Not on the Dining Plan: Which meals are worth the money?

[JenniferH]

Here is our situation: We did Disney World a few years back and I planned it as a one-time trip so we did everything big (lots of character meals, etc) and we were on the dining plan so we really didn't think about the $ once we were there. Well, my children have asked to go back so they can ride all the stuff they were too little to ride last time. They don't care about character dining this time. We have our tickets, hotel, etc. but won't be on the dining plan because I don't think it's the best deal for our family.

Where would you suggest we eat that is actually good enough to be worth paying cash for? We will only need lunch & dinner options as we will eat breakfast in our hotel room. I need a lunch & dinner selections for MK, Epcot & HS.

 

[sponica]

Here is our situation: We did Disney World a few years back and I planned it as a one-time trip so we did everything big (lots of character meals, etc) and we were on the dining plan so we really didn't think about the $ once we were there. Well, my children have asked to go back so they can ride all the stuff they were too little to ride last time. They don't care about character dining this time. We have our tickets, hotel, etc. but won't be on the dining plan because I don't think it's the best deal for our family.

Where would you suggest we eat that is actually good enough to be worth paying cash for? We will only need lunch & dinner options as we will eat breakfast in our hotel room. I need a lunch & dinner selections for MK, Epcot & HS.

Everyone will have VASTLY different opinions on this one. Are you more interested in counter service or table service?

Depending on how old your kids are, I find Epcot is done well as a snack your way around the world...bang out the rides in the morning, grab something in sunshine seasons for a lite lunch, then let the snacking begin!

 

[hllb]

In MK, Skipper's Canteen gets good reviews and is relatively inexpensive. For Epcot, there are so many good counter service places there, we're doing just CS there.

 

[Minniemoo15]

I find Sci-Fi Diner reasonably priced , great food and a fun atmosphere

 

[loves to dive]

As another poster pointed out, worth it is totally subjective. We never do the dining plan but also don't worry about costs of meals, we find it just all tends to even out in the end.

At MK we like Skipper's Canteen for TS but that will only work if your kids are adventurous eaters. The Plaza is decent and the meals are huge so easily shared if you are trying to save money. If going to QS, we like Pecos Bills, because of the toppings bar you can easily share meals there as well.

At HS - the pickings are a little slim as far as QS and we always eat at the HBD outside lounge. Most kids enjoy both Sci Fi and Fifties Diner. The meals at 50s are huge and "home cooking" and can be easily shared. We don't really like it that much because the food is just too heavy for us.

At AK - we love Tiffins, it's a signature restaurant so a little steep but we think the food is probably the best on property. We also like the Nomad Lounge for quick lunches, their small plates are just right and kids are welcome there. Yak and Yeti QS is pretty decent.

At Epcot - the sky is the limit, there is very little in WS as far as QS that we don't like. The QS in GR is pretty big and could easily be shared by two kids. As far as TS, we like Spice Road Tables, you can either make and ADR and eat inside and eat a meal of walk up and eat outside, their small plates are great. Rose and Crown is decent food but last time we were there in December, the service was horrible, it was actually one of the few times in our lives we left less than a 20% tip. Working around France QS is excellent, you can't go wrong there. The two TS restaurants are just o.k. for us, we have never had good service at either one, the food is o.k. at the main one. We had horrible food and horrible service at Chef Paul's in December. The Japanese QS is pretty good and the location is beautiful. The hibachi TS is fun for kids, nothing different than what you would get at home. The other TS there might be a little too skewed toward adults. Morocco, again the QS is great and the meals huge so easy to share. The main TS is great if you like Moroccon food, they have a belly dancer so that is fun for kids. We have never done QS or TS in Italy but we love the wine bar, they have small plates there. We have also never done QS or TS in Germany, the TS is communal eating and if I'm not mistaken a buffet, we don't do buffets. The QS in Norway is good, we have never done the TS since it's a character meal. The QS and TS in China are both pretty decent but nothing that you can't get a home. Both pretty filling and can be shared. Mexico QS is pretty good and many of the meals can be shared. The TS on the inside is pretty as far as atmosphere but the food is just so so and the service is hit or miss. The tables are very close together and the noise level is high. The one outside is pretty decent and if you time it right and get a table by the window you can watch Illuminations. We never eat outside of WS at Epcot, we just enjoy the food inside WS so much it's not worth it for us to eat in FW.

