3. Table Service meals at Disney are gala affairs
Rose and Crown PubThis pub has my favorite view at Epcot. Image © Disney
Yes, the people at surrounding tables will be in (possibly wet) shorts rather than formal wear. Otherwise, you will never feel taller than when you eat at one of Disney’s high profile restaurants. Your mind may link the meals at Disney as similar in scale to dinner at Applebee’s or Chili’s. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Disney restaurants hire James Beard Award candidates rather than line cooks. Some of their eateries receive Michelin stars and Five Diamond awards from AAA. Rather than eating a chewy, overpriced steak served by someone who has no intention of becoming a chef, Table Service meals are Instagram and Pinterest-worthy food porn on a plate. Plus, the food has been cooked by people who could feasibly compete on Top Chef someday. The difference between high end Disney Table Service meals and basic Quick Service meals is, in the immortal words of Larry Miller, the difference between shooting a bullet and throwing it.
2. You get what you pay for
Olivia's Cafe at Old Key WestStay at Old Key West and enjoy Table Service right by the lobby. Image © Disney
If nothing else, the difference in pricing should identify the change in status. Most Disney Quick Service locations feature food cheap enough that a family of four could eat for about $40 if the adults share food and lie about the ages of their children (and any Disney restaurant employee will tell you that this happens a LOT). It can be done and the savings of $25 per a meal will add up. Conversely, you will be eating in an unhealthy manner during a park visit where you will be burning massive amounts of calories traveling through the sprawling parks. Saving a few dollars a meal is not worth the trouble if eat your way into an emergency room visit on vacation. Always keep sight of the big picture here. Protein sustains you on a massive vacation undertaking. Pinching pennies can be short-sighted with lasting repercussions. You are on holiday. Live a little!
I personally had four different Table Service meals that cost roughly that much during my most recent visit. Did I overpay? Yes, I did, at least in terms of sticker shock. In terms of actual money spent, however, I felt nothing because as a participant in the Disney Dining Plan, all I had to do was wave my Magic Band at the waiter then tip them for their service. Everything else had already been included with plan purchase. In terms of out of pocket expense, those four meals cost me roughly $60 each for tips while at the park plus the $58.66 per day for the meal plan. What I received from those meals was a lifetime of memories as my wife, a Disney super-fan, hugged her way through the entire Disney character community. Based upon recent events, I am now 30% convinced she has a furry fetish. Am I bothered by the cost? Absolutely not. We paid $117 a day plus tips no matter what. That is the magic of the Disney Dining Plan.
1. Now you’re ready to eat like royalty
Chef Mickey'sEveryone has a favorite Disney restaurant. This one is ours.
Okay, I have sold you on the right plan. Now, let’s talk strategy. It is simple. All you need is the basic understanding of which numbers are larger than one another combined with a simple ability to Google restaurant reviews. At the official Disney web site, they list all of the restaurants participating in the Disney Dining Plan. Take a look at them and note the ones that include this signifier: $$$. You do not need to put any thought into it beyond that. I am not joking. Disney has done all the work for you. They create their pricing based upon basic market factors such as food cost and consumer demand. Any restaurant with three dollar signs beside it is their highest quality meal.
Generally, that means not only great food but also character meeting options as well. Everyone has their favorites from this list, but Chef Mickey’s would be my suggestion because it is a high quality buffet that also includes meet and greets with their most famous characters, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck. What’s better than that?
Comments
my husband and I have been at walt Disney world now from Saturday nite to now , which is Wednesday afternoon. We do not do the dinnershows or the buffet meals. So far we have had yogurt parfeits and a banana for dinners plus a small desert, we have had pizza two times along with salads, we had a chicken cesear salad at one meal, and either waffles with fruit and bacon and sausage for breakfasts or an omlet with fruit and once a bagel a piece of fruit and yogurt .We have bought a total of 3 bottles of pop and the rest of the time have asked for glasses of water at restraunts or used our mugs from our hotel for coffee or pop when there. we have had slushies at Dumbo's tent and icecream a couple of times and popcorn once and yes a bag of pecan carmel candies also. We have managed to spend less than 200 dollars so far with two of us. Its too hot to drink much more than water for meals in my opinion and too hot to have lots of heavy meals.I think we have done very well, and haven't deprived ourselves of anything we wanted so far. If I want big fancy heavy meals I will go home and cook some, but wont till winter.
For the past three trips, we have purchased the Disney Dining Plan and kept track of the amount of money that the food would have cost us if we paid cash. We find that every trip, we save around 30% vs. what we would have paid. On top of that, we use the Tables in Wonderland card to help us save 20% on alcohol and appetizers, if we feel like adding to our table service meal.
During our 12 day honeymoon at WDW, we saved over $300 by using the dining plan, and $131 by using Tables in Wonderland (More than covering the $100 we paid for the card)
I go every year, alone, for 9 days. I don't purchase the dining plan and think I come out way ahead. I bring a protein drink for breakfast, and buy a half-gallon of milk at the resort to mix with it. I sometimes return to my room at noon and have another shake that I make, and then head to a new resort. I will eat quick service if I stay at a park for lunch, and in the evening I will do quick service or a "nice dinner." By nice dinner I mean Tony's, Chicago Grill, Be our Guest, Biergarten, and some night's I'll just hit Backlot Express, Taco Paco, or Norway for a sandwich. Keep in mind that the dining plan requires tips at sit-down meals and those quickly add up.
I go every year, alone, for 9 days. I don't purchase the dining plan and think I come out way ahead. I bring a protein drink for breakfast, and buy a half-gallon of milk at the resort to mix with it. I sometimes return to my room at noon and have another shake that I make, and then head to a new resort. I will eat quick service if I stay at a park for lunch, and in the evening I will do quick service or a "nice dinner." By nice dinner I mean Tony's, Chicago Grill, Be our Guest, Biergarten, and some night's I'll just hit Backlot Express, Taco Paco, or Norway for a sandwich. Keep in mind that the dining plan requires tips at sit-down meals and those quickly add up.
5 ways to eat like a king? More like 1 way, with 5 reasons why.