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

[NJ Mets fan]

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!!

If you are driving there are plenty of restaurants just past Downtown Disney that you could go to. Just follow the signs to DDT, drive past it and at the light make either a left or a right. Take a drive down both ways to see what is there. Lots of chain type restaurants - Olive Garden, Chile's, Landry's Seafood, IHOP, Longhorn steakhouse, etc., there is also fastfood like McD's, Taco Bel and Subwayl. It is an alternative that will save you money. We had a short stay in January and used these restaurants as well as the local grocery stores a few times. It does take away from the Disney experience a little but once you've been there a bunch of times, it's not that bad.

 

[MickeyNicki]

No you are not! We went with 2 kids last month, age 6 and 12.5 and honestly it would have made my life sooo much easier if I just stuck to CS meals, the kids would have been a lot happier. When I take the nieces again and decide on any TS meals they will be for breakfast only and CS for lunch and dinner.

When DH and I were broke in our twenties we ate nothing but CS. We love the breakfasts at any of the food courts and love Capt Cooks, Tangierine Cafe, CHH, Cosmic Rays and many other CS locations...great food as long as it isnt burgers, chicken nuggets and pizza...there are a lot of great meals to choose from...Pepper Market at CSR is wonderful too!

 

[terbethk]

Actually for my last three trips, I've never done a ts meal. However, none of those trips were longer than four days and there were no kids with us.
I prefer to just eat when I'm hungry. I can usually just eat a few granola bars for breakfast, early lunch around 11, and maybe some snacks throughout the day (pretzel, ice cream bar), and I'm good to go. But I think even if I was going for a week or so I'd still be fine with just cs. I seriously could eat burgers or whatever for a week straight and not get sick of it. I have very simple tastes and am very picky, so it wouldn't bother me.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've gone the last two trips with no advance ADRs, and the intention of doing all CS. However, by day 5 or so, I've always been ready for a change, and want a TS meal. But that's OK-I've been very pleasantly surprised that I could book TS ADRs while onsite, and at "good" times. Now, I haven't tried to eat at the "biggies" like LeCellier or California Grill. But I've gotten Boma, Tusker House, Rose and Crown, Cape May Cafe, GFC, LTT (lunch). I really enjoy going without making ADRs beforehand.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We're doing mostly CS this trip also. I'm planning Teppan Edo, and probably Crystal Palace for breakfast (required by DH), but the rest will likely be CS. We went in November and had 14 TS meals in 9 days, so it's going to be a change for us.

We'll see how it goes, I guess it we truly hate it, I'll make what ADRs I can.

 

[LuvMickey36]

Our last 5 trips we have done the basic dining plan. DS was young & we wanted to hit every character meal or kid themed rest. we thought he would enjoy. Our last trip in Sept. 08 we went for 9 nights. We ended up cancelling a few of our TS meals the day of. We found during that trip we didn't need to go back to the room & take a nap. What ended up happening with dinners was we were at another park having a great time them would realize we had to leave to make our ADR somewhere else.

This trip we are trying out the quick service plan. We will still do a few TS meals, but will plan for them this yr. better than last. In retrospect, we would have been fine doing only CS last trip. You will have a great time!!

 

[thunderbird1]

We've had the DDP for the last 3 trips, so we're used to 1 TS a day, too. Our next trip is our attempt at doing a more budget-minded trip (the only way we can manage second trip later this year), so we're going to try the QSDDP, and we're actually looking forward to it! It will be cheaper, meals won't take as long, and we can just eat whenever we're hungry. (My dh and kids are famous for wanting to eat a meal 2 hours before our ADR or wanting to grab a snack while we're walking to our ADR --it drives me nuts!)

Since this is a shorter than usual trip for us, I think we'll also enjoy the freedom to change plans whenever the mood strikes instead of feeling like, "well, I really don't want to miss our Le Cellier reservation, so we'd better get going!"

Go, don't worry, and have fun!

 

[NJ Mets fan]

I would also add like some others here that CS meals would be less stressful with the young one's. I was just there in Jan and the CS meals were by far easiest with my 1 1/2 and 3 yr olds. Check out the menus before you go that I know you can get on allears.net to find out which CS restaurants have the best types of food. At Epcot, I highly recommend the Seasons restaurant in the Land. The rotisserie chicken, red skin mashed potatoes and carrorts are excellent for CS.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We've done only CS for years. The kids didn't like sitting for a TS meal when they were younger.
It's only been on the last 2 trips that we've done more than one TS per trip.

You'll do just fine with CS only.

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

We did the DP for the last 2 trips and I can tell you, when our next trip comes up, we will be doing mainly counter service with 2 table service tops. I did enjoy 1900 Park Faire breakfast and I like to do a sit down for our last night meal. We missed out on Kona Cafe dinner due to DH being sick our last trip so we will most likely do that. I have to say, I love the counter service food and snacking. I love the pork sandwhich at Capn Cooks and the Dole Whips especially. Caseys has really good hot dogs and Epcot, you have a great choice of CS meals. I think I will like not being tied down to ADR's next time.