Revamp on Dining Plans

[Mousekakrazy]

5 adults DxDP. March 11-17. We know OOP would be cheaper but we are doing DxDP so we can eat whenever/wherever and not have to worry about cost. It is more a convenience thing than trying to go the cheapest route. That being said I do want to try and make a plan that makes the most based on travel and all that. So here it is! Critique away! Please correct me if I'm wrong about the transportation part of it (I haven't been to WDW in 15 years!)

The number after the ADR is how many credits it will cost us to eat there. We have 90 total TS credits and 60 snack credits for the trip.

Sunday-Arrive @ 8:00 AM head to Animal Kingdom
B-snacks to hold over til arrival then snack credit if want something before lunch
L- Tiffins @ 11:30 (10)
D-Hoop Dee Doo Revue @ 7:15 (10)
(Bus to MK then Boat to FW)

Monday-Hollywood Studios
B-Snack Credits
L-Sci-Fi Dine In @ 12:30 (5)
D-Hollywood & Vine @ 630/7 Fantasmic @ 9 (5)
(Bus to & from AoA)

Tuesday-Epcot
B-Garden Grill 8 AM (so we can get on Soaring quickly) (5)
L-Snack Credits/QS if we are Hungry
D-La Hacienda De San Angel @ 830/845 (Watch Illuminations @ 9) (5)

Wednesday- Magic Kingdom
B-Crystal Palace 8 AM (to have "empty MK experience) (5)
L-Snack/QS if hungry
D-California Grill @ 630/7 (10)
Bus from AoA to MK then monorail to Contemporary

Thursday-Animal Kingdom
B-Tusker House 8 AM (5)
L-Snack/QS if Hungry
D-Sanaa @630-7 (5)
Bus to and from AoA then bus to AKL

Friday-Magic Kingdom
B-1900 Park Fare 8 AM (5)
L-Snack/QS if hungry
D-Artist Point @ 630 (10)
Bus to and from AoA then Boat to WL

Saturday-Epcot/Departure Day
B-The Wave (5)
L- Akershaus @ 3 PM then head back to AoA (5)
Be back at AoA by 5 to catch ME for our 8:50 flight

If I calculated correctly that is 90 credits. We will probably have a few extra (my mom and I will share some meals) If we do end up with extra can we "cash" them in for snack credits to use at Epcot if we should want to try something at a certain part of the world?

 

[Faldred]

Actually, you might pay less with DxDP than OOP if the inclusions match your preferences, but that's beside the point.

You're typically doing 2 meals plus snacks a day - a good plan. If you do have extra credits remaining, you can trade them in at 1 credit per 3 snacks (typically). Other options would be to use them for CS meals, or to order room service/pizza delivery at your resort if you're the late-night snacking type.

 

[Colleen27]

Looks good. I like that you thought about transportation as you made your plans, that makes it flow so much better. On your first day, are you planning to go back to AoA between your park time and dinner? If not, you're better off just hopping a bus from the park to FW (or the Contemporary, if you'd rather do the boat ride than the internal bus loop to Pioneer Hall). Also, after dinner at Sanaa and Artist Point, you might find calling a cab or Uber preferable to doing the transfer at a park. Your Artist Point time would have you heading back to the Magic Kingdom to catch the bus right around park closing, assuming the usual 8 or 9pm winter closing.

One caveat on the trading in meals for snacks thing - it is done at the point of sale, so all three of your snacks have to come from the location where you're doing the swap. With a party of 5 that's probably not going to be a problem for you, but it is worth knowing that it isn't a change in the credit tally so you can't do the swap and then use one of the new snack credits here and another one there.

 

[Mousekakrazy]

ooks good. I like that you thought about transportation as you made your plans, that makes it flow so much better. On your first day, are you planning to go back to AoA between your park time and dinner? If not, you're better off just hopping a bus from the park to FW (or the Contemporary, if you'd rather do the boat ride than the internal bus loop to Pioneer Hall). Also, after dinner at Sanaa and Artist Point, you might find calling a cab or Uber preferable to doing the transfer at a park. Your Artist Point time would have you heading back to the Magic Kingdom to catch the bus right around park closing, assuming the usual 8 or 9pm winter closing.

