I am ALL about the Disney Dining Plan!

Now this isn't a sponsored post at all. I just wanted to clear that up before I launch into this post which is all about my love of Disney restaurants. I am paying for my Disney trip completely out of my own pocket, and ouch, don't I know it (especially given recent work circumstances). 

One of the things I love about going on holiday to Disneyworld is eating. No wonder I am a fatty. I love visiting all the different restaurants in the theme parks and also at the on-site hotels - it gives a great opportunity for a snoop around at somewhere different to where you are staying. 

If you're not family with the Disney Dining Plan (or DDP as it is known) it's a plan you pay for upfront or if you've savvy, you get free when you book your holiday at certain times. The DDP includes a quick (counter) service meal, a table service meal and snack credits for each day you are in the park. It doesn't sound a lot but it works out to be quite a lot of food as you get dessert with both meals. Luckily you can often get something to go!  

Now with Disney restaurants, especially the most popular ones, you've got to book in advance. When I say advance? 

I mean ADVANCE. 

Like 180 days in advance. 

I know, right. Sounds completely NUTSO to planning exactly where you are going to eat dinner every day for two weeks, six months in advance and plans change don't they? It's best to be flexible? Scrap that. If you want to eat at Cinderella's Royal Table or the new favourite Be Our Guest, you're going to have to grit your teeth and join 'em because let me tell you, you certainly won't beat 'em!

It goes without saying this takes much careful consideration, weeks of planning even. There's a lot to consider when working out a plan for your two week holiday but I do love salivating over menus and restaurant descriptions and as this is my second time on the DDP I've tried to go to new places with a few old favourites thrown-in for good measure.

We've got character meals, breakfast buffets, teppanyaki, excursions to other hotels... 

We've got to visit the children's favourite which is Chef Mickeys - it's in the middle of the Contemporary Resort, and the monorail stops right inside the building. The excitement and entertainment factor of this knows no bounds for my transport-loving son. And I thought I'd let me husband choose his favourite which is Teppan Edo. My personal favourite last time was Yak and Yeti but they do an excellent quick service option so I have plumped for that instead. The restaurants I am most excited about trying this time around are 'Ohana and The Grand Floridian Cafe. We went to Ohana for breakfast last time and it was lush so I am trying it for dinner and have high hopes. The Grand Floridian Cafe is generally just an opportunity to snoop around the Grand Floridian Hotel which is where I would stay if I had like another few extra thousand pounds to splurge.

So for me, the eating out is as much a part of the holiday as the theme parks themselves. Every single restaurant is a different experience.  

The tipping sucks though. 20%? Bah.

Have you been to Disneyworld? I'd love to hear what your favourite restaurants are!