Dining for 4 teen girls

[NinaBella]

I posted this on the family board but it probably fits better here.

ETA: No hotel stay involved, we live within 1.5 hour drive of WDW. The girls are 14 years old.

So for 1-day over spring break, I am planning on taking my DD and 3 friends to MK. DD birthday is the week before spring break, so this is a birthday day-trip. Last year I took the girls to a beach resort and it rained off/on the entire trip and wasn't nice beach weather. I called reservations and CRT is booked. This is probably best cause it saves me $$$. Reservations suggested the Grand Floridian Character meal with Cinderella, Prince Charming, and step-sisters (1900 Park Fare). I have never been to 1900 Park Fare but we gave been to CRT three times when DD was younger. It sounds fine, but I wasnt sold in leaving the park so I didn't book it. A friend mentioned the monorail goes to GF and we could watch fireworks from there. Perhaps I should have booked it. What quick service meals would you recommend for teen girls?

As of right now I plan to arrive before MK opend and depart after fireworks. The four girls will be free to roam the park on as a group. My DH or DS may come to keep me company (those details to be determined ).

So I thought for meals I would have the girls meet us for lunch, dinner, and again before fireworks. Or do you think I should book the character meal at GF for a late dinner, fireworks, and head home from there? There were a few evening times open. If we do this what reservation time works best to still catch fireworks? Trip will be on one of three dates Tue Mar 21, Wed Mar 22, or Thur Mar 22.

We have encountered the step sisters in the park and think they are a hoot!

 

[MrsIncredible1974]

I'd definitely try 1900 for dinner. The stepsisters will love a teenage girl audience. I think that dinner service starts at 4 so you can be flexible on times. I assume Wishes will be at 9?
It's so easy to move from MK to GF via the monorail for food that we pretty much use 1900 or Wave at The Contempory as our MK table service. The quality is so much better than you can get in the parks and who doesn't love GF?

Depending on how often you want the girls to check in with you I'd suggest meeting for lunch, then meeting on Main Street at say 5.45 ahead of a 6.30 ADR at 1900. Dinner then straight back to the park to stake out a spot for the fireworks. Or, if dinner does take longer than expected, or the girls are too tired to head back, there are spots at GF to view wishes.

 

[ErinsMommy]

If only one day in the park I personally wouldn't leave for dining as your wasting a lot of time leaving the park, monorailing to GF and dinner. Maybe try and get a BOG reservation? Or crystal palace or even CRT.

 

[disneyvoice]

I have never done this with girls but we did take our teenage son and two of his friends for the weekend once. We got two adjoining rooms at Coronado Springs (and I learned they will guarantee adjoining rooms if you have minors that need a separate room - who knew?). Not sure if teen girls are the same as teen guys but the guys went off on their own the whole weekend. I did make two dining reservations that they requested - Crystal Palace for breakfast and Biergarten for dinner - I'm sure the buffets were picked clean when they were done! The characters at Crystal Palace are AMAZING with teenagers! To this day they STILL talk about when Piglet "stole" one of the boy's cell phone and started taking selfies with it.

I would actually suggest asking your daughter where she would want to eat. Sometimes teenagers surprise you with their answer. I NEVER would have guessed that my son and friends wanted to eat at Biergarten.

 

[catheren]

I agree with ErinsMommmy ... if you only have one day to enjoy the MK, going over to the GF to eat @ 1900 will take some time away from the park
but if that's not an issue ....definitely book 1900.

If you decide not to leave the MK. CRT - keep calling, they get cancellations. But book the Crystal Place as a back up, you can cancel if you get CRT.

Have fun!

 

[NinaBella]

I have never done this with girls but we did take our teenage son and two of his friends for the weekend once. We got two adjoining rooms at Coronado Springs (and I learned they will guarantee adjoining rooms if you have minors that need a separate room - who knew?). Not sure if teen girls are the same as teen guys but the guys went off on their own the whole weekend. I did make two dining reservations that they requested - Crystal Palace for breakfast and Biergarten for dinner - I'm sure the buffets were picked clean when they were done! The characters at Crystal Palace are AMAZING with teenagers! To this day they STILL talk about when Piglet "stole" one of the boy's cell phone and started taking selfiyes with it.

I would actually suggest asking your daughter where she would want to eat. Sometimes teenagers surprise you with their answer. I NEVER would have guessed that my son and friends wanted to eat at Biergarten.

Of course she was involved in the conversation and sitting in the car next to me with WDW reservations on bluetooth in the car. She is fine with CRT, 1900, or just a random table service meal to save money. She knows CRT is on the pricey side and says table service is fine.

