Anyone just order appetizers as their meal?

[disgirl]

Hi. I realize this may sound weird to some of you, but looking over the menu at Narcoossee, I could see myself and perhaps DH enjoying 2-3 of the appetizers each, more than ordering one of the entrees for dinner.

Has anyone ever done this or is this frowned upon, especially at a signature restaurant? It really is not to save money, in that in some cases ordering three appetizers would cost the same or more than some single entrees. The appetizers just seem more appealing to me. Just wondering what your thoughts on this are?
Thanks.

 

[pixarmom]

I very rarely order a full entree at WDW or elsewhere - the portion sizes are large and the appetizer menu is often more interesting to me. So I routinely order an appetizer instead of an entree at WDW restaurants (including signatures - Cali Grill, Brown Derby, Le Cellier, Jiko, bluezoo, etc.) and feel entirely comfortable. CMs at WDW don't seem to think twice about it - I just tell them I'll have [insert name of appetizer] as my entree. (Of course, this assumes no dining plan - we stopped using it a while ago for a number of reasons and this is one of them.) The rest of my family orders entrees (our two youngest sons order from the kids' menu) so I don't have personal experience with the whole table ordering the way I do, and it's been a while since I've been to Narcoossee, but I'd think it's no problem!

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[chris31997]

We've done it at other places besides WDW. I think most places don't care.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

We do this all the time! Just last week we ordered a few appetizers apiece at Napa Rose in Disneyland and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. We may end up doing the same most nights on our upcoming WDW trip.

 

[danceintherain]

I've only done it once. The Cobb Salad at the Brown Derby. I'm sure it happens all the time, and they don't care.

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW several times a year and for the first time in years I am not using the DDP for either my upcoming Sept nor my Nov/Dec trips, for this precise reason. Frequently, the appetizers look better than the entrees. I'd rather have a couple of appetizers, than an entree and dessert. I plan on ordering this way at several restaurants including Chefs de France, Brown Derby, Jikos and Flying Fish and if I can get into California Grill, will do the same thing there (flatbread and sushi=YUM!).

There was thread on here a few years ago about a couple that went to Bistro de Paris and ordered just a bunch of desserts. They had no problem and wrote a wonderful review of Bistro de Paris' desserts.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I often do that at places like Jikos, Citricos and California Grill and its never been an issue.

 

[winterman]

I frequently order a salad and an appetizer at the WDW TS restaurants. That is why we don't get the dining plan anymore (unless it is free). The last time I was at Narcoossee's I had the Shrimp & Crab Chowder (heavenly!!!) and the crab cake appetizer. That leaves enough room for some of the great desserts.

 

[bluejasmine]

I do it all the time when paying OOP! Dont worry about it, go get what you want and enjoy yourself!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

We did this at Kouzzina a couple of years ago and it wasn't frowned upon. We plan on doing this at HBD - each ordering an app and splitting the Cobb salad and dessert. Hopefully it won't be an issue there either!

 

[snykymom]

We do it all the time. Particularly at signatures, the server won't bat an eyelash.

 

[disgirl]

Thank you so much everyone. This is great to hear.

I just made a reservation for Narcoossee for DH 50th birthday celebration for DH, DS, and myself. I think I will have the appetizers. The mussels, crab cakes etc. sound great. I think DH will really enjoy that and we are trying a new restaurant for a change. Yeah!

 

[jalpert]

Isn't dining free in Sept?

I go to WDW several times a year and for the first time in years I am not using the DDP for either my upcoming Sept nor my Nov/Dec trips, for this precise reason. Frequently, the appetizers look better than the entrees. I'd rather have a couple of appetizers, than an entree and dessert. I plan on ordering this way at several restaurants including Chefs de France, Brown Derby, Jikos and Flying Fish and if I can get into California Grill, will do the same thing there (flatbread and sushi=YUM!).

There was thread on here a few years ago about a couple that went to Bistro de Paris and ordered just a bunch of desserts. They had no problem and wrote a wonderful review of Bistro de Paris' desserts.

 

[jdb in AZ]

When we were at the Coral Reef Restaurant in January I ordered an appetizer combo because it looked better than any of the entrees. I really enjoyed it.

 

[minnie mouse ears]

One of my kids very favorite meals at Disney was at T Rex at DTD. We ordered 4 appetizers, including the one for around $22 with Ribs, and then two of the huge smoking extinction desserts. The deserts were $15 each but we actually left some of it on the table and there were 7 of us. (Each one had something like 4 pieces of cake with ice cream). The total bill was about $130ish with the 18% tip. The waiter didn't say a word about it.

