How can I get the most out of the Walt Disney World Dining plan?

How can I get the most out of the Walt Disney World Dining plan? I will using it for 3 days in 2008. There will be 2 adults and 2 kids. Which restaurants are the best to use it in? I know some you have to tip and others you don't. Just wondering where I will get the most for my money. Then I will pay for my meals on my other days there. Thanks!How can I get the most out of the Walt Disney World Dining plan?
OH BOY!



You will love the Dining plan!



It works like this. You have points.

ex. for your group you will have per person

1 counter service

1 table service

1 snack service per day of your stay



Counter service being fast food and Table service being sit down.



Yes you can use only 1 child meal and save one for later when they are hungry between meals if needed.

same if you and your spouse want to split a meal.



for counter service you get the meal or combo plus drink and dessert. GET IT ALL AND SAVE WHAT YOU DON'T EAT! We stocked up on cookies and kept them for when we wanted a snack.



for table service you get appetizer, entree, drink and dessert per adult again get it all enjoy all you can even if you can't finish you can take it with you back to your room or leave it but you will be getting the most for your money.



pick any entre you want no matter the cost it doesn't cost you!! Get the MOST expensive thing if you want (we did!!)



the wait staff are very knowledgeable about the plan so ask them if you have questions



on your snacks these can be anything from sodas or popcorn icecreams to bake shop items. pretty much anything under 5$ is a snack but again ask the counter server before you order to ensure they aren't docking one of your meals.



most if not all of the menus are pictured to chow you what the item will cost you from your plan.



Your * restaurants:

Spirit of aloha show: Great to see but NOTE it will cost you 2 table service meals PER PERSON no sharing for the kids on that!



SCI FI is a must! is a table service meal but the atmosphere is great kids will like



Crystal palace: ok but if you are wanting a character breakfast the Ohana is better. **(there is a adobe document on the Disney site that will list ALL resaurants and what each will cost you. check this one I seem to think it was 2 table service meals also... not sure)



Teppanyaki IS A MUST....OUTSTANDING food and fun for the kids to watch the chefs. 1 table service and the most expensive thing here was some type of beef i think MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH!! Make sure you go to the teppenyaki side and not the side where you are at the normal tables (make reservations easy to call them even from your hotel but best before your trip)



Coral reef.... Ehhhh not too impressed



Pizza planet same not terrific.



in MGM counter service is good in ABC commisary good varitey of items.



in Magic K try Cosmic Ray's HUGE varitey or the Harbor house by Haunted mansion great fish and chicken strips.



The land in Epcot has tons of desserts that will cost you only a snack as well as the Main Street bakery.



The animal Kingdom Lodge has a great buffet that is 1 table service. they serve many unique dishes.



there is also a great breakfast buffet in Fort Wilderness campground. But don't do the dinner show! awful and cost 2 table service.



My last bit of advice is this. At the end of our trip we had many unused snacks (with all that eating and getting free cups of ice water when thirsty) we found out that at most candy stores you could buy prepackage treats under $5 and use your snack items! My mom went home with the big swirly lollipops as souvineers for all her day care kids!!



Use all you items and you will get the most out of your plan don't let any go to waste.



If you have any other questions feel free to contact me!
Getting the most out of the plan is using the plan get the meals you are entitled to. If you don't use it than you really lose out.



In MGM I highly recommend the Sci-Fi Dine in Theater!!!! You are going to LOVE IT! Also the 50's Prime Time Cafe is a must see even if you don't eat there.

Toy Story Pizza is a nice place just outside of the Muppets Theater, it is more like fast food, pizza, salad, etc.



In EPCOT - The Garden Grill is Family restaurant, the restaurant rotates while you dine and characters come around like Chip %26amp; Dale.

Also, Marrekesh when I first went there I was skeptical, but yet another place I LOVE. The food is delicious and you get a little show.

Coral Reef - Wonderful underwater world love that you can see the fish swimming right from your table .



In Magic Kingdom - Crystal Palace - absolutely! Location is great just outside the Cinderellas castle, service and food are as usual for Disney Fantastic! They also have the best Sundaes

Cinderellas Castle Dining - You should check with reservations every so often they have a cancellation and they will book you if you call at the right time, this is an incredible experience the kids would really love. (If you can get it)



Polynesian Resort - Ohana Character breakfast - I have not personally attended this brkfst however if you can't get reservations a stop in to see the resort itself is recommended.



Downtown Disney - Planet Hollywood - It's nice the food is not the best, serving size, taste it could be better. the movie memorabilia is pretty cool but I would have to say PASS.



