Leaving the hubbies and kids behind - A May 2010 PTR, TR has begun!

[kschafer]

I definitely will. I hope you'll be able to get it!

The food blog link that CP posted on LL and Jen's PTR didn't show any so I'm not getting my hopes up. I do however have a possible thought

All of these drinks sound sooooo yummy! I can't wait to try them all! LOL! (OK - well, perhaps not all of them! )

Oh MEK, you never know what peer pressure will make a person do

Don't lie, Mary Ellen! You know you plan on having all of them.

 

[kschafer]

I'm having a bit of a food obsession as of late and am torn with a decision...

I have been drooling over all the options on the food porn site. I have said I would like to try deluxe dining sometime with the specific goal of trying the signature restaurants. I think about what that cost would be if we did it with my whole family... right now with the boys still considered "kids", their menu options stink and if we wait until they are older, the cost goes up dramatically. I am also totally sucked in by the appetizers included on the deluxe plan!

So I was thinking, if I ever was going to try deluxe, this would be a good time since the cost would just be for me. And with the gift card package, the additional cost of tips doesn't bother me since we can use the card to pay them.

My concerns: I honestly am not sure I can eat that much! Even doing only 2 TS a day (how could anyone do 3?) that is a lot of food. I also worry about how much time this may take out of our plans. Then again, it could be our break time if we just want to take a load off without leaving the parks entirely.

The possible alternative deluxe plan would be:

• Saturday (arrival day): dinner at Brown Derby, possibly trying to get a Fantasmic package
• Sunday: lunch at Sci-Fi and dinner at Biergarten
• Monday: Lunch in MK or maybe GFC, dinner at Artist Point, Narcoossees or Citricos (dropping our WCC ADR this day)
• Tuesday: Lunch at Yak and Yeti maybe, Dinner at Cali Grill
• Wednesday: Lunch in Epcot (chefs or tutto?), dinner at Jiko
• Thursday: possibly a late breakfast at CP, dinner with MEK at Ohana

Since we switch to room only on Thursday, we would definitely keep our Rose and Crown ADR on Friday and simply pay OOP and probably not bother with any TS on Saturday so I get something from my CS wish list.

I know I would have to drop some of my CS and snack list but I figure they will still be there for another trip. Deluxe comes with 2 snack credits each day and I would probably be so full I would end up burning most them on packaged snacks I can bring home to the boys

I keep going back and forth on this choice and ultimately, will probably leave the decision up to Beth. Share your thoughts and experiences please!

 

[MeMom]

Snacks:

• A cream cheese pretzel
• Figaro fries (although with CS wish #1 below, I may have to forgo, not sure I can do too much of this)
• A main street ice cream sandwich (although I see they serve ice cream sandwiches in Dinoland too)
• Dipped treats from Goofy’s
• A no way Jose from Beaches and Cream
• Zebra Domes
• School Bread and the almond pretzel from Kringla Bakery
• Mickey ice cream bar or sandwich
• At least 1 (if not more) goodies from the bakery in France
• At least 1 (if not more) goodies from the Main St Bakery
• Magic Cookie Bar (I have seen pics of these, do they sell them anywhere other than POR?)
• Carrot cake cookie from Writer’s stop
• Gonna have to have a frozen coke or 2 (I love those!)

Counter Service:

• MK: A burger and fries loaded with the fixings at either Cosmic Rays or Pecos Bills, also, I saw a picture of a BLT flatbread from a food cart (in frontierland I think) that looked SO good
• AK: The sandwich at Pizzafari that everyone raves about OR ribs from flame Tree BBQ
• Epcot: pork chop meal from sunshine seasons OR quiche from France (although Beth wanted to try Marrakesh so maybe a stop at Tangierine Café will be in order)
• DHS: I don’t have any must haves here. At one time I heard you could get the Brown Derby Cobb Salad at a CS next door. Does anyone know if this is still the case? I haven’t heard it in awhile so I’m guessing not. Any suggestions?
• DTD: Earl of Sandwich or Wolfgang Puck Express

Food.

I love food.

I really love Disney food.

You have so many great choices. The No Way Jose is incredible, and you know my opinion of zebra domes.

