Need Boardwalk Inn/Dining plan help

[Disney or Bust]

I can't believe that I'm actually stressing over our upcoming Disney vacation, but I am.

Usually, the wife and I stay at Riverside or French Quarter and we have always had a great time. Because it's our 10th anniversary, we decided to upgrade and stay at the Boardwalk (we got a killer deal which helped too). Also, we're going with the dining plan for the first time and I'm having a hard time adjusting to being "limited" to where we can go to eat (we'd like to use counter service for breakfast and table service for dinner).

We're use to going to the food court for breakfast and I'm having a hard time figuring out where to go at Boardwalk. I know about Boardwalk Bakery but, I hear it's small and can be a horror show with crowds in the morning. Then I see that Spoodles has breakfast but, it's table service only. Is it just me, or does the dining plan and Boardwalk seem to not work well together?

Should I cancel the dining plan or are there other counter service options for breakfast? I mean, does it REALLY save that much money, it's starting to feel like it's more trouble than it's worth. We're staying October 19 - 26 BTW.

 

[wdwmagic]

The Boardwalk is a great resort. Its in the best area, being just a short walk to Epcot and the Studios. You also have all the other resorts in the area that you can visit and use for dining etc.

There isnt a food court, but there are a lot of options around all the resorts in the area, but as you say, some of them are table service.

I'm not a fan of the dining plan, and I like just being able to eat where and when I want without having to plan everything to military precision. If its stressing you out, it isnt worth it.

Have a great stay, and you will LOVE the Boardwalk!

 

[1000th_Guest]

You have heard correctly that the bakery can be a nightmare. Go really early (before 8:00) or after parks open.

I actually suggest finding a counter service you park du jour. These can also be a headache, but will (probably) be better than the bakery [in terms of crowds].

You suggest that the DP and BW don't seem to "work well together". You're probably right. BW is (has been) really slanted towards nighttime entertainment*. I suspect this is why the area is full of Table Service restaurants (Big River Grill; Flying Fish; Spoodles; ESPN Club).



* Disney has severely cut back on nighttime live entertainment. That's too bad because the entertainers really helped bring the whole area to life.

 

[KingStefan]

According to the 2008 guide, the Belle Vue Room at the BoardWalk Resort has quick-service breakfast.

They also have quick-service breakfast at the Yacht & Beach Club Resorts at the Beach Club Marketplace and the Ale and Compass Lounge.

I find it odd that these are listed in the DDP guide, but not on the dining page of the official WDW site.

Also, these are not really "breakfast" places, but lounges (Belle Vue Room and the Ale and Compass Lounge) and a "gift shop" (beach club marketplace) which I assume has some breakfast items. I'm not sure at all what the arrangements are for a quick-service DDP breakfast or what's included. Does anybody have more insight into this?

As has been posted many times, whether DDP works for you largely depends on your eating habits. If I understand you correctly, you are in the habit of having quick-service breakfast (usually at the resort where you are staying), and only a snack during the day (no quick-service lunch), then having a table-service dinner.

If you are happy, for example, eating at the Belle Vue Room every morning, then either skipping quick-service lunch, or paying out of pocket, then a table-service dinner, then it sounds like DDP could work for you. You'd have to run the numbers by checking the menus and seeing what it would cost you out-of-pocket just to be sure.

Edit: other options include quick-service breakfast at the parks or at another resort convenient to the parks, like the MK resorts, for example:

Main Street Bakery at MK, ABD Commissary or Starring Rolls Cafe at DHS, Sunshine Seasons at Epcot (not listed as a Breakfast restaurant on the dining page, but is on the DDP guide), or Pizzafari at AK (converely - listed as a breakfast restaurant on the dining page, but not in the DDP guide), Captain Cooks at the Poly, Gasparilla at GF, Tempo at the Contemp.

