SSR or OKW - staying onsite for the first time - counter service breakfast question.

[kevin harrison]

Thinking of staying on-site for the first time.

The dinning plan seems too good a deal to turn down.

Will maybe stay at OKW or SSR, not sure yet.

I figure I could use a counter service meal for breakfast, the question is where can this be done at these resorts, and what would it include?

The idea that I could eat at Wolfgang Pucks (the most expensive meals I eat last year were all there) for nothing is a great thought.

My only concern is having to be beholden to ADR's, Takes spontaneity out of your holiday.

Any advice will be greatfully received.

 

[jtlover]

Hi Kevin - we are staying at SSR this September on the dining plan. On the whole we are not using the dining plan for breakfasts as it is usually that the best value is to use it for dinners or lunches. Although we are doing a few character breakfasts.

We might use a few counter service credits for breakfasts. But on the whole we are probably going to eat our own thing in our room at SSR before going to the parks every day.

Have fun planning.

I have used the dining plan 3 times now and love it. We think it is good and plan our meals around which park we are in. We dont find it too scheduled - but then you need to plan what you are doing, as you know so it isnt too much restriction.

 

[luke]

I was the exact same as you with regards to ADR's, as it's our first time onsite/dining too.

We made 3/4 of our ADR's almost as soon as we could, and for the first time made a little plan of where we're going to be each day then based our ADR's on this, with some meals at resorts on 'off days' (in fact, we're only eating at one or two in park restaurants - the rest are at resorts near to the park we're going to - AKL/CR etc).

For breakfast, and I can only talk for SSR as we're staying there, there's Artists Palette for the odd meal, but it's also near to DTD so that opens up those possibilities too (Wolfgang Puck Express etc). We're going to use our snack credits for breakfast (cinnamon roll etc) and possibly get some OJ or coffee in a refillable mug at SSR in the morning.
I think we'll mostly get our breakfasts in parks tho (Main St Bakery, Starring Rolls etc) and are having a Character Breakfast at Chef Mickey's one day too so may eat offsite too that day.

While I agree it does take out the spontinaety (which we prefer), I think it can be done even for people like us who don't necessarily want to know exactly where we will be and when 6 months before we even fly out there!

 

[kevin harrison]

I was the exact same as you with regards to ADR's, as it's our first time onsite/dining too.

We made 3/4 of our ADR's almost as soon as we could, and for the first time made a little plan of where we're going to be each day then based our ADR's on this, with some meals at resorts on 'off days' (in fact, we're only eating at one or two in park restaurants - the rest are at resorts near to the park we're going to - AKL/CR etc).

For breakfast, and I can only talk for SSR as we're staying there, there's Artists Palette for the odd meal, but it's also near to DTD so that opens up those possibilities too (Wolfgang Puck Express etc). We're going to use our snack credits for breakfast (cinnamon roll etc) and possibly get some OJ or coffee in a refillable mug at SSR in the morning.
I think we'll mostly get our breakfasts in parks tho (Main St Bakery, Starring Rolls etc) and are having a Character Breakfast at Chef Mickey's one day too so may eat offsite too that day.

While I agree it does take out the spontinaety (which we prefer), I think it can be done even for people like us who don't necessarily want to know exactly where we will be and when 6 months before we even fly out there!

Thanks. The worry for me is my son is Autistic and has a heap of feeding equipment and it's not always easy to be anywhere at a set time.

Having said that, last September we walked up to a few places and goy seated no problem.

 

[PudseyChancer]

We're doing the dining plan for the first time this year also, we're staying at OKW. I also felt that being tied down to where we would be on specific days six months before we even got there was a ridiculous idea, but having seen how September has got busier and busier with free dining I appreciate that if we want to eat at our favourite restaurants, then we have to do it.

Having said that I quite enjoyed researching the parks and hotels for places to eat, and we feel that we've got a good variety of places booked.

At OKW the only place to get a sit down meal is Olivia's, it does breakfast, lunch and dinner - it has a very good reputation and it considered worth a visit from those who are not staying at OKW. Given that you get your own kitchen at OKW it could be quite a good solution for your own personal needs.

 

[wayneg]

Hi Kevin
To me you really need to decide if you want a Disney hoilday or a Orlando/Florida holiday.
Last year we found it very difficult to get out of Disney on DDP to get full value out of it. Also found Disney restaurants do not rush you in and out anywhere near as much as offsite so where we would normally take about 1 hour for a meal offsite it took upto 2 hours onsite. We like to eat at around 7-8pm so we found after the meal we just wanted to go back to the room for a quiet drink and bed, offsite we would usually have eaten by around 8pm, 9pm latest and have time to go somewhere else for an hour or so, Old Town, Celebration, DTD etc.
Just got back from 16 nights offsite, loved going back to our faves and trying new but August looking forward to onsite again with DDP for 21 nights, they are 2 completely different holidays.

ADR's for essential for a lot of places at peak times but if you are going at a quieter time like Sept then you wouldn't need to make so many, just any very popular ones you want. You can cancel and change easy enough and get many at last minute. We ate at Trails End buffet last week, loads of empty tables no wait.
Yes you are tied more, less flexible holiday with DDP but its an experience we enjoyed. No way would I pay for most of Disney restaurants so its a great way for me to dine at them.

 

[luke]

Yeah the one thing I'm not looking forward to is not doing all the stuff we usually do food wise - although DW won't miss out on Cheesecake factory!
Even down to little things like I love Wendy's, and the BBQ chicken bites that Pizza Hut does.

On the other hand tho, as Wayne says, there's no way we would eat at (most) Disney restaurants for the price (have never, ever done a TS meal at WDW) so I am looking forward to that

 

[kevin harrison]

Hi Kevin
To me you really need to decide if you want a Disney hoilday or a Orlando/Florida holiday.
Last year we found it very difficult to get out of Disney on DDP to get full value out of it.

This was the advice that made me think, half at Disney, eating onsite, then half eating off site at the places we enjoy. A good compromise.