I recently returned from my 1st trip to WDW staying at a Disney resort with my husband and my parents and I just thought I'd share my experiences with the Disney Dining Plan.
In my opinion, this deal can't be beat, especially for adults travelling with no children. There were lots of choices of participating restauraunts (both counter/quick service and table service), and there were very few restrictions.
All of my husband and I's lunches for quick service cost at least 25-30$ together, and supper at a table service locations were always at least 70-80$, but were more commonly up in the 100$ range. Having everything included in the price made it very easy, and I found by having the plan, we didn't restrict ourselves to the "cheaper" places to save money.
While there, we visited the following places for meals:
Counter/Quick service -
Flame Tree Barbecue (AK) - this was by far the best counter service we had for lunch. They offered roasted 1/2 chicken or rib rack dinners, with corn on the cob and baked beans. The portions were very large, and it tasted great. The deserts (key lime pie, chocolate cake or frozen lemonade) were very great as well.
Backlot Express (MGM) - good deal and great burgers, but was very very busy at lunch when we visited. Mostly offered burgers/hot dogs and fries, but also some lunch hot sandwiches and salad offerings.
The Mara (AK Lodge) - very good food - offers large helpings of burgers and fries, african stew, shrimp or fish platters, individual pizzas, reuben sandwiches, etc. Great deserts - my favorite was the cheesecake. Also we went a few times for breakfast - standard breakfast platters, Mickey waffles, etc. Went back here multiple times, since we were staying at the lodge and it was very convenient.
Table Service -
Hollywood & Vine (MGM) - we went here for supper with the Fantasmic dinner package, which was great, but I wasn't that impressed with the food. It was a buffet, with barbecue chicken, sirloin tips, potatoes, and other standard fare. It was ok, but nothing special. The deserts were very good however.
Boma (AK Lodge) - This was one of my absolute favorite restauraunts during my stay. We went for the supper buffet twice, and the breakfast buffet once. The buffet for supper is huge - very high quality chicken, sirloin tip, prime rib, potatoes, wonderful soups and salads (the fruit salad was my favorite) and there were tons of great deserts to choose from. Very well worth it. The breakfast buffet was great as well - made to order omlettes, lots of breakfast meats, carved ham and pork roast, fresh fruit, as well as a few deserts. Make sure to hit this one on your visit - but make sure you have priority seating arrangements!
Le Cellier (Epcot) - this restauraunt in the Canada pavillion was so great, we went twice. Wonderful selection of gourmet appetizers, as well as a great lunch and supper menu. Desert menu to die for. We went twice here as well.
Hopfully this information helps some people out there!
In my opinion, this deal can't be beat, especially for adults travelling with no children. There were lots of choices of participating restauraunts (both counter/quick service and table service), and there were very few restrictions.
All of my husband and I's lunches for quick service cost at least 25-30$ together, and supper at a table service locations were always at least 70-80$, but were more commonly up in the 100$ range. Having everything included in the price made it very easy, and I found by having the plan, we didn't restrict ourselves to the "cheaper" places to save money.
While there, we visited the following places for meals:
Counter/Quick service -
Flame Tree Barbecue (AK) - this was by far the best counter service we had for lunch. They offered roasted 1/2 chicken or rib rack dinners, with corn on the cob and baked beans. The portions were very large, and it tasted great. The deserts (key lime pie, chocolate cake or frozen lemonade) were very great as well.
Backlot Express (MGM) - good deal and great burgers, but was very very busy at lunch when we visited. Mostly offered burgers/hot dogs and fries, but also some lunch hot sandwiches and salad offerings.
The Mara (AK Lodge) - very good food - offers large helpings of burgers and fries, african stew, shrimp or fish platters, individual pizzas, reuben sandwiches, etc. Great deserts - my favorite was the cheesecake. Also we went a few times for breakfast - standard breakfast platters, Mickey waffles, etc. Went back here multiple times, since we were staying at the lodge and it was very convenient.
Table Service -
Hollywood & Vine (MGM) - we went here for supper with the Fantasmic dinner package, which was great, but I wasn't that impressed with the food. It was a buffet, with barbecue chicken, sirloin tips, potatoes, and other standard fare. It was ok, but nothing special. The deserts were very good however.
Boma (AK Lodge) - This was one of my absolute favorite restauraunts during my stay. We went for the supper buffet twice, and the breakfast buffet once. The buffet for supper is huge - very high quality chicken, sirloin tip, prime rib, potatoes, wonderful soups and salads (the fruit salad was my favorite) and there were tons of great deserts to choose from. Very well worth it. The breakfast buffet was great as well - made to order omlettes, lots of breakfast meats, carved ham and pork roast, fresh fruit, as well as a few deserts. Make sure to hit this one on your visit - but make sure you have priority seating arrangements!
Le Cellier (Epcot) - this restauraunt in the Canada pavillion was so great, we went twice. Wonderful selection of gourmet appetizers, as well as a great lunch and supper menu. Desert menu to die for. We went twice here as well.
Hopfully this information helps some people out there!
