Tigger031266
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2004
- Messages
- 520
We have wavered back and forth on Disney Dinning and had trips with it and without it. Lately, we determined that we are much happier without Disney Dining because of several advantages:
- BIG BUFFET'S v NICE SIT DOWN RESTAURANTS - On Disney dinning, we tend to push for big buffets (Cape May, Chief Mickey's) where we feel we get our sit down money's worth. We tend to skip places like Kouzzina, captains, Olivias and ESPN for breakfast because it is NOT comparable to those big buffets. Kouzzina and ESPN just don't feel like I am getting the value for sit downs. But we love it when we eat there without Disney dining.
- SIT DOWN BREAKFAST - We tend to not be able to have any sit down Breakfast because its not worth using sit-downs for breakfast compared to dinner.
- CROWDED RESTAURANTS - The restaurants perceived to be the best values (again Chief Mickeys, Norway, Crystal Palace) are usually packed. Disney Dining tends to force more people to those restaurants. Places like Kouzzina, Flying Fish, California Grill (2 sit downs) seem to be easier to get into.
- TINY MEALS - We love to grab tiny meals based on appetizers (wings, cheese plates, pizza)... the little bars around Disney. All of which are not ok on the Dining plan. We feel guilty when going to them on the dining plan.
- MEALS IN ROOMS - DVC is all about big kitchens. It just seem like a good thing to use these kitchens. Disney dinning makes it tougher.
- OFF SITE - There are some great restaurants within 10 minutes of Disney. Very reasonable prices.
- RESERVATIONS TAKING UP VACATION TIME - Many times, we are forced into reservation times that either delay or rush our vacation times. It takes up valuable vacation time. Example: 9AM chief mickey reservations, can take up the whole morning. Any particular day, we maybe up earlier or later, going to breakfast when we like is more efficient and a better use of vacation time.
- OTHER DISCOUNT PLANS - There are a bunch of nice discount programs that DVCers can't take advantage of on the plan.
- OUR KIDS SOMETIMES EAT LIKE BIRDS - Nothing is more frustrating to showing up to an expensive sit-down and having our 9 year old saying "I am not hungry". or just plain eating like a bird.
We usually spend about the same amount of money either way but the added flexibility actually makes our vacations better. I also admit that there is a bit of a sting not being on the plan and paying cash for a restaurant like Cape May (about $150)
Does anyone else feel like this? I expect about 15 replies saying something like: "to each his own"....thats pretty obvious. I am interested in
- BIG BUFFET'S v NICE SIT DOWN RESTAURANTS - On Disney dinning, we tend to push for big buffets (Cape May, Chief Mickey's) where we feel we get our sit down money's worth. We tend to skip places like Kouzzina, captains, Olivias and ESPN for breakfast because it is NOT comparable to those big buffets. Kouzzina and ESPN just don't feel like I am getting the value for sit downs. But we love it when we eat there without Disney dining.
- SIT DOWN BREAKFAST - We tend to not be able to have any sit down Breakfast because its not worth using sit-downs for breakfast compared to dinner.
- CROWDED RESTAURANTS - The restaurants perceived to be the best values (again Chief Mickeys, Norway, Crystal Palace) are usually packed. Disney Dining tends to force more people to those restaurants. Places like Kouzzina, Flying Fish, California Grill (2 sit downs) seem to be easier to get into.
- TINY MEALS - We love to grab tiny meals based on appetizers (wings, cheese plates, pizza)... the little bars around Disney. All of which are not ok on the Dining plan. We feel guilty when going to them on the dining plan.
- MEALS IN ROOMS - DVC is all about big kitchens. It just seem like a good thing to use these kitchens. Disney dinning makes it tougher.
- OFF SITE - There are some great restaurants within 10 minutes of Disney. Very reasonable prices.
- RESERVATIONS TAKING UP VACATION TIME - Many times, we are forced into reservation times that either delay or rush our vacation times. It takes up valuable vacation time. Example: 9AM chief mickey reservations, can take up the whole morning. Any particular day, we maybe up earlier or later, going to breakfast when we like is more efficient and a better use of vacation time.
- OTHER DISCOUNT PLANS - There are a bunch of nice discount programs that DVCers can't take advantage of on the plan.
- OUR KIDS SOMETIMES EAT LIKE BIRDS - Nothing is more frustrating to showing up to an expensive sit-down and having our 9 year old saying "I am not hungry". or just plain eating like a bird.
We usually spend about the same amount of money either way but the added flexibility actually makes our vacations better. I also admit that there is a bit of a sting not being on the plan and paying cash for a restaurant like Cape May (about $150)
Does anyone else feel like this? I expect about 15 replies saying something like: "to each his own"....thats pretty obvious. I am interested in