Dining advice- time and place

[olik8smom]

We'll be in WDW for 4 days before our DCL cruise in Nov. We're arriving on a Sunday and plan to go to MK, then AK on Monday with MNSSHP on Mon night, Epcot Tues, and MK Weds. We will be 5 adults, and 3 children, 7yr old boy,4 yr old boy, 2yr old girl. We plan to eat dinner in the parks we're visiting each day. What time should we make our ADR for? I want to plan it around being able to see all the special events (parades, FW, etc). Any advice would be appreciated. We'll probably just want quick service meals for most lunches.

Also, what restaurants might we like? I'm a vegetarian, but we have no other food restrictions. I'd like to have either lunch or dinner at the Biergarten in Germany at Epcot. Other than that I'm not so sure. The kids would love character dining, but with 5 adults, it would be nice to have quality, good food too.

Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

For a party of your size, I would estimate that most sit down meals will take between 90 minutes and 2 hours. Buffets will probably go faster because you're at your own pace, whereas sit downs might take a while because of your party size.

So for Epcot, if you want to see the 9 pm IllumiNations, you should probably plan your dinner ADR for about 6 pm. That will give you some cushion to find a good place to stand and watch IllumiNations from around WS. The Biergarten has a few additional items at dinner than at lunch (primarily meat items - like sauerbraten and braised beef roulades).

On your MNSSHP night, because the party starts at 7 pm and you have to get there from AK, I would not try to schedule a sit down dinner. Go with a quick service meal so you can maximize your time at the party.

Because you really want to see all of the special events, which are primarily night time shows (such as MNSSHP, fireworks, etc.), you might want to consider having sit down lunches (when you have more time) and then quick service dinners. It's easier to rush a QS meal if you're running late than to rush a sit down meal.

 

[seadd67]

At epcot we have done Biergarten a ton bedoe Illumnations, we ahve never made a rvsp before 7:30, usually around 8pm and its buffet styl so you can go at your owen pace. We always find a good spot some where between there and china. For lunch try the new cantennia in mexico. Before the refurb we did it and the food was awsome. highly recomend the nachos. AK, because it closes early then the other parks might want to try Yak and Yeti or Rainforest cafe for dinner,but it might be a early dinner. For lunch we highly recomend Bangle Bbq,very good. Ok have fun

 

[figment_jii]

At epcot we have done Biergarten a ton bedoe Illumnations, we ahve never made a rvsp before 7:30, usually around 8pm and its buffet styl so you can go at your owen pace. We always find a good spot some where between there and china. For lunch try the new cantennia in mexico. Before the refurb we did it and the food was awsome. highly recomend the nachos. AK, because it closes early then the other parks might want to try Yak and Yeti or Rainforest cafe for dinner,but it might be a early dinner. For lunch we highly recomend Bangle Bbq,very good. Ok have fun

Just to add my two cents - you can eat quickly at the Biergarten, but if things are running slow (i.e., being seated behind schedule) and not wanting to rush through eating, I would pick at ADR for closer to 7 than 8 pm. I think the OP wants to be able to see the shows and not risk missing the first part because of a late meal.

Assuming your taking Disney bus transportation, note that you're end up going from AK to the TTC. Then from the TTC you'll either take the ferry or monorail to the MK. Just remember to factor that into your travel time. I like the Rainforest Cafe, but all of the times I've eaten there, then tend to be rather slow. Just something to keep in mind.

I really like the Flame Tree BBQ (seadd67 - do you go to DL frequently? Just curious because you said "Bengal BBQ" and being a more frequent DL visitor, I tend to want to call Flame Tree Bengal BBQ!), but there doesn't seem to be to many options for a vegetarian.

http://allears.net/menu/menu_ftb.htm

 

[seadd67]

Ya thats true with the waiting to be seatted,we have been seated much later at dinner times,we now take that in when wanting to catch the show. The Vegtarian part,I am so sorry i did not even think about that??. Maybe the counter service at Yak and Yeti?(yep we just did DL last July LOL, wow I am all over the place). I guess what I was trying to say with the later times at Biergarten is If you could not time it to where your back sooner a later time would not mean you would miss the show. Illumnation Is my favorit night show,I would skip food for it. I could watch It every night we are there,rain or not.