Dining in Disney!

[sdoll]

We are going to Disney World next month and are staying at Bonnet Creek. So we will not have the dining plan that we have come to love. However, my DH still wants to go to all the table service restaurants. I think its a waste of time and money.
We usually travel with another family with older kids and we go at there pace or we take our kids back for naps and meet up with them. We love that and have never had a problem with it. But this trip is the first one where are kids are older and can set their own pace. We will probably still go back for a rest in the afternoon. But booking a table service diner kind of ruins the evening. my boys are 2 and 4 and I would hate to subject them to a sit down long meal every evening. Plus I don't think the food is as good as it once was.

What would you do if you weren't on the dining plan would you still do TS at disney or would you opt for counter service and off site dining?

 

[RMAMom]

I would book a few ADR's especially if this was important to my DH. I alway try to do what makes everyone happy and if some of us want ADR's and others don't then I would book a few to help everyone enjoy their vacation.

 

[DISNEYNV]

I would pick one or two of your favorite TS places and book them!!! Dining in Disney is part of the fun

 

[TheDizMom]

I would pick one or two of your favorite TS places and book them!!! Dining in Disney is part of the fun

I agree completely. You don't need to do it every night. We like to personally because we try to eat lighter during the day, and my kids love the character meals. Your kids are getting to the ages where they would probably enjoy those character meals and they really part of the fun and experience of the whole trip.

 

[dizneechic]

We're going for 8 days, off site in Feb. We are planning 5 TS meals, at least 3 of them will be breakfasts since that's when my kids load up on food at home and then graze as the day goes on. Plus they enjoy breakfast foods more then evening foods, so I'll get my bang for the buck at those meals.

Since traditionally hours are shorter in Feb. (except for our last few days when it's presidents week) we are planning on doing our TS meals after we have been at the park a few days. We figure let the excitement settle in, enjoy the parks before the crowds for the holiday week come, and then as we hit the point of exhaustion mid way we can slow it down with the TS meals and have a chance to meet characters and take in the atmosphere.

 

[katyjeka]

We stayed at Bonnet Creek 12/07. We really enjoy our stay and our 3 bdr unit was gorgeous. This was our 1st stay offsite and I was a little concerned. I bought disney giftcards to pay for our food and we enjoyed many table service meals. Early breakfasts and character meals are so much fun. Have a great trip.

 

[mjkacmom]

Make some ADR's - you can always cancel! Free dining = TS restaurants are going to be pretty full, so if you change your mind while you are there, might be slim pickings.

 

[EthansMom]

I agree that you should pick a few Table Service locations and book them. It's better to have something booked and not use it than to be out-of-luck when you want to have a meal.

Also, consider making some of those TS ADRs for late lunches instead of dinners. If you are heading back to your resort for the afternoon, then you could have a late lunch (say 2 p.m.) before leaving. Lunch prices are cheaper at TS locations than dinner.

 

[sdoll]

I did make ADR's knowing that I could always cancel but could never add. Our diners are all early. But with 2 boys 2 and 4 dining out is not always my idea of fun. I too enjoy eating out but not when the kids are antsy to do other things.

I was happy because for the 1st time I got Chef Mickey's for Breakfast and we did book for T-Rex lunch. Other than that its more "adult" dining. But you are right it is part of the disney experience. I just don't want my kids to be the one freaking out at dinner.

 

[Anonomom]

When I started planning our September trip, I was in the same boat as you -- considering offsite and no dining plan. If it were up to me, we'd have eaten breakfast and dinner at the hotel, and bought CS for lunch, with maybe one character meal. I do kind of think that if you're paying oop, then table service is more expensive and more of a time-suck than it's worth.

But for DH, a great portion of the fun of a vacation is eating out. Ultimately, that fact swayed our decision to stay onsite and take advantage of free dining. Yeah, it means spending some time at restaurants when we could be doing other things, but it's what makes DH happy. From that perspective, it's totally worth it to me.