Advice on few dining decisions...

[AlixaLock]

So I've got our dining itinerary almost narrowed down and I'd love to know what everyone thinks and to get some advice on a few lingering questions.

FYI, here are the particulars: Late January, Poly resort for 8 nights (flying , no car)
5 adults, 3 kiddos (ages 4,3,2.) We're restaurant people. Of course, there is the occasional meltdown, but all the kids eat and behave (usually) very well at sit down places. Now that I've said that, I'm sure we won't have a quiet meal ever again!

Saturday (arrival):
Spirit of Aloha Luau (early show) (I was torn here, because I know the reviews aren't great. But we want to pop over to MK for a celebratory first look at the castle and then back to the hotel for dinner and an early night. I know that this may be cancelled if weather is a problem. We'll do CS at MK is that's the case.

Sunday:
1900 Park Faire (8am) BTW, does the monorail run this early? how do you get there from Poly otherwise. It's a 9am MK open that day.
Liberty Tree Tavern 6:45pm

Monday:
Coral Reef 12:50pm
Biergarten 6:45

Tuesday
Yak and Yeti 1pm
Kona Cafe 7pm

Wednesday
BBBoutique 11am
CRT 12:20pm
Yachtsman Steakhouse 8:40 (grown-ups only)

Thursday
Le Cellier (11:30)
Hollywood Brown Derby 4:45 (Fantasmic Dinner) This is the day I'm most concerned about. Two big meals so close together, but some people in our group really want to see Fantasmic and this seemed like the best way ...

Friday
Chef Mickey's (8 am)
T-Rex 12:30
San Angel Inn 8:45 (grown ups only)
Here's another day I'd like to get advice on. We crossed wires and another member of the party booked an 8 am on this day at Crystal Palace and we are torn about which to keep (pinky swear that we will cancel one very soon ...) Everyone thinks that Chef Mickey is better overall, but we really like the idea of getting inside the park before opening. We're all pretty experienced Disney (both LAND and WORLD) people and this is something none of us have ever done ....

Saturday
Nine Dragons 12:45
O'hana 6:45

Be brutal, I'd love to know what you all think!

 

[Kathy Z]

So I've got our dining itinerary almost narrowed down and I'd love to know what everyone thinks and to get some advice on a few lingering questions.

FYI, here are the particulars: Late January, Poly resort for 8 nights (flying , no car)
5 adults, 3 kiddos (ages 4,3,2.) We're restaurant people. Of course, there is the occasional meltdown, but all the kids eat and behave (usually) very well at sit down places. Now that I've said that, I'm sure we won't have a quiet meal ever again!

Saturday (arrival):
Spirit of Aloha Luau (early show) (I was torn here, because I know the reviews aren't great. But we want to pop over to MK for a celebratory first look at the castle and then back to the hotel for dinner and an early night. I know that this may be cancelled if weather is a problem. We'll do CS at MK is that's the case.
If the weather is really bad enough to cancel SOA, Captain Cook's CS - right at the Poly would be my choice.

Sunday:
1900 Park Faire (8am) BTW, does the monorail run this early? how do you get there from Poly otherwise. It's a 9am MK open that day.
Yes, the monorail is running early enough for this. Also, it is only a 10 to 15 minute walk (for adults) from the Poly to GF.
Liberty Tree Tavern 6:45pm

Monday:
Coral Reef 12:50pm
Biergarten 6:45

Tuesday
Yak and Yeti 1pm
Kona Cafe 7pm

Wednesday
BBBoutique 11am
CRT 12:20pm
Yachtsman Steakhouse 8:40 (grown-ups only)
You'll love this. Other families will have children there so don't expect it to be kid free.

Thursday
Le Cellier (11:30)
Hollywood Brown Derby 4:45 (Fantasmic Dinner) This is the day I'm most concerned about. Two big meals so close together, but some people in our group really want to see Fantasmic and this seemed like the best way ...
Arrive to check-in at Le Cellier 10-15 minutes early to be sure to be among the first people seated. That will keep your meals as far apart as possible.

Friday
Chef Mickey's (8 am)
T-Rex 12:30
San Angel Inn 8:45 (grown ups only)
Here's another day I'd like to get advice on. We crossed wires and another member of the party booked an 8 am on this day at Crystal Palace and we are torn about which to keep (pinky swear that we will cancel one very soon ...) Everyone thinks that Chef Mickey is better overall, but we really like the idea of getting inside the park before opening. We're all pretty experienced Disney (both LAND and WORLD) people and this is something none of us have ever done ....
Personally, I'd go with the CP ressie.

