Is ROL Dining Package a bad idea?

[ArielSparrow]

So we were planning on a Tusker House pre-opening breakfast, but everything I'm reading is telling me I should join the throng for FOP RD. Am I setting myself up for failure by going to breakfast? The theory is that we are freeing up that FP+ and allowing a chance of a 4th.

We'll be spending 2 full days at AK, so Tusker/ROL would only be the first day.

 

[Thing 1]

We did it last spring. We like Tusker House and we wanted to see the show so it really was a no brainer for us. That being said, we found Tusker house much crazier than we remembered from a couple years ago. We did the dinner package with an early dinner. The characters were very friendly but there were kids chasing them all over which we had never experienced there before. Food was very good but it is a bit different and there seems to be less choices than many places. As for the show, we were glad we saw it....it was a good show but was a once and done for us. We don’t regret the way we did that evening, but I doubt we will do it again until we return with Family or friends who have can seen the show.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

I'd like to do it with Tiffans. I hear the food is incredible and you'll probably get your moneys worth more there, minus the characters

 

[BellaandMickey]

I switched mine to a lunch with ROL because we decided RDing FOP was more important.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

We arrived at AK early (a little after RD to avoid the hoards and do Navi standby). We had a FP for FoP after that and then we did Tusker breakfast RoL package. I think it was about 10:30am. We had a decent wait to check in, but the breakfast and characters were great. Have fun!

 

[Ksquared]

We normally do breakfast at Tusker House but last trip we switched it up to a lunch with the ROL dining package. I would definitely recommend. Like another poster said, I'm glad I saw the show but I won't do it every trip. We also went to AK twice last trip so it was easy to use a FP for the dining package our 2nd day at AK.

 

[soniam]

I love Tiffins, but only do it if you think you will like the food. If you don't want to use an FP for FOP, then definitely show up at least an hour before park opening. We did it twice a couple of weeks ago, and it was very successful. We did find though that after we finished FOP and had ridden Everest, Dinosaur, and Primeval Whirl as much as we could stand, we didn't have a lot to do. We had an FP for Safari later, but it didn't have a long wait. It was too cold for Kali. We had an FP for Navi later, and it was actually broken down most of the morning. I was thinking that you could book a late Tusker breakfast, especially if the park opens at 8am or earlier.

 

[rteetz]

I’ve only done Tiffins for the package but I think the package is a great deal. You get a meal and a show.

 

[Lesley Wake]

I think you are also asking 2 different questions:

ROL dining package-good idea. Tusker House is awesome, with great foods for breakfast and lunch. Tiffins is absolutely delicious. I am a picky eater so was worried about if I’d like the food at either of those and they were some of my favorite places!

PPO at AK-not so much a good idea. It’s better to get a late morning, so you hit some rides at low crowds then break for food. If you do at 10:30 you also get breakfast and lunch foods but at breakfast price. And if that’s too late for food, you can grab a pastry or snack earlier.

 

[CAS239]

Would you be eating at Tusker if it didn't have the dining package? If so, then keep your reservation..if not then cancel your reservation.

I would personally move it closer to a lunch time. I wouldn't want to use up good park hours that early and would rather eat when crowds are bigger.

I only recommend doing the dining packages if you plan to already eat at the restaurant. Regardless what option you choose, you'll still want to arrive to the arena with plenty of time. The dining package doesn't guarantee you a seat close to showtime.

Getting RoL as a 4th FP is also a fairly easy option

 

[rangerxenos]

I'd like to do it with Tiffans. I hear the food is incredible and you'll probably get your moneys worth more there, minus the characters

I did the Tiffins package in December. WONDERFUL restaurant, and if you're planning on eating there anyway, the ROL dining package can actually save you money as you get to pick one item from each area!

 

[rteetz]

I did the Tiffins package in December. WONDERFUL restaurant, and if you're planning on eating there anyway, the ROL dining package can actually save you money as you get to pick one item from each area!

Agreed! That’s why I’ve done the dining package at tiffins twice.

 

[ArielSparrow]

I'd like to do it with Tiffans. I hear the food is incredible and you'll probably get your moneys worth more there, minus the characters

More money and no characters, plus taking time out of the day sounds less appealing to me, actually.

PPO at AK-not so much a good idea. It’s better to get a late morning, so you hit some rides at low crowds then break for food.

But then I would be losing an hour of park time to eat? If I have to show up at least an hour beforehand to RD FOP, as mentioned by someone above, so park arrival time would be the same either way (just two different destinations), then I guess the question is there any difference? I'm sure there isn't because not all hours are created equal, so I'm trying to wrap my already around it. I usually have a hard time doing a sit-down during park hours (but I might need to adjust my understanding of what it means for a party to be open, since plants of queuing happens before then).

 

[Tomh]

We did the Tusker House package last summer for lunch. We hit Pandora at Rope Drop to ride NRJ, then returned later in the day for Flight of Passage with FP+, and used the dining package to get into RoL. We were also able to see Pandora after dark, Festival of the Lion King, Flights of Wonder, and ride the Safari first thing in the morning, and again at twilight. It was, perhaps, the most enjoyable day we have ever had at Animal Kingdom, though I do have to admit, I miss the parade there. The floats were so unique!

 

[Tksolomom]

PPO puts you at a a disadvantage for Pandora, but is good for the other rides and areas. If seeing Pandora first thing without fast passes is your plan, I would skip the breakfast. The lines will start building everywhere about 10 or 10:30, so that is a good time to have breakfast if you want to RD Pandora; otherwise your pan is fine.

 

[ArielSparrow]

I got too wordy.

Question:
Is eating at 8:10-9:10 taking up more time than 10-11 if the park opens at 9a?

That is the core of my question, I think, because I usually try to about table service and buffets during park hours, thinking they take too much time. I'm so glad mobile ordering is a thing now.

 

[ArielSparrow]

My reasoning behind Tusker is getting in early, going straight to the safari. Yeah I'll get a fp but last time I think we rode it three times. But now I see the line for Pandora is inside the park. So assuming lines for Pandora are over an hour (which it looks like they are), then I need to pretend that the park opens at 8a.

 

[10CJ]

If you want to eat and go on the safari I think your plan is fine. If you are getting a PPO in an attempt to get a jump on the Pandora crowds I think your plan puts you at a disadvantage.

If you want to RD FOP I would not schedule a PPO breakfast.

 

[chuff88]

I’ve only done Tiffins for the package but I think the package is a great deal. You get a meal and a show.

I'm excited to hear this. We're doing the Tiffin's ROL package and I'm really excited to try Tiffin's. I'm glad you still get the full app/entree/dessert and can order off the normal menu.

 

[ArielSparrow]

If you want to eat and go on the safari I think your plan is fine. If you are getting a PPO in an attempt to get a jump on the Pandora crowds I think your plan puts you at a disadvantage.

If you want to RD FOP I would not schedule a PPO breakfast.

Originally I came up with the idea because were were going on a EMH day and I was like how can I get in too... I didn't consider RD Pandora (since that wasn't even an option) until later when we switched the days and I found that everything is saying to RD. But I was already looking forward to Tusker. I heard good things about it before. But I just don't know now. I think I'll wait and see what FP+ reservations I'm able to make. I might have to wait until a couple weeks before my trip to cancel these, once I see what fall queues are like and am able to better assess.