Should I or Shouldn't I Keep My Reservations?

[ShellyShell]

I currently have 5 restaurants reserved for our stay and I do not have the dining plan. Is it worth it? I really don't want to spend a ton of money on restaurants. I definitely have a budget. I'd rather buy crap..lol. These are the 5 I have reserved. I'm not even sure of the pricing. Which ones do you think I should cancel?

Crystal Palace for Breakfast
Whispering Canyon for Dinner
50s Prime Time I have reserved for Lunch and Dinner. Can't decided which one will be final.
Garden Grill for Dinner
Chef Mickey's for Breakfast

 

[Alicefan]

I would keep Garden Grill, 50's PT and Whispering Canyon. I wouldn't pay those prices for breakfast food myself. I mean, the bacon is not even the good stuff, it's that thin tasteless paper stuff, and pretty sure the eggs are powdered. They focus on feeding the masses and definitely not on quality. Your choices for dinner are really good though, and you will get your character experiences in there and entertainment and good food to boot.

 

[ShellyShell]

I would keep Garden Grill, 50's PT and Whispering Canyon. I wouldn't pay those prices for breakfast food myself. I mean, the bacon is not even the good stuff, it's that thin tasteless paper stuff, and pretty sure the eggs are powdered. They focus on feeding the masses and definitely not on quality. Your choices for dinner are really good though, and you will get your character experiences in there and entertainment and good food to boot.

I'm kinda on the fence about Garden Grill because they jack the prices up for the Holidays and it's a set price. My kids eat like birds so it might be a waste of money.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I currently have 5 restaurants reserved for our stay and I do not have the dining plan. Is it worth it? I really don't want to spend a ton of money on restaurants. I definitely have a budget. I'd rather buy crap..lol. These are the 5 I have reserved. I'm not even sure of the pricing. Which ones do you think I should cancel?

Crystal Palace for Breakfast
Whispering Canyon for Dinner
50s Prime Time I have reserved for Lunch and Dinner. Can't decided which one will be final.
Garden Grill for Dinner
Chef Mickey's for Breakfast

Crystal Palace breakfast is one of our "must dos" for each trip. I've always enjoyed the food there and it's a great experience. I'd keep that one.
I really enjoy the food at 50s PTC. The menu is the same for lunch and dinner so just pick which meal works better with your schedule.

I'd definitely drop Chef Mickey's and Whispering Canyon. I didn't feel the food at either one was worth the money.

 

[Alicefan]

I'm kinda on the fence about Garden Grill because they jack the prices up for the Holidays and it's a set price. My kids eat like birds so it might be a waste of money.

yeah if you don't think you'll get your money's worth then ditch it, but the same could be said for all of the buffet restaurants. Chef Mickey's especially. You might be better off doing just plain table service so that your not paying top dollar for the characters. 50's and WC will still be good choices though! I'd maybe toss Be Our Guest in there for lunch so they can pick their meal AND get the cool atmosphere instead of the 30 something bucks a kid at CP? The Beast is usually out to meet after your meal and he strolls through the room as well.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I'd maybe toss Be Our Guest in there for lunch so they can pick their meal AND get the cool atmosphere instead of the 30 something bucks a kid at CP? The Beast is usually out to meet after your meal and he strolls through the room as well.

The Beast is not at BOG for lunch, only dinner. At dinner, he is available to meet in the room off to the side. He doesn't come to the tables.

Breakfast at CP for ages 3-9 is around $20. Adults are $34.

 

[ShellyShell]

yeah if you don't think you'll get your money's worth then ditch it, but the same could be said for all of the buffet restaurants. Chef Mickey's especially. You might be better off doing just plain table service so that your not paying top dollar for the characters. 50's and WC will still be good choices though! I'd maybe toss Be Our Guest in there for lunch so they can pick their meal AND get the cool atmosphere instead of the 30 something bucks a kid at CP? The Beast is usually out to meet after your meal and he strolls through the room as well.

Crystal Place is $30 a kid?? For Breakfast?? WTH??

 

[ShellyShell]

The Beast is not at BOG for lunch, only dinner. At dinner, he is available to meet in the room off to the side. He doesn't come to the tables.

Breakfast at CP for ages 3-9 is around $20. Adults are $34.

Oh ok. Geesh. That's still a lot. Decisions...decisions.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would just keep one of your 50's Primetime reservations so you can share your meals and stick to quick service locations where you're not tied down to reservations.

