Dining Advice Please

[michelleiada]

I can officially book ADRs on Monday, 11/17, and haven't really got a plan yet. We will be at Beach Club Villas from 5/15-5/24/09 and are doing the dining plan. Some of the restaurants I am considering are; La Celier, Whispering Canon Cafe, Kona Cafe, Sci Fi Diner, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Cape May Cafe, Mama Melrose's. Not sure which to do breakfast and which to do dinner?

We have already eaten at Chef Mickey's, 50's Prime Time Cafe, Crystal Palace, Tony's Town Square, ESPN Club, Spoodles, Garden Grill, and have done the Spirit of Aloha, and Hoop De Doo several times. We have also eaten at most of the Swan and Dolphin's options, however I understand the dining plan is not offered at this resort.

Should I book all dinners? Should I wait and hope to call ahead that morning for a seating? I hate the thought of having to plan every meal now. What are the musts?

Any ideas or advice?

 

[septbaby]

I suggest planning your days and based on those decide you want a TS breakfast, lunch or dinner. Here is what we did back in Aug/Sep 2007:

Day 1 Dinner at Narcoossee's on arrival day, no parks
Day 2 Early start at MK (8am) TS Lunch at Coral Reef around 1-2pm; Pirate and Princess Party at night so a LONG day (napped after lunch)
Day 3 Late TS Breakfast at Chef Mickey's (after 11am)
Day 4 TS Dinner at Boma (resort CS breakfast, ice cream treats at AK)
Day 5 TS Dinner with Fantasmic pkg at Hollywood and Vine

We paid OOP for the Adults at Chef Mickey's and the our child at Narcoossee's. He only wanted pasta so it was $6!!!

We needed that lunch on Day 2 (food and AC) as we had a really lite bfast and busy morning in MK. Chef Mickey's was great and we needed to sleep in after such a long Day 2. We actually had a TS breakfast planned for Day 4, but were too full to even consider going. Good thing as we didn't even finish our shared CS meal and really needed the room for Boma dinner, yummy.

You say you want Mama Melrose. If you intend to see Fantasmic its a no brainer to book the pkg at MM.

That is how one family, one very happy family, did things at WDW.

 

[jandj524]

Hi...

We are DVC members and travel to WDW quite often. We usually find the most "cost effective" use of the Dining Plan is for dinners.

The dining plan is very popular and can make getting reservations for certain restaurants very difficult (Character Meals or Le Cellier for example--if you want to eat there, definitely make your reservation early, it is also just one table service so it is a great value)

Happy planning, have a great trip!

 

[forgop]

I can officially book ADRs on Monday, 11/17, and haven't really got a plan yet. We will be at Beach Club Villas from 5/15-5/24/09 and are doing the dining plan.

No you can't. You won't be able to make ADR's until Dec 22nd after the new upgrade.

 

[michelleiada]

No you can't. You won't be able to make ADR's until Dec 22nd after the new upgrade.

WHAT???? I didn't realize this!

 

[Tricia1972]

You'll want to watch this thread, it has the latest information about the Dining Reservation System upgrade that is happening. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1977770

You will be able to make CRT, Chef Mickey and Victoria & Albert's reservations on your usual 180 day date. Anything else will be subject to the dining plan upgrade.

 

[michelleiada]

You'll want to watch this thread, it has the latest information about the Dining Reservation System upgrade that is happening. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1977770

You will be able to make CRT, Chef Mickey and Victoria & Albert's reservations on your usual 180 day date. Anything else will be subject to the dining plan upgrade.

Thanks for the thread and the info.