Best dining strategy with no dining plan?

[lindseybp]

Usually we stay at a resort and get the dining plan. This year we are staying at the swan/dolphin and I don't think we can get a dining plan. Looking for thoughts on the best way to approach meals without having a dining plan? Thanks in advance!

 

[Wakey]

Lots more quick serve- we enjoy wondering into Epcot to Japan etc. Suddenly you realise it's more relaxed, not having to tear around to make ADRs

 

[sponica]

I've never had a dining plan...I still make some reservations (especially when traveling with people who need to eat at a certain time). When it was just the two of us, we'd play the same day ADR roulette. He refuses to eat at counter service unless we're desperate...

 

[olecow]

Depends on your party's personal preferences as far as budget and sit down meals. My family always makes ADRs even without the dining plan, but we don't make one for each day of our trip. We like a sit down meal at the end of a long touring day so we schedule later dinners, but we leave some days open to just wing it with quick service or a snack.

 

[SteveH]

@lindseybp You are correct you can not get the dining plan at S/D. We've never used it and really don't see the need for us. Last trip at Swan we ate breakfast at Picabu every day, they do give a AAA discount but be aware they tack on a 13% service charge too. Lunch we almost always do quick service as we like to leave that schedule open. For dinners we balance between some QS and TS locations, and split some meals or order appetizers.

 

[chalee94]

Enjoy the flexibility. Eat what you want, without feeling obligated to order the most expensive item on the menu. Eat just an appetizer if you aren't that hungry. Eat more counter service if that is your thing.

I would still make ADRs if you want table service. That's no different until you get to the end and have to pay.

And if you like sushi, give Kimonos a try...

 

[mkla2015]

We never get the dining plan- instead we buy gift cards in advance to pay for our meals. We usually go for 6-8 days at a time and schedule maybe 4 TS and the rest we do quick service or eat in our room (dvc).

It really just depends on how your family eats- if you want a TS meal everyday then schedule it. We prefer to not be held down to a daily TS meal and enjoy the freedom of ordering whatever we want without thinking about getting the most value out of the dining plan.

 

[tguz]

We have only ever had the qs plan so we have only made and adr at Be Our Guest and The Grand Floridian Cafe. We like the ability to have lunch at 11:30 or 2:30...whatever we feel like. Same for the evening meal. It will be different in 2021 as we are going to get the standard dining plan so we will have a TS meal everyday. It's a special occasion trip so we are upgrading a few things.

 

[Harambe]

We never get the dining plan- instead we buy gift cards in advance to pay for our meals. We usually go for 6-8 days at a time and schedule maybe 4 TS and the rest we do quick service or eat in our room (dvc).

It really just depends on how your family eats- if you want a TS meal everyday then schedule it. We prefer to not be held down to a daily TS meal and enjoy the freedom of ordering whatever we want without thinking about getting the most value out of the dining plan.

I could have written this! I will say with the improvement of the QS places all around the world, especially Disney Springs, you will be fine eating far less sit-down meals. Love the flexibility! Food here, dessert there, dessert again - LOL! I also make one or two ADRs but they are usually for a package (like Candlelight Procession) or at the best restaurant at our resort. Other than that, no plans.

 

[MarkinNM]

During our trip 2 weeks ago I saw plenty of "available" restaurants with signs outside of them and CM's walking about drumming up people. I was able to adjust one of our CG grill times 2 times on a Sat night. My suggestion to you is make sure you download the MDE app and check times in the AM to see what is avail and go for it, I think you should be fine!

 

[chris benton]

Usually we stay at a resort and get the dining plan. This year we are staying at the swan/dolphin and I don't think we can get a dining plan. Looking for thoughts on the best way to approach meals without having a dining plan? Thanks in advance!

You don't need a dining plan to eat anywhere you would like to.
The best way to approach meals might be the exact same way, if it's what you would like to do. If you have not stayed at an Epcot area resort, you have the option for meals at any of those resorts if you'd like. They are all super close to each other and connected by walking paths.

The dining plan only allows you to average out the costs of your meals, and locks you into paying for your meals.

You can eat any meals whenever you'd like, wherever you'd like, without the plan.

Swan/Dolphin also have some excellent restaurants on site as well. I'm a big fan of Kimonos, and also the sandwiches at Fuel.

So, I'd say the best way to approach meals without a dining plan is to just go where you'd like. Make adr's if you need to. Swolphin has the rolling 180 for adr's, but there are people that get the 180+10 or whatever it is. You can eat the same exact way if you had a dining plan if you'd care to.

 

[vinotinto]

Usually we stay at a resort and get the dining plan. This year we are staying at the swan/dolphin and I don't think we can get a dining plan. Looking for thoughts on the best way to approach meals without having a dining plan? Thanks in advance!

Best way to approach meals without dining plan:

• Order what you want. Get a bunch of appetizers for the table and a bottle of wine, if you want. For example, go to Sanaa and get the bread service and a South African wine.
• Eat and drink at lounges. Great atmosphere, good, reasonable food, no ADRs and they don't take the DDP. Some awesome options include: HBD lounge, Nomad's Lounge, Cava del Tequila, Tutto Gusto, Trader Sam's, Ale & Compass Lounge, River Roost.
• Eat at the signature restaurants, which are considered a "bad" use of the DDP and have the best food on property. For example, get sushi at Cali Grill, get one of the awesome fish or seafood entrees at Flying Fish, get an interesting meal at Tiffins, or order the boar appetizer at Jiko, all good.
• Eat at the S&D. bluezoo, kimonos, all have a following here and don't take DDP.
• Eat at places you made an ADR because you really want to eat there. Don't make an ADR simply because you have to use a "credit."
• Get the snacks that you really want, not the ones on the plan. For example, get that awesome Nutella and fresh fruit waffle, the best thing at Sleepy Hollow, which is not a snack credit.

