SO confused on which restaurants to choose! Please help!

bangzoom6877

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I have gone over the menus on the All Ears site. Then I went over them again. And again and again. And this was before I even booked our trip...for July 2010!!! And I booked our trip 11 months in advance of the check-in date!! So, in other words, I'm on Disney Restaurant Research Overload!!

OK, so I need help in more than one way (obviously!), but I really need some assistance because I am very bad at making decisions (I obviously overthink things way too much!). Originally, DH and I planned to get the basic DDP, have a CS lunch each day at the parks, TS dinner and a couple of OOP character breakfasts. We will have our 2 sons with us. They will be 3 and 5 when we go. Then I asked DH what he thought about getting the deluxe plan and doing more signature restaurants. Neither of us could even begin to think about what we would do with 80 snacks (4 people on a 10-night trip=80 snacks total on the deluxe plan!), so we scratched that idea. Then we decided that because of the lack of good CS at DHS, we would like to go to 50s Prime Time for lunch one afternoon, and we would pay OOP. The second DHS day we would go to Pizza Planet (my kids love it there and would like to go there again). We are also going to CRT one evening for dinner, and that is 2TS credits.

OK, so I don't even know where to begin all the questions I have. I apologize in advance for going off on tangents, but those of you who have read some of my posts here know exactly what I mean! ;)

Some of the resort restaurants we have planned, we do not want to change (for dinner). They are Captain's Grille, Cape May Cafe, and Chef Mickey's. The other resort dinners we have so far are Whispering Canyon Cafe and The Wave. Those are more flexible. First question: is it more worth it to go to the Hoop-Dee-Doo dinner show with the kids than Whispering Canyon? This would be 2TS credits, but includes beer and wine and gratuity, plus food and entertainment. How is the food there compared to WCC (or is it not fair to compare the 2)? Could we really enjoy it if we are not into country music at all?

The Wave is flexible as well, if we replace it with a signature restaurant. We would go to either Flying Fish, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Narcoossee's or California Grille. Are these restaurants appropriate for a 3- and 5-year-old who are used to eating out at least once a week (including some fancier places sometimes, mainly when we are celebrating someone's birthday or anniversary in the family)? Or would they be bored at these places? The food at these restaurants does not worry me for my kids, since they would eat at least 2 things on each of the children's menus, but the atmosphere does. I don't want them to disturb other diners. We dine between 5 and 6 every time we go out, including on vacation.

The breakfasts we have planned so far for sure are Cape May Cafe and 1900 Park Fare. We will probably add 2 more breakfasts, Kona Cafe and probably another character breakfast (possibly the one at DHS, but not the day we go to 50s Prime Time for lunch because that would be too much...we have 2 days at DHS).

OK, so with all the modifications to the ADRs, we would be eating a minimum of 26 meal credits each if we were on the deluxe dining plan (on a 10-night trip, we each get 30 meal credits total). That would still leave us with a maximum of 4 leftover meal credits, provided we don't do any other breakfasts or order room service or anything like that. And 80 snacks as well for deluxe dining over the 10-night trip for the 4 of us.

I don't know what to do. I literally go from....one moment, thinking we should get the deluxe plan and live it up more and enjoy a dinner show and a signature restaurant and not have to pay OOP for any of our food (with the exception of any alcohol of course, but that won't be much anyway)...the next moment, thinking that would be an insane idea because of the amount of snack credits alone, plus would we go to signatures or dinner shows with the basic plan or paying entirely OOP (and the answer is definitely no when we are on the basic plan, and a BIG maybe if paying completely OOP). And back and forth I go in my thinking. And back and forth again.

So now I feel like I am going out of my mind! There will be other Disney trips in the future for us. We just became DVC members last year and this will be our second WDW family trip, but only out FIRST trip home and I really want it to be special. But then again, it will be special no matter what.

OK, I know you all think I'm nuts now (if you didn't already :lmao:). But I am so confused as to what we should do. Should we just go with the original plan of keeping the basic DDP, doing the 1TS resort restaurants and waiting until the boys are a little older to go to dinner shows and do signatures (we plan to go to WDW every other year for 10 nights each trip)? Or completely go for it and do the deluxe plan and enjoy the ride and not look back? I just don't know what to do.

Sorry this is so long. If you're still reading this, you probably understand exactly how I feel!! Either that or you are getting a really good laugh at what a complete nut I am! :rotfl:
 
Ok- so i dont think you're crazy- you sound like me! lol

But you are gonna HATE what i have to say (maybe, let's see...)

I went thru this same thing on our last trip. changed my mind 50xs- and AFTER the trip here is what I have come to terms with.
Now- we went during Free dining (I dont think u are, right?)

Had we NOT gone during free dining- I wouldnt do any dining plan again (don't hate me, i know that wasnt one of your choices!!!)
Reason being- I went back adn forth so many times on regular vs deluxe and there are tons of things I like about the deluxe but it was just TOO much- and the regular is just not enough for us. We like you eat out a lot and I woudl wanna mix up what types of meal situtaions we'd have.
For us- it makes way more sense to not be stuck to 1 type of plan. Then- I just budget about what I think we'll spend on meals (around deluxe prices, factoring in gratuities,and the fact htat we wont always eat dessert/gorge ourselves) and then put that aside and pay for everything with the key to the world card and pay it all off at the end of the trip.
I really think this is the best way for our fam- and really saves us the most money b/c we do what WE wanna do.

Sorry if i added to the confusion :) good luck deciding stuff!
 
Hi, You are not nuts, I have been driving my dh crazy with decisions.

Personally, I would stick with the basic dining plan and use the 1 TS credits. Your children are young and the signature restaurants and the shows may not be worth it. Wait till the children are older. My daughter is 8 and we took her to the luau. It was nice and she liked it, but there were other things she would have done instead.

