Overwhelmed by Dining Plan

[sdteacher]

I was so excited when we were realized we could afford the dining plan when they announced the buy four get three free deal. But now that I am attempting to figure out our schedule for the week and make reservations it is stressing me out. It almost feels like we will be spending too much time eating. Anyone else feel this way? I almost feel like using some TS credits for CS just to free up time.

 

[parmtoo]

I was so excited when we were realized we could afford the dining plan when they announced the buy four get three free deal. But now that I am attempting to figure out our schedule for the week and make reservations it is stressing me out. It almost feels like we will be spending too much time eating. Anyone else feel this way? I almost feel like using some TS credits for CS just to free up time.

We also added the DDP, and it is our first time as well. Picking where we want to eat was stressful, but we did it and now are looking forward to it. We'll decide if is something we ever want to do in future. It does seem to change some of the focus of our trip. I think it may be to much planning for us, but have always wanted to try it. Good luck!

 

[klynn]

I was so excited when we were realized we could afford the dining plan when they announced the buy four get three free deal. But now that I am attempting to figure out our schedule for the week and make reservations it is stressing me out. It almost feels like we will be spending too much time eating. Anyone else feel this way? I almost feel like using some TS credits for CS just to free up time.

Why not just book the QS plan? That's what my friend just did. She didn't want the hassle of trying to book a ts every day with her family of 5. They decided to just get the QS plan instead.

 

[3darlings]

We just returned and had DDP for the first time. It was the free VISA offer and I was very excited about it because normally we do very little dining at Disney. Researching all of the restaurants was new to me. While it was fun, I found the whole thing to be exhausting. We seemed to be always needing to be somewhere to eat! And the amount of food was overwhelming - and this was the basic plan! We did see alot of new places we have never been (resorts, etc.), and the food was overall very good, I don't think I will ever do it again. Unless it is free again, of course, but then I would force myself to forget about using up all of our credits like I did this time (we used every single one!) It was a change of pace for us but I am definitely more exhausted after this trip than in the past (we go at the same time every year.) My kids did love all the snacks though!

 

[tigger536]

The basic plan just has 1 TS credit per day, which is not a lot to me at least. I think a TS dinner is a great relxing break. But that's just me. If you think a TS everyday is too many, consider doing a signature restaurant or two - or maybe a dinner show. These take two credits.

 

[jenjolt]

For my plan I have booked quite a few character meals, this saves me time in the parks trying to track down and wait in line for character pictures. I also use mine as breaks or return from breaks. I have early breakfast meals and then CS lunch and then a nice dinner break before hitting the parks again.

 

[Coconuts]

Yes, planning which meal, which park, what day, what time etc., can be very time consuming and brain frying. My DH thought I was nuts to put so much time and effort into planning meals; he said " why can't we just eat wherever we want when we are there?"

 

[skier_pete]

To me, we love doing the DDP and having a TS meal each day is a nice chance to sit and relax for a little while. Yes, it does tie you to being somewhere at a certain time, but either you like it or you don't. We love trying new foods. Also, if you have little ones, it's a great way to see the characters without having to wait in line for them...we figure we probably save that hour that it takes to eat that we would have spent an hour in line to see Princesses....I'd rather have them come to me.

SkierPete

 

[disney4us2002]

I'm planning our first trip with the DDP as well. To me I'm not stressing about the TS as much as the CS and Snacks. We have always planned one sit-down meal together, usually dinner, when we've visited so picking those meals was pretty easy. The boys are not likely to hang with us this time as they will be 20, 16, and 13 so I'm more concerned about getting them to grasp how DDP works and using their CS and Snack credits wisely rather than blowing thru 10 days' worth in the first 5 days, lol.

 

[brennicksmom]

I agree that it is exhausting to try to decide if you are going to be hungry at say, 1:30 on a Saturday 6 months from now. But, the breaks do help.

