Deluxe dining in the off season?

[pdxJolene]

I've been searching and reading and searching and reading about the deluxe dining plan all evening I found TONS of great information, except specially info about dxdp in the off season. Our trip is planned for the second week in Dec (11th-18th) its just DBF and I, both our first trips. I originally planned on using the regular plan so we wouldn't be taking too much time out of our day eating. I'm beginning to rethink that based on the past few years park hours. I didn't realize more than likely the parks will be closing before 9! Since were from the west coast, and night people anyway my plan is to have a late breakfast/early lunch in the parks and then a late signature dinner after they close. We typically eat late anyway, and I figure the 4 snacks per day will keep us going in between.

For those who travel when park hours are limited with deluxe dining what is your plan typically? I also plan on saving 2-4 credits for CS in case we can't get an early enough lunch ADR or are hungry in between our meals. I can't see it being too much food this way, we won't finish everything at every meal but oh well.

I'd love to hear those expert opinions! :

 

[Cafeen]

I did DxDDP last Sept and doing it again this year. It worked out great and I did a similar manner as you. Typically I did (and am doing) 11:30-12pm lunches, followed by 7-8pm dinners. (I'm not a breakfast fan, though I do have a couple). Worked out great. I was hungry by the time dinner rolled around, and I didn't feel rushed or stuck to a schedule at all (except when we got in the FP line for Soarin' 45 minutes before ADR time, and ended up powerwalking to Italy to make it 5 minutes late...)

This year, I'm basically repeating that pattern, though I do have a couple more earlier dinners on party nights (I plan to go to all 3 that occur while I'm there)