1st Time to Disney, Dining Plan and Must Do

[sarah112]

Hi Everyone,

I am currently planning my family's 1st time experience to Disney in November. We are going the 27th to December 2nd. We are so excited, we have 1 daughter who is 5 and very much into all the princesses.

I have the dining plan but I'm afraid I've gone overboard with the reservations and now have 11 table services reserved with only a 5 entitled! I will be there for 5 nights, 6 days but I'm told that you only get a table service for each night.

Looking for much needed advice on what to cancel. Here is my current plan:

November 27
arrive in Disney around -4:00PM
Dinner at the Castle -5:30PM reserv.
Very Merry Christmas Party- 7-12AM

November 28
Bibbidy Boo Salon at- 9:30AM
Breakfast at Castle -10:20AM
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare- 5:00PM

November 29
Chef Mickey's Breakfast - 9:10AM
Quick Lunch
Storybook Princess Dinner Norway - 6:05PM

November 30
Quick Breakfast
Dinner Mamma Melrose and Fantasmic Package - 4:10PM

December 1
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare - 9:00AM
Quick Lunch
Chef Mickey's Backyard Barbeque - 6:30PM

December 2
Quick Breakfast
Depart for home

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

Thanks so much


Sarah

 

[suzimar57]

is the bibbidy bobbity boo salon in DTD?

if you have a 930am there, will you have enough time to make the 1020am breakfast at the castle? (those busses are iffy)

maybe change to november 30 instead for breakfast in the castle

(although your DD would be "made up" from the salon - that's probably why you'd want a castle breakfast the same day, right?)

as far as what to cancel, perhaps the BBQ (no princesses there!)

otherwise, this will be a dream for your 5 yr old DD - daily character meals with princessess (although you'd be paying OOP for some)

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Will you have a car? I notice that you have an appt at the Bibbidy Boo Salon, I am assuming that is DTD... will you be able to get from there to Breakfast at the Castle...CRT, in less than an hour and make sure you little one gets the full treatment at the Salon???

I know others will give you advice on what to keep and to give away.. If I had a little one who was into Princesses, I would do Cinderella's Royal table, Norway, 1900....and maybe leave off the others that are not Princesses.. Just a thought here, hopefully others will step in with some advice.

 

[disney-a-holic]

hi, we went for our first time last novenmber....it is a fantastic time of year to go!!!!!!!
we did chef mickeys breakfast and we all loved it!!!!!!!
my daughter also into princess had a bbb and it made me want to be a princess too!!!!
we found most of the princess in world showcase at epcot for great autographs and photo snaps... good luck with your plans and enjoy all the magic of disney

 

[3crazymice]

I wouldn't do the castle twice.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Kudos for your advance planning! It'll help you have a much more enjoyable vacation.

Honestly, though, I don't see how you're gonna make it from BBBotique to breakfast. I'd decide which one of these is the priority and cancel the other. Since this is your first WDW visit, you're gonna be flabbegasted at the sheer scope of this place, and even with a car, travel times from one park/resort/Downtown Disney is going to stagger you.

The other thing ... you are allowed five table service meals, so you're gonna need to whittle your list down to five, or else you'll not only pay for those over five out of pocket, but you'll lose those counter service meals to boot (unless you use them for breakfast some mornings.) Edit: I forgot that you've got some two credit spots included, so that does lessen the number for TS spots.

Tough choices, for sure. But, again, you're gonna be glad you did all this grunt work up front. Remember Dreamfinder's Maxim: The more hassle you impose on yourself before going to Walt Disney World, the less hassle you'll have once you're there.

 

[Kath2003]

I wouldn't do the castle twice. I'd change your reservation to lunch on the second day instead of breakfast and go somewhere else instead of dinner in the castle the night before. I think arriving and dinner at the castle will be a LOT fr a five year old and she'd probably appreciate it more turning up for the first time all dressed up for the occasion and rested up. I'd eat counter service the first night.

I'd also only do either Chef Mickey's or Mickey's BBQ if your DD is more into the princesses; and only do 1900 Park Faire as breakfast OR dinner, not both. You're going to struggle to eat 2TSs most days! Remember: you wanna see the parks, too! Eating 2 TSs a day is VERY time consuming - probably 2 hours per meal.

