dining plan and stress

[Planner999]

I hope this doesn't show as a duplicate - I tried to post before but got an error and it still hasn't shown up for me so I'll try again.

I had thought that the best part of the dining plan was being able to say "sure, you can have dessert" (which we wouldn't do if paying extra for it) and "yes, you can have ___ instead of water to drink"...but now I'm stressing over how to share meals to stretch them for an extra day plus trying to get some CS for breakfast.

 

[Anewman]

We are BIG eaters in my family, but there was too much food for us during our 7 night stay. We cancelled Ohana the last night and just ate small(chicken finger/wings) at ESPN club. And b4 our flight we were not hungry but still had a counter service we split 2 CS credits at Contemp food court and let the other 2 go. We also had 12 snacks left, after everyone eating ice cream, so we got 12 rice crispy mickeys to go at the main street bakery.

All I am saying is there really is not that big of a need to stretch them out, you will be full. It maybe less stressfull to just go with it and if you run out of credits you pay cash for a meal or two.

 

[jann1033]

i really don't know that most average eaters could polish off an appe entree and dessert at most wdw places, although it does seem at wdw the portion size goes down as the price goes up. I f you seem to need more you can always get another appe, salad, something cheaper to sublimet. we almost always split and hubby is abig eater, i am average eater. you can go to the pictures of food thread on top here and look at the food, see if you think you will be satisfied with it or not. also some places( like Bd )have add ons...like shrimp added with a steak... we were allowed to add on with a voucher for no more cost so i would guess you could with the dining plan

 

[dward1961]

Are you able to take dessert with you to go?

 

[WDWBetsy]

Are you able to take dessert with you to go?

Yes, unless you're at a buffet/all-you-care-to-eat. That's what we're planning on doing.

 

[marthachick]

...but now I'm stressing over how to share meals to stretch them for an extra day plus trying to get some CS for breakfast.

Wish we had this problem. Hope they decide to extend the stress to us going after Oct. 4. Have fun with it & eat a free
for all of us who come too late....

 

[shoots]

We found that there was a lot of food, but if you hit the character buffets etc. you'll use your credits. Then you can split the CS credits if you want eg. 2 breakfasts between 4 with 2 big "breakfast platters" plus "dessert" for the other 2 consisting of a bagel, huge cinnamon bun or whatever.

Later you can use the other 2 CS to split a lunch - 2 wraps with fries etc. That way you're not stuffed, by trying to eat 2 huge meals a day. We couldn't eat that much in August at one time due to the heat and the amount of water we had to drink to stay hydrated.

Don't sweat the food plan. You'll use snacks here and there - always pick up a popsicle or something at the hotel or water for the parks etc.
You'll love not thinking about getting out your wallet or the high price of ice cream or water!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Is the only ice cream included from the carts or are there other places too?

 

[cocodog]

We stretched ours by sharing cs for breakfasts and lunches. With snacks and huge ts meals at night, it was more than enough food!

 

[Amyality]

You will figure out what works best for your family after the first few days. You are not allowed to stress, its Disney and I forbid you!

This is my thinking on the subject...

I figure, we are getting a great deal and I refuse to stress over anything on vacation. If we don't use all the counter service vouchers, I don't care, if we waste a desert, big deal. If we pay for a meal or two, so be it. Last year we spent $2000 on food at WDW, mind you we were there for 10 days. I am so, there with the free dining. We figure it will save us a minimum of $600. We will still be shelling out for drinks and for food when we go to the Food and Wine Festival. That is how we will stretch our vouchers, I suppose.

Have a great trip!

 

[mas6010]

We have free dining for our sept 17-21 trip, what does that include ??? I know there is one counter, one sit down ( i think ) and one snack. Are drinks and desert included with this. Also should I plan where to eat ahead of time. ????

 

[Amyality]

OMG! You DO need to stress over where to eat and now! You need to make some PS or you will have a hard time getting in to table dine anywhere. The best places will be so busy at dinnertime, they will be turning away all walk-ins. If you find there are not PS available, just choose an alternative and keep calling in on a daily basis to try and score the seating you really want.

Regarding the plan. You get 1 counter service daily (entree, side and drink), one snack (something off the carts) and one table service (app, entree, desert, drink). You can do a search on the official site, there is a printable brochure explaining everything.

