Best bang for your REAL buck (not DDP) TS meals

[cassandrap83]

We are now staying off site, and not doing FD. What Sit-Down TS meals provide the best food for the $$?

We do not typically eat appetizers or desserts.

 

[taylorcpa]

I wanna know too!

 

[Took]

Boma. I think the combination of creative cuisine, plentiful choices, and interesting atmosphere make this place one of the best on property. The restaurant in Italy has some great entrees, too (although it's a bit pricey).

I'm specifically excluding some other restaurants from mention as you say you don't want appetizers or desserts. Artist's Point and Jiko both offer wonderful options on both.

If you want less expensive choices, I can't offer any that I qualify as really offering "bang for the buck." We love Biergarten, but that's because we enjoy beer and polka music a lot. For those who don't, the food at Biergarten may not seem worth the money (although it's pretty good).

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We love Kona and Jiko, although can be pricey.

For a less expensive meal we love the Plaza in MK.

 

[Quin]

We are not on any of the Dining Plans either; if these boards are truely representative we must be the only ones in the park not doing so!

To me one of the reasons for not doing DP is that we DO eat some TS meals but nowhere near 1 per day; we do a lot of random snacking through the parks. The TS meals we do pay for are places we know from past visits that we particularly enjoy. For us, those include O'Hana, Boma, Biergarten (lunch), 1900 Park Fare (dinner and/or breakfast), & WCC. Your mileage may vary.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

Hi Quin, no worries, you're not alone. I emotionally don't like the pressure of "maximizing" a Dining Plan and constantly worrying about what I should get at the QS. Many times, my DW or DD and I will split things at a QS that couldn't be done with the DDP. No Figero Fries as a snack on DDP, for example, really bummed me out.

Anyways, I echo the statement on Boma being the #1 best bang for the buck. Also like Tusker House for breakfast, Sci-Fi for lunch/dinner, France isn't bad either for lunch with their Prix Fix menu. IMHO, MK has so many great QS that we rarely eat anywhere other than Crystal Palace for TS.

 

[bethie]

NO DDP here either, too pricey, we could not eat all that and don't. I do fork over a few buck for several character breakfasts, this year 1900 Park Fare and one other. We also splurge for the meat on a skewer meal at O'hana's. We love it.

 

[java]

" I emotionally don't like the pressure " said by Carnotaur Dad

I feel the same way!

A tip for saving money- Have LUNCH instead of dinner. Usually a very similar menu- for a lower price.

Rose and Crown strikes me as one of the cheaper restaurants.
Kona is great.
Another tip avoid BUFFETS- huge rip off imho. Plus with the "summer surcharge" an even bigger rip off.
Share meals.

Personally Counter services are not too shaby either- The one in the Japanese pavillion is great. Fish and chips at the chip cart- great!

 

[OKW Lover]

Trails End

Great buffet at Fort Wilderness.

 

[Wild4Walt]

I 2nd Trail's End - wonderful!

P.S. - No DDP for me either - I do one TS a day and still can't make it work to my advantage ( unless I ever get lucky to go when it's free! )

 

[honeymo78]

Here's another vote for trail's end. The food is just like what is served at the Hoop-Dee-Doo and you can't beat the pricing.

We also no longer do the DDP now that we are AP holders. We buy the TIW card. While we eat an average of 2 TS meals a day, DH doesn't often get an appetizer and I will share a dessert most of the time. Plus TIW gets us a discount on alcohol which really helps.

 

[AirGoofy]

We are now staying off site, and not doing FD. What Sit-Down TS meals provide the best food for the $$?

We do not typically eat appetizers or desserts.

When you say sit-down TS, are you saying no buffets? Then, best-bang non-buffet meals would be Ohana, Whispering Canyon, Garden Grill, and Akershus where the meals are served family style, so it's still all you can eat but you don't have to get out of your chair. Hoop-de-do Review is an all you can eat family style serving, but the price is higher because it includes a dinner show and beer (and maybe wine) to drink.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

Plaza has delicious food for low prices, it's great for lunch.

 

[DisneyZane]

I second Boma. It's a buffet, fairly reasonably priced, and has less common options. A win all around if you ask me.

 

[Simba's Mom]

A tip for saving money- Have LUNCH instead of dinner. Usually a very similar menu- for a lower price.

That's what I do and I find that the resturants are much quieter at lunchtime also. And then at dinnertime the CS places are less hectic because most everyone is at the TS places paying more than they would have at lunchtime. I love Coral Reef at lunchtime, same food as dinner at lower prices. LTT, GFC, R&C, and Chefs de France are all pretty reasonable at lunchtime also.

 

[Disney25th]

IMHO I can't stand Boma!!!!
I do like Biergarten, Plaza, Tony's /All get a great portion.

We do like the DDP or DXDP.reason is simple ......I have diabetes & it's hard to eat somewhat healthy at QS or CS....

 

[notfrostyjosh]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2487953

this thread outlines the cost of the theme park restaurants but also has a section for "best value out of pocket"

 

[JerseyJanice]

On or off the dining plan, I think Cosmic Ray's chicken and rib combo is a great buy. Yes, I know it's not TS, but it's a hearty meal for the money.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2487953

this thread outlines the cost of the theme park restaurants but also has a section for "best value out of pocket"

great link! thx!

 

[gigi1313]

for me, the best bang for one's (real) buck are the restaurants that include something above just food... akershus comes to mind as you not only get a good meal (esp b'fast), at a fair price, but you get princesses (if that appeals to you) as well as a professional photo package... CRT also gives you the photo package included w/the price of your meal, but the cost is higher than Akershus...

otherwise, as long as you are enjoying what you're eating when you're eating it, then it's all money well spent, imo...