TS and time use concern...

[FINFAN]

Right now we are on the free DDP, moderate resort relying soley on bus service. With so many TS booked, I am wondering how much park time we are sacraficing. We tend to be commando, CS grab and go , one kid (12) is adult price but will live off chicken fingers anyway. I know we will benefit from getting to experince new places to eat and nice meals that (hopefully) will include some veggies...but we REALLY use every minute of the parks...stay 'till closing...are we gonna be sorry and watching the clock at TS places? I know patience is a virtue and all...but it's gonna kill us to have a FastPass/ADR conflict, y'know what I mean? Or if afternoon rains have us rearranging getting on rides etc. The price of tickets is almost as high as our normal food costs over vacation...so it really is bugging me.
PLUS....we like the flexibility of room only ressie, due to cancellation woes, and we were hoping to hit the parks sooner than 8/13, like I said, we are commando! Even in the heat of August...I know, we're nuts.

Pam

 

[gigi1313]

i totally understand your concerns, and have had some of the same ones myself... we found a way to enjoy the free dining and still maximize park time...

we commando ourselves to the parks early, w/a bite to eat at the food court on our way to the buses or a snack in the room while getting dressed... then we make the latest "breakfast" ADR and call it brunch... by 11ish, we've accomplished quite a bit of whatever park and we're HUNGRY! we've also found that the later ADRs get better character interaction (if it's a char meal) as well as good quick service ('cause the servers are anxious to set up for lunch) but we never feel rushed... then with full bellies, we're ready to tackle the afternoon... while everyone else is fighting CS lines for LUNCH!

our other plan (different parks diff't plans... 1st plan is typically for MK and AK, this one for MGM and Epcot) is to convince the early riser in the family to hit the food court and bring back a big breakfast for everyone while they're getting dressed... hit the parks (again, at opening! this is critical!) and snack our way 'til about 4:30 pm... make the first dinner ADR and drop exhausted into our seats... refuel, re-energize and get back to the parks asap! we also often skip dessert (or take it to-go if not a buffet) to save time... then, as the rest of the world is off to find food, we're back on the go!

because our next trip will be the fourth in 24 mos we'll be trying a diff't tactic, spending more time doing leisure activities and less time commando-ing

 

[FINFAN]

I am usually the breakfast gopher...so used to that...but by mid week, getting to the parks first thing will be rough...mostly 'cause we close 'em! So, if we do not get up early each day, the ADR's will get in our way...man, this choice is hard. If we do the DDP, we will have 8 theme park days on the trip...do-able? We are used to staying at the Dolphin and BAM! At Epcot or MGM in no time...now will be at CSR depending on busses....we park hop, but usually do not head back to the room during the day. If I took an afternoon swim...I would crash and never make it back to the parks! What to do, what to do......thanks so much gigi1313...I may just move our character breakfast back a notch if I can...but y'know...all that preplanning is so unreliable...or ou get to a park that is jammed and change your mind to try another, or it's pouring so Epcot is the best option, but you ADR's are at MK..... I don't think I am cut out for the structure of ADR's/DDP...but with so many people using it this year..TS are gonna be jammed even if you DO want it..so the aggrivation of needing ADR's, less the perk of it being free..(or at least discounted based on your room cost)


Pam

 

[gigi1313]

maybe "limit" your ADRs (i.e. go to HDDR and use up 2 credits/person) and get the full benefit from CS and Snacks (heck, it's free! even the CS/Snacks practically make up the difference in rack rate, depending on where you're staying!) and not spend as much time eating... also, there are restaurants where you can get last minute ADRs...

 

[Dizneydaz]

Hi-we've had the DP twice now. Once we paid for it (Jan. 05) and second time free (Sept. 05). We are going back this Sept. for free dining. My mom and I have talked about it, and yes, we agree, that the TS dining does take away some of your time in the parks. Sometimes it seems you are planning your days around eating. That being said, we are still doing the free dining again. It's just such a good deal, and it has allowed us to try restaurants we never would have before. We never use our TS for breakfast-we eat something in the room and do CS for lunch and then TS for dinner.

Since this is our 4th trip since Jan. 05 we don't mind spending less times on rides-for us anyway, it's not just about how many rides we can go on, but also about spending family time together. These memories of our trips (myself, my DD6- 2 3/4 first time, and my mom) will last forever-in our minds on and film.

And I agree, you could use 2 TS at the California Grill to minimize your actual dining meals. One thing I can tell you is you won't be hungry this trip. We have found that we had to struggle to use all our CS (yes, we do share meals) and we have given away some of our snacks-try it sometime-it's fun!

 

[Lewisc]

Book your TS meals in or near the park you're going to be at. Book a reservation at BOMA after AK closes. Book the Concourse Steakhouse or LTT for your MK day. Avoid 2 TS credit meals, aside from being bad values they're either dinner shows or signature dining that tends to take longer to dine. I think your total time at CG, waiting for your table and dining, will be more than twice the time at other TS restaurants.

Skip CRT, most restaurants won't care if you're a few minutes late, conversely most CMs won't care if you're late for your FP. The exception is when your FP is for a particular show.

You'll probably get in and out of buffet restaurants faster than full service. You can ask to have your dessert boxed to go.

If you think it's going start raining go to whatever restaurant you have your reservation and see if you can get seated early.

 

[rigs32]

It sounds like you have a choice. I don't think you will have any problems hitting all the attractions IF you plan properly.

Getting up early and being there for opening will allow you to do SOOOO much in that first hour or two that you won't need to stress about the time "lost" while eating.

One way to make it feel like you're getting your moneys worth is to book ADRs for true experiences - character meals, 50s Prime Time, etc. You won't just be eating, you'll also be partaking of the Disney Magic.

If you do what you want during the day, have dinner, and get to bed at a normal hour, you might lose the thrill of closing the parks, but you'll accomplish so much more during the same number of days. Getting on 4-5 rides from 9-10am is way more productive than 2 rides from 9-10pm, even if nighttime IS a little more magical.