Now the meal plans are confusing me!!

[mum2]

I thought I knew what I wanted, but now I'm not sure.

We're looking to go Feb 2016, Hotel is 356 - I have Thomas Cook vouchers for £395, so it covers that absolutely fine, so was then looking at the places to eat and meal plans.
I know the boys would love Café Mickey, so that's a must, it was £100 to book that on it's own. I was only going to go HB as the boys just wouldn't eat enough to warrant the full board.
So it's £272 for Standard (then +£100 for Café Mickey) or £328 for Plus (which as far as I can see covers Café Mickey). So if I was going to get a meal plan it would definitely be beneficial to get the 'plus' one, but I'm starting to wonder if the boys would eat at half of the places.
The boys will be 6 & 4 and aren't the greatest at sitting in restaurants anyway. I don't know if they'd be different in Disney though.
Is anyone able to offer any advice? Or what restaurants were good for kids etc?

I'm going through the reviews, menus, prices etc too, but just thought I'd ask for opinions

I feel completely out of my depth

 

[Madhattermad]

I think the dining plans are very specific to what you think might be best for your family and their eating habits.

I am travelling with my family in July and we have opted for the full board plus option, largely because it allows us to pay for the meal plan ahead of travelling and spreads the costs. I am travelling with a 9 and a 6 year old.

I think the decision is down to a couple of things:

1) Do you need to spread costs? If so, the meal plan is a good option.
2) What restaurants are you going to go to? If your definately going to cafe mickey, it seems to me that the half board plus would be a good option. However, if other than cafe mickey, you think you will largely grab counter service meals, then it probably isn't.
3) On a personal note, I think the new bistrot chez remy is the best restaurant on offer and is offered on plus. However, it is a formal sit down restaurant but the theming is really fun! I'm also a big fan of Annette's which is covered under the plus plan.

To do some further research yourself, why not have a look at the menus and do a rough plan or where you think you would like to eat, then think through if a meal plan makes sense fiancially?

Below is a great resource for dining:

http://www.dlpguide.com/planning/dining/restaurant-menus/

Good luck!

K.

 

[dhidra]

It's not a huge difference in price, I'd go for plus. Standard only covers buffets, and while I like them, there's only so many of them you can take! And you'll have had breakfast buffet too.

I brought loads of Disney sticker books, activity books etc on our last trip to use in restaurants (my boys were 5 and 3). We didn't take them out once! You're kept entertained at the character meals, and at the other restaurants I think they're just too tired to get antsy! plus all that walking makes for hungry kids (and adults!). I was surprised at how well behaved they were at the restaurants.