I need help! WDW dining is expensive!

[SonicGuy]

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents worth - we just got back on a family trip with 7 kids - our 4 and my sil's 4 that had never been. The character breakfasts were a LIFESAVER. We spent our time waiting for character signatures in a nice sit down environment WITH FOOD. This allowed us to avoid many character lines throughout the parks. The kids also got more intimate interaction with the characters - especially at Hollywood and Vine - they LOVED that one.

I would do what your family wants and then simply run the numbers as to what each meal is going to cost and then compare it to a dining plan cost. We ended up doing the deluxe - and yes it was more food than we could eat - but we did not have to worry about it.

Plan what ya'll want - and then make it happen. That's the whole point of vacation.

HAVE FUN!!!

 

[kim_d]

Are you going with the basic or deluxe or paying OOP? With that many table service meals you might be better off with the deluxe.

We just did 8 nights on the deluxe with our 4yo and 6yo and we loved it. We will do it again in June.

We visit WDW frequently, so the extra time it takes for TS doesn't bother us.

Just remember that all those TS meals require a tip so it does add up quickly.

 

[3boymthr]

Hi, just a quick comment - Do you have park hoppers? I noticed that you have at least one day that requires park admissions for two different parks (AK - Tusker House/Flame Tree BBQ & DHS - Sci Fi on Monday).

ETA - we really liked lunch at LTT - but must admit that it was many many years ago that we ate there (I was a teen).

 

[NMW]

I don't think that you have too many TS, but I do think they are too close together. We do 3 meals a day lots of times at WDW, but we do an early breakfast (around 8 AM), lunch (arounf 1 PM), dinner (around 7:30). I should say that we usually don't eat dinner at home until 7-7:30, so it'a not a big change for us. The kids don't really get hungry at WDW between lunch and dinner, but if they do, we would just get them a snack.

I also think the deluxe dining plan would be worth it for you-we LOVE it.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Going with the Dinning Plan 1 CS & 1 TB Serv. is really good & worth the money.

 

[carmiedog]

In-room breakfasts are a great money-saver. However, if you're paying out of pocket, character breakfasts are less expensive than the lunches and dinners. It looks like the dining plan would probably be best for you, though.

Here's where I would definitely cut:

Chef Mickey's, Tusker House, Cape May - I'd cut one of these. Probably cut Tusker or Cape May since they're both breakfast. The CM character dinner will give you different food/experience, and it's on your first night.

1900 Park Fare BREAKFAST or Crystal Palace - I'd choose one or the other. 1900 has a variety of characters, but they both have some from Pooh.

It's hard to balance character meals for the kids and meals for mom and dad. We try to do one meal a day. Half our meals are character, the other half adult. And we try to spread them out so we have one character meal day followed by an adult meal day.

 

[wheredreamsbegin]

In-room breakfasts are a great money-saver. However, if you're paying out of pocket, character breakfasts are less expensive than the lunches and dinners. It looks like the dining plan would probably be best for you, though.

Here's where I would definitely cut:

Chef Mickey's, Tusker House, Cape May - I'd cut one of these. Probably cut Tusker or Cape May since they're both breakfast. The CM character dinner will give you different food/experience, and it's on your first night.

1900 Park Fare BREAKFAST or Crystal Palace - I'd choose one or the other. 1900 has a variety of characters, but they both have some from Pooh.

It's hard to balance character meals for the kids and meals for mom and dad. We try to do one meal a day. Half our meals are character, the other half adult. And we try to spread them out so we have one character meal day followed by an adult meal day.

I don't know how many people have read all of the previous posts, so I will summarize where I have come from my OP:

*I am eliminating some of the TS (San Angel Inn, Rainforest Cafe, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Tutto)

*We will have friends dining with us at some of the buffets. They can watch our kids while we get food and we will watch theirs while they get food.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone's input! The information provided in the above post leads me to one final question...

If I were to cut one of the following from each group, what should it be?

Group 1
Chef Mickey (chosen to kick off our vacation and to see the Contemporary)
Tusker House (chosen because we really want to see Daisy)
Cape May (chosen because we wanted to stay at BCV & I heard it's good!)


Group 2
1900 Park Fare (chosen to see Mary Poppins and GF)
Crystal Palace (chosen b/c we need a dinner at MK and building looks neat)

 

[DISNEY FIX]

You have gotten some great advice. IMHO you need to keep trimming off a few more. At the end of you trip you will kick yourself for not seeing more things other than the inside of restaurants. Have a great time, you know best about your family,

 

[princess lovers mom]

I don't know how many people have read all of the previous posts, so I will summarize where I have come from my OP:

*I am eliminating some of the TS (San Angel Inn, Rainforest Cafe, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Tutto)

*We will have friends dining with us at some of the buffets. They can watch our kids while we get food and we will watch theirs while they get food.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone's input! The information provided in the above post leads me to one final question...

If I were to cut one of the following from each group, what should it be?

Group 1
Chef Mickey (chosen to kick off our vacation and to see the Contemporary)
Tusker House (chosen because we really want to see Daisy)
Cape May (chosen because we wanted to stay at BCV & I heard it's good!)


