Food is ruling our trip

[smartestnumber5]

I am a planner so I don't mind planning long before our trip. I haven't found that deciding which restaurant on which day and time has been much of a problem with planning park days.

What we do is we try to get to the park by 10am or earlier. (We decide which by avoiding the one with morning EMH and do all 4 in the first 4 or 5 days--after that we decide where to go based on what we missed or where we want to spend more time.) We usually stay for 3-5 hours and eat CS in the park. By about 2-3 we get back to the hotel and rest, swim, take a nap. We like to eat dinner later at night than most folks, so we always get ADRs in the 7, 8, 9 pm range (which also makes it a lot easier to get ADRs where we want even at short notice sometimes). Usually we have dinner at the resorts, but sometimes at a park and we just go back to the park and go right to dinner. After dinner we either go back to the park (if they are open or there are EMH) or go to downtown disney or just back to the hotel to swim.

We're not very commando and we only go to WDW during slow times, so this kind of schedule works well for us. We don't get to see EVERYTHING, but we see most of the things that we like. But this way we get a rest everyday--which we need!--and we never have the problem of having to leave one park abruptly to go to another park where we have an ADR.

 

[UConnJack]

Without park planning and ADRs ahead of time:

Morning:
DH - "What park should we go to today, MK?"
DW - "Wherever you want to go."
DD - "I want to go to MGM!"
DS1 - "I want to go to AK!"
DS2 - "I don't want to go to the parks, I want to go to the pool!"

1 hour of time wasted in indecision and negotiations.

Late Afternoon:
DW - "Well, it's getting late, where should we eat tonight, California Grill?"
DH - "Why don't we stay in the park and eat somewhere here?"
DD - "Let's go to DD for dinner so I can ditch you afterwards"
DS1 - "I WANT TO EAT WITH MICKEY!"
DS2 - "I don't want to eat dinner, I WANT TO GO TO THE POOL!"

Another hour of time wasted in indecision and negotiations.

Early evening:
Spend an hour on the phone trying to get dining reservations ANYWHERE, with no luck.

Evening:
End up eating chicken fingers and pizza in the cafeteria.

Next day:
Repeat.

 

[UConnJack]

Unless its a spur-or-the-moment trip, I always make my park plans (1st) and ADRs (2nd) several months in advance (even before the DDP), the earlier the better. I would much rather spend a several hours planning and negotiating at home than waste the time doing it on my $$$$ trip. Its not about about revolving the trip about food, but making the trip as efficient and easy as possible.

 

[jimmalru80]

Some folks just aren't planners, and that's fine.

My counsel to folks visiting WDW in these days is the hassles you impose on yourself before you go result in a whole lot less hassles while at Disney. I'd much rather pace myself and do as much planning as possible in advance so that I'm hassle-free once on vacation. I hate being frustrated when I'm supposed to be having a good time.

It DOES make a difference to know in advance which park you're visiting. Some parks are more busy on certain weekdays than others ... morning Extra Magic Hours, for instance, make a huge impact on how crowded a park is, as do parades, special events, etc. If I can make a choice that determines whether I'm going to wait in line for a popular attraction for 90 minutes or 20 minutes, and I can do that a few months out, guess what I'm going to do. There are tons of good planning tools available ... I like the Unofficial Guide and Passporter. For the first time on our last trip, I checked on Tour Guide Mike (a DIS sponsor), and danged if there wasn't a BOATLOAD of helpful information there, and I thought I was pretty much in the know.

So, armed with that knowledge of what park I'm visiting, then I can go online, examine menus, poll the rest of my family/party, and determine where I want to have my TS meal on that particular park day. If you're in either the MK or Epcot, leaving the parks for a monorail resort or one of the Epcot resorts, respectively, just isn't that hard. For us, it's all about peace of mind.

Having said all THAT, you can certainly visit WDW and not worry about which park, which restaurant, or anything, and if you're willing to go with the flow, have a good enough time. CS spots aren't an issue, since they're walk-up anyway. Arriving at a TS spot in the parks just as soon as they open can sometimes work, especially in places like Marrakesh. Lunch TS spots are often available as early walkups in the resorts.

