ADR Recommendation

[jbish]

I'm asking in this forum vs. others as I'm looking for some ideas, as a seasoned visitor, from the most seasoned visitors. This trip is a bit different than others we have taken - we are driving (from the DC area, for the first time), staying for a week (about 6 park days, with a day of travel on either end), with no dining plan, and not visiting with a stroller (for the first time). My plan is to take things a little slower than we have in the past since it's not our kids' first trip (i.e. don't need to see everything in a day) and since they have to walk all day. Also, since we have a car, we plan on bringing/buying more groceries than we have in the past and cooking more. (No, it's not ideal to be cooking on vacation, but hoping it will save us a ton of money.)

In the past, with a dining plan, we have usually had one TS meal reserved each day. Also, previously, it was all about meeting characters, particularly the princesses, so character meals/buffets were the best deal.

But, now that I'm planning this trip, I find that we have entered a new phase of our WDW visits. I'd like to have maybe one or two TS meals reserved for the entire trip. So I'd like to solicit your suggestions. Given the age of my kids (8, 5, 5) and the kind of trip we are taking, if you could only do one TS, what would it be? And, if you have a great go-to place that's offsite, I'd be open to that, too! Thanks!

 

[deedisneydream97]

Where will you be staying? Studio or one bedroom?

We do some cooking and some TS and some off-site, and we usually have a one bedroom. We've done frozen pizza with a salad, rotisserie chicken from Publix or Winn dixie with some purchased potato salad or macaroni salad and some green giant steam fresh frozen veggies; steaks or burgers or dogs on the barbeque grill (you'd need charcoal and buns...but you can get the tools from Community Hall), you can bring Stouffers frozen lasagne; I know some people will bring their crockpot and throw in a pot roast or throw together a stew. I love sitting on the deck, having a meal. You can save a lot by having lunch meats and packing a lunch to bring to the park. the key to happiness is not much cooking or clean up involved.

One of my favorite places is the buffet in Germany at Epcot. Kids really seem to enjoy the show and the food is good. The hibachi place in Japan is another favorite of mine (although they don't take the Tables in Wonderland card any more I think).

The best restaurant is Monsiour Paul's, upstairs from the regular French restaurant, but probably too elegant for young kids. Unfortunately, they don't take TIW any more either.

There are lots of offsite places....mostly chains. We very much liked the Italian restaurant in the planned community, Celebration. Here is a link for offsite places from Disboard people:

http://www.disboards.com/threads/best-off-site-restaurants-thread.498998/

If you are driving, you may want to order a Florida Sunpass on-line. You cannot use easy pass once you cross in to Florida. There is a major construction project going on on I-4 and some people have recommended taking the toll road (go the the "Transportation" forum on the disboards and look for I-4 Contruction project). Since you are taking your personal vehicle, you could probably order the cheaper one that is not portable (you stick it to the windshield....it is extremely sticky and hard to remove).

 

[nalajms]

If you are driving, you may want to order a Florida Sunpass on-line. You cannot use easy pass once you cross in to Florida. There is a major construction project going on on I-4 and some people have recommended taking the toll road (go the the "Transportation" forum on the disboards and look for I-4 Contruction project). Since you are taking your personal vehicle, you could probably order the cheaper one that is not portable (you stick it to the windshield....it is extremely sticky and hard to remove).

They sell both types at most Publix stores don't they? And some rest areas. I'd go with the sticky. It was $5 versus $25 (2 years ago).

ADR - If you want character meals, I'd go with late breakfast or lunch rather than dinner. Skip the expensive princess meals and use your FP+ for those or wait in line at the parks. The interaction is much better at MK than the meals. Avoid the buffets, since most kids are charged $19+. Regular TS kids meals are around $8. We like Coral Reef, Wave, many of the Epcot countries. Will be trying Kona soon. Look on Allears for menu and pricing.

I also feel that there are several QS at Epcot that are just as good as the TS.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We did Tusker House for lunch on our last trip for the first time. We had been to Tusker House when it was counter service, but not table service. Our meal was great, we had tons of character visits and our server was very interesting. We had a good time talking with him. And with lunch, you don't spend as much.

 

[deedisneydream97]

They sell both types at most Publix stores don't they? And some rest areas. I'd go with the sticky. It was $5 versus $25 (2 years ago).

the sticky is still $5, portable $20 plus $5 shipping. I'd rather have it ahead of time. I got the portable because we usually fly and rent a car...although I'll be doing a road trip in the summer. It is easy to use their app on an iphone to add the rental car on temporarily.

 

[dreaming4disney]

I think BOG would be nice at MK.

 

[jbish]

First of all, I like the new the "alert" system on the new Disboards site, but it doesn't actually alert you when someone has responded to your own post? I guess you have to "watch" the post. I was starting to wonder why no one would respond to my post! LOL

Where will you be staying? Studio or one bedroom?


If you are driving, you may want to order a Florida Sunpass on-line. You cannot use easy pass once you cross in to Florida. There is a major construction project going on on I-4 and some people have recommended taking the toll road (go the the "Transportation" forum on the disboards and look for I-4 Contruction project). Since you are taking your personal vehicle, you could probably order the cheaper one that is not portable (you stick it to the windshield....it is extremely sticky and hard to remove).

I guess I missed a few details - we are staying in a 1 BR at BLT, so full on cooking/to-go lunch prep is part of the plan. We lived in FL for a few years so I love Publix and will definitely stock up when we get close to "home". Thanks for all the suggestions and for the heads up on the SunPass! I didn't realize that the price difference was so significant! Sheesh! I'll look more on the Transportation board!

Thanks to the others, too, on suggestions - keep 'em coming! (To address the PP about Princesses, the reason they aren't on the docket this year is because my daughter has outgrown them. For now. Sad to think that phase of her life has already passed - but I could see them coming back in when she's older, too. )

 

[BStew]

We loved Coral Reef! Very good food and the kids were entertained with watching the fish in the aquarium. We were there for lunch.

We also loved BOG for dinner- such good food!