Tell me what you think of our dining plan.

[txmomto1]

We wil lbe traveling to WDW 12/27-1/3 and I wanted to get your opinions on our dining plans.

12/27 We arrive at night, so just dinner at POR Food Court
12/28 Counter service at Epcot for lunch, and Biergarten with Candlelight Processional
12/29 Lunch at Crystal Palace, and counter service dinner somewhere
12/30 Counter service at DHS for lunch, and dinner at Mama Melrose
12/31 Coutner service at AK for lunch, and Hoop De Doo for dinner
1/1 Counter service at MK for lunch, and dinner at Chef Mickey's
1/2 Lunch at Chefs De France, and dinner at Rose and Crown
1/3 Breakfast at Kona

We've been to Biergarten and Crystal Palace. Everything else is new. So let me know your thoughts.

 

[septbaby]

Are you on the Dining Plan? If not you should be:

1. You have several buffets all of which cost more than the nightly DP fee for your 5yo.

2. You are going when Holiday pricing is in effect and you'll pay $4A/$2C more for each buffet meal you have scheduled. DP also covers your taxes, w/o the DP you'll pay this upcharge and 6.5% tax on the higher price.

3. If you do the DP you'll still have to pay OOP for a couple of your meals. Definitely use the DP for all of the child's buffet meals. Pay OOP for something a non buffet meal, those cost under $10.

4. You can keep Kona in the plan, but I think it will be worth skipping by the end of the trip. You will probably have some CS meal credits left at the end and would be better off simply eating at your resort to use those up. Otherwise you'll pay OOP at Kona AND either waste those CS credits or spend them on food for the road. Keep in mind you can get the Tonga Toast at Capn Cook's if that's the reason for your trip over there. If that's the reason I'd probably swing by CC's for bfast on one of the MK days rather than on my final day.

5. On your first night its likely that using 2CS credits you can all eat well. The CS meals are pretty big and easily sharable. For example: order the pizza combo meal (pizza is not a kids CS option). The 5yo will probably enjoy most of the pizza, you'll eat the salad. Perhaps DH orders a more substantial meat and potatoes and veggie option that you're able to share. Each meal still comes with a beverage, dessert and all the water you can drink. At the very least you'll have a kids CS credit left. You could come down early and grab milk and cereal or a kids meal for his breakfast and still be even for CS credits for the night. You could even grab and adult platter, share it and use the other CS credits for a shared lunch in the park AND still get a kids meal for the little one for lunch in the park.

As for the meal plan you've done a good job. My one strategy is to keep in mind that with sharing CS meals you can get breakfast and lunch if you'd like.

Your current plan has 9TS meal credits and the DP would only give you 7. If you drop Kona as I've suggested you'll be down to 8 and would need to pay OOP for one non buffet meal. You could also drop a credit by choosing CDF or R&C. Depending on the times of those meals, it may be a lot of food on one day, especially at the end of a trip after the holidays. I have not been to either place so I can't guide you one way or another.

Have fun and eat well.