 

[tlmadden73]

Totally subjective.
You are in Disney .. you probably will be paying $10-20 more per person for a similar style meal outside of the parks. You are paying for the theming, you are paying for the experiencing and you are paying because you are "trapped" inside the bubble. So depending on how you value the theming or experience, hard to say what is "good enough" to spend money on.

That being said there is a lot of good food there.
I've paid way too much for the buffets, but they were yummy, had a good atmosphere, good company and often had characters involved. So I never felt that was money "wasted", but definitely more than I would pay on a normal night on the town locally.

MK - I would suggest Skipper Canteen. Different food, a fun atmosphere and not that expensive (as say a buffet or family style meal).
MK - I had a nice, cheaper, lighter meal at the Plaza Restaurant. It is small, so less loud and chaotic as opposed to the bigger restaurants at MK like Crystal Palace or Be Our Guest.
MK - If you want to take a big break -- take a boat to Fort Wildnerness and eat at Trail's End Restaurant. Probably the most modestly priced buffet on property filled with yummy comfort food.

DHS - I've never found good food options there (but have yet to try Sci-Fi Drive in yet). 50's Prime Time is fun, but a heavy meal. I would not suggest Hollywood & Vine.

Epcot - We enjoyed Garden Grille .. a fun character meal, a cool rotating restaurant where you look down on Living with the Land ride and a table full of comfort food served family style. Other than that .. hard to go wrong with anything in World Showcase depending on your tastes.

 

[rwdavis2]

Based strictly on price? Virtually none of them. WDW is not the place to look for value. We usually eat 1 counter service and 1 table service per day.

 

[KenHutch]

At Magic Kingdom leave MK and go to the Poly for Ohana's or go to Wilderness Lodge and eat at Whispering Canyon Café. And an out of the way place go to AKL and eat at Boma's. All 3 totally worth the money.

 

[bumbershoot]

We never do the dining plan but also don't worry about costs of meals, we find it just all tends to even out in the end.

Agreed. Though the dining plan would never work for us.

You're going to a restaurant. They almost always charge more than they should. It is what it is.

Go through the menus here and at allears.net and figure out what sounds good to you.

 

[1withForce]

I think, to redirect the question, what meals are worth doing regardless of dining plan or not? Are there any places that don't except dining plan that are a must have?

 

[mydisneyanytime]

For us it is Yak and Yeti TS. It is my kids must do every time and has been for years. We don't like any of the TS in HS at all including SciFi and Fifties. We have tried them both twice and will not be going back. Hollywood Brown Derby is good but more expensive. QS in MK is Pecos Bills for us and in Epcot it is wherever we happen to be. Garden Grill is good but with 2 kids that don't eat much it isn't really cost effective at all. Sunshine Seasons is good but with a wheelchair (my son) it is hard to get around the tables and is often crowded. However, like everyone else has said it is all about the type of food you like. We don't get the dining plan either and usually do a few TS anyway. We love to go at the time of the booths in Epcot and just stop whenever and wherever looks good.

 

[alex9179]

I think, to redirect the question, what meals are worth doing regardless of dining plan or not? Are there any places that don't except dining plan that are a must have?

No. I don't think so. Eating in the parks is more about convenience for us. I've found that the food at the resorts/DS are a step above most park options but none are "must haves". We have a few repeats, though a lot of people would disagree with me.

OP, we always pay OOP for our food.

