1st Timer Planning Meals - help/thoughts appreciated

[2BEKs]

We are doing the 4 parks in Aug (21 - 24) for the first time. (well, it's been 20 years since DH and I have been, 1st time for the kids!)

I've read through the boards and think that I've come up with a plan - - I'd love any thoughts/suggestions/comments/etc that you may have!

My main assumption that these are all Character Meals. Can anyone elaborate on which characters they see here frequently? I know the rest. website says that they change... but do they really?

Aug 21 - MK
booked Dinner at Chef Mickey
Q: this is a buffet correct? Anyone have prices? They don't list them on the booking website

Aug 22 - DHS
nothing booked yet. ADVICE on where to eat??? There doesn't seem to be any character meals here. What about near by resorts?

Aug 23 - Epcot
Dinner booked at Garden Grill. This is another buffet right?

Aug 24 - AK
Safari Breakfast at Tusker House booked
again, another buffet correct? Prices anyone?


Thoughts? Suggestions?

I'll start doing some research now on what CS venues may be of interest to us. Since we have one "big" meal planned almost each day, I think that a CS meal for the "off meal" will be ok.

Thanks again!!!

 

[monkeybug]

For your day at DHS there is a boat to Epcot and the Boardwalk area, you could always book something there if nothing at DHS appeals to you. (if you choose Epcot, you will need a park hopper)
You can also go to www.allears.net to check out menus and prices for each of the Disney restaurants.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

How old are your kids?

For DHS I would book either Sci-Fi or 50's PTC. They are not buffet but really nicely themed restaurants.

I would also pick a different restaurant in EPCOT. We've eaten at Garden Grill and it's just okay. If you are looking for a good buffet for kids I would do Biergarten. They have a great German oompah band and let the kids come down to the floor and dance. If you would a nice restaurant that isn't buffet at EPCOT I would go with Coral Reef.

If you have any girls I would do the Princess Storybook Meal at EPCOT.

HTH!

 

[2BEKs]

For your day at DHS there is a boat to Epcot and the Boardwalk area, you could always book something there if nothing at DHS appeals to you. (if you choose Epcot, you will need a park hopper)
.

thanks! right now we don't have the PH option, and are really leaning towards not getting it. i think one park per day will suit us very well for this first visit. I'll check out the site you put on there - - thanks!!

 

[2BEKs]

How old are your kids?

For DHS I would book either Sci-Fi or 50's PTC. They are not buffet but really nicely themed restaurants.

I would also pick a different restaurant in EPCOT. We've eaten at Garden Grill and it's just okay. If you are looking for a good buffet for kids I would do Biergarten. They have a great German oompah band and let the kids come down to the floor and dance. If you would a nice restaurant that isn't buffet at EPCOT I would go with Coral Reef.

If you have any girls I would do the Princess Storybook Meal at EPCOT.

HTH!

thanks too! I've looked at the 50s - and that seemed really cute. Will have to check out if they have anything available on the day we want to be there.

I've read good and bad reviews about the Garden Grill - so I appreciate your feedback.

From looking at the 3 meals we have planned, it does seem like we are repeating the same characters over and over - so maybe skipping this one and making it a "non character" meal instead will be OK. I do like the sound of the Biegarten (we live in Denmark now - and LOVE going to Germany - so it should be fun!).

We do have a DD8 - who is "too cool" for the princesses and really would die if I made her go to a princess themed meal. LOL.

 

[dancin Disney style]

If you want a buffet w/characters at DHS they have H&V with Jojo. The characters are only at breakfast and lunch. For a near by resort you could go to Cape May at the BC. They only have characters for breakfast but it's really good.

There are a couple other really fun options at DHS that are not buffet. SciFi and 50's PT have great atmosphere and good food.

The characters don't change very often so you are reasonably sure that you will have the ones that are listed. You might want to change your ChefM's to 1900 PF just to get more variety in the characters that you meet.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We do have a DD8 - who is "too cool" for the princesses and really would die if I made her go to a princess themed meal. LOL.