Earl of Sandwich - never had a sandwich I didn't like there.
WPE has a yummy BBQ chicken quesadilla.

For what it is worth, our bunch likes the chicken at Flame Tree better than the ribs. Sometimes the ribs are a little tough and chewy, but the chicken has been tender and delicious every time.

Sunshine Seasons has delicious pork chops and rotisserie chicken. So good!

I should probably not have looked at your post again right before I make out a grocery list. I have a feeling my cart is going to be very full.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I like the idea of the Deluxe Dining Plan would also enable you to have more 2 TS meals which is what I like about it. You are right about it being outrageously expensive when it is an entire family so now, when it's just you, would be the best time to do it! I think the refillable mugs are also included in the plan which would be nice.

 

[Lady Lallie]

You know...I think going deluxe might be good for you. Especially if you use your meal times as your break times. That way you don't lose time traveling going back to your resort for breaks. Plus you love sampling those Signature places I think. I think you should go for it, especially with that gift card offer, it will help out with the tips.

 

[manntra]

I have never done the DDP but I am looking into it on this trip too....I don't know but what I do know is that I agree with MeMom....I love Disney food...
I swear I am always comparing any food when I dine out to this meal or that meal at Disney....nothing ever comes close
I think if you can swing it then you should really do it....it is way too much$ with your whole family.

Tracy

 

[jenjolt]

Deluxe, Deluxe, Deluxe...I have been on the plan twice and I loved it both times!! I think you would really enjoy the plan and I think you should go for it and spoil yourself!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I've never done any of the dining plans so can't share any experiences with you but think it's a great idea. As Jen said, spoil yourself. And remember you don't have to clean your plate (unless you want to!!). I say go for it!

 

[Native NYer]

I would say try the deluxe dining plan, especially since it's just you. We've done deluxe dining twice and will do it again this summer. We definitely don't eat all of that food. I like having 3 meals paid for and I like trying different things. I learned from my mom that you never finish your meal so you can have dessert

From past experience, I would advise an early lunch TS and a late dinner TS. If booked too close together, you won't enjoy it at all. I learned the hard way.

 

[brookelizabeth]

We aren't big on the dining plan, we always end up spending less OOP than a dining plan would cost because we never eat as much as the dining plans provide! ....so I can't advise much on it....but, it seems like if you want to do signature restaurants it can be cost effective. And I like that the deluxe includes an appetizer!

 

[kschafer]

Food.

I love food.

I really love Disney food.

You have so many great choices. The No Way Jose is incredible, and you know my opinion of zebra domes.

Earl of Sandwich - never had a sandwich I didn't like there.
WPE has a yummy BBQ chicken quesadilla.

For what it is worth, our bunch likes the chicken at Flame Tree better than the ribs. Sometimes the ribs are a little tough and chewy, but the chicken has been tender and delicious every time.

Sunshine Seasons has delicious pork chops and rotisserie chicken. So good!

I should probably not have looked at your post again right before I make out a grocery list. I have a feeling my cart is going to be very full.

I can't wait to try the zebra domes! I don't know if we will make it to Beaches and Cream but I see ghirardelli has a chob/pb sundae too so maybe we'll stop there after WPE or EoS. I'm not a big fan of boned chicken, I can eat it but if I have a boneless option or something else I'm likely to choose that! (bones bother me less in ribs for some reason )

Hope you made it out of the grocery store with some "real" food

I like the idea of the Deluxe Dining Plan would also enable you to have more 2 TS meals which is what I like about it. You are right about it being outrageously expensive when it is an entire family so now, when it's just you, would be the best time to do it! I think the refillable mugs are also included in the plan which would be nice.

I'm really going to have to adjust to Coke Zero if I plan to use the refillable mug

You know...I think going deluxe might be good for you. Especially if you use your meal times as your break times. That way you don't lose time traveling going back to your resort for breaks. Plus you love sampling those Signature places I think. I think you should go for it, especially with that gift card offer, it will help out with the tips.

A long lunch could possibly be a reasonable alternative to a resort break! If we just want to take a load off our feet and not take a nap or something, that would save time for sure!

