TS Vets I Have a Question?

[gluvsmickey]

Our family leaves very soon for our trip and I have planned the whole thing, but now the problem is my DDad is afraid that we are going to spend too much time at the TS restaurants (he is very impatient lol). We are only doing the regular plan and this is our schedule:
Sat- Chef Mickey dinner
Sun- non
Mon-Boma for breakfast and Ohana for dinner
Tues-Crystal Palace dinner
Wed- Grand Floridian Cafe lunch
Thurs- Akershus Breakfast and La Hacienda dinner
Fri- Whispering Canyon dinner

I keep telling him that we are doing alot of buffets and family styles so we shouldn't be in the restaurants too long, Can anyone here back me up! Do you think we will waste too much time sitting down or does our schedule look all right? Thanks!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Most of those meals, if not all of them, should take no more then an hour.

 

[carrie1626]

I wouldn't say I'm a vet but I'll offer up an opinion anyway

Looks like you have 4 TS at resort restaurants.

Chef Mickey-will that be the end of your day? or dinner before going back to the park
Boma- are you staying at AKL?- otherwise I would skip this on that day
Grand Floridan Cafe- are you going to be in MK that day?
Whispering Canyon- again, where do you plan to be that day?

I'd drop 2 and try for the PARK TS restaurants IF YOU CAN ( and maybe you did, I know the ressies fill up)

WILL YOU HAVE A CAR OR BE DEPENDING ON WDW BUSES? If you have your own car, it'll be much easier to do the resort TS.

 

[ZoZo]

This is just my opinion, but I'd never do two TS meals in one day (I see you have two days where you have two TS meals scheduled). Especially if it's not at the same park, if you're having to travel to get to an ADR - takes way too much time for me.

I usually do three or four TS meals on each week-long trip. I don't like to spend so much time dining - to me, it's just food and I can get food anywhere! I'd rather spend my time doing other things that you can only do at Disney (rides, attractions, parades, etc.)!

But I know that for lots of folks, dining is part of the WDW experience. This is such an individual thing - you just have to decide which is more important to you.

Or perhaps your dad could split off from the group occasionally and do his own thing for a meal or two. That way, he can do what he wants, especially if he gets impatient.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

Not a veteran per se, but I'll throw in my 2 cents. I'd do less resort meals unless you happen to be staying at that particular resort. I know Boma's breakfast is supposed to be good, but honestly, I wouldn't want to schlep to AKL just for breakfast. If you want Boma, I'd think about doing it for dinner after your AK day.

Ohana, Grand Floridian Cafe, Chef Mickey's and WCC, on the other hand, are both easy to get to IF you are already going to be in MK for the day. If you're not staying at the resort or at MK, I'd drop those restaurants in favor of restaurants in the park.

On your Epcot day, 2 ADRs is perfect. I think dining is part of the Epcot experience. Except for your Epcot day(s) I'd try to stick to 1 ADR per day if your party isn't all into the TS meals.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

I would just drop one of the TS on MOnday...


AND be sure that the parks you are going to correspond with your TS Dinner Location...

(EX... Chef MIckey Day is a MK DAY)

Have a Magical Visit !

Mary

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yeah, I would maybe look into dropping that Boma breakfast unless you are staying there or going to AK. Although even if you are going to AK, that will involve some amount of hassle to get to that breakfast. Its a ways out to AKL from other areas and since you have an ADR that night, you may not want to invest in two in one day.

The GF Cafe is another one you might want to reconsider unless you are staying at the GF. Although the monorail makes it easy enough to get there, that still involves exiting MK, waiting for and getting on the monorail and then getting back. If you are driving, you will have to move the car before and after dinner.

I like a full serve meal but I do find that eating at the park I will be at is a way to cut down on the time spent eating or getting to where we will eat.
Just today, I really revamped my ADR's because I realized I had too many that were at resort restaurants.

I always figure we have to eat somewhere and even cs places can take a bit if the lines are long. But by eating inside the park you are at for a majority of your meals, it does end up taking a lot less time.

 

[disneychic2]

I'm thinking you should plan your meals based on the age of your children and what they can handle. Your Dad can, as someone else suggested, do his own thing if it gets to be too much for him. As most have said, the meals are not so much the problem as the possible time getting to each one. But since you've put so much time into planning, I'm sure you took that into consideration before making your ressies. Go, and have fun and don't worry about anything else. You'll be in Disney, so what could be better??

 

[honeydiane1953]

Our family leaves very soon for our trip and I have planned the whole thing, but now the problem is my DDad is afraid that we are going to spend too much time at the TS restaurants (he is very impatient lol). We are only doing the regular plan and this is our schedule:
Sat- Chef Mickey dinner
Sun- non
Mon-Boma for breakfast and Ohana for dinner
Tues-Crystal Palace dinner
Wed- Grand Floridian Cafe lunch
Thurs- Akershus Breakfast and La Hacienda dinner
Fri- Whispering Canyon dinner

I keep telling him that we are doing alot of buffets and family styles so we shouldn't be in the restaurants too long, Can anyone here back me up! Do you think we will waste too much time sitting down or does our schedule look all right? Thanks!

