Finalized our dining plans for OCT!

[kkmcan]

Ok, I sat down and wrote out a dining plan for our upcoming trip in Oct. When we went in June we just kind of winged it and boy was that a mistake. The kids would get hungry, hot and tired and then we would try and find somewhere to eat- going from place to place looking for the right menu, the least amount of wait time etc, etc. Everyone was so cranky by the time we sat down and ordered.

This time will be different! We always take an afternoon break at our room so we will try and get dinner somewhere off site or in our room ( we will have a full kitchen at Dolphin Cove) before returning to the parks.

M- Drive there
B- at home
L- fast food on the way
D- Whitewater snacks (YUM!) and then to the parks

T- B- in the hotel room
L- pack a small lunch to bring in our backpack
* afternoon PS at Blue Bayou for Desserts (2:00)
D- outside of park before returning for evening

W- B- in the room
L- Wine Country Trattoria
D- outside of park or in room

Th- B- in room
L- somewhere off site- will not be going into park during the day. Keeping it low key because of the TOT party that evening. Might do some sightseeing and then swimming in the afternoon.
D- off site or in room before TOT party

F- B- in room
L- Goofys kitchen Brunch
D- offsite or in room before returning to parks

Thats it! I'm so excited about my choices. What do you guys think??

*Here's my disneyland tip- Plan your meals so you don't end up wandering around at meal time looking for a place to eat without huge lines. Plan where, what time and then make PS's!!

 

[heatherleigh]

I only made one PS arrangement on our last trip, and it would have been nice to have had more. This time I'm going in w/ a plan. I think it will be easier for me to know exactly what my family likes so we don't waste time.

 

[Sherry E]

I think your choices sound great! The only thing I would do differently if it were my plan is on Friday, when you have an in-room breakfast scheduled as well as a Goofy's brunch. Now, I love Goofy's and my friends and I will not miss it if we go, but it IS costly and filling. And for the amount of food you get at Goofy's, I would actually skip the in-room breakfast on Friday and just make the morning all about Goofy's because if you try to eat a regular breakfast, you might not have enough room in your tummy left for the feast that Goofy's offers! And if you eat at Goofy's in the afternoon, you might not have room left for dinner! We ate at Goofy's last year EARLY in the morning and were not hungry again the entire day and night - and I just loaded up my plate ONE time at the buffet. I didn't even go back for seconds!

Other than that, I think your suggestion to have a Dining Plan - complete with Priority Seating - is a good one. I am going to try that this year when we go in early October. In the past, we have done exactly what you suggested - wander around, trying to figure out what everyone wanted to eat. Then, by the time we settled upon a place, the line was so long that we had to wait too long to eat. I can understand the spontaneity of wanting to decide where to eat depending on mood and hunger-level, but at least for a couple of meals, I want to plan the priority seating and see how it works. We can do the spontaneity thing for the other restaurants/meals but at least two will be pre-arranged!

 

[luvsmickey1968]

Your plan looks great!
I always make a dining plan for the exact reasons you have stated.
I remember the first two times I went to Disneyland, we did the same thing as you.
We would all wait until we were hungry and then try to find a place but the lines were long or someone didn't like something and then we would end up eating somewhere out of desperation and spending good money on food we did not enjoy!
People always think it is funny that I make such a big deal about the dining.
However, I find that if I plan my meals, especially ones with Priority Seating, and the shows I want to see, all the attractions and shopping can be scheduled around the set stuff!

 

[Sherry E]

Your plan looks great!
I always make a dining plan for the exact reasons you have stated.
I remember the first two times I went to Disneyland, we did the same thing as you.
We would all wait until we were hungry and then try to find a place but the lines were long or someone didn't like something and then we would end up eating somewhere out of desperation and spending good money on food we did not enjoy!
People always think it is funny that I make such a big deal about the dining.
However, I find that if I plan my meals, especially ones with Priority Seating, and the shows I want to see, all the attractions and shopping can be scheduled around the set stuff!

I agree. Even my friends who have waited in long lines with me to eat at DL will chuckle at my wanting to use PS for some of our meals. I had never thought it was a big deal in the past, but last year, when we were standing endlessly in the Carnation Cafe line, I realized that we were wasting a lot of time that could be spent elsewhere. As I stated in my previous post, I will leave some of the meals to spontaneity because I know sometimes things just come up, like we may on a whim decide that we want to do a dessert meal somewhere, but that is not something that can be expected in advance. Plus, I don't want my friends to think they can't change their minds or choose to eat at a certain restaurant. But I will certainly use the PS option for Carnation Cafe and Goofy's, and probably even Rain Forest cafe (which has their own separate number). Those are the ones we tend to go back to often, with the worst waits!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

looks good to m brunch was good to just i liked the dinner better. and minnies is where i chose to do breakfast.

have fun and dont forget to take lots of pics

 

[Gisele]

Have a great time! and I like your itinerary, it sounds likes a very good plan.

 

[kkmcan]

Ya, I know what you mean about not having breakfast in the room and then Goofys. But I was thinking we could have like a banana and a yogurt or something early (7:30 ish) and then we wouldn't eat at Goofys until 11:30 so that's a long time to go without any food at all. We'll just keep it light in the morning so Goofys will be the main meal of the day.

 

[Sherry E]

Ya, I know what you mean about not having breakfast in the room and then Goofys. But I was thinking we could have like a banana and a yogurt or something early (7:30 ish) and then we wouldn't eat at Goofys until 11:30 so that's a long time to go without any food at all. We'll just keep it light in the morning so Goofys will be the main meal of the day.

Makes sense!