Now what?

[jiminyC_fan]

Now that I know I can't trade in my TS for CS and ADR's are few and far between for my free DDP what restaurants would you choose. I know that we won't get any popular ones. What are some of your favorites that are not well known?

 

[theflowerladee]

Love Prime Time in MGM, China in Epcot (Canada is probably booked),
You will probably have better luck gettings PS's at resort restaurants,
Try Cape May Cafe in Beach Club on your Epcot day (if you like a buffet)
or Chef Mickey's on your Magic Kingdom day. Cast Members will be very
helpful in helping you out. The Boardwalk has a few good restaurants
and you can walk to them through Epcot.

Good Luck and Have a magical trip.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Thank you. I thought I had it all planned out and then bam!!!

 

[dizneyrules]

Some of our favorite restaurants are the ones at the resorts. Maybe you should give those a try. We love Ohanas, Spoodles, Concourse, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Kona Cafe, Wolfgang Puck, our kids really liked Planet Hollywood - don't give up if you can't get the popular restaurants that are in the parks - try some of the resort ones.

Happy planning

Ann Marie

 

[LizinSTL]

Now that I know I can't trade in my TS for CS and ADR's are few and far between for my free DDP what restaurants would you choose. I know that we won't get any popular ones. What are some of your favorites that are not well known?

How do you know that Disney won't offer you the option to trade TS for CS? Last year they made that available closer to the dates of free dining.

I'd call 407WDWDINE and give them the dates and names of the restaurants you are interested in and ask them what availability they have. You may be surprised to find that you can eat early or late or have lunch or something.

I'd pick your restaurants based on where you plan to be each day so you aren't running around for ADRs. That's why people hate making them- that makes them inconvenient and annoying. We didn't feel that at all because we were already at that park (or near that resort....)

We enjoyed Boma on our AK day. Biergarten on one of our Epcot days (and I'd be absolutely shocked if they told you there was no availability there), etc.

Chef Mickey's offered a lunch buffet last year in August and September too. That's always an option for you.

It really depends on how you tour the world. Do you get up early- eat on the run and keep going until you crash at midnight? Or do you like to sleep in, eat a leisurely breakfast, take break in the afternoon for swimming and then enjoy a relaxing dinner before heading back to the parks....or is it more a combo of that?

You don't have to do TS dinner's each night. You can double up some days- breakfast and a late dinner, for example and then do only CS other days. (I should have saved an epcot day for only CS so we could eat around the world w/ snacks and CS)

I'll give you an example of our trip last year-
Arrive Sat- dinner DTD- CS @ WPE
Sun- MGM lunch 50s PTcafe....dinner Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic package (late start to the day)
Monday- MK CS @ MK and POP (afternoon swim break)
Tues- AK CS lunch and Dinner at Boma (back early to swim)
Weds- Epcot lunch Norway w/ Princesses...late dinner at le cellier (check w/ availability DURING illuminations!) (late start to the day)
Thurs- waterpark breakfast @chef Mickey's late CS dinner @ pop (spent all afternoon-evening @ Pop)
Fri- waterpark CS lunch, dinner @ biergarten/Epcot
Sat- MK AM and then leave after CS @pop

Hope that helps a little. The plan is super easy to use and really, a lot of fun, IMO. Just enjoy trying new restaurants. Look at the list on the disboards or allearsnet.com and see what grabs you. Even if you think everyone has outgrown character meals, do one anyway- they are fun! I thought the food at the Norway Princess Lunch was the best food of the week. YUM!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Thanks for your post on both of my threads. We had ADR's last year. Everything went smooth but we felt that everything we did was based around where our ADR's were. It was all about food. So this year I thought that we would just make a couple reservations and do the trade thing. Then I was told that Disney doesn't convert or trade TS or CS. I guess I will try for ADR's and hope that they offer the trade when we get there.

 

[LizinSTL]

Thanks for your post on both of my threads. We had ADR's last year. Everything went smooth but we felt that everything we did was based around where our ADR's were. It was all about food. So this year I thought that we would just make a couple reservations and do the trade thing. Then I was told that Disney doesn't convert or trade TS or CS. I guess I will try for ADR's and hope that they offer the trade when we get there.

You said you are going in Sept. You'll know well before you arrive if they are offering the "trade". Don't worry about it. You can always book a 2 TS meal or two also.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Just got off the phone with Disney Dining. It all worked out in the end. I am pleased with what I ended up with. Phew!