One caveat on the trading in meals for snacks thing - it is done at the point of sale, so all three of your snacks have to come from the location where you're doing the swap. With a party of 5 that's probably not going to be a problem for you, but it is worth knowing that it isn't a change in the credit tally so you can't do the swap and then use one of the new snack credits here and another one there.

We were planning on going back to AoA prior to dinner, we are using ME so hopefully everything will be in our room and ready by that time. Also is there a good place that you see where we could fit in some time at Dinsey Springs? Have some shoppers in our group lol

 

[DisneyWishes14]

5 adults DxDP. March 11-17. We know OOP would be cheaper but we are doing DxDP so we can eat whenever/wherever and not have to worry about cost. It is more a convenience thing than trying to go the cheapest route. That being said I do want to try and make a plan that makes the most based on travel and all that. So here it is! Critique away! Please correct me if I'm wrong about the transportation part of it (I haven't been to WDW in 15 years!)

The number after the ADR is how many credits it will cost us to eat there. We have 90 total TS credits and 60 snack credits for the trip.

Sunday-Arrive @ 8:00 AM head to Animal Kingdom
B-snacks to hold over til arrival then snack credit if want something before lunch
L- Tiffins @ 11:30 (10)
D-Hoop Dee Doo Revue @ 7:15 (10)
(Bus to MK then Boat to FW)

Monday-Hollywood Studios
B-Snack Credits
L-Sci-Fi Dine In @ 12:30 (5)
D-Hollywood & Vine @ 630/7 Fantasmic @ 9 (5)
(Bus to & from AoA)

Tuesday-Epcot
B-Garden Grill 8 AM (so we can get on Soaring quickly) (5)
L-Snack Credits/QS if we are Hungry
D-La Hacienda De San Angel @ 830/845 (Watch Illuminations @ 9) (5)

Wednesday- Magic Kingdom
B-Crystal Palace 8 AM (to have "empty MK experience) (5)
L-Snack/QS if hungry
D-California Grill @ 630/7 (10)
Bus from AoA to MK then monorail to Contemporary

Thursday-Animal Kingdom
B-Tusker House 8 AM (5)
L-Snack/QS if Hungry
D-Sanaa @630-7 (5)
Bus to and from AoA then bus to AKL

Friday-Magic Kingdom
B-1900 Park Fare 8 AM (5)
L-Snack/QS if hungry
D-Artist Point @ 630 (10)
Bus to and from AoA then Boat to WL

Saturday-Epcot/Departure Day
B-The Wave (5)
L- Akershaus @ 3 PM then head back to AoA (5)
Be back at AoA by 5 to catch ME for our 8:50 flight

If I calculated correctly that is 90 credits. We will probably have a few extra (my mom and I will share some meals) If we do end up with extra can we "cash" them in for snack credits to use at Epcot if we should want to try something at a certain part of the world?

I think it generally looks good. Just a few comments. There is no guarantee you will get window seat at La Hacienda when you check-in (chances are, the people in those seats before you aren't budging until after the show is over). If you want a good view of the fireworks, I would eat earlier and stake out a spot around the lagoon.

MK now opens an hour early for everyone (the opening show is now in the hub in front of Cinderella Castle), so MK isn't as empty in the early am as it used to be.

You didn't specify how you are getting to 1900 and the Wave on Friday and Saturday. Let us know if you need help with transportation options.

Just know, lunch at Akershus could take up to 90 minutes. That will cut it really close to get back to AoA by 5 pm. You may want to move that reservation a little earlier.

 

[Colleen27]

We were planning on going back to AoA prior to dinner, we are using ME so hopefully everything will be in our room and ready by that time. Also is there a good place that you see where we could fit in some time at Dinsey Springs? Have some shoppers in our group lol

It is tough to work around all the park time you have planned. You might be able to get some shopping in after dinner at Sanaa, though, especially if you're willing to make that ADR a little earlier to give you more time. I'm not sure how late the shops are open, but I seem to recall the place being pretty lively well past the parks close, even during the construction.

