Dining Plan vs. Flying by the Seat of Your Pants Dining

[MIGrandma]

I've been reading some dining reviews and enjoying them, but I just can't imagine making reservations for meals 6-months before my trip. DH and I have been to WDW a few times and the only table service restaurants we've eaten at were Akershush and the 50's Prime Time Cafe. Both were in one trip, in January, and we had no reservations. Just walked up and had no wait for a table. We enjoyed both experiences but I don't think we would enjoy a table service meal every day. We are more spur-of-the-moment, and just grab something quick from a counter service place, or a kiosk while we're walking around, or the food court at the resort.

I don't think we would like knowing we have to be at a certain restaurant by a certain time. For us, the food at Disney isn't one of the main reasons we go to Disney. Food for us is an afterthought.

It seems like most people love the dining plan, but are there others like us who just really don't think they'd enjoy it?

 

[2Tiggies]

You may actually be better off with the QSDP. You still need to do the math on the QSDP vs what you think you may eat and drink in a typical day, but by the sounds of it the regular DDP may force you to eat more than you would and cause a lot of frustration.

 

[texasgirl73]

I am the exact opposite, I love planning my dining reservations- it's half the fun....to just grab food while I get hungry would deprive me of months of obsessing, wheres the fun in that?
But I think there are more people like you than me but this is the dining forum and I'd say that you are going to find more people who plan over here just because of the nature of the forum.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I am the exact opposite, I love planning my dining reservations- it's half the fun....to just grab food while I get hungry would deprive me of months of obsessing, wheres the fun in that?
But I think there are more people like you than me but this is the dining forum and I'd say that you are going to find more people who plan over here just because of the nature of the forum.

gotta agree 100%. It also brings structure to the day. But if you're not on the plan, and you want to eat TS during any busy part of the year or free dining, you'll still need to make ADRs. You don't have to make them 6 months in advance, but if you don't, a few places become nearly impossible to get. I booked mine for the end of Sept about a month ago and got everything I wanted, but I didn't go for any of the hard gets. No ADRs can mean wandering from TS to TS being told no availability.

 

[jdisnut]

I am the exact opposite, I love planning my dining reservations- it's half the fun.

I don't go to Disney exclusively for the food, but the restaurants are definitely an important reason why I continue to return after all these years. There are so many creative and unusual dining experience that only Disney offers. I recognize that many people don't share this view, but one of the greatest aspects of Disney is how accessible and diverse it is. There truly is something for everybody.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

There are lots of people that don't enjoy the Regular Dining Plan for those exact reasons. We have always used it previously because with kids, a TS break was really important for us. That being said, we are going to try the QS plan for the first time in Aug. Our kids are older now and much prefer to be in the parks rather than sitting in a TS place everyday. BUT...we are still planning on a few TS and I made ADR's for them months ago. We are going during Free Dining which means that getting into any TS without them will be next to impossible. Depending on when you are going and if there are any places (and specific times) that you have your heart set on, you really HAVE to make ADR's.

 

[LoriABil]

I am Miss Anti-Planner, and Anti-structure. DH would say I' m so type B, I'm C. So when he insisted on the DDP the first trip, I resisted. But I have to say there was something strangely relaxing about having at least one certainty for the day, as opposed to the endless, "I don't know, where do you want to eat?" " Wherever you want to eat is fine..."

In fact, this year I made all of the ADRs!

So try something different - you never know. Besides, you can always cancel a ressie, but it's hard to make one once you're there!

 

[Vility]

I like to build in my reservations so I can plan to have some down time for the day.
It allows the kids to unwind a bit, before taking on the park again.

 

[ratlenhum]

We like the TS ADRs. It guarantees us a seat at a certain time. With a kid who doesn't do well with waiting or crowds, it helps us to get in and get a table quickly. It's down time and rest, and sitting in the AC cools us off. We leave refreshed and ready to go for more fun!