I don't think we want Crystal Palace. I haven't heard good reviews about the food and don't think Pooh and Friends are worth the cost for these girls. I would choose table service over Crystal Palace.

 

[MSPeeler]

I'd definitely try 1900 for dinner. The stepsisters will love a teenage girl audience. I think that dinner service starts at 4 so you can be flexible on times. I assume Wishes will be at 9?
It's so easy to move from MK to GF via the monorail for food that we pretty much use 1900 or Wave at The Contempory as our MK table service. The quality is so much better than you can get in the parks and who doesn't love GF?

Depending on how often you want the girls to check in with you I'd suggest meeting for lunch, then meeting on Main Street at say 5.45 ahead of a 6.30 ADR at 1900. Dinner then straight back to the park to stake out a spot for the fireworks. Or, if dinner does take longer than expected, or the girls are too tired to head back, there are spots at GF to view wishes.

We did 1900 Park for dinner this past June and the stepsisters weren't there They had one of the girl mice instead. We were a bit disappointed as we had heard that the sisters REALLY make the best impact.

 

[amberpi]

A character meal with teenagers I think would definitely depend on the teenagers...the ones I know are far too cool for such. I'd try Skipper's Canteen.

 

[amberpi]

BTW, what a fun 14th bday!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It's not cheap, but have you considered, maybe doing QS and then doing the Wishes Dessert Party with Plaza viewing? We did this in December and it was really spectacular. For something kind of fun, you could pair that with the "secret" nachos from Pecos Bill (check out the thread on this here on the restaurant board). If you just want to do a TS in the park, The Plaza is really nice or Skipper Canteen could be fun.

BTW - just wanted to mention, if you buy the other girls' tickets prior to going, you can book everyone's FP+ 30 days prior to your park day.

 

[NinaBella]

It's not cheap, but have you considered, maybe doing QS and then doing the Wishes Dessert Party with Plaza viewing? We did this in December and it was really spectacular. For something kind of fun, you could pair that with the "secret" nachos from Pecos Bill (check out the thread on this here on the restaurant board). If you just want to do a TS in the park, The Plaza is really nice or Skipper Canteen could be fun.

BTW - just wanted to mention, if you buy the other girls' tickets prior to going, you can book everyone's FP+ 30 days prior to your park day.

I will look at the Dessert Party as I am not familiar with it, I have only heard of it here on DisBoards. I did previously see the Nacho thread. ETA: I just looked at the Dessert Party and there are openings for a party of 6, but $80 per person for dessert is probably not what I want to do. I think if it was just me and my daughter I would do it. Looks really nice though. I am planning for a party of 6 thinking my husband will come keep my company.

We just narrowed down the date to Thursday March 23 and sent the invites to her friends this afternoon. We could go Tue but she has a private lesson with a hard to book with coach that day. Thursday private lessons are easier to reschedule. I also saw Wed she has team practice so we don't want to rush back to make a team practice. Two girls we invited have annual passes and I know are in town that week. I am about to purchase the $139 FL Resident 3-day ticket for my daughter and I. The other two I will probably by a day pass from the military base for them if they do not have annual passes already. I am letting her invite 3 guests. So if the two we are waiting to hear back from can't go, she will invite different guests until we have 3 confirmed. I figure an even 4 is good so they can ride rides 2 and 2.

There is a 7:20 at 1900 Park Fare on Tue, but the only time left for a party of 6 on Thursday was 8:00 PM. So we wouldn't make it back to the park. I doubt we would see any fireworks at all unless they seat us early. If the step-sisters are not going to be there, then I wouldn't want to go. I wonder how I can find this out in advance, probably no chance. I am leaning towards just booking the 8:00 PM and plan on skipping fireworks. It's not a huge loss not to see the fireworks since these girls grew up going to Disney and have seen lots of fireworks.

 

[ErinsMommy]

If the step-sisters are not going to be there, then I wouldn't want to go. I wonder how I can find this out in advance, probably no chance.

I don't believe this is an advance thing they know or plan - but the reservations always say "subject to change" so there's no way to guarantee they'll be there

 

[Harambe]

I was thinking doing only one TS would be the best use of your limited time, and then Qs for the rest of the day. I also thought going to the Plaza would be fun, since they have those awesome sundaes, and the staff would make a big deal of your DD's birthday (of course she will wear a birthday pin, no?).

 

[NinaBella]

I made a correction to my original post. I meant to ask for quick service recommendations. Sorry, I don't talk reservations often and accidently said table service. My daughter is okay with doing quick service and not having any "table service" reservations. I just need to tell them when and where to meet up.