 

[constee]

We were at Disney in April and used the dining plan. We loved it. We aren't huge breakfast eaters though so it worked for us. My suggestion is to bring some gronola bars, dried fruit, etc. from home. We ate this for breakfast most mornings which tied us over until lunch. Then we usually did a quick service for lunch and a table service for supper. It may not work for you everyday since it seems like you may want to eat breakfast out. However it could certainly work on some days. We're off to WDW agian in 2 weeks and we plan on doing this again. That's my thrifty way to save money as well

Either way though don't stress! I know easier said than done right?

 

[slappy magoo]

This might be too much money (OR too much food), but considering it's such a special occasion, you might want to consider splurging on the Deluxe Dining Plan. It's definitely more (70 dollars instead of 38 per person per night), but instead of 2 meals and one snack you get 3 meals and 2 snacks, PLUS all of the meals, if you choose, can be full-service. It's something my wife and I are considering for our next trip. We'll have our first baby with us, so we're not going to be "running and gunning" nearly as much as we usually do, and while no meal with a baby around is nice and leisurely, the idea of never having to wait on a line, never having to fight for a seat, never having to balance everything you have with you PLUS a baby AND a tray of food, certainly has its allure. For a tenth anniversary, staying at Boardwalk (which I loved, but I also bemoaned the lack of counter service breakfast options), having so many nice restaurants around...it might be worth it for you. And of course, using your snacks for a light meal here and there makes it easier to accrue the credits necessary for Signature Dining Experiences.

Of course, the negatives are - more time dining = less time on attractions and such; more table-service meals = more tipping; booze still isn't included :lol:

Just my 2 cents, take it for what it's worth.

 

[pacochran]

I know the marketplace at BC has some bakery things, as well as quiche and a few other things that you could have as breakfast, plus cereal and milk. Not a lot of choice but depends on what you want for breakfast.

 

[Eyekimore]

We were at BCV in July. The Marketplace has breakfast sandwiches, fruit/yogurt parfaits, and bakery items. They also have breakfast cereal, oranges, apples, bananas, etc.....

After that- they have soup, salad, and sandwiches.

 

[RiversideBunny]

If you are used to the excellent food court at POR for a quick, do it yourself breakfast, then you will miss that at the Boardwalk resort.

We eat like you do in the mornings, i.e., definite breakfast but not a sit down, table service one. We like to eat early and quickly and then go to the bus stop to be at the parks early.

That's one reason why I've never been able to convince myself to stay at the Boardwalk.
(Also, we are MK fans and not so much EPCOT.)

Good luck.
:king:

BTW- We tried the Dining Plan last year and decided not to do it again because it does tie you down to too many reservation times. Seems like you always have to be somewhere at some certain time. You are not free and flexible.

 

[coltow]

My suggestion is to bring some gronola bars, dried fruit, etc. from home. We ate this for breakfast most mornings which tied us over until lunch. Then we usually did a quick service for lunch and a table service for supper.

This is exactly what we are doing. It made more economic sense to use the DDP for dinner, and CS for lunch. I have granola/cereal bars packed along with some Cheerios (we can get mil at resort store).

 

[KingStefan]

I'd be interested in knowing if anybody has any experience with quick-service breakfast at the Belle Vue Room or the Ale and Compass Lounge. Anybody been there - done that?

 

[MickeyspalJim]

:wave:We too are staying at the Boardwalk. In 30 Days. We are staying in the DVC Villas, and will just have breakfast in our villa. What I wanted to mention was, we had stayed in the Swan hotel one night, using a voucher We had gotten, and as We were leaving the hotel to transfer to SSR. We found a very nice little nook in a section of the lobby that had many items for breakfast. We had bagels, muffins, bannanas, orange juice and coffe, and they were all very tasty. The staff were very friendly as well. Just in case You decide to walk around to look for a breakfast spot to eat. I hope that You have a great time at the boardwalk Inn. We too are using the DDP. but We go so many times that We do not feel "restricted" by the Dining Reservations. We just casually go from place to place and get ourselves near to our dinning choice in time to walk up at our res. time. As far as the plan goes, We use it most times to the World and have no problems with it. We did enjoy the app. and tip included in the previous plan, but We adapt and just go with the flow. Good luck planning Your trip!