Sit-down dinning for all meals?

[tink713]

DH and I do 3 table service meals alot of days that we go. We do the DxDDP, we don't find it takes up too much of the day, but we do get there at rope drop and stay the whole day. We don't have any kids so I can't give my opinion on that. But all table service meals definetly don't take up too much time for us.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Any suggestions for this close to travel time? Is it possible to still give her the TS meals she seems to think are a requirement while not making our kids (as well as us and my sister) miserable?

Well...hmmm..here is a couple of thoughts. You may have mentioned already and I missed it, but when are you traveling? Where are you currently staying and where does your MIL want to stay now?
1. Maybe there won't be availability at a closer resort then she will see that she really *needs* to change her dining plans.
2. Maybe after a couple of days of running around "eating" she will see reality and lighten up a bit.
3. Maybe add some signature dining meals to eat up some of the credits..then you will be forced to scale down some TS meals on the other days.

Good Luck!

This is WHY we don't travel with family.

 

[amccu18007]

Here's what she has reservations for, I think we're going to join them for only a few TS meals. It's a little sticky because they're paying for the majority of the trip and we're staying together in a 2 room villa at AKL Kadani. But I can't imagine trying to keep both girls happy during a 2 hr meal. Can anyone give me an idea of how long meals at these places will take?

Sat:
D-Biergarten
Sun:
B-Ohana's
L-The Wave
D-Akershus
Mon:
B-Boma
L-Tusker House
D-Liberty Tree
Tues:
B:1900 Park Fare
L:Tuttio Italia
D:California Grill
Wed:
B-Hollywood and Vine
L-Brown Derby
D-Yachstman Grill
Thurs (Thanksgiving):
B-Boma
L-Trails End
D-Bistro de Paris

Sunday:
Ohana's and Akershus are character and will keep the girls entertained. I would pass on the Wave and spend that time in the park.
Monday:
Tusker House and Liberty Tree are also both character. Highly entertaining but take a lot of time. I would probably just do one.
Tuesday:
These are all over the place. You are def. going to spend this day traveling .
Wednesday:
These are in DHS, yes?(except for YMS) You could spend the day at that park and maybe just have one meal or the other with them and meet up when they aren't eating?

I don't think that the Bistro is the place for children. The restaurant downstairs is fine IMO but upstairs is more for romance/fine dinning.

Good luck with whatever you choose and have a great holiday!

 

[Pakey]

Sunday:
Ohana's and Akershus are character and will keep the girls entertained. I would pass on the Wave and spend that time in the park.
Monday:
Tusker House and Liberty Tree are also both character. Highly entertaining but take a lot of time. I would probably just do one.
Tuesday:
These are all over the place. You are def. going to spend this day traveling .
Wednesday:
These are in DHS, yes?(except for YMS) You could spend the day at that park and maybe just have one meal or the other with them and meet up when they aren't eating?

I don't think that the Bistro is the place for children. The restaurant downstairs is fine IMO but upstairs is more for romance/fine dinning.

Good luck with whatever you choose and have a great holiday!

Liberty Tree Tavern dinner and Tusker House lunch are not character meals.

But I do agree, Bistro de Paris is not a family type of restaurant.

 

[TDC Nala]

You've got a problem a message board may not be able to fix. Sounds like Mom will get her nose out of joint if you skip any of the TS meals she's planned, and your husband doesn't want to risk her wrath or whatever you'll get from her if you try to object to her schedule.

Liberty Tree isn't technically a character restaurant anymore but they will have character meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner between January 3 and February 14 while Crystal Palace is closed.

Tusker House is a character meal for breakfast, but not for lunch or dinner.

I also agree that Bistro is not the best for children - they don't even have a children's menu, and they don't take the dining plan - is it possible your mother means Chefs de France?


You might end up having to consider this "Mom's trip" and take one of your own sometime later.

 

[RMulieri]

oh boy! sending shots of bourbon your way !

 

[creativeamanda]

I just wanted to give you and idea of how I have handled the TS meals on the DxDP. This is the 2nd time I've used th eplan, and I like the flexibility. I am assuming, however, that your mom is planning to pay for some meals out of pocket, because there are a great deal of 2TS meals on your list. . .

