Thinking of not doing TS...only eating at CS...are we crazy?

[mookie]

This trip is very unusual for us in many forms. We are driving and always fly. We are staying offsite and always stay onsite. We will finally have a full family vacation together for the first time!

With that said, our kids are 2, 3 and 6. Last time we were here, it was just with our dd, and it was wonderful...dining plan...sitdowns....

But this time, with staying offsite, we are trying to be cost effective. All meals will be paid for...no plan. I've made an ADR for Chef Mickey's and that's it. Tried to get into LeCellier and CRT and its booked...so I'm thinking we "wing it."

DH thinks that with us having 3 kids, especially that young, sitdowns will be a nightmare. Plus, we probably won't get our monies worth. I guess it shouldn't be that big of a deal right? RIGHT?? RIGHT?!?!?!!!!!!!

If you have gone to WDW just planning on doing CS, no sit downs...how was it? Did you see yourself spending less? More? Did you miss not having any sitdowns? I'm such a planner, and I feel like everything I'm doing for this trip is going "outside the box" of how I normally plan WDW.

Just wanted to get some insight. Everyone always talks about getting their ADRs...now I'm wanting to hear from those that don't have any!!

 

[autumnpalm]

That's basically what we're planning on doing for our upcoming trip... we've made two ADRs at Teppan Edo and 'Ohana and the rest we're just going to wing.

We're mostly doing it so we can have the freedom of not being tied town to ADRs... we can go to any park on any day, hop wherever we want... much more flexible. I have to say, I really love the feeling of not stressing out over ADRs and which restaurant and where. It's going to be great to be able to just grab a quick bite whenever we feel like it. Plus, neither of us are huge eaters so we can share as much as we want!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Crazy ? If that's what works for you then no. go & have fun.

 

[lgjjp]

We just got back on Saturday, and that is what we did. We went with a friend and her children and ts meals were not in her budget. So we did all cs meals except for chef mickeys breakfast and we did tepen edo which she did not do.

 

[KatMark]

When our kids were younger, we did maybe one or two table service meals the entire 8 or 9 days we were there. Youngest son was way too picky and antsy to sit for a table service meal and we wanted to spend more time in the parks with them anyway. We really started doing table service the last trip all four of us went together which was back in 2000 and the boys were 14 and 12. I think you ought to do what you are most comfortable with.

 

[tndisneyfan]

On our last WDW trip we spent 9 nights/10 days. We only did two TS meals, the rest was CS. I think you will be fine.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

We pretty much do all CS too and never had a problem with it. We make one or two TS ADR's and then wing the rest depending on where we are and what we want.

 

[jblrn2b]

If my kids were your kids ages, I would do the same thing. My littlest would never sit for a TS when he was 2 so we stopped going out with him until around 4yo. Have a great time!!! Enjoy the magic with them!

 

[mookie]

If my kids were your kids ages, I would do the same thing. My littlest would never sit for a TS when he was 2 so we stopped going out with him until around 4yo. Have a great time!!! Enjoy the magic with them!

Yep, that's what's doing it. We took our dd when she was 2 1/2, and our son will be almost 3 when we go...but there is NO WAY he could sit the way she did at that age. Boys boys boys!

 

[Tina1]

Going in Dec 40% off value and I still have a 5 day ticket. This will be the first time not doing TS. Were not even sure if we are going to fly. Just want to make sure money won't be a issue when the time comes, Can't wait Tina

 

[LovesHauntedMansion]

I'm doing the same thing. Chef Mickey's for brerakfast one morning and all the rest will be CS.

 

[stacy2197]

We did the dining plan once out of five trips . We enjoyed the differnt foods but hated running all over for our reservations. We are the type of people who have to be on time or early. It drove us nuts to hurry somwhere thanwait forever to be seated.

 

[Daytona99]

We're doing the same thing this trip. Before, we've always had ADRs - some for breakfast, and definitely for every dinner. It gets to be a hassle having to watch the clock and be on time for ressies. We'd have to get back to our room in time to shower and change and get to wherever our dinner ressie was. Getting there can take about an hour or even more depending on where you're going and the crowds. THis time, we have 1 ADR for dinner and the rest, we wing it with CS ressies. Looking forward to not having to keep to a schedule this time.

