Do you dine often at your hotel? Why?

[beth_cam]

We eat a couple of family dinners at the food Court. With small children we try to split the day with a nap so if we have had our TS meal already (we do ddp) we will grab a cs at the hotel on the way back out. We share everything. But while this satisfies everyone at the time, its usually so early that by the time we spend 5 more hours out and about either me or hubbie will need another quick meal as we head to bed. I also will do a few breakfasts by myself in the Food Court. I'm not much for the quick granola and oatmeal the family likes and I get up much earlier than they do so It's good for me to get out of the room so they can sleep longer.

 

[Quinn222]

We don't necessarily eat at our own resort a lot but I make a lot of dining reservations at resorts. Last time though we were supposed to eat at Raglan Road one night but that day was just a miserable experience overall at AK and we were exhausted. Cancelled Raglan Road and ate at Boatwrights in our resort (POR.) Not the best meal ever but it was relaxing and we didn't have to go anywhere to eat it.

We break fairly early in the day and go back to the resort, we'll often grab lunch there as it's so much more peaceful than most places in the parks.

 

[tabrizia]

We have three ADRs planned at our hotel for this upcoming vacation. There is a possibility we will add one or two more ADR at our hotel or use in room dining for the one day we don't have reservations for dinner and for a second breakfast one day. I am sure we will also end up eating breakfast a lot at the CS restaraunt. We will likely eat lunch at the parks, but there are 2 days pre-planned that are down days when we are unlikely to go to the parks at all, at least one of those days we are likely to have a late lunch at the resort.

 

[winterman]

We eat breakfast at our resort's food court almost every day. We are there when it opens so we miss the lines and are ready to hit the parks when they open.

 

[Plantlady]

We would grab two meals at breakfast from the food court to share in the room.

When we were park hopping, we would come back to the resort, and grab three counter service meals, to split amongst five of us. The benefit of the food court, is we could us our two refillable mugs and then end up with five drinks.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

We ate at the Pop Food Court on a Feb. trip. The Park closed earlier than the rest of the year that month(maybe it does every year in Feb.?) so we would stay in the park til Close (I think it was between 5 and 9 depending on the park) then go to the Pop Food court. I refuse to waste any Park time I'm weird that way.

I usually eat at the food court for similar reasons. Although I don't mind taking the time to grab a counter service meal in the parks, and prefer it, when the parks close early it's not always possible.

If the MK closes at 8PM and I haven't eaten yet the only choice is the resort food court or take a bus to the resort, another one to DTD, and then deal with walking and crowds there. I almost never go to DTD because I just don't waste the park time, and after being in the parks all day walking around down there doesn't sound like fun.

In a week trip, I probably eat 3-4 meals at the food court because of this (I always travel in the off-season). When I travel with family, most of them insist on breakfast, so they usually are down there early (7 or 7:30), and report that the breakfasts aren't half-bad, and everyone is ready to go to the parks by 8.

NED

 

[hegs65]

I am almost embarassed to admit this but, I love the meatball sub at Pop Century-which is probably why I like eating there!

 

[BCV23]

Yikes, I guess we are really different.

Most of our meals are at the resorts. Usually our only meals at parks are for table service lunch or Epcot dinners. And even then a good number of lunches are at table service resort restaurants.

For lunch at the parks we enjoy Mama Melrose, LTT, Brown Derby, Chefs. CRT used to be on that list but alas no longer. After a negative experience at the Plaza (where we had enjoyed many nice lunches) it is off our list for a while.

But there are so many excellent choices for TS at the monorail resorts. V&A, California Grill, Kona, Citricos, Narcoossee's. We have to try Concourse one of these days. And off the circuit good choices are Artist Point, Jiko, YSH. Boy, without resort dining we would be lost.

 

[DaisyD]

Yikes, I guess we are really different.

Most of our meals are at the resorts. Usually our only meals at parks are for table service lunch or Epcot dinners. And even then a good number of lunches are at table service resort restaurants.

For lunch at the parks we enjoy Mama Melrose, LTT, Brown Derby, Chefs. CRT used to be on that list but alas no longer. After a negative experience at the Plaza (where we had enjoyed many nice lunches) it is off our list for a while.

But there are so many excellent choices for TS at the monorail resorts. V&A, California Grill, Kona, Citricos, Narcoossee's. We have to try Concourse one of these days. And off the circuit good choices are Artist Point, Jiko, YSH. Boy, without resort dining we would be lost.

I took the OP as asking if anyone just sticks to their own resort and doesn't branch out to other resorts or restaurants. We love to go to many resorts and eat. We only grab counter at the parks when we are starving and absolutely have to.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I am almost embarassed to admit this but, I love the meatball sub at Pop Century-

LOL, I love the parmesean chicken myself.

 

[BCV23]

Daisy, as I read the OP she said she didn't really consider the resort dining options when picking a resort.

We totally do. Resort dining is a very important part of our stay. But when at the Polynesian or GF, the other restaurants on the circuit are part of the fun to us. And at BCV, the options at all the Epcot resorts are important as well although we don't have as many favorites there.

But as always I enjoy reading how others plan and enjoy their WDW trips.

 

[DaisyD]

My mistake. I thought she meant only her resort. We never chose the resort for restaurants though. We stay at the Poly for the Poly. Those restaurants are secondary. 'Ohana isn't as good as it used to be.

 

[BCV23]

My mistake. I thought she meant only her resort. We never chose the resort for restaurants though. We stay at the Poly for the Poly. Those restaurants are secondary. 'Ohana isn't as good as it used to be.

Yes, for us too the Polynesian has a unique draw. We've been staying there since 1983 and have so many memories of our children growing up on vacations there. Truly at times as I wind my way around the paths I will suddenly picture a moment form the past. In fact it is so special to me that I can never refer to it as anthing other than the Polynesian.... or Polynesian Village Resort.

So the restaurants aren't the only reason we choose a resort. But they are certainly a factor. There are some resorts that I would never choose to stay at for more than a couple of nights because of the dirth of choices. But that is just the way we vacation....YMMV.

 

[ReneeA]

We took our kids back to the resort for naps everyday last year. Trust me, other guests thanked me.

We ended up eating a few lunches and breakfasts at the food court since the kiddos were sound asleep in the room. It worked out great, although I wish we had stayed at a nicer resort than ASMo. since we spent a ton of time there. It was okay, but this year we are trying out CSR mainly for the pool and food options there.

 

[NMW]

We always stay at an Epcot resort, so yes, we eat at those restaurants. Flying Fish is my all time favorite. We also love ESPN, Spoodles, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Cape May Cafe. I guess I consider all the Epcot resorts to be one big complex to eat at! It would be even bigger if you counted the Swan and Dolphin! We really do most of our meals at other restaurants though, especially in Epcot or at the POLY-Kona and Ohana.