking to car and driving yourself on your times. If you are using Disney transportation, you need to allow at least an hour and you are going to be on those things A LOT!!!!
2. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 12pm)Ok, I cannot figure out what park you are going to. You will be leaving Cape May at around 10:30 to go to Epcot??? So you get there around 11:30 if you are using Disney Transportation. Then you will need to eat as soon as you get there. Food places are going to be packed around 12. It is best to eat lunch around 11 if you don't want to stand in line. This is another evening EMH day and so the crowds will be brutal and it will be HOT!!!! Then I guess you are going over to MK??? So you need to leave Epcot around 5 to get over to MK in plenty of time.
3. CRT at 6:55pm for dinnerYou are going on another Specto day. If you wish to see it, you may not be finished with your meal if you are delayed. Plus, you won't get a good spot to see it if you do get out. I

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast Once again you are eating during prime touring time at Studios, maybe?? Don't plan on getting to ride Toy Story Mania. Finish eating at 10 ish, then transportation over to Studios and arrive at 11 which once again is in the hottest and most crowded time of the day!!!!! And you have picked another evening EMH when the crowds will be brutal once again.
2. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner You need to leave by 8 to make it over to the dinner, once again missing Fantasmic.
3. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner

Wednesday September 24I can't guess which park you are at, but take into account traveling back and forth and the entertainment you wish to see!!!
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
3. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe) Oh, sweeheart... You are going to leave this breakfast at 9ish and then take Disney transportation over to MK and get there around 10 ish ona morning EMH day!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will be SO incredibly crowded when you get there and you will stand in line big time. You will tour for 2 crowded hours and make your way to lunch..
2. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch

QUOTE]I really do not mean to be harsh, but I see HUGE problems with your schedule. How important is riding rides??? You get to the parks at incredibly crowded times!!! You are going during many EMH times which increases the time. We are going to be there during the same time, BTW which is how I know the schedules of the parks. IS any nighttime entertainment on your radar?? If it is, I see no way you will be able to attend any with your current schedule. Mornings are another problem. Now I can see missing a rope drop for a breakfast once or twice, but you are doing it EVERY DAY. I'd be happy to help you adjust. I'll be there the 19th-27th so I have lots of info.. I really don't think you have allowed for transportation at all if you are relying on Disney. You are traveling A LOT and in between parks and arriving during crowded times!!! I don't want your trip to be ruined!!!!
Christine

[choirfarm]

I just found this post searching your posts and wanted to make some comments.



Finalizing our plans, would you change anything?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday September 18
1. Flight arrives at 11:30am
2. Take ME to the hotel (check in kinda) and head directly to DS You may have trouble here if your flight is delayed at all. You might make it. Might not.
3. Prime Time Café at 2pm for lunch
4. Back to hotel for a break until 6:30pmAbsolutely no way. You finish lunch by 3:30. Get to hotel at 4:30 and leave by 5.
5. To DS for Fantasmic at 8pmHow in the world are you going to make it on Disney transportation with the hordes coming out of Fantasmic and get to Jiko..you cannot. With a car it would be very hard, with Disney transportation, impossible. I seem to remember getting back to the hotel at 10 using the bus when we went.
6. Jiko at 9:35pm for dinner

Friday September 19 See my comments above.
1. Boma at 9:40am for breakfast
2. Take bus to Epcot and spend time in Future World
3. Marrakesh at 2pm for lunch
4. Spend Time in the World Show case until dinner
5. Chef de France at 8:10pm for dinner
6. Spend time in Future World with EMH until 11pm or so

Saturday September 20
1. Crystal Palace at 9:25am for breakfast
2. Stay in MK for the morning
3. Liberty Tree Tavern at 2:45pm for lunchYou finish eating at 4ish, if you are lucky. Probably later. Take bus back and get to hotel at 5. You would need to leave the hotel at 5 to make sure you get back. So this is impossible. Stay at the park
4. Back to the hotel for a rest until 6:30pm
5. To MK for SpectroMagic parade at 8pmOnce again. There is no way you can make it watching the parade and then leaving and taking Disney transportation to Boma. Won't make it.
6. Boma at 9:35pm for dinner



