Dining plan strategies for a newbie

[Torontogal]

We are DVC members who are trying out the dining plan for our upcoming April trip.

Never did a dining plan before and looking for strategies and tips for your best table service meal recommendations. We are 3 adults. Any suggestions on your favourite table service meals? We are not into steak or burgers and try and eat somewhat healthy (no pork or beef). Thanks.

 

[Mle8308]

Start looking at menus and see what appeals to you. Remember that tips are not included, and you tip based on the full amount of the check (drinks included). Be aware of the few restaurants that are 2 credits, there are a few. You literally have hundreds of options out there!

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

Are you QS plan or Deluxe? If DDP, you definitely want to be drinking alcohol at your two meals, especially if you're not big protein eaters. Go for whatever salmon/bass/tuna is on the menu. Use snack credits at Epcot for festival hut foods. You can hoard them all for your Epcot day(s).

I know folks don't think Cinderella's Royal Table is a good use of points since it eats 2pp, but you get a great wine menu to pick from ($$) and the tip is included in the DDP. I have done it twice and enjoyed my meal each time. Bonus if you can go during fireworks for a very unique experience seeing them shot off from INSIDE the castle. Book the time an hour to 1:15 before fireworks and leave enough time to get around to the back of the castle through the parade throngs.

Wailulu is excellent and expensive enough for lunch to justify the burger (excellent) or poke bowls with a cocktail.

Topolinos breakfast, I believe, is only 1 credit, and it's an awesome meal/value.

Bring your resort mug with you everywhere. Since it's all adults, if you bar hop around BW/BC/YC, you can refill it at any resort on the loop with soda/juice/coffee. You can't fill them in the parks, but it's nice to have one if you're window shopping or looking at resorts/decorations.

Boma is DELICIOUS and is a good TS usage, IMO.

 

[bakerworld]

We have found that looking for a table for 4 - regardless of the actual group number - has been more successful in finding availability.

 

[Harmacist]

With no children you're going to probably need an alcoholic beverage with each meal to get close to breaking even cost wise. Usually character dining is among the best cost value for the DDP, but without kids I'm not sure you will want to do that.

First off I'd highly recommend a Fantamic dining package. Look at the restaurants and see if any catch you eye menu wise. Hollywood and Vine is the best value proposition, but it's a character buffet. Brown Derby is 2 credits so not great value. I'd probably go for 50's primetime. You get tickets to preferred Fantasmic seating so you wont have to wait for good seat.

For character dining for adults. I'd go Topolinos breakfast at Riviera. Good food and god value for the DP. Another recommendations would be Askershus breakfast. I also like Crystal Palace at MK, we book a late breakfast so we get a mix of breakfast and lunch items.

For decent meals, non character dining. Toledo at Coronado is highly recommended. I'd recommend Boma dinner at AKL as well. In parks at MK I like Skippers canteen, EPCOT has a lot of options so look at what style cuisine you like. HS table service is kind of lacking which is why I said do a Fantasmic package. AK really only has Tusker House and Yak and Yeti (Tiffins is 2 credits). I'd go to Boma at AKL over those, but if want to stay in park Y&Y has a large menu.

Overall the value of a snack credit is about $6-7. The QS meals are $26-27 and the TS meals $65ish. So these are the prices to aim for..

For QS the Polite Pig at Springs is probably the best value meal on property. The QS meals can easily reach and exceed the $27 price value if you get a mixed drink with the meal.