14 Days of Dining during F&W... no Meal Plan.. please critique!

[smile4stamps]

Hello!!

I have finally convinced my husband to return to WDW. We are going for 2 weeks in October! This trip will be a lot about eating with some park touring thrown in! The Food & Wine events I am basing off of last years schedule.

We are foodies and my husband is a Pastry chef so I am looking for THE BEST meals and Desserts possible! My husband is allergic to seafood except for some fresh water fish. All Crustaceans are out, clams, mussels, etc!

Here is my thoughts so far!

Friday, October 12 - Arrival Day
Food & Wine Classic at Swan/Dolphin

Saturday, October 13, No Park Day
Lunch at Raglan Road
Dinner at Food & Wine Classic at Swan/Dolphin

Sunday, October 14 - Magic Kingdom Day
Breakfast at Crystal Palace (as early as possible)
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern (2:00 ish ADR)
Dinner at Hoop Dee Doo Review (9:30 show, if not closed! Need replacement options!)

Monday, October 15 - Epcot Day
Breakfast at Kona when they open
Lunch is snacking around the world at the F&W booths
Dinner at Bistro de Paris 8:00pm or so (also planning French Regional Lunch, should we do both or skip this one?)

Tuesday, October 16 - Hollywood Studios
Breakfast - something quick at resort, Starring Rolls or Writers Stop
Lunch - 50's Prime Time Cafe (noonish)
Dinner - Flying Fish (haven't decided on Fantasmic so planning this late)

Wednesday, October 17 - Animal Kingdom
Before opening ADR at Tusker House
Lunch at Yak & Yeti (1:00pm)
planning La Nouba for 6pm
California Grill (8:30ish)

Thursday, October 18 - Rest/MNSSHP day
Early lunch at Raglan Road
Early dinner (5pm) at The Wave
Proceed to MK for MNSSHP

Friday, October 19 - Epcot
Planning to sleep in
Lunch - French Regional Lunch F&W event
Dinner - Snack around the world and 3D Dessert Party (Wondering if I should schedule something real to eat before the Dessert Party?)

Saturday, October 20 - DHS EM/Epcot
planning to head to DHS for EM hours and then move to Epcot
Lunch - Italy F&W pairing (2-4pm)
Dinner - Party for the Senses

Sunday, October 21 - Epcot/Magic Kingdom
Hoping a good Pastry Chef is there for Sweet Sundays (10am-12)
snacks or lunch ???
Dinner at Artist Point (8pm)

Monday, October 22 - Magic Kingdom/Epcot
Planning Magic Behind the Steam Trains Tour then hopping over to Epcot
Lunch: Biergarten (1pm)
Dinner: Yachtsman Steakhouse (7pm)

Tuesday, October 23 - Magic Kingdom
Grand Floridian Cafe (7am)
Lunch ??
Dinner at Citricos (7pm)

Wednesday, October 24 - Animal Kingdom/Magic Kingdom
Something quick for Breakfast
Lunch at Tusker House (noonish)
Dinner at 'Ohana (6pm ish)
Nighttime at MK for Wishes

Thursday, October 25 - no parks
Breakfast 1900 Park Fare (10am)
Dinner - Victoria & Alberts (6pm)

Friday, October 26 - Departure Day

 

[scottashackleton]

Hello!!

I have finally convinced my husband to return to WDW. We are going for 2 weeks in October! This trip will be a lot about eating with some park touring thrown in! The Food & Wine events I am basing off of last years schedule.

We are foodies and my husband is a Pastry chef so I am looking for THE BEST meals and Desserts possible! My husband is allergic to seafood except for some fresh water fish. All Crustaceans are out, clams, mussels, etc!

Here is my thoughts so far!

Friday, October 12 - Arrival Day
Food & Wine Classic at Swan/Dolphin

Saturday, October 13, No Park Day
Lunch at Raglan Road
Dinner at Food & Wine Classic at Swan/Dolphin

Sunday, October 14 - Magic Kingdom Day
Breakfast at Crystal Palace (as early as possible)
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern (2:00 ish ADR)
Dinner at Hoop Dee Doo Review (9:30 show, if not closed! Need replacement options!)