MK - Columbia Harbour House, I always get the Anchors Aweigh tuna sandwich. The fried shrimp, nuggets, and salmon have been reliably good.
Broccoli peppercorn salad is a nice, fresh option.
- Sleepy Hollow, my kids adore the nutella waffle with fruit and two can share as it's huge
- Casey's, corn dog nuggets are a favorite of my youngest
- BOG, lunch was great when it first opened but I've read a lot of disappointed reviews, since. Pain to get an ADR and we haven't been back.
- Skipper canteen is on my list to try this trip

Epcot - Via Napoli pizza is the one meal I've repeated every trip. The metro mezzo is huge and great for sharing with the family. You can order half & half, too.
- Tangierine cafe's lamb was good but we didn't care for the sides and haven't repeated.
- Yorkshire County Fish Shop, I don't know if it was being rained on for hours, or what, but the fish & chips were delicious! Three orders for our family of five
were very satisfying. A definite repeat.
- Biergarten, DH liked it. The rest of use weren't impressed. There was one type of sausage we all liked. I won't return.
- Akershus breakfast. We all enjoyed the food and experience but we're not really character people so won't be back.
- I've hit festival booths on two trips and will this time, as well. VN's prosciutto pizza and the fish & chips are on the agenda.

HS - Sci-Fi is a favorite of my kids. I like that it's quiet and the extremely dim lighting lets my brain rest from all the sensory input of the park. Perfectly serviceable
but I don't enjoy the burgers. Reuben, caprese sandwich, and onion rings are quite good. My kids liked the apps. We've eaten here twice.
- 50s, the fried chicken platter was shared by my kids and they loved it. I ate a little and it was good. DH enjoyed mom's sampler. Very large portions here so a
good value if you all like to share. We enjoy the antics. My family liked the food but the pb&j milkshake was the standout, lol! Dined here once but would go
back.
- We're planning on trying out HBD lounge area on the upcoming trip since we're two adults.

 

[wdw&sonny]

Not exactly the answer to your questions, but my advice is to share. And to let the kids know ahead of time they will share. When my kids were younger, we learned the hard way that dining on vacation was different. They each ordered their own "meal" but due to the excitement, over-stimulation, heat, exhaustion etc. they were rarely hungry. I, in turn, seeing all that food going to waste, stuffed myself at each meal and couldn't enjoy the taste.

We learned. We love TS for lunch and by sharing still pay less than CS without sharing. We often split 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for 4 of us. That also meant we walked away energized and not stuffed and had room for a Mickey Ice Cream bar in the afternoon.

 

[alex9179]

Not exactly the answer to your questions, but my advice is to share. And to let the kids know ahead of time they will share. When my kids were younger, we learned the hard way that dining on vacation was different. They each ordered their own "meal" but due to the excitement, over-stimulation, heat, exhaustion etc. they were rarely hungry. I, in turn, seeing all that food going to waste, stuffed myself at each meal and couldn't enjoy the taste.

We learned. We love TS for lunch and by sharing still pay less than CS without sharing. We often split 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for 4 of us. That also meant we walked away energized and not stuffed and had room for a Mickey Ice Cream bar in the afternoon.

Agree. My kids were the same way and didn't like the child menu selections. We had a max of 1 TS a day and ordered what we thought we would finish while sharing more often than not. My youngest preferred many, many small refueling breaks over the usual 3 meals a day at home. It made me a little crazy but, what're you going to do?

 

[1withForce]

No. I don't think so. Eating in the parks is more about convenience for us. I've found that the food at the resorts/DS are a step above most park options but none are "must haves". We have a few repeats, though a lot of people would disagree with me.

OP, we always pay OOP for our food.

