Our dining schedule - would you change anything?

nednora

Earning My Ears
Joined
Aug 9, 2011
We're leaving in 3 weeks for our 2nd trip to Disney with two kids - 6 yo DD and son who will turn 4. Here's our dining plan. I'd love and appreciate any suggestions or changes you'd make (i.e., particularly if there is a can't miss place you really think we should try):

(1) Arrival day: no ressies (heading to MK)
(2) Sci-Fi for lunch & O'hana for dinner
(3) Tusker House breakfast
(4) Biergarten for lunch
(5) Garden Grill for DS' birthday dinner
(6) T-Rex for lunch
(7) 1900 Park Fare for dinner
(8) O'hana for breakfast
 
Looks like a good plan. Based on our families' preferences the only things I would question would be how close are your reservation times on Day 2. We don't like to do 2 sit down meals in one day unless they are at least 6 hrs apart. Since your dinner is an all you can eat meal, you don't want to be too full going into that meal.

I also wouldn't recommend Garden Grill. Always found this place to be on the border of disgusting but some people like it.

Finally, I would call it 'Ohana not O'hana ;)
 
Will you be going to a park on Day 6? If so, breaking up your day for a trip to DTD to eat at T-Rex might be a time-killer. If you were planning to spend the day at DTD, then it works just fine. But leaving a park to head to DTD to eat lunch only to head back to the park again can be time consuming. T-Rex is an interesting place, but I wouldn't go out my way to eat there. I would only go there if I were already in the area, or for dinner once my park day was done.
 
Will you be going to a park on Day 6? If so, breaking up your day for a trip to DTD to eat at T-Rex might be a time-killer. If you were planning to spend the day at DTD, then it works just fine. But leaving a park to head to DTD to eat lunch only to head back to the park again can be time consuming. T-Rex is an interesting place, but I wouldn't go out my way to eat there. I would only go there if I were already in the area, or for dinner once my park day was done.

I would agree with this. T-Rex is definitely not on my top of places to eat so I wouldn't got out of my way for it.
 


Quick question about your plan: Where do you plan on being on Day 2? Your lunch reservation is at Sci-Fi, which leads me to believe that you'll be at the Studios, but your dinner reservation is at 'Ohana, which is a Magic Kingdom-area resort restaurant. Especially if you don't have a car and will be relying on Disney transportation, there's a lot of travel time in doing 'Ohana that day if you're at the Studios (or, conversely, doing Sci-Fi that day if you're somewhere else), especially if you plan to return to your park of choice that day after 'Ohana dinner. I would also agree with the previous poster that you might want to look at your times for 'Ohana and Sci-Fi and make sure they're not too close together for your family. 'Ohana is one of my personal favorite restaurants--I would hate to miss out on their delicious food because I was still full from lunch just a few hours before!
Personally, what I would suggest doing is (if possible) moving your 'Ohana reservation to your arrival day. You mentioned you'd be heading to the MK after arriving, so you'll be in the area and won't be missing out on so much park time to travel. Depending on when you arrive, when the MK closes and how early your kids go to bed, I'd suggest either one of the first reservations of the night and going to the MK afterwards, or one of the later reservations of the night, and enjoying 'Ohana after the MK. That way, you're not spending so much time in transit from park-restaurant (and possibly back to park), nor are you risking your reservations being too close together for your own enjoyment. But, of course, this is just my opinion, and your mileage may vary.
Have a great trip!
 
We're leaving in 3 weeks for our 2nd trip to Disney with two kids - 6 yo DD and son who will turn 4. Here's our dining plan. I'd love and appreciate any suggestions or changes you'd make (i.e., particularly if there is a can't miss place you really think we should try):

(1) Arrival day: no ressies (heading to MK)
(2) Sci-Fi for lunch & O'hana for dinner
(3) Tusker House breakfast
(4) Biergarten for lunch
(5) Garden Grill for DS' birthday dinner
(6) T-Rex for lunch
(7) 1900 Park Fare for dinner
(8) O'hana for breakfast

The only two I would think of changing would be Sci-Fi (food not good except for burgers which are just ok) to 50s Prime Time (kids will get a kick out of servers) or Mama Melroses. Also, I would change Biergarten to Via Napoli (only good pizza in Disney World). That is just my opinion.
 


