share meals and suggestions on restaurants

[TimesUp]

First time to Disney and I can really use your help.

I recently booked a trip to Disney 11/11 - 11-18 and opted for the dining plan for my wife, ds 5, ds 6 and myself. They people you book your trip with act like your an idiot if you don't decide to get the DDP.

Since my wife is a very light eater. I was wondering about how you go about sharing meals. If you get an ADR do would I get one for 2 or 4?

Staying at the Wilderness Lodge

We have ADRs for
Hoop
Coral Reef
Chef Mickey's (Should I do lunch or Dinner)
Teppanyaki
Mama Melrose's Fantasmic Package
Liberty Tree Tavern
Restaurantosaurus
The Plaza Restaurant

We have a couple of ADRs that we will have to cancel. Any suggestions on which ones? Any new ideas.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[tashasmum]

Welcome to the boards. I'm sure you will get lots of help and information for your holidays.
We have not done the dining plan yet although we have it booked for 2007.

 

[lonegungirl]

I certainly wouldn't think anyone was an idiot who didn't get the dining plan--it's a good deal for some, but definitely not for others. If your family doesn't eat much (it's a lot of food) or is impatient with spending time eating, it may not be best for you. Additionally, it does take a little time and planning to ensure that you don't wind up with credits you don't use.

Having said that, I just came back from a trip last week with the dining plan, and had a great time with it. DM and I shared most meals--I made ADRs for 2 people figuring they would count chairs, not plates. When the server first came, I usually told them we were on the dining plan and would be sharing one, and they were all very accomodating.

Of the places you list, I have only been to the Coral Reef, but really liked it. The aquarium is lovely, and the food was very good. My favorite restaurant is CA Grill because the sushi is excellent and the view of Wishes from the deck, wonderful. I've never gone with children, but it seems like Prime Time Cafe and Sci Fi Dine-in would be very entertaining for them.

 

[Figment's friends]

I would cancel Restaurantosaurus- I had read mediocre reveiws and really wasn't too happy there, my camera ran out of batteries after only 2 characters and I stated that when it was time for Goofy to come to our table. He looked, shrugged and went right on to the next people. No interaction for us. The food was only so-so but the wait staff was actually pretty funny. We did like the staff, much better then the characters. Tappenyaki was GREAT! Keep that one!

You would keep your adr's at 4 because it is for the # of people and not the amount of credits you would be using. You would just let your server know when you are at your table that you plan to share. Remember Buffets are a no share zone.

Here's one of our examples of sharing,

Sci Fi Dine in Theatre at MGM
3 adults = using 2 table service credits

2 orders of onion rings as appy
one rueben w/fries
one cheeseburger with fries
we got 4 milkshakes (one was to go) 2 counted as drinks and 2 counted as dessert.

When we mentioned using only 2 credits the server was very nice about it and of course we just supplemented the tip. Remember to check your bill though- we had no problems but I have heard of poeple that were charged anyway. They can clear it up there at the restaurant right away and it is way easier then trying later.

You could probably share at Liberty Tree Tavern if you went for lunch, there are no characters and they have a different menu, but it was great at lunch and the pilgram's feast (turkey, mashed and green beans I think) was a huge platter! I mean huge, so was the dessert!

We ate lunch at Tappenyaki and were there at about 10 mins. to 12, at 12 they do a little official opening ceremony(not a big deal but cute) to open for lunch. I am sure you could share here but you might not want to, lol.

As for sharing counter service, it was easiest for meals we ate at our resort, I have a thread I started further down that might help. Hope this has been helpful and have a great trip.

 

[ReneeA]

First time to Disney and I can really use your help.

I recently booked a trip to Disney 11/11 - 11-18 and opted for the dining plan for my wife, ds 5, ds 6 and myself. They people you book your trip with act like your an idiot if you don't decide to get the DDP.

Since my wife is a very light eater. I was wondering about how you go about sharing meals. If you get an ADR do would I get one for 2 or 4?