When all is said and done, do what makes you happy. The Disney Dining Plan exists to serve ME, not the other way around. Don't serve IT.

Well said. We do essentially the same thing. We have been to WDW enough, we have a good idea of what we want to see, when we want to see it. As the kids got older, having us sit together for meals became more and more difficult. Now that DS is out on his own, we plan our WDW vacations around our meals, where the five of us can sit and enjoy ourselves. This may not be the ideal vacation for others, but over the years, it has worked for us.

 

[Laren]

My wife then gets out the highlighter and picks out what she is going to order! (of course, I do too)

rofl I thought we were the only ones. We're doing DDP for the first time this fall- happened to get it for free because it fell during the time we'd already booked our trip for- (non-refundable plane tickets and all!) and so we're getting out the menus and enjoying the anticipation!

My husband will say to me sometimes at night, "Tell me a story. . ."

And I say, about what? Knowing the answer will be the same every time *lol*

then he smiles and says "About the beautiful food at WDW."

ROFL!

 

[ReneeA]

I look at it like this - I plan my meals at home. I plan so that I don't torture myself trying to figure out what I am going to cook last-minute, and also so that I can get all of my groceries in one trip.

Why would I do Disney any differently? I plan first what park we are going to be in on what day. Then I figure out which restaurants are most convenient and have the type of menu we enjoy.

It doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me, and makes me feel so much better when I have it all figured out.

 

[chrismb22]

I looooove planning for my trip and planning where we are going to eat is more fun. In fact, I've pretty much figured out where we are going to eat in January (waiting on reviews of the new restaurants in AK and Italy (Epcot) but as soon as that 180 day mark hits, I will be making my reservations.

Our party is so happy I'm doing it -- all they have to do is show up. In fact, I asked my boyfriend where he wants to eat this time and he said "everywhere" so he's no help LOL.

 

[septbaby]

Most info on EMH, parades, special events, etc. is listed on the Disney web site, so I was able to set a general daily plan. I knew we wanted certain experiences. We have some dietary restrictions, so certain places won't fit us at all.

Narcoossee's on our first day, no park, but we'll get to see EWP and Wishes and a big treat for our family. Also considered CA Grille, but this is more to our liking.

One day we are going to Little Ones Magic Hour and P&PP at night, so getting rest in the middle of that day is important, we'll do CS at MK/resort

Character meal is a must with a 5yo and Chef Mickey's was highly recommended, fits our eating needs and available

Day at AK and need dinner, Boma is something we'd love to try and we'd love to see AKL, less hectic to get to AKL when we're already in AK. Looked into Coral Reef, but couldn't get in. If we "save" TS credits by paying OOP for a meal at Narcoossee's we may still grab a Coral Reef meal if we can in, but I haven't even tried to get in or couple of weeks. We can try on another trip.

Finally, we will definitely see Fantasmic and momma doesn't want to chance not getting seats, so we booked a dinner package.

Our plans were made 100? days out (under 80 days to go!)

Hope this is helpful. I am not stressed about eating, just excited for our family time and a break. I am the out of town member, so spending time with my family is a real treat! And to get a real vacation is awesome. The DDP and being on site will allow me to relax. No driving, cooking, cleaning up, etc. Just eat, drink and be merry.

 

[rigs32]

We've had MORE fun on trips with a plan - including dinner reservations - than on completely "winging it" trips. We both had not knowing what to do or where to go. I love to plan, DH loves to enjoy the fruits of that plan.

I can remember walking all the way across AK (this was before I started planning trips) to have burgers, to find that Restaurantosaurus was a McDonalds! We refused to eat there and walked allllll the way back to Tusker House. Now, we know (from the online menus) what they have where and don't need to walk all over the place to find CS meals.

We've also had good luck showing up early to TS places and asking if we could be seated. This wouldn't work moving a ressie later, I bet, but we've never had to just sit around for 20-30 min waiting for the time to be right.

