WW Leader&mom -just back from 8daysDDP

[Goofy&Sleepy]

Some backstory-have lost 100 lbs & had it off 16 years. Go to DIs 2/yr as DVC. Went w/Hubby (NOT a WW)DD4&DD20 mths. Pd for dining w/4 year old but shared w/20mth old . I go into vacation eating as a splurge....I know the extra walking helps & I will always be a FOODIE! DDP, however, was TOO MUCH food even for hubby who said after a few days, "I think I'll leave the fries & just eat the other stuff I like/want to try". btw...did DDP on May trip.

We usually SHARE an appetizer, if we get one, & rarely get desserts when eating out so this appetizer & dessert (including at CS) was all SPLURGE. I shared most meals w/20 mth old & even 4 yr old shared w/her as she was not use to 2 dessert/per day & we still took most counter service desserts back to room for later. Had 7 Snacks left at end of trip so got some graham crackers w/mickey & minnie to bring back (@$3.95 a good snack choice).
Also had 2 CS left so went to Earl of Sand & got 2 meals & put in cooler & ate on the road coming home. This after we did CAPE MAY for breakfast to USE OUR FINAL 3 TS the morning we left.
From a WW standpoint, I guess I get tired of food after a while & am kicking myself for gaining 4 lbs on cheesecake/choc cake CS DESSERTS!
I was also disappointed that we COULDN"T keep many of our ADR's as kids were napping/ate too much at lunch or too late. I did call &cancel most times but was unable to get anything else & EVEN walked in to 1/2 empty restaurants& was told sorry. NOT like the old days before DDP that's for sure!

Sorry to ramble but wanted to share. WIll I do DDP again? Yeah, probably, I'm frugal & really do think it's a good deal & the tip thing is nice. Will I be better? OF COURSE, ALL WW folks will agree w/that. Some food is really not worth it so I will follow hubbys advice next time from the BEGINNING of the trip. I will also book a couple of extra TS for lunches as backup. We did Concourse Steak for lunch & it was SO nice & relaxing & the kids were up to a 12:00 meal after doing MK rides much more so than at 6:00. Will be glad to answer any ?--got there 9/28 for 3 days free dine B4 moving to BWV & paying.

 

[ksoehrlein]

Some backstory-have lost 100 lbs & had it off 16 years.

Good for you! That's phenomenal, especially now that you have 2 little ones and constant exposure to all that high-carb "toddler food"!

Thanks for sharing your experience. I keep reading the All Ears menus on a full tummy, and the thought of all those CS fries and chocolate cake day after day is, well, just a little nauseating. I can see where you and your DH were coming from.

Did you try asking for substitutions at CS restaurants (like carrots instead of those ubiquitous fries or, as another poster shared in an earlier thread, an extra bottled water instead of dessert)? I don't know if it's always possible -- and I would never have thought to ask if I hadn't read it here first -- but it sounds like a great idea. I just hope I can remember to ask about these healthier options when I'm at the podium placing my order and that the CMs will be able to accomodate these requests without too much of a hassle.

We, too, are normally a share-appetizers-and-seldom-have-dessert family. But I'm excited to get to pick what I want for once instead of compromising on the one thing we all want to share. I'll just have to remember that there's no law that I need to finish what I've ordered. If I can keep that in mind, I think I'll be OK at my TS meals.

Any other WW-friendly tips? What are the healthiest, "smartest" CS meals at WDW?

 

[Goofy&Sleepy]

Electric Umbrella at Epcot was good about offering a choice for kids of carrot sticks/applesauce or grapes. Earl of Sand does have the Baked Lays which was good. Not sure if it is the best value but to me, it's one of the best CS.

Seasons at Epcot was also good about having lots of heathier CS choices& they had desserts that weren't the standard fair. MK wasn't real impressed w/CS so we just did the place where you can get the rottissery chicken/ribs--a really good Value for CS & GREAT PLACE to share meals. Tusker House @AK was also good about having good healthier choice--soup & 1/2 sand was really good & they had "better" more worth it type of dessert. Wish we had done the Morroco CS as it looked really good & a good value. Did a couple of snacks at the tastings in Epcot which was good. Would like to have tried more....again,too much food.

Didn't ask about the water thing as we had taken lots of water & really needed it as it was quite hot. Did get fruit offered at Concourse for TS kids appetizer & it was really good& fresh.