 

[JJsmama]

My kids have always loved GG. Yes, it is a splurge, but on the plus side, great characters come to the table and that may make up for the price because it avoids a long wait for characters otherwise.
Crystal Palace only if it fits into your touring plan. I DO like CP but I don't like spending lots of MK time eating.
Looks at the menu for Whispering Canyon. They have changed things and lots of the meals are huge and pricey. Even for older kids who don't eat a lot, I crossed that one off the list.
CM for breakfast - No. If you want to eat in Contemporary, the quick service next door to CM is great.

It is tough when your kids don't eat much. Mine are 18,16 and 9 and still don't eat much but when they were little, pricey meals especially seemed like a waste. (One tip: you know you kids -- which time of day would they eat the most and make a buffet most 'worth it'? for mine, a late breakfast/ early lunch combo is usually best. I give them milk and a small snack before doing parks for 2-3 hours and then combine into a brunch.

if you don't want to spend the money on meals, don't. There are some great Quick service places. Some of our favorites are: Pecos Bills, Cosmic Rays, Sunshine Seasons andthe Epcot WS places, especially China and France. Good Luck

 

[Nancyg56]

That's a tough question. I would skip WCC in a heartbeat.

I think that you need to weigh the experience to the cost and ask if the kids will enjoy that enough to justify the money spent.

I like Garden Grill, Crystal Palace, and I like Chef Mickey, but it is wicked pricey.

50's PTC is reasonable I think, and you control what you spend because it is off the menu. I think the kids might like it.

I agree with those who suggested that you do not get invested in meals you really do not want. While there is a lot to be said about having a reserved time to eat in a restaurant that you want, if you are begrudging the cost, or you are not happy with the amount of food your kids eat in relation to the cost, cancel the meal. There is nothing worse than buyers remorse over meals.

 

[ShellyShell]

My kids have always loved GG. Yes, it is a splurge, but on the plus side, great characters come to the table and that may make up for the price because it avoids a long wait for characters otherwise.
Crystal Palace only if it fits into your touring plan. I DO like CP but I don't like spending lots of MK time eating.
Looks at the menu for Whispering Canyon. They have changed things and lots of the meals are huge and pricey. Even for older kids who don't eat a lot, I crossed that one off the list.
CM for breakfast - No. If you want to eat in Contemporary, the quick service next door to CM is great.

It is tough when your kids don't eat much. Mine are 18,16 and 9 and still don't eat much but when they were little, pricey meals especially seemed like a waste. (One tip: you know you kids -- which time of day would they eat the most and make a buffet most 'worth it'? for mine, a late breakfast/ early lunch combo is usually best. I give them milk and a small snack before doing parks for 2-3 hours and then combine into a brunch.

if you don't want to spend the money on meals, don't. There are some great Quick service places. Some of our favorites are: Pecos Bills, Cosmic Rays, Sunshine Seasons andthe Epcot WS places, especially China and France. Good Luck

I really don't think my kids would care for the characters at GG that much. My 7 yr old son is not even into Disney Characters and my 12 yr old daughter...well she's 12..lol I was going more for me because i've never been there. lol I've been to CP with my 12 yr old when she was 4. 7 yr old wasn't born. It was nice but it's not a must and yes i've put it into my plan for the day. I'll have to look at WC's menu. I loved that place. That was one of my favorite. So i'll look at the menu to see if it's worth it. I wanted to do CM's because I wanted to interact with Mickey. I don't remember if the food was good. We had dinner there but it was pretty cool. I have some days to decide but thanks for the recommendations for Quick Service meals.

 

[ShellyShell]

I would just keep one of your 50's Primetime reservations so you can share your meals and stick to quick service locations where you're not tied down to reservations.

Yeah I think i'm definitely keeping 50s. Thanks!

 

[ShellyShell]

That's a tough question. I would skip WCC in a heartbeat.

I think that you need to weigh the experience to the cost and ask if the kids will enjoy that enough to justify the money spent.

I like Garden Grill, Crystal Palace, and I like Chef Mickey, but it is wicked pricey.

50's PTC is reasonable I think, and you control what you spend because it is off the menu. I think the kids might like it.

I agree with those who suggested that you do not get invested in meals you really do not want. While there is a lot to be said about having a reserved time to eat in a restaurant that you want, if you are begrudging the cost, or you are not happy with the amount of food your kids eat in relation to the cost, cancel the meal. There is nothing worse than buyers remorse over meals.

Exactly. I don't want to regret any meal. I know my kids and they eat like birds.

 

[Mama Lo]

If I were you I'd look here: http://allears.net/dining/menu

You can see the prices for the different restaurants. The character meals are all buffets so you will be paying per person not matter what they eat. Seems you have a 7, 12 and ? year old. The adult price is for anyone that is 10 years or older so you could potentially be paying for 3 adults depending on the age of your third child.

