Advice for first timer

[kaks]

Hi All
I am taking children on 19th - 21st December as a surprise treat. Friend is coming with me as hubby is a dementor and sucks atmosphere, he doesn't grasp anything disney !!!! I know this is just before the schools break up but I wondered how busy the parks will be at this time?
Could anyone tell me whether we will need to book restaurants for the evening meals or will we be able to get in ok, if so how do we book in advance? Also any advice on where to eat with a 6 & 4 year old? Sorry for so many questions but any advice or tips would be gratefully received!

 

[the_princess]

Hi and welcome! You should eat at Cafe Mickey in Village, that's a great place for children. We always book restaurants when we get there, you can get your hotel to do it or go to the restaurant yourself. No need for booking before you arrive.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi kaks and welcome to DLP DIS board
We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, DLP posting rules are here, DIS posting guidelines can be found here.

Have a look at the restaurant faq sticky at the top of the board As well as giving you some guides as to what people liked and disliked about a restaurant you'll find the number to phone if you want to book in advance

 

[cantwait!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Different areas must break up at different times because my children finish school on the 19th.
There are always things to do when the queues are too long anyway-like playgrounds, shopping etc.
Hope you have a great time, Im sure you will.

 

[hildasmuriel]

We break up on the 19th as well, so don't count on it being quiet.
For starters I'll be there on the 20th and I will be far from quiet.

 

[suzybear6]

Could anyone tell me whether we will need to book restaurants for the evening meals or will we be able to get in ok, if so how do we book in advance? Also any advice on where to eat with a 6 & 4 year old? Sorry for so many questions but any advice or tips would be gratefully received!

Hi Kaks,
We've just got back from outr first trip to DLP with our 5yrs old and 4 yrs old - so they are aound the same age your your children. As someone else said, Cafe Mickey is a great place to eat with children what with the character interaction and all (see my trip report for more details). You definately do need to book Cafe Mickey in advance - you can do it before you leave the UK or once you get there. The hotel reception can book resturants for you, or you can ring them direct from your room or you can pop into the resturant and book in person. We went when it was half term for a lot of the uk and actually found it wasn't as packed as we thought it would be, but when I rang Cafe Mickey on the Wednesday morning they didn't have any tables left for that night until after 9pm and could only fit us in the following day at 5:30pm - so if you don't want to eat particularly early or late it might be best to book a good few days in advance.
We booked the Blue Lagoon on the day we wanted to go but we wanted to eat really early (4:30pm) and I think we would have been ok just turning up at this time - the resturant only really started to fill up around 5:30-6pm. The Blue Lagoon is in a lovely setting but not particularly aimed at children (plently of children in there though and our two enjoyed it). Their children's menu isn't your standard children's menu so check before you go to see if your children will like it.
If you want to eat at any of the resturants in the Disney Village where you can't book in advance (Annette's, Planet Hollywood, Rain Forest Cafe etc..) then you need to get there early if you don't want a hour or so's wait for a table. We were at the Rainforest Cafe between 3:30 and 5:30 pm and there were plently of empty tables at 3:30pm but by 5:30pm they were all full and people were queueing for tables by them (one day we went at 7:30pm and there was over an hour's wait for a table).
The Rainforest Cafe is another nice place for children - our two enjoyed the themeing - moving animals and a thunder storm every 1/2 hour or so.
hth
Luv Suzy

 

[lojo]

Suzy

A question about the queues for the non-reservable restaurants like Rainforest Cafe... is the queue just waiting until tables become available, or is there any kind of time slots given out (like Fastpasses, I guess)? It would be so much easier with small children and impatient adults if it was possible to minimise waiting around.

Ta
Lucy

 

[DLPdaft]

No fastpass or anything like it I'm afraid - at the non-bookable restaurants, you just have to wait in the queue until a table becomes available. I have seen very long queues at Annettes etc when the park closes.

We tend to do Annettes or Rainforest Cafe for lunch instead - much quieter then.

Elaine

 

[lojo]

Thanks Elaine,

I was pretty sure that was the case, but if you don't ask.....

Thanks
Lucy

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi kaks, welcome to the DIS!