I don't know if you are getting free dining or paying for the plan. We went on free dining this year and are going again next year. We want to take advantage of the savings and stay within the plan. We may go out of pocket for one lunch buffet but that is it.

Have a good trip. I hope this helps:)
 
I agree with PP. Go simpler this trip. You don't want to overwhelm your children with eating and signature restaurants. Go to one or two but beyond that ... you will be spending 2-3 hours a day in restaurants if you are eating TS for even just 2 meals a day.

I would stick to the 1TS and maybe 1-2 2TS.

Take the DDP and pay OOP for just a the 1-2 extra dinners. :)
 

I would go with the basic dining plan....

Your kids are So young....they will have way more than enough food...

I've eaten at Cape May Cafe about 3 times... and Captains Grille once....

I will probably not go back to CG....and as far as CMC....I would only go back if staying at BC....(as we were those visits).

There are many many FUN options for 3-5 year olds for food at WDW...

I would advise you do a "Ohana breakfast at the Polynesian. Chef Mickey's as well...

Hoop de Do gets GREAT reviews...I plan to go my next visit....I don't think it's 'about' country music at all. It's a Show.....but maybe save this one till they are older

My last visit...my kids were teens...we did the basic dining plan...and we still had snack credits leftover.....

I think with the kids being 3 & 5 you should forego the dinner "Shows" and replace with meals with activities that include the kids.

The "Ohana Breakast" is a wonderful character breakfast (for example) where the characters visit every table...and the kids interact with them and they even give the kids mariachi's and parade them around the restaurant...I've seen how much fun this is for the little ones...much more interactive than watching some show....

Hope that helps....

Mary
 
I also think you should just stick to the basic dining plan. We tried it for the first time in August. We never wanted to do it because the basic wasn't quite enough for us and the deluxe is WAY TOO MUCH! We actually loved the plan and did pay OOP for some meals. The snacks can be used for a simple breakfast (bagel, danish, coffee) and for some "snack" (packaged popcorn, cotton candy etc) for the ride home.

The signature restaurants are fine for young kids. My son, although he's 9 now, has been going to signature restaurants since he was 4. There are many people who bring kids to these restaurants so you won't feel out of place. My son's favorite is the Yachtsman Steakhouse. You may want to do just 1 of the signature restaurants to see if you like them (and to see if they are worth the 2TS tickets for you). There are many other restaurants that are good (some better than others) and have some "fun" aspect for the kids such as Chef Mickeys, 1900 Park Fare, Crystal Palace, Ohana's, Biergarten, Prime Time 50's, and my all time favorite - Boma! Nothing special for the kids while eating at Boma (except fantastic food) but after dinner you can go out and see the animals.
 
I agree with PP. Go simpler this trip. You don't want to overwhelm your children with eating and signature restaurants. Go to one or two but beyond that ... you will be spending 2-3 hours a day in restaurants if you are eating TS for even just 2 meals a day.

I would stick to the 1TS and maybe 1-2 2TS.

Take the DDP and pay OOP for just a the 1-2 extra dinners. :)

I agree, less is more.......:santa:
 
The basic dining plan is great!!! It will be perfect for you because you want to have a lot of dining experiences. That is how we are. We usuallt stay 7 nights so we have 7 TS. We always book 9 because we LOVE Hoop Dee Doo and would never miss it. We also LOVE breasfast buffets and like to do 2 during a week. We always pay OOP for our breakfast since they are the cheapest.
I highly recommend HHD vs. Whispering Canyon. Did both in Sept. and the food is so much better at HDD.
Our favorite breakfast buffets are Crystal Palace and our new LOVE...O'hanna!! I think your boys would LOVE them!
WE also always do 50's Prime Time at DHS since the CS's are not that great. It is always a must do for us...I'm sure you'll enjoy it!!

Happy planning!!:)
 
Wow, thank you everyone! First of all, I don't feel so crazy anymore! Second of all, you all helped me to think about this a little more...we will be going with the basic plan on this trip. I kind of like the idea of trying out one signature restaurant. Maybe this should be the meal we pay OOP for, and save the credits. The signature restaurant menus actually have appetizers we would like (they just seem more unique than the ones at the 1TS restaurants), so maybe we could share one and then share a dessert. And so by paying OOP for a signature we are not limited to just an entree and dessert each. I will speak to DH about that. We also like getting dressed a little nicer than theme park clothing for dinner, and a signature would be nice because it wouldn't feel as much like we are on a theme park vacation. It would add some variety to the trip. Flying Fish and Yachtsman Steakhouse are the closest ones to where we will be staying (Boardwalk Villas), but California Grille and Narcoossee's look very nice as well. We are already doing a 2TS dinner at CRT so had to pay OOP for one more dinner, and a signature seems like it would be worth it. Originally we were thinking of paying OOP for Captain's Grille since (at least as of now...granted, it can change by July) it has a 10% discount for DVC members so it would likely be the least expensive TS dinner.

I think I know how to approach DH. We make our ADRs on January 14th...so he promised me he would sit down with me over Christmas break to look at the dining options. I will ask him then about a signature.

We do plan on some great meals for the kids as well. We are going to dinners at CRT, Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Biergarten (my kids loved that place last time!). And breakfasts at 1900 Park Fare, Cape May Cafe and probably at least one other character breakfast (perhaps Ohana or maybe go to Chef Mickey's again). We thought maybe Whispering Canyon would also be fun for them. We are going to hold off on dinner shows until they are older. With a trip to WDW every other year as they grow up, there is plenty of time to do everything...no need to rush. And it will be a special trip no matter where we eat. Thanks again everyone!
 


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