Deluxe dining - advice wanted

[kristennn]

I am helping a friend plan her trip - We have both been to disney 5-6 times in the last ten years but she is going child free for the first time and bringing her boyfriend for the first time. She is doing deluxe dining - will be there for 5 nights - so 15 table service credits and is arriving early the first day and will either do a brunch or lunch the last day. - so spread over 4 full days and two half days. We are both pretty familiar with disney restaurants and have been on the dining plan a number of times but neither of us have ever done deluxe dining so have barely eaten at any 2 credit spots. Also they are staying at the poly - and this is the first time staying at a monorail resort. So - two adults - one eats whatever - one doesnt eat red meat. romantic places a plus.
Looking for advice for people who have done deluxe dining .. how have you arranged it ... how many 2 credit meals do you do? Where do you recommend?

 

[hereforthechurros]

We mostly did one credit spots on the DxDP but considering it’s a TON of food I would definitely work in a few two credit spots

Two credit: California Grill brunch or dinner is a must considering they’re staying at the Poly and want romantic. With no kids I’d also consider Jiko or Tiffin’s. We also love sitting outside at Boathouse and the menu there.

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill is a great one credit options as is Boma and Morimoto for lunch.

 

[hereforthechurros]

Sorry double post

 

[sharonabe]

She is doing deluxe dining - will be there for 5 nights - so 15 table service credits and is arriving early the first day and will either do a brunch or lunch the last day. - so spread over 4 full days and two half days.

Let's break it down a bit more. If it were me, I'd do 2 meals/day those first 4 days and then then brunch/lunch on the last day to total 9 meals. That means they can do signature meals every night, another 1 credit meal every day, and that last day can be 1 or 2 credits (Cali brunch is 2 credits or Cinderella's Royal Table if they have park tickets). If they do a 1 credit on the last day, they still have 2 credits each left for something. If they can work in another signature on that last day, then they only have 1 left.

 

[MarkS2112]

It’s just too many sit down meals and amount of food. In addition it eats up allot of time each day just in dining. You can try to make it work but it can become very cumbersome to make it work. Plus is it worth it to just eat at a signature to essentially use two credits? Some signatures are not worth the two credits so are you getting your moneys worth. Something less may be better in the end both cost wise and in ability to have a little more freedom.

 

[StevieB81]

We'd do a TS breakfast and a Signature for dinner. Sometimes a TS breakfast, a TS lunch, and a late dinner at somewhere like la Hacienda (or Rose and Crown or Spice Road Table) in EPCOT where you get a view of fireworks if you're seated at 8PM or later. The 2 snack credits are more than enough to hold you over between breakfast and dinner (or as breakfast if a sit down lunch is desired-gets you out of the heat)if you use them right. 3 full meals per day could make you ill by the end of the trip. It's a lot of food, because the deluxe plan comes with an appetizer AND dessert. And it's also a lot of food (rich sauces, rich desserts, etc) that most people aren't used to eating every day. I agree with Cali Grill as a must do. Also great fireworks viewing. Jiko is fantastic. Flying Fish on the Boardwalk lends itself to a really fun date night-you can hit the different bars, etc. and Jelly Rolls is really fun. Atlantic Dance Hall, alsr just walk around and experience all the Boardwalk has to offer. You can also do one of the dinner shows if desired, though it's tier 2 seating. How early is arrival the first day? If they'll need lunch, I'd do lunch and a late dinner (not signature). If not, a signature dinner. Then either breakfast and sig dinner or lunch and a late sig dinner 3 of the days. Regular breakfast/lunch and dinner one day, which leaves 2 credits left for Cali brunch on departure day. That's how I'd do it anyway

 

[Shellbells]

DH and I did this exact trip in January, except we stayed 3 nights on the plan. Arrival night was a room only at POP and we moved to BWI the next day on the plan.

He is a steak eater and I don't eat red meat. We also did the deluxe plan.

All but one day, we ate twice a day, once at a 2 credit restaurant and once at a 1 credit.
We ate at The Boathouse, Flying Fish and Yachtsman.

On one day we ate at two 1 credit meals so we would have 1 credit left for breakfast at Garden Grill on our departure day.

With the Deluxe plan you get appetizers so it's a ton of food and we only needed to eat twice a day.
It worked out great and we saved money on the plan.

