Can you pros help me sort out these plans?

[shereepie]

Okay, having looked through these boards a ton in the past few days, and looking at other sites, as well, we think we'd like to eat at the following places, and I'd like some opinions, and also help organizing our plans.

Our son is 3 years old and autistic, so that may factor into your help, as well. He is very fond of women and loves being "flirted with", so we think that he would actually really love a princess-based meal.

I'd like to know what you think will be best, and also how to organize which things to do when because it's all so overwhelming. We'll have 7 days worth of meals to use, but only 3 days worth of park tickets, I think, so we'll only have access to counter service at a value resort and Downtown Disney restaurants on 4 of those days.

We'd like to do:
- Boma (characters only at breakfast?)
- Spoodles
- Le Cellier
- maybe Kona?
- Crystal Palace
- some type of princess meal (I thought I saw something about a princess lunch?)
- Beaches and Cream

As far as counter meals go, I have written down:
- Wolfgang Puck Express
- Artists Palette (now I can't remember if this was a counter service or not because my notes are so sloppy!)
- Earl of Sandwich
- Pecos Bill or Cosmic Ray's (which do you think is better?)

So if we spend three days (we will have Parkhopper tickets) at Disney and do Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom, what would be the best way to fit in as many of these places as we can on the dining plan, keepng in mind that we won't actually have park tickets on four of our days? And then what would be the best way to organize dining on the other four days, keeping in mind what we'll have access to? (I'd love opinions on what you like for those options, too!)

I realize I am asking a ton of questions, so thank you in advance.

 

[shereepie]

And I guess from the looks of it it wouldn't be that much to go ahead and make it a four day ticket if that would make things easier/better.

 

[kizmac]

If you want a great place to check menus and other info about places, www.allearsnet.com is wonderful!
As for princess lunch, your choices are 1900 Park Fare at GF....you could do this on a non park day. Other choices are CRT (very hard to get even at 90 days out) or the one in Epcot at Akershus in Norway. My SIL did this in June and really enjoyed it.
Boma, I believe, does not have characters even at breakfast.
If you are doing 4 days in the parks, I would book a TS at each park for dinner. As for some CS choices, I like Flame Tree at AK, there is also Harbour House at MK that is really good. Cosmic Rays I have never eaten at but will probably do so this time. Pecos Bills is good too. Epcot has a great CS with a wide selection in the Land Pavillion called Sunshine Seasons.
Just try to pick resort resturaunts for your off days. We are doing Ohana's, Boma & Chef Mickey's for our off days.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would strongly suggest going to the "disABILITIES" forum. There tends to be a lot of information there (and many questions answered) concerning children wiith Autism and how to have a good time at WDW with them.

I would also second an earlier poster's comment about getting longer tickets; for example a seven day ticket is only $14 (adult) or $ 12 (child) higher than a four day ticket. This allows you to spend less time in the parks on each day (which will reduce overstimulation) but allows you to keep the same total time in the parks.

 

[CarolynNC]

And I guess from the looks of it it wouldn't be that much to go ahead and make it a four day ticket if that would make things easier/better.

I would also second an earlier poster's comment about getting longer tickets; for example a seven day ticket is only $14 (adult) or $ 12 (child) higher than a four day ticket. This allows you to spend less time in the parks on each day (which will reduce overstimulation) but allows you to keep the same total time in the parks.

I agree with Cheshire Figment but will go one step further. According to the package website the 3 day hopper for 2 adults and 1 3yo is $584 but if you purchased 7 day non-hopper for 2 adults and 1 3yo the cost is $558. I believe this would give you more options for visiting the parks for shorter time spans and save you money. I would gladly give up the ability to hop to have 4 extra days in the parks.