Dining advice

[vermontmom66]

My husband and I are planning a trip to WDW with our 14 yr old and 18 mo old daughters in Feb 09 (POP, 5 nights). We will be purchasing the dining plan and are planning on having one sit-down meal per day. Which meal do you recommend that we have our sit-down meal? I would like to make our ADR as soon as possible.

We will probably be using the touring plans and I'm afraid by eating lunch, we will lose precious time in the parks. We haven't decided on restaurants yet (in the parks or at the resorts), but I'm thinking we'll probably do one or two character meals. What do you suggest?

Thanks!

 

[ChristaDeVil]

We don't like having sit down meals during the day. We prefer dinner, but with your family, you might enjoy the break during the day. Everyone is different. Ohana is our family's favorite table service. Lots of grilled meats on skewers. It's at the Polynesian. They have a character dinner for breakfast, but dinner isn't a character meal. There are several character choices out there, but the only character dinner we have done is Liberty Tree Tavern in the MK. The food is great, but I have heard that the character dinner is ending this year. We hope to try Chef Mickey's next year. I have a son, so princess-y dinners/lunches are out.

Be sure to check out the reviews here. They help me out a lot! Good luck!

 

[SGMCO]

If you're short of time I would stick to Restaurants that
are in the Park that you will be visiting for that day.
It it very nice to take a break from touring and have a
nice sit down meal.
Everyone will have a different opinion of which restaurant
is there favorite but if one of the themes appeals to you
that is the one I would choose if I were you.
What one person likes or dislikes may be something
that could be your best meal for your Whole trip.
For Example my DS really wanted to eat at
Tony's Town Square (at MK) and I wasn't sure--even
thought about canceling because of others
opinions and it turned out to be our best meal the
whole week. We did make ADR for Tony's at the
Earliest Lunch time (11:30am) and it
was not busy at all, the servers were not rushed and
very nice. The age difference of your children may or may not
effect your choice.
I hope this helps.

 

[BriarRosie]

Crystal Palace is a good choice for a character meal, because it's in the Magic Kingdom and offers the flexibility of breakfast, lunch or dinner. It sounds like you want to maximize your touring, so you might want to schedule dinner there. The characters are Winnie the Pooh and Friends.

 

[Crystal824]

We prefer doing a sit down breakfast or dinner. When we do breakfast, we usually schedule it for prior park opening.

 

[dancin'girl]

Early dinner works out well. We didn't want to lose touring time by eating a big breakfast in the morning, and we found that the kids were tired and antsy by lunch. So, after a quick serve lunch, we took a break to return to our room for a nap. After, we returned to the parks for our reservations around 5:00 or 5:30. The kids were recharged and ready to behave in the restaurant! We really liked the character buffets because you can get right in and fill up your plate, as compared to a sit-down restaurant where you have to occupy two little ones while you wait for your food. It's tough when they're too young to color!! The characters provide great entertainment and it saved us from waiting in lines at the parks to see them!

 

[TDC Nala]

Your infant is too young for the dining plan. If she likes to eat, it may be best to book buffets or all-you-can-eat meals because you won't have to buy any extra food for her, nor would you have to share your portion with her.

 

[dancin'girl]

Oops! I just re-read your post and saw that you have a 14 year old!! I thought you had two little ones! Well, in that case you may not be returning to your room for a break in the afternoon! You may still want to do dinner, though, because by then everybody (regardless of age) is tired out and needs a rest!! A sit down dinner at that time might be nice!! Chef Mickeys is great! We go there every visit! The Crystal Palace is great with Pooh and friends. I have heard that The Land in Epcot has a nice character meal with Chip and Dale, and the Coral Reef is a really cool place to eat in Epcot, too. Both kids will enjoy watching the fish while you have your meal.

 

[vermontmom66]

Thanks for your great suggestions! I have so much more planning to do.

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

Well I think that a sit down dinner is needed it adds to the fun and hey it is a time to enjoy the air condition lol and talk about what you guys have done and what you are planning on doing next. I think that it is good to bring things from home that the children can eat for breakfast, boxed organic milk,cereal,cereal bars,yougart bars,peanut butter crackers,fruit,bottled water, things that travel well and are nutritious and quick this will save a ton of time and hold the kids over till lunch time which is a good time to use a CS credit,and take in mind that you will not be able to do and see everything make a plan of must do's and if time permits do extras but take time to party,rest and eat,this is the key! and staying for five days make sure that when it is time to eat that it inside of the park or even back at your resort,this will save a ton of time. Where to eat while N the Parks! and this is just some of what I did during my trip Sept 4-10th.

Epcot- Sunshine Season(L) Coral Reef,Biergertan,Lecelliar,(D)
Animal Kingdom Flame Tree(L) Pizzafari,(L) Tusker House(D)
Magic Kingdom Cosmic Rays(L) Crystal palace(L,D)
Hollyood Studios Sci Fi(L,D)
DTD Wolfgang Express(L,D) Planet Hollywood(L,D)