Any Comments On Our Choices

[CamColt]

We are traveling in August with another family. Between us we are 4 adults and 4 boys, 6, 6, 4, & 3(wish us luck). We arent looking for fine cuisine and want to keep costs relatively low for this trip. And with the 4 boys, loud restaurants are a plus, LOL! So what do you think of these?

Breakfast, Chef Mickeys

Dinner, ESPN
Mama Melrose
Planet Hollywood
Kona Cafe

Counter service, Pizza Planet
Liberty Inn(DH's choice for Sam Adams)

All the other meals will either be at the food court, whatever counter service we are near at the time, or just snacking around the parks. Most of the kids are better snackers than meal eaters anyway

 

[Penny2]

I think you are very, very brave......you have chosen....wisely. My only comment is about Planet Hollywood...I'm just not a big fan. How about Rainforest Cafe instead...there are plenty of cool animals to see and things to do (closer to the shopping if you are inclined) and then they can go play with the legos. There used to be a really cool area in DTD where the kids could play with legos and see some really large lego creations. What I thought was really cool is that they have these water 'tubes' where they throw the legos in so they get clean! If your plan is based around being on the west side, you can easily take a boat from the west side to dtd (and vice versa). I bet the boys would really enjoy that!

 

[swankybeth]

Good choices, except for ESPN Club. I wasn't impressed with the food there at all. I had buffalo chicken strips and cheese fries, and my roommate had steak. My food was very salty--in fact, most of what you could actually taste was just salt! My roommate's steak didn't fare much better. If you want burgers, try Beaches and Cream, it's in the same area, tastes better IMHO, and best of all, it's cheaper!

 

[CamColt]

Penny, thats actually a great idea, however we have a RFC 10 minutes up the street from us, so I dont think that would be a "special" thing for the kids. I did get "stomach problems" after eating at PH about 5 years ago, but I thought the kids would get a kick out of going in there so Im willing to give it another chance.
I didnt know about the boat though. We will have to look into it. A few trips ago those friendship boats were a highlight of the trip for my DS.

Swanky Beth, I hadnt even thought of B&C for this trip(we are throwing it around for our Dec trip though). Thats a good suggestion.

 

[Harambe]

Hi CamColt! Looks good to me. The ages of the kids show that they may enjoy Casey's in MK for a hot dog - they have a room where old cartoons play - and then they can have an ice cream!

I'm sure you'll have some stories about this trip! Have fun!

 

[chrissyk]

Will you have a car? If so, there is a Joe's Crab Shack just a minute or 2 from WDW that I highly recommend! The kids would love it...the staff does line dances when certain songs come on I thought that the food was pretty good and inexpensive too. There is a 10% AAA discount on food and merchandise there, too I'm hoping to eat there again when we go to WDW in Oct.

 

[Buz]

The only comment/warning I have is that the service at PH can be slow. Not a good thing with boys that age! lol!

 

[Divamomto3]

Good choices, especially Chef Mickey's. However, I did NOT like Planet Hollywood at all. The memorabilia is nice, but the place smelled like Clorox and the food was lousy.

 

[Alice28]

Our two boys loved Pizza Planet- I'm sure yours will as well. Buzz and Woody are at a meet and greet not too far away so maybe you can see them before or after lunch. Just try to time it right- when the Muppets 3D gets out, the line gets HUGE!

 

[Bimmy56]

I love the nacho's at the ESPN Club, and your boys may get a kick out of the t.v.'s in the bathroom stalls. I have to agree with the other's, Planet Hollywood was the worst restaurant that we have ever eaten in at WDW in 20 years of going there. We are not picky at all, or used to gourmet meals, but it was SO crowded, SO slow, and So expensive, that it is the only restaurant that we will not go back to.