I can understand. Patience is not in me believe me I have triiiiied. The only thing I have noticed is at the CP though have never eaten there is there seems to be a line. If I had to wait too long I would leave plain and simple. I am glad u didn't pick Park Fare. Your others choices look great to me.

 

[missmun52]

I would not do two in one day and unless breakfast is at least an 1 1/2 - 2 hours before park opening I would scrap that one.....it will take up time to travel unless you decide to do a taxi or eat bk at the park one hour before opening (tusker house in AK is great, and its a character BK with mickey)

Also, I like to plan my meals for dinner because we just end the day with that; we may go back in to watch a parade or fireworks or something but we know the day is pretty much done and we take it really slow at that point, especially if you have young kids with you, so we don't feel like time is "wasting"

 

[LilGMom]

Our family leaves very soon for our trip and I have planned the whole thing, but now the problem is my DDad is afraid that we are going to spend too much time at the TS restaurants (he is very impatient lol). We are only doing the regular plan and this is our schedule:
Sat- Chef Mickey dinner
Sun- non
Mon-Boma for breakfast and Ohana for dinner
Tues-Crystal Palace dinner
Wed- Grand Floridian Cafe lunch
Thurs- Akershus Breakfast and La Hacienda dinner
Fri- Whispering Canyon dinner

I keep telling him that we are doing alot of buffets and family styles so we shouldn't be in the restaurants too long, Can anyone here back me up! Do you think we will waste too much time sitting down or does our schedule look all right? Thanks!

A few questions come to mind - Are you staying at AKL? Will you have your own transportation? If you answer yes to both of those than I see nothing wrong with your plan. If you answer no to either of those than you might want rething Boma. Even though you are having a good number of resort TS meals all, except Boma, are easy to get to either by walking (CM is a easy walk from MK), by boat or by monorail. You will still need to figure in travel time regardless of your means of transporation. And your Epcot day seems fine too since you are giving yourself plenty of time in between TS meals - you might be skipping lunch though.

Personally the only ones I would rethink is Boma, unless you have your own car, and lunch at GF. We tend to make our resort TS's for either breakfast or dinner so that we aren't leaving a park mid-day to make it to our ADR. If your Dad is the one with issues than give him a copy of your ADRs and tell him that if he doesn't want to join you than you'll meet up with him again later (BTDT with my own FIL). We always have at least one TS planned each day and if my kids (5 & 9) can sit through a nice meal one time a day than an adult should be able to.

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

A little tip that I heard AND used on our last trip is this - At a buffet or family style meal where the price is set (not ordering off a menu), ask for your bill to be brought out ASAP!!! We did this a couple of times and it actually got us out the door a little quicker when we were finished! Didn't have to sit around waiting for our bill at the end of the meal!

Also, I too would avoid doing 2 TS meals in one day! We have done it 2x and WILL NOT be doing it again! Waaayyyy too much food in one day and it seriously cuts in to the park time!

 

[pixarmom]

Our family leaves very soon for our trip and I have planned the whole thing, but now the problem is my DDad is afraid that we are going to spend too much time at the TS restaurants (he is very impatient lol). We are only doing the regular plan and this is our schedule:
Sat- Chef Mickey dinner
Sun- non
Mon-Boma for breakfast and Ohana for dinner
Tues-Crystal Palace dinner
Wed- Grand Floridian Cafe lunch
Thurs- Akershus Breakfast and La Hacienda dinner
Fri- Whispering Canyon dinner

I keep telling him that we are doing alot of buffets and family styles so we shouldn't be in the restaurants too long, Can anyone here back me up! Do you think we will waste too much time sitting down or does our schedule look all right? Thanks!

Hi OP! I would agree with the others who said that it's not the number of TS restaurants, but the location.

We have TIW and like to do two TS per day. This works for us because 1) we usually eat a light breakfast in the room; 2) we don't order full meals at TS lunches - the kids get kids' meals and my husband and I order sandwiches or appetizers for our lunch; and 3) with three active and excited boys, its' really helpful to our family to have a place that helps all of us sit and relax for both lunch and dinner. Different story when we were on the dining plan - then we would just do one TS for dinner each night. So depending on how much your family eats, I could see why others recommend only one TS per day.

Most TS take about an hour or less for our family. Even our youngest, who was not great at restaurants when he was a toddler, has consistently done very well at Disney TS. In our experience, Disney TS restaurants serve very fast - far more quickly than a typical restaurant outside of Disney. Disney must know that we are on-the-go!So I never got the feeling that our kids were "sitting through" anything. But that's also because we know the menus in advance, so everyone is ready to order quickly. And we don't order several courses or desserts (exception: grapefruit cake at Brown Derby!) I agree with the previous poster who mentioned that it helps to ask for the check early, too.