We try to schedule a few days with an early character breakfast and maybe a late TS dinner and that will leave completely free a day or two to be more spontaneous. In a 12 day trip with 10 days of tickets we try to do that twice. It's nice to have a few days that we don't feel obligated to be a specific place. And, having two meals in one day isn't really too much if they are spread apart. Once, we did schedule Chip N Dale for a 12:00 lunch then Le Cellier for 4:30 on the same day. We won't make that mistake again--we weren't hungry for their incredible food. Schedule at least 5-6 hour in between.

I personally couldn't stand to have only quick service meals. It's too much of the same thing for every meal. It all starts to taste the same.

 

[shannn]

Yes, planning which meal, which park, what day, what time etc., can be very time consuming and brain frying. My DH thought I was nuts to put so much time and effort into planning meals; he said " why can't we just eat wherever we want when we are there?"

Funny that. My DH didn't get it at first, but honestly, the planning is at least 1/2 the fun for me. (Obviously, since I'm now starting to plan our trip that's 11 months away.)

 

[septbaby]

1. Decide on a park plan (ie. which park on which day).

2. Decide what meal you want as a TS
- For example do you want to arrive at the park later so plan a TS breakfast?
- Do you want to spend the whole day in the park so maybe a TS lunch break?
- Bring the family together for dinner so plan a TS dinner.

3. Then select the restaurants that can fit in those plans.

Here is what we did in the summer of 2007, we were pleased:
Day 1 NO Park 8pm dinner at Narcoossee's (Electric water Parade and Wishes were viewed from the deck)

Day 2 Early start at MK, TS lunch in Epcot at Coral Reef (we were starved and needed the food and break by 1/2pm ADR time). Late night at MK (12am) this was a really long day, planned to sleep in next day.

Day 3 Late breakfast ADR at Chef Mickey's (slept in) so this was a brunch

Day 4 Canceled a TS breakfast ADR and spent the AM in the hotel pool/CS breakfast; TS dinner at Boma after spending the afternoon at AK

Day 5 Epcot/MK/DHS Fantasmic dinner package at DHS

Day 6 departure day , no TS scheduled used a couple of CS credits

Please note we made changes to our daily plans on Day 2 (rain/fatigue), Day 4 appetite/relaxation, Day 5 begging 5yo wanted to ride Goofy's Barnstormer again, so we went back to MK...lol The point is, we had plans we kept plans, we changed plans. Do what works for your family and try not to stress. The only meal that was work for us was the Fatasmic pkg because we changed our plans for the day and going from MK to DHS required two segments and more time than we expected. But the pkg was worth it and now we'e experienced both the show and the pkg.

 

[sdteacher]

Well...it was quite overwhelming...but I got our reservations made. If you have been on the restaurant board you've probably seen our plan. This is what we decided to do.

Tusker House Donald's Breakfast
Boma Breakfast
Boma Dinner
Teppan Edo Dinner
Fantamsmic Dinner Package at Hollywood and Vine
Spirit of Aloha - 2 table service credits

It is a relief to have it done and took your suggestion and chose one that was equal to two credit. Funny thing is...once I got it I was quite excited about booking the Spirit of Aloha!

So...thanks everyone for your input. And like a previous poster stated, we will be flexible and just try to have fun. We are really excited about a few of the reservations as we wouldn't eat there without the dining plan option.

 

[blessedby3]

Why not just book the QS plan? That's what my friend just did. She didn't want the hassle of trying to book a ts every day with her family of 5. They decided to just get the QS plan instead.

That is what we are going to do. Our plans could change last min. as to what park we want to be in or if we are on a ride at the time of our ressies. It would be too stressful to me to have to stop everything everyday to get to our sit down restaruant. We are doing the CS and just paying OOP for a TS breakfast and 1 TS dinner. We still come out cheaper by doing it that way!

 

[caroline1851]

We recently did the ddp for the first time and i thought i was great. We planned which park we'd be at each day so it was easy to figure out a place to eat. It was great to have an adr and KNOW where we were going to eat instead of wandering around, etc. and waiting in line for CS. I would get tired of CS quickly. It's nice to get inside, be waited on and have a great meal. I liked the days we did TS for lunch becuae it was a great break in the middle of the day-a nice rest for the kids.