I hope some of the information above helps. Enjoy your stay and have fun!How can I get the most out of the Walt Disney World Dining plan?
The best way to get use out of it is to use the counter meals for lunch and te table meals for dinner. Go to the more expensive dinner places. Some of the places on your list are not the most expensive places. Because you can eat at so many character meals and nice restaurants you want to do that as opposed to lots of fast food restaurants for dinner. Try looking at www.allears.net on the menus and revues. this will give you an idea of food prices. Also, don't waste your meals on breakfast. If you want, have 1 character breakfast, but save the rest of your meals for lunch and dinner!



I booked the following dinners



Sci-Fi Dine in

Cinderella's Castle

Crystal Palace

Cinderella's Gala Feast

Akershus Princess Breakfast

Coral Reef



To find the more expensive ones either A) get a guide book they will give you the price ranges for the shows, B) got to the Disney website in the Dining Section. they have pricing, or C) go to allears.net, they have all the menus with prices.
Disney's Spirit of Aloha Show, Amazing we now do it every trip



*Sci-Fi Dine In Theater, fun but once was enought



California Grill, great food, the kids were bored



Akeshus, breakfast is fantastic



*Crystal Palace, one of our favorites



Donald's Breakfastosaurus, simply delightful



*Ohana Character Breakfast, same food, beautiful, characters or great



Mama Melrose, disappointing



*Teppanyaki have not been



*Coral Reef, disappointing food



Marrekesh never been



Planet Hollywood, great



1900 Park Fare, amazing food, great characters



Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station never been



*Toy Story Pizza Planet, cute but we threw the food away it was yuck





You may want to check into Chef Mickeys, Mickeys Backyard Barbecue, Cape May and Liberty Tree Tavern, each of these rate high with our family, and have since the kids were young.



Call 1-407-W- Disney 180 days before your trip and schedule meals. This is what we do

Character breakfast, snack for lunch, Dinner

Snack breakfast, at one of the bakerys, counter meal, Character Dinner

An early dinner allows for rest and then we can conquer the night in the park. Have a blast, and do not forget to prearrange meals, the lines are incredible and it can be difficult to get a meal at the last minute.How can I get the most out of the Walt Disney World Dining plan?
Hi, i am going to DW soon too and i like you, want to get the most for my money as well! Best advice: check out www.allearsnet.com you can click on dining, select restaurants by the theme park, view their menus and prices, so compare and pick the most expensive, lol. You can then click on "rate and review" and look up the restaurant you are interested in to see what others think about it.



Must go to: Ohana character and Ohana dinner -good value and excellent food!!! I love that place!

Sci-Fi is awesome! Their ribs are the best-very lean-and nearly $20.00 (read the menus and add up what you'd get)



Great value for you money: Coral Reef, Le Cellier, and others that arent' buffets



Pay out of pocket: 1900 Park Fare character breakfast ($40 for two people)--awesome cute Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter, Tigger, great food!



Make sure you read reviews, view menus (they're not the whole menu but it gives you a good idea)



Have a GREAT time!
To go with others:



Some of what is called 'signature' restaurants take 2 table service meals, like the California Grill. But it is definitely one of the best places on property to eat. And an added perk, you get to go up to the roof and look out, perhaps even see the fireworks from up there (even people who stay there don't get to go up there unless they eat there). But being more adult oriented restaurant the kids might get figedity, but the perk of looking out from the roof could help.



Someone mentioned Boma (what the buffet at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is called). Another excellent choice. It's $26 all inclusive (except coffee, tea %26amp; alcohol) so it might be better for out of pocket, but the food is great (with some 'kiddie' fare for the kids %26amp; those not that adventurous). And a perk with that is you get to look at the animals that they have at that hotel.



Marrakesh is MUCH BETTER for lunch. It's a place that is best enjoyed with a lot less people dining (then they keep the lights down lower, there's less dish/utensil sounds, and you can enjoy the show much better and much better ambience). Don't pick it for dinner to try to 'get your moneys worth'. Do it for lunch.



Teppanyaki should be fun for the kids providing that they don't touch the hot table in front of them. It *MIGHT* not participate in the dining plan, it isn't run directly by Disney, an outside company runs it (it definitely doesn't participate in the Disney Dining Experience, a different cost saving plan).



The German buffet Biergarten might be fun. It has entertainment, but the dinner entertainment is much more engaging.



But DEFINITELY check out (as was mentioned by others) Allearsnet.com. You can get prices if you look up the dining section, and based on that you'll see what they have, what is best to use your points on, and what's best to do out-of-pocket.
ahh...eat every bite...

:)