Group 2
1900 Park Fare (chosen to see Mary Poppins and GF)
Crystal Palace (chosen b/c we need a dinner at MK and building looks neat)

to answer your question -GROUP 1 I would keep Chef Mickey it is soooo Disney the other 2 things to consider - where are you staying? getting to Cape May for breakfast from another resort will not be easy - will probably need a taxi - the buses only go from resort to park - so I guess I would keep Tusker house

GROUP 2 - I like the food better at Crystal Palace - again to get to Park Fare in the AM will require bus to MK then monorail all the way around to 1900 Park Fare...

also fo you realize that your Monday had you in AK for your meals and then in the Studios for your dinner - that seems like a lot for the kiddos! and beaches and cream does not take ADR's and you might have to wait a long time for a table - it is a small place

 

[wheredreamsbegin]

We are planning to take taxis to Cape May Cafe and 1900 Park Fare. I don't know if there are any Noggin watchers out there, but my girls love the "taxi" song. They will be so surprised (and happy!) when we get into the back of a taxi and sing the song with them.

We have park hoppers and will be doing a couple of days (Monday and Wednesday) at two different parks. We have hopped with the girls in the past. They have always done fine...especially given the fact that we go back to the resort for a rest in the afternoon.

 

[msce2]

They have raised the prices to most CS and TS places so the menus online are not really accurate. I think DH and I might to the deluxe dining plan in Oct.....may work out better!

Does anyone know where to get the updated pricing? For budgeting purposes I have everything figured out including tax and tip. It would really throw things off if I have all the prices wrong. Thks!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Are you on the dining plan? If you are planning to do at least 1 table service per day, then the dining plan is worth the money, IMO. Those character meals can really add up!

 

[AustinTink]

Wow, aside from the cost issue of 2 to 3 TS meals per day, you'll be truly stuffed all the time. I vote to knock it down to one TS per day and wing it with CS for the other meals. We eat 2 meals and one snack per day because the food they serve there is so huge.

 

[Totally Tink]

Wow, aside from the cost issue of 2 to 3 TS meals per day, you'll be truly stuffed all the time. I vote to knock it down to one TS per day and wing it with CS for the other meals. We eat 2 meals and one snack per day because the food they serve there is so huge.

I completely agree. You also will need to be way more flexible due to the ages of your kids. There's so much to do, that it just may not be possible to eat at all of those restuarants. Have a great trip!

 

[AURAVAD]

Group 1
Chef Mickey (chosen to kick off our vacation and to see the Contemporary)
Tusker House (chosen because we really want to see Daisy)
Cape May (chosen because we wanted to stay at BCV & I heard it's good!)

This is sooo selfish of me but if you drop the Chef Mickey I want it please.
I can't get one all week except for after 9pm.

Thanks!

 

[Moomduck1]

If I were to cut one of the following from each group, what should it be?

Group 1
Chef Mickey (chosen to kick off our vacation and to see the Contemporary)
Tusker House (chosen because we really want to see Daisy)
Cape May (chosen because we wanted to stay at BCV & I heard it's good!)


Group 2
1900 Park Fare (chosen to see Mary Poppins and GF)
Crystal Palace (chosen b/c we need a dinner at MK and building looks neat)

Group 1 - I personally would cut Tusker House, but if your family really wants Daisy, then cut Cape May. I have heard that Disney won't guarantee that certain characters are at each meal and they reserve the right to change characters. I've never seen that happen, but I just wanted to warn you.

Group 2 - I would cut Crystal Palace. The 1900 Park Fare has different characters to see. You can find lots of nice counter service places at the MK to eat at and be happy.

Have fun! I hope you post a trip report when you come back!!!

 

[wheredreamsbegin]

This is sooo selfish of me but if you drop the Chef Mickey I want it please.
I can't get one all week except for after 9pm.

Thanks!

I'll keep this in mind.

Group 1 - I personally would cut Tusker House, but if your family really wants Daisy, then cut Cape May. I have heard that Disney won't guarantee that certain characters are at each meal and they reserve the right to change characters. I've never seen that happen, but I just wanted to warn you.

Group 2 - I would cut Crystal Palace. The 1900 Park Fare has different characters to see. You can find lots of nice counter service places at the MK to eat at and be happy.

Have fun! I hope you post a trip report when you come back!!!

Thank you for the input. I really need help choosing between these restaurants.

I've never thought about writing a trip report. I'll have to consider it. It would be one way to make the magic last a little longer!

 

[PrincessBelle39]

I agree that one sit down is definitely enough with kids. On our last trip we went with our two girls 3 and 5. I notice that a lot of people have said drop H&V. Personally this was the favourite character meal for our two girls. Being playhouse disney fans, these were the characters they knew. It was also enjoyable for them because it was a lot more interactive than the other character meals. Here they got to get up and dance with the characters as well as the usual table visits for photos.

 

[El&Asmom]

We are planning to take taxis to Cape May Cafe and 1900 Park Fare. I don't know if there are any Noggin watchers out there, but my girls love the "taxi" song. They will be so surprised (and happy!) when we get into the back of a taxi and sing the song with them.

We have park hoppers and will be doing a couple of days (Monday and Wednesday) at two different parks. We have hopped with the girls in the past. They have always done fine...especially given the fact that we go back to the resort for a rest in the afternoon.

We have little ones as well, so we have never taken a taxi since we don't bring car seats. Do they allow kids in taxi's w/o car seats if they are needed based on their age. Just wondering for future planning.

 

[wheredreamsbegin]

We have little ones as well, so we have never taken a taxi since we don't bring car seats. Do they allow kids in taxi's w/o car seats if they are needed based on their age. Just wondering for future planning.

When we were in Canada (I realize Canada is a different country with completely different rules, but it's all I have to go on.) we were able to travel by taxi with our three month old. We used her carseat/carrier whenever possible, but sometimes we just couldn't do it. I know that there were some taxi companies that had car seats available (when we called ahead and made prior arrangements). Again, that was in Canada, so I don't know what taxi companies in the U.S. provide. I should make a call.

We will have our youngest daughter's carseat with us because we are taking it on the plane. If it is necessary to use it, we will.