Planning eating schedules

[Jennifer Christensen]

I searched some, but please point me in the direction of a thread if you know of one I missed...

How should I go about making dining reservations? Not in the literal sense, as I have the app and have Blue Bayou already done, but our trip is nearing and I'm trying to figure out how to best guess where we might be at any given moment to reserve other places or if we should reserve at all.

My guess is that in this non-peak season that we'll need reservations on Saturdays and Sundays, but Mon-Thurs at least should be easier to walk up or make reservations the day before or day of? Should I presume that if we're doing early entry at one of the parks we'll be there for lunch and then leave dinners open until that day? Should we just wing-it? There are some places I think we'd like to eat but don't really know.

My kids are 6 and 8 so I'll be packing some snacks in case we have to wait or get stuck. How OCD do I need to be about this and how should a first timer (well, I was at Disneyland 30 years ago but can't remember eating anything plan out daily meals when I'm not sure where we'll be and when?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I personally eat at more counter service than table servuce, partly because TS takes up so much more time and partly because there are so many excellent CS options in the parks. If you have certain TS restaurants you really want to eat at then go ahead and make reservations ahead of time but don’t feel that all your meals have to be TS.

 

[Jennifer Christensen]

I personally eat at more counter service than table servuce, partly because TS takes up so much more time and partly because there are so many excellent CS options in the parks. If you have certain TS restaurants you really want to eat at then go ahead and make reservations ahead of time but don’t feel that all your meals have to be TS.

I'm thinking we'll probably do less TS just for the mere fact that my kids eat in less than 10 minutes and I don't want to spend the $$ for a dining experience I can't enjoy! That happens enough within my own house I'm thinking counter service places and snacks and finding a nice spot to relax and people watch as I'm sure my 6 year old will be tired of walking at some point. I have to go through more menus so I know what's offered where as I've looked at too many and they are all jumbled in my head, but I do like some of the healthier options TS has to offer (as many kids, my 6 year old would live on pizza and mac and cheese, but he'll also eat salmon and veggies). This all sounds rather silly and such a first world problem

 

[lalasmama]

We do largely counter service and quick service so that we don't need to decide what to eat weeks in advance. The only restaurants that need reservations are the table service ones, and even then, many can take reservations the evening before or the day of.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I'm thinking we'll probably do less TS just for the mere fact that my kids eat in less than 10 minutes and I don't want to spend the $$ for a dining experience I can't enjoy! That happens enough within my own house I'm thinking counter service places and snacks and finding a nice spot to relax and people watch as I'm sure my 6 year old will be tired of walking at some point. I have to go through more menus so I know what's offered where as I've looked at too many and they are all jumbled in my head, but I do like some of the healthier options TS has to offer (as many kids, my 6 year old would live on pizza and mac and cheese, but he'll also eat salmon and veggies). This all sounds rather silly and such a first world problem

I have a 4 year old and completely concur! The beauty of CS is many places offer mobile ordering... a real game changer! And for many of the counter service places that don’t offer mobile ordering it’s really quick and easy to get your food.

For healthier kids options look at French Market, Bengal BBQ, Rancho del Zocalo, Jolly Holiday and Plaza Inn. You also mentioned Blue Bayou, which has an excellent kids menu!

I personally love Award Weiners in DCA (they have a kids hotdog meal that comes with fruit and a yogurt smoothie dunk) and the kids menu at Lamplight Lounge (TS) has great healthy options!

 

[Jennifer Christensen]

I have a 4 year old and completely concur! The beauty of CS is many places offer mobile ordering... a real game changer! And for many of the counter service places that don’t offer mobile ordering it’s really quick and easy to get your food.

For healthier kids options look at French Market, Bengal BBQ, Rancho del Zocalo, Jolly Holiday and Plaza Inn. You also mentioned Blue Bayou, which has an excellent kids menu!

I personally love Award Weiners in DCA (they have a kids hotdog meal that comes with fruit and a yogurt smoothie dunk) and the kids menu at Lamplight Lounge (TS) has great healthy options!

I showed my 6 year old the Mickey celebration mac and cheese hotdog and it looked like he momentarily died and went to heaven

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

One of the nice things about DL and DCA is that there are food options spread out, so if you want to just wing it, you can almost always find and order food before kids get too hangry - especially if you have a few small snacks to tide them over. I haven't been since they added mobile ordering, which seems like it'll make it even easier to keep kids fed and happy!

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

On our last trip I had reservations set ahead of time but realized that it stressed me out more because I had to plan everything to get to the restaurant on time. This trip, with the exception of BB and Napa Rose, I’m just going with the flow. It really is easier with so many choices at both parks. We were there in August 2016 and I did TS more for the AC than any other reason. Now that we are going in February that won’t be a factor. Have so much fun planning!

 

[Disney_Alli]

Because I'm crazy (and fully admit it) I first make a list of all the places we might want to visit (sometimes with input from my husband but usually just based off knowing what he likes) both counter service and table service. Then I make Touring Plans for each day of our trip on the website. Then I look at approximately where we'll be in the parks around meal times for the first 3 days in the parks (2 DL and 1 DCA) and pick restaurants in the right general area. Then I fill all the other restaurants into the rest of our trip. Then I check menus and pricing and make our meal budget for our entire trip. I'm usually within $100 when we add it all up (and we've never gone over budget, we always are under) so I have a day by day total and an overall trip total on my formatted and formula-ed spreadsheet... but like I said I'm crazy...

 

[cruisehopeful]

I recommend always carrying snacks (nuts, granola bars etc) and water. That saves so much agony when waiting in lines.

Counter service is generally the way to go if you don't want long meals. Unless you are very particular about what you want to eat, you don't really need to plan out your meals. I just look at whatever I am near and decide if I want something there or not. It's much more laid back than you are probably thinking. However, I do think it is important to always carry some healthy snacks and water. You never know when you'll be in a long line and you realize that you are getting hangry.

 

[Christin82]

I’m pondering the same thing. We usually do all CS, but saved up to budget for TS this time, just for a change. We have one or two reservations per day, and I hope it doesn’t end up being a hassle.

 

[VandVsmama]

Since your kids are 6 & 8, I highly recommend that you consider doing the character breakfast at the Plaza Inn one morning. We've done this a few times now. It's great. I usually like to have the Plaza Inn breakfast reservation for 10:30-10:45 am-ish. And usually on a day (so like a Tues, Thurs, or Sat) where we have Magic Morning entry (since we usually stay at an off site hotel). That way, we get some great ride time in under our belts and around the time that we are all ready for a break, it's time to check in at the Plaza Inn and relax while a bunch of characters come to our table.

It's the least expensive of the character meals and right now, it's the only one actually inside either park. On the Plaza Inn character breakfast day, we usually do counter service meals the rest of the day.