Tried and True or Something New?

[The13thLetter]

Hey everyone,

This could probably have gone in the resort forum as well, but my question is do you guys mostly try new things each trip such as character meals, restaurants, resorts, room type/location, etc. or do you find it hard to try new things because you want to just do or go to your favorite places? We had such a great time at French Quarter I have a hard time wanting to stay anywhere else (even though we are going to the next couple of trips at the moment), and we enjoyed Garden Grill breakfast so much that I want to book it again next trip even though I think we should try a new one instead.

What do you guys end up doing? And were you happy with your choice or did you regret it?

Cheers!

 

[sanapp]

I love trying new things, but there are some things that I still do every trip. POFQ is a special place!! Unless I can afford a deluxe stay then POFQ is where I would want to be. I do dlxdp so that I can have a nice mix of old favorites and new places!

 

[nkereina]

We like to try different resorts. That said, our budget doesn't always permit deluxe, I don't always have enough time to rent DVC points, and the values aren't usually our speed. So I find that we rotate between the moderate level resorts, and have also tried Poly and AKL. Hoping to try Beach Club next trip.

For dining, we do a mix of old favorites and new ones. We have some must-do dining every trip, but otherwise I try to book new places or places we haven't been in a while, at least.

Can't say I've regretted any choices we've made. IMO, no resort at Disney is going to be the Bates Motel and no restaurant is inedible, so you don't have much to lose!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

This summer over 3 trips, rather than sticking to our old favorites we tried several new restaurants and loved them all.

DS-Morimotos was fantastic. Wine Bar George, so good we've been twice so far. And Frontera Cucina, had drinks and appetizers, booking dinner there soon.
Contemporary-The Wave, though we had enjoyed dinner a few times we finally tried the breakfast buffet and it's now a favorite.

 

[recmouse]

We always had a few restaurants that we would always go to... Kona Cafe and Raglan Road. We mix it up now as there are just SO many options. Sometimes it's frustrating that there just aren't enough meals to plan to try them all! For our trip next April I have ressies at all new places.

As far as resorts - we like trying different ones but it often depends on availability of the resort and how many points I have left.

 

[mhowens]

We almost always stay at AKL and rent DVC Points. Saana is a must for us. This upcoming trip we are trying all kinds of new things, staying at CBR, getting the DxDDP (1st time on the dining plan), and eating all new to us restaurants, except for our beloved Saana. We are trying out Monsieur Paul, Tusker House, Tiffins, California Grill Brunch and Sci-fi Dine-in. Looking forward to some new experiences.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Over the years I've stayed at five different resorts, but stayed at POFQ the most. I love trying new things at Disney World, and am super excited for our next trip we'll be trying out a DVC resort for the first time in a two bedroom villa. Our last trip we crammed 5 people into a RPC room at GF and while it was amazing to stay there, I'm really excited for the extra space and more than one toliet . I think when it comes to restaurants there's the ones that I know the family will always enjoy that we always do (especially with quick service where some of the choices are just straight up terrible, I'm looking at you Cosmic Rays) but we try to experience at least one or two different Table Service restaurants on each trip. I never regret trying something new as long as I make sure the most favorite places happen each time. This next trip I'm looking forward to trying Cinderella's Royal Table as I've never eaten there. Last time we tried Jiko and Tusker House for the first time. The trip before that was California Grille. Enjoying somewhere new each time makes the trip feel fresh even if there aren't a huge amount of changes in attractions or experiences year over year.

 

[DisneyArkie]

We like the Disney deluxe dining plan, but next trip we will be paying out of pocket. Kinda want to see if we save money. We will be doing quick service lunch and signature dinners. We always go to yatchmans and Le Cellier. Other than that we mix it up.

We have stayed at Yacht Club, WL and POR. Hard for us to book anywhere but WL after staying there... want to try POFQ, but scared to be disappointed after becoming WL junkies.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We tend to stay at the same resort each stay as we love Pop and know exactly what to expect. It also fits our budget.

When it comes to dining we do about 75% tried and true and 25% try something new.

