QSDP/counter service with 4 young children: will this be a hassle?

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Now that we are getting closer to our vacation dates I am starting to stress over everything We made the decision that it would not be in our best interest to do the regular DDP because we do not want to commit to an ADR everyday. We have four kids with different temperaments and half of them are extremely picky eaters (DS9 has autism) so we know a lot of food would be wasted anyway; and having to order, sit, and wait through a lengthy table service meal or go through the motions of a buffet every day would be a bit much for us. But now I am thinking that the QSDP where we would have to do two counter service meals a day may be just as much of a production being that we would have to wait in line, order our food, and balance trays/drinks while making our way to a table with our kids. Our DD9 can help somewhat, but she gets just as whiny and cranky when she is hungry . Also I am reading that now you can't be seated unless you have your food which means DH or I can't sit at a table with the kids while one of us waits in line and orders the food. I can see us all standing in a crowded line with our kids and having to keep up with them while trying to balance trays of food and locate a table to sit at. I think this may get old after a couple of days. I am starting to think it might just be easier to cook dinner everyday

 

[catne]

personally, I'd get the regular dining plan and have one table service meal a day at a non-buffet restaurant...they serve very quickly (people who like to linger over their meals often complain on this forum about getting in & out of restaurants in 45 minutes.) This is DISNEY--they know how to serve fast, and are completely used to kids' needs. If you eat early lunch --like around 11:30, you'll find it much easier to negotiate the lines at a counter service with the kids (because there won't be much for lines at 11:30.) And you'll be able to find tables easier, then, too. Then get a dinner reservation at a table-service (not a buffet) for 5:00 or 5:30...again, you'll be eating earlier than most so should get seated promptly and have great service before the restaurants get busy-busy.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

personally, I'd get the regular dining plan and have one table service meal a day at a non-buffet restaurant...they serve very quickly (people who like to linger over their meals often complain on this forum about getting in & out of restaurants in 45 minutes.) This is DISNEY--they know how to serve fast, and are completely used to kids' needs. If you eat early lunch --like around 11:30, you'll find it much easier to negotiate the lines at a counter service with the kids (because there won't be much for lines at 11:30.) And you'll be able to find tables easier, then, too. Then get a dinner reservation at a table-service (not a buffet) for 5:00 or 5:30...again, you'll be eating earlier than most so should get seated promptly and have great service before the restaurants get busy-busy.

thank you for your suggestion. We really don't want to be on an ADR schedule which is what we would have with the regular DDP. We need flexibility with our kids and if we can't make it to an ADR then we have to figure out what to do for that meal. I do understand what you are saying though about eating at earlier times for the counter service to avoid the larger crowds.

 

[StuckInKS]

CS with 4 young kids is hard. You and your spouse may have to carry all of the trays and we found that, with everything that comes with a kid's CS meal, it was hard even fitting everything for two kids on one tray. Even if you can do it, that is two trays for you and two trays for your spouse. It leaves no hands available if a few of the children are very young. Then you have to maneuver to a table. That might have been worse on us because we went over the 4th of July, a busy time.

We prefer TS with all of these younger kids. It is just easier to sit in AC, take a much needed rest and have someone else bring you your food. No waiting in line, no carrying trays and no weaving through tables with those trays. I am dreading the CS we will have to do this year with 5 kids, but hopefully it will be a little less crowded.

ETA: Just checked out your kids' ages. It should be easier on you since your 9 year-olds can carry their own trays. The first time we went, it was with a just-turned-6 year old (for her b-day), a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a 1 year old. That was a big deal at CS because no one could carry their own trays and three on them needed to be held or have their hand held.

 

[KELLY]

thank you for your suggestion. We really don't want to be on an ADR schedule which is what we would have with the regular DDP. We need flexibility with our kids and if we can't make it to an ADR then we have to figure out what to do for that meal. I do understand what you are saying though about eating at earlier times for the counter service to avoid the larger crowds.

Ok here is my take on it. Having done the QSDP last year and doing it again this year. I loved it. One no ad'rs. Well we make 2 character breakfest for our 10 day stay. Which is perfect.

Last year my 3 year old could sleep while we ate. Then when she was hungry I could just run in somewhere and get her a meal. This happened a couple of times we went to eat and she was sleeping. No need to wake her up. We seem to get more park time in. I think this is beacuse we could just get in line. Didn't have to worry about what time to be somewhere. In the past if we had to be somewhere at 1130 we wouldn't get on a ride at 1030-1045 thinking we need to head to the resturaunt.

