1st Ever Disney Vacation - Dining?

[Woodoggies]

First ever Disney vacation and looking for help / opinions on our dining plan. Being this is our 1st Disney experiance we are looking for that "Magical Disney" feel with good food (my have to many charater meals?). We are booked at the Wilderness Lodge Dec 6th - 13th. Myself (DH 40), DW 38, DS 12 & DD 8. We did the wine and dine package but may try to cancel the wine part after looking at our dinner options. Any helpful advise, opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, which TS meals to use DDP and which ones to pay OOP for. -Thanks

Dec 6th
- Travel (Drive)
- Check in and head to Epcot
- Akershus Storybook Princess Dinner (1TS)

Dec 7th MK
- Donald’s Safari Breakfast –Tusker House (1TS)
- Cinderella’s Royal table (2TS)
- Counter Service Meal (Cosmic Ray’s / Columbia Harbor House / Pecos Bill’s)

Dec 8th HS
- Breakfast in Room
- Counter Service Meal (Back Lot express / Studio Catering / Starring Roll)
- ????????

Dec 9th AK
- Breakfast in Room
- Counter Service Meal (Flame Tree BBQ / Yak & Yeti)
- Hoop De Do Review (2TS)

Dec 10th MK / DTD
- Counter Service Meal ?????
- Rain Forest Café (DTD) (1TS)

Dec 11th MK
- Breakfast in Room
- Counter Service Meal ?????
- Crystal Palace (1TS)

Dec 12th EPCOT
- Breakfast in Room
- Counter Service Meal??????
- Candle Light Processional Package (San Angel / Le Cellier) (2TS)

Dec 13th
- Check Out the Brunch or lunch ?????
- Travel (Drive)

 

[TillyMarigold]

Rainforest Cafe doesn't take the dining plan. Personally I don't like to plan my QS meals, were you meaning for the ???s to be TS or QS?

 

[Woodoggies]

Yea, sorry. The ???? on the 8th is for a TS meal in HS. The counter services meals just looking for suggestions or recomendation. Always nice to know anyones favorites. -Thanks

 

[Tinkermom76]

On the 7th you have Tusker House breakfast but are doing MK that day... will you have park hoppers cause TH is in AK. You could do that breakfast on the 9th when you are at AK and have the in room breakfast on the 7th before you go to MK

 

[Tinkermom76]

MK a good CS is Cosmic Rays, They have a Chicken and Rib combo that if you are on the Dining Plan it is a really great deal

 

[Woodoggies]

Yea, have park hopper tickets and didn't have much for that morning. That was a sleep in morning so thought we might head to Tusker House for breakfast then back to MK. On the 9th I plan to do AK at rope drop.

Also, Thanks for the cosmic ray's suggestion. Sounds good!

 

[dixonsontour]

With the age of your children maybe also check out the meals that are unique to disney but not character meals as such.

Meals like Ohana, Whispering canyon, Sci fi, 50's prime time.

When I planned our first trip last year I planned our meals at or near to the park and it worked really well. eg AK day tusker breakfast, Boma dinner.

 

[Hopefully]

Yea, have park hopper tickets and didn't have much for that morning. That was a sleep in morning so thought we might head to Tusker House for breakfast then back to MK. On the 9th I plan to do AK at rope drop.

Also, Thanks for the cosmic ray's suggestion. Sounds good!

I wouldn't go to the AK just for Tusker House breakfast and then to the MK for the day. That is way too much travel time for breakfast. I would do breakfast in the room that morning and try for an ADR at Tusker House before rope drop on your AK day. Travel distances/times in WDW are deceiving and they are long.
We love Columbia Harbour House in the MK for CS. It is different and fresh.
I would suggest the 50"s Prime Time Cafe on your DHS day. I think your family would enjoy it. The food is very good and the atmosphere is tons of fun.
We love the International foods in WS in Epcot, so much so that we have trouble deciding where on each trip. For CS I would consider the Sommerfest in Germany, Yakatori House in Japan, Tangerine Cafe in Morrocco or Harry Ramsden's Fish & Chips in the UK
Have a great trip
I think you will enjoy the HDDR, it is good food and tons of fun.

 

[Woodoggies]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will have to reevaluate the Tusker House breakfast. I was not aware that travel time would be an issue at WDW. I just assumed it couldn't be more than 15min or so. Thanks for the heads up. Also, I love the suggestions for CS meals at Epcot. Not sure I will be able to decide. But I can't wait to try.