 

[gharter]

We do a combination. We have several places that we love eating at and do almost every visit. Each trip, we will add at least 2 or 3 new places to the list. Some are one and done, others are ones we want to go back to again.
We used to rotate where we stayed. Once we purchase DVC, we tend to stay in our home resort.

 

[The13thLetter]

Yeah I think as long as we are able to I would want to try a new resort each time but then I start thinking about how awesome POFQ was and it makes it hard to decide. Maybe I will alternate new resort, then POFQ, then another new resort (until one of the new ones becomes our favorite haha). As for the restaurants, the quick service ones are the ones we tend to hit over and over again (casey's, sleepy hollow, pecos bill's come to mind in MK) but for table service/character meals I would like to try something new, just nervous about spending a lot of money on a meal that MIGHT be good when we know which ones WILL be good. But i guess it is also possible even the repeat restaurant could have a bad day/night when we go again making it not as good as last time either. I think a good mix is probably the way to go, was just curious what other people did.

 

[NYCgrrl]

We do TnT as well as something new as far as resorts and eating experiences at WDW are concerned.
Working your way through the Signature restaurants is hard work.

 

[Oneanne]

I usually stay to POP, but every so often like to do POFQ... next month I'm staying at at Swan, which I'm super excited about because it's been maybe 10 years since I last stayed there, and I love being able to stroll over to EPCOT for my evenings..

Food wise, each trip I do a few favorites, which shift over time, and every trip I like to try a few new places. This upcoming trip I'm going to eat at several of the lounges, to get lighter bites but better than counter service food. And possibly an "adult" drink or two.

 

[marchingstar]

We do a real mix. If we stay deluxe, we make a point of trying as much of the resort-specific options as possible. So on this upcoming trip at the Poly, we’re doing breakfast and dinner at Ohana (and the same at Kona Café). We also really like to try different resorts, which means trying a fair amount of new food most trips. And when a new restaurant in a park opens, we make a point of visiting if we can on our next trip.

There are some meals we work really hard to fit in, though. We have always made time for a Crystal Palace breakfast and a stop at Sanaa, for example.

Edited to say I just read that your fear is trying a new place and having a bad meal. I find that the meals that disappoint me are usually at old favourite that aren’t as good as on previous trips. I usually really enjoy each restaurant we visit for the first time, but that’s just me

 

[CynBeth]

We visit every few years and try to stay at a different resort each time. As far as food a few family members have food allergies so we pretty much do TS for every meal. There are favorites we do every trip and some places we alternate.
We usually try 1 or 2 new as well.

 

[Jersette55]

DD and I are going in January for 6 days on the DxDP. Staying at All Star Movies, but eating good! We’re excited because the last couple of trips we were with an extremely picky eater (and that was only the tip of his issues iceberg!). So this time, it’s mostly new—except for Via Napoli and BOG (although a different meal). Can’t wait for CA Grill brunch and HDDR!!

 

[kiramay]

A combination. I’ve only stayed at moderates due to budget and preference. I prefer POR with my kids and POFQ with my husband or sister. We also stayed at CBR but it’s not my favorite.

As for restaurants, we have some we repeat every trip (Biergarten, Sci Fi, BOG), and then I try to try something new too.

 

[hereforthechurros]

We’ve only been four times so there’s still a lot to discover. We have stayed at seven different resorts on those trips and hope the continue that trend for future trips.

For dining we are slowly discovering a few favorites but will always work to have more new experiences than not.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We are DVC and eat in the room a lot but when we go out, we do some favorites and mix it up with some new! The sad part is, we don’t get to go enough to keep any of them as a regular. I need a raise so we can go more LOL

 

[Tksolomom]

I have only been 3 times. The first time we went we stayed at POFQ and loved it. Then we bought DVC so when in DW we have stayed at Kidani at AKL(we are on the west coast so go to DL and Aulani more). I would have a tough time now staying at another resort, I love the animals from the balcony so much.

We always do a 50/50 mix of new and old restaurants, especially TS.