Experienced Disney Diners!! Need some advice re: TS dining with young ones...

[mom2aiden]

My DH, DS (2), and I will be heading to WDW for our first trip in October 2008. We have decided to use the DDP. My DS will be 3.5 when we go. Have you found it better to plan your TS meal as a lunch or dinner when dining with a small child?

I was thinking that for the days where we may want to return to a park in the evening (MK, Epcot) that a TS lunch may be better than dinner. And then for the days where we don't go to a park, or we may not stay in the park into the evening (MGM, AK), then a TS dinner would be okay.

Just looking for your past experiences and what has worked for your family.

TIA!!

 

[engle]

I don't have kids but travel with my sister's 3 OFTEN. We have always found lunches to be a better idea. Not only is the down time of meals a welcome respite by that time, but sometimes, especially when they were little, we didn't make it to dinner time in the parks. I think your thinking is right on.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

My DH, DS (2), and I will be heading to WDW for our first trip in October 2008. We have decided to use the DDP. My DS will be 3.5 when we go. Have you found it better to plan your TS meal as a lunch or dinner when dining with a small child?

I was thinking that for the days where we may want to return to a park in the evening (MK, Epcot) that a TS lunch may be better than dinner. And then for the days where we don't go to a park, or we may not stay in the park into the evening (MGM, AK), then a TS dinner would be okay.

Just looking for your past experiences and what has worked for your family.

TIA!!

We do dinners, as we leave the park in the afternoon for a much needed nap for everyone, including the adults, set the alarm for us to get up in plenty of time to make it to the restaurant, and get up refreshed and ready - no melt downs or temper tantrums then, and dinner TS is a pleasant way to end the day.

 

[Tricia1972]

We go to the park early, eat a quick CS lunch at 11:00 and head back to the resort for a nap. We nap and rest for a few hours, wake up and head to our ADR for the evening.

Our first trip I tried a few marathon days, late morning park, TS /CS lunch, more park, TS/CS dinner, more park and bed. That only lasted a day or two before DS had enough. For us a nap in the middle of the day works, we do the TS for dinner because a TS lunch would cut deeply into our nap time.

 

[Colinsmom]

We just came back with a 21mo and 5yo and the days where we had a TS lunch were much better days than those when we had a TS dinner. I think that getting a good, solid mid-day meal in them does more for their energy and mood throughout the day than waiting until dinner (when, no matter what, they just weren't as hungry nor as patient to sit). After our TS lunch, we'd take the younger one back for a nap.

 

[dgagnon519]

I went in May. At the time my kids were 6 and 3. They were both only 1 month away from 7 and 4. We did light breakfast that we packed with us, such as pop tarts, bagels, pb,granola bars...
For lunch we did a counter service and dinner was table service.
What shocked me the most was that on our vacation my kids were the best behaved I have ever seen them. We only went back 1 day for a mid day nap and there was no tantrums. When the trip was over I asked the kids how is it everything went so smooth, they said it is disney magic.

 

[Disneychix]

Any recommendations for where to eat TS meals with the little ones?

 

[Tricia1972]

It's easier for me to list the places I would not go to with kids:

Jiko
Victoria and Alberts


Buffets tend to be easier for us because they go faster (I go run for food for the kids, DH sits with kids, I come back and cut up food while DH runs for his food, kids and DH eat while I run up for my food)

So you know where I've eaten. I've had TS at:
Crystal Palace
Chef Mickey's
Gullivers
Narcoosee's
Victoria & Albert's
Jiko
Fulton's
Spoodles
Kona
Boma
Le Cellier
Les Chefs de France (I wouldn't eat there again - bad food and service)
50's Prime Time
Mama Melrose
Liberty Tree Tavern
Rain Forest Cafe
Cap'n Jack's
Whispering Canyon Cafe


There may be a few more restaurants, but I can't think of them right now.

 

[SmallWorld71]

My DH, DS (2), and I will be heading to WDW for our first trip in October 2008. We have decided to use the DDP. My DS will be 3.5 when we go. Have you found it better to plan your TS meal as a lunch or dinner when dining with a small child?

I was thinking that for the days where we may want to return to a park in the evening (MK, Epcot) that a TS lunch may be better than dinner. And then for the days where we don't go to a park, or we may not stay in the park into the evening (MGM, AK), then a TS dinner would be okay.

Just looking for your past experiences and what has worked for your family.

TIA!!

A lot of the table service places my kids love are not open for lunch. (Chef Mickey's, 'Ohana, etc..) What worked for us was hitting the parks early, taking a nap or a swim at the hotel and then heading out for the earliest dinner possible. (Most places that was 5 o'clock.) This way the kids are rested and with the 1st dinner seating we never have to wait more than a few minutes for a table. The 1st seating can be especially helpful at character meals because people can really linger at those and the waits can be long later in the evening. Then after dinner we would decide if we had enough energy to go to a park or if we wanted to return to the hotel. Another nice thing about early dinners as opposed to lunches, is you don't have to worry about which park you are going to be in for the morning.

 

[Disneychix]

It's easier for me to list the places I would not go to with kids:

Jiko
Victoria and Alberts


Buffets tend to be easier for us because they go faster (I go run for food for the kids, DH sits with kids, I come back and cut up food while DH runs for his food, kids and DH eat while I run up for my food)

So you know where I've eaten. I've had TS at:
Crystal Palace
Chef Mickey's
Gullivers
Narcoosee's
Victoria & Albert's
Jiko
Fulton's
Spoodles
Kona
Boma
Le Cellier
Les Chefs de France (I wouldn't eat there again - bad food and service)
50's Prime Time
Mama Melrose
Liberty Tree Tavern
Rain Forest Cafe
Cap'n Jack's
Whispering Canyon Cafe


There may be a few more restaurants, but I can't think of them right now.

Thanks! The places I'm planning are all on this list. Can wait to make those ADRs!

 

[Tuliplvr]

I found it definately better to do the TS lunch if you can, but like other people said some places only offer dinner. A favorite of my kids was the Liberty Tree Tavern dinner. They LOVED IT!

 

[meowzer]

We took our DS (2.5) and DD (7) to WDW Fall 2006 and used the Premium DDP which were all TS meals. The evening meals I made our ADR's for 5:00 or 5:30. This worked out great as there were not as many "couples" dining that early. These were the places where we had no problems.

All character breakfasts-no problem
Cinderella's Castle-fairy godmothers entertained(dinner 2x)
Liberty Tavern (lunch)
Marrakesh, Morocco (lunch)-Belly Dancer and music
Sci-Fi drive in (dinner)
Boma (dinner-buffet)
Artist Point (dinner at 5:00)
Whispering Canyon (breakfast, my kids hated it, they thought the acting was rude)
Tappanayaki (Japanese place, very long wait)-Now named something else
Prime Time Cafe (lunch)
Ohana's (lunch)

 

[KimR]

I have 3 DDs and we've always found that a TS meal is a nice way to relax at the end of a long day. We usually make our ADRs right before the evening show or activity, typically around 7:00 or 7:30 and use it as a way to wind down. That way, we are not rushing around and doing rides on a full tummy.