I'd try to pick places that have a menu. They have no trouble with people sharing or having an appetizer for their meal. Also, anyone can order off the kids menu, this really really keep your cost down.

It is nice to have a reservation somewhere, just to relax and get off your feet so I would probably plan for one a day. At the buffets we like to get a late breakfast reservation, like 10:20 a.m. Then you get breakfast food upon arrival and then they slowly switch to lunch food. Its like two for one with a breakfast price tag.

You can always meet and interact with Mickey at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[ShellyShell]

If I were you I'd look here: http://allears.net/dining/menu

You can see the prices for the different restaurants. The character meals are all buffets so you will be paying per person not matter what they eat. Seems you have a 7, 12 and ? year old. The adult price is for anyone that is 10 years or older so you could potentially be paying for 3 adults depending on the age of your third child.

I'd try to pick places that have a menu. They have no trouble with people sharing or having an appetizer for their meal. Also, anyone can order off the kids menu, this really really keep your cost down.

It is nice to have a reservation somewhere, just to relax and get off your feet so I would probably plan for one a day. At the buffets we like to get a late breakfast reservation, like 10:20 a.m. Then you get breakfast food upon arrival and then they slowly switch to lunch food. Its like two for one with a breakfast price tag.

You can always meet and interact with Mickey at the Magic Kingdom.

Thank you for that link. My 3rd child is 24. He won't be coming with us on our trip. I know trying to interact with Mickey at the park is going to be impossible with the crowds that's why I'd rather do it at a meal.

 

[Nancyg56]

I really don't think my kids would care for the characters at GG that much. My 7 yr old son is not even into Disney Characters and my 12 yr old daughter...well she's 12..lol I was going more for me because i've never been there. lol I've been to CP with my 12 yr old when she was 4. 7 yr old wasn't born. It was nice but it's not a must and yes i've put it into my plan for the day. I'll have to look at WC's menu. I loved that place. That was one of my favorite. So i'll look at the menu to see if it's worth it. I wanted to do CM's because I wanted to interact with Mickey. I don't remember if the food was good. We had dinner there but it was pretty cool. I have some days to decide but thanks for the recommendations for Quick Service meals.

It seems to me that most of your meals were booked with nostalgia in mind. If the kids will not enjoy the interaction at GG, I would ditch that one.

I also think that WCC could go, but you can control your spending there, so if you want a nice sit down meal booked, you could keep it and just be aware of what your kids order.

CP is fun, but again, It is pricy unless the characters are your focus. Id cancel that one as well. You have time, but if you see the kids are not thrilled with character interaction, cancel it.

Truthfully, I enjoy CM, and if you want interaction with the Mickey, I would keep this one. Yes, it is expensive, but this one is classic Disney.

 

[chris benton]

Hi ShellyShell -
More of the same viewpoint as a few others:
Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace are not worth it for the food. If you factor in the other things, it might be worth it to you:
Break
Sit down meal
Pretty much guaranteed character experience - Chef Mickey's will be each of the "fab 5" stopping at your table.
Full belly.

I'd say if the characters don't matter, skip them. The characters are a big part of the CM price, IMO. You just have to weight the options. If you do decide to go to CM's, have a talk with the kids, and make sure they are on board with taking pics with the characters. ("This is gonna be magical or ELSE!!!") - just kidding, have a great trip!

 

[JJsmama]

I really don't think my kids would care for the characters at GG that much. My 7 yr old son is not even into Disney Characters and my 12 yr old daughter...well she's 12..lol I was going more for me because i've never been there. lol I've been to CP with my 12 yr old when she was 4. 7 yr old wasn't born. It was nice but it's not a must and yes i've put it into my plan for the day. I'll have to look at WC's menu. I loved that place. That was one of my favorite. So i'll look at the menu to see if it's worth it. I wanted to do CM's because I wanted to interact with Mickey.

Not trying to push GG on you, but FYI Mickey is at Garden Grill and when you talk to the caharacters there, it feels like no one else is even around.

 

[Rasmussen]

No input on the others, but I think you will really enjoy 50s PT!

Just understand that you are in there for the experience of being "bossed around" a little bit with the CMs and have a ton of fun! I remember a number of years ago when my brothers were about 8 and 9, the server made our mother do something silly for putting her elbows on the table! We all thought it was hilarious. I could understand though that some people might not see the humor--but I'm sure you must if you are booking ADRs for it! Our family always recommends it because we still talk about it over a decade later.