Most For Your Money

[ms7479a]

I was just wondering, when using the Disney Dining Plan, what restaraunt (usuing only one meal) gives you the most for your money? I've been looking at menus and it looks as though the Coral Reef restaraunt is a really good value as well as Alfredo's.

 

[dreamscometrue]

A number of restaurants gave us more food than we could eat! (I usually watch what I eat, but during the 10 days I was there, I allowed myself to eat anything (everything) and literally gained 10 pounds.)

The Wispering Canyon in WL delivered huge portions. The appetizer (nachos) was like a meal before the meal. The beverage I choose was the bottomless chocolate shake. I had dessert after 2 of those.

Also, buffets are great. There was tons of unlimited food at the Hollywood & Vine, Crystal Palace and 1900 Park Fare Buffets.

Hope this helps.

 

[jim1051]

food

We love Cape May Cafe Buffet.

For an EPCOT dinner try Le Cellier in Canada. The steak is as good as Yachtman's but it is only counted as 1 meal, not 2 as Yachtman

 

[DisneyBunny]

Actually, the most bang for your buck is not found at buffets. (they're actually one of the worst places to spend your dining points if you look at the pure dollar amount you would have spent) Here's a link to the Unofficial Guide's breakdown of the plan.

http://www.touringplans.com/MYWDining.html

I just looked at the menus and see what we would most likely get. They way I've got my ressies planned out so that we're basically paying for our dinners, but the counter service meals and snacks are free.

But if buffets are what you love, screw the "bang for your buck" theory and just think of it as a pre-paid plan, which it essentially is.

 

[shoppingnut]

DisneyBunny is correct that the buffet is not where you are going to get the most bang for you buck on the dining plan. It will also not be at a sit down restaurant for lunch either. The dinner meals are the most expensive so that is when you should use the sit down option. The following restaurants that require one point and are more expensive than most are: Le Cellier, Chef de France, Concourse Steak House (Contemporary), 50's Prime Time. Also, if there is a character the kids really want to meet, then I would book one of the character meals because you do get a little more time with that character and you aren't hunting him/her down in the parks, makes life easier. BTW Coral Reef is two sit down points and not worth it. There have been many negative comments about it from a number of folks here on the boards and the last time I was there, I thought the service and food were awful. I'd recommend Flying Fish which is also two sit down points, but is much better if you really want to have fish.

When we used the dining plan last summer (which I thought was an excellent value for the price) we used the counter service for breakfast each morning and the sit down for dinner with the exception of one breakfast which was at Cinderella's Royal Table and at that time it was only one point. But the CRT was a must do since it was something important for my 5 yr old niece to do and she still talks about it today.

 

[DisneyBunny]

The following restaurants that require one point and are more expensive than most are: Le Cellier, Chef de France, Concourse Steak House (Contemporary), 50's Prime Time.

BTW Coral Reef is two sit down points and not worth it. There have been many negative comments about it from a number of folks here on the boards and the last time I was there, I thought the service and food were awful. I'd recommend Flying Fish which is also two sit down points, but is much better if you really want to have fish.
.

I actually thought that the 50's Prime Time was less expensive than most, looking at the menus. :veryconfu

Also, I heard a few months back that the Coral Reef was demoted to 1 Table Service point on account of it not being on par with the other 2 point places.

 

[William Marsden]

Shopping Nut and Disney Bunny are correct. You can also get alot of value at Disney's signature restaurants even if they require two vouchers. If you figure around $20.00 or $21.00 as a "break even point" for dinner, it's easy to spend well over $60.00 or $70.00 at the California Grill or Yachtsman Steakhouse for a meal. If you have a child and use one of their vouchers to purchase a "signature dining experience", you really make out well.

Could I add one more thing? I was like you a few months ago. I only looked at the restaurants where I could get the most bang for my buck. However, I took something else into consideration. There are some eating experiences at WDW that you simply cannot do anywhere else.

We live in Kansas City, Mo. There are lots of good restaurants around this area. I've heard that the prime rib at Le Cellier is very good. However, I know at least twenty Kansas City area restaurants that serve great prime rib. What K.C. doesn't offer is an eating experience with any Disney characters or princesses coming to our table. Now if everyone in your party is an adult, maybe that's not as important to you, but as a father of a darling 5 year old girl, I'd rather eat less expensive, lower quality food and see her light up when Cinderella or Belle come to visit our table. So I'll spend our vouchers on Breakfast with Cindy, Chip and Dales Harvest Feast, 1900 Park Fare, Liberty Tree Tavern, and the Hoop dee doo Revue. I hear that the food is ok at these places (We haven't eaten at all of them), but the experience cannot be duplicated anywhere else.

P.S. To be fair, the experience at most Disney restaurants can't be duplicated. I just happened to pick restaurants that our whole family could really enjoy. Thankfully, my daughter really likes steak. Yachtsman Steakhouse here we come!

