Dinner suggestions for someone paying OOP

[scrapbookmommy]

We are not using the dining plan on our upcoming trip so where ever we eat we are paying OOP. This is our first trip to Disney in 13 years and really the first time ever trying out the Disney resturants. We are looking for places to have dinner that aren't going to break the bank. It will be me and DH and DD (14) and DS (6). Any suggestions? DS is extrememly picky so that plays into our plans for dinner. He did pick out the Sci-Fi Theater as he wants to eat in those cute little cars. And we are eating breakfast at CP for DD.
TIA

 

[stitchineeyore]

Since you are only three months out, that may limit your choices. There are sample menus available on this site. You might have a look at some of those, as prices are listed and that might give you a better idea of what the cost would be for a particular restaurant. Are you looking at table service specifically, or counter service as well? Are you doing park hopper passes? That will expand your choices, since you can leave one park and go to another to dine if you wish. For a starter suggestion, a reasonably priced table service restaurant that is a little off the beaten path is the Plaza in the Magic Kingdom. We have always had good food there.

 

[Figment2]

Where are you staying? WIll you have a car? One of the best bargains is Trails End at Ft Wilderness but not an easy place to get to. It's a buffet.

Don't let your picky eater exclude places like Boma where even he can find a plain waffle, bacon, eggs, etc. at breakfast. Too, "not breaking the bank" can be a relative term but here goes. My favs are Boma, Crystal Palace, Trails End, Sanaa (lunch), Le Cellier, Rose & Crown, Kouzzina (Boardwalk), Cape May, Kona Cafe, Whispering Canyon, and Garden Grove (Swan).

Enjoy!

Cyn

 

[scrapbookmommy]

Thanks for your suggestions. We are staying at CSR and yes we will have a car.

 

[PolyAddict]

Does it have to be dinner? The lunch prices are much better.

Here's what we do paying OOP...

For each park we pick a lunch to do
DHS- 50's prime time (we have done Sci FI and Brown Derby but this one is everyone's all time fav)
MK- Crystal Palace(restaurant changes each year) late breakfast(we will get into the park, hit some rides and then take a break with thie late breakfast)
AK- Tusker House(this is a first for us) we will also being doing a late breakfast here.
EP- France (this is a first)

We will be there 7 nights but only book 4 meals. There are alot of CS places that we love also, so we want to save some room for them. This plan works well for us.

 

[wildcatfan]

Does it have to be dinner? The lunch prices are much better.

Here's what we do paying OOP...

For each park we pick a lunch to do
DHS- 50's prime time (we have done Sci FI and Brown Derby but this one is everyone's all time fav)
MK- Crystal Palace(restaurant changes each year) late breakfast(we will get into the park, hit some rides and then take a break with thie late breakfast)
AK- Tusker House(this is a first for us) we will also being doing a late breakfast here.
EP- France (this is a first)

We will be there 7 nights but only book 4 meals. There are alot of CS places that we love also, so we want to save some room for them. This plan works well for us.

I like your plan. We have done the dining plan the last 5 years but this year we are planning to try without it. We think we can eat cheaper now that the 4 of us are adult prices. I like the picking a lunch at each one. Lunches do seem to be a bit cheaper and it would give you a break in the mid-afternoon sun.

 

[PolyAddict]

I like your plan. We have done the dining plan the last 5 years but this year we are planning to try without it. We think we can eat cheaper now that the 4 of us are adult prices. I like the picking a lunch at each one. Lunches do seem to be a bit cheaper and it would give you a break in the mid-afternoon sun.

I will say that we usually also have a first night meal at our resort to kick things off. So technically, we do have one dinner. People ask all the time why don't we do the DP. The only thing i can say is that we eat where we want, snacks and all and pay less than what we would have paid with the DP. That may mean 2 less sit downs, out of a 7 night trip but it hasn't seemed to bother us much. I got the idea from another Diser way back when i joined the Dis and we have used it ever since.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

People ask all the time why don't we do the DP. The only thing i can say is that we eat where we want, snacks and all and pay less than what we would have paid with the DP.

I absolutely agree the DP is not for everyone. We never do it.

Have you thought about House of Blues or ESPN?

 

[bitohoney]

If you're doing TS dinners you may be better off getting the dining plan.

 

[stitchlover]

I agree that if you are paying out of pocket you might want to consider booking your meals during lunch times. You can book them for the last available lunch seating and still get lunch prices.

