Trouble finding one more TS Dinner, Advice?

[mollytn75]

We are headed to Disney labor day weekend: 8/31-9/5 with our "pack". Just switched over to the free dining and I am having difficulty planning. This trip three of the kiddos will be "adults". Husband and I, DD 13, DD 11, DS 10, DS 8, DS 7. I am spending way too much time reviewing adult menus in fear of the kids freaking out. I know there are a few of the nicer places where this is nothing on the adult menu the kids will eat.

Here is what I have so far:

Day 1 - Animal Kingdom Day
Lunch - CS at Park
Dinner - TS at Ragland Road DTD

Day 2 - Hollywood Studios Day
Lunch - CS Toy Story Pizza (Tradition!)
Dinner - NO IDEA! I was wanting to take the kids over to the boardwalk that night but I am fearful of no ADR options at Big River. Thinking about possibly Captains Grille in YC?

Day 3 - Epcot Day
Breakfast - TS Character Princess Breakfast (yes the girls are WAY old -but we get in the park early and the girls will still get a kick out of it - and boys will giggle the whole time and I have never been there)
Lunch - CS
Dinner - TS at Biergarden

Day 4 - Magic Kingdom Day
Lunch - TS at Crystal Palace
Dinner - TS at WCC (Tradition)

I would have loved to have done Ohana but it is not available. 50s Prime Time cafe is open on our HS day but it is 6:40 (park closes at 7) and I would rather have dinner away from the park. My real goal was a night at the Boardwalk but I hate not taking full advantage of our DDP.

Suggestions?! TIA!!!
Molly

 

[sharonabe]

Help me out here. It looks like you are staying 5 nights and you already have 5 TS. Am I missing something?

If I remember correctly, Big River Grille does NOT take reservations. You have to take your chances. But I think if you get there around 5:00 or so, you'd probably be fine.

 

[minnie mum]

I thought the same as the PP. You already have 5 TS credits allotted. If you want another TS on your DHS day, one of your TS meals will have to be paid OOP.

As far as Big River is concerned, although you cannot book thru Disney Dining, you can call the restaurant directly to reserve a table (not sure how far in advance). At least you used to be able to. On other threads regarding Big River, posters have said that they have never encountered problems getting a table without reservations.

 

[mollytn75]

Wow! I really need more sleep. You are officially my hero for pointing out my serious flaw here.

I was counting 6TS and 6CS.

So on that note - I wonder if I need to make some changes! Anyone see room for improvement here? I suppose on the night we head to boardwalk we could just do QS at CSR where we are staying. Or I cancel the Crystal Palace lunch and still consider dinner at Big River or Captains Grills for the board walk night.

Maybe two character meals for my crew is too much and I should swap for a dinner?

Thanks!

 

[sharonabe]

I only count 3 CS on your list right now. Is Raglan Road a must do? You could do a CS at Wolfgang Puck Exp on this night, and then you'd have that TS for Big River or Captains.

 

[minnie mum]

And herein lies the inherent problem with the DDP (free or not). You get 1 TS and 1 CS meal per night, but most people prefer to eat 3 meals per day. And if you're like me, using 2 snack credits is not enough to buy a meal. So you're usually OOP for a meal per day.

Smart money pays OOP for the cheapest meal of the day. For us that would be our CS breakfasts at the resort. But you already have 1 TS breakfast booked. And I think you should keep it.

If you don't want to pay OOP for any TS meals, but really want a TS meal on your DHS day, then you will have to drop one of your existing ADRs. My vote would be WCC, but if this place is special for you, then I think you should select either Crystal Palace or Biergarten. Whichever will mean the least to you. Just substitute a suitable CS in that park.

Let us know what you decide to do. Good luck!

 

[Hopefully]

And herein lies the inherent problem with the DDP (free or not). You get 1 TS and 1 CS meal per night, but most people prefer to eat 3 meals per day. And if you're like me, using 2 snack credits is not enough to buy a meal. So you're usually OOP for a meal per day.

Smart money pays OOP for the cheapest meal of the day. For us that would be our CS breakfasts at the resort. But you already have 1 TS breakfast booked. And I think you should keep it.

If you don't want to pay OOP for any TS meals, but really want a TS meal on your DHS day, then you will have to drop one of your existing ADRs. My vote would be WCC, but if this place is special for you, then I think you should select either Crystal Palace or Biergarten. Whichever will mean the least to you. Just substitute a suitable CS in that park.

Let us know what you decide to do. Good luck!

This is not a problem for us on the DDP. We order groceries from wegoshop.com and eat breakfast in the room.
We order juice, coffee, water, soda, fruit, breakfast foods and snacks.
Kouzina at the Boardwalk and ESPN Club both also take the DDP. ESPN does not take ADR's but the others do. I believe that you call Big River Grille directly for reservations - but they are available.
We love Raglan Road and we go each trip. We would keep that.
I would look at your Epcot day. You have 2 TS that day. I would not do Biergarden and I would keep your princess breakfast. I was disappointed in Biergarden last year. The schnitzel was chicken and it was dry and not good. I just was disappointed in the buffet in general. Also the entertainment was much shorter than I expected. It was our longest wait to be seated, over an hour even with an ADR, and then the resataurant was only half full. I don't know what was up.
Good Luck

 

[mollytn75]

Thanks so much for the feedback. I really enjoy TS at night as way to "unwind" from our day at the park. Biergarden I think is a good fit for our tweens and beer makes disney dad happy! I personally would like a different Epcot choice, but I am taking one for the team!

I can't give up WCC! I dont know why I like it so much, but it was the first place we ate, on our first trip to disney (which was my first time EVER to disney) - and I love WL. We are doing the extended evening at MK that night (our last night) and the kids will like the ferry.

So - Crystal Palace it is! I think I will sub in Columbia House CS at MK and use the ADR for our HS park day. This still leaves me with the dilemma on where to eat on the BW. I think my goal is Big River. Might make ADR at Captains Grille for now to be on the safe side.

And thanks for the Wolfgang Puck Express idea. I am excited to eat there on our last day before we fly out.

 

[mollytn75]

So if we dropped Biergarden what would you suggest for CS instead? Maybe eat at the resort before we head back over for our Epcot evening? CS at night at the park makes me nervous because there is 7 of us and it seems like it would be chaotic.

 

[Disneygal27]

we go in august every year, and of the 4 trips we've done we've never had more than a 15 minute wait at BRG, anywhere timewise from 5-730. I think you'll be ok

 

[disneyfav4ever]

What about Kouzzina at the Boardwalk? That's one of my new favorites.

 

[Edgehopper]

In early September, Epcot CSs shouldn't be too packed. As for where to go, that probably depends mostly on your crowd's food preferences. I really like Lotus Blossom Cafe at China, but that's my personal preference, and it was pretty empty in the afternoon when we went in May.

I'd consider 50s Prime Time Cafe for your DHS day, you've got the right crowd for it with lots of school-age kids, and I don't know that you'll want to take the time to leave the park and come back for Fantasmic if you're planning that.

 

[minnie mum]

There are some pretty decent CS places at Epcot. If you're in Future World, then I would always opt for Sunshine Seasons. I think they have a great variety of choices.

In World Showcase, it really depends on how adventurous you are. (Although I don't think anything that is offered is that unusual): La Cantina in Mexico is ok if you want tacos. We were pleasantly surprised on our last trip by how tasty the food was at Lotus Blossom. Liberty Inn has the usual American style fast food. Tangierine Cafe in Morocco has some really tasty wraps and platters. The Fish and Chip Shop in the British Pavillion is a good option as well.