Am I "crazy" to not book a TS at Epcot?

[Step]

It all depends on your tastes. Here are my picks for Epcot TS:

Biergarten- http://yohoyohobloggerslifeforme.blogspot.com/2013/05/biergarten-at-epcot-review.html

Tutto Italia- http://yohoyohobloggerslifeforme.blogspot.com/2013/11/tutto-italia-review-pics.html

Nice reviews. I'm trying out Biergarten for the first time on our upcoming trip.

 

[JYL13]

What is a TS and a CS?
Thanks

 

[summermac]

TS - table service (sit down meal)
CS - counter service (quick service meal on dining plan)

 

[TeresaWen]

I love to snack in Epcot. So many yummy things to try. Don't forget about the wine bar in Italy!! if someone in your party feels like a meal they can find something there while others drink wine & snack.

If later in the day you all decide to eat there are great places through the international gateway in the hotels where you can walk in, especially in the swan and dolphin.

Great way to enjoy Epcot.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I think for me it would depend on how often I visit Disney/Epcot. Some days at Epcot we're perfectly satisfied drinking and eating QS throughout the day (you're right, there's so many tasty options), so there's no need for a TS ADR's. Would I miss eating at my favorite TS restaurants, not really because I know that in a few months I could!

And I don't want to waste an ADR when I'm already quite full! It's no different than when doing Food & Wine, I don't make TS ADR's, because I'm noshing here and there continuously!

 

[NickyKnack]

Given the amazing CS up for graps in Epcot I would say you're not crazy at all. But be sure you want to deal with the little side things that come with CS, like fighting for a table and not having someone to wait on you.

We prefer to have our seats settled, and have someone bring us our food and refresh our drinks for us during the meal so that we can just rest and prepare for the second onslaught, or recuperate from a long day in the parks.

But if that's not important to you I would say going with just CS is a great option, in Epcot anyway.

I just keep seeing so many yummy CS options that would be much more fun to explore, especially with 5 adults.

But will I ultimately regret not eating at Teppan Edo? Or Coral Reef? Rose & Crown? La Hacienda de San Angel? UGH - why are there are so many good options at Epcot??

 

[sookie]

Your only crazy if you want a table service restaurant for a certain time and reason. Such as: I want the Rose and Crown during Illuminations. Or the Mexican restaurant.

IF you want that, you should book an ADR at the R&C that will help you try to achieve that goal! The R&C has a great patio seating area for fireworks; and while you can't guarantee patio seating before you arrive, you can request it when you arrive. If it is available, the CM's will try to put you out there and accommodate that request if they can (no guarantees).

But if you think you can just walk up during prime time for seating - when people are trying to get into place for Illuminations at R&C - good luck! Not going to happen unless you get major pixie dust from the universe.

Otherwise - for other restaurants and situations - you should be fine. Most places you can just walk up. It is the places with prime Illuminations viewing that are hard to get in the evening.

 

[JennyDrake]

Epcot is our favorite place to NOT book a TS meal.

When we are in Future World we love to eat at Sunshine Seasons.

DITTO!!!

My last trip in August I did not book any TS AT ALL. Love CS at Epcot! Going back in a week and again, no TS.

I adore the CS options at Epcot and frankly (not trying to start a new thread) TS options have all but out priced my budget for the food value. Notable exceptions: Jiko, Boma, Kona and Tusker House. Still, last time I ate at Boma (April?) it was just over $80 for two adults and no alcohol. I can eat a lot more CS for $80......

 

[aubriee]

DITTO!!!

My last trip in August I did not book any TS AT ALL. Love CS at Epcot! Going back in a week and again, no TS.

I adore the CS options at Epcot and frankly (not trying to start a new thread) TS options have all but out priced my budget for the food value. Notable exceptions: Jiko, Boma, Kona and Tusker House. Still, last time I ate at Boma (April?) it was just over $80 for two adults and no alcohol. I can eat a lot more CS for $80......

Same here. When we were going down there this past May, I went online like a good DISer at 0600 exactly 180 days out and made a TS ADR for every single day. Then when we got to thinking about how the last few visits we were not enjoying Disney dining like we used to, so I canceled every single ADR, except dinner at BoG. We did some counter service meals, we walked into several TS restaurants at the last minute (Biergarten, Mama Melrose, Liberty Tree Tavern, GF Cafe, Yak & Yeti and maybe a couple more) and then we ate alot of dinners offsite. I went back down there in Sept and purposely did not make a single ADR. I did walk into Brown Derby, Yak & Yeti, and Boma (in fact I ate at Boma twice--once as a walk up and once with friends who had made an ADR), but otherwise ate CS, cooked something quick and easy in my Bonnet Creek condo, or ate offsite. I loved the freedom of no ADRs and can't see us ever making any again. We are flying back down there next Friday (Dec 6th-16th) and don't have a single ADR. I love the freedom of winging it. Last May we ate offsite at Fogo de Chao on the night we were supposed to be eating at Ohana. As we were walking out, I asked my husband if he was sorry I had canceled Ohana for that night. He looked at me like I was crazy and told me to never book Ohana again, but Fogo de Chao was going to be a must do every trip and then asked me why it took me so long to find it. The night we were supposed to be eating at Cape May, we ate offsite at another seafood restaurant that had all you could eat lobster, as well as crab legs, mussels, clams, etc and it was cheaper.

 

[DiscoMinnieMouse]

We have started to just eat CS at Epcot after years of booking TS there, so like others said, it's up to you! Lately I prefer snacking around the world. Too much great food, so little time ( and room in the stomach)!