Next trip, no DDP!

[Albytaps]

So I still haven't booked our next WDW trip but I'm thinking it'll be towards the end of August 2012. We'll plan on staying 1-2 weeks.

The last few trips we have done the DDP and although it was great, we always spend the last few days stuffing our faces trying to use up the rest of the meals and snacks we have. Also, we have gone at the time of the F&W festival and the snacks are great to use at the booths.

So now that we'll be going in the summer, we want to eat at our own pace and go to a few TS restaurants if we choose to do so. What I want feedback for is what TS restaurants would you do in WDW? I like the idea of eating inside the parks, but if there's a TS restaurant worth eating outside the parks that's ok too. We are DVC members and AP holders so any benefits from that would be greatly appreciated too!

Oh yea, we are a family of 6... I have 4 girls and at the time of our trip they will be ages 4, 6, 9, and 10. Would this be a good time for us to go to CRT? I have never been in there and yes even as a grown man I want to eat with the princesses inside the castle.

Thanks!

 

[budafam]

I think CRT is wonderful. Do the breakfast so it's a bit cheaper... it's also nice to get it out of the way right away in the morning so you can enjoy the rest of the day. We had the DDP last time we visited (but it was during free dining so we had just upgraded to it) and although I found it lots of fun to try the different restaurants, it was pure torture by the end. I would love to go again if it's during free dining, but I would never pay for it myself.

 

[Pakey]

We quite using the dining plans years ago for the same reason; too much food, especially desserts which we don't like.

So we do OOP now and honestly, I think buffets are one of the worst values for the money. Your 10 year old will pay adult prices. If we take our grandchildren, we try to limit the number of buffets we do because we don't eat enough to justify the cost of them.

I actually like Akershus better as a princess meal than CRT.

As an AP holder, you should look at how much you plan to spend on meals and decide if getting the TIW card will be of benefit to you since it saves 20% on TS meals, even restaurants that are not on the dining plan.

 

[Albytaps]

Thanks guys. Akershus would be an option but I don't think my wife and kids would like the menu too much, also being inside the castle is what attracted me most to CRT.

Ugh... buffets is what I like most. I definitely want to go back to Biergarten, the atmosphere and food was great. Otherwise I'd like to try different restaurants I haven't been to. I want to try Les Chefs de France and Yak and Yeti to name a couple....

Is the Japan restaurant and China worth going to? Maybe we'll go back to San Angel Inn or the new one by the water.

What about Hollywood Studios? I heard good things about the Brown Derby.

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks guys. Akershus would be an option but I don't think my wife and kids would like the menu too much, also being inside the castle is what attracted me most to CRT.

Ugh... buffets is what I like most. I definitely want to go back to Biergarten, the atmosphere and food was great. Otherwise I'd like to try different restaurants I haven't been to. I want to try Les Chefs de France and Yak and Yeti to name a couple....

Is the Japan restaurant and China worth going to? Maybe we'll go back to San Angel Inn or the new one by the water.

What about Hollywood Studios? I heard good things about the Brown Derby.

We love Teppan Edo in Japan and go each trip. It is hibachi style and the chef entertains as he cooks right at your table. The tables are for 8 seated around the gril, so there will likely by another couple seated with you. If you have a hibachi restaurant near home, you may want to choose somewhere else.
We liked La Hacienda in Mexico in October. It was really good.
We really enjoyed Via Napoli in Italy. It is a casual restaurant and we had pizza, which was delicious.
We really enjoy the 50's Prime Time Cafe at the DHS. It is a 50's themed diner, and your servers are your "cousins". They get into the act of telling you to keep your elbows off the tables, and eat your vegtables, etc. The food is comfort food, good but not gourmet.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[tlenzendorf]

We are done with the DDP also! Something I hadn't thought of until my friend pointed it out is that the servers are getting more in tips because of the DDP, too. Normally I wouldn't get a soda and dessert, but with it being included on the dining plan we would get them. The higher the bill, the higher the tip, even if you get "free" dining.

Since you have an AP I would get the TiW card. With that many people I bet you would easily make up the cost right away.

I agree with the PP who said have breakfast in the castle. It is cheaper for breakfast and I think breakfast is the most tasty meal of the day anyhow

 

[budafam]

Thanks guys. Akershus would be an option but I don't think my wife and kids would like the menu too much, also being inside the castle is what attracted me most to CRT.

Ugh... buffets is what I like most. I definitely want to go back to Biergarten, the atmosphere and food was great. Otherwise I'd like to try different restaurants I haven't been to. I want to try Les Chefs de France and Yak and Yeti to name a couple....

Is the Japan restaurant and China worth going to? Maybe we'll go back to San Angel Inn or the new one by the water.

What about Hollywood Studios? I heard good things about the Brown Derby.

Being "in" the castle is well worth the price IMO. I would do it if you've never been. We're going to Akershus this time around to try it so I can't really compare the two but I think being in the castle is on it's own level.

I loved Biergarten as well! Can't go wrong with that place! We booked San Angel Inn for our upcoming trip and I can't wait for that.