Monday, October 15 - Epcot Day
Breakfast at Kona when they open
Lunch is snacking around the world at the F&W booths
Dinner at Bistro de Paris 8:00pm or so (also planning French Regional Lunch, should we do both or skip this one?)

Tuesday, October 16 - Hollywood Studios
Breakfast - something quick at resort, Starring Rolls or Writers Stop
Lunch - 50's Prime Time Cafe (noonish)
Dinner - Flying Fish (haven't decided on Fantasmic so planning this late)

Wednesday, October 17 - Animal Kingdom
Before opening ADR at Tusker House
Lunch at Yak & Yeti (1:00pm)
planning La Nouba for 6pm
California Cafe (8:30ish)

Thursday, October 18 - Rest/MNSSHP day
Early lunch at Raglan Road
Early dinner (5pm) at The Wave
Proceed to MK for MNSSHP

Friday, October 19 - Epcot
Planning to sleep in
Lunch - French Regional Lunch F&W event
Dinner - Snack around the world and 3D Dessert Party (Wondering if I should schedule something real to eat before the Dessert Party?)

Saturday, October 20 - DHS EM/Epcot
planning to head to DHS for EM hours and then move to Epcot
Lunch - Italy F&W pairing (2-4pm)
Dinner - Party for the Senses

Sunday, October 21 - Epcot/Magic Kingdom
Hoping a good Pastry Chef is there for Sweet Sundays (10am-12)
snacks or lunch ???
Dinner at Artist Point (8pm)

Monday, October 22 - Magic Kingdom/Epcot
Planning Magic Behind the Steam Trains Tour then hopping over to Epcot
Lunch: Biergarten (1pm)
Dinner: Yachtsman Steakhouse (7pm)

Tuesday, October 23 - Magic Kingdom
Grand Floridian Cafe (7am)
Lunch ??
Dinner at Citricos (7pm)

Wednesday, October 24 - Animal Kingdom/Magic Kingdom
Something quick for Breakfast
Lunch at Tusker House (noonish)
Dinner at 'Ohana (6pm ish)
Nighttime at MK for Wishes

Thursday, October 25 - no parks
Breakfast 1900 Park Fare (10am)
Dinner - Victoria & Alberts (6pm)

Friday, October 26 - Departure Day

If you are looking for a good lunch spot around Epcot on the 21st, head over to the Boardwalk and grab a table at either Beaches & Cream or Big River Grille. Both have great burgers and fun atmospheres. Also, there's bound to be some football on TV and ESPN zone is right there... best nachos around BY FAR.

 

[smile4stamps]

Thanks! I am actually planning on heading away from the Epcot area when we are done with the Sweet Sundays and since we will have had brunch there an Epcot area restaurant doesn't really work!

Looking for someplace in/around Magic Kingdom.

 

[BriarRosie]

California Cafe? What's that? Do you mean California Grill at the Contemporary? I'm not sure you'd be able to get there from La Nouba in a half hour by car. Absolutely no way if you don't have a car. And be sure to arrive for La Nouba 30 minutes prior to showtime. There's a pre-show that happens while the crowds are getting seated, and you don't want to miss that.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Friday, October 12 - Arrival Day
Food & Wine Classic at Swan/Dolphin

Sounds like a good way to start the trip! Where are you staying?

Saturday, October 13, No Park Day
Lunch at Raglan Road
Dinner at Food & Wine Classic at Swan/Dolphin

I'd plan to make that lunch on the earlier side.

Sunday, October 14 - Magic Kingdom Day
Breakfast at Crystal Palace (as early as possible)
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern (2:00 ish ADR)
Dinner at Hoop Dee Doo Review (9:30 show, if not closed! Need replacement options!)

I think your timing sounds good. If Hoop Dee Doo Revue is still closed, maybe replace it with Artist Point.

Monday, October 15 - Epcot Day
Breakfast at Kona when they open
Lunch is snacking around the world at the F&W booths
Dinner at Bistro de Paris 8:00pm or so (also planning French Regional Lunch, should we do both or skip this one?)