I've heard that one a ton of times and you will be surprised at how that 'grown up' girl will change when you get there. Most kids totally fall into the fun of it all.....adults too.

 

[Pixiedust2758]

Aug 21 - MK
booked Dinner at Chef Mickey
Q: this is a buffet correct? Anyone have prices? They don't list them on the booking website

Aug 22 - DHS
nothing booked yet. ADVICE on where to eat??? There doesn't seem to be any character meals here. What about near by resorts?

Aug 23 - Epcot
Dinner booked at Garden Grill. This is another buffet right?

Aug 24 - AK
Safari Breakfast at Tusker House booked
again, another buffet correct? Prices anyone?

I guess my assumption here is that you would prefer character meals? It is a good way to meet the characters and get autographs without having to wait in line. Both allears.net and the DIS home has menu information with pricing.

Chef Mickey's (at least every time I have been there) has always had Goofy, Minnie, Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale. So you're going to get a good amount of the "main" characters there. So I'd say Monday looks good.

Other than Playhouse Disney, not really a lot you can do character-wise at DHS. I agree with other posters about 50's or Sci-Fi for the theme. They really do need to open a good character-themed meal here for the older crowd.

I agree with an earlier poster that Garden Grill wasn't the best choice (compared to others). It was still good, though. It's a plated meal more than a buffet, so not really a lot of choices. As another option when you're at Epcot you can always park at the TTC and take the resort monorail to have breakfast (or dinner if you're leaving the park) at one of the MK resorts . Then, hop back to the TTC and over to the Epcot monorail. This opens up a few more options with different characters. Ohanas in the morning has Lilo and Stitch (and Mickey and Pluto). It's also a family-style meal - so you don't get up and go to a buffet, but they serve you waffles, eggs, etc. That's at the Poly. Grand Floridian also has a breakfast at 1900 Park Fare that is a buffet where you can meet Mary Poppins, Alice and the Mad Hatter (among other characters variously dipping in - but not always). This might be a good option for the 8-year old who is too grown up for the other princesses. These can also be more grown up characters. There's also a dinner at 1900 Park Fare with a cast from Cinderella, but I can't comment on that one, as I've never been.

Here's my favorite CS restaurants at each park:

MK: Cosmic Rays
DHS: Toy Story Pizza Planet
E: Cantina de San Angel
AK: Flame Tree Barbeque

If you're on the dining plan (or even if you're not), I highly recommend the Dole Whip at Aloha Isle as a snack. They're addicting

Best of luck with your choices and enjoy your trip!

 

[2BEKs]

ahhhh - the Alice in Wonderland characters would be GREAT!!! I'll have to look into that!

Question -

for when you're doing breakfasts at a resort - are you then into the parks for rope drop? before? after?

I was looking at the Ohana breakfast at Polly (love Lilo & Stitch!) but wasn't sure how that all worked.

we have 4 day vouchers that we have to turn in for our "real" tickets - - so that may complicate things further???

 

[dancin Disney style]

Question -

for when you're doing breakfasts at a resort - are you then into the parks for rope drop? before? after?

I was looking at the Ohana breakfast at Polly (love Lilo & Stitch!) but wasn't sure how that all worked.

we have 4 day vouchers that we have to turn in for our "real" tickets - - so that may complicate things further???

If you want to make rope drop you would need a 7am breakfast ADR. You need to plan about 90 minutes on average for a TS meal. The buffets can be a little less but if there are characters you will still need the 90 minutes as you sometimes have to wait for the characters to make it around.

Ohana is notorious for not seating you on time. So you need to factor in about another 15-30 minutes. IMO, Ohana is TOTALLY worth it. It is one of our favs and we try to do it every trip. Ohana is not a buffet but an all you can eat...served family style. Which means they bring large platters to the table and will refill anything you ask for.

You might be able to exchange your vouchers at the resort concierge. I've never had to do that so I can't say for sure. I'm sure someone will jump in with an answer to that.