Welcome to planDisney, Helen!
Oh, you must be so excited for your upcoming visit to
Walt Disney World AND the fact that you will be on the
Disney Dining Plan, too. Outstanding!
I completely understand your desire to enjoy a sumptuous appetizer while tasting your way throughout The World. That's something my entire family loves to include while dining as well. While you can always ask your server if you are able to swap an appetizer for a dessert, that has not been possible in my experience. Nevertheless, we can get creative so that every last morsel of our meal is exactly what we enjoy.
First, ask your server if they offer a cheese plate or a fruit plate as a dessert. If they do, you could then request that this be served prior to your meal. In addition, guests may order something that is not included in a Dining Plan and just pay for that along with their gratuity at the end of their meal. We love to share appetizers, so ordering one or two for a party of two or four is a great way to sample something savory but not spoil our appetites for the main event: the entree!
When we're enjoying a Dining Plan, we're often too stuffed from that outstanding entree to eat dessert right away, so we'll ask which desserts would be great to take to-go. Some ice cream desserts can be enjoyed as you walk off that meal in the park, post dinner. (My nieces often say there's always room for ice cream!) We've had milkshakes to-go as our Dining Plan dessert from
Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant often; it's a lovely way to extend the culinary experience while seeing the sights.
Some of my favorite late night, post-park treats are those we've brought back from a restaurant that night. Just imagine returning to your hotel, putting your feet up, looking through photos of the fun you had that day, and enjoying
the Boutique Collection of maple madeleines, Nanaimo truffles, bonbons, and macarons from
Le Cellier Steakhouse, or
The Hollywood Brown Derby's grapefruit cake, or a classic cannoli from Magic Kingdom's
Tony's Town Square Restaurant. Sweet dreams, indeed.
Helen, I know my hubby and I are spending way too much time dreaming about all of the things included in our own upcoming visit and Dining Plan options. I hope you get to explore so many delectable dishes and create culinary memories for years to come, too.
As you plan your trip, be sure to send additional questions our way. We love to help!
Andrea H