TS 3 2/3 and 4 2/3 yr old Dinner or Lunch for TS credit

[flame_chick]

I was wanting to know your opinions on using my TS credits for Lunch or Dinner for our family of four, with my daughter's 3 2/3 and 4 2/3. I was thinking we would get more "bang" for our buck eating dinners with the TS, plus we could use our CS credit during the day at the park as needed, since theyll prob be wanting to "hurry" through lunch to see more park.. and we could also have time to clean up for dinner TS.
BUT on the other hand they may be tired and cranky during dinner time.
.
gosh this planning thing is a time suck.. but I know we need it :)

[flame_chick]

any suggestions?

[ilandrazdsw]

We were on the DxDP with a 3 and 5 yo. We shceduled TS/Buffet for just about every meal. We went this route not for sake of wanting to eat so much (LOL), but as a scheduled break for the kids. Most of the meals were character so the kids felt like they were still doing something and were not as in a rush to eat and leave knowing the next character was on his way. This also gave mom an dad a much needed rest off our feet for about an hour to recharge. If you have one TS you could do a little later lunch with a late morning snack to tie you over and a lite meal/snack later at night. This way you can get the majority of what you want to do done in the morning and early afternoon, bt still avoid a later dinner.

[sohappy]

We were on the DxDP with a 3 and 5 yo. We shceduled TS/Buffet for just about every meal. We went this route not for sake of wanting to eat so much (LOL), but as a scheduled break for the kids. Most of the meals were character so the kids felt like they were still doing something and were not as in a rush to eat and leave knowing the next character was on his way. This also gave mom an dad a much needed rest off our feet for about an hour to recharge. If you have one TS you could do a little later lunch with a late morning snack to tie you over and a lite meal/snack later at night. This way you can get the majority of what you want to do done in the morning and early afternoon, bt still avoid a later dinner.

That is our plan exactly. We use TS as a mid-day break. We do deluxe so that we can get several of those breaks a day. My little ones don't like to sleep (ever), so the break forces them to settle down for a minute. If they keep up the go, go, go pace all day, they get too cranky later in the day.

[mwatson011]

Agreed. I have a 3yo and 4 yo and we did TS for all of our meals. We tried one counter service, and none of us got a chance to relax and it felt like we never got a break. We used the deluxe ddp and had a character buffet breakfast every day, sat down to a nice ts lunch, and believe me, at that age, they may or may not make it to dinner, so you may be eating take out cs in your room some nights while your little ones are knocked out. :rotfl:

Don't forget they will need a hearty breakfast to get the day started, so if you are not on the deluxe plan, you still may want to get them a cs meal to split from your resort's food court. My girls often eat a cereal bar with fruit for breakfast at home, but on our trip, the were knocking down waffles, pancakes, eggs, bacon and fruit without the blink of an eye, oh and more juice/milk, please...:lmao:

[brymolmom]

I've been with kids those ages. We mix it up a bit - don't have a set 'plan' for every day. We get the basic dining plan. We would never want to eat at more TS meals - our kids don't have any desire to sit quietly for that long more than once a day (or every other day sometimes). We get breakfasts at least twice during the trip - the kids love breakfast foods and honestly they eat their money's worth more at a breakfast buffet than any other. Frequenly we do character meals for these. Sometimes we'll do a reservation before park opens (like upcoming trip at Crystal Palace) or sometimes we'll do a late-morning breakfast/brunch. We always bring cereal in our luggage and between that plus a couple snack credits - we have a small breakfast before leaving the room unless we have an early breakfast scheduled.

For lunches/dinners - it depends. Once or twice during the trip we might schedule a long-ish lunch to get a break from the sun. But we do enjoy at least a few nice dinners too (next trip - Cape May, LeCellier, Luau, Chefs De France).

When going for over 6 nights, we like doing a 2 credit meal, because honestly we all get sick of having too many sit-down meals by the end of the vacation. This time, it's the Luau - so we're going for 8 nights but only have 7 sit-down meals planned.

A lot depends on whether or not you think your kids will nap and do you plan to go to the room some/any days for them to do so? If so - I think an early lunch or a late-ish dinner would be key to schedule around that.

[Liltx]

Mine are now 4 and 6 but we have done the same thing the past two years. We schedule our sit down meal for late breakfast/lunch as we leave the park for a rest. We usually do a buffet with characters. We feel this is the best way to keep the kids interested and in front of their food longer. The longer they sit the more they eat. My dd6 loves all different types of food so the adult choices work better for her. We also like it that we don't have to return to the parks for an ADR if we don't want to. Some days we just feel like hanging out by the pool the rest of the day. We do a few dinners outside of the parks but do those early as well like 5:00 or so.


Monica

[cassandrap83]

I was wanting to know your opinions on using my TS credits for Lunch or Dinner for our family of four, with my daughter's 3 2/3 and 4 2/3. I was thinking we would get more "bang" for our buck eating dinners with the TS, plus we could use our CS credit during the day at the park as needed, since theyll prob be wanting to "hurry" through lunch to see more park.. and we could also have time to clean up for dinner TS.
BUT on the other hand they may be tired and cranky during dinner time.
.
gosh this planning thing is a time suck.. but I know we need it :)

It looks like you're going during free dining, so you really don't have to worry about getting the best "bang for your buck".

We are too, and we're planning on doing most of our TS for breakfast b/c my kids need to eat in the morning otherwise they get cranky. (2 1/2 & 4) Besides, they love breakfast foods and we're less likely to pay OOP later in the park b/c they will actually eat!

I say to just do what you think will work best for your family, and not worry about maximizing your dining plan, especially if you're just on the standard DDP.

[RACHELSMOM1]

The nap equals no more fussy kids or meltdowns at dinner. We do deluxe DP. Disney vets here with 25+ trips under our belts...We Go to the room after a morning at a park (1TS meal for bfst) take a nap in the afternoon, get up and go to a 2TS dinner ADR. Works like a charm. The naptime is not optional, it is a requirement - go to the room, take off clothes, put on jammies, call for a wake up call for 2 hours later, and off to sleep we all go. Once we get everyone still, they will sleep once their head hits the pillow, they are so tired from their day they naturally rest!! Then we all get up and get ready for our evening ADR. We used to have tired, cranky , melt down kiddos at dinner till we figured this out. Now the kids are 9, 8, and 5, they look forward to naptime, it is part of our Disney day!! We took them on their first trip to WDW when the oldest was 2, the naps started when she was 3. Try it, you might find it works for you too!! :)