 

[spoodles]

I've been looking at menus and it looks as though the Coral Reef restaraunt is a really good value as well as Alfredo's.

I love the "idea" of the Coral Reef (giant aquarium, blah, blah, blah), but as far as value it might be the worst of them all. Last time there my $30 meal consisted of a small piece of fish and 2 asparagus sprouts, and it wasn't very good. And there was nothing magical about the service to say the least. Regardless of the points you can do much better, IMO.

 

[DisneyBunny]

Could I add one more thing? I was like you a few months ago. I only looked at the restaurants where I could get the most bang for my buck. However, I took something else into consideration. There are some eating experiences at WDW that you simply cannot do anywhere else.

We live in Kansas City, Mo. There are lots of good restaurants around this area. I've heard that the prime rib at Le Cellier is very good. However, I know at least twenty Kansas City area restaurants that serve great prime rib. What K.C. doesn't offer is an eating experience with any Disney characters or princesses coming to our table. Now if everyone in your party is an adult, maybe that's not as important to you, but as a father of a darling 5 year old girl, I'd rather eat less expensive, lower quality food and see her light up when Cinderella or Belle come to visit our table. So I'll spend our vouchers on Breakfast with Cindy, Chip and Dales Harvest Feast, 1900 Park Fare, Liberty Tree Tavern, and the Hoop dee doo Revue. I hear that the food is ok at these places (We haven't eaten at all of them), but the experience cannot be duplicated anywhere else.

I agree that "value" is whatever emotions you assign to it. For some, a buffet may be $27.99, but the expression on your little one's face - priceless. It really does depend on who is in your party and what you're looking for in a meal. The trip we have coming up was planned for my DH's birthday, for example, so when I was planning out my ressies, I picked places that had enough quality beef to satisfy my carnivore for his birthday. We don't have kids yet, and when we do, I'm sure we'll be up to our little eyeballs with Character meals. But until then, we're happy with the places that don't emphasize them.

One buffet here or there may not really make a difference in your food savings using the dining plan, but if one plans on eating every single table service meal at a buffet, you might actually be better off without the dining plan, and just being conservative with your counter service meals.

It really does take some planning, and research to determine what's best for you.

 

[SallyShine]

Could I add one more thing? I was like you a few months ago. I only looked at the restaurants where I could get the most bang for my buck. However, I took something else into consideration. There are some eating experiences at WDW that you simply cannot do anywhere else.

I completely agree. My kids absolutely love the Sci Fi Drive In. The food is good, not great. But, this is always the first place they mention when I ask them where they want to eat. If you go, make sure to get the kids the drinks with the glow in the dark ice cubes. We save them and pull them out at the adult parties.

 

[shoppingnut]

What K.C. doesn't offer is an eating experience with any Disney characters or princesses coming to our table. Now if everyone in your party is an adult, maybe that's not as important to you, but as a father of a darling 5 year old girl, I'd rather eat less expensive, lower quality food and see her light up when Cinderella or Belle come to visit our table. So I'll spend our vouchers on Breakfast with Cindy, Chip and Dales Harvest Feast, 1900 Park Fare, Liberty Tree Tavern, and the Hoop dee doo Revue. I hear that the food is ok at these places (We haven't eaten at all of them), but the experience cannot be duplicated anywhere else.

Of the character meals there were some that I thought were good (they do have some very good adult items) and some not so good. I happen to like Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, CRT. I don't care for Liberty Tree (and that is just because I don't care for the selection of food), Norway (the service and food here aren't great whether it is breakfast or dinner). I believe that one can balance their meals with character dining and regular dining during a week's stay and that way you have some quiet meals. I think you need to have some quiet meals since at the character meals the kids eat almost nothing (not that most kids eat that much anyway) because it is all about meeting, autographs and photos. During our week stay we did a balance and it worked fine, I don't think I'd want to do character dining every day, it would be a bit much. It's all about balance.

50's Prime Time might not be as expensive as some of the rest, but of all the restaurants in MGM that is the one I would select for the one point dining plan. I normally would eat in Brown Derby which is two points, but that's when I'm not on the dining plan and I use my DDE card.

I didn't realize coral reef went to one point, but be that as it may, I'd still not eat there regardless of the atmosphere as the food isn't good and to me that is more important than atmosphere.

 

[TLM323]

The Coral Reef is definitely (1) Table Service Meal. I have an ADR there, 2 weeks from TODAY, and I'm using the DDP!

I may not be of any help to you ... my restaurant choices are based solely on THE FUN & UNIQUENESS of the restaurant, not the food that they serve. I put all of my trust in Disney, that they will</U> fill my tummy each night. My goal (when making ADR's) is to be entertained (even while I eat!) ... be it a Character Meal (or two), Watching Fish Swim By, A Chance to Catch Illuminations (or Wishes) from the Table, Watching Sci-Fi Clips, Being Told to "Eat My Peas" by the Waitress, or an amazing Luau ... for me, it's gotta be FUN!!!