 

[BillSears]

First of all remember that the DDP and making reservations 6 months out are totally different things. You can have the DDP and not make ADRs or you can make ADRs and not have the DDP.

Personally it's a thrill to me to wake up early on my reservations day and get all of the meals I planned. I've even got 2 LeCellier reservations for my trip next week. I've never done lunch there so a lunch and a dinner.

I've been to WDW often enough that I know what most of the restaurants are like. So for me it's pick a park for the day by using a crowd calculator, then pick a restaurant that I like for dinner. I try to do a mix of old favorites, places I haven't been to in a while and a few new places.

Overall 6 months works fine for me. But I do miss those days before the DDP when sit down meals weren't as popular. In the old days we could walk up to most places and get a good meal without worrying about it a head of time.

 

[jenjen212]

At first, I thought that too. But, I think it also depends on the time of year that you are going. If it is a slow season, then you can wing it. If it is during a busy season, then definitely make the reservations. If you guys end up not wanting to go to them, just call and cancel it. (That is, as long as it is not for a TS that requires a 48 hr notification, like Akershus or Cinderella's Royal Table.)

It only took 1 trip for us to be there, and not be able to get any table anywhere by jsut walking up and asking if there was availability. They have changed up the menu of some of the Counter Service places now to offer better/healthier food with more variety. But, at that time, they all had the same thing: chicken fingers, pizza, hamburger. We grew very tired of that quickly.

Since then, we always plan out at least one place a day. We like to plan around which park has extra magic hours. Depending which park we are at for that day, we pick a restaurant in the park or close by. If we are at MK, we might eat at Crystal Palace - or leave for a break close by at Ohana's or Chef Mickey's.

Either way, make the most of it, and enjoy!

 

[christinec68]

I am not a fan of the dining plans nor of making ADRs 6 months in advance but the DPs have made it necessary for everyone planning to dine in Disney TS restaurants to make ADRs.

We don't go to Disney for the food but we do enjoy a sit down restaurant every day. Our trips are rarely, if ever, planned more then 3 months in advance. Since we are not really interested in the most popular/hard to get in places, we never had a problem getting ADRs for restaurants at or pretty close to the time we want to eat (even 2-3 weeks out). We also eat off site quite a bit so that gives us the TS we enjoy with the freedom to plan it at the last minute.

 

[JoShan1719]

We eat so light that even the QSDP would be a waste of money for us. We have two ADR's planned for our September trip: 50's PTC and T-Rex, four days apart. Breakfast is included with our rate, and during the day we'll share about two turkey legs and DH will eat ten ice creams lol j/k it's only two. But I've done the math and it just isn't worth it. We also don't really need ADRs because of the season we go, but I just like to have them so I have something to do between trips

 

[iheartdolewhips]

The general rule that I've made from my experiences and calculations is that if you want to eat a table service at least half of the days you are there then you're better off with the dining plan, even if you end up using a table service credit or two for a quick service meal. For us, the dining plan is the best option, but we like eating a table service every day. If you're only looking to eat 2 in a week trip, then you're better off not getting the dining plan.

As some one else mentioned, making dining reservations is totally separate from the dining plan. Again, this depends a lot on your party. The smaller your party size, the more likely a table service restaurant can accomodate you as a walk up. So if you're a couple, it's a lot less risky to rely on being able to walk up than if you're a party of 8 that wants to eat and sit together. The time of year also makes a difference - crowded v. not crowded. The worst time to try and walk up would be during free dining because EVERYONE is trying to eat table service then. It also matters a lot about where you want to eat at. In general, you'll have an easier time walking up at a resort restaurant than at a park one. You're also more likely to get a seat at a less popular (though not necessarily inferior) restaurant like Restaurant Marrakesh in Morocco than a more popular one like Le Cellier in Canada. Trying at less popular meal times (like 2 - 4 pm, 8 pm or later) will also help your chances. And you'll also need some flexibility - if you get turned away from one restaurant, smile and thank the host, and move on to the next one and try again. You won't be able to eat in the castle or enjoy one the dinner shows because they are reservation only. If you have your heart set on a restaurant, it's best to go ahead and make a reservation if nothing else than for peace of mind.