I have never done the DDP but I am looking into it on this trip too....I don't know but what I do know is that I agree with MeMom....I love Disney food...
I swear I am always comparing any food when I dine out to this meal or that meal at Disney....nothing ever comes close
I think if you can swing it then you should really do it....it is way too much$ with your whole family.

Tracy

Definitely something I won't be able to do with the entire family!

Deluxe, Deluxe, Deluxe...I have been on the plan twice and I loved it both times!! I think you would really enjoy the plan and I think you should go for it and spoil yourself!

It is vacation after all

I've never done any of the dining plans so can't share any experiences with you but think it's a great idea. As Jen said, spoil yourself. And remember you don't have to clean your plate (unless you want to!!). I say go for it!

I am SUCH a member of the clean plate club. I hate to blame others for my problems but I really do place some blame for my food issues on my parents because we were not allowed to leave the table until our food was gone. It's a habit that is SO hard to break!

I would say try the deluxe dining plan, especially since it's just you. We've done deluxe dining twice and will do it again this summer. We definitely don't eat all of that food. I like having 3 meals paid for and I like trying different things. I learned from my mom that you never finish your meal so you can have dessert

From past experience, I would advise an early lunch TS and a late dinner TS. If booked too close together, you won't enjoy it at all. I learned the hard way.

We will never plan on more than 2 meals in a day, there is NO way I could handle that much food! Early lunch and late dinner should definitely make it doable.

We aren't big on the dining plan, we always end up spending less OOP than a dining plan would cost because we never eat as much as the dining plans provide! ....so I can't advise much on it....but, it seems like if you want to do signature restaurants it can be cost effective. And I like that the deluxe includes an appetizer!

I'm such a sucker for appetizers and when you consider the OOP expense of adding appetizers on the regular plan, the cost is even lower (how is my Disney math?) I KNOW I would be able to eat for less paying OOP but I love the whole idea of "it's included so go ahead and order it!"

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I e-mailed Beth and explained the 2 options, proposed a possible dining plan, and laid out the pros and cons as I see them then said it is up to her. Well, she decided.....
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Deluxe it is!! Leave it up to our minds to think in the same way! She agreed that it's not something we would be able to do under different circumstances so why not go for it! I have a couple ADR's lined up already but need to work out a couple more so I will update soon!

 

[manntra]

for Deluxe!! Can't wait to see where else you are going to eat! I will look into it....we do have 1 TS meal every day anyways

Tracy

 

[Native NYer]

You're going to love deluxe dining!

 

[ILuvCrush]

woohoo!!!!
you will have a blast!

P

 

[Happy Elf]

Yahoo for Deluxe! You will eat well! Sounds great!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Yay for Deluxe!!

 

[Megablocks]

I'm so glad you decided to go with the deluxe! I am very excited to see what ADRs you're going to have.

I am the same way about boned chicken -- I just can't do it.

 

[jenjolt]

WOOT Congrats on going deluxe...you will love it!! TRUST ME on that!!

 

[kschafer]

for Deluxe!! Can't wait to see where else you are going to eat! I will look into it....we do have 1 TS meal every day anyways

Tracy

This was really a good excuse to add a few more signature dining to our plan (and like I said, I'm a sucker for the appetizers!)

You're going to love deluxe dining!

I'm so excited!

woohoo!!!!
you will have a blast!

P

I can't wait!

Yahoo for Deluxe! You will eat well! Sounds great!

They will probably have to roll back onto the plane

Yay for Deluxe!!

I'm so glad you decided to go with the deluxe! I am very excited to see what ADRs you're going to have.

I am the same way about boned chicken -- I just can't do it.

It's not that I can't do it, I just will choose something else first. Unless it's fried chicken, for some reason that's OK

WOOT Congrats on going deluxe...you will love it!! TRUST ME on that!!

I have been influenced by the best

 

[SoonerGirl]

Hi Katie! When you pointed out that we were going to be at WDW at the same time I had to come and check out your PTR. And, guess what, not only will we be there at the same time, we are staying at the same resort!

Your plans sound great, and I can't wait to see what you come up with for your extra ADRs since you decided to go deluxe!!