Our first visit to WDW in the early 1990’s, we were on our honeymoon and we didn’t think ahead to what we might want to eat during our trip. We stayed offsite in a hotel with a fridge and a continental breakfast that consisted of a donut & glass of cheap (not fresh) OJ. Yeah, kind of disappointing since we were paying over $100/night and visiting Florida...the state full of sunshine and fresh oranges! To add insult to injury, we were bombarded with fabulous food choices all around the world from Magic Kingdom to Epcot; but oh, those prices. We just didn’t plan ahead.
When we took our boys for their first trip to see Mickey Mouse, we weren’t about to make the same mistake again. We stayed on site at the All Star Sports Resort and had a package that included 3 meals and 2 snacks for each of us in the family everyday. We economized on the hotel and splurged on the dining plan. It was fabulous! We were able to take our boys to several character breakfasts, lunches and/or dinners. We experienced FRESH squeezed orange juice on several occasions. There were even credits leftover at the end of the trip that we were able to use for souvenirs. Sadly, the souvenir option has been discontinued but after a decade of using the dining plan, our family remains sold!
In fact, we ofte
n upgrade to the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan so we can use two table services for the fabulous dinner theater shows; Hoop de Doo Review and Spirit of Aloha Luau. Last year, our family experienced dining in Cinderella’s Castle at the Royal Table with all the princesses…and even though my kids are teenaged boys they enjoyed both the food and atmosphere (i.e. beautiful princesses).
n upgrade to the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan so we can use two table services for the fabulous dinner theater shows; Hoop de Doo Review and Spirit of Aloha Luau. Last year, our family experienced dining in Cinderella’s Castle at the Royal Table with all the princesses…and even though my kids are teenaged boys they enjoyed both the food and atmosphere (i.e. beautiful princesses).It works for us because we don’t have to say “no” to a Mickey-shaped ice cream treat or chance to eat dinner at Chef Mickey’s. Yes, it is a bit of “food overload” at times. We always seem to have a few extra dining credits at the end of our vacation, which do expire at the end of the trip. Yet, we still come out several hundreds of dollars ahead on the food.
The key is planning ahead…6 months ahead to be exact. It is much easier now with the online reservation option…but I still call in as talking one-on-one with a cast member can give insight into the best dining options. Have your dining reservations in place well in advance is essential to get the most from the Disney Dining Plan as the best dining venues in WDW fill quickly!
Copyright 2011 MagicalMouseTales
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