Have a great trip!

 

[mas6010]

OK, got all that but can you use the free dining on the PS ??? Where is a good place for 2 boys 7 and 4 ??? Thanks

 

[iwannabeminnie]

We have free dining for our sept 17-21 trip, what does that include ??? I know there is one counter, one sit down ( i think ) and one snack. Are drinks and desert included with this. Also should I plan where to eat ahead of time. ????

Um, you seriously need to get on the phone NOW and start makings some reservations or your free dining is going to be completely down the tubes!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

We stretched ours by sharing cs for breakfasts and lunches. With snacks and huge ts meals at night, it was more than enough food!

i know this is OT, but everytime i read your screen name i think of my little cocodog, the one in my avatar. His full name it coconut, but I call him cocodog most of the time!

Now back to the dining plan thread!

 

[Amyality]

OK, got all that but can you use the free dining on the PS ??? Where is a good place for 2 boys 7 and 4 ??? Thanks

You can make PS (priority seating) arrangements on the plan. Anywhere but the really fancy places, that are not even on the dining plan anyway, will be great. My boys are 4 and 7 too! We are going to the following table service restaurants, most of which we have dined at before and have all been great for a family:
At MGM>
Momma Melrose
Sci-Fi Cafe
At EPCOT>
LeCellier
Chef De France
San Angel Inn
Nine Dragons
Living Seas
At MK>
Crystal Palace
At Hotels>
Chef Mickeys
1900 Park Fare

My suggestions for places that may not yet be fully booked (these are places that are good but, are not the most popular restaurants) I'm most knowledgeable with EPCPT so my suggestions may be biased. They also have the most choices in one place.
EPCOT>
Beirgarten (they have a really good buffet, cute entertainment and great beer)
San Angel (good food and GREAT atmosphere, my kids LOVE this place)
Nine Dragons (this place gets a bad rap but, we had the Bejing Duck there last year and really enjoyed our lunch there)
The Coral Reef (expensive but,the view is FABULOUS
Wilderness Lodge>
Hoopdeedoo Revue (my kids dressed as cowboys last year and had fun, cute but cheezy show, good food)
Polynesian>
Ohoannas or the Aloha show or whatever its called.

Good luck.

 

[mas6010]

Oh how right you were, just tried to make my PS and got in some places but I had to change most. See what you think of this.
18 Mgm Sci - Fi lunch at 12:45
19 MK Crystal Palace Diner at 6:35
20 Chef Mickey's Late breakfastat 11:10

Does this sound ok ????

 

[StephMK]

Yes, I've been stressing but as of today happily got it all figured out w/some alternate plans too just in case. Hubby is laughing cause he came down & saw the post about - Yes, Stress & you need to call now! LOL He's heard me debating and obsessively comparing the merits of days/schedules/places, etc.

But it is true, if you don't make ADRs now, there's a good chance you won't get some choices. I've had to come up w/some other places based on unavailability. Hard to plan for meals fitting in w/show schedules, etc. But I just feel like all this planning will be so worth when we get there, know how much time we have, know how to get to where we need to go next, etc. I can't wait!!!

 

[pennyplanner]

Mas6010,

Check out www.allearsnet.com and click on dining. You will find most menus for parks and resorts. Some are current, others are not BUT you will get a general idea of what is available.

I like to have a plan of where and approximately when to eat. It just makes things go more smoothly for my family. It is tough to be hungry and not be able to get a seat for dinner!

Enjoy your trip!

--penny

 

[Amyality]

Oh how right you were, just tried to make my PS and got in some places but I had to change most. See what you think of this.
18 Mgm Sci - Fi lunch at 12:45
19 MK Crystal Palace Diner at 6:35
20 Chef Mickey's Late breakfastat 11:10

Does this sound ok ????

I think you chose well. The kids are going to LOVE Chef Mickey's! You will all get a kick out of Sci-Fi. I have no opinion on Crystal Palace as we will be eating lunch there for the first time on our last day of the trip. Don't you just love the DIS?!?!?!? You just officially had your butt saved! Hee, hee, hee...Seriously, I'm so glad you got some Ps that you're happy with. Remember to keep trying, even pick up the phone and call the day you want seating. We have gotten seating by calling the same day, many times though never during free dining. Lunch PS seems to be a bit easier, especially at EPCOT.