I'd go for

1st day
CS dinner

2nd day
BBB in morning; Castle for lunch
CS dinner

3rd day
Chef Mickey breakfast
CS dinner

4th day
1900 Park Faire breakfast or dinner
CS lunch

5th day
Mama Melrose
CS lunch

6th day
Princess Storybook dinner

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

November 27
arrive in Disney around -4:00PM
Cancel
Very Merry Christmas Party- 7-12AM

November 28
Bibbidy Boo Salon at- 9:30AM
Lunch at Castle -11:30
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare- 7:00PM

November 29
Chef Mickey's Breakfast - 9:10AM- pay out of pocket
Quick Lunch
Storybook Princess Dinner Norway - 6:05PM

November 30
Quick Breakfast
Dinner Mamma Melrose and Fantasmic Package - 4:10PM

December 1
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare - 9:00AM- cancel or pay OPP
Quick Lunch
Cancel


December 2
Quick Breakfast
Depart for home


Hi Sarah,
*I would cancel dinner at the castle on the first night. It's two TS and there aren't any characters there at night. Just enjoy the party and use a CS.
*Defintely move the Castle to lunch and move dinner at 1900 a little later. *She will LOVE the princesses at Norway!
*And then I'd cancel Mickey's BBQ- you'll get to see him at Chef Mickey's anyway.
*Now you're at 7 TS- I'd pay out of pocket for the breakfasts
*Also, does she like Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland? Otherwise, cancel breakfast at 1900 because they are the only ones there at breakfast.

Have a great time!

 

[Christine]

All I can say is "that's a LOT of character meals." Whew. And yeah, I would drop a castle meal. And maybe even a 1900 Park Fair meal. I know they are different meals, but really, they are same experience. Way too many princesses!!

 

[5fordisney]

Hi! Great planning and research on your part! Way to go!
This is just my opinion, but I don't like to spend time at sit-down breakfasts everyday (maybe just one) b/c they take up time that I'd rather put into the parks. I know many people love the breakfasts, so it's really personal preference. The best advice I was given before the first time we ever went to Disney was to arrive at the parks before opening so that you are among the first let in and start touring. You can hit so many rides and attractions in those early hours before big crowds start coming. Having breakfasts for our family would give us a later start at the parks. So I think I would cancel all the breakfasts, esp. since you have dinner planned at 2 of the places anyway and substitute chef mickey's dinner in place of the backyard b-bque. That would elimiate 5 TS credits, leaving you with 6 TS so you would only have to pay for 1 extra OOP.
Whatever you decide, have a great trip! Don't forget to buy lots of souvenirs and take lots of pictures to help you re-live the magic once you are back home!

 

[Mkrop]

I have boys so no princess experience but my friend just got back and told me they did dinner at the castle and it is only the Fairy Godmother, luckily she found this out before she went and quickly booked Norway.

I agree with another poster. We liked getting to the parks early so unless your breakfast is before the parks open, I would rather be getting there early to ride rides, and going in Dec doesnt the park close early so maybe save character meals for dinner??? for something to do Just a thought.

Oh yeah your BBB and your Castle are too close as someone else mentioned, I think it would be hard to make it back in time.

 

[jayhjay]

I will agree with the other posters that I think you have too many character meals and too many duplicates. My girls are 3 and 5 and we typically do 2-3 character meals per 8 day trip. I think they are fun, but can be a bit hectic b/c as the characters come around there is a lot of juggling the camera, autograph books, figureing out when to go to the buffet, etc. I'd pare it down to maybe 1-2 princess meals and one other character meal.

Castle - I'd pick either breakfast or dinner. Many folks feel that dining in the castle is a great experience but once is enough. The food isn't supposed to be particularly great here. And those meals are two TS each which means you will have blown 4 of your 5 TS credits in the first two days. I'd drop one or both of these (especially if you are also doing Norway breakfast).

I'd also choose one time at 1900 Park Fare. THey have different characters, but such similar experiences. We have been to dinner and really enjoyed it, but if you are going to see Cinderella at other meals, breakfast may be better. If this will be your only chance at Cinderella, then I'd do dinner.