I did make the 1900 Park Fare resevation for 8PM since you can canx 24-hours prior.

 

[NinaBella]

Update: We had narrowed down our day to go as Thur Mar 23, sent the invites, then last night looked at the e-mail from the team mom with an updated March practice schedule and her coach scheduled a practice on March 23rd. So now we are back to March 21st and having to cancel a Tue private lesson. She has practice Mon, Wed, Thur that week because of a competition that weekend (in Orlando so we will also be in Orlando Sat & Sun). The majority of her team has spring break the week prior, so the week prior there is no practice but DD is in school. We live in a different county than where most of her team lives. I offered to let DD miss school on her actual birthday (Mar 16) and just the two of us go, but she said no she prefers to go with friends.

Today I reserved the only available dinner time at 1900 Park Fare which was 8:05 PM. Just two days ago they had 6:30 and 7:20 open but those are gone. At least I have sonething reserved now and can cancel 24-hours prior.

I can't look at ticket opens until I know for sure which girls are going. One girl we are inviting has school that day, she is one with an annual pass. She thinks her mom will let her go. I should see her mom tonight to confirm. Once DD confirms who says they can go, I will text the parents to double check before buying any tickets. The MK 1-day ticket at the military base are $110, so if a girl doesn't have a ticket I will most likely buy it from the base. I am looking at a multi-day ticket either under FL resident for my DD and I since we will be at WWoS for competition several times in March, April, and May.

 

[Amw1064]

My daughter is 14 and still loves character meals and we love 1900 Park Fare. Keep checking daily if you want to change the time of the reservation. Things open up all the time. We also live an hour and half away and did Disney for my daughter's friend's birthday and she picked 1900 Park Fare. The girls will have so much fun together just being at Disney. I haven't let mine venture off by herself yet. I guess it is time when she is with friends.

 

[NinaBella]

My daughter is 14 and still loves character meals and we love 1900 Park Fare. Keep checking daily if you want to change the time of the reservation. Things open up all the time. We also live an hour and half away and did Disney for my daughter's friend's birthday and she picked 1900 Park Fare. The girls will have so much fun together just being at Disney. I haven't let mine venture off by herself yet. I guess it is time when she is with friends.

My first trip to Disney at age 13 my dad let me go off by myself instead of being stuck with younger cousins. I still have a ring I purchased while wandering the park. My older boys I let go off on their own but they admitted they get more done when they stick with me. LOL.

Last night I purchased a 3-day ticket for DD and 4-day for me. DD will get a 3-day pass in May with a cheer comp she is competing at which is why I bought a 4-day to use a day at comp. The comp 3-day comes with registration but I am thinking she will only use one of three days on that pass.

One girl with a pass RSVP'd abd one without a pass RSVP'd. I am waiting for third girl to respond and give me parents number. I talked to parents of other two already.

 

[NinaBella]

One girl (without pass) still hasn't confirmed if she can go. So, DD invited the next girl (who has a pass). DD asked "are we still eating at the place with the step sisters? So I thin she really likes the idea so I will keep the ressie. I just hope the step sisters are there that night.

 

[NinaBella]

This has been and ever changing plan...

Once I firm up a date, then her cheer coach has TWICE added extra practice. So now I am having to take a Saturday off work to take her and the girls. Still no fast passes or anything book...

Good news, the cheer competition this weekend my daughter and one other girl will get a 3-day pass that expires March 18. Our Saturday we are going, March 18. The bad news, I paid $139 for a FL resident 3-day pass for my daughter already.

Good news, so my husband and son are going to a hockey game on DD birthday, March 16. So I just got off the phone with Disney Reservations and booked the Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing. Priority seating was not available. She has school that day and has way to many days this quarter to let her skip, so after school she and I will drive to Disney MK for the evening and drive back after fireworks (school the next day and I work the next day).

We are headed to Disney tomorrow staying at Shades of Green for a cheer competition at WWoS (they one they get the 3-day passes at). So I will see about getting our passes from Will Call while we are there. The passes I purchased are FL Resident passes, so I have to go to Will Call to pick them up with my ID. The cheer passes, not sure if those have to be activated.

Maybe, just maybe, after this weekend I will be able to start looking to see what rides are going to be available for fast passes. Ha Ha... they are probably all taken. One of the girls invited to go ton March 18, we are waiting to final confirmation on if she is coming. She has an annual pass and her mom says has the disability pass where she can go to a ride and get a return time usually no more than 20 minute return time. So I hope she is able to go as this would help the rest of the girls if no fast passes are available.

Whew...