Disney News 4 Kids 'n Us

Link: http://www.4kidsnus.com/orlando

I am an annual passholder and have realized that my pass usually has discounts available during lunch hours and not dinner. We either make the latest reservation that would still give a discount for lunch, or eat a nice lunch and grab something not as expensive for dinner. We would actually switch and eat our bigger or more expensive meal at lunch, and then have a hot dog or delicious turkey leg for dinner, which was usually a bit lighter also!

Link: http://www.4kidsnus.com/orlando

We found that the Gasparilla Grill at the Grand Floridian Resort provided decent food at just a small premium over counter service in the theme parks. The food available poolside at the waterside pool was very expensive; however, you could get a tray from Gasparilla's and bring your food out to the pool.

Link: http://www.4kidsnus.com/orlando

Those with severe allergies should be aware that this year at the Food and Wine Festival the Peanut Advisory Board will host a booth with samples, etc. There are some families who choose to keep their little ones away from peanuts due to the fear of allergy reactions. And some people with severe, life-threatening peanut allergies cannot even beclose to a person who has peanut proteins on their breath. WDW food service personnel are always so helpful, but this would be something that a family with allergies would want to know ahead of time.

Link: http://www.4kidsnus.com/orlando

The Dining Plan is still very confusing. I would recommend you always ask the Cast Member at the register what counts and what doesn't. At the Pepper Market in Coronado Springs, a bakery item didn't count as "Dessert," but yet a chocolate croissant at the Fountainview in Epcot did. Also at Fountainview, the lattes and mochas are not listed as being on the Dining Plan, yet our full order of a chocolate croissant, a savory croissant and two lattes counted as two counter service meals. The cast members will also sometimes help you -- like the dinner at Pepper Market where we had three entrees and a fruit bowl (which doesn't count on the dining plan), but no desserts. The cast member said she would ring up my fruit bowl as three cookies instead so we didn't have to pay for that.

Link: http://www.4kidsnus.com/orlando

Think about whether adding the Dining Plan to your package is really right for you. Yes, it's a great deal. However, we found for the table service restaurants where the two of us could get two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts, that that was really too much food for us. Had we not been on the Dining Plan we probably would have only ordered one appetizer and two entrees (and maybe a dessert). We may have saved money and we certainly would have saved calories.