 

[marcyinPA]

I can remember walking all the way across AK (this was before I started planning trips) to have burgers, to find that Restaurantosaurus was a McDonalds! We refused to eat there and walked allllll the way back to Tusker House. Now, we know (from the online menus) what they have where and don't need to walk all over the place to find CS meals.
.

Even without the DP next trip, I will still plan out our CS meals. I just won't plan the times! We can eat when we want to. I know that we will want to try Sunshine Seasons again in Epcot, and Morroco too. We know where we like in the MK too. And we almost always grab breakfast at the food court at our resort (except for the MK, we like the Main Street Bakery). We'll still make a few ADR's for TS dinners on some nights....just not EVERY night.

I still think it's easier when you've been alot of times and you know where everything is and how to get from point A to point B. The layout of every park is ingrained in my head!

 

[HappyMomof4]

Without park planning and ADRs ahead of time:

Morning:
DH - "What park should we go to today, MK?"
DW - "Wherever you want to go."
DD - "I want to go to MGM!"
DS1 - "I want to go to AK!"
DS2 - "I don't want to go to the parks, I want to go to the pool!"

1 hour of time wasted in indecision and negotiations.

Late Afternoon:
DW - "Well, it's getting late, where should we eat tonight, California Grill?"
DH - "Why don't we stay in the park and eat somewhere here?"
DD - "Let's go to DD for dinner so I can ditch you afterwards"
DS1 - "I WANT TO EAT WITH MICKEY!"
DS2 - "I don't want to eat dinner, I WANT TO GO TO THE POOL!"

Another hour of time wasted in indecision and negotiations.

Early evening:
Spend an hour on the phone trying to get dining reservations ANYWHERE, with no luck.

Evening:
End up eating chicken fingers and pizza in the cafeteria.

Next day:
Repeat.

This sounds like our family, you must have travelled with us before!! Luckily, I planned every detail of our most recent trip. Others in our party found my itinerary annoying but we were thankful for it by the end of the trip. I just thought you should know I enjoyed your dialogue.

 

[MrsPiglet]

Thanks for all the replys. This is what i did.
I made a schedule of EMH and park hours. Figured out the best days for each park. Figured which nights we will be doing all the firework shows. Then I went from there. Finding restaurants that would be in the area, or if we switched parks somewhere in between. This helped alot. There is still a couple restaurant I could not fit in due to their locations. I did call last night and get all the places we wanted, but we are doing more lunches than dinners. Now I can just sit and relax and wait for a trip.

 

[septbaby]

Congrats!

We are in the same boat, just waiting to enjoy the literal fruits of our labor!

 

[HelenePA]

How do you plan where to eat three months from now? How do you know what parks you will be in? While you are in the parks do you leave to a resort to eat? Doesn't that waste alot of time?

It makes me feel like we are going to WDW to eat.


Am I alone??

I felt the SAME way! I'll be honest I was big time stressed about it all... in the end it worked out nicely... First night we had ressies at Boma's... we never made it... we were DEAD on our feet by the time 7pm rolled around.. it was a long day made even longer by 3 kids who just wanted to sit So yes we missed that... so we just ate at Tusker House and the hotel... The next day we did have reservations at 11:30.. now with 3 kids the earlier the better to sit down for food if you ask me.. less time being awake and grumpy! So we did Crystal Palace.. it was nice we were one of the first ones in.. We got to see Pooh ect ect a few times by the time we left.. it was nice! The next day was Coral Reef... 11:30am again! bad timing this time! We were JUST about to get on Nemo the ride and we had to exit ASAP it was almost 11:30! That's what I was afraid was going to happen every day.. lucky it didn't! The next day was Cape May Cafe (I think who knows my days bleended in.. bliss just bliss from not doing house work!) that was later 4:30 I think... but that day was VERY hot so the kids didn't wanna do much... we did a few things at MGM left for a swim at the hotel.. went to CMC and then went back to the park when it was MUCH MUCH cooler out! the rest of our trip was a breeze also... dont stress too much! it is a vacation after all