last minute $$ worrys.....

[Misty89]

HI~

we arrive at WDW in one week from today....
having issues with $$ mostly regarding PS 's...

we have PS set up Coral reff...budgeting $150
Chef mickey - budget 75$
Crystal palace budgeting $100
and CRT budgeting 75$....

really wondering if we should really eat at all these places???
CRT is for sure a go, we enjoyed it the one other time we went.
coral reef and Chef mickeys are the two that we are stressing over ( OK i am) we are a family of 4 , Me, DH, 2 DD's ages 13 &5.
it is justifiable to spend much on breakfast and dinner???? do you think we can get away with MUCH less if we had breakfast at CR counter service or park counter?
I would WAY rather spend money on sovies etc, then to eat it.....is anyone else double guessing the PS they made?

not sure what to do....i know we dont want to cancel these hard to gt PS until we know for sure....can you tell i am getting OVERwelhmed?????



thanks

 

[disneysteve]

Here's my 2-cents. Hope its worth at least that much.

The 5 year old is probably the only one who still gets really excited about seeing the characters. There are lots of places in all 4 parks to see characters for free. Also, the 5 year old is probably not a huge eater and paying for a fancy meal is probably a waste for her.

We NEVER go out for breakfast. We think lunch and dinner are much better values. Plus, by doing a formal breakfast, you waste valuable park time when the crowd is the smallest and you can get the most done.

You can absolutely spend much less doing counter service compared to the places you listed. Keep in mind you can share meals at a counter service place - can't do that at a buffet.

So if money is tight, I would agree with skipping one or more of those meals. Personally, we love Crystal Palace. We would eat there every trip whether it was a character meal or not. The food is excellent. But we always go for lunch which is cheaper than dinner.

 

[WDWorBUST]

I'm just one person with one opinion - but I would drop Coral Reef like a hot potato. I was not impressed - and I was so looking forward to eating there. It was a waste of time and money in my book. On the other hand I LOVED Chef Mickeys and I didn't have any children with me. I have never done CRT but we do enjoy Crystal Palace - If I were you and I was going to drop any of the meals you listed it would be Coral Reef and probably Crystal Palace....as much as I enjoyed it.

 

[gigi1313]

i agree w/the previous posters... skip coral reef... keep crt... skip both or at least one of the other two... it's very easy to find the characters that appear at these meals in other places for free and the food is good but not great!

 

[poohj80]

3rd vote for dropping Coral Reef. We enjoy a good meal, especially seafood, but we were not that impressed with the food or service here although the atmosphere is wonderful.

 

[CheapMom]

I would cut 2 of the 4 PS if I were you. I think when you go to 3 or 4 in a week it kind of makes it less special.

 

[fam4jc]

HI. I know about freaking over ps plans, me too! I change mine over and over again, except for CRT! I too would drop the Coral Reef b/c it is very costly (I think you under estimated your price for three adults) and it's just not as good as it should be for the cost. If eating isn't a high priority for your enjoyment of the trip, then cut away at those ps's! Put your money where you will get the most out of it! Sometimes it is more fun to grab something to eat on the go anyway, especially in Epcot where you can get very different types of food within a short walk.!! Have a great trip.

 

[CarolA]

If you look at reviews and other souces you will see that Coral Reef is consistently voted one of the WORST resturants at Disney. Not to mention it is fairly expensive. Your budget for that one seems low. I would dump it in a heart beat!

 

[precious pixie]

Instead of doing a character meal check out the Ice Cream Social at Epcot. It happens in the afternoons (a specified time that I can't remember). There are a lot of characters there and it is a lot less money bc instead of eating a meal you get to create your own ice cream sundae. They have plenty to choose from. You should check it out I believe there is something about it on this site or at allearsnet.com

 

[Deb & Bill]

Do you have enough allotted for the basic cost of the meal?

CRT:
Adult breakfast $22 plus tax and tip
Child breakfast $12 plus tax and tip

(3x22) + 12 = $78 plus tax and tip

CM
Adult breakfast $18 plus tax and tip
Child breakfast $10 plus tax and tip

(3X18) +10 = $64 plus tax and tip

Adult dinner $27 plus tax and tip
Child dinner $12 plus tax and tip

(3X27) + 12 = $93 plus tax and tip

CP

Adult breakfast $18 plus tax and tip
Child breakfast $10 plus tax and tip

(3X18) +10 = $64 plus tax and tip

Adult lunch $19 plus tax and tip
Child lunch $11plus tax and tip

(3X19) + 11 = $68 plus tax and tip

Adult dinner $23 plus tax and tip
Child dinner $11 plus tax and tip

(3X23) + 11 = $80 plus tax and tip

I think you may be short on your estimates.

 

[Threehearts]

We did not like this restaurant at all and that is saying something since we were right in front of the aquarium not stuck in the second tier seating. I thought the meal was hugely overrated and super expensive for the mediocre/poor quality. The view of the people swimming around the tank was fantastic and thank goodness for that. I would keep your money and spend it on what you know will be a good time. JMHO- Threehearts

 

[Misty89]

Do you have enough allotted for the basic cost of the meal?

thank you for the breakdowns.....

i agree, my estimates are probly a little low....we did cancel Coral Reef, and will decide on Chef mickeys once we see it ( we only have to wait a week yet ) we are going to check it out once we check into the Cr resort.

i believe we have enough money, mabye more than enough.... BUT like i said above, DH and I are leary about spending 100$++ on meals that we dont even know if we are going to like as a family.( we NEVER spend 100$ on out to eat dinners at home) Rather spend extra on souvies , or really anyhting else but food at expensive places.

thanks again for all the replies.....


Tina

 

[Jynohn]

I think you did the right thing cancelling Coral Reef. I agree with everyone else who said it's hugely overrated and very over-priced.

As for Chef Mickey's we weren't terribly impressed with that either, but I've heard others have had a great time there so it may have been just us.

On our last trip I planned WAY too many character meals and the other posters were right, it does lose some of it's "specialness" after the first few. I do think you made good choices with the Crystal Palace and CRT though. Whatever you decide, enjoy your trip!

 

[Chicago526]

Hmmm, my mom and I liked the food at Coral Reef! But it is very over priced, and there is something weird about eating a fish dish while watching your meal's cousin swim by....

Out of the 4, CR was the one to drop. I'd keep Chef Mickey's, though, it really is a lot of fun!

 

[panfan]

I just want to add....I am right now "kind of in the same boat" as you! With 3 weeks left....I am second guessing myself in spending so much $$ on the ps meals! Especially Christmas right around the corner. DS is dying for the gameboy sp and I can't bring myself to spend the $70 on it ....but I will blow more than that on a ps character dinner ??? Really doesn't make sense if you think about it. I did change dinner at whispering canyon to lunch one day....but having a hard time justifying the character brekfasts....especially since we are dvc members w/ a kitchen!
Good luck!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I'd cut the coral reef and maybe the CP.

I love the CP, but most of the characters there are easy to find other places. The coral reef is downright awful. I can't even think of anything on the menu I can eat, or that a kid could eat.

 

[CJDJ]

Our family loves the character breakfast. If I had to cut back. I'd cut the dinners. There more expensive and a good breakfast is hard to beat. Also, I wouldn't want to chase the characters all over the park and wait on those lines. We did it one year and never again.

Carol

PS: Hope I didn't confuse you more. We love Chef Mickeys