Saturday
Nine Dragons 12:45
O'hana 6:45

Be brutal, I'd love to know what you all think!

I hope that the comments I made within your text show up. I've never tried answering this way before.

 

[AlixaLock]

I hope that the comments I made within your text show up. I've never tried answering this way before.

Got 'em and thanks! Thanks for the heads-up about walking to the GF, I've been wondering about that. I kind of assumed you could, but wasn't sure. That will make things so much easier for us.

I've been reading through older threads and I think it's going to be CP hands down ... can't wait to hear more, though ...

 

[baler31]

Also would go with CP over CM. Last two visits we stayed at CR and did not step foot in CM's even though we have kids!

That is a lot of TS dining, the grown ups in our party would never make it. A couple of days you will be spending over 3 hours alone on dining (checking in, waiting to seated, meal, check etc.) just be prepared for that.

 

[SGMCO]

I think all your dining choices look real good.
You must be on the Deluxe Dining plan.
I would make sure you bring a copy of your Resturant list with times and
Conf. #s. This helps keep it all straight.

 

[TruBlu]

I was going to suggest walking, too. Last year our kids did the Pirate Cruise at the GF. We dropped them off at 9:30 and took the monorail to the Poly for breakfast at Cpt. Cooks. It took so long to get there Cpt. Cooks had switched to lunch! We walked back and it was MUCH faster.

 

[TruBlu]

Friday
Chef Mickey's (8 am)
T-Rex 12:30
San Angel Inn 8:45 (grown ups only)
Here's another day I'd like to get advice on. We crossed wires and another member of the party booked an 8 am on this day at Crystal Palace and we are torn about which to keep (pinky swear that we will cancel one very soon ...) Everyone thinks that Chef Mickey is better overall, but we really like the idea of getting inside the park before opening. We're all pretty experienced Disney (both LAND and WORLD) people and this is something none of us have ever done ....

I would suggest moving T-Rex to later in the day - maybe 2-ish. When we have a breakfast buffet we are always much too full for lunch until later in the afternoon.

Chef Mickey's breakfast is one of our favorites, but I don't think I could pass up getting in to the park before it opened. I think I'd go with CP.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

On the day with conflicting reservations between Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace, I would take Crystal Palace. Walking down the street before the park opens is magical and the picture you can get with your kids in front of the castle with no one else in the background is priceless.

You said you are very well versed in Disney and this is something you need to add to your life experiences. Chef Mickey's is great, but this time hit the Magic Kingdom before it opens.

Other than that the only thing that would stumble our food loving family is Le Cellier and Brown Derby so close together. If that was me I would keep trying to move a few things around for that day.

 

[AlixaLock]

Thanks, everyone, I appreciate your thoughts. CP is now official and I'm going to cancel Chef Mickey in the morning.

It is a lot of table service , but it's kind of our "down time.". We love to sit down and talk about the day and just decompress. And, since we're at WDW for 8.5 days, we kind of feel like we can take our time and not worry about missing anything. It's just kind of how we roll.

I'm still not sure about the Fantasmic day .... I think I'll let it float and see how things go. Thanks also, for pointing out that T-Rex might be better off moved to later. I'm actually thinking of canceling it altogether ...

Sounds crazy, but I am having such a blast with this part of the planning

 

[Huff]

Luau is a fun show but kids may be bored until the finaly fire dance show. It was nice to just sit and relax for a show and enjoy dinner. The food is good and plenty of it but all in all the price was steep and felt the value was not the best.

Coral Reef has good food but not one of the top to me. The draw is the aquarium to watch while eating. We are going here again for our upcoming trip. Kids will love the aquarium atmosphere.

Biergarten had some of the nicest servers in WDW. Very enjoyable and fun. Good food but I found it somewhat limited. Price wise to me is not the best value but you pay for the entertainment and that made it worthwhile and a fun meal.

Kona Cafe has excellent food. One of my favorates. It seems to be one of the best WDW restaurants you don't hear that much about. The atmosphere isn't good, can be noisy but staff and food is above par.

Le Cellier has excellent steaks and the desserts were great. The Chocolate Moose cake was fun as it looked like a moose! Atmosphere isn't the best but we'll be going here again.

San Angel is excellent. One of the best dining atmospheres. Kids will have fun on the ride thats inside. The food is very good but not for everyone. Do not go expecting the Americanized tacos, burritos etc. It's more authentic than what many are used to. We love it and go every time.

Ohana's is a favorate of mine. Very good food. Kids get to play some themed games and contests while dining. Make sure to tell your server how you like your meats. Otherwise they just bring you whatevers coming off the grill and may not be to your liking. Its an all you can eat, great food, fun atmosphere.