 

[aristocats_lover]

We have done very few TS meals (we have annual passes now, and go a lot, but I'm thinking back to trips growing up as well when we'd go down from MI). Frankly, a lot of time I don't think TS is worth the time, hassel, or expense. As it is, all but one of our TS meals in our history with Disney was for my birthday last year. We always do breakfast. I just hate knowing I have to be somewhere at the random point in the day. It is so much easier for me to "get it over with" so to speak so I'm not worried about time for bus transfers, monorail rides, park entrances, etc!

We love trying out new CS places we haven't been before. We love Columbia Harbor House (always sit upstairs to enjoy the view). Also really like Starring Rolls at DHS. I like being able to try new places and things and not worry about the expense too much ($10 crappy meal is easier to take than a $40 crappy meal!).

 

[Hootch]

with our youngest she had a meltdown at on the first full day at the parks. We were at Prime Time Cafe and the server started to get into the shtick and she just lost. She was tired because we had a long day getting there the day before. Delayed flights, no rental car, (Do you know what a reservation is? I don't think you do.) problems with getting our room and, to top it off, I had a call from work telling me my vacation may be canceled. We decided to do mainly TS after that for a few years. The last couple of trips we've added restaurants and some day we'll go about our normal eating.

The kids seem to be more willing to take longer dinners at the beach when there's no rides just out the door.

 

[jgplimdesign]

I'm glad to see that others feel that they too, can simply 'wing it' and rely on counter service while visiting WDW!

I'm a little nervous about the food situation this time. This is the first time we are choosing not to rent a car---and therefore, won't be getting off property for alternative dining options.

My husband and I prefer to opt for smaller meals on the go and not spend the extra time (that I can only imagine) that comes with table service commitments.

We've been to WDW many times----so we feel we know what is available. . . It seems that I've been reading several postings on this site that are negative in terms of the food quality lately. . . I hope this isn't the case----because this will be our only food source! (Minus the cereal and donuts being ordered from GardenGrocer.com! Ha!)

Anyhow. . .as I said. . .feel a bit better knowing we aren't the only ones who choose to 'dine' this way! Three cheers!

Four weeks to go!

 

[ScrapperBelle]

Although we won't strictly be eating CS, I think we will be doing a lot more of it on our next trip. It will just be DH and I and since it is our anniversary, I'm going to book a couple of dinners, but the rest of the time I think we'll just "wing it" also. We're just planning on a low-key kind of trip and I don't like the idea of being tied to ADRs every day. We are staying at the POLY and if we're just hanging out enjoying the sunset, I don't want to be thinking about where I have to be next.

On our previous trips, I have always made at least 1 ADR for every day because I wanted to be sure we had sit down meal time together as a family. But on our last trip I noticed that each and every time we had CS it just seemed like far less of a hassle than the TS. There are also many new items on the CS menus...it's not all burgers and fries anymore...another good reason to give it a try.

 

[tiggerunner]

I think you are doing the right thing that works for you. Years ago we did a dining plan with our two young girls and it was tooooo much food and tooooo much time.
I will be going with my 21 year old this May and we are going to do a few ADRs, but wing the rest.
I find that most people eat too much and many of the meals can be split and shared.
We also will be trying some new alcoholic drinks and not on the plan anyway.
Have fun

 

[Mamu]

I have no problems with the table serve restaurants, some are actually better then the sit-down restaurants and 1/4 the price.

 

[blessedby3]

We are eating mostly CS on our trip as we go the CS dining plan. We are paying OOP for 2 TS meals. We have a 16 mo. old who does not like to sit in a high chair in restaraunts
She will sit in it at home, no problem, but I hate to take her anywhere to eat because she pitches a fit and wont sit still and quiet.
We like more park time anyway, and feel the CS plan will best fit our family. If they hadnt offered this plan we would have just bought CS outright anyway.