Sunday September 21
1. Sleep in, bus to AK for the morning
2. Tusker House at 12pm for lunch
3. Tour AK until close at 5pmBy the time you get back to your hotel it will be 6 or later. I would go straight to MK
4. Back to the hotel to rest until 7:00pm
5. Wishes at 8pm I'm guessing you are using the monorail, but this will still be tight to manage to exit with the hoards to make it over there.
6. California Grill at 9:30pm for dinner

Monday September 22
1. Cape May Café at 8:55am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Tour Epcot, spending just a few rides in Future World
3. Lunch at Sunshine Seasons counter service, light meal (around 1pm)
4. Take monorail to the MK
5. Dreams Come True Parade at 3pm
6. Tour MK for a bit
7. CRT at 6:55pm for dinner I don't think you will make it for Illuminations if there is any delay at all.
8. Monorail to Epcot for Illuminations at 9pm
9. Consider EMH at DS if not too tired
You have so much traveling this day Beach Club resort, Epcot, Mk, back to Epcot... Wow. I know you don't have any kids with you, but still....

Tuesday September 23
1. Kona Café at 8:40am for breakfast
2. Bus to DS and spend the day touring
3. Block Party Bash at 3pm
4. Hollywood and Vine at 4:40pm for dinner
5. Fantasmic at 8pmOnce again, there is no way you will exit with the hoards and make it to your reservation.
6. Kona Café at 9:40pm for later dinner
7. Consider EMH at Epcot if not too tired



Wednesday September 24
1. 1900 Park Fare at 9:10am for breakfast
2. Bus to AK and spend the morning touring (or consider another park)
3. Yak and Yeti at 2pm for lunch
4. Spend time at AK with EMH until close at 8pm
5. ‘Ohana at 9:20pm for dinner

Thursday September 25
1. Boma at 8am for breakfast (will need taxi maybe)
2. Bus to whatever park is desired and spend morning touring
3. Crystal Palace at 12:45pm for lunch You will need to be ready to go immediately after lunch.
4. Back to hotel by 3:30pm to prepare for leaving


Please, please allow more time for traveling

[patsal]

Please, please allow more time for traveling[/QUOTE]

I couldn't agree more. Have you ever been to the World? Looking at your plan I'm thinking you have no idea how far from one place to another. At least an hour for transportation and that is if you don't just miss a bus. Add 20 minutes to that and walking from the bus to security check and then to the gate and from the gate to the restuarant. Remember if you plan on any of the water transportation it will not move if there is a thunder storm in the area. Lighting storms also can cause problems for hte monrails.With your current plan you will have to eliminate your rest time and you will not see very many attractions. However you will have some incredible meals! Remember you should be checked in for your ADR 15 minutes before it is scheduled.

[ReneeA]

Ditto choirfarm completely. I don't care how much food you consume. Just figure that 3 sitdown meals = at least 6 to 8 hours a day between actually traveling to, waiting for, and eating those meals.

That's valuable park time. I truly hope that you are going on this trip to experience the restaurants because you'll be doing much more of that than experiencing the attractions. Many, many people that choose to do 3 sitdowns a day are regulars to WDW and go at least annually - usually more like 2-3 times a year. They don't mind time away from the parks because they know they'll be back very shortly.

That being said, hope you have a great trip!!

[ReneeA]

Not to mention, you have to consider the fact that you are going to have to wait at times to get into a restaurant even with an ADR. For the most part, Disney does a good job estimating how many people they can move in and out of the restaurants...but human nature is a tough thing to rely on. Sometimes there are people that linger over their meal and that means you may have to wait for their table.

We've had really good luck in that we rarely have to wait longer than 10 minutes. However, it does happen. This year, we had 7 TS meals. 5 of them, we waited 10 minutes or less. 1 of them, we waited about 25 minutes. At the 50's PT Diner, we waited 50 minutes past our ADR. It happens, and with as many ADRs as you have, odds are it will happen more than a couple times.

Just so that you know...

