I am jumping in pretty late on this thread, but it is worth a little PERSPECTIVE. Complaining that BOG is NOT a "family" restaurant? No, it is not Denny's, or for anyone on a budget. Good luck finding the theming at a restaurant outside of the World. The food is no way to be compared to a cafeteria, or else PLEASE tell me where that cafeteria is. Hollywood & Vine, ABC Commissary - I would agree, though the food is actually better than a cafeteria still, just boring theming. And to gripe about the 2 TS - well, the
DDP was never a great deal (except for "free" promotions - maybe). It is cheaper to get a room-only discount with an AP, get a Tables in Wonderland card and share meals when possible, and eat anywhere you want. But IF you have the Deluxe DP (not really practical to eat at Signatures with 1 TS per night), then why not? Oh, the mysterious "$45" COST of a TS? Maybe the VALUE of 1 TS. But my math degree says that $116.24 minus estimate $6.24 for the mug (every night and morning pop is what my family does, and milk for cereal, etc.) to make the calculation easier, so $110. Then subtract 2 snacks, another $10, so now we have a $100 cost for 3 TS a day - and these now include an appetizer, and at many places an adult beverage. That makes a TS credit COST an estimated $33. So if you are not buying food you wouldn't eat (a big IF for many families), and use all your credits, a 2TS meal costs about $66. And that's including an alcoholic beverage that may cost $10-14. BOG about breaks even. Many meals are a good deal. But as someone says, it helps to do the math. And if you have a "free dining" (not REALLY free, since paying stupid rack rate prices), upgrading to Deluxe DP is very doable.
Frankly, my family can do it either way. Book where we want and love, use our AP discount and/or Tables card (for alcohol too of course), and share the huge meals as well. We are DVC members, so we never get the free dining anyway. And, sorry if it offends anyone, we can afford it. This is where we like to go, and if instead, we go to Maui, we eat at Mama's Fish House and spend more money than at Disney. We like to do both. Or go camping and eat over a campfire. The point is that BOG, or any WDW restaurant is "affordable" because there is no lack of patrons as we all know when we try to get ADRs. And there are plenty of restaurants in Orlando, or for me, Portland, that are just as expensive, or close, without having a magical sense of being in a fairytale world. Disney is expensive. It has for at least 20 years been a luxury many families SHOULD not try to afford. But the memories for MY family of 4 (with 2 adult children now in college) has been worth every cent. Every year we spend 8-10 days with all of us together, and my wife and I another 8-10 days on our own. It probably has saved our marriage, saved on psych bills, lowered my work stress and made me a much more productive human being. It has given me joy, memories of laughter with my kids, and a pure escape. How much value can I put on that? Yes, it is gone up in price ridiculously. Have you checked new car prices compared to 1974 when I bought an almost new Monte Carlo for $3400? Or my 1st house for $40k? Or my college tuition, room and board at a great school for $1100 per semester? My mom made $8000/year as a teacher 45 years ago. It's good WDW was a lot cheaper then!
Anyway, sorry for the diatribe, but it galls me to read more *****in' and moanin' than worthwhile advice and shared experiences on this board. My positive recommendation? Remember you don't have to do EVERYTHING, that many things will be too expensive or impractical, no matter what changes come. So figure out what you CAN do, and enjoy every moment. It certainly isn't the end of the world to cross off BOG from a list of dinner options. And, by the way, I just checked and got a 9:55p dinner there on 12/21, while we are there for Mickey's Christmas Party. And of course, THAT is too expensive as well.
Also, as TheMaxRebo said, Skipper's is quite good, and eclectic, and right in the Magic Kingdom. Tiffin's in Animal Kingdom is not quite as spectacular to my family as some say, but the attached lounge is great. And the hand-dipped
Disneyland-style corndogs in Disney Springs (and several food carts, etc.) are to die for! Morimoto's street food (ribs) are incredible, burgers, pizza, poutine, milkshakes, pasties all through Disney Spring are mouth-watering. Our food choices are so much better than 10 years ago, and some are incredible deals. Get the secret nachos at Pecos Bill and share it with another table - we did, had a blast and made new friends. Split a BBQ platter at Flame Tree - HUGE portions. And grab some sweet chili shrimp mac and cheese at Eight Spoon. Search for the elusive Zebra Dome, eat a Mickey Beignet (or make it a sundae!). Try all the flavors (for free) at Ample Hills. Try an avocado margarita at Cava. And almost anything at Sunshine Seasons. Peanut Butter and Jelly shake at Tune-In Lounge and grapefruit cake at the Brown Derby Lounge. There are so many options of not good, but great and super-fun foods that it just seems petty or picayune too stress and complain about BOG or any other restaurant.
Sorry if I am too harsh, and I am an uber-planner and like to do EVERYTHING too, but I think just walking into the World brings more joy than the food, ADRs at have-to-do restaurants, or all the character lines. Frankly, the complaining goes along with all the stroller-collisions, rude families and kids pushing into lines, and fighting-spouses with junior screaming because of sensory overload for a 3-year old in 95-degree heat should have to bear. Maybe WE have changed as a society more than Disney in the last 20 years. I am not sure the public could be called "family-friendly" either.