Critique my ressies - character dining palooza

[FrozenDuck]

Weeklong trip during free dining: DD-3, DS-1.5, Mom, Dad, and Grandma. DD absolutely loves the Princesses, Mickey & crew, and the Disney Jr characters.

Day 1 (noon resort arrival): Garden Grill dinner (Epcot PM)
Day 2: Minnie's Holiday Dine with F! (AK day + HS evening)
Day 3: Akershus dinner (MK day)
Day 4: none (resort/pool day)
Day 5: H&V lunch, Ohana dinner (HS)
Day 6: BOG lunch, Crystal Palace dinner (MK day)
Day 7: Coral Reef dinner (TBD)
Day 8: (depart in morning)

I realize we're eating at H&V twice, with the same menu - we went last year and didn't mind the food, and thought the different character combo's (plus F!) would be worth going back twice. Ohana & Garden Grill are the only 'new' restaurants for us, although we haven't been to Akershus since they eliminated the buffet.

 

[Confederate Scott]

Weeklong trip during free dining: DD-3, DS-1.5, Mom, Dad, and Grandma. DD absolutely loves the Princesses, Mickey & crew, and the Disney Jr characters.

Day 1 (noon resort arrival): Garden Grill dinner (Epcot PM)
Day 2: Minnie's Holiday Dine with F! (AK day + HS evening)
Day 3: Akershus dinner (MK day)
Day 4: none (resort/pool day)
Day 5: H&V lunch, Ohana dinner (HS)
Day 6: BOG lunch, Crystal Palace dinner (MK day)
Day 7: Coral Reef dinner (TBD)
Day 8: (depart in morning)

I realize we're eating at H&V twice, with the same menu - we went last year and didn't mind the food, and thought the different character combo's (plus F!) would be worth going back twice. Ohana & Garden Grill are the only 'new' restaurants for us, although we haven't been to Akershus since they eliminated the buffet.

If you are looking for character dining at dinner there is none at Ohana. Personally speaking Ohana is way overrated.

 

[Vik]

How about doing Ohana in the morning and catch Lilo and Stitch and more?

 

[River Country]

Weeklong trip during free dining: DD-3, DS-1.5, Mom, Dad, and Grandma. DD absolutely loves the Princesses, Mickey & crew, and the Disney Jr characters.

Day 1 (noon resort arrival): Garden Grill dinner (Epcot PM)FUN
Day 2: Minnie's Holiday Dine with F! (AK day + HS evening)FUN
Day 3: Akershus dinner (MK day) MK Day with an Epcot Dinner??? This has great character interaction with not so great food for dinner
Day 4: none (resort/pool day) always needed
Day 5: H&V lunch, Ohana dinner (HS)a buffet and all you can eat in the same day. I'm not a fan of Ohana for dinner bfast is waay better
Day 6: BOG lunch, Crystal Palace dinner (MK day) CP is really not good I know its pooh and the characters but the food quality is bad
Day 7: Coral Reef dinner (TBD) best meal I had on my last trip
Day 8: (depart in morning)

I realize we're eating at H&V twice, with the same menu - we went last year and didn't mind the food, and thought the different character combo's (plus F!) would be worth going back twice. Ohana & Garden Grill are the only 'new' restaurants for us, although we haven't been to Akershus since they eliminated the buffet.

See my comments above in red also Ohana has no characters for dinner
Instead of Ohana why not try 1900PF for a character dinner buffet its not the greatest but had decent prime rib

 

[NicoleLarson]

We are having the same H&V dilemma, so we decided to do a late breakfast to see the DisJr characters. I like the idea of Ohana instead of another character meal or you could try WCC. Character meals can be absolutely exhausting. All of the up and down, running back and forth, not wanting to miss a character.

 

[Princess candy]

H&V has one of the better buffets with characters in my opinion. I'm not a fan of crystal palace. We ate there in February for dinner for my son's 3rd birthday. The food was not great and it was extremely loud. I also had the same experience with 1900 park fare (very loud, food not great) but the food was a little better than crystal palace.

 

[FrozenDuck]

We picked Akershus on a MK day because:

1) monorail makes it easy to hop between the two parks;
2) we enjoy evening drinks at Food & Wine​

I'm really on the fence about Ohana, with the mixed reviews. I had initially decided against big breakfasts on this trip ("poor use" of dining credits, & kids aren't into Lilo & Stitch), plus I thought the serving style would be a nice break from the buffets, but I'm undecided. WCC might be a fun surprise.

I've been on the hunt for 1900 PF dinner, but haven't been able to find any openings.

I do agree, Crystal Palace isn't a top pick (both food and character choices). Maybe I'll keep searching for openings elsewhere. I suppose I could easily cancel CP entirely, have QS for dinner, and use the extra TS credit for Shutters on our resort day.