dining options

[jenniferripp]

ok so when i got my tax return i thought we were rich and planned this disney vacation. 6 months later my husband has been out of work but by some miracle we are still going. but all the meal reservations we have now have to be limited. here's my question. we've decided to keep two maybe three what do you think. my kids are 6yo daughter, 5yo son

monday--cape may then epcot lunch at coral reef and dinner in japan (dragon?) to see candlelight procession or get rid of coral reef lunch and do lunch in germany to see procession.

tuesday pool then crt and mvmcp

wednesday hs dinner at h&v

thursday breakfast at tusker house animal kingdom and then hoop dee doo

friday mk lunch at tavern dinner at whisphering canyons

any help, comments, suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

thanks!!!!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

No matter what you do, your kids will have a wonderful time--- you'll be in Disney! Our first trip we did just 2 sit downs. Chef Mickey and Crystal Palace. At the time she was our only and we were celebrating her 3rd birthday. She loved the meals (by far the best was Chef Mickey's) but just being there was awesome!!!
Do what you can, and there is always next time...
As for reviews. We always do Chef Mickey's twice, (one dinner and one breakfast) as it is our favorite.
We also always do CRT, it is a very special experience and we enjoy the breakfast very much. We love WCC, but I'd lean more towards buffets and character meals (fill you up and not have to wait in line for the beloved characters). We also really enjoy Coral Reef if you are looking for one good and entertaining meal without it being a character meal.
Hope this helps, and enjoy. Good luck on the job search too.

 

[RobinFabulous]

No help or suggestions here, just ((hugs)))

Times are TOUGH everywhere.

Enjoy your vacation and remember that Disney on a budget is better than not at all

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

No help or suggestions here, just ((hugs)))

Times are TOUGH everywhere.

Enjoy your vacation and remember that Disney on a budget is better than not at all

So true...

 

[EthansMom]

Have you looked at the Dining Plan? We were recently at WDW with Free Dining and I couldn't believe how much the meals would've cost if we had had to pay for them. It would've been worth it just to pay for the Dining Plan instead of paying out of pocket for the meals. I definitely think that's one thing to look at before you change your reservations.

Here are my recommendations, though, using your current plan:

Hoop De Doo is great for food AND entertainment. It takes a bit to get over there... you take a boat from outside MK. And it's very expensive if you are paying out of pocket.... a steal using 2 Table Service credits on the dining plan, though.

Coral Reef is nice, but I would not pay the price for their lunch. They are an option for the Candlelight Processional, though.

I don't see either of them on your list, but our two favorite character meals are Crystal Palace and Chef Mickeys. I think I'd recommend that you see if you could get into Chef Mickeys... good food and lots of characters.

My preference, when paying out of pocket, is to have breakfast at the resort food court (usually $20-25 for the four of us); then have lunch at a counter service restaurant at the park; and have a Table Service dinner. However, Table Service locations tend to be less expensive for lunch or breakfast, so keep that in mind.

Here are our fave pics for "cheap eats":

At MK, we like Columbia House (fish & chips place). At Epcot, we enjoy the Mexican food stand in Mexico (San Angel?) for food, the Patisserie in France for a snack, and the beer in Germany. At AK, I've heard the BBQ place (can't recall the name, but it has BBQ in the name) is quite good. At DTD, we like Earl of Sandwich and have been known to stop at McDonalds for some old standbys.

Some other hints: We usually save money by ordering tap water when there's a charge for drinks. Also, portions are large at WDW... often one plate could be shared between two people, especially if you want to leave room for a snack later (even the snacks are large... we've been known to share one Micky rice krispy treat between the four of us). At counter service locations, adults can order a children's meal, which often includes an entree, side and a drink for around $4.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Nie0214]

Have you looked at the Dining Plan? We were recently at WDW with Free Dining and I couldn't believe how much the meals would've cost if we had had to pay for them. It would've been worth it just to pay for the Dining Plan instead of paying out of pocket for the meals. I definitely think that's one thing to look at before you change your reservations.

I felt the opposite, I could have definitely ate less than $39 a day in food, but that's because when we went for free dining it was over 90 degrees every day and I just didn't want to eat that much. I also would rarely order dessert if I were paying Out of Pocket.

Since she has two kids under ten though, it might be worth it to get the dining plan.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We do the dining plan as well (free this trip, yeah!!!) DH loves it, I do too except I am very cheap and sometimes would rather eat a kids meal or share a meal. He hates when I do that, so all the more reason why he loves the plan.
But, if you can't swing it, I get that. We have gone on a tight budget and still had a great trip. (Our first trip was $1000 total!) Many meals are big enough to share and that never bothers me. We also ask for a large water and that too doesn't bother me. Yes, the dining plan is great if you can do it, but if you can't you will still have fun!!!