Other restaurants to think about maybe Boma. Great food but a little adventerous for some. AKL is nice to wander around before or after dinner. At night ask CM's to use their night vision binoculars to see the animals. Les Chefs de France is another good choice with excellent food and relaxing atmosphere.

 

[lilandvisma]

So I've got our dining itinerary almost narrowed down and I'd love to know what everyone thinks and to get some advice on a few lingering questions.

FYI, here are the particulars: Late January, Poly resort for 8 nights (flying , no car)
5 adults, 3 kiddos (ages 4,3,2.) We're restaurant people. Of course, there is the occasional meltdown, but all the kids eat and behave (usually) very well at sit down places. Now that I've said that, I'm sure we won't have a quiet meal ever again!

Saturday (arrival):
Spirit of Aloha Luau (early show) (I was torn here, because I know the reviews aren't great. But we want to pop over to MK for a celebratory first look at the castle and then back to the hotel for dinner and an early night. I know that this may be cancelled if weather is a problem. We'll do CS at MK is that's the case.

Sunday:
1900 Park Faire (8am) BTW, does the monorail run this early? how do you get there from Poly otherwise. It's a 9am MK open that day.
Liberty Tree Tavern 6:45pm

Monday:
Coral Reef 12:50pm
Biergarten 6:45

Tuesday
Yak and Yeti 1pm
Kona Cafe 7pm

Wednesday
BBBoutique 11am
CRT 12:20pm
Yachtsman Steakhouse 8:40 (grown-ups only)

Thursday
Le Cellier (11:30)
Hollywood Brown Derby 4:45 (Fantasmic Dinner) This is the day I'm most concerned about. Two big meals so close together, but some people in our group really want to see Fantasmic and this seemed like the best way ...

Friday
Chef Mickey's (8 am)
T-Rex 12:30
San Angel Inn 8:45 (grown ups only)
Here's another day I'd like to get advice on. We crossed wires and another member of the party booked an 8 am on this day at Crystal Palace and we are torn about which to keep (pinky swear that we will cancel one very soon ...) Everyone thinks that Chef Mickey is better overall, but we really like the idea of getting inside the park before opening. We're all pretty experienced Disney (both LAND and WORLD) people and this is something none of us have ever done ....

Saturday
Nine Dragons 12:45
O'hana 6:45

Be brutal, I'd love to know what you all think!

Umm..CM= and CP= convenience of being in MK and

 

[AlixaLock]

Umm..CM= and CP= convenience of being in MK and

Totally says it all! Thanks!

Oh, and I just noticed that we overlap! We're at WDW 1/29-2/6! MY daughter will have just turned 3 when we arrive!

 

[AlixaLock]

Luau is a fun show but kids may be bored until the finaly fire dance show. It was nice to just sit and relax for a show and enjoy dinner. The food is good and plenty of it but all in all the price was steep and felt the value was not the best.

Coral Reef has good food but not one of the top to me. The draw is the aquarium to watch while eating. We are going here again for our upcoming trip. Kids will love the aquarium atmosphere.

Biergarten had some of the nicest servers in WDW. Very enjoyable and fun. Good food but I found it somewhat limited. Price wise to me is not the best value but you pay for the entertainment and that made it worthwhile and a fun meal.

Kona Cafe has excellent food. One of my favorates. It seems to be one of the best WDW restaurants you don't hear that much about. The atmosphere isn't good, can be noisy but staff and food is above par.

Le Cellier has excellent steaks and the desserts were great. The Chocolate Moose cake was fun as it looked like a moose! Atmosphere isn't the best but we'll be going here again.

San Angel is excellent. One of the best dining atmospheres. Kids will have fun on the ride thats inside. The food is very good but not for everyone. Do not go expecting the Americanized tacos, burritos etc. It's more authentic than what many are used to. We love it and go every time.

Ohana's is a favorate of mine. Very good food. Kids get to play some themed games and contests while dining. Make sure to tell your server how you like your meats. Otherwise they just bring you whatevers coming off the grill and may not be to your liking. Its an all you can eat, great food, fun atmosphere.

Other restaurants to think about maybe Boma. Great food but a little adventerous for some. AKL is nice to wander around before or after dinner. At night ask CM's to use their night vision binoculars to see the animals. Les Chefs de France is another good choice with excellent food and relaxing atmosphere.

Thanks ... Boma was the next reservation on the list when I ran out of meals! We all decided that we'd save AKL/Boma as something to look forward to next trip. We're so excited about San Angel!

 

[CityGirlLost]

Sounds like a great vacation to me!

My family loves Chef Mickey's. We didn't like CP. That's the one I'd cancel.