 

[foreUT]

I agree with the previou poster that going to ak for breakfast is a long trip. If this is your family's first trip, spending a lot of time on eating might not be the best plan.

 

[KTJAY]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will have to reevaluate the Tusker House breakfast. I was not aware that travel time would be an issue at WDW. I just assumed it couldn't be more than 15min or so. Thanks for the heads up. Also, I love the suggestions for CS meals at Epcot. Not sure I will be able to decide. But I can't wait to try.

The pastry shop in France has a great ham and cheese croissant and then you pick a dessert for counter service too. Also make sure you check out sunshine seasons in the Land pavillion for CS great selections and huge portions.

 

[KTJAY]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will have to reevaluate the Tusker House breakfast. I was not aware that travel time would be an issue at WDW. I just assumed it couldn't be more than 15min or so. Thanks for the heads up. Also, I love the suggestions for CS meals at Epcot. Not sure I will be able to decide. But I can't wait to try.

1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian has a great breakfast buffet with different characters like Alice in wonderland. We loved that one and its just a short ride over on the monorail. Or you could go to Chef Mickey's not too far on the monorail at the Contempory.

 

[wizzzzzard]

Here's our favorites for each Park:

AK:
QS: Flame Tree BBQ (good ribs & chix; our #2 QS)
TS: Yak & Yeti, Tusker House (only ate Breakfast there. it was just OK.)

MK:
QS: Columbia Harbor House, Cosmic Rays (good price if you are going OOP; our #1 QS), Pecos Bills
TS: Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern.

Epcot:
QS: Electric Umbrella, San Angel Cantina (might be closed), Sunshine Seasons (wide variety of stuff here!)

Funnel Cakes!!!!!

TS: Le Cellier (AWESOME!!!! our #1 restaurant in any park!), Teppan Edo (really fun show, with good food!!), Coral Reef, Restaurant Akershus.

DHS:
QS: Catalina Eddie's, Rosie's All-American cafe. We used to like the ABC Commissary, but the menu changed recently.
TS: 50's Prime Time (very cool! our #2 restaurant for all parks), Hollywood & Vine. We were never very impressed with Sci-Fi Drive In.

Some of our favorites in the various resorts:
(not in any order)
Chef Mickey's (Contemporary)
1900 Park Faire (Grand Floridian)
Maya Grille (Coronado Springs)
Boatwrights (Port Orleans)
Whispering Canyon Cafe (Wilderness Lodge)

Downtown Disney:
Fulton's Crab House is awesome (Not on DDP, must do OOP)
We're trying Earl of Sandwhich this time around. It's supposed to be really good for the price.

Honorable mention:
Ohana (Polynesian) While we've never eaten here, but this looks really awesome. Check out reviews for it here on the boards.

Take this for what it's worth.

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will have to reevaluate the Tusker House breakfast. I was not aware that travel time would be an issue at WDW. I just assumed it couldn't be more than 15min or so. Thanks for the heads up. Also, I love the suggestions for CS meals at Epcot. Not sure I will be able to decide. But I can't wait to try.

Travel time from area to area can be 60 - 90 minutes each way. WDW is HUGE!!!! Don't get caught in thinking you can just go from here to there in a heartbeat - it can't be done. Allow a minimum of 6o minutes to traverse the World.
Have a great Trip.

 

[CathieArms]

Dec 6th
- Travel (Drive)
- Check in and head to Epcot
- Akershus Storybook Princess Dinner (1TS)

Excellent choice for Dinner! Your dd will love it.

Dec 7th MK
- Donald’s Safari Breakfast –Tusker House (1TS)
- Cinderella’s Royal table (2TS)
- Counter Service Meal (Cosmic Ray’s / Columbia Harbor House / Pecos Bill’s)

More excellent choices on your part. I can't speak to the CS restaurants, but the other two ought to be very good choices.

Dec 8th HS
- Breakfast in Room
- Counter Service Meal (Back Lot express / Studio Catering / Starring Roll)
- ????????

Can't speak to the counter service, but do you want to stay at DHS? If so, you might consider Sci Fi Dine-In. It has a fun atmosphere and, for "drive-in" type food, it was pretty good. Another okay choice might be 50s Prime Time.

