Free dining plan tips to stretch - also a restaurant rec?

[Squishie]

Two questions here! (we have the regular plan w quick/table and a snack)

1. There are five of us and we got the free dining plan - all 5 will be "adults" even though two are kids. What do you do to stretch the plan to make the most of it? In other words - maybe splitting 2 quick credits for breakfast - split 3 for lunch and the use all 5 at a table service? If you did this, where would you suggest to get the most food?
   Or would you just keep breakfast in your room, use the 5 for lunch?
2. My family is not real food adventurous - each are choosing their own restaurant for table service. So far we have Trex, Ohana, crystal palace, sci fi and chef mickeys. I need to choose one more to add - what would you add? Has to accept DP and 1 credit.

Also any tips on stretching the DP and making it work for us on a tight budget, please share!

 

[preemiemama]

I can tell you what has worked for us on trips with the dining plan- hopefully it will help!

We usually have a snack/something in the room for breakfast. Then we have an early-ish lunch (around 11) or a late table service breakfast (usually 10:30-11 are the last booking times). We plan dinner for 5-6 pm to give us more time to digest, while still leaving time for rides or fireworks afterwards.

TS restaurants will require you to use your meals for each person. QS you can probably work out splitting the meals and maybe adding a snack or two to make them stretch a bit more.

TS dinner ideas would be Garden Grill in Epcot (character meal/family style), Liberty Tree Tavern in MK (family style), Biergarten in Epcot (Germany/buffet), Trattoria al Forno (Boardwalk/Italian). Garden Grill and Ohana also have good character breakfasts.

 

[dpswift]

If you or your husband are drinkers use your morning as drink on a beer for later and use your refillable cup.
As much as it doesn’t seem that way the dining plan gets you lots of food. Use snack credits wisely. Many snacks can be easily shared.
Buy a popcorn bucket and get refills

 

[Squishie]

If you or your husband are drinkers use your morning as drink on a beer for later and use your refillable cup.
As much as it doesn’t seem that way the dining plan gets you lots of food. Use snack credits wisely. Many snacks can be easily shared.
Buy a popcorn bucket and get refills

Can the popcorn bucket be bought with snack credits?

 

[comicguy]

Can the popcorn bucket be bought with snack credits?

You cant get the bucket with a snack credit but you can buy regular serving of popcorn with a credit

 

[kcool]

I don’t know if the pizza at the Values is still 2 quick service credits or not, but we used to share that between 4 of us.

We would also use our refillable mug and then Use our drink credits from the meal for water or Powerade to carry into the parks with us.

 

[Maryrachel713]

No advice but also curious.

 

[Earningmywings]

We do a quick breakfast in the room, last year we brought protein bars and 100 munchkins from dunkin in a Tupperware and it held up surprisingly well over the 5 days. The refillable mug is included too for each, although only works at resorts. We fill each of our mugs the night before with Powerade and empty into the larger Yeti we bring to the parks. We then order Powerade at lunch to refill the yeti. This prevents wasted snack credits on buying drinks. We have a very similar dining schedule as yours, with the addition of Yak and Yeti at AK and Liberty Tree at MK.