Please give advice on our dining schedule

[charcharg]

We are going to Disney 9/17-9/24. We have the Deluxe dining plan. I feel like we have so much to eat, but I don't want to just be running from restaurant to restaurant, so we will do some QS meals for sure.

9/17 arriving late in day just doing a QS at MK

9/18
8:50 chef Mickey
7:10 Cinderella's royal table

9/19
9:25 Akershus
3:10 Via napoli

9/20
9:15 Crystal Palace


9/21
9:00 Hollywood and Vine (thinking of cancelling this one)
5:15 Spirit of Aloha

9/22
9:00 1900 Park Fare
5:15 Hoop Dee Doo Revue

9/23
9:15 Tusker House
6:35 O'hana

9/24
We want to do breakfast somewhere and just a little bit of time at a park before we leave.

Thanks

 

[madczar]

On the Deluxe dining plan, our family's general tactic is to get a TS Breakfast, and a Signature Dinner. If we eat a big breakfast (and we are breakfast people) around 7:30am to 9am, we can survive till dinner on a snack or two.
Dinner is usually earlier dinner in this case, say 5:30 up until 7 at the latest.

Between breakfast and dinner we stay at a park and do whatever. Also, because we tend to have earlier dinners, we can still make late shows like Fantasmic or Wishes or whatever.

CRT and the SoA show are good uses of deluxe credits in place of signature, but for the other days I'd do something like this:

9/19 - Remove Coral Reef lunch and use either Le Cellier, or one of the signatures near EPCOT (Flying Fish, Y Steakhouse).

9/20 - Hit up a signature near MK (assuming you are staying there for that day), either Artist Point, Citrico's, Narcoossee's, or California Grill.

9/22 - Remove MBB, and go to the Hoop-Dee-Doo show instead, use 2 TS credits for better tier seating. Pretty sure you can do that. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

9/23 - Are you playing near AK that day (assuming that as Tusker House was picked for Breakfast)? Try Jiko for dinner. Really good.

Also, If you want to save a TS credit for the last day breakfast (we often do this as well), then just don't do a 2 TS credit dinner one night, use only 1 and save it. Since we tend to do Poly breakfast on the final day (tradition), we pay OOP for that as Kona is pretty cheap, for breakfast anyway.

Just my 2 cents. Have fun!

 

[charcharg]

^ Thank you!! I will definitely look into your suggestions. Is Coral Reef not good? Someone recommended it to me.

 

[madczar]

Oddly enough, I haven't been to Coral Reef either. I have it booked for May though! My kids will love the fishes.

I merely suggested removing all lunchtime TS ressies and booking only dinner Signature Restaurants. That's not to say that you can't be flexible and do 3 TS one day, and if you wanted to do Coral Reef for lunch, then by all means keep it!

I also just re-read your post and saw that you were going to some QS meals. Really, the DxDP is a waste of money if you plan on hitting up any QS meals. For your late arrival on 9/17 you could instead try to get a dinner buffet at Crystal Palace, or even eat dinner at your resort before heading out for the night at MK.

A rough idea of where you're staying, and which parks you want to hit up, members of the party (kids, ages, etc..), and typical park style (commando vs taking it easy) would help me and others give you a better read on how you might like to eat!

For example, my kids like to get up early, and run full steam (read: ride rides all day) till 1 or 2, then come back and have a nap. Then go back out by 4, have an early dinner, then stay out till 11 or so (again, rides and parades). Wash, rinse, repeat. Me? I'd rather sleep in and have brunch and snacks all day with a nice sushi meal or something for dinner, but alas.

 

[Niki in NJ]

I think you have the right attitude with doing QS throughout the day and mainly use TS meals for breakfasts and dinners. I definitely think doing signature dinners are a good way to use credits. The only specific recommendation I would make would be to make Via Napoli a little later to ensure you will be hungry enough after a 9:30ish breakfast. Also, you can always share TS credits. For example, if you were to get to Via Napoli and not be hungry enough for everyone to use their individual TS credits, you can share.
You asked about Coral Reef - the atmosphere is is nice, but the food not so much.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

Since you asked....

Arrival Day, if you don't want a long and complicated dinner, consider eating at the Plaza. It is not necessarily a "squeeze every penny out of the plan" dining option, but it is a lovely little restaurant, lots of light, beautiful windows, and great family and kid food.

I think you have a great plan for 9/18, but I might change out the Chef Mickey for breakfast at O'hana just for the sake of the food. If the characters are your driving factor, then enjoy. Since your dinner is rather late, you might want to grab a CS lunch to tide you over. I recommend the Columbia Harbor House, which is air conditioned and usually much calmer than other options in the park, especially with seating upstairs.