MK - Columbia Harbour House, I always get the Anchors Aweigh tuna sandwich. The fried shrimp, nuggets, and salmon have been reliably good.
Broccoli peppercorn salad is a nice, fresh option.
- Sleepy Hollow, my kids adore the nutella waffle with fruit and two can share as it's huge
- Casey's, corn dog nuggets are a favorite of my youngest
- BOG, lunch was great when it first opened but I've read a lot of disappointed reviews, since. Pain to get an ADR and we haven't been back.
- Skipper canteen is on my list to try this trip

Epcot - Via Napoli pizza is the one meal I've repeated every trip. The metro mezzo is huge and great for sharing with the family. You can order half & half, too.
- Tangierine cafe's lamb was good but we didn't care for the sides and haven't repeated.
- Yorkshire County Fish Shop, I don't know if it was being rained on for hours, or what, but the fish & chips were delicious! Three orders for our family of five
were very satisfying. A definite repeat.
- Biergarten, DH liked it. The rest of use weren't impressed. There was one type of sausage we all liked. I won't return.
- Akershus breakfast. We all enjoyed the food and experience but we're not really character people so won't be back.
- I've hit festival booths on two trips and will this time, as well. VN's prosciutto pizza and the fish & chips are on the agenda.

HS - Sci-Fi is a favorite of my kids. I like that it's quiet and the extremely dim lighting lets my brain rest from all the sensory input of the park. Perfectly serviceable
but I don't enjoy the burgers. Reuben, caprese sandwich, and onion rings are quite good. My kids liked the apps. We've eaten here twice.
- 50s, the fried chicken platter was shared by my kids and they loved it. I ate a little and it was good. DH enjoyed mom's sampler. Very large portions here so a
good value if you all like to share. We enjoy the antics. My family liked the food but the pb&j milkshake was the standout, lol! Dined here once but would go
back.
- We're planning on trying out HBD lounge area on the upcoming trip since we're two adults.

Thanks for input.
MK- I love Columbia Harbour house, Casey's corn dog nuggets are great for all ages!
-BOG is losing my attention. One visit was great and last (October) was very very disappointing at dinner. I'll need to look into a lunch on some visit.
-Trying Plaza Restaurant this next trip, supposedly a hidden gem.

Epcot - I agree on everything! This is food heaven from snacks, counter service and sit downs.

HS - I do like Sci-Fi. Was pleasantly suprised last time with counter service of Backlot Express.

Latest point of interest for us have been resort dinners and Disney Springs.

If interested:
Love Poly Ohana dinner. Service has really improved and is not a 4 hour ordeal anymore.
WL - Whispering Canon Cafe is good at breakfast and dinner is pretty good PLUS bottomless milkshakes.
- Enjoyed Cape May Cafe at Beach Club

My true new interest of dinner is Chef Art Smith's Homecoming at DS. Very impressive meal.

Any others of interest for people? I think all of these are great dinners I would get even if I didn't have a dining plan.

 

[1withForce]

For us it is Yak and Yeti TS. It is my kids must do every time and has been for years. We don't like any of the TS in HS at all including SciFi and Fifties. We have tried them both twice and will not be going back. Hollywood Brown Derby is good but more expensive. QS in MK is Pecos Bills for us and in Epcot it is wherever we happen to be. Garden Grill is good but with 2 kids that don't eat much it isn't really cost effective at all. Sunshine Seasons is good but with a wheelchair (my son) it is hard to get around the tables and is often crowded. However, like everyone else has said it is all about the type of food you like. We don't get the dining plan either and usually do a few TS anyway. We love to go at the time of the booths in Epcot and just stop whenever and wherever looks good.

Thanks. My previous post has a lot of the dinner highlights I've had before. I know most at sit downs but I think we're going to hit a few TS we find worth it this next trip (5 days) and hit up some of the CS we are curious about.
Again, Plaza Restaurant is the one we're most interested in trying.

