Another F! dining question

[Canadian Harmony]

We're arriving on a Sunday in early October, and will probably get through check-in around 4:30 or so. I wanted to originally eat at House of Blues as I can get a smokin' deal on some coupons, and then have the dessert option for F!, but seeing as how DLR had to go and change that (because I'm the only one EVER to go to DLR ), I'm trying to figure out something else.

Our one limitation, other than "no spicy food" as per the kiddos, is that DH LOATHES restaurants with low lighting. That means BB is out of the question. Which is a good, brightly lit option for dinner for a F! package?

We can reserve before we get to the hotel so that'll take some pressure away from racing from check-in to dinner to F! at least.

Suggestions?

 

[scrapshappen]

I think your only option is River Belle Terrace since Blue Bayou has the low lighting. They do have the take out meals from Aladdin's Oasis but those just get you a FP, not a reserved seat for Fantasmic.

RBT is your choice of Chicken Breast, Pasta or NY Strip with Cajun Shrimp skewer (which was cajun flavored but not spicy hot either). They pretty much have the same for kids except it comes without the shrimp. Starters are a salad or corn chowder. Dessert is Chocolate Mouse cake or Apple Pie. My family enjoyed it. My oldest didn't want the sauce that came with the beef but they just left it off so I'm guessing they can accommodate picky eaters there too.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Does the Aladdin's G&G option give you a specific area for their FP? And if we get our meals at, say, 5pm, that means we're stuck wherever the FP puts us if we take the Aladdin option, right?

It's a $65 difference between Aladdin and RBT, so I want to make sure I make a good decision.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Plus, my older DD will be 10 and she's considered an adult when it comes to eating. I looked at the menu and she'd definitely prefer the kid's selections to the adult ones. *sigh* I don't know if that price will be a waste of money but I know she won't eat it all and we'd end up taking it back to the hotel for nibbles later...

 

[SMD]

You can get the same FP you'd get at Aladdin's from the FP machine. If you're going to end up with the second show anyway, you might as well just go right into the park and pull an FP.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

I think we'd want the first show, so I MUST do a dining package, correct?

 

[707MickeyGirl]

Plus, my older DD will be 10 and she's considered an adult when it comes to eating. I looked at the menu and she'd definitely prefer the kid's selections to the adult ones. *sigh* I don't know if that price will be a waste of money but I know she won't eat it all and we'd end up taking it back to the hotel for nibbles later...

Maybe someone here on the boards can tell you, or maybe you can call Disney Dining to find out, but it's possible your DD10 might be allowed to order from the kids' menu. I've done it regularly at counter service restaurants.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

I think I'll have to suck it up and add the cost of it, just to ensure we get reserved seating for the first show and a decent meal when we land.

 

[scrapshappen]

Our 10 year old ate off the kids menu at RBT. I know my DH talked to the restaurant staff about it before I got there with the kids so I'm not sure what he said to them. But my DS clearly told the waitress he was 10 and they still let him order off of it. He's very small for his age so would have easily passed for 8, but we like to be above the board.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Awesome! Thanks! I can make our reservations early though, correct?

 

[CassieF]

Yes, you can make reservation 60 days in advance. Make sure when you do you make the reservation you tell them you want the first show, and your reservation time will depend on that. There have been reports of older children 10 to 12 being able to order off of the children's menu, but you never know until you get there.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

Thanks. It's hard when you don't know what's what.

 

[Peezle]

I think we'd want the first show, so I MUST do a dining package, correct?

You don't HAVE to have a dining reservation to see either show time. You can get a regular FP or even do standby. It all depends on what kind of view you want and how long you want to wait. Spending the money on a dining package minimizes your wait time and guarantees a good viewing spot where you can most likely sit on the ground, but you can also get good viewing spots in the blue and yellow FP areas as well if you show up early enough.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

According to Alaska's latest change, we're going to be there around 12:30, so we'll have the afternoon in the park.
Now I'm trying to decide if getting a WOC dining package will be worth it...