Akershus or Garden Grill?

[debbs0723]

Hi Everybody. I'm back for more dining help. This is our first visit with 4 and 7 year old daughters. We have no idea what to expect. We will be there nov 30-Dec 7th.

My current plans were:
Nov 30-Garden Grill
Dec 1-Le Cellier
Dec 2-Crystal palace
dec 3-Kona lunch
dec 4th- sci Fi
Dec 5th-1900s park fare dinner
Dec 6th- Chef Mickey's.

I have been considering switching out my garden Grill reservation for Akershus lunch or dinner on Nov 30th. I just called and low and behold they have a decent amount of reservations open for both lunch and dinner. I went ahead and booked a late lunch for 2:55 at Akershus. I already have garden grill booked for early dinner but I will be cancelling one or the other as it is way too much food. My first question is seeing all my other reservations what would you guys prefer? My kids are not adventurous eaters but we are okay with it. I assume they have a kids menu? Also we arrive at MCO at 10:37 and plan to do the ME and disney transportation from CSR. Is 2:55 lunch pushing it?

Thanks,
Debbie

 

[kadesha]

the Garden Grill is by far one of my favorite character meals. However, since you already have a meal planned with Mickey at Chef Mickeys, your girls would probably enjoy the princesses at Akershus. Some of the princesses not seen around the parks as much can appear there, such as Mulan and Mary Poppins.

 

[Vavasmon]

I would suggest going with Akershus to let your girls to the princesses unless your girls need to see Mickey before their Disney vacation begins. As the pp noted, the GG has some of the best character interactions around (We saw all the characters 4 times in March) but you will see all those characters in the parks and at CM.

The menu at GG is "less exotic". We however, were disappointed in the food compared to previous trips. I have never had anything but breakfast in Norway. The adult dinner menu always looked better to me than lunch but that is a personal preference. Check the menus out before you decide. They do have a kids menu (it had grilled chicken, hot dog, and ravioli when one of my co-workers took her DD). Her DD is somewhat picky and ate as best she could - she was so excited to see Mulan which is her favorite princess.

If I were you, I would change to a dinner seating. The timing is fine as long as your flight is not delayed. Also, do your girls want to "dress up" to see the princesses? Some do and some don't. If they do you may be very rushed to get the luggage, change, and get out the door. You don't say which resort but you need to factor in resort commute time and walking to the restaurant. Also because it is their first time, they may want to "stop and smell the flowers" for a few minutes somewhere when something catches their eyes.

Above all enjoy your first trip and see the magic in your children s eyes.

 

[debbs0723]

I'm sorry. I'm staying at CSR. I think dinner would suit us better also. Honestly the reason I booked the late lunch is because I hadn't cancelled the GG dinner yet and didn't want to lose both of them if they caught me double booking. The trip is a complete surprise for my daughters. We refer to it as the "business trip" now and they tune us out completely.

I didn't really want to lose two TS credits at CRT and I had kind of put Akershus out of my mind but my younger daughter is very into princesses now. My older daughter said she wasn't but now all the sudden she is. I started to think that I would regret no princess meals for two girls once we were there. We will see Mickey later in the trip and I don't think the trip necessarily has to start with him. We know for sure we want it to start with a character meal and we will be in Epcot that day so it is GG or Akershus.

I looked over both the lunch and dinner menu at Akershus and it looks like my husband and I could be happy at both and as far as the kids are concerned food is going to be very secondary. They barely eat much as it is.

Debbie