I do a TS breakfast (or early lunch) and dinner. I am going in December for 7 nights on the plan and these are my reservations (I get 21 credits total):

Day 1--
Lunch--Chefs de France (1TS)
Dinner--Citricos (2TS)
18 credits remain

Day 2--
Breakfast--Crystal Palace (1TS)
Dinner--Liberty Tree Tavern (1TS)
16 credits remain

Day 3--
Breakfast--Captain's Grill (1 TS)
Dinner--Tutto Italia for the Candlelight Processional Package (2TS)
13 credits remain

Day 4--
Lunch--(CS) Flame Tree BBQ (1Credit)
Dinner--California Grill (2 TS)
10 credits remain

Day 5--
Lunch--Coral Reef (1TS)
Dinner--Hoop dee Doo (2 TS)
7 credits remain

Day 6--
Breakfast--CRT (2TS)
Dinner--Crystal Palace (1TS)
4 credits remain

Day 7--
Lunch--50s Prime Time Cafe (1TS)
Dinner--Flying Fish Cafe (2TS)
1 credit remains

Day 8--
Brunch--Chef Mickey's (1TS)
no credits remain

I am using snack credits for whenever I think I might need a bite, but honestly, I won't, lol. I will probably be bringing home snacks for my kids.

 

[creativeamanda]

Is this on the Deluxe or another dining plan--on deluxe you get 3 credits a day but some are 2 TS and others are 1. How many nights are you staying? 5 nights? If that is the case, you are 3 credits over and Bistro de Paris is not even on the plan.

Here's what she has reservations for, I think we're going to join them for only a few TS meals. It's a little sticky because they're paying for the majority of the trip and we're staying together in a 2 room villa at AKL Kadani. But I can't imagine trying to keep both girls happy during a 2 hr meal. Can anyone give me an idea of how long meals at these places will take?

Sat:
D-Biergarten 1ts
Sun:
B-Ohana's 1ts
L-The Wave 1ts
D-Akershus 1ts
Mon:
B-Boma 1ts
L-Tusker House 1ts
D-Liberty Tree1ts
Tues:
B:1900 Park Fare1ts
L:Tuttio Italia1ts
D:California Grill2ts
Wed:
B-Hollywood and Vine1ts
L-Brown Derby2ts
D-Yachstman Grill2ts
Thurs (Thanksgiving):
B-Boma1ts
L-Trails End1ts
D-Bistro de Parisnot on the dining plan at all

 

[TDC Nala]

I am assuming, however, that your mom is planning to pay for some meals out of pocket, because there are a great deal of 2TS meals on your list.

If they're staying 6 nights, they have 18 credits each, except for the 1 year old who doesn't get credits. The meals they have add up to exactly 18 credits. The last dinner is at Bistro de Paris where they couldn't use the dining plan anyway.

 

[debbs0723]

I would say even without kids 3 sit down meals a day is going to get really old and life is going to pass you by outside. Even if all sit down meals were in the same park or convenient locations like chef Mickey's when you are at the magic kingdom it is still a mistake. If your mom is going to want to spend most of her time traveling to and from meals while also waiting to be seated that is fine but I can't imagine you wanting to do that much less your kids. We did the regular DDP last year with one meal and one CS and one snack. We are big eaters. It was plenty of food. We did one sit down meal a day that was either in the park or convenient to the park we were in. We used it as a mid day or early evening break. Even then I feel like because of that we missed some of what the park had to offer.

The food at disney is good but I think there is a lot of emphasis and building up online of the food. Unless you don't have access to good restaurants where you live I wouldn't go and and do like your mom is and spend all your time eating. Not only that but you will be so full you will barely be able to stand yourself in the parks.

Debbie

 

[aksivers]

We are doing the deluxe dining plan and are doing 2-3 TS meals a day. We have shows and signature meals planned. We tried to incorporate as many charecter experiences as possible along with morning buffets so we can get in and out quicker. It will break up the day for the kids and give them time to rest. We also booked the Fatasmic dinner package and Crown and Pub during Illuminiations. I have a 2 and 8 year old. Good luck and enjoy!