Of the 3 signature meals, we loved Flying Fish and The Boathouse best. Flying Fish is a perfect date night place. We got drinks at the Abracadabar before dinner and walked along the boardwalk.

We also had drinks at the lounge before eating at the Yachtsman but it was overly crowded and loud. The food was also "meh" to us but I know many love it.

Before eating at The Boathouse we had drinks at Jock Lindsey's and walked around DS. We loved the food and had a lot of fun trying oysters for the first time.
It was an amazing adults only trip.

Staying at the Poly, I'd do Cali Grille, either dinner or brunch. We also want to try Narcoossee's which appeals to us both and has the added bonus of a fireworks view. They could ride the Monorail over. We also want to try Topolinos next time.

We love the signature restaurants so the deluxe plan works really well for us when we go without the kids.

 

[CraigInPA]

Like some of the other posters have said, trying to do 3 meals a day will consume a tremendous amount of time AND will leave you sick of eating. The portions are so large, and the menus so varied, that you'll go 2-3 days and then want to swear off food.

When my wife and I did DxDDP (after those first 3 days), we chose a 1 credit sit down lunch convenient to each park we were going to be in, and a 2 credit signature dining experience for a late dinner. For example, on AK day, we had Yak and Yeti for lunch and Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for dinner (although, if we did it today, we might do Tiffins in the park instead). For MK day, we did The Wave's breakfast brunch late in the morning, followed by California Grille right before fireworks. At Epcot, we did San Angel Inn for lunch, and Chef Paul or Yachtsman steak house (a 10 minute walk away from Epcot) for dinner. One night we set aside for Narcoossee's right before fireworks so my wife can get her whole Maine lobster and I can get the almond crusted cheesecake. With 2 snack credits per person per day, if you get hungry for a Mickey bar, you can grab one, and if you wake up hungry and have lunch scheduled 5 hours from then, you can get a muffin or other breakfast item from the quick service at the hotel or in the park.

 

[RamieGee]

Agree with most others that you will not want to do more than 2 meals a day. Try to allow 7-8 hours between meals so you’re ready to eat all that delicious food. You’ll have plenty of snack credits to fill the gaps.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

Table service lunch around 11:30 in whatever park you are at and a signature dinner is the only way it makes sense to me. It's a TON of food, and even two TS meals a day is going to take at least 3 hours. For the signatures I'd do California Grill brunch, Narcoossee's dinner, Flying Fish dinner, Boathouse dinner, and then either Monsieur Paul, Jiko or California Grill dinner. I'm not sure that any Disney restaurant is really romantic with all the kids running around.

 

[vinotinto]

I am helping a friend plan her trip - We have both been to disney 5-6 times in the last ten years but she is going child free for the first time and bringing her boyfriend for the first time. She is doing deluxe dining - will be there for 5 nights - so 15 table service credits and is arriving early the first day and will either do a brunch or lunch the last day. - so spread over 4 full days and two half days. We are both pretty familiar with disney restaurants and have been on the dining plan a number of times but neither of us have ever done deluxe dining so have barely eaten at any 2 credit spots. Also they are staying at the poly - and this is the first time staying at a monorail resort. So - two adults - one eats whatever - one doesnt eat red meat. romantic places a plus.
Looking for advice for people who have done deluxe dining .. how have you arranged it ... how many 2 credit meals do you do? Where do you recommend?

When we have done the DXDP, we’ve scheduled a Signature at least once per day. Last time we went with DXDP, it was an adults only 4 night trip. We went to Cali Grill dinner and brunch, Yachtsman, Tiffins, and Artist Point (back when it was a Signature and not a character meal). Throughout the years, we’ve eaten at all the Signatures and have always felt they are very worthwhile due to the food and atmosphere. Especially for an adult trip.

 

[cobright]

Looking for advice for people who have done deluxe dining .. how have you arranged it ... how many 2 credit meals do you do? Where do you recommend?

With my wife, we almost always go with the DxDP.
We plan our days around the signature dining and/or character dining. Typically we start the day using a snack credit or two for a pastry somewhere for breakfast. Then a table service for lunch and a signature for dinner. Sometimes we'll Table Service it for a late breakfast and snack if needed before a nice dinner.

Restaurants on our must-do list..

