Table service - Tell me what I'm missing??!!

[Shellbells]

I don't think you missed anything. I think you just found what works for your family. We do one table service and one quick service each day. I love taking a long break and being able to relax and cool off during a TS. We also have restaurants that we consider must do's.
You just need to do what works best for you. Don't worry about what everyone else does. Just have a great time!

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

I feel like I should have elaborated more in my post. What I was really trying to say is that if you change your mind and QS isn't working, you'll be able to find TS reservations in a park or a resort if you want to.

Will you get BOG and CRT, probably not. But there will be a TS available for you to grab without planning far in advance.

 

[Monykalyn]

I feel like I should have elaborated more in my post. What I was really trying to say is that if you change your mind and QS isn't working, you'll be able to find TS reservations in a park or a resort if you want to.

Will you get BOG and CRT, probably not. But there will be a TS available for you to grab without planning far in advance.

2nd this, especially with younger kids. Those loving elaborate TS (love CG but not with young kids who may be fidgety or tired) are able to relax and enjoy the meals. Character meals are usually buffet (Garden Grill is served family style) so my be easier to do, especially a later breakfast at places like 1900 PF, Tusker House or Crystal Palace. That said things like BOG lunch, or TS for Liberty tree lunch or dinner, 50's Primetime may work as well. And really with mobile ordering it is easy to utilize QS (no waiting in line to order). Since people cancel all the time it is fairly easy to get a last minute TS somewhere close by day before or day of!

 

[gharter]

I think the food part of Disney varies with age. Before kids, we loved the TS restaurants. When we had younger kids, we did a few TS, but mainly QS as our kids could eat when they were hungry rather than when we had ADRs. As the kids got older, we enjoyed more TS options. Now without kids, we love TS restaurants and its a big part of every trip.

 

[nkereina]

My concern with relying on QS is that the process, for us, gets old fast. Its just DH and I, but I do hate waiting in line, having to scope the area out for a table, sending one person for condiments/napkins/utensils, etc. With kids in tow, it adds another layer of stress. Now its not so relaxing to me. Plus, the amount of unique QS offerings is more limited than the amount of unique TS offerings. We'd get sick of QS pretty fast if we ate that most of the time.

One thing you could do is when you decide you want to eat a TS meal, just look at TS availability and book something on the fly from the list of what is available. Being open to whatever is available is a good way to try new things, still experience TS, but not be tied down to a strict time schedule. A lot of people cancel the day before and the day of, so you may be surprised at the availability. You could also try walking up if you can't find availability where you want.

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

To make it even easier for you and less waiting, use Mobile Ordering. I love it.

 

[NickC]

We like to do at least on TS meal per day. This gives us a chance to relax and recharge. There are several must-do's for us. First, Sci-Fi Dine In has, IMO, the coolest theming in WDW. We also like to do a character breakfast to save time waiting in line for meet and greats. Then there's Biergarten which has a really fun polka band. And my all time favorite is Hoop Dee Doo Revue. A trip to WDW isn't complete without HDDR.
Our kids are pretty good at restaurants, but there are a lot of places at WDW that will hold any kid's attention.

 

[MomOTwins]

We eat almost exclusively at TS for 3 reasons: (1) character meals are a great way to experience characters without burning a fastpass or waiting in lines; (2) we find QS to be crowded and noisy and don't care for having to pounce on a table as soon as it opens and then balance our trays with the now (grrr) lidless sodas sloshing around--much more relaxing just to be seated at a table in the A/C and have food and drink come to us; (3) when we vacation, we like to eat nice things--even if Disney TS is not the best restaurant food we've had, it still beats out counter service in food quality every time.

Depending on what your kids will eat, you might consider trying a lounge instead of an ADR restaurant. This will give you more flexibility to eat light by sharing food items, while not having to be tied down to a reservation time or location, but still let you get a bit of an upgrade on the food and beverages and not having to order at a counter and cart your own food around.

 

[The13thLetter]

To make it even easier for you and less waiting, use Mobile Ordering. I love it.