Another comment...SciFi Diner. Make sure when you check in for you reservation that you tell them it is very important that you be seated in a car and that you are willing to wait a little while extra for that. They do have some picnic tables in the back under umbrella's that you could easily be seated it. So if this is the main reason your son picked this location be sure to let them know the car is IMPORTANT! Had a friend come back recently and she said the milk shakes there are wonderful. We haven't dined there since 2006 but I remember it being good!

Have a great trip.

 

[Wendybird55]

I find the family-style & buffet meals get you the most bang for your buck for diinner. They include appetizers & desserts and the buffets have a variety od choices for picky eaters.

If you go to allearsnet.com they have menus and prices for comparison.
Some of the family-style / buffet meals we enjoy are:
Whispering Canyon (Wilderness Lodge)
Liberty Tree Tavern (MK)
Biergarten Germany (Epcot)
1900 Park Fare

We weren't too happy with the Cape May Clam Bake (Beach Club )buffet last year.

A good value also is the character breakfasts - Cape May is my favorite...
Most are the same price - some like Chef Mickey are a bit higher. WIth breakfast you can try to get the latest reservation you can so it can act more like a bruch and cover you for breakfast and lunch.

And don't count out counter service...there are some very good CS meals other than burgers and fries that are filling and less expensive then sit down.
Cosmic Rays in the MK has a wide variety - they have chicken & ribs with mashed potatos and a veggies for something like $13.99.

 

[DJFan88]

And don't count out counter service...there are some very good CS meals other than burgers and fries that are filling and less expensive then sit down.
Cosmic Rays in the MK has a wide variety - they have chicken & ribs with mashed potatos and a veggies for something like $13.99.

I agree, we also for fun will go visit another resort ( I like to get ideas for next trips) and eat at there food court or counter service area for a mid day break. Last year we went to visit French Quarter and found a taco salady thing that wasn't available at our CBR.

 

[stitchlover]

I agree, we also for fun will go visit another resort ( I like to get ideas for next trips) and eat at there food court or counter service area for a mid day break. Last year we went to visit French Quarter and found a taco salady thing that wasn't available at our CBR.

I highly recommend the grilled cheese sandwich at the Polynesian Counter Service. We stayed at the Poly last spring and I ate that at least 3-4 times. I plan to hope the monorail during a MK day and pick one of those up for lunch one day!

 

[design_mom]

On our recent trip, we tried The Plaza (MK) for the first time. It wasn't fancy food, but everything we ordered was good and the total bill was about half the price of many of the sit-down places we tried.

(We were on DDP for the first time. It wasn't the best "value" for DDP, but we'll definitely keep it in mind for when we're paying OOP. DS will be an adult for our next trip and I'm not sure if DDP would make sense at that point.)

 

[scrapbookmommy]

I absolutely agree the DP is not for everyone. We never do it.

Have you thought about House of Blues or ESPN?

Just checked out the ESPN menu and sounds like a place DH would like. It says ESPN Club Boardwalk but where exactly is that at? TIA

 

[Wendybird55]

ESPN is part of the Boardwalk area. The 3 resorts in that area are Boardwalk, Beach Club & Yacht Club. You can walk to the Boardwalk area from EPCOT - you need to go thru the international gateway which is by France and England. There is also a boat launch there if you don't feel like walking.

You can also take a boat from DHS to Boardwalk...you can walk as well, but that is a longer walk. Or take a bus to any of the 3 resorts from the other parks - you can get to the Boardwalk area from all 3 resorts.

In additon to the ESPN Club, the other restaurants on the Boardwalk are Kouzinnas, the Brewery Grille & Flying Fish (signature - expensive). There's also a pizza window by Kouzinnas where you can get pies and a bakery that also has sandwiches and salads. We like the Brewery and the past 2 years had lunch there the day we arrived. The menu is vaired and can be moderate to pricey depending upon what you order.

The Beach Club - also right in that area has Beaches and Cream which serves burgers and such. You can do sit down or take out. It's famous for it's Kitchen Sink ice cream dessert. The BC also has Cape May whihc I think has the best character breakfast - however, the dinner buffet wasn't as good when we went last year.

I like this area and tend to stay here because of the convenience of getting to EPCOT & DHS as well as the variety of places to eat because there are 3 resorts here. Swan & Dolphin are also nearby - just a boat stop away - I've never eaten in any of these hotels, but I'm sure others will let you know what's there.