Critique My Dining plan

[Mrspeaks]

We are staying at WL with free dining 8/31-9/7. This is our 4th trip. Our daughter’s are 6 and 4.

Day 1: arrive 9:15am to MCO
Get settled, quick service either at WL or MK. Plan for a few FPS and the parade. Stay until we are tiring out.
Quick service dinner? Or plan an ADR?

Day 2: Epcot. PPO at Akershus. Stay til early afternoon. Pay out of pocket for HDDR.

Day 3: HS EMM. Quick service lunch if hungry after EMM later breakfast. Stay through afternoon. Had planned for Artist Point, but is this too early in our trip to get a 6ish ADR?

Day 4: MK EMM. Quick service lunch if hungry after EMM later breakfast. Stay til early dinner at Ohana.

Day 5: Hotel pool day. 9:00ish breakfast at Trattoria al Forno? Quick service lunch at WL. Dinner 1900 Park Fare. Head to MK for 3 FPS and nighttime shows.

Day 6: Animal Kingdom. Tusker house 11:00 lunch. Quick service dinner - Flame Tree or Satu’li Canteen. Stay as late as we want - girls really like AK.

Day 7: MNSSHP. Move 9:00ish breakfast at Trattoria al Forno? Pool time. Quick service lunch if hungry at WL. Head to park around 3:30. Quick service dinner during the party.

If we do what I have planned, I have one TS credit left. Thinking of adding Whispering Cannon for lunch on MNSSHP day or I could add something to our arrival day. We have done Trattoria before, but I really like it so I’d like to do it on one of our two pool time days. If I dropped it, we could use two credits on CRT or BOG dinner either on arribalday or the day we got to MK at night. I hook Minday, so I need to figure it out!

 

[DISNEY1975]

I got a 7:05 ADR no my 180 for the first day of our trip. You can try it.

Not sure what you are wanting critiqued. Only you know your families eating habits and what they like, also their schedule of when they get tired/hungry etc.. Only think I would suggest is maybe changing the TH lunch to the ROL dining package (still TH at 11). The show is great, especially if they love AK and you plan to stay late.

Other than that, I would suggest changing all your dinners to San Angel Inn You wont regret it!

 

[10CJ]

How do you plan to get to Trattoria al Forno? I might make that a little later depending on how you plan to get there.

I think it is fine to try for Artist Point on Day 3.

 

[KenHutch]

You have a nice plan but CS at Hollywood really stinks and this is from someone who calls Hollywood is favorite park.

 

[Mrspeaks]

You have a nice plan but CS at Hollywood really stinks and this is from someone who calls Hollywood is favorite park.

I hadn’t thought about that. I was thinking maybe Woodys lunchbox or just grab a snack? If we eat the breakfast at EMM around 9:30. We might be hungry for lunch.

 

[Mrspeaks]

How do you plan to get to Trattoria al Forno? I might make that a little later depending on how you plan to get there.

I think it is fine to try for Artist Point on Day 3.

Probably Uber. That is what we did last time. I really loved the calzone there. This ADR is more for me. My girls and I like Flynn Ryder too!

 

[ariane37]

I think adding WCC lunch before MNSSHP is a very good idea! I like to go to the party NOT hungry so we don't waste party time eating except for a snack. Also not all the CS locations stay open for the party, and some that do still close early in the night so it's a good idea to not have anyone "starving" during party.

For arrival day/night, grabbing lunch at Roaring Fork before heading to the park would work, we've done that on a couple stays at WL (my favorite ) Then I would either make an early-ish ADR for dinner, or if you think you might tire out before then, plan on maybe Geyser Point when you get back to the resort? LOVE Geyser Point!

 

[dachsie]

You have a nice plan but CS at Hollywood really stinks and this is from someone who calls Hollywood is favorite park.

There has been some new entrees added to ABC that got good reviews so maybe they are trying to improve that

I think WCC before MNSSHP is a great idea too. Then if hungry you can grab a light meal to share or try the specialty entrees they offer

 

[jelly_bean]

We stayed at WL in January and had no trouble getting Artist Point for both our arrival day and day 4 (party of 8), although if I recall correctly they may not have started taking reservations there until after our 180 advance reservation day, so I'm not sure if it's gotten harder now that reviews are so positive.

I like having an ADR on arrival day for dinner, especially if arriving as early as you are since you have time to absorb a potential travel delay. We always end up tired and hungry by the end of that first day (it sneaks up on us) and having a planned ADR keeps us from spinning our wheels and ending up cranky. I always plan that meal for the resort we're staying at, then afterward we're already where we belong.

