Our WDW Dining plans - changes, recommendations?

[BigB0882]

I wanted to post all of our ADRs and see what everyone thinks. I have only been to WDW one time but I was very young and don't recall a single meal that I had there, I am sure we ate a bunch of burgers and nuggets in the parks. We LOVE to go eat so a big part of this trip for us is planning our meals. Therefore, I am curious what everyone thinks. Is there anything you think we should change? Any restaurant on our list that you just hate? We are arriving on the 21st late that night and doing MVMCP on the 22nd so we have until 4 on the 22nd to look around and eat before entering the park, then all of our dining is dependent upon which park we are in (not doing park hopper during such a busy time). So I can certainly make changes but only within the same park.

Day 1: Kona Cafe - breakfast
Sanaa - lunch (will request a window seat and have left enough time to do that and get to MK for 4)
Day 2 HS: Sci-Fi dinner
Day 3 MK: Be Our Guest - lunch QS
Liberty Tree Tavern - dinner
Day 4 AK: Tusker House - lunch
Day 5 Epcot: Biergarten (with candellight processional seating) - lunch
La Hacienda De San Angel - dinner
Day 6: Universal Studios - no dining planned, will decide in the park
Day 7 Epcot: Le Cellier - dinner
Day 8 MK: Skipper Canteen - lunch
Be Our Guest - dinner

We are doing Be Our Guest twice. We wanted it so badly but we planned this vacation well after the 180 day mark so all the reservations were booked. A lunch opened so we took it and then randomly the other night a dinner opened, so we took that. We are open to changing our lunch but since it is a QS we thought it would be a good use of a QS and dinner would still be very different and quite a way to end our vacation in that restaurant.

Any thing we should take out or change? Any recommendations for us at Universal? We are on the Dining Plan with 1 TS, 1 QS and 2 snacks.

We will pay out of pocket for Kona Cafe breakfast since it is so cheap. I think we have to pay out of pocket for Biergarten since that is a dining package with the processional. So with those two paid out of pocket, we are using all 9 of our TS credits.

 

[dclpluto]

I wanted to post all of our ADRs and see what everyone thinks. I have only been to WDW one time but I was very young and don't recall a single meal that I had there, I am sure we ate a bunch of burgers and nuggets in the parks. We LOVE to go eat so a big part of this trip for us is planning our meals. Therefore, I am curious what everyone thinks. Is there anything you think we should change? Any restaurant on our list that you just hate? We are arriving on the 21st late that night and doing MVMCP on the 22nd so we have until 4 on the 22nd to look around and eat before entering the park, then all of our dining is dependent upon which park we are in (not doing park hopper during such a busy time). So I can certainly make changes but only within the same park.

Day 1: Kona Cafe - breakfast
Sanaa - lunch (will request a window seat and have left enough time to do that and get to MK for 4)
Day 2 HS: Sci-Fi dinner
Day 3 MK: Be Our Guest - lunch QS
Liberty Tree Tavern - dinner
Day 4 AK: Tusker House - lunch
Day 5 Epcot: Biergarten (with candellight processional seating) - lunch
La Hacienda De San Angel - dinner
Day 6: Universal Studios - no dining planned, will decide in the park
Day 7 Epcot: Le Cellier - dinner
Day 8 MK: Skipper Canteen - lunch
Be Our Guest - dinner

We are doing Be Our Guest twice. We wanted it so badly but we planned this vacation well after the 180 day mark so all the reservations were booked. A lunch opened so we took it and then randomly the other night a dinner opened, so we took that. We are open to changing our lunch but since it is a QS we thought it would be a good use of a QS and dinner would still be very different and quite a way to end our vacation in that restaurant.

Any thing we should take out or change? Any recommendations for us at Universal? We are on the Dining Plan with 1 TS, 1 QS and 2 snacks.

We will pay out of pocket for Kona Cafe breakfast since it is so cheap. I think we have to pay out of pocket for Biergarten since that is a dining package with the processional. So with those two paid out of pocket, we are using all 9 of our TS credits.

The only one I don't like on your list is biergarten. That's just my opinion lots of people love it. If that is the Mexican restaurant by the ride that one sucks the other Mexican restaurant that's not by the ride is pretty good. Also you have three days of buffets in a row. Lots of people can't handle that. Myself i will have no problem.

