Dining Help = please!!!!

[disney06]

We just booked POP Century with the dining package for 3nights/4days.
Three Questions
1) Exactly when can I call to reserve a restaurant - 90 days / 100 days - I looked at the dining board and get so confused (that's why I teach Junior Kindergarten, very easy math!!!!)

2) We have 3 table service meals - which three should I try to get (I have two girls aged 4 and 6). I would like character meals but open to all ideas.

3) Three counter srevice meals - staying at POP, going to MK for one day and Downtown Disney one day. Where do you suggest?

Thanks for your advice!!!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

First and foremost have a GREAT TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!
1.) You can book all ADR's at the 90 mark with the newer 90+10 adr policy - this means at 90 mark you can book all ADR's that fall within 10 days of that day - some more popular restaurants only release a # amount of seats to this group and then you must callback on 90 day mark like everyone else.
2.) Magic Kingdom character meals - Princesses at castle - CRT - other than that in your itinerary you could easily do Chef Mickeys at the Contemp. or 1900 Park Fair at the GF hotel I believe - both of these are also character meals and there is also the princess tea which has to be booked seperately I believe and could not use TS credits for anyway but nice to do with girls.
3.) Not really sure on TS credits (our trip isn't until Oct 3) but I have read good reviews about Earl of Sandwich DTD I believe, Cosmic Rays in MK, Harbour House in MK, Wolfgang Pucks CS at dtd for some suggestions.

 

[NancyK]

Hi,
You can book your dining reservations 90 days before your check-in date. You'll be able to book all of your meals at that time. I would do Chef Mickey's with little ones. You can use the counter service for breakfast or lunch. We're going in a couple of weeks and are planning on using them for breakfast. There's no way we could eat lunch and then have a huge table service meal on the same day. I imagine we'll just have our breakfast at Pop Century or maybe at the Main Street Bakery in MK (since that's my husband's favourite eating place!) Happy planning!
Nancy

 

[marylou]

We also enjoyed Crystal Palace with the pooh gang. Our family liked Teppanyaki because the cooks are such showman and the food is good

 

[jazzyjess]

We just got back from 7 nights at POP and used the meal plan.

Breakfast can be done at POP - the americans LOVE their huge portions, so my husband, 5 year old and I split a breakfast platter every morning (fruit salad as our "dessert") and used 2 counter service between 3 of us in the parks. At MK we had Crystal Palace for lunch (a table service credit) that in my opinion is NOT worth it for the character experience (either is Chef Mickeys') - I just found that the food was mediocre at best and the time spent with the characters is very fleeting- better chance seeing them in the parks, in my opinion.

We ate at O'Hanas which was LOVELY, BOMA at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coral Reef at Epcot, Japan at Epcot, Spoodles at the Boardwalk, Shutters at Caribbean Beach resort, and one night (the night of Crystal Palace) ate counter service at the hotel.

With the meal plan we found we had way more food than needed and ended up having 2 CS meal credits left over, yet we never missed a meal (sharing helps!) and because we paid for our son out of pocket (kid's meals under 10.00 including drink and we shared dessert) we were able to eat more table service meals, which we preferred anyways. Especially the Coral Reef, because we are big fans of oceans / fish, and The Living Seas pavilion was closed when we were there (adding a Finding Nemo ride). That place required 2 TS credits per person, although it was not our most expensive meal (they give you a bill with the total amount, then when you give them your card, the bill they give you back to sign is $0.00 - how nice!)

Believe it or not, try booking Le Cellier at Canada in Epcot - take the monorail from MK if you are not spending time there, or O'hana's at Polynesian - take the monorail and/or boat. Worth it!!!!