We all loved that meal and it felt very decadent and fun! I would really hate to see the calorie content that night though.

 

[BriarRosie]

Isn't dining free in Sept?

No. The "free dining" promotion adjusts the rate of the hotel so that you're paying full rack rate and tickets to get the dining plan "free". It's a package tied directly to a resort, and nobody can ask for it once the packages fill up and/or the promotion booking dates have passed.

There were "free dining" dates offered for September, but it's only for those people who have booked the package ahead of time.

It might cost less to book this way depending on the family size and ages of children, but for some people (adults who travel solo or couples without kids), people might save money booking different promotions.

 

[LilyWDW]

We all loved that meal and it felt very decadent and fun! I would really hate to see the calorie content that night though.

Say it with me "Calories don't count at Disney!" They are magical calories that disappear!

 

[aubriee]

Isn't dining free in Sept?

No. The "free dining" promotion adjusts the rate of the hotel so that you're paying full rack rate and tickets to get the dining plan "free". It's a package tied directly to a resort, and nobody can ask for it once the packages fill up and/or the promotion booking dates have passed.

There were "free dining" dates offered for September, but it's only for those people who have booked the package ahead of time.

It might cost less to book this way depending on the family size and ages of children, but for some people (adults who travel solo or couples without kids), people might save money booking different promotions.

Exactly! I could have switched my current reservation to get free dining when it first came out, but chose not to. To do so I would have had to give up my bounceback 35% off room discount, pay $99.00 for a stupid Memory book I don't want, and have to buy 2 day park tickets that as an AP I don't need or want. As an AP holder staying solo in a moderate resort, free dining would have cost me several hundred dollars more than I'm paying now, paying OOP for my meals. I prefer TS over CS restaurants, so am eating almost exclusively at TS restaurants for my upcoming Sept trip and will be able to eat exactly what I want, plus will be going to several restaurants that don't even accept the DDP (T Rex, Portobellos, Kimonos, House of Blues, and Bongos). I think I have only two CS meals the whole nine days I'm down there. I figured what I really wanted to eat (I refuse to skimp on vacation), but sometimes want just a couple of appetizers and dessert. Then I figured what I would eat on the DDP. I also figured what my tips would be, since eating almost exclusively at TS restaurants, my tips will be higher than if I had used the DDP. Paying OOP and eating mainly TS, my total was just a tad higher paying OOP than if I was on the DDP, but I like my choices better OOP. When you add in the fact that I'd lose my room discount, have to buy two day park tickets and that $99.00 Memory book, free dining would cost me alot more than paying for my meals, using the TIW card and I'd be stuck having to use 8 CS credits that I wouldn't even want and still having to pay for a couple of TS meals OOP. I also figured the price of the ressie using the AP discount that came out last week and paying OOP for my meals. My current bounceback deal also beat the AP discount by several hundred dollars.

For a solo at a moderate free dining is one of the worst discounts they offer. There's always a deal out that will beat it.

I just went and looked at my numbers comparing my current bounceback deal and paying for my meals OOP to the free dining offer. Rack rate for a standard room at CSR for my dates is $1509.75, but with my bounceback deal the room is only $981.37, so a $528.38 room discount I'd lose if I went with free dining. Then when you add in that $99.00 Memory book and a two day ticket that would cost me $178.92, that's $716.30 more free dining would cost me than my current deal (not even including two meals I'd have to pay OOP if I was on the DDP, since I always arrive early on my first day and leave late on my last day). Using the TIW card and eating exactly where and what I want, my meals without tips will run me about $474.23. So my current plan of paying OOP saves me $242.07 over free dining and I'll be eating mainly TS, instead of alot of CS that I really don't want anyway and I'll be able to eat at restaurants that don't even accept the DDP.

 

[minnie mouse ears]

Say it with me "Calories don't count at Disney!" They are magical calories that disappear!

 

[Pugmalion1]

Oh, we've done the all appetizer dinner plenty of times! Last time we ate at California Grill, we opted to take our reservation in the lounge and have a dinner of sushi, flat breads and appetizers. Oh, and drinks. Lots of drinks.

It turned out to be a very comfortable and easy way to get a window-side table for the fireworks. We got great food, weren't too full and the service wasn't lacking at all, despite not being seated in the actual dining room. It's probably not as good for a group, but if you're only a couple, I can't recommend the idea enough.

In any case, it's nice to sometimes eat a few small dishes instead of going the whole three course route. I say, if you're into the apps section more than any of the entrees, go for it.