I'm not really much of a shopper, so our Disney Springs time is usually limited to hitting Raglan Road for dinner and entertainment, and maybe popping into the Lego Store for a little while.

 

[Mousekakrazy]

I think it generally looks good. Just a few comments. There is no guarantee you will get window seat at La Hacienda when you check-in (chances are, the people in those seats before you aren't budging until after the show is over). If you want a good view of the fireworks, I would eat earlier and stake out a spot around the lagoon.

MK now opens an hour early for everyone (the opening show is now in the hub in front of Cinderella Castle), so MK isn't as empty in the early am as it used to be.

You didn't specify how you are getting to 1900 and the Wave on Friday and Saturday. Let us know if you need help with transportation options.

Just know, lunch at Akershus could take up to 90 minutes. That will cut it really close to get back to AoA by 5 pm. You may want to move that reservation a little earlier.

thanks so much for the suggestions! I do need tips on getting to 1900 and Wave. I wasn't sure what was the best way to go about that. we will move our Akerhaus up to 2:15?? you think that would be ok?

Also AoA has dedicated buses to the parks right? Meaning they have a bus going back and forth from each park without stopping along the way? Ive only ever stayed at the Fort Wilderness Camps and that took forever to get around so I was just wondering how AoA worked.

 

[Lisa F]

I did DxDDP on my last trip and your plan loooks great and includes most of my favorites.

I love CP for breakfast and am planning an 8am just to get it done before the park opens. I am not planning to RD fantasyland that day, it would be too rushed, I am going to RD frontierland instead because it won't be a big deal if the meal runs a bit long... I fully admit that I'm the one who loves tigger and the meal is for me.. but CP also has GREAT food for breakfast, not so much later in the day. So even though you can no longer experience an empty main street with this ADR I still think it is a good time of day to do it.

 

[Mousekakrazy]

I think it generally looks good. Just a few comments. There is no guarantee you will get window seat at La Hacienda when you check-in (chances are, the people in those seats before you aren't budging until after the show is over). If you want a good view of the fireworks, I would eat earlier and stake out a spot around the lagoon.

MK now opens an hour early for everyone (the opening show is now in the hub in front of Cinderella Castle), so MK isn't as empty in the early am as it used to be.

You didn't specify how you are getting to 1900 and the Wave on Friday and Saturday. Let us know if you need help with transportation options.

Just know, lunch at Akershus could take up to 90 minutes. That will cut it really close to get back to AoA by 5 pm. You may want to move that reservation a little earlier.

would you put Tiffins in there for a lunch? or would that be an insane amount of food for lunch then to do a buffet dinner would send it over the edge lol

 

[rg35]

With Five Adults, I would probably choose Hollywood Brown Derby or Mama Melrose's instead of Hollywood and Vine at DHS. Both are much better food-wise.

There's really not a great view of Illuminations from La Hacienda de San Angel. I have eaten there twice. You can see it decently enough it if you go stand by the large windows (there is no guarantee that you'll be seated near the windows), but I would not dine there with the expectation of having the best view of Illuminations. I would probably make this ADR for an earlier time if having a good view of Illuminations is a priority.

 

[Mousekakrazy]

With Five Adults, I would probably choose Hollywood Brown Derby or Mama Melrose's instead of Hollywood and Vine at DHS. Both are much better food-wise.

There's really not a great view of Illuminations from La Hacienda de San Angel. I have eaten there twice. You can see it decently enough it if you go stand by the large windows (there is no guarantee that you'll be seated near the windows), but I would not dine there with the expectation of having the best view of Illuminations. I would probably make this ADR for an earlier time if having a good view of Illuminations is a priority.

so if we insert Mama Melrose instead of Hollywood and Vine would the time still work in order to catch Fantasmic or would we need to try for around 530/6?