Staying at the Wilderness Lodge

We have ADRs for
Hoop
Coral Reef
Chef Mickey's (Should I do lunch or Dinner)
Teppanyaki
Mama Melrose's Fantasmic Package
Liberty Tree Tavern
Restaurantosaurus
The Plaza Restaurant

We have a couple of ADRs that we will have to cancel. Any suggestions on which ones? Any new ideas.

Thanks for any feedback.

You need to make ADR's for the number of people in your party - regardless of sharing, so everyone can have a seat.

You won't be allowed to share at All you care to eat or buffets, so out of your list of potential TS's, you wouldn't be allowed to share at HoopDeDoo (All you care to eat), Chef Mickey (buffet), Liberty Tree (All you care to eat family style), and Restaurantsaurus (buffet).

For some, the DDP is a good bet, others not so much.

 

[pooch]

My daughter and I should have shared at SCI-FI. The burgers are huge and the best we had on property. I wanted to finish it so badly but would have exploded in public!!! I agree, you kids will like this place. You could probably order 2 meals here and feed everyone with no problem.

Liberty Tree Tavern, if lunch, could also be shared. We ordered the Pilgrims Fest, Pot Roast and a Sandwich Heard Round the World (heavenly!!!) and barely made a dent!! If you aren't looking for characters for this meal, I would suggest it for a late lunch. Although I was underimpressed with the waitstaff, the food was fabulous and it'll be on my list of must does for next trip!!

 

[DisneyMama27]

We have done the Dining Plan and LOVE it!

We just did some of the same restaurants you have listed - I would suggest picking either Chef Mickey's OR Donald's Breakfastasaurus. They have the same characters and about the same quality of food. The line was horrible at Donald's, but it was in the park and got us on the Safari right away - best Safari ever! Chef Mickey's is a pain to get to unless you are staying at a monorail resort or going straight from MK. We went for dinner and the kids liked it, but DH and I were unimpressed. Maybe breakfast is better,but the resorts are hard to get to in the morning (from other resorts - no direct buses. Something to think about,let me assure you!) The kids ate the same stuff they ate everywhere else, but liked the go-nuts-on-sugar dessert bar.

My kids are 5,7 and 9 and actually started getting tired of character meals - thank God. They used to be fun, but now are so packed and crazy that they felt like a beating - and I am a huge fan of characters!

 

[ParrotheadMinnie]

I would do Chef Mickey's for dinner. Yes it's loud, but I love the characters, the waving about of napkins, and the monorail soaring overhead. The food is actually good to me. Do this for an early dinner, but eat a very light lunch and that's all you need that day. Be sure to ride the monorail; your kids are just at the age to love it. It's good to go to Chef Mickeys on a Magic Kingdom day so you hop on the monorail and ride over. You can even go back afterward and see the fireworks. My kids are now 16 and 13, and it's one of their top 3 restaurants.

 

[rantnnravin]

You need to make ADR's for the number of people in your party - regardless of sharing, so everyone can have a seat.

You won't be allowed to share at All you care to eat or buffets, so out of your list of potential TS's, you wouldn't be allowed to share at HoopDeDoo (All you care to eat), Chef Mickey (buffet), Liberty Tree (All you care to eat family style), and Restaurantsaurus (buffet).

For some, the DDP is a good bet, others not so much.

let me just add to clarify: at the places ReneeA points out, you will pay for the number of people on your reservation regardless if you are on the DDP or not

 

[ReneeA]

let me just add to clarify: at the places ReneeA points out, you will pay for the number of people on your reservation regardless if you are on the DDP or not

Oh, good point. I may not have been clear on that, huh?

 

[rantnnravin]

Oh, good point. I may not have been clear on that, huh?

no disresepct was intended

 

[ReneeA]

no disresepct was intended

I didn't take it that way. I type too fast sometimes and don't always get across what I mean.

 

[mandy200587]

Cancel Restourantarus. Not that good in all honestly. You could share at Plaza. My family has shared meals before without a problem.