In Hollywood Studios, I would recommend 50's Prime Time if you like home cooked meals or Sci-Fi if you like lighter foods... the atmosphere in both of the places is sooo much fun. I'm not a fan of Brown Derby. It's expensive and we had bad service. I'll never return.

 

[AirGoofy]

The last few trips we have done the DDP and although it was great, we always spend the last few days stuffing our faces trying to use up the rest of the meals and snacks we have. Also, we have gone at the time of the F&W festival and the snacks are great to use at the booths.

Oh yea, we are a family of 6... I have 4 girls and at the time of our trip they will be ages 4, 6, 9, and 10. Would this be a good time for us to go to CRT? I have never been in there and yes even as a grown man I want to eat with the princesses inside the castle.

Thanks!

Thanks guys. Akershus would be an option but I don't think my wife and kids would like the menu too much, also being inside the castle is what attracted me most to CRT.

Ugh... buffets is what I like most. I definitely want to go back to Biergarten, the atmosphere and food was great. Otherwise I'd like to try different restaurants I haven't been to. I want to try Les Chefs de France and Yak and Yeti to name a couple....

Is the Japan restaurant and China worth going to? Maybe we'll go back to San Angel Inn or the new one by the water.

What about Hollywood Studios? I heard good things about the Brown Derby.

We are DVC and done with DP. We tried the DP and DxDP. It is not worth the money. If you add it item vs item, then it saves money. But, if you don't want to eat that way, then in really isn't. We tend to eat dinner TS at days we don't do theme parks.

I have 2 dds. You may want to rethink Akershus - FOR BREAKFAST. You get princesses for your daughters, pictures included, a cold breakfast buffet for you, and hot breakfast served family style. Cold breakfast has fruits, sweet rolls, etc and hot breakfast is eggs, bacon, potatoes.

I am not a fan of CRT dinner, but the CRT breakfast - stuffed french toast - is the best breakfast anywhere.

Since you like buffets, the best buffet I (and cheapest) is at Trail's End at Fort Wilderness. Plus, you get a nice boat ride over. I think Crystal Palace is also another great buffet.

We are trying Nine Dragons (China) this trip and have been to Teppan Edo (Japan). It is like any other Japanese Hibachi restaurant, even ones you find here in KY. The Brown Derby is the best place to eat at DHS. It is signature dining, so slower between courses and more expensive, but definitely worth it. The filet was excellent. The Cobb Salad is great. I forget what my dds had but they really liked it. Tusker house is a buffet at Animal Kingdom.

 

[DDM101]

With four young girls, I'd say you are prime for a Castle ressie if the kids are intersted in princesses. I agree with Pakey that you should seriously consider the TIW card. If you have the TIW card, you receive a 20% discount on many dining venues and the tax and tip are automatically calculated in some restaurants/shows to include CRT, HDDR, and Spirit of Aloah. TIW can be a great savings.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Besides Teppan Edo in Japan there is Tokyo Dining which we really enjoyed last time we dined there. The food is good and there are windows. We lucked out and got a corner window for Illuminations.

We've used the QSDP for the past 2 years and love it! I totally get your point about tipping on TS meals. Not having to make ADRs and tip is just an added benefit of the QSDP. With the change to only 1 SC in 2012 though it's not as good of a deal (unless it's free, of course!)

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

I have to say if you are considering CRT I would recommend doing it this trip before your 9 year old turns 10 and becomes a Disney adult.

We did CRT for lunch and breakfast. Didn't really care for the lunch food, but loved the breakfast! Each person gets to order off the menu (stuffed French toast is so good!) plus they bring pastries and fruit to the table.

 

[Albytaps]

Thanks for the feedback all! You've given me some great suggestions!

We've been to both the 50's PT Cafe and Sci-Fi. Maybe we'll go to Sci-Fi again since it's been awhile.

The Tusker house sounds interesting, I haven't thought of that.

My 9 year old will be 10 by the time we go, so I have no choice but paying for an adult price. I think I may have to go to CRT though because she might be getting old for princess stuff. She chose to do the Pirates League instead of BBB this year and man was that awesome. I think she rather do that instead from now on.

I'll try to narrow it down to 1 TS for each park for our upcoming trip.

Thanks again for the feeback!

 

[TDC Nala]

The 10 year old will pay adult buffet prices...but the OP still has three children under age 10. When more of his kids get to 10 the buffets may not be the greatest but he'll still save on the younger kids. If he really does like the buffets I don't think I would scare him off of them yet,

 

[Albytaps]

Bumping

We just reserved 2 trips this year (omg the AP curse is on) and one of them is for Spring break (yes I know crowded.)

So my wife and I decided to review this thread to help decide what we want to reserve and are narrowing it down to this:

CRT breakfast
Le Cellier (past favorite)
Sci-fi diner

We were also thinking about Biergarten or San Angel Inn.

Also, we should get the TIW card because it will be worth it just by going to about 5 restaurants. Also, some QS restaurants in AK accept it. However, yet again, we are considering the dining plan. If we like to eat in the parks would it be worth it? Should we just go for it?

I know Le Cellier has changed... is it 2 TS meals now? I know CRT is 2 meals... ugh it's so hard to decide.

Please help! Thanks.