1. California Grill. Every time. Wife's favorite
2. Yachtsman. Most trips. My favorite.
3. Artist Point. Now a Snow White character dining experience. I haven't tried it since the change but I plan to.
4. Hollywood Brown Derby. The food is very good (just very good) but the cocktails are great and the decor and service are great.
5. Tiffins. The food is great, though portion size is unAmerican. The menu is quite adventurous, and the theming and decor is great. We eat hear most trips.

 

[a1tinkfans]

If they r foodies they ll love it. If you don’t choose 2 credit sig meals, all you ll do is wake up Eat, Walk, eat walk more n eat, then eat again n again UGH, way too much food, way too much time missing the sights, sounds and rides to basically vacation by way of eating. Unless... ur a foodie lol. Restaurants prev mentioned are good choices, I’d agree with other them.
happy chomping thru Disney.

 

[JDWdvc2014]

We’re DVC & a family of 5. For many years we always did the deluxe dining plan until we learned we could buy Tables In Wonderland. That being said - what we did was a sit down breakfast & a sit down dinner, quick service lunch. We’re foodies - so not really interested in eating quick service the majority of the time (I can cool better than that).

Places we like: California Grill dinner is amazing (our kids like this - tho I know there will be no kids on this trip), Flying Fish, Le Celier, Trails End Brunch (only served Fr-Sun, but served starting at 730a), Boma breakfast, Jiko, Narcoossee’s, The Boathouse, Homecomin’, Toppolino’s Terrace, Jaleo, Satuli Canteen, Via Napoli, Columbia Harbor House, The Mara, Sci-Fi Dine in Theatre, Capt. Cooks, Sanaa, Trattoria al Forna breakfast, Cape May Cafe breakfast, Be Our Guest breakfast, Cinderella’s Royal Table (although over the past couple years quality of food is wavering), Garden Grill breakfast

Places that are ok: Citricos, Grand Floridian Cafe, Gasparilla Cafe, Ohana for breakfast, Kona Cafe (good for breakfast, eh for lunch), The Plaza, Woody’s Lunchbox, Rose & Crown, Brown Derby, Frontera, Sebastian’s Bistro, 1900 Park Fare breakfast, Be Our Guest breakfast

Places we won’t go back until time has passed: The Wave (I know Pete loves this place, but we’ve only had bad experiences & we’ve eaten breakfast & dinner multiple times & it’s been bad all the time), Ohana dinner, Hollywood & Vine, any quick service really at HS (other than Woody’s) - maybe just have to be careful with quick services in general.

 

[A-Rose788]

I’ve done the deluxe once and found it to be too much food, and I eat a lot at Disney. Every TS Lunch/dinner you get an app, dinner and dessert. I did that twice a day for 7 days and could’ve been rolled off the plane back home with a bag of snacks in hand from left over credits.
All the restaurants listed previously are wonderful choices, but if they do decide to choose that plan just know that they will be eating a ton!! It works for some more so than others. We’ve tried it because we thought we would eat that much but found that the regular dining works best for us.
Happy planning!!

 

[hedberg1661]

Staying at a Deluxe Resort with Deluxe DP is a solid choice. My strategy with the DDP is to use one of the credits for breakfast. On the monorail loop you have two fantastic options - Kona Cafe or the Wave.

I then use snacks or even a little cash for smaller bites for lunch.

This allows you to experience Signature Dining for every Dinner. Best of the Monorail Loop - Cali Grill & Citricos. You can also use them at some other favorites around property - Yachtsman Steakhouse & Flying Fish. This also allows you to hit some of the favorite 1 TS credit locations to mix things up and therefore give you a lunch as well.

DDP is a ton of food. And realize you will be spending a lot of time dining.

 

[gharter]

Table service lunch around 11:30 in whatever park you are at and a signature dinner is the only way it makes sense to me. It's a TON of food, and even two TS meals a day is going to take at least 3 hours. For the signatures I'd do California Grill brunch, Narcoossee's dinner, Flying Fish dinner, Boathouse dinner, and then either Monsieur Paul, Jiko or California Grill dinner. I'm not sure that any Disney restaurant is really romantic with all the kids running around.

Would agree.
We have only done the dining plan once when we got it free and it was only 2 meals a day and it was way too much food for us. I can't imagine using 3 meals a day.

 

[Divaofdisney]

Our top signature dining places-

1.) California Grill
2.) Flying Fish
3.) Le Cellier
4.) Narcosee's