WE LEAVE FOR DISNEY IN 13 DAYS!!!!!!!!! :sohappy:

 

[EpcotGrl]

I love the "idea" of the Coral Reef (giant aquarium, blah, blah, blah), but as far as value it might be the worst of them all. Last time there my $30 meal consisted of a small piece of fish and 2 asparagus sprouts, and it wasn't very good. And there was nothing magical about the service to say the least. Regardless of the points you can do much better, IMO.

I agree re: Coral Reef. After hearing great things for 6 months, I had dinner there my very last night on the CP. Terribly disappointed with the food, and felt like I paid far too much for the atmosphere. Alfredo's disappointed me, too...not too much different than being at Olive Garden! :lol:

 

[ms7479a]

On the same topic, I am going to Disney in July. When should I make reservations for dinner? I would think as soon as possible but other members of my family are hesitant about doing it this early. I tried to tell them that we are going at one of the most crowded times of the year and that if we don't make reservations soon we will not be able to go to the restaraunts we want.

 

[tink81]

You can make Priority Seating arrangements 180 in advance, and I would suggest this if you are looking to eat at places like Cinderella's Royal Table or any character meal, the good times get gobbled up (no pun intended) rather quickly, especially if you are going in July (high season). Coral Reef only requires 1 table service and this is a change from last year...Cinderella's Royal table is now a 2 table voucher establishment. If you are looking for a place that will offer quality as well as atmoshpere, my personal fav is the Brown Derby. It is beautiful inside and the food is top noch. I agree with others who tend to eat at places that will give an experience they couldn't get by going to Olive Garden, etc. I have never been let down at any Disney restaurant (with the exception of Garden Grill at Epcot but that is for another thread).

 

[shoppingnut]

On the same topic, I am going to Disney in July. When should I make reservations for dinner? I would think as soon as possible but other members of my family are hesitant about doing it this early. I tried to tell them that we are going at one of the most crowded times of the year and that if we don't make reservations soon we will not be able to go to the restaraunts we want.

Any character meals you should make them ASAP or should I say yesterday. The character meals are the ones everyone looks for and July is a busy time. Also Le Cellier and 50's Prime Time are ones that book quickly too.

I would tell them that if you don't make ressie's you'll be eating hot dogs & hamburgers every night from the fast food places.

 

[meatloafsfan]

One buffet here or there may not really make a difference in your food savings using the dining plan, but if one plans on eating every single table service meal at a buffet, you might actually be better off without the dining plan, and just being conservative with your counter service meals.

Actually - $27.99 + $1.82 tax + gratuity 18% $5.04 = $34.85

Therefore your counter service and snack only cost $3.14 that day.

Even doing all character Dinners the dining plan can still save you money.

And for kids it's a no brainer -

$12.99 buffet + $0.84 tax and $2.34 tip = $16.17 The dining plan for age 3-9 is $11.99 per day.

Now if you only do character breakfasts (= $23.64 with tax and tip) you may save money without the dining plan as long as your counter service and snack are less than $14.36 per day.

 

[DisneyBunny]

Actually - $27.99 + $1.82 tax + gratuity 18% $5.04 = $34.85

Therefore your counter service and snack only cost $3.14 that day.

Even doing all character Dinners the dining plan can still save you money.

And for kids it's a no brainer -

$12.99 buffet + $0.84 tax and $2.34 tip = $16.17 The dining plan for age 3-9 is $11.99 per day.

Now if you only do character breakfasts (= $23.64 with tax and tip) you may save money without the dining plan as long as your counter service and snack are less than $14.36 per day.

True, that. You will most always save some money with the plan, but if you aren't the type of person who does eat those big breakfast buffets, or would only eat a few sit-down meals during the whole trip normally, than it still may not be worth it. Again, it depends on your family and their eating preferences.

 

[minnie2000]

You can make Priority Seating arrangements 180 in advance, and I would suggest this if you are looking to eat at places like Cinderella's Royal Table or any character meal, the good times get gobbled up (no pun intended) rather quickly, especially if you are going in July (high season). Coral Reef only requires 1 table service and this is a change from last year...Cinderella's Royal table is now a 2 table voucher establishment. If you are looking for a place that will offer quality as well as atmoshpere, my personal fav is the Brown Derby. It is beautiful inside and the food is top noch. I agree with others who tend to eat at places that will give an experience they couldn't get by going to Olive Garden, etc. I have never been let down at any Disney restaurant (with the exception of Garden Grill at Epcot but that is for another thread).

What happened at the Garden Grill? I really liked the look of it - we wanted to go there last time but didn't, so we were planning to go there next time we were in Epcot. Should I reconsider?