Again, the location of your ADRs may be an issue - depending on where you plan to be each day, as a previous poster mentioned. It's not necessarily the dining time involved, but the travel time necessary to get from one place to another. For that reason, we usually do TS in the parks, with two exceptions: 1) dinner at the Poly or CR at the end of an MK day, or 2) a TS at our own resort. (I know we're missing out - I'd love to try Boma, for example! Maybe when the kids are older and/or our trips are longer!)

Good luck with your planning and have a great trip!

 

[EvilQueenT]

has your DDad been there before with your kid/kids? sometimes having a break from the parks is a good thing with younger children, especially if they're the types to be held rather than stand in line for rides. it gives the parents a chance to recharge. unless we go in the summer when the parks are open until 2-3am for emh we only do one sit down a day. another thing to consider is that during busier times of year you can wait in a long line and wait for a table to open up at the counter service places as well so having an adr for a sit down can be a bonus. we always plan our adrs around what park we're visiting that day. if we do a resort meal it's either after the parks are closed (like in the value season when they can close as early at 7pm-9pm) or it's nearby the park we're visiting. travel time is the issue.

 

[jblrn2b]

I personally don't think you are taking up a lot of time doing ADRs. For us its also about eating - granted we have a teenager and a 10 yo. We like to go out to eat while we are there. We like the TS much more than a lot of the CS meals.

The first time we went as a family, I am convinced that by planning some strategic TS my DH also caught the Disney Bug. He would not have been happy just having CS.

But maybe DDad is a CS kind of person and just wants to commando the rides - that's why Disney is for everyone!!! I know I wouldn't be happy with this. You have to decide whats best for your family.

Good luck. Let us know what you decide. Have fun!!

 

[catne]

are you there 7 nights...that's what you have listed on your schedule. IF so, and you're on the regular plan, you have too many table service planned. I see 8 on the schedule and you'd only have 7 for 7 nights (they're allocated per NIGHT you stay, not number of days you're there.)

I would definitely drop the Boma breakfast unless you're staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge...otherwise, it's a pain to get there from another resort before the parks open unless you take a cab or have your own car.

And I agree 100% with other posters about the resort restaurants...make sure your reservations match up with the park you're going to be at that night...or at least on the monorail from Magic Kingdom those days/nights. The meals themselves won't take even an hour, but getting to & from the restaurants will be the real kicker, especially if you are at different parks from where your meals are located. The way you have this set up, it looks like you'll be at Magic Kingdom or in the vicinity 5 of your 7 nights...only at Epcot one night?

Sat- Chef Mickey dinner Magic Kingdom?
Sun- non
Mon-Boma for breakfast (drop unless you're staying at AKL) and Ohana for dinner Magic Kingdom?
Tues-Crystal Palace dinner Magic Kingdom?
Wed- Grand Floridian Cafe lunch Magic Kingdom?
Thurs- Akershus Breakfast and La Hacienda dinner Epcot?
Fri- Whispering Canyon dinner Again, are you staying at this resort? If not, it's kind of a pain to get there ...and very time-consuming. Are you at Magic Kingdom this day, too where you can take the resort boat? Otherwise, will take way too long to get there.

 

[bookends]

Here's what we did to save about 10 - 15 minutes a meal. For the restaurants with a menu, print out the menu ahead of time. As you are heading to the restaurant of at some time within an hour of eating whip out your copies of the menu and have everyone figure out what they want. When the server comes to introduce herself/himself put in your entire order, drink, meal, dessert. We did it and you are eating your meal within 10 - 15 minutes of being seated. After she serves the food and when she comes back to check on you ask for the bill (you have already ordered dessert so she can complete it). We eat slowly and enjoy the food and have only one or twice taken more than 45 minutes to eat from the time we enter to the time we leave. Ditto on the idea of asking for the bill right away at the buffets.

 

[honeydiane1953]

As a PP pointed out she wouldn't do two a day. ME EITHER! One a trip is enough for me. Kids don't eat as they are so excited and IMO food is mediocre at best.

 

[gluvsmickey]

I appreciate all your feedback, I am really considering just doing the QS plan all together instead of upgrading to TS. This is how are schedule breaks down, Sat is our arrival so no park, Sun we are doing HS and DS really wants to do Pizza Planet, Mon we are doing AK park, Tues we are doing MNSSHP, Wed we are resting at our resort (POP-my DS FAV), Thurs we are doing Epcot, and Fri morning we are doing MK and after all the responses I am just not sure it is worth all the hassle and I actually forgot to factor in my 2 year olds restaurant tolerance (not sure how I forgot THAT!) Thanks again for all your help I think no matter what we do once we are down there I will wish we did the opposite LOL!