ZekeKelso
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2006
- Messages
- 734
Just got back from a trip, and really enjoyed having the dining plan. For us, the benefit wasn't so much saving money. It was about having all the money/food decisions pre-made. DW and I tend to be frugal, so we are constantly thinking about costs when eating out. On this trip, once we decided to get the plan, that decision was made. We got dessert without being "offended" at paying $8 for a piece of cake; we picked restaurants without worrying about how much it would cost.
This was especially nice as we were touring with my brother and SIL who are, um, let's just say "not thrifty". As much as I love them, our different views can cause conflict when picking restaurants. The dining plan also avoided the whole check-splitting question. Loved it.
To address some of the questions that pop up here..
We never had problem finding food for 3 picky kids. When the middle one didn't like any of the child's menu CS choices, I'd get a double cheese burger and split it with him. With all the other food on the plan, half a meal was plenty.
I often recommend people pick restaurants based on what they want to eat, not on which restaurant "saves" them the most money. (Who cares how much money you *aren't* paying for a meal?) Well, I failed to take my own advice. The one ADR I regret was Coral Reef. Not sure why I didn't listen to the mixed reviews it gets. Part of the choice was knowing the kids would like the aquarium. But I think part of it was knowing what a great "bargain" it was for only one TS. Food was average; service was bad. With so many great options in EPCOT, it was a wasted opportunity.
Best counter service was Wolfgang Puck Express in DTD.
Best TS was California Grill. Other signature restaurants at Disney are very good restaurants. CG is a magical experience.
Servers knew we were on DDP, but gave fantastic service most places. As mentioned, service at Coral Reef was poor - but that was do to a crappy server who seemed to give all his tables equally crappy service.
Usually ate breakfast in our room, so snack credits were available for snacks. But with all the other food on the plan, we weren't really hungry for snacks. Credits piled up until the end of the trip, when we started using them as fast as we could - usually for drinks. Still have 10 left over to buy food for the ride out.
Disney CM's really, really want you to use the dessert portion of your TS and CS meals. The total amount of dessert would have been unbearable if we hadn't figured out most places will give you alternatives - we often got fruit cups at CS and fancy coffee drinks at TS. Just ask the CM's - they were always happy to help with the plan.
This was especially nice as we were touring with my brother and SIL who are, um, let's just say "not thrifty". As much as I love them, our different views can cause conflict when picking restaurants. The dining plan also avoided the whole check-splitting question. Loved it.
To address some of the questions that pop up here..
We never had problem finding food for 3 picky kids. When the middle one didn't like any of the child's menu CS choices, I'd get a double cheese burger and split it with him. With all the other food on the plan, half a meal was plenty.
I often recommend people pick restaurants based on what they want to eat, not on which restaurant "saves" them the most money. (Who cares how much money you *aren't* paying for a meal?) Well, I failed to take my own advice. The one ADR I regret was Coral Reef. Not sure why I didn't listen to the mixed reviews it gets. Part of the choice was knowing the kids would like the aquarium. But I think part of it was knowing what a great "bargain" it was for only one TS. Food was average; service was bad. With so many great options in EPCOT, it was a wasted opportunity.
Best counter service was Wolfgang Puck Express in DTD.
Best TS was California Grill. Other signature restaurants at Disney are very good restaurants. CG is a magical experience.
Servers knew we were on DDP, but gave fantastic service most places. As mentioned, service at Coral Reef was poor - but that was do to a crappy server who seemed to give all his tables equally crappy service.
Usually ate breakfast in our room, so snack credits were available for snacks. But with all the other food on the plan, we weren't really hungry for snacks. Credits piled up until the end of the trip, when we started using them as fast as we could - usually for drinks. Still have 10 left over to buy food for the ride out.
Disney CM's really, really want you to use the dessert portion of your TS and CS meals. The total amount of dessert would have been unbearable if we hadn't figured out most places will give you alternatives - we often got fruit cups at CS and fancy coffee drinks at TS. Just ask the CM's - they were always happy to help with the plan.