 

[Monykalyn]

We learned. We love TS for lunch and by sharing still pay less than CS without sharing. We often split 1 appetizer and 2 entrees for 4 of us. That also meant we walked away energized and not stuffed and had room for a Mickey Ice Cream bar in the afternoo

Perhaps best advice here!
MK- our last trip was first time at Liberty Tree Tavern. Already reserved for June trip! Also liked the Plaza erfect for sharing- in fact I recommend sharing! And bottomless milkshakes at lunch! Also like Columbia Harbour House- take advantage of mobile ordering and no waiting. Skipper Canteen was way over rated for us. Cool theme and some good apps and the fried chicken was good. The rest was meh. We also happen to love Kona cafe at the Poly, but not everyone does. Grand Floridian cafe was ok. Cool place (went over thanksgiving week so gingerbread house was up and decorated for Christmas) but food wasn't great and service was awful.
Epcot-not sure there is a wrong answer here (except Electric Umbrella). Garden grill PPO is also already reserved for our June trip (another rare repeat of an ADR as we like to do new stuff). And walking around WS you can find something for everyone. The fish and chips is my sons happy food! The grand marnier slushie from France is my happy "food" lol! Sunshine seasons is another "something for everyone" and I've never had trouble getting a seat even at peak times.
AK- flame tree BBQ ribs and chicken dinner is big enough to share. Satuli canteen has hands down, best CS food around. Again- moble order-easy to customize on the app! Nomad lounge is always a must do for us adults-not sure if kiddos would appreciate it as much although mine did like Tiffins. Tusker house was just ok for us as well- although the character interaction was really great!
DHS - the Brown derby lounge is fun and can order small plates, we also really enjoyed the restaurant (and had excellent service-although from reports that doesn't always seem to be the case?). 50'sPT is large enough to share and fun. The fair market (can't remember name) down toward tower of terror can usually have something for everyone. Agree with staying away fro H&V.

And lots of places in Disney Springs! We even tried the new pizza place and liked it- huge slices for $7 (like a quarter of a square pizza). My kids like Hangar bar as well- my son swears they have the best pretzels and cheese sauce.

We also like Sanaa at AKL- although my kids are more adventurous eaters anyway- we liked watching the animals on the savanah.

Ooh have fun planning!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

I think, to redirect the question, what meals are worth doing regardless of dining plan or not?

The ones with the food that sounds good to you. Or that you’ve liked in the past.

We don’t do the dining plan. We don’t eat at places because it’s a good deal with the plan. Or because we have the plan and aren’t thinking about money. We eat at places with foods that make us happy.

 

[LovesTimone]

When it comes down to it, I would go with what your family enjoys eating, and if there is a experience to add to the overall meal. What works for my family might not be a great fit for yours. That's why this is so great you can see what other folks think and how they "do Disney" and you can make a plan for your family. So here's the run down for my family.

MK - Casey's- the corn dog nuggets are addictive we get a couple of orders as a snack and share them normally when headed out of the park - Ray's is our go to for QS there are a lot of offerings in the different bays so everyone can find something, and with Sonny singing is a little added bonus for the kiddos, plus they watch him and eat which means mom and dad can eat. Columbia Harbor house is another go to for QS if we are on that side of the park. LTT is a great spot for later lunch for us, we find the patriots platter just to heavy with all the heat so we order off the a la cart menu, the Colony salad is really good, as well as the Freedom pasta DH really likes it. The Plaza is another spot for a nice meal not fancy but good food and service. BOG dinner is really good and we have enjoyed it each time we have had dinner, with the Beast.. I know that there are mixed reviews, but our food and service have been spot on each time 4 times and looking forward to the next meal.

Epcot - There are so many good options lots and lots to try... Sunshine Season has a really different menu and a lot of different offerings. But I will say we just enjoy strolling around the world showcase snacking along the way... Between the stands and the QS there are so many options that you cant really go wrong. We share and split everything and just eat around the world... Super fun... When our kids were young this is how we got them to try new foods, it wasn't so overwhelming like a plate full of something, but more manageable for them to consider trying. Lunch/Dinner at Corral Reef, while it doesn't get a lot of love here... My family loves it...

HS - SCI- Fi so cool and the food and service are good. This is our only option for meals... Hopefully with the 2 expansions there will be better food and selections to choose from.

I will say that Disney Springs is "bringing it"... with all the new restaurants, and grab and go style windows... lots and lots of options down there.