Last year at one of the resturants at HS I had 2 trays. The cm's are very freindly and will help bring a tray to your table. I just found if I said I will be back for the tray they were more then willing to help me with it. I never had to ask. I was always willing to go back and get it. The only resturant that could be problematic is Sunshine season due to the way it is set up and the food courts at the hotel. But we manged fine at both of those. I think at SS I did 2 runs. Once to get the kids food then to get dh and my food. We never had a problem getting seats or needed to be seated. We always eat lunch around 1100 to 1130 so the resturants weren't normaly busy at that time.

 

[KELLY]

CS with 4 young kids is hard. You and your spouse may have to carry all of the trays and we found that, with everything that comes with a kid's CS meal, it was hard even fitting everything for two kids on one tray. Even if you can do it, that is two trays for you and two trays for your spouse. It leaves no hands available if a few of the children are very young. Then you have to maneuver to a table. That might have been worse on us because we went over the 4th of July, a busy time.

We prefer TS with all of these younger kids. It is just easier to sit in AC, take a much needed rest and have someone else bring you your food. No waiting in line, no carrying trays and no weaving through tables with those trays. I am dreading the CS we will have to do this year with 5 kids, but hopefully it will be a little less crowded.

ETA: Just checked out your kids' ages. It should be easier on you since your 9 year-olds can carry their own trays. The first time we went, it was with a just-turned-6 year old (for her b-day), a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a 1 year old. That was a big deal at CS because no one could carry their own trays and three on them needed to be held or have their hand held.

Our problem is we do lots of chracter buffets with the RDP so we were still having to get up multiple times. To me it wasn't more relaxing. I would be if you can skip the buffets.

 

[*QueenB*]

DH and I did a day trip to MK on the 1st and my daughters and I were able to sit at a table while DH ordered and got food. We went to Columbia Harbour House and Cosmic Rays. I would have your 9 year old daughter help one parent at the counter while the other parent sat with the kids. I would go at 11 or 1130 like other posters have suggested so its not super busy.

 

[jjant72]

Trust me, CS is far easier with kids. TS meals are too restrictive in that you need to schedule a time to get in, especially during FD. With kids it is better to remain flexible because they times they get hungry will vary from day to day as will the times they will take naps. I have never not been allowed to sit down before I got our food. If you let the people at the counter know you are going to make two/three trips because you don't have enough free hands you can leave you tray up there and return for the additional tray(s). CS meals are very relaxed and really do have good food.

 

[purple figment]

Also I am reading that now you can't be seated unless you have your food which means DH or I can't sit at a table with the kids while one of us waits in line and orders the food.

This system is used only during very busy times of the year, such as or Christmas or Easter and only at a handful of CS restaurants. Most of the time one of you will be able to sit at a table with the kids while the other gets the food.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Trust me, CS is far easier with kids. TS meals are too restrictive in that you need to schedule a time to get in, especially during FD. With kids it is better to remain flexible because they times they get hungry will vary from day to day as will the times they will take naps. I have never not been allowed to sit down before I got our food. If you let the people at the counter know you are going to make two/three trips because you don't have enough free hands you can leave you tray up there and return for the additional tray(s). CS meals are very relaxed and really do have good food.

That is a good point. My gut instinct is telling me we should stick with the QSDP and just have a plan with how we are going to get our food and handle the trays, etc. I am going to try to get some more info on the different CS restaurants (with help from my fellow Dis'ers ) and make a list of the CS locations in each the parks and DTD that I think will best suit our family in terms of the layout of the restaurant, seating, menus, etc.

 

[maggiew]

I recommend NOT going to Cosmic Rays. There are multiple counters and where you go depends on what you want to order. For example, grill items one place; roasted chicken/ribs another place. Depending on what you and the kids were going to eat, you could end up at 3 different locations! However, if you were all going to get burgers or something, then it would be fine.

Maggie

 

[PurpleTurtle]

Hi there. Have you been to WDW before? I ask b/c I can't eat that much Disney counter service. The food is just not good, in my personal opinion, so the QSDP would not be for me. A week or so of 2 Disney CS meals per day would not sit well with me. Just something to think about.

 

[Colleen27]

I think you know your kids best as far as how well they can handle TS meals. Some families find them easier than CS (ours included) but others find CS easier.

I wouldn't worry about the seating rules being in effect for when you're going. That's usually only in place for busy seasons at peak meal times at very popular CS locations. Most likely you'll be fine to find a table before you order.

Personally, I'd make a list of a few "off the beaten path" CS locations that would most likely be less crowded, though you might be limited a bit in that respect with picky eaters. Cosmic Rays or Sunshine Seasons at a "normal" meal time will be crazy, but choosing some place a little less popular like Columbia Harbour House would make for a much less stressful experience.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Hi there. Have you been to WDW before? I ask b/c I can't eat that much Disney counter service. The food is just not good, in my personal opinion, so the QSDP would not be for me. A week or so of 2 Disney CS meals per day would not sit well with me. Just something to think about.