We don't find sit-down breakfasts necessary on our Epcot F&W days. We just sleep in, arrive when the World Showcase opens and use the Festival Marketplace booths for "brunch."

Tuesday, October 16 - Hollywood Studios
Breakfast - something quick at resort, Starring Rolls or Writers Stop
Lunch - 50's Prime Time Cafe (noonish)
Dinner - Flying Fish (haven't decided on Fantasmic so planning this late)

I love the Flying Fish. I'm not crazy about the meal offerings inside Hollywood Studios. I think grabbing something quick for breakfast at the resort is probably a good idea.

Wednesday, October 17 - Animal Kingdom
Before opening ADR at Tusker House
Lunch at Yak & Yeti (1:00pm)
planning La Nouba for 6pm
California Cafe (8:30ish)

Your meals inside Animal Kingdom sound like a good plan to me. I don't know what the California Café is. Do you mean Wolfgang Puck's café in Downtown Disney, the California Grill at the Contemporary, or is the California Café something offsite?

Thursday, October 18 - Rest/MNSSHP day
Early lunch at Raglan Road
Early dinner (5pm) at The Wave
Proceed to MK for MNSSHP

You may want to have dinner at the Wave's lounge instead of in their dining room. Not only is the lounge atmosphere better, but you'll probably be able to get in and out more quickly. It will get you to the Halloween party earlier.

Friday, October 19 - Epcot
Planning to sleep in
Lunch - French Regional Lunch F&W event
Dinner - Snack around the world and 3D Dessert Party (Wondering if I should schedule something real to eat before the Dessert Party?)

I would not schedule a dinner before the dessert party. I don't think your schedule has really given you enough time to experience all that the Festival Marketplace booths have to offer as it is.

Saturday, October 20 - DHS EM/Epcot
planning to head to DHS for EM hours and then move to Epcot
Lunch - Italy F&W pairing (2-4pm)
Dinner - Party for the Senses

It's going to be a busy day in Epcot! It's probably a good thing that you've scheduled both lunch and dinner rather than having to fight the crowds at the Marketplace booths. How much time do you have between the lunch and the Party for the Senses, though? Might want to just graze on those lunch pairings.

Sunday, October 21 - Epcot/Magic Kingdom
Hoping a good Pastry Chef is there for Sweet Sundays (10am-12)
snacks or lunch ???
Dinner at Artist Point (8pm)

Ah, here's your Artist Point dinner. I retract my earlier statement about using AP as a backup for the Hoop Dee Doo Revue.

Monday, October 22 - Magic Kingdom/Epcot
Planning Magic Behind the Steam Trains Tour then hopping over to Epcot
Lunch: Biergarten (1pm)
Dinner: Yachtsman Steakhouse (7pm)

I would probably skip Biergarten in favor of the Festival Marketplace booths, but that's just me.

Tuesday, October 23 - Magic Kingdom
Grand Floridian Cafe (7am)
Lunch ??
Dinner at Citricos (7pm)

The Plaza might be a good place for a light lunch. There's also a few decent quick service places in the Magic Kingdom. You might get lucky and find some of the seasonal places open this week. They were at this time last year.

Wednesday, October 24 - Animal Kingdom/Magic Kingdom
Something quick for Breakfast
Lunch at Tusker House (noonish)
Dinner at 'Ohana (6pm ish)
Nighttime at MK for Wishes

Sounds like a solid plan.

Thursday, October 25 - no parks
Breakfast 1900 Park Fare (10am)
Dinner - Victoria & Albert's (6pm)

Nice! Seems like a great way to spend your last night in the World.

 

[smile4stamps]

California Cafe? What's that? Do you mean California Grill at the Contemporary? I'm not sure you'd be able to get there from La Nouba in a half hour by car. Absolutely no way if you don't have a car. And be sure to arrive for La Nouba 30 minutes prior to showtime. There's a pre-show that happens while the crowds are getting seated, and you don't want to miss that.

Yes I meant California Grill! Sorry... California Cafe is a local restaurant!

I thought La Nouba started at 6pm with pre-show at 5:30pm and was 1.5hours. That means we would be done around 7:30 so an hour to get to California Grill?

Sounds like a good way to start the trip! Where are you staying?

