Ok i need help !! SO many CHOICESSSSS

[Rayanne]

Ok so here is my delemia we were going to drive to WDW and stop in Savannah, GA for Paula Deen's resturant We found out this wont be possible for us to do because of how you get seats there. So DH wants to fly! We are coming from PIT I think. (you know I should write one of those ptr thingys) Anyhow So we are flying and because of budget reasons we are now thinking of not getting DDxDP and sticking with the Free plan. Help me weed through the sitdowns please. I stated an Excel Spread sheet but here is a list of must haves for us (I should tell you that this is the first trip I am planning for us My MIL usually plans and we just help with cost) Ok
MUST HAVE
Mickey BBQ 2T
Ohana
Holly brown derby (PS) 2T
Polinesian Luau 2T


Really want
Canada
rain foret cafe
Les chefs de France
japan?
Chef mickey
princess storybook in epcot
supercalifragilistic breakfast
coral Reef?


Any pointers I had more but weeded out some. Should i skip the Luau? I am so unsure.

 

[DisneyTinkerbell]

How many are you trying to keep? I personally would skip the Luau and do Chef Mickey's & Le Cellier (Canada) with the 2TS you would have used for the Luau. I would also do the Princess Storybook and Les Chefs de France and 1900 Park Fare. Hope that helps. I would weed out Rain Forest Cafe because it isn't Disney to me.

 

[Rayanne]

Tinkerbell- Do you think I should cut out a couple of days and do DXdp?

 

[disneymotherof3]

When talking about Paula Deen's place, what do you mean by "because of how you get seats there"? We stopped and had lunch there on our way home last year and had no problem getting in. And we had no reservations or anything. We're heading back to WDW in October and are debating on whether or not to drive just so we can go to The Lady and Sons again!!

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Give us an idea of your length of stay. I will try to help! My first thought is do not shorten your stay for DxDP.

I would definitely cut out the Luau! You may want to cut out Brown Derby, too. I had stellar meals there in 2002, 2003, and 2006, but my meal there in December 2008 was actually bad. My DSis who was dining with me agreed.

Rather than Brown Derby, I would do Le Cellier (Canada) and Mama Melrose or Coral Reef. Those are great dining plan choices and only one credit!

I would keep the Mickey BBQ and Ohana. You may want to pay out of pocket for the BBQ, though.

I do not think Rain Forest Cafe is on the dining plan, but I could be wrong.

I would skip Japan. We did not have a good meal there in December.

I would add the Princess Storybook and 1900 Park Fare Breakfast (although you may want to pay out of pocket for that breakfast--it's not that expensive relatively speaking).

That way you would hopefully have room for Chef Mickey and Chefs de France!

Good luck! You have some of my favorites on your list! Let us know if we can help with any other suggestions.

 

[Rayanne]

When talking about Paula Deen's place, what do you mean by "because of how you get seats there"? We stopped and had lunch there on our way home last year and had no problem getting in. And we had no reservations or anything. We're heading back to WDW in October and are debating on whether or not to drive just so we can go to The Lady and Sons again!!

I love the lady and sons also, we went in 2005 and it was something like we had to go the morning of the date and wait in a really long line and then we put our name down then we got to come back at 430 or something.

 

[Rayanne]

Give us an idea of your length of stay. I will try to help! My first thought is do not shorten your stay for DxDP.

I would definitely cut out the Luau! You may want to cut out Brown Derby, too. I had stellar meals there in 2002, 2003, and 2006, but my meal there in December 2008 was actually bad. My DSis who was dining with me agreed.

Rather than Brown Derby, I would do Le Cellier (Canada) and Mama Melrose or Coral Reef. Those are great dining plan choices and only one credit!

I would keep the Mickey BBQ and Ohana. You may want to pay out of pocket for the BBQ, though.

I do not think Rain Forest Cafe is on the dining plan, but I could be wrong.

I would skip Japan. We did not have a good meal there in December.

I would add the Princess Storybook and 1900 Park Fare Breakfast (although you may want to pay out of pocket for that breakfast--it's not that expensive relatively speaking).

That way you would hopefully have room for Chef Mickey and Chefs de France!

Good luck! You have some of my favorites on your list! Let us know if we can help with any other suggestions.

Ok we are going in Aug 18-25 so 7 days and we want to purchase 5 day tickets so we can do epcot 2x my dd-9 dd-7 dd-3 ds-1(will be 2 in June)
So Does this sound like a good plan?

I have not put the deposit down but this I think sounds good?
I will post the ideas for ADR's when I get up in the morning
I AM REALLY THANKING EVERYONE FOR HELPING!!!!!

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

DW and I had this talk before we planned this year's trip. We also initially discussed DxDP, but downgraded to free DP. Here was some of our discussion:

~ no Signature meals, the 2x was not worth it to us.
~ What have we eaten before that we must-do again?
~ What are we interested in trying new this year?

When considering what to try new, remember most buffets serve similar food. If you have multiple buffets, consider skipping one or two. Also, what has 'original food', not just your 'average' Disney meal? I am talking about things like kona, Brown Derby, and just about anything in Epcot. We always include a new one from that catagory.

 

[ShannonMB]

I would just go with the free dining plan for your family. And I def don't think you should reduce your number of park days.

If it were me, with your kids, etc, I would not do any 2TS meals except perhaps the BBQ. I haven't heard anyone rave THAT much about the Brown Derby that it should replace 2 meals on your list! And the luau, I wouldn't go on the Luau AND Ohana on the same trip (JMHO). If you pay OOP for the BBQ, that's 2 MORE TS you'll have to play around with.

Rainforest Cafe - is not on the dining plan, so if you go there, it will not count toward your credits and you'll have to pay OOP.

Good luck deciding!!!

 

[ms*mountaineer]

Friends of mine just returned from WDW a few weeks ago - they were on the Deluxe Dining Plan. She said it was WAY TOO MUCH FOOD - they started cancelling ADR's halfway through the trip because they were just going from one meal to the next. They would be at meals and only taking a few bites!

MY opinion is
We love Princess Storybook in Norway for breakfast. (Haven't tried lunch or dinner, but would like to)

Skip Rain Forest - don't know where you live, but you can find those in lots of places

Have heard good things about Canada & Chefs de France