What about doing just an appetizer at TS or maybe splitting a meal?

[Bete]

I think I would like to appetizer myself through the parks, but I know the TS restaurants expect everyone to order a meal. I feel like I would be a second class citizen if I tried this and the wait staff would not be attentive to our table. Sharing/splitting a TS meal with appetizer may get the same results.

Anyway, I'm looking for those who have done this and how they felt about it all especially if you did it more often than not.

I would love to do appetizers only with regular drinks especially at the signature restaurants. I feel this would be a great way to get in the ambiance of these places without breaking the bank.

I've heard a few times here people doing this maybe once or twice on their trips, but not each and everyday. Also, I'm not sure how they felt about it considering the restaurants expect all of you to order a meal.

In a way, you could make this like your own customized food and wine festival throughout the parks and resorts.

I would love to hear from those who do this on a regular basis if you are out there.

 

[jimmytammy]

DW and I split meals lots at WDW. They give you so much food at most restaurants that most servers understand. If you approach with a mindset that servers arent going to mind, you will be OK. Its your vacation, so spend it like you wish

 

[let'sgo]

I think this is a great idea. There are so many good appetizers on the menu but when combined with a dinner it just makes too much food. I have ordered just an appetizer with a salad on a solo trip and no one seemed to mind. Or maybe you could order an appetizer and the person you are with could order a meal and you could split them. But when I have ordered light in the past there hasn't been any problems.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I feel like I would be a second class citizen if I tried this and the wait staff would not be attentive to our table. Sharing/splitting a TS meal with appetizer may get the same results.
. . . you deserve the same service, full meal or not
. . . usually you will not see a difference
. . . if you do, call a manager

Anyway, I'm looking for those who have done this and how they felt about it all especially if you did it more often than not.
. . . we do this frequently
. . . we don't have big appetites ("it's a senior thing")
. . . so we munch through the restaurants
. . . or end up with a HUGE doggie bag
. . . since many portions are just too large

I would love to do appetizers only with regular drinks especially at the signature restaurants. I feel this would be a great way to get in the ambiance of these places without breaking the bank.
. . . we do drinks and appys or drinks and desserts
. . . this works really well
. . . and you do get the experience
. . . plus, great for people-watching

In a way, you could make this like your own customized food and wine festival throughout the parks and resorts.
. . . yep

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There is nothing wrong with this. And some people will set up a reservation at a TS location to just go for dessert.

 

[TDC Nala]

The TS restaurants don't care in the least what you order, with the obvious exception of the fixed price places.

 

[3floridarays]

We do this frequently and have never felt like second-class customers. I ordered the potato leek soup and mushy peas at R&C last Friday night (both were delicious, btw) and the server was super friendly and attentive.

So go for it. You should order whatever you want, regardless of how much or how little.

 

[pixarmom]

I do this all the time and we usually eat at quite a few signatures per trip. There is no way I could finish an entire entree, and the appetizer menus at the signatures are usually far more interesting to me. I have no problems ordering this way at any restaurant anywhere. On the other hand, my husband usually orders both an appetizer and an entree and our older boys are starting to order more, so I'll admit that probably makes me more comfortable.

But I'm traveling with our youngest in April and I'll see how that goes. I did order a full entree at Le Cellier once and that was an unfortunate waste of good food. So on this trip, our son will order a kids' meal and I'll probably order soup for lunch - that's just what I want and I know how filling that (along with pretzel bread) will be!

 

[gobo2]

One of my favorite trips was with my just my best friend when we were younger and (more) broke. We went to all the places that seemed too pricey for our DHs and us to eat together. We split something at pretty much every meal. The signature places, notably HBD and Artist's Point were wonderful about splitting and plating half entrees and apps in the kitchen. They even did this will the Cobb Salad.
Besides, who cares what the servers think? They won't know if you do this each and every day anyway!

 

[cbg1027]

You can order whatever you want when you go in to a restaurant. And you won't get treated poorly...if you do, then you should notify a manager.

I frequently order 2 apps and a dessert at the signatures since I want to experience three courses, but the entrees tend to be large portions.

When I go with my grandma, we do a lot of sharing.

We just ate at Yachtsman recently and ordered a salad, the filet, and 2 side items. Everything was split between the two of us, and the server didn't bat an eyelash or treat us poorly.

 

[aubriee]

My favorite meals used to be:

Rose & Crown: the old mushroom pasty appetizer and the older cheese plate appetizer they used to have on their menu.

Jikos: flatbread and cheese plate

Flying Fish: tomato/mozzarello plate, mussels, and cheese plate

Artist Point: mushroom soup and mussels

Yak & Yeti: lettuce cups, pineapple wontons

Citricos: Crab Gateau and Berry Gratin

Chefs de France: Assiette Campagnare, flat bread, and chocolate cake

Le Cellier: tomato salad, cheese soup, sorbet

Coral Reef: lobster soup, salad, butterscotch creme brulee

Big River Grill: crab artichoke dip and chocolate confusion

California Grill: flatbread and/or sushi

In fact, I had the lettuce cups at Y&Y, Assiette Campagnard, flat bread, and chocolate cake at Chef's d France, and the crab artichoke dip and chocolate confusion at BRG just a couple of weeks ago. No one batted an eye. It's not necessarily about money. I just frequently prefer the appetizers over the entrees at WDW restaurants. A few years ago I got a little upset that Chef's de France would not let me order the two appetizers I wanted in place of the appetizer and entree I was entitled to with my DxDDP. The waiter checked with the manager on duty and was told I had no choice but to order an appetizer and entree, as that was what they got paid for. I told him fine, I'd just pay for two appetizers OOP then and not use my DxDDP. That they didn't have a problem with.

 

[fla4fun]

My favorite meal at Le Cellier is the app of sausage and polenta, with a side order of baked mac and cheese. I've never been made to feel unwelcome because I'm not ordering a steak or some other entree.

Sometimes I go to a TS restaurant just for dessert as well. I can never eat a meal and have room left for dessert - so if I want to try a dessert I have to go specifically for it.