Disney - dining with toddlers?

My girls will be 4 and 2 when we go this summer. I was just able to make all our dining reservations. I am getting conflicting opinions on how much to do.

Right now I have it that we are doing a sitdown meal at least once a day. One day having two and one day totally open.

Some people tell me to have at least one sit down a day (gives kids a break and out of sun)- and others are telling me its too much. Too much to expect kids to sit and have to be somewhere at certain times.

We do not have the dining plan so I dont have to worry about using the credits.

thoughts?

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

I just booked our dining with my 2-year-old for August, and we probably have too many sit downs. My feeling is that it's going to be hot and we're going to need a break. We have one or two sit downs everyday, depending on the park and the options. We realize that it might take up too much time, but we also plan on being somewhat laid back during this trip (not easy for me) in terms of our pace and what we actually get done. My DD isn't the best at sitting at restaurants, so we picked places that have a lot for her to look at (e.g., Rainforest Cafe, Coral Reef)

Disney - dining with toddlers?

Too many sit down's isn't our thing. It requires to much planning, takes too long to eat IMO. Not to mention it's expensive, over $100 for one meal. That's just nuts to me when the food isn't even that good.

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

Do you eat out a lot? How do your kids do dining out after a long day in the hot sun. That is what I ask people. I think as they get older it is a nice break. But for some younger ones who are overstimulated already it is hard. Sit downs are a nice break....but if your kids are not great sitters it can be more stressful than relaxing. We have cut back on ours. We used to do one a day but they preferred to do some counter service. You can eat indoors and can eat slowly IF you need the break. But it nice bc if they get restless you just clear out. If you do one a day do them at places with something for the kids. Like sci fi dine in, Ohana, Biergarten, etc. they offer something like music, walking around the dining room, or hula lessons, a dance floor etc. a distraction if you need it.

Our last trip we tried to take an afternoon break and swim. The kid did not want to get out of the pool to go to dinner. In the past that was ok. But now you have to cancel the day before or risk a $10pp charge.

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

Honestly i would do sit down dinners every other night and just wing it the other nights. That's what we did. I couldn't imagine doing a sit down for lunch and dinner. I think that would be too much.

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

We are going for 5 days and no dining plan. My kids are 4.5 and 21 months. I have 3 sit down meals booked -- 2 dinners and 1 character breakfast. Everything else will be quick service. Remember w sit downs you have to tip so it's an added expense. And w the kids id rather just wing it w food for the majority of the visit. I don't like the idea of being on a schedule on vacation let alone on a schedule for food lol.

Message edited 2/25/2014 8:03:17 PM.

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

It really depends on you. I personal hate eating at the quick service places and we usually go as early as we can and have full days and by 6-7 my kids are spend and it is nice to end at a sit down dinner. My kids are generally well behaved at dinner so that is no problem. Although if we plan a character breakfast or lunch then we do a quick service dinner as to now spend the entire day eating indoors. Also, eating is one of my favorite parts of vacation and so I enjoy sitting and enjoying at least one nicer meal a day!

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

It is really family specific.

I'll just add that not all quick service is garbage. Every park has at least a few locations with several healthy options. You just have to do the research if that's important to you.

Also like Lillykat said many of the quick services are indoors so you can still have the break in air conditioning.

Personally I would never do two in one day.

I like one every other day. I just find them to be a production - travel to the restaurant, get there a few minutes early, check in, wait anyway, etc.

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

I think it depends if the sit down are character meals. For us the kids loved that and had no issues.

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

Disney - dining with toddlers?

Thanks for all the opinions and advice. My kids are "ok" at sit downs now but its alo once in a blue moon for us to go out. I was just worried that they wouldnt be able to make it all day at the parks so at least a dining meal with give them something "to do" thats not walking, waiting on lines, etc. Maybe I will take some away. The day that we have two sit downs its Cinderella royal table before park opening and then Ohana at 5. It was the only day we could get these reservations for times we wanted. I figure both are entertaing - so hopefully it will be ok??

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

Disney - dining with toddlers?

dinner!

Re: Disney - dining with toddlers?

Disney - dining with toddlers?

We do both. With the in laws, they get the dining plan so we do sit down every day. I HATE it - too much time away from the parks. DS had a melt down waiting once.

When it is just us, we do 2 or 3 sit downs and the rest quick service. DS is pretty easy going, as long as he naps, he doesn't need an hour or two of meal time. But it is nice to have the break in the summertime, on days we don't go back to the room.