You must be on the Plus
DDP, but might you consider the deluxe DDP to cover more table service meals? Looks like you want the character meals... and for 9 nights, you only have 5 dinners? What are you going to eat for dinner the other nights? Will you need meals on your arrival and departure days too?
I found the difference in cost between the Plus DDP and the Deluxe DDP is not much when you consider having to pay for some extra meals if you get the Plus DDP. The Deluxe DDP also includes appetizers and the refillable resort mugs. Just something to think about...
But if you stick with the Plus DDP, and want to skip one or more meals... I'd skip Hollywood and Vine -- the food is OK, not great. It's buffet and the Einstein characters are outdated. Handy Manny is there and supposedly Agent Oso is coming. Still... there are plenty of characters to meet at Hollywood Studios.
I personally would skip Chef Mickeys. Never been there but I'm going for breakfast next trip. But.. Ohana has a great breakfast and you will see Mickey and Pluto there. The Tusker House Safari breakfast is also great food and you will see Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy. The only other character at Chef Mickey's is Minnie... and you can meet and greet Minnie at Epcot's character spot and in Magic Kingdom. Plus you have some of the same characters at Garden Grill too.
We love Crystal Palace's lunch buffet. Never been there for breakfast. But I could eat enough lunch to skip dinner. Love the Pooh characters too.
Never been to Boma, but unless you wanted to visit AK Lodge... Tusker House has a great dinner buffet. We also like Yak and Yeti Restaurant in Animal Kingdom... I wouldn't see a need to leave the park for dinner.
We've got our trip coming up and I've been really happy with all I've been able to get but now I'm up to 10 ADR's and we're on the dining plan for 7 nights. Meaning I'll be paying out of pocket for a few. Here's what I've got, what would you cancel or would you cancel any?
One more thought... some of the character breakfasts are not that expensive. Maybe you would want to use your table service credit for dinner somewhere... and just pay for the breakfast(s). Dinners will be more expensive.
10/12- Chef Mickeys 6:25pm
10/13- Crystal Palace 8:10am
10/14- Hollywood and Vine 12:15pm
10/15- Ohana 8:25am
Garden Grill 7:20pm
10/16 Tusker House 8:10am
Boma 6:25pm
10/17 CRT 9:55am
10/18 Park Fare 5:15pm
My thoughts: Hollywood and Vine could go, but we dont have any ADR that day and I was thinking well we HAVE to eat! What if we don't want CS all day?
Garden Grill I just added a few minutes ago because I asked my kids today what they were most looking forward to and they both responded with that restaurant. I personally did not enjoy the food that much but if its the one thing they're really looking forward to? I wonder if they'd forget once we got there and they had experienced all of the other stuff so far?
Park Fare is still optional, just depends on if my dd gets her princess fill from CRT but really that's the only other one where we've got a princess interaction.
SO what are your thoughts? Would you keep them all? Cancel any? I know for sure I'm paying for at least two meals OOP and I've figured I'll do the breakfasts since they are the least expensive.