 

[danielocha30]

Universal!! Do eat at one of the Harry Potter restaurants, the Three Broomsticks is my personal favorite.

 

[ibela]

Day 1: Kona Cafe - breakfast
Sanaa - lunch (will request a window seat and have left enough time to do that and get to MK for 4)
>>I'm concerned about timing. If you're having a big breakfast at Kona you guys may not be hungry enough for a TS for lunch too. Assuming it's for around 12:30 since you have plenty of time for MK@4. Maybe stay around the mk resorts area and/or do replace Kona with Captain Cooks (qs) for breakfast instead?

Day 2 HS: Sci-Fi dinner
Day 3 MK: Be Our Guest - lunch QS
Liberty Tree Tavern - dinner
Day 4 AK: Tusker House - lunch
Day 5 Epcot: Biergarten (with candellight processional seating) - lunch
La Hacienda De San Angel - dinner
>> A buffet for lunch and then TS for dinner, recommend a QS for dinner instead so you're not tied down to ADR if you're not hungry.

Day 6: Universal Studios - no dining planned, will decide in the park
Day 7 Epcot: Le Cellier - dinner
Day 8 MK: Skipper Canteen - lunch
Be Our Guest - dinner

Any thing we should take out or change? Any recommendations for us at Universal? We are on the Dining Plan with 1 TS, 1 QS and 2 snacks.

We will pay out of pocket for Kona Cafe breakfast since it is so cheap. I think we have to pay out of pocket for Biergarten since that is a dining package with the processional. So with those two paid out of pocket, we are using all 9 of our TS credits.

>>You have 8 days listed but said 9 credits so wanted to make sure you knew dining plan is per night so a 8 day trip is 7 nights so 7 TS credits.

Comments in quote

 

[chloelovesdisney]

It's a nice mix, enjoy!

 

[Araminta18]

Shoot, def eat at BOG twice. That's what we're doing on our upcoming vacation--we loved dinner, and while I've eaten there for lunch, my husband never has, so we're gonna try it then too.

Also, are you gonna do a dining report? I'm planning to do the same thing with regards to eating lunch at Sanaa and would love a review. And Skipper Canteen is another great choice. So no advice, just looks like you have some awesome meals planned.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I wanted to post all of our ADRs and see what everyone thinks. I have only been to WDW one time but I was very young and don't recall a single meal that I had there, I am sure we ate a bunch of burgers and nuggets in the parks. We LOVE to go eat so a big part of this trip for us is planning our meals. Therefore, I am curious what everyone thinks. Is there anything you think we should change? Any restaurant on our list that you just hate? We are arriving on the 21st late that night and doing MVMCP on the 22nd so we have until 4 on the 22nd to look around and eat before entering the park, then all of our dining is dependent upon which park we are in (not doing park hopper during such a busy time). So I can certainly make changes but only within the same park.

Day 1: Kona Cafe - breakfast
Sanaa - lunch (will request a window seat and have left enough time to do that and get to MK for 4)
Day 2 HS: Sci-Fi dinner
Day 3 MK: Be Our Guest - lunch QS
Liberty Tree Tavern - dinner
Day 4 AK: Tusker House - lunch
Day 5 Epcot: Biergarten (with candellight processional seating) - lunch
La Hacienda De San Angel - dinner
Day 6: Universal Studios - no dining planned, will decide in the park
Day 7 Epcot: Le Cellier - dinner
Day 8 MK: Skipper Canteen - lunch
Be Our Guest - dinner

We are doing Be Our Guest twice. We wanted it so badly but we planned this vacation well after the 180 day mark so all the reservations were booked. A lunch opened so we took it and then randomly the other night a dinner opened, so we took that. We are open to changing our lunch but since it is a QS we thought it would be a good use of a QS and dinner would still be very different and quite a way to end our vacation in that restaurant.

Any thing we should take out or change? Any recommendations for us at Universal? We are on the Dining Plan with 1 TS, 1 QS and 2 snacks.

We will pay out of pocket for Kona Cafe breakfast since it is so cheap. I think we have to pay out of pocket for Biergarten since that is a dining package with the processional. So with those two paid out of pocket, we are using all 9 of our TS credits.