We've done dining both ways and didn't have much trouble flying by the seat of our pants, but prefer having them already made so we know where we're eating and can try more places. The reservations don't have to be stressful if you plan them based on your schedule. We know that we love the evening EMHs, so we always just make our dining reservations at the park or a hotel near that park an hour or two before the EMH so we're right where we need to be. It's simple (took me less than 20 minutes to decide on them and book for a week long trip) and they're always convenient because they're at times and locations that fit our generic schedule.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

A lot depends on when you are going.

For example, the OP mentioned going in January, which, except for around the MLK weekend, is very slow and you can generally get by without reservations.

But I recall not laughing at some Guests who, when I was working as a Greeter at DHS during the week between Christmas and New Years, asked me what restaurant I would suggest they go to for lunch or dinner. At the time we were already at a Stage 1 closing! They were not happy with my response that they could probably get any of the counter service locations with not more than a 30 minute wait.

But I did comment about it later to some other CMs, and we all had a good laugh.

 

[disneyjunebug]

I remember the days when there was a large board at Epcot that listed the restaurants and there would be someone standing there taking your reservations for that day. We would walk up, look at the board, and decide what tickled our fancy, and then go there for dinner! I remember walking up to Crystal Palace for dinner and walking right in at MK.

Sadly, those days are gone. But now, I get to plan and scheme, looking at menus, figuring out what we want to eat, changing plans, etc. It's added a whole new dimension to planning and I enjoy it! Because of my planning, my husband loved his first trip to WDW and has invited himself to go again this fall in what started out to be a mother-son trip. (and I am happy he is going along too!)

We enjoy having a TS meal scheduled. It helps break up the day, makes us slow down and cool off. We flirted with the idea of the QSDP this year, but DH wanted to try a couple of places and it just makes moneysense to get it when you factor in the cost.

 

[njmeisje]

This may be a different perspective....but we are always at Disney during the busiest times; Easter, Christmas, Summer - due to school calendars -- so we enjoy TS dining just to get away from the crowds and the lines. Its nice to walk in, have a table waiting for you, sit down, and not have to compete for dinner, a table. So its less about the food and more about "escaping the rush" of Disney for us. We don't do the DP, but we do use the TIW....but we DO reserve our "escape ADRs as early as we can.

Good luck!
Diane

 

[ttree]

Going end of May, 9 nights, 10 days. When first called for res they gave me the hard sell of DDP. Said yes at first then after doing the math, called and cancelld. Have 4 table service ADR's, then planned counter service and garden grocer for breakfast bars, water and sodas. Think I will come out ahead or even but just did not want to be totally tied down to where to be when. I plan to keep close track and compare cost to DDP. I did ask about doing dining plan for first half then room only - heard you can do it but when I called they just could not believe I would ask and really gave a hard sell. Do they get commission?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I did ask about doing dining plan for first half then room only - heard you can do it but when I called they just could not believe I would ask and really gave a hard sell. Do they get commission?

Two parts to this.

One is that you can do two separate reservations, one with a package and one room-only. If so, you are better off doing the package first so your tickets can cover the entire trip and your dining will be good until midnight the day of check-out of the package. Usually you can link the reservations so you do not have to change rooms; you only have to go to the desk in the morning and check out and immediately check back in.

They do not get a commission. However, many calls are monitored and there are certain things they must tell or ask. And there most likely is a "point system" based on their transactions. I know for the ticket sellers in the four theme Parks (we don't get this at the water parks or DQ) there is a point value for each specific ticket sold or upgraded to. The total for the month is divided by the number of tickets sold during a month and there are (non-cash) awards depending on the average point value. I am sure there is some sort of incentive program at the Reservations Centers.