I would skip Sci Fi and do something else. I would rather eat at Prime Time IF you have to have a sit down meal at DHS. But DHS food should be avoided at all costs, IMO lol. JMO :)

I would keep both 'Ohana for a dinner and a breakfast. It's my families' favorite for a 1 credit.
 
(1) Arrival day: no ressies (heading to MK)
(2) Sci-Fi for lunch & O'hana for dinner
(3) Tusker House breakfast
(4) Biergarten for lunch
(5) Garden Grill for DS' birthday dinner
(6) T-Rex for lunch
(7) 1900 Park Fare for dinner
(8) O'hana for breakfast

Sounds great! The only one we didn't care for was Garden Grill. But again, we're in the minority on that one.
 
We didn't really care for the food at Biergarten (not terrible, just not as good as other Epcot restaurants). But it's worth going at least once for the show.
 
HayGan said:
Looks like a good plan. Based on our families' preferences the only things I would question would be how close are your reservation times on Day 2. We don't like to do 2 sit down meals in one day unless they are at least 6 hrs apart. Since your dinner is an all you can eat meal, you don't want to be too full going into that meal.

I also wouldn't recommend Garden Grill. Always found this place to be on the border of disgusting but some people like it.

Finally, I would call it 'Ohana not O'hana ;)

Personally, The Garden Grill is one of my favorite restaurants! The food is always fresh and delicious every time I have gone! Everyone has different taste buds though :-)
 
We're leaving in 3 weeks for our 2nd trip to Disney with two kids - 6 yo DD and son who will turn 4. Here's our dining plan. I'd love and appreciate any suggestions or changes you'd make (i.e., particularly if there is a can't miss place you really think we should try):

(1) Arrival day: no ressies (heading to MK)
(2) Sci-Fi for lunch & O'hana for dinner
(3) Tusker House breakfast
(4) Biergarten for lunch
(5) Garden Grill for DS' birthday dinner
(6) T-Rex for lunch
(7) 1900 Park Fare for dinner
(8) O'hana for breakfast
1. I like your arrival day plan, no set schedule, go with the flow. There are good choices at MK for CS.
2. IMO, SciFi is so so, prefer 50s PTC for a HS meal. Ohana, great choice for dinner
3. Never been here for breakfast, but have friends who love it
4. Biergarten very good choice
5. We havent been to GG in awhile, but we always enjoyed it
6. Never been to TRex. Kids will probably like the scenery, but it seems like a Rainforest Cafe in disguise to me, which is a little generic, IMO
7. We ate at 1900 several trips back, for kids, the characters are great, otherwise, I would consider other buffets on property for food
8. Ohana is wonderful for dinner, a bit plain for breakfast, but kids will love it

All in all, you have some good choices. For my tastes, I would tweak a bit, but I still think you will be happy with your overall ADRs
 
I agree with the potential of wasted time going from one destination to another when your ADRs are in separate parks. We always coordinate the ADRs with the park we are in to maximize time and Fast Pass possibilities:goodvibesIt can be up to 90 minutes to travel among parks and DTD so I'd suggest a re-look based on that.
 
This will be my families 7th trip down and this time we decided to eat at all new places. We typically eat at the same sit down places every year because we were comfortable with them but this year wanted to try something new. We made reservations at the following. If you have any comments please share, because we could always switch some if some places have issues

1) Ohana - Day will be spent at AK. usually eat at Rainforrest
2) Coral Reef - E
3) Be Our Guest - MK
4) 50's diner - HS
5) Teppan Edo - E
6) Tony Town Sq - MK
7) Sci Fi - HS
8) day spent at AK - leaving in afternoon to catch flight
 
It's the Irish way of spelling it. :thumbsup2

'OHana is not an Irish Restaurant
OP, I think your plan looks very good. I like not having an ADR on arrival day. Travel day can be very tiring. Columbia Harbour House in the MK is great for a CS supper.
I don't agree that getting to the Poly for 'OHana from DHS is difficult. You will simply take the bus from the Studios to the Poly. Easy Peasy!!!!
Enjoy
 

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