We are staying at CSR for week #1 and VWL Week #2
I'd plan to make that lunch on the earlier side.

I plan on scheduling it for the earliest time slot

I think your timing sounds good. If Hoop Dee Doo Revue is still closed, maybe replace it with Artist Point.
We have Artist Point in the second week. Any other suggestions?

We don't find sit-down breakfasts necessary on our Epcot F&W days. We just sleep in, arrive when the World Showcase opens and use the Festival Marketplace booths for "brunch."
Unfortunately I REALLY want to try the Tonga Toast. Plus last time I didn't have any plans for anything in the morning my hubby got really crabby! I figure breakfast is at 7am we should be starting to feel hungry when the World Showcase opens.

I love the Flying Fish. I'm not crazy about the meal offerings inside Hollywood Studios. I think grabbing something quick for breakfast at the resort is probably a good idea.

People have said that Starring Rolls and Writers Stop have decent pastries and such. Is that not true?

Your meals inside Animal Kingdom sound like a good plan to me. I don't know what the California Café is. Do you mean Wolfgang Puck's café in Downtown Disney, the California Grill at the Contemporary, or is the California Café something offsite?
Sorry I meant California Grill!

You may want to have dinner at the Wave's lounge instead of in their dining room. Not only is the lounge atmosphere better, but you'll probably be able to get in and out more quickly. It will get you to the Halloween party earlier.
Thanks for the suggestion.

I would not schedule a dinner before the dessert party. I don't think your schedule has really given you enough time to experience all that the Festival Marketplace booths have to offer as it is.
Yeah.. I actually just have "Snack around the World" in my official planner but wanted to find out what others thought!

It's going to be a busy day in Epcot! It's probably a good thing that you've scheduled both lunch and dinner rather than having to fight the crowds at the Marketplace booths. How much time do you have between the lunch and the Party for the Senses, though? Might want to just graze on those lunch pairings.
The Italy Food & Wine pairing is 2-4pm and the Party for the Senses last year started at 7:30pm


Ah, here's your Artist Point dinner. I retract my earlier statement about using AP as a backup for the Hoop Dee Doo Revue.


I would probably skip Biergarten in favor of the Festival Marketplace booths, but that's just me.
I've been thinking about that but we really enjoyed the food and entertainment on our '09 trip so I am torn...

The Plaza might be a good place for a light lunch. There's also a few decent quick service places in the Magic Kingdom. You might get lucky and find some of the seasonal places open this week. They were at this time last year.
I've heard the Plaza is decent. I don't even think I remember coming across it before though!


Sounds like a solid plan.
Thanks


Nice! Seems like a great way to spend your last night in the World.

I'm excited! Now I just need to find my hubby a suit coat to wear!

 

[Sweet Melissa]

We have Artist Point in the second week. Any other suggestions?

Have you ever been to Spirit of Aloha? It's another dinner show in the same general area. It might work.

 

[smile4stamps]

We've been to Luau's in Hawaii and the one thing we would go for is Kalua Pig but they don't serve that at the WDW Luau (unless the menu has changed since the last time I looked!)

If HDDR does turn out being out of the picture I may switch Citrico's to that night and then La Nouba to the night I originally had Citrico's and pick something else than for either before or after La Nouba

Are there any must do restaurants I am missing?

Some of the ones I had on the list but couldn't fit in are:
The Wave breakfast
Kouzzina Breakfast
Chefs de France
Via Nappoli
Hollywood Brown Derby
Bluezoo (although am leery of this due to my husband's allergies!)

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I think Kouzzina's breakfast is the best on property. Their dinner is very good too. I also love Jiko and Sanaa.

 

[smile4stamps]

I think Kouzzina's breakfast is the best on property. Their dinner is very good too. I also love Jiko and Sanaa.

Thanks for your opinions.

Unfortunately we had a BAD experience with Jiko in '09 and my husband refuses to go back. Also transportation to AKL was a headache so I'm planning to stay away this trip...

 

[smile4stamps]

Any other ideas/suggestions!??!

I book ADR's in 5 days!!

I've pretty much decided against the WAVE on MNSSHP day and will instead just grab something CS inside MK when we get hungry.