 

[susanh]

Just a thought, but on one of your animal kingdom days, I would use the 2 table service credits for a rivers of light package rather than Tiffins alone. Personally, I would flip Sanaa over the your arrival date then Tiffins on Thursday evening followed by ROL.

 

[Mousekakrazy]

Just a thought, but on one of your animal kingdom days, I would use the 2 table service credits for a rivers of light package rather than Tiffins alone. Personally, I would flip Sanaa over the your arrival date then Tiffins on Thursday evening followed by ROL.

Would that mean forgoing HDDR? Also any suggestions then for arrival day brunch/lunch

 

[rg35]

so if we insert Mama Melrose instead of Hollywood and Vine would the time still work in order to catch Fantasmic or would we need to try for around 530/6?

Are you doing the Fantasmic dining package? We did that so we wouldn't have to line up early for good seats and walked over to the theater just a little bit before the show started. I'd recommend it especially if you're on the dining plan and using the credits already. Mama Melrose is 1 credit, Brown Derby is 2.

 

[Mousekakrazy]

Are you doing the Fantasmic dining package? We did that so we wouldn't have to line up early for good seats and walked over to the theater just a little bit before the show started. I'd recommend it especially if you're on the dining plan and using the credits already. Mama Melrose is 1 credit, Brown Derby is 2.

Haven't lost led into the Fantasmic package, we weren't sure how early we would have to eat to make it work.

Should we move our dinners up to around 430/5 so we can have time in parks after?

 

[rg35]

Haven't lost led into the Fantasmic package, we weren't sure how early we would have to eat to make it work.

Should we move our dinners up to around 430/5 so we can have time in parks after?

We ate dinner at HBD at 6pm and Fantasmic was at 9. Pacing at Hollywood Brown Derby isn't rushed - dinner was definitely over an hour.

After our dinner, we rode Toy Story (for the third time) with an extra FP+ I was able to make earlier in the day, and we walked through One Man's Dream after that (but we did not have time for the Groot meet and greet, unfortunately).

The dining package ticket recommends arriving between 25-45 minutes before Fantasmic showtime, but we got to the theater at 8:55 and got excellent seats in the dining package reserved section. The early arrivals seem to run to the front rows, but personally you get a better view of the entire show from the rear, and since you're in the middle section(s), there are really no bad views.

 

[Mousekakrazy]

We ate dinner at HBD at 6pm and Fantasmic was at 9. Pacing at Hollywood Brown Derby isn't rushed - dinner was definitely over an hour.

After our dinner, we rode Toy Story (for the third time) with an extra FP+ I was able to make earlier in the day, and we walked through One Man's Dream after that (but we did not have time for the Groot meet and greet, unfortunately).

The dining package ticket recommends arriving between 25-45 minutes before Fantasmic showtime, but we got to the theater at 8:55 and got excellent seats in the dining package reserved section. The early arrivals seem to run to the front rows, but personally you get a better view of the entire show from the rear, and since you're in the middle section(s), there are really no bad views.

I think our group would like Mama Melsose best (they love Italian). Is a 6 pm ADR there doable with Fantasmic or would you suggest like around 5? Then some time in park before show.

 

[susanh]

Would that mean forgoing HDDR? Also any suggestions then for arrival day brunch/lunch

You could do Sanaa for lunch on sunday instead of tiffins and keep HDDR.

 

[Nancyg56]

would you put Tiffins in there for a lunch? or would that be an insane amount of food for lunch then to do a buffet dinner would send it over the edge lol

Tiffins portions are not large so I would not worry. We had Tiffins at lunchtime and it was a wonderful experience, but beware, this is one gorgeous restaurant that is an homage to the Imagineers and craftsmen who designed DAK. You may find yourself exploring all of the drawings and art scattered throughout. I woud lkeep this ADR.

I think our group would like Mama Melsose best (they love Italian). Is a 6 pm ADR there doable with Fantasmic or would you suggest like around 5? Then some time in park before show.

I agree that for adults, MM is a better choice than H&V. WE like the meal as a late lunch, but if you want dinner, I woudl try to secure an earlier ADR. MM can run behind.