Counter Service vs Table Service and impact on park touring

[YEKCIM]

We just got back from 7 (count 'em!) days at WDW. In order to save $$ and also to make the most of our time in the parks, we planned only two TS meals and the rest were CS. The CS meals ran from $22 to $25 per meal for two adult meals and beverages, and one child's meal that included beverage. That is about a third of what the typical TS meal would cost us. Of even greater import, to us, was the freedom to eat when and where we wanted to, instead of the "Oh, goodness, it's 4:00 and we've got a dinner reservation at Le Cellier in tweny minutes, and we're clear on the other side of the park from Canada" syndrome. All the CS meals we had were delicious, portions plentiful, and service excellent. Among our favorites: the tuna sandwiches at Columbia Harbor House (MK) and the BBQ chicken salad at Flame Tree BBQ (AK).

Our two TS meals were an early Chef Mickey breakfast, to celebrate our daughter's 8th birthday (her choice) and Le Cellier (Mrs. YEKICM's choice) and both were superb, as usual, but pricey.

Next time around, we will probably do CS, exclusively.

Just wanted to share our experience and observations.

~YEKCIM

 

[MAGGIED]

Thank you for that - I am going in a few weeks with my son and his friend (13 year olds) and my mom who is on Weight Watchers. None of them want to do TS. I am glad you had such a great experience without the fancier meals.....

 

[mickeysaver]

We started our WDW trips with mostly CS meals with one or two TS meals during a 6 day stay. We decided during the last couple of trips to work in more TS. While it was more expensive and we certainly enjoyed the majority of the experiences, we found that our stress level was way too high, even with an 8 day stay.

For that reason, we have only 2 TS meals planned for our upcoming trip. We have a breakfast at Kona and a dinner at Shutters. Both meals are planned during the "down time" that we have planned during our 3 day trip. I know that some of you are shaking your heads at the thought of "down time" during a 3 day trip, but it's a necessity....stress is the enemy. The evening of the second day, when we return from AK, we will dine at Shutters and the following morning, we will dine at Kona before going shopping at DTD followed by MNSSHP that night. Neither meal will soak up valuable park time or cause us to feel any amount of stress in making sure that we are going to be able to attend the meal ontime.

Less TS = Less Stress! There is enough variety in the CS offerings that you have no excuse for only eating burgers. Sign me up for CS! Maggie

 

[Disney Doll]

I think these days it is much more "do-able" than in years past. The CS choices have improved greatly over the past 5-7 years, IMHO.

Flame Tree and Columbia Harbor House are 2 of my favorites.

I also like the little fish & chips stand in England.

 

[Tara]

My sister, my son (almost 5) and I are going in August and we're planning the same sort of trip. We've been so much and it seems with every trip we do more and more TS, and the last trip when we were on free dining it felt like all we did was eat! So this trip we're planning on taking advantage of CS as much as possible. Saves money, saves time. I know Disney restaurants are part of the experience...and I've experienced them before and I will do so again, just not this time.

 

[bctripp]

When we stayed at the GF, it really was a last minute trip, so I didn't plan much. We did what we wanted to, when we wanted to, with one TS (Garden Grill)

 

[minijeanie]

So Funny... I feel the opposite. I always ate CS for the last 8 yrs or so...and now I will only do TS. I love being waited on and quite honestly find price differential minimal.
Case in point...went to LTT for lunch in MK one summer day..Ressie for 12:30..got in right away..totaly bill was $45 plus tip.....take that same scenario at Pico Bills which averages around $8 to $10 per meal which inculdes drink.. But I have to get my own condiments, find a clean table and eat in an non-air conditioned place.. So why would I choose the latter

So worth it for me. I don't want to get up and get the ketchup, mustard, drinks, etc any more. For the little money extra, I enjoy being served.

Well, different strokes for different folks..

Hope there are more CS people here than TS.....means I can always get a ressie when I want.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

OH boy... I am so at home on this thread! We have been to WDW 7 times -mostly 4-5 day trips. We always eat exclusively CS meals. We have had a total of 5 TS meals in all our years of visiting. We do love the freedom and the savings. If we every get a trip at the time free dining is going on it will be a whole new world for us. We do find a suitable variety of CS to choose from

 

[LeesyUD]

I like to do a mix of both CS and TS. I feel that doing all TS meals would take up too much time but doing all CS I feel would not be as relaxing and I would feel like I am constanly eating the same thing all week. I usually do 1 TS/day and 1 CS a day. I like to take the time and sit down and be waited on, usually for dinner, which makes me feel more relaxed and not like I am on the go so much. Though I do agree the CS meals are much better now than in the past, I can't see myself eating all CS meals for an entire week. Especially now with Disney's new dining plan, I find it even more worth it to take the time for some sit down meals.