This will be our first family trip to WDW. I went a long time ago as a child when there were only a few Disney hotel resorts, no dining plan, and the only parks we visited were was Magic Kingdom and Epcot (MGM Studios aka Hollywood Studios was still being built I believe). So in many ways this will be a first trip for both me and my family. I have read that there are a lot of CS places that offer a variety of foods so that we won't have to eat burgers and chicken nuggets all week. I am trying to look at menus and get an idea of all the different places that are known for good CS like WPE in DTD. I don't think we can do a week of having a scheduled table service meal everyday either, so either way something is going to have to work because if we don't do the dining plan we might as well stay offsite.

 

[hambirg]

This will be our first family trip to WDW. I went a long time ago as a child when there were only a few Disney hotel resorts, no dining plan, and the only parks we visited were was Magic Kingdom and Epcot (MGM Studios aka Hollywood Studios was still being built I believe). So in many ways this will be a first trip for both me and my family. I have read that there are a lot of CS places that offer a variety of foods so that we won't have to eat burgers and chicken nuggets all week. I am trying to look at menus and get an idea of all the different places that are known for good CS like WPE in DTD. I don't think we can do a week of having a scheduled table service meal everyday either, so either way something is going to have to work because if we don't do the dining plan we might as well stay offsite.

Honestly, I think you're over thinking it. I think the QSDP sounds perfect for your family situation. We don't like being tied to ADRs either. You can find lots of different CS food and won't be tied to eating chicken nuggets and burgers for every meal. Do check out the menus at allears and the food porn threads.

You'll be fine.

 

[Colleen27]

This will be our first family trip to WDW. I went a long time ago as a child when there were only a few Disney hotel resorts, no dining plan, and the only parks we visited were was Magic Kingdom and Epcot (MGM Studios aka Hollywood Studios was still being built I believe). So in many ways this will be a first trip for both me and my family. I have read that there are a lot of CS places that offer a variety of foods so that we won't have to eat burgers and chicken nuggets all week. I am trying to look at menus and get an idea of all the different places that are known for good CS like WPE in DTD. I don't think we can do a week of having a scheduled table service meal everyday either, so either way something is going to have to work because if we don't do the dining plan we might as well stay offsite.

I'll be the first to say that I don't like doing CS every day on our Disney trips any more, but that is purely personal preference and has nothing to do with the food. I wouldn't worry too much over the nay-sayers!

As far as selection and quality at CS I think Disney does quite a good job. We very much enjoy Columbia Harbour House, Main Street Bakery, and several of the World Showcase counter service (Yakitori House in Japan is my personal fave, never seems crowded and if it isn't too warm the outdoor seating area with the waterfall is so lovely & relaxing). The few places we really steer clear of aren't because of the food either; my DD (6 at the time) freaked out about the aggressive birds under/around the table at Flame Tree, Sunshine Seasons had great food but was too much of a zoo at lunchtime for me to want to go back, Pecos Bills just doesn't seem to have enough seating for the lunch rush. A little flexibility avoids those last two easily enough, and with the menus and reviews available you should be able to find plenty of appealing options.

 

[clanmcculloch]

As a parent with an autistic child, I have to say that just winging it with dining is going to make for a much greater likelihood of meltdowns. I schedule TS meals, CS meals and even snack times. If DD13 (my autistic child) gets over hungry, her coping strategies will go out the window. She won't realize that she's that hungry until it's already too late. I make a point of walking into a CS place or snack cart that has food I know she'll eat (based on info I've gathered before our trip) around 20 minutes before her normal school lunch time or snack time or our home dinner time. Keeping our regular schedule intact while at WDW is VERY important for us. This also works out really well for crowds since schools typically feed kids lunch earlier than people eat when on vacation (schools around here stagger lunches ranging from 10:45-12:00) so that means we're beating the lunch rushes by walking into CS locations by 11:20.

Because we're on a strict meal schedule (we also do strict at home sleep schedule at WDW) anyway, fitting in TS meals is not any more difficult than CS meals. Our trip is all highly scheduled. Since doing this, we've had hardly any meltdowns at WDW. Before doing this, I always ended up letting us try to do too much resulting in daily meltdowns which would result in us having to make a very hasty exit from the park and the rest of the day would be devoted to soothing the meltdowns. Trips are SO much better now that I highly schedule our days.

 

[StuckInKS]

As another poster mentioned, if you to go with CS then you should probably avoid going to places like Cosmic Rays and Sunshine Seasons. We did both last year and they were both the biggest hassle because of how they are set up.

Doing these (or any CS) is going to be much different when you have 4 kids that need assistance, than if you only have 2 kids that need assistance. So, take that into consideration if your older two will need assistance.