Storybook Princess Dinner Norway - 6:05PM
Dinner Mamma Melrose and Fantasmic Package - 4:10PM
Chef Mickey's Backyard Barbeque - 6:30PM

If you did one trip to the Castle (2TS), one trip to Park Fare, and two of the 3 listed above, you'd be down to your 5 alloted TS credits. Or you could pay one OOP and get all 6. JJ

 

[budbeerlady]

I am going to assume she is doing the BBB in the castle, I am more concerned with doing the party on the first night. Unless you dont tell the kids they dont sleep much the night before, that is a late night for little ones. We usually take it VERY easy on party days, take a nap, everything we can do to keep dd low key so she can make it untill the 10pm parade. Or the next day sleep in and move BBB back to around noon and do the castle for lunch.

I would pay OOP for the castle, not worth 2 ts and for any breakfast you keep.

November 27
arrive in Disney around -4:00PM
Dinner at the Castle -5:30PM reserv. (I would cancel this and do Crystal palace if you want to be in the MK)
Very Merry Christmas Party- 7-12AM

November 28
Bibbidy Boo Salon at- 9:30AM
Breakfast at Castle -10:20AM
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare- 5:00PM

November 29
Chef Mickey's Breakfast - 9:10AM
Quick Lunch
Storybook Princess Dinner Norway - 6:05PM

November 30
Quick Breakfast
Dinner Mamma Melrose and Fantasmic Package - 4:10PM

December 1
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare - 9:00AM
Quick Lunch
Chef Mickey's Backyard Barbeque - 6:30PM

December 2
Quick Breakfast
Depart for home

 

[2forMe]

Also remember that anything at the Castle is a 2 TS credit meal.. so if you eat there 2 times you only have one more TS meal. SO I would pay out of pocket for the meal at the castle.. I have heard not at dinner since the princesses are not all there??
I would also not do Storybook Dining at Epcot for dinner.. have you looked a the menu?? It is not that child friendly. I would go for breakfast instead.

I think too that the BBQ is two credits as well??

 

[sarah112]

Hi,

Thanks so much for all your wonderful responses! I am so happy I found this great site!

I did forget to mention that we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge and that my reservation at the BBB salon is at the Castle. I was told by the reservationist that it is directly across the way from the restaurant. Although I do like the idea of making it a lunch and having a more leisurely morning, especially if we are out late the night before.

I think I will cancel the dinner at the castle for my first night....we will probably be tired and maybe we can rest alittle before the Christmas party....probably not the best plan to get tickets for 1st night but I tried to call and switch nights and they gave me a different number to call and said my request may not be honored.

If I cancel the dinner at the castle and the Mickey's Backyard BB that still leaves me with 2 more to cancel. I was wondering if it's worth a table service at the Mamma Melrose/fantasmic package?

Thanks so much again!

Sarah

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I would cancel the dinner at 1900 Park Fare. It is Cindy and you will have already seen her at the castle.

 

[Christine]

I would cancel the dinner at 1900 Park Fare. It is Cindy and you will have already seen her at the castle.

I agree with this--the food is not that great either. We were fairly disappointed with our meal there back in April.

Have you thought of one of the more "different" dinners without characters that your 5 year old might enjoy? 'Ohana comes to mind (at the Polynesian). Another is over at your own hotel, Whispering Canyon. I've never been there but that is supposed to be fun. That might still give you a fun experience at a bit more of a restful pace.

 

[budbeerlady]

If I cancel the dinner at the castle and the Mickey's Backyard BB that still leaves me with 2 more to cancel. I was wondering if it's worth a table service at the Mamma Melrose/fantasmic package?

Thanks so much again!

Sarah

If you are willing to wait in line, maybe eat a cs in the theator then cancel the mama melrose. We havent seen Fantasmatic yet in the last trips, so we are doing the Mama Melrose package. We eat at Mama Melrose anyway, so we would rather walk up at 35-40min prior to the show than wait in line if it is busy and then wait longer inside. Anything that reduces a wait is good for me! (Plus everything you dont get done gives you an excuse to come back, we did our once in a life time blowout trip for dd in 2005, we have been back in Dec 06 and now Oct 07 )

 

[AmberI]

I believe the castle meals are 2 ts and so is Mickey's Backyard Barbeque.

 

[5fordisney]

I have boys so no princess experience but my friend just got back and told me they did dinner at the castle and it is only the Fairy Godmother, luckily she found this out before she went and quickly booked Norway.

Is this new? We were there for dinner last summer and got a photo package done with Cinderella in the lobby as part of the meal, as well as saw the 2 mice with the fairy godmother in the restaurant. Have they changed this meal? The photo package was such a nice thing to take home!