 

[leebee]

I guess I don't understand the question. Dining plan or no dining plan, choose the restaurants you want on the days you want them. You aren't limited by where you can go or what you can eat. Make ADRs (if you want TS- we like to do one TS a day, usually dinner) for the places you like, then go have the meal, order what you want, pay at the end. I will say (and this is always a big debate), we usually save several hundred dollars when NOT eating on a dining plan. When we have a DP, DD and I usually share a QS breakfast, share a QS lunch and each have our own TS dinner. When not on the DP, I bring breakfast food from home, though, as we are not big breakfast eaters. Cheese, crackers, yogurt, protein shakes, coffee and we are good to go! When NOT on a DP, we usually share a QS lunch and then do a TS for dinner. The nice thing about no DP is I can order an appetizer for dinner if I want, instead of an entree, and it's cheaper. If I order an app on the DP I have to pay for it, even if I don't order an entree. We find not having a DP lets us eat more of the foods we'd prefer, but as far as "an approach" just make the plans you normally would.

 

[Bjkandma]

During our trip 2 weeks ago I saw plenty of "available" restaurants with signs outside of them and CM's walking about drumming up people. I was able to adjust one of our CG grill times 2 times on a Sat night. My suggestion to you is make sure you download the MDE app and check times in the AM to see what is avail and go for it, I think you should be fine!

was that either right before Hurricane Dorian, during or after?. A lot of people postponed or cancelled reservations, making table service restaurants "very" available.

 

[MarkinNM]

was that either right before Hurricane Dorian, during or after?. A lot of people postponed or cancelled reservations, making table service restaurants "very" available.

This was the week before that mess, Dorian was in the news but it was predicted land hit was changed to Wed the next week, all the people I talked too about Dorian were already there and even chatted to a couple from the UK who came anyway as they told us it was just too much trouble to change plans. The first day we were there at CG the sign was out and about stating available seats and that Sat night the place was about 75% full, it had plenty of avail tables. I think it had to do more with the time of year, late Aug FLA is steaming hot...hot...hot and add to that, the silly over the board price increases, this was SWGE opening week and I can tell you Dorian did not scare anyone away that week!......

 

[Imamom2]

We actually consider the DDP every trip and then decide to skip it. We go during F&W so that does change things somewhat but we really have eaten everywhere we we wanted using ADRs and checking for same-day openings. It's easier to do with just 2 people. I see families every year with armloads of snacks they are taking home because they did not use all their credits. One family in Norway was filling ziploc bags with caramel snacks at 10:00pm and asking the cast members if they would last til Christmas! You will have great food options at the Swan/Dolphin, too. Enjoy!

 

[wishuponastar1984]

Best way to approach meals without dining plan:

• Order what you want. Get a bunch of appetizers for the table and a bottle of wine, if you want. For example, go to Sanaa and get the bread service and a South African wine.
• Eat and drink at lounges. Great atmosphere, good, reasonable food, no ADRs and they don't take the DDP. Some awesome options include: HBD lounge, Nomad's Lounge, Cava del Tequila, Tutto Gusto, Trader Sam's, Ale & Compass Lounge, River Roost.
• Eat at the signature restaurants, which are considered a "bad" use of the DDP and have the best food on property. For example, get sushi at Cali Grill, get one of the awesome fish or seafood entrees at Flying Fish, get an interesting meal at Tiffins, or order the boar appetizer at Jiko, all good.
• Eat at the S&D. bluezoo, kimonos, all have a following here and don't take DDP.
• Eat at places you made an ADR because you really want to eat there. Don't make an ADR simply because you have to use a "credit."
• Get the snacks that you really want, not the ones on the plan. For example, get that awesome Nutella and fresh fruit waffle, the best thing at Sleepy Hollow, which is not a snack credit.

I 100% agree with this! The DDP just doesn't fit our lifestyle and the style you quote is much more our thing. Not everytime do I want the set meals.

 

[loves to dive]

We haven't used the dining plan in years and would never go back to using it. It is two adults - me and my son - and we just go with the flow. I have to have something for breakfast, some days him not so much. I'm an early riser so after I've had my morning walk and yoga, I get him up and we tend to go to the resort QS and either share an adult meal if he's not hungry or he'll get an adult meal and I'll get a kid's meal. For lunch we just do whatever we are in the mood for. If it's during F&W or F&G, we tend to graze at the booths, if not, we just wing it. Sometimes we go to a lounge and get an appetizer or two and have a few refreshing adult beverages, sometimes we stop at QS. If we eat QS 90% of the time I'm eating a kid's meal because I just don't eat huge meals. For supper we usually book an ADR while walking around. We always have PHS so we can hop over to another park or grab something at any of the resorts. Or, we just go to a lounge and eat there. We really just play it by ear and eat whenever and whatever we want.