Advice needed re: dining on DHS day

[Mme. Leota]

OK. . . here is the situation. We are going in October for free dining. I had originally planned for us to leave DHS at some point during the day for a meal at Beaches-n-Cream. I have been dying for a No Way Jose ever since I heard about it here.

Now I am second guessing. . .since they don't take ADRs, about how long should we expect to wait for a table if we go for maybe an early dinner in late October? I thought we would take the boat over to the beach club and back--non-fantasmic day if that makes a difference.

I just caved in and got an ADR for Hollywood and Vine breakfas at 8:05 a.m.. . . DS 2.5 is a total breakfast eater--hit or miss everything else, although I do think the grilled cheese at BnC would be good and he loves milkshakes. I do love to be inside the parks prior to rope drop, but have heard that H&V is BAD. Is it really that bad? So bad that it isn't worth being in the park prior to rope drop?

We could always use our TS credit for breakfast and then go to BnC if we feel like it later and just pay OOP. . . .please discuss. Thanks!!

 

[PoohsFan1]

We have never eaten breakfast at H&V, just dinner and we thought the food and atmosphere was just o.k. We originally had an ADR for dinner at H&V just because we couldn't think of anything else for our day at DHS. Then we decided to eat breakfast at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club with Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. Here they have a very good breakfast and awesome character interaction (one of our favorite character meals). For your situation, your 2.5 year old may like H&V breakfast better because that has the little Einsteins and JoJo Circus characters from Playhouse Disney (which my girls are too old for, that is another reason why we haven't eaten there for breakfast). As for BnC, the one and only time we tried to get a table there, the wait was over 2 hrs. long , needless to say, we didn't wait but rather got our ice cream to go.

 

[chitown_disneylovers]

we ate lunch at hollywood and vine with the characters and it was one of the best meals of our trip! the food was decent and the kids were so entertained with the characters and dancing they didn't want to leave! service was great too.

that said, it is what it is. it is a buffet and it is loud and there are kids dancing and singing etc. we thought it was very fun but very far from a fine dining experience

 

[Mme. Leota]

We did breakfast at Cape May last year. The buffet was excellent but our service was BAD. We waited and waited for our waiter to come back to the table to get our cards for payment, and then again for him to bring them back. We expected to get to DHS shortly after rope drop and instead it was after 10 a.m. by the time we arrived on the boat (also a longer than expected wait). I took DS 18 months outside and let him run around while DH and Nana waited on the checks and Papa participated in a conference call.

I was hoping they would change the characters for H&V. The Einstiens are great, and DS knows who they are, but it has been forever and a day since I have seen JoJo on Playhouse Disney. He would enjoy the singing and dancing I think.

I would hate to leave DHS and spend 30+ minutes getting to the Beach Club only to find a 2 hour wait at BnC.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I'd keep it.
Keep in mind everybody has different opinions on everything.
I heard it's all good there.