I agree with the PP that eating well before MNSSHP is a good idea and WCC is a good place to fill up.

I like the breakfast at Trattoria al Forno and agree that the food is very good, however, we only go there when we stay at Boardwalk, Beach Club, or Yacht Club. The travel back and forth isn't worth it when staying at WL, in my opinion, even by Uber or Minnie Van. I would feel differently if you were contemplating it on an Epcot or Hollywood Studios day since you'd be in that area anyway, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it on a Magic Kingdom day.

Our January trip was the first time we'd been back to WL since 2015 (pre Geyser Point). We previously had enjoyed many meals at Roaring Fork and were counting on eating there several times on this trip. We were quite disappointed in every thing we ordered at Roaring Fork this time and felt similarly about Geyser Point (both at the counter and the sit down area). We ended up adding a few unexpected last minute ADRs as a result because we didn't want to go back to either location.

 

[cruisin5]

Love the idea to WCC before the party.

Keep Trattoria on day 5 but push it back later than 9 and plan to MinnieVan (for the car seats) at least one way, or probably monorail to MK then bus.

Consider Geyser instead of Roaring Fork, maybe for your first night. Could possibly time it for the marshmallow roast or EWP.

Good luck with Artist's Point! Nice blend of activities and downtime.

 

[KenHutch]

I hadn’t thought about that. I was thinking maybe Woodys lunchbox or just grab a snack? If we eat the breakfast at EMM around 9:30. We might be hungry for lunch.

We used to eat at Backlot Express but I hate the menu changes.

 

[rosiebean]

There has been some new entrees added to ABC that got good reviews so maybe they are trying to improve that

I think WCC before MNSSHP is a great idea too. Then if hungry you can grab a light meal to share or try the specialty entrees they offer

I agree regarding WCC before MNSSHP. In my experience, it’s best to eat before the party rather than spend time during it doing so. Have been to three MNSSHPs, and the first one, we did it "wrong" (in that we missed rides and characters by not planning well). One thing that threw us off our schedule was eating during the party...as others have mentioned, not all QS places are open, and those that are will likely be pretty busy.

The second and third year we did the party, we had a big breakfast that morning, and a late lunch/early dinner at our resort before heading to MK. I see that you've been to Trattoria al Forno before, so you know how great (and filling) it is! We went there a week and a bit ago, and it was a highlight of our trip. Really good food and the characters are fantastic.

(Also, if I am quoting the dachsie I know and love, GGH says howdy! Also Geaux Tigers and pink wine

)

 

[Mrspeaks]

What time would you all suggest booking the WCC before the MNSSHP? 2:00?

 

[jelly_bean]

What time would you all suggest booking the WCC before the MNSSHP? 2:00?

2:00 seems perfect to me if you're set on lunch and you plan on entering Magic Kingdom early, before the party actually starts. (You can enter as early as 4:00 with a party ticket.) WCC stops serving lunch at 2:30 but they won't rush you.
If you aren't going to MK until the actual start of the party (7:00) and you want the family to still be full, you might want to consider doing an early dinner. WCC starts seating again at 5:00.

 

[dachsie]

I agree regarding WCC before MNSSHP. In my experience, it’s best to eat before the party rather than spend time during it doing so. Have been to three MNSSHPs, and the first one, we did it "wrong" (in that we missed rides and characters by not planning well). One thing that threw us off our schedule was eating during the party...as others have mentioned, not all QS places are open, and those that are will likely be pretty busy.

The second and third year we did the party, we had a big breakfast that morning, and a late lunch/early dinner at our resort before heading to MK. I see that you've been to Trattoria al Forno before, so you know how great (and filling) it is! We went there a week and a bit ago, and it was a highlight of our trip. Really good food and the characters are fantastic.

(Also, if I am quoting the dachsie I know and love, GGH says howdy! Also Geaux Tigers and pink wine

)

Hey girlfriend! You know about the new site right? Cant wait for football to start again! Geaux!

 

[Mrspeaks]

Thanks for all the thoughts and suggestions. I got everything I wanted this morning, except HS EMM is not yet open for my date. My day 3 Artist Point reservation is at 4:30. That was the only time except for a 9:00. I’ll keep looking, or we will just skip lunch that day. I booked WCC for 2:00 for a late lunch on the night of mnsshp. So excited!