 

[mamacatnv]

I too agreee with this. The majority of our CS meals were tastier, fresher and overall better than the TS meals to say nothing of so much faster and significantly less expensive. IMO they were also less stressful, ie we were almost late to our preferred seating for CP in Dec. because the service at Garden Grill was so slow, it took us over 2 hours for dinner and we didn't have time to eat dessert then had to jog all the way to the pavillion.

This coming up trip I have ADR's for breakfast in MK, cause breakfast is harder to come by and my DH's dinner at LTT for his birthday.

 

[kathmzh]

We also go with more counter service meals. I find that when we eat TS every day/more than once a day, it becomes more of a chore to wait to sit down, wait to order, wait for the check, etc. We find that the good meals really are more memorable this way. One caveat, though, is when it's a very busy time, I will make ADRs for a few more meals. I've seen people walking around unable to get a French fry on a busy night in Epcot.

 

[Kath2003]

I've been to WDW/US/IOA/Sea World many a time (see sig!) and during that time I have had a grand total of one in-park TS meal - Crystal Palace.

In a couple of weeks I'm off to WDW with a friend for 8 days. We have booked 3 TS's in WDW and the Dine with Shamu package in Sea World.

Our TS's are:
- Crystal Palace - I'm a big Pooh fan, and I loved it so much last time, I wanted to go back.
- Mama Melrose - booked only because of the Fantasmic! dinner package, I hate waiting in line.
- 'Ohana - breakfast here, a surprise for my friend.

TBH though, we won't be eating much CS. All of this is because we can get much better value for money food outside of the parks. Disney makes most of its money by the fact that you're a "captive audience". Luckily this "captive audience" only really plans on eating once a day

I have very very few pennies for this trip. $30 a day is my food budget - all meals, all snacks, all drinks. As much as I think the CS in WDW provides good portions etc. I would rather spend my few pennies on those limited TS's, and eat outside of the World the rest of the time.

 

[newholidayx2]

I plan alot of TS lunches. They make us slow down and take a break. I try to get 1/2pm. TS lunch costs less than TS dinner and allows us try a lot of the different restaurants.

 

[YEKCIM]

I took my daughter, last summer, on a one day MK "adventure" and booked a Crystal Palace breakfast, more as part of our touring strategy, than anything else. We were staying in the Clearwater area, so it was only a little more than a couple hours' drive. The strategy part of the meal was that, since CP accepted reservations as early as 8:05 AM we could get into the park, eat, and be at the rope by 9 AM, park opening time. I figure we had at least a thirty to forty minute advantage over being in the mosh pit at the bag check and turnstiles at 9 AM.

~YEKCIM

 

[JennyW]

For 8 days in the parks, we'll have three TS meals and the rest CS or our own food. I didn't want to get too tied down to a schedule, and I wanted to keep to our budget.

jenny

 

[blestmom]

We do all TS. It's me and 5 kids, and it's cheaper for us (some of the kids are light eaters) and they don't like to sit too long. One advantage...we go off-season so the CS places are practically empty. Me and the older kids will eat leisurely, and the younger two can move around some and not disturb anyone. It's very relaxing for us, and I, too, like not having to be somewhere at a certain time.

 

[bjscheel]

If it weren't for character meals, we would be all CS. But we have 4 character meals planned over 5 days in December...would like to cut one or two due to cost but can't choose one to part with! LTT, CM, PSB, and 1900 are booked for my princesses. If it comes down to not having the money, LTT will probably get the ax.

 

[Karnak]

On my solo trips, like the one planned during the holiday season (see dates below), I include meals in my personal daily plans. That is to say, I plan the location of the meals so as not to be backtracking all over the park. Each day includes lunch at a counter service, and dinner at a table service spot.

The only exception is the Animal Kingdom because that park has no good table service and it closes early in the evening. This makes a great time to see the Circus and have dinner at the House of Blues.

Works for me.

 

[daisyduck123]

So Funny... I feel the opposite.
I love being waited on and quite honestly find price differential minimal.
So worth it for me. I don't want to get up and get the ketchup, mustard, drinks, etc any more. For the little money extra, I enjoy being served.
Hope there are more CS people here than TS.....means I can always get a ressie when I want.

Same here!! We do a TS character meal (except we also go to WCC) for dinner every night. Love it!! We feel a TS meal is a way to wind down...more relaxing than CS.

 

[ms.ojo]

interesting thread. We typically do a couple of TS and many more CS. BUT...I would never do MK w/out CPal at lunch. To know I have a place to sit, in the A/C and regroup....priceless. Plus the salmon is really good and the kids love the chars!

We also enjoy H&V FDPkg when at MGM for convenience at Fantasmic. The food is ok.

This fall, we're doing the free dining. It was fun working in different TS dinners and a couple of char b'fasts/lunches. I'm looking forward to the experience.