Table Service meals at Walt Disney World are a magical part of any vacation experience. They allow your family time to sit, reconnect, and enjoy a good meal during your day in the Disney parks. Even if you don’t have the Disney Dining Plan, you can still enjoy a few sit down locations. In fact, it is a great way to take a break from the Disney Parks, see other resorts, and even interact with some characters! It also requires a little planning, and sometimes budgeting, for many families. To help you get the most out of your dining at table service meals, I have a list of 10 Tips for Dining at Table Service Meals for you this week!
Book your dining reservations in advance. This is key to getting a good experience with Disney Dining. Disney allows guests to book dining 180-days in advance, and for good reason! So many guests are in the Disney parks on any given day. Can you imagine the chaos if you were going to from place to place, trying to find a table, and you couldn’t get in? You’ll want to book in advance, because you can always cancel your reservation later if you change your mind. It is easier to cancel it, than it is to try and get it later.
Eat during off peak times. Eating breakfast later, around 10AM, versus 8AM, will make for a less crowded and more enjoyable experience. Or, try for an early dinner, around 4:30 or so. This is a great time to take a break from the parks, and enjoy a good meal. You also stand a better chance of getting a dining reservation at an off peak time.
Book a reservation for a less popular restaurant. If you are flexible, and your main goal is to enjoy good meal, then this is a great option. Locations like Captain’s Grille, Sanaa, Grand Floridian Cafe, and the Wave are hidden gems! They give you a good meal, and are in resorts that you can explore after you have eaten. There is something to be said about a quiet, relaxed meal, at Walt Disney World.
Be sure to factor in gratuities for your table service meals. Whether you are on the Disney Dining Plan or not, your gratuities are not covered in the cost of your meal. In most situations, you are welcome to tip what you see as fit for your server. However, in some situations, Disney adds an 18% gratuity to your bill. Cases such as parties of 6 or more {including babies and toddlers}, Cinderella’s Royal Table, the Hoop Dee Do Revue, Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, and Mickey’s Backyard Barbeque will have your gratuity added automatically. If you are on the DDP, you should tip as if you are not. There will be a total on your bill, showing what your meal would cost if you weren’t on the DDP. At this point, it is up to you to factor the tip and leave it accordingly.
Share your special requests when you check in for your meal. Upon arriving at the podium to check in for your meal, be sure to let the host or hostess know if you are celebrating something at your meal. Sometimes they will bring you a cupcake, or acknowledge your birthday or celebration in a fun way. Also, if you have dietary restrictions, be sure to tell them. Your server will bring out the chef, and he or she will talk with you to make sure your food is prepared appropriately for you.
Don’t be afraid to share meals. There is SO much food at all the Disney restaurants! If you are not on the Disney Dining Plan, you can share entrees and order just what you think you’ll eat. If you are on the Disney Dining Plan, they will deduct dining credits accordingly, based on who is sitting at your table. You are welcome to notify you server that you will be paying out of pocket for a meal, if you don’t feel like using dining credits toward it. If you and your child want to share and entree, or you just want appetizers and drinks, that is a situation where you may want to pay out of pocket so you can use your dining credits later.
Try to book at least one or two character meals. These give your children an easy, relaxed way to see their favorite characters. It also gives your family a good meal, and some down time from the parks. However, they can be a bit time consuming. So only booking one or two during your stay is a good idea.
Try to plan your meals at a location where you can see the fireworks or parade. To time it well, you will need to be done eating about 20 minutes before the parade or fireworks. Locations such as Tony’s Town Square, Liberty Tree Tavern, Rose and Crown, and ‘Ohana are great examples of this. You can easily step out onto the sidewalk, or find a spot along the lagoon, to watch that evening’s parade and/or fireworks from some of those locations.
Book the Fantasmic Dining Package. What is the Fantasmic Dining Package? It is at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can choose from Mama Melrose’s, Hollywood and Vine, or the Brown Derby for your meal. When you are finished, they will give you a ticket that you present at that evening’s first showing of Fantasmic for reserved seating. So you not only get a good meal, but also reserved seating at Fantasmic!
Don’t forget about “off site” dining. By “off site”, I am referring to Disney Springs, the Boardwalk, and the resorts. There is so much fantastic dining outside the gates of the Disney parks! The Magic Kingdom and Epcot area resorts, as well as the Boardwalk, are great for midday dining, and are so easily accessible from the parks. Disney Springs makes a great location for your arrival evening, dining, exploring, and shopping!
Are you ready to plan your next family vacation? Contact one of our amazing Dream Team Travel Agents!