[emmaleigh47]

Again, thank you for all of your opinions. You have given me a lot to think about. I did ask a CM about catching the 8pm Fantasmic and taking a taxi to the AKL for the 9:30pm dinner and she did think that I would make it.

Same thing for the Spectro parade, only if we watched it close to the exit of the park and took a taxi the CM did think that we would not have problems making it to the AKL for Boma that night.

The night we are eating in the Castle, I did decide to get rid of Illuminations - I would rather relax with my sweetie on our anniversary!

Now someone asked about a pre-trip report.....what does one include in a pre-trip report, i guess i have only read the completed dining reports!?

[choirfarm]

I have a quick question. It seems like you plan on taking a lot of taxis. I don't have a clue how much a taxi ride costs, but the few I have taken in other cities costs a bundle. I'm thinking you could rent a car for a week for less than 150 dollars, which might be cheaper than taking 5 taxi rides or more. Just a thought. Maybe someone who has experience with taxis can chime in. Have a great trip.. Honestly, I didn't mean to be negative, but just wanted you to enjoy yourself and not rush all around. I also read that you broke your arm and it still hasn't healed, so make sure you allow yourself resting time..

Christine

[Tricia1972]

I have a quick question. It seems like you plan on taking a lot of taxis. I don't have a clue how much a taxi ride costs, but the few I have taken in other cities costs a bundle. I'm thinking you could rent a car for a week for less than 150 dollars, which might be cheaper than taking 5 taxi rides or more. Just a thought. Maybe someone who has experience with taxis can chime in. Have a great trip.. Honestly, I didn't mean to be negative, but just wanted you to enjoy yourself and not rush all around. I also read that you broke your arm and it still hasn't healed, so make sure you allow yourself resting time..

Christine

Taxis average around $20/ride one way (including tip)

Also keep in mind that coming home from your late ADR's at a resort, you'll need to bus to DTD and then transfer back to your hotel or take another taxi back to your resort.

I know that my first three trips to Disney I thought driving would take more time, be confusing, I'd get lost and if I finally made it to a park that the parking would be horrible.

Finally I went on a solo trip in October and met up with a good friend. She had a car and I was amazed at how easy it was. I came home and told DH. He was skeptical, but willing to let me have my way in March 2008.

Our whole family is sold and we will be renting cars from here on out. I bring this up only if you're concerned about the actual driving around WDW.

[nbodyhome]

I had liked someones suggestion about keeping everything - at some point, you'd likely not make one of the reservations (I do think it's a lot of food, a lot of reservations - and at some point, I expect you'd be crying "uncle"!)

I can barely do the regular DDP - and I didn't make half of my reservations last year. (I ended up changing to counter service, etc. sometimes). I don't think there is anything wrong with having an extra meal - just in case you don't make one.

[nbodyhome]

I had liked someones suggestion about keeping everything - at some point, you'd likely not make one of the reservations (I do think it's a lot of food, a lot of reservations - and at some point, I expect you'd be crying "uncle"!)

I can barely do the regular DDP - and I didn't make half of my reservations last year. (I ended up changing to counter service, etc. sometimes). I don't think there is anything wrong with having an extra meal - just in case you don't make one.

[TravelinGal]

Now, cancelling is not an option at Disney because it is all paid for

Actually, you can change the plan (not that you want to - just saying it's possible). There may be a small fee depending on how close you are to your travel date, but you would get the majority of the difference back to the same form of payment you used when you made your final payment.

That said, I'm in the group that says it may not be too much for you. Every person/family tours differently. This will be my 16th trip to WDW. I will be traveling alone with my DS. I will welcome the breaks for TS! (he's really good in restaurants too, so that helps!) Even if I don't 'lick my plate clean', I will enjoy the relaxing time enjoying the flavors, the ambiance and just being able to sit! LOL

I'm glad you figured out what you want to do. :)

I wanted to add as well -- I'd really look at renting a car - even a little economy car. It would save you SO much time all around. (Unless you are both under 25 - in which case the added surcharges would get crazy)
We NEVER go to WDW without renting a car. But, again, everyone likes different things for different reasons.