To be honest with you, I'm not real excited about ANY of the DHS TS places, so I'd go somewhere else for dinner.

Dec 9th AK
- Breakfast in Room
- Counter Service Meal (Flame Tree BBQ / Yak & Yeti)
- Hoop De Do Review (2TS)

FUN!!!

Dec 10th MK / DTD
- Counter Service Meal ?????
- Rain Forest Café (DTD) (1TS)

I would seriously skip Rain Forest Cafe. They're located all over the place and they're just not that great. There's just no way I'd go to WDW and eat at Rainforest Cafe when you can do it elsewhere and it just isn't all that great at all.

You might consider Ragland Road (I've heard GREAT things about that place) or maybe Wolfgang Puck's. Just a suggestion.

Dec 11th MK
- Breakfast in Room
- Counter Service Meal ?????
- Crystal Palace (1TS)

I've never had Crystal Palace for dinner, but it's AWESOME for breakfast. I'm sure you'll enjoy it for dinner, based upon all the reviews I've read.

Dec 12th EPCOT
- Breakfast in Room
- Counter Service Meal??????
- Candle Light Processional Package (San Angel / Le Cellier) (2TS)

Just a quick heads-up hat San Angel isn't getting the best reviews. Of your two choices, I'd go with Le Cellier. Otherwise, you might enjoy Tepan Edo...my kids LOVED that place! Other places that get good reviews are Les Chefs De France and BIERGARTEN is awesome (but maybe not for this particular night).

Dec 13th
- Check Out the Brunch or lunch ?????
- Travel (Drive)

 

[MommyJack]

While I agree with the pp's regarding the times to get around, I noticed you said you were driving to Disney. So you could take your car on that day. Disney guests can park free at the parks. That will cut your time between parks. It looks like you're planning the Tusker breakfast and then lunch at CRT. For me, I would be too stuffed from breakfast to want to eat a TS lunch.

You may want to consider a fantasmic package at HS.

Also, if you want to get in at some of these places, make sure you make your ADR's as soon as you are able to make them. You can call Disney and they will tell you the exact day to call.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

You can make your reservations June 9, Disney's online system opens up at 6am EST, and the phonelines open up at 7am EST.

Agree with the others I wouldn't eat Breakfast at AK then go to MK.

If you have a car you could do Breakfast at one of the resorts, but I wouldn't recommend park hopping for breakfast.

While it may take 15 min driving time from one park to another, you have to park in the parking lot, take the tram to the entrance, go through security, then go through the turnstiles, it is not a quick jaunt.

 

[calngavinsmom]

For your HS TS you might want to check out the menu at Mama Melrose. It is one of our faves. The wood fired flatbreads are so yummy and my DH loved the Chicken Parm there.

Good luck!

 

[nonnydd]

I agree, have breakfast at your hotel or near/at the park you are attending. Just walking back from Tusker to the AK entrance takes 20 minutes, then there is transportation and the security and turnstile lines at MK. On the MK days you could get the Crystal Palace breakfast an hour before the park opens. It is special to walk down Main St. without a crowd, take pictures of just you and the castle. After breakfast, you are near the front of the crowd at park opening. For a first visit you'll want to see a lot, and mornings are key for that.

For DHS TS, we like Mamma Melroses or Sci-Fi. Or you could take the boat from DHS to WS at EP and eat at Teppan Edo, Marrakesh, or Nine Dragons, then catch Illuminations.

Your plan has 1 snack per day? Look on forums for snacks you can build a meal around... Baked potato w/ cheese at Liberty Square, Ham/Cheese croissant in France, cereal w/ milk, etc.

2 TS back-to-back are hard to digest... there's a lot of food, and desserts included.

Enjoy! You can see that most restaurants have their strong fans!

 

[heatherwillmom]

We have several favorites as well. I noticed that DHS was one place you were unsure about. We love Sci-Fi mainly for the atmosphere. The burgers are pretty good, but they don'y have a large selection. For dinner, we usually do Mam Melrose or Hollywood & Vine on the Fantasmic package. I agree about going to Tusker House for breakfast, then going to MK. It would take a lot of time. Many of the resorts have great character breakffasts & it would be quicker. My kids love Ohana, Cape May Cafe, or Chef Mickey's. All of these are closer to MK.