BTW, the Liberty Inn is a sit- down restaurant, not a counter service. It's great though, a nice cool, rather quiet break in the midst of the madness.
'

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by Bimmy56

BTW, the Liberty Inn is a sit- down restaurant, not a counter service. It's great though, a nice cool, rather quiet break in the midst of the madness.
'

Maybe Im thinking of some place else then. Last summer we went to a counterservice place in America in WS. They had pretty good burgers & fries and a great fixins bar, and of course, DH's favorite, Sam Adams.
On the ESPN nachos was there real melted cheese or that fake processed cheese sauce that you get at sporting events and the like? I love nachos but Im picky about them, LOL!

Hmmm, Im really rethinking Planet Hollywood now.

 

[Kae]

I would think about Wolf Gang Puck express over Planet Hollywood. if it nice out you can sit outside.

Kae

 

[DaisyLou2]

I agree with everyone on the Planet Hollywood choice. Maybe if the kids were a bit older.....?
Actually, they might enjoy it because it's very LOUD....there is a huge screen where they play clips of movies and music videos. After about 20 minutes I had the biggest headache EVER! And couldn't wait to leave.

Umm...my cheeseburger was good though.

 

[ead79]

Kona Cafe is terrific! Enjoy--and be sure to save room for dessert!

 

[Penny2]

Liberty Tree Tavern in MK is a sit-down family style dinner
and
Liberty Inn in Epcot is a counter service with burgers, hot dogs and SAM ADAMS
During certain times the Liberty Tree also sells a killer ham sandwich with a cranberry mustard dressing that is AMAZING!

You know at DTD you see many families that 'picnic' from the various restaurants. A hot dog from one, a sanwich from another, and who could pass up the ice cream at Ghiardelli????

I STILL THINK YOU ARE VERY, VERY BRAVE!!!

 

[hercamore]

Hi,

I'd also recommend buying the Animal Kingdom meal vouchers if you are going to the AK.

A very good deal, especially for the kids.


Have fun, kids that age are fun and flexible.


herc.

 

[Divamomto3]

Originally posted by Penny2
[

I STILL THINK YOU ARE VERY, VERY BRAVE!!! [/B]

I'm not quite sure how to take this. I'm sure she'll be just fine. I was with 10, 8, and 2 year old sons and my 5 year old niece. We had a fabulous time and scrumptous meals at Nine Dragons, Fultons, Hoop De Doo, Spirit of Aloha, Big River Grill, Boardwalk Pizza, Cape May Cafe, Yacht Club Galley, Beaches and Cream, Chef Mickey's, the Crystal Palace and various takeout type food in Epcot. The kids were also great at Planet Hollywood, but that wasn't enjoyable food for us.

As far as the Liberty Inn in Epcot...kids had chicken strips there..I'd imagine there is much better food to be found in Epcot. Tell dh to take his beer to go.

 

[CamColt]

Originally posted by Penny2
Liberty Tree Tavern in MK is a sit-down family style dinner
and
Liberty Inn in Epcot is a counter service with burgers, hot dogs and SAM ADAMS
During certain times the Liberty Tree also sells a killer ham sandwich with a cranberry mustard dressing that is AMAZING!

You know at DTD you see many families that 'picnic' from the various restaurants. A hot dog from one, a sanwich from another, and who could pass up the ice cream at Ghiardelli????

I STILL THINK YOU ARE VERY, VERY BRAVE!!!

Thanks for clearing that up. I was pretty sure it was the Liberty Inn we went to.
As for Ghiradelli, I am thinking of saving some room that night so we can get sundaes.

 

[Planogirl]

The Liberty Inn is a good idea IMO especially if the weather is nice and you sit outside. I like to grab something for myself at the Kringla Bakery or somewhere like that first. Then I get something for DS and a drink for myself at the Liberty Inn.

The lines do seem to move very slowly at Liberty Inn so be prepared for that.

 

[ducklite]

Uh, good luck?

As far as your choices, I'd rethink a couple. You can do much better than Chef Mickey's...1900 Park Fare, Cape May Cafe are both non-park CB's that are 100% better.

Planet Hollywood...you could do worse (like Mc Donalds) but it wouldn't be on my short list.

Keep in mind that some sit down places have such large portions taht they can actually work out cheaper than a counter service place--The Plaza and 50's PT are two off the top of my head.

Anne