Best Dining Option w/ no DDP

[katclicks]

We have decided that we are going to plan a quick trip to WDW this summer after we take our planned vacation in Hilton Head. My husband realized how close we will be and we decided it was silly not to drive the 5 hours and just go for it. We had a 9 day family vacation there earlier this year and are planning another big vacation in 2017. We are using hotel points, so we won't be using the DDP. What are the best dining choices for paying OOP? We plan on just one table service and the rest counter. TIA!

 

[Dis703]

It kind of depends on where you'll be and what you are looking for as there are lots of great options. In general with buffets we choose lunch over dinner as it's usually a little cheaper with little difference in options. We do that at Crystal Palace and Biergarten in particular.

For breakfast, a cheaper buffet character meal is Cape May Café. Kona Café is also a delicious more affordable breakfast option.

In MK Liberty Tree Tavern has a great lunch and The Plaza is a good TS option for lunch or dinner.

In HS Sci Fi would probably be my choice.

Rose and Crown at Epcot

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

Stay away from buffets and ESPECIALLY character meals. A la carte is cheaper, especially if you are ordering with saving money in mind! Plus you can split meals. I usually end up splitting/sharing with my youngest.

I like to have a CS breakfast, TS lunch, CS dinner (without dessert) and usually an evening snack.

 

[katclicks]

I think we will stay away from character meals because our March trip was very character meal heavy. I have already told my girls there will be meal sharing I forgot about Beaches and Cream, I might add that to the idea list. We will be staying at the Hilton in Disney Springs. We will have a car so I am thinking we will make a small grocery run before we leave Hilton Head and grab some breakfast and snack options. Everyone seems to do ok with a luna/cliff bar for breakfast when we are at disney.

 

[lustergirl]

Breakfast: Kona Cafe
Lunch: Tusker House
Dkinner: Sanaa

 

[Miffy]

We do a lot of CS. Our favorites:
(1) MK: Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland and Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square. There are often food carts outside CHH, selling things like baked potatoes, too.
(2) Epcot: Sunshine Seasons in the Land building--about a zillion choices. Sort of the food court of Epcot. And Tangierine Cafe in Morocco. Great food, wonderful atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating.
(3) DAK: All of the CS restaurants in DAK are really pretty good. Just depends on what you'd like to eat. Also, there are numerous food carts all over the place.
(4) DHS: Not really our favorite park for CS meals. Rosie's is okay, not great. The Commissary is ordinary. Better off going to Mama Melrose's and splitting a (gigantic) bowl of spaghetti. You can order just a plain spaghetti marinara there (often not on the menu, but they'll make it). Not heinously expensive and quite filling.

Have fun on your trip! We never have the DP and we've also never spent the amount of money per day that the DP would cost, so we come out ahead. And we don't have to keep watch on what dining credits we've got and how to use them!

 

[elaine amj]

We like to make meals out of apps - it's great for meal sharing and very cost-effective.

And Earl of Sandwich is my must do As many times as I can.

Going without DDP - it's a good time to try stuff that isn't available/good value on the Dining Plan. Like the Plaza restaurant, Sci Fi diner, waffle sandwiches at Sleepy Hollow.

 

[shortnsassy730]

Via Napoli is great for sharing and lower cost than most other table service.

 

[MARDUN]

We have decided that we are going to plan a quick trip to WDW this summer after we take our planned vacation in Hilton Head. My husband realized how close we will be and we decided it was silly not to drive the 5 hours and just go for it. We had a 9 day family vacation there earlier this year and are planning another big vacation in 2017. We are using hotel points, so we won't be using the DDP. What are the best dining choices for paying OOP? We plan on just one table service and the rest counter. TIA!

Sanaa Hands down best value and views of the animals