9/19 Akershus sounds great, but I would head to Yachtsman or Flying Fish for Dinner. I would recommend Tutto Italia for Italian inside Epcot (loved their short ribs).

9/20 Crystal Palace has great character interaction. For Dinner, head over to Narcoossee's or Citricos for dinner.

9/21 Drop the Hollywood and Vine Breakfast. Your instinct on that one was perfect. Have the character breakfast at Cape May instead.

I was not that thrilled with the Spirit of Aloha show, and during the time of year you are there it will be as hot and humid as imaginable, and if you have rain it will be cancelled. I would either have dinner at Brown Derby or have lunch at 50's Prime Time Cafe and move your Ohana night here. (Make sure to use some of your snack credits when at DHS at Starring Rolls for their amazing cupcakes, we love the chocolate peanut butter and butterfinger. They are only open in the mornings and afternoons, so don't wait until late in the day).

9/23 Tusker House is great for Breakfast, but I second the previous poster who suggested you eat at Jiko for dinner. It is amazing. Order the steak and ask for them to give you mac and cheese as a side, seriously.

9/24 Have a goodbye breakfast. I really enjoy Grand Floridian Cafe, Kona Cafe, or Whispering Canyon Cafe.

This plan does not schedule every last credit available to you, so you can throw in a few counter service in the week, but it gives you a nice tour of the signature restaurants, character dining, and "Disney Unique" options.

 

[deannanb]

last summer I had an ADR for breakfast, lunch and dinner -
it was too much running around for the middle of the day for us.

it was not too much food - if you look at the deluxe as a convenience plan.

this summer I have a breakfast and dinner planned every day -
with 2 lunches - Sci-Fi at Hollywood and France (to hopefully see Remy)

Hollywood and Vine is fine if you have kids who like those characters (or if you like the characters) - maybe use some snacks to get a muffin and juice for your DHS morning to be at rope drop.

 

[Mamu]

We are going to Disney 9/17-9/24. We have the Deluxe dining plan. I feel like we have so much to eat, but I don't want to just be running from restaurant to restaurant, so we will do some QS meals for sure.

9/17 arriving late in day just doing a QS at MK

9/18
8:50 chef Mickey OK for breakfast
7:10 Cinderella's royal table Haven't been since the changes, always liked it

9/19
9:25 Akershus OK Breakfast, great for characters
3:10 Via napoli it

9/20
9:15 Crystal Palace it


9/21
9:00 Hollywood and Vine (thinking of cancelling this one) On my list of gross restaurant
5:15 Spirit of Aloha never done

9/22
9:00 1900 Park Fare it
5:15 Hoop Dee Doo Revue Never done

9/23
9:15 Tusker House It get good reviews, we are trying lunch in May
6:35 O'hana On my never to return for dinner

9/24
We want to do breakfast somewhere and just a little bit of time at a park before we leave.

Thanks

These are my personal favorites and dislikes. Not to sway you in any way. Lots of restaurants get rave reviews so we try them, I usually give them 2 tries.

 

[goofyintoronto]

We are going to Disney 9/17-9/24. We have the Deluxe dining plan. I feel like we have so much to eat, but I don't want to just be running from restaurant to restaurant, so we will do some QS meals for sure.

9/17 arriving late in day just doing a QS at MK

9/18
8:50 chef Mickey
7:10 Cinderella's royal table

9/19
9:25 Akershus
3:10 Via napoli

9/20
9:15 Crystal Palace


9/21
9:00 Hollywood and Vine (thinking of cancelling this one)
5:15 Spirit of Aloha

9/22
9:00 1900 Park Fare
5:15 Hoop Dee Doo Revue

9/23
9:15 Tusker House
6:35 O'hana

9/24
We want to do breakfast somewhere and just a little bit of time at a park before we leave.

Thanks

Chef Mickeys breakfast is disgusting!! Ok maybe the word disgusting is harsh, but i wasnt impressed. Food was tasteless & lukewarm. I didnt like the selection either. (never thought anyone could mess up breakfast, but they did!).
The atmosphere in CM is like a highschool cafeteria. Really sad.
Its quite loud in there too!

Crystal Palace is quite good. I like it.

Tusker house is my FAVE breakfast buffet. with Ohana being a close second. Tusker has the best variety i've ever seen, there's something for everyone!! Characters are such a riot too. Esp Daisy! Love her.

Ohana is wonderful....love the atmosphere and the fact that its an all you can eat family style breakfast. Love their bread & juice!!

1900 PF was so much fun, characters were very funny (stepsisters!). The place itself was gorgeous. Only letdown was the food. Very poor selection. There were only 2 items i liked, and im not picky!

Never been to H&V, but i havent heard good things about it.