You can use two dining credits for the Candlelight Processional package. With that in mind, you may want to re-calculate what is cheapest to pay OOP for. Personally, I would drop La Hacienda on your Biergarten day. There is SO much food at Biergarten and if you drop La Hacienda, you are saving a credit to put toward the CP package. If you want to try to stick with the dining plan and not pay OOP, I would consider dropping Kona (I personally couldn't eat at Kona and then eat lunch at Sanaa) and maybe just having QS at Capt. Cook's. I would also consider "downgrading" Le Cellier for a different 1 TS credit EP restaurant so you don't have to pay OOP. Spice Road Table is excellent - great steak!

At Universal, if you want a QS, I would go to Leaky Cauldron or Three Broomsticks. They are both great and the theming is fantastic. If you'd rather do a sit-down meal, Mythos in IOA is excellent. Or head out to CityWalk and go to Toothsome (right outside IOA) or Cowfish.

 

[JZCubed]

I wanted to post all of our ADRs and see what everyone thinks. I have only been to WDW one time but I was very young and don't recall a single meal that I had there, I am sure we ate a bunch of burgers and nuggets in the parks. We LOVE to go eat so a big part of this trip for us is planning our meals. Therefore, I am curious what everyone thinks. Is there anything you think we should change? Any restaurant on our list that you just hate? We are arriving on the 21st late that night and doing MVMCP on the 22nd so we have until 4 on the 22nd to look around and eat before entering the park, then all of our dining is dependent upon which park we are in (not doing park hopper during such a busy time). So I can certainly make changes but only within the same park.

Day 1: Kona Cafe - breakfast
Sanaa - lunch (will request a window seat and have left enough time to do that and get to MK for 4)
Day 2 HS: Sci-Fi dinner
Day 3 MK: Be Our Guest - lunch QS
Liberty Tree Tavern - dinner
Day 4 AK: Tusker House - lunch
Day 5 Epcot: Biergarten (with candellight processional seating) - lunch
La Hacienda De San Angel - dinner
Day 6: Universal Studios - no dining planned, will decide in the park
Day 7 Epcot: Le Cellier - dinner
Day 8 MK: Skipper Canteen - lunch
Be Our Guest - dinner

We are doing Be Our Guest twice. We wanted it so badly but we planned this vacation well after the 180 day mark so all the reservations were booked. A lunch opened so we took it and then randomly the other night a dinner opened, so we took that. We are open to changing our lunch but since it is a QS we thought it would be a good use of a QS and dinner would still be very different and quite a way to end our vacation in that restaurant.

Any thing we should take out or change? Any recommendations for us at Universal? We are on the Dining Plan with 1 TS, 1 QS and 2 snacks.

We will pay out of pocket for Kona Cafe breakfast since it is so cheap. I think we have to pay out of pocket for Biergarten since that is a dining package with the processional. So with those two paid out of pocket, we are using all 9 of our TS credits.

It's a nice mix.

I'd try to get a River of Lights Dinner Package if you're planning on eating at Tusker House.

Not sure you'll need dinner after Candlelight processional - mostly because Epcot has plenty of kiosks to grab a snack - since buffet lunch at Biergarten is plenty'o'food.

I can see going to BoG twice - lunch and dinner are vastly different experiences (dinner is only time/place to meet The Beast).

Not that there's anything wrong with Le Cellier, but there is better Signature food at nearby Swan & Dolphin (although, you cannot use Dining Plan here), and also Flying Fish & Yachtsman Steakhouse.

Not that I've been, but Toothsome Chocolate Emporium seems like the place to dine at Universal.

 

[BigB0882]

Thanks everyone.

We are arriving on the 21st late and leaving on the 30th, so there are 9 nights. I just don't have anything listed for the 21st because we don't get in until 9:30 that night.

I had no idea we could do 2 TS credits for the candelight processional. The only reason we even chose Biergarten is because it was the cheapest choice and we thought we had to pay OOP for the processional package. Now that we know we can use 2 TS credits, we may look at other options as Biergarten was not something that really appealed to me, anyway.

We are doing Kona at 7:50 in the morning and Sanaa at 1:30 I think we will be hungry again by then, plus Kona is something we are paying OOP for and we are just going to order something that's not too big or filling.