Mobile Ordering is great and we use it all the time but unfortunately you can't order everything that you can from the actual counter (which is weird because some places actually have extra secret menu options only in the mobile ordering). We had this happen twice last trip, the raspberry swirl dole whip was not on the Aloha Isle mobile menu and the adult portion of the cheeseburger pods were not on the mobile menu at Satu'li, so we were "forced" to order from the counter (forced in quotes because i suppose we could have ordred something else if we really didnt want to wait in line).

My concern with relying on QS is that the process, for us, gets old fast. Its just DH and I, but I do hate waiting in line, having to scope the area out for a table, sending one person for condiments/napkins/utensils, etc. With kids in tow, it adds another layer of stress. Now its not so relaxing to me. Plus, the amount of unique QS offerings is more limited than the amount of unique TS offerings. We'd get sick of QS pretty fast if we ate that most of the time.

One thing you could do is when you decide you want to eat a TS meal, just look at TS availability and book something on the fly from the list of what is available. Being open to whatever is available is a good way to try new things, still experience TS, but not be tied down to a strict time schedule. A lot of people cancel the day before and the day of, so you may be surprised at the availability. You could also try walking up if you can't find availability where you want.

This is our issue too, especially if you are with a larger group or going at a busy/hot time it becomes a big pain to find seats and a high chair sometimes. We are normally a QS family because like others have said I dont like to have an "appointment" on vacation but this last trip we did a lot more TS than normal because my parents and in laws were with us and it was August. The highlights for our little guy (he is 1 1/2) were Cape May and Tusker House Breakfasts.

 

[tguz]

We have been to Disney the last 3 Summers and found that with us, the heat never killed our appetites. We love the quick service so we can eat n go fairly quickly. We did make a reservation at The Grand Floridian Cafe this Summer and we loved it.

 

[LizGirl]

We only make TS reservations for places that we really love or want to try. We are headed to WDW next month for 10 days and I only have one table service reservation. The cost of these meals and the time spent both turn us off. I'd rather be on the move while in the parks.

Of course, if we find ourselves at Disney Springs, I'm going to try to get in to Homecomin' because hushpuppies!

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

If just makes for a different type of trip. I’ve had trips where we got a condo and ate most of our meals outside of the park, many that were QS only with the exception of maybe one fancy dinner for the week. This next trip is an adult only trip and we are springing for the dining plan and make that more of our focus instead of hitting all the rides as quickly as we can.

 

[GillianP1301]

We've always done TS since my son went the first time at age 4, never an issue for us and he's now 11 and enjoys choosing which restaurants to book. That being said, if it's not your touring style, then don't stress over it and stick with what you like and knows works for you. If you do want to try some TS, but are concerned about the age of your kids, then I agree with the suggestions to go with buffet/character meals. The buffet means you don't have to sit around waiting for food, you can get the kids fed right away and the characters provide some entertainment/distraction while you eat.

 

[MotherLady]

I make all my TS reservations at 180 days out. Then after FP selections are made I cancel most of them. I also print My Plans and look at what meals are still planned. If a buffet/family style is planned there will not be another for at least 24 hours. We have noticed we are never that hungry in WDW and share most meals at QS. We purchased a timeshare 14 years ago for the ability to eat out less, spend less and travel more. There is one downside to an overpriced so so meal, reliving it when the CC bill arrives.

 

[The13thLetter]

We only make TS reservations for places that we really love or want to try. We are headed to WDW next month for 10 days and I only have one table service reservation. The cost of these meals and the time spent both turn us off. I'd rather be on the move while in the parks.

Of course, if we find ourselves at Disney Springs, I'm going to try to get in to Homecomin' because hushpuppies!

Art Smith's is always a must! Have done it every year. This last trip DS fell asleep right before our reservation and slept through the entire meal, lucky us! haha.

 

[Leahc117]

Thanks everyone!! I have a couple TS reservations and plan to do a lot of mobile ordering. We planned for a longer stay than last time so we have time to slow down a little. Staying at Kidani so will definitely try Sanaa!!