Posted by on May 15, 2013 in Disney Dining, Disney Tips & Tricks | 36 comments

Disney Dining Plan 2013 Costs and Review


The 2013 Disney Dining Plan at Walt Disney World is now available for booking, and not much has changed from the 2012 Disney Dining Plan, besides the price. As has been the case each year since the popular meal plan was first offered, there are more price increases for 2013. Luckily, the 2013 Disney Dining Plan does not feature any cuts to what’s included in the meal plans, which has happened in many years prior.

2013 ”Free Dining” is now available for Walt Disney World guests with arrival dates between September 2, 2013 and September 25, 2013 (meaning you have to arrive between these dates to be eligible–so if you arrive September 24, 2013 and stay until October 4, 2013, free dining is available for your entire stay!), and we anticipate even more Free Dining dates will be offered in 2013. If and when this happens, it’s important to compare the “Free” Dining Plan to other discounts. If the Disney Dining Plan is “free,” that means you’re paying rack rate for your room and full price for a minimum number of tickets, whereas other packages may discount your room or tickets. For most people, Free Dining is the best discount that Disney offers, but you should still check. Whether Free Dining is best depends upon party size and resort tier, so do the math and compare the Free Disney Dining Plan promotion to other available discounts–if there are other available discounts. (more…)

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Posted by on Apr 25, 2013 in Disney Dining | 27 comments

50′s Prime Time Cafe Review

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50′s Prime Time Cafe is a table service restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World that specializes in American comfort food the way mom would have made it in the 1950s. The menu isn’t the only part of the restaurant themed to the 1950s–the restaurant itself looks like a 1950s home, and “mom” and your other relatives are actually on hand to serve your meal to you. The kitschy ambiance of the restaurant and the “show” put on by the Cast Members at 50′s Prime Time Cafe are truly the stars here, and they make 50s Prime Time Cafe one of Walt Disney World’s best unique dining experiences.

When you walk into the restaurant, you find yourself transported to a 1950s living room. Right down to the black & white television, “wood” paneling, and gaudy animal knick-knacks. You go through Mom’s Kitchen to get to the seating areas, which look like time capsules from kitchens of the 1950s. Although I wasn’t alive in the 1950s, for decades my great grandma’s kitchen was also a time capsule of a 1950s kitchen, so I know the look. The level of theming in 50′s Prime Time Cafe is very impressive, and this nostalgia trip alone would make for great ambiance even without Mom around to make you mind your manners (don’t rest those elbows on the table or leave food on your plate!).

50′s Prime Time Cafe has always been a special place for me. Growing up, 50′s Prime Time Cafe was my parents’ favorite restaurant (my mom dealt antiques so she appreciated the decor and design) and we visited the place every year on our annual trip. Once I finally understood that the Cast Members were putting on an act and I didn’t really have long lost relatives in Florida, I loved our annual visits there, too. It became my mission during each of these meals to eat everything on my plate so I could join the “Clean Plate Club” and receive a sticker for my accomplishment. It was always a highlight of our trips for me, so my view of this restaurant is undoubtedly a bit biased. (more…)

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Posted by on Apr 17, 2013 in Disney Dining, Disney Tips & Tricks | 88 comments

Disney Dining Plan v. Paying Out of Pocket

Planning a trip? Read reviews of our favorite Disney restaurants. Plus...lots of FOOD PORN!!!http://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-dining-reviews-gems/

Walt Disney World’s Disney Dining Plan has become a popular pre-paid “eat what you want” meal plan that some people swear by. It’s especially popular during “Free Dining” season, when it’s offered as part of a package discount (unquestionably the most eagerly anticipated discount of the year for Disney enthusiasts). The Disney Dining Plan is easy to use and if you eat a certain way, or plan well, you can save a lot of money. There’s no question about this, and we even have a number of resources on our site devoted to helping people maximize their savings on the Disney Dining Plan.

What isn’t so clear is whether using the Disney Dining Plan saves you money versus paying out of pocket if you don’t eat the certain way it is designed. If you’re party consists of light eaters, or you are spontaneous, or are able to use the Tables in Wonderland card, is the Disney Dining Plan right for you? A lot of guests visiting Walt Disney World just assume the Disney Dining Plan will always save them money, which isn’t always true. In fact, a lot of times it will cost more money than paying out of pocket, and that’s the case even when the Disney Dining Plan is offered for “free.”

Rather than approaching this in the abstract, we decided to do a little “case study,” taking all of our receipts from our most recent 4-day trip to Walt Disney World, adding up our totals, and comparing our out of pocket costs to what we would have spent if we used the Disney Dining Plan. We’ll then examine free dining to explain why that doesn’t always save you money. (more…)

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Posted by on Apr 3, 2013 in Disney Dining | 45 comments

Le Cellier Review

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The delicious meats of Canada beckon carnivores like us from opposite ends of the park. Le Cellier is one of the most popular restaurants at Walt Disney World, and it has a legion of fans. While we like the restaurant, we don’t believe it’s as great as many make it out to be. Le Cellier is located in Epcot’s World Showcase in the Canada pavilion. Le Cellier participates in the Disney Dining Plan. It also accepts the Tables in Wonderland card for a 20% discount.

We last dined at Le Cellier in 2012, but 2013 changes to Le Cellier’s status (it’s now a Signature Restaurant for both lunch and dinner, and has one single menu so you can’t choose less expensive options for lunch) have caused us to revise this review slightly. We typically pay out of pocket when dining here, as this restaurant is not a good value on the Disney Dining Plan because it requires two credits. (more…)

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Posted by on Mar 2, 2013 in Disney Dining, Disney Tips & Tricks | 10 comments

Disney Dining Reviews Index

Disney Parks Dining Reviews

Walt Disney World and Disneyland have hundreds of restaurant and dining options, which can be overwhelming for some people. To assist, we’re highlighting reviews of some fan-favorite Disney restaurants here. At the top of the page are our Walt Disney World restaurant reviews organized by location, followed by other helpful Walt Disney World dining resources. The lower portion of the page contains links to Disneyland Resort restaurant reviews and resources.

Click each restaurant name to read our full review of the restaurant, and see some photos of different items that each restaurant serves!

Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews:

Resorts

Epcot

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Magic Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney World Dining Resources:

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