Dining Plan Reviews

[quoo]

I wish the ADR process was not so much work! Our window opened this morning and I got 95% of what I wanted. I'm worried I missed something though.

We are staying at the Polynesian late August. It's myself, my husband and 2 boys (6 and 9, almost 10) at the time of the trip. My eldest boy and husband love roller coasters, my little guy is like me and only likes tame ones but that has nothing to do with dining reservations... they love star wars and classic mickey, but aren't so into princesses, or so much into character dining which I feel like I ended up with more than I meant to.

We'll grab captain cooks breakfast or some other quick service most days. We overall tend to prefer table service restaurants though.

Thoughts on the following?

Day 1: Friday: Our flight arrives pretty late, close to 7pm so just planning on quick service/room service if that's available then

Day 2: Saturday: Animal Kingdom
Lunch: 12:30pm Tusker House (wanted Yak and Yeti, but no luck ) May cancel this and go quick service
Dinner: 7pm Kona Cafe (debating booking Saana but not sure if I want to deal with getting there)

Day 3: Sunday: Magic Kingdom
Lunch: 12pm Jungle Skipper Canteen
Dinner: 8pm Tony's Town Square Dinner

Day 4: Monday: Hollywood Studios
Lunch: 12pm Brown Derby
Dinner: 7:30pm Kona Cafe

Day 5: Tuesday: EPCOT
Breakfast: 7:30am Kona Cafe
Lunch: 12:30pm San Angel Inn
Dinner: 6pm Rose and Crown

Day 6: Wednesday: Hollywood Studios
Lunch: 12pm Sci-fi
Savi's workshop 2pm
Oga's 3:30pm
Dinner: O'hana 7:35pm

Day 7: Thursday (Last full day!): Magic Kingdom
Brunch: 11am: Chef Mickey's
Dinner: 8pm Be our Guest (I also somehow have an Ohana reservation for this evening that I think I'm cancelling)

Day 8: Departure Day
Breakfast: 8am Ohana's
I booked a patio rental as our flight leaves quite late - almost 8pm, I assume we'll get QS lunch by the pool

Anyway thoughts? Any glaring issues? I hate booking this all so quickly while barely awake.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Sounds like you have it laid out pretty well! Personally, it would be worth it to us to take a bus from Animal Kingdom that day to enjoy Sanaa, especially instead of doing 2 dinners at Kona. The trick then would be to get from AK back to Poly, and for a few dollars, you could probably hop a cab instead of going AK to a park/DS, and then to Poly. Also, if Y&Y is on your wish list for lunch, don't hesitate to keep looking. Reservations do open up at times. Although, I will say, Tusker House isn't a terrible option (even if we would also prefer Y&Y!). You're right - you probably don't need 2 dinners at 'Ohana either! Sounds like it should be a great family trip! Enjoy

 

[BrianL]

It looks good, though I agree that Sanaa is probably worth figuring out. It's a quick Lyft/Uber if you want to do that. Tusker has alwasy been good to me, but if you are going quick-service, I'd recommend Satu'li CAnteen as it's one of the best QS places on property. Also, keep in mind that freworks should be back by then at MK & Epcot, so if you ware wanting to see them, give yourself time to get a spot (I would expect they would be at 9 PM at that time of year). Actually, at Tony's, you should be able to walk outside to get a good view right after dinner. BOG may take longer, but it is worth it - I highly recommend the filet! Skipper Canteen is also a great choice for lunch. It'll be good!

 

[quoo]

We love skipper Canteen! I think you've talked me into switching to Saana though. I think we can take the resort bus there and then yes, get an Uber or something back to the Polynesian. I wish the minnie vans would return:/

I did sign up for one of the reservation watchers for Yak and Yeti. Otherwise I'll play it by ear, I may cancel Tusker House last minute.

 

[Disney Fool]

it seems that both Monday and Wednesday you're leaving Hollywood studios early. Is that what you've planned? And it seems that both days at Magic Kingdom you'll be seated in a restaurant when fireworks take place. so you're missing fireworks.

 

[quoo]

Orrr... apparently I missed the window for Saana as well. That Saturday is tough:/

 

[quoo]

it seems that both Monday and Wednesday you're leaving Hollywood studios early. Is that what you've planned? And it seems that both days at Magic Kingdom you'll be seated in a restaurant when fireworks take place. so you're missing fireworks.

We aren't big into fireworks (I know, controversial).

We're also more morning people for the parks and prefer to be back at the hotel for the evening to hang out and relax. I have some later dinners in MK because it's so close we can leave and go back easily. If we get a ROTR boarding group, I suppose we might have to adjust?

 

[NYCgrrl]

Another keep Sanaa vote!

Our way of doing it while staying at Poly was to start our AK visit early in the morning and eat lunch at Sanaa as the bus from the park to Kidana leaves directly with no transfer. This might mean dropping the AK eateries or returning later in the evening and catching the AK electric lake show (sorry don’t recall the name) before or after dinner at Y+Y or Tusker. You might just feel so full from Sanaa that a lighter dinner is wanted.

Not a fan of the food at Magic Kingdom so comment-less on that park’s offerings. We normally boat over to Geyser Point or monorail to GF Cafe.

The coffee at Captain Cook is not that great according to the man (I‘m a tea drinker) so consider bringing Starbucks’ instant with you. Or just buy coffee from the Kona kiosk.

Have fun!

 

[goodferry]

We got two tables of four at the Yak and Yeti walk in this past week. We went at 10:30 when they opened and they were able to get us in. I would also keep checking, they told us that their capacity limits are increasingly quickly

 

[DisneyMommy77]

If you really want Yak n’ Yeti you should get a Landry’s card. No reservation needed then! You just show up when you want to eat and will get a table shortly after. It’s great!

Looks fun!

 

[quoo]

Agreed about the captain cooks coffee. But at least it contains caffeine.

I hope Kona island reopens by then.

 

[quoo]

I was able to get a Sanaa lunch reservation! Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

If you really want Yak n’ Yeti you should get a Landry’s card. No reservation needed then! You just show up when you want to eat and will get a table shortly after. It’s great!

Looks fun!

Agreed this is an option. Good suggestion! We did this last year because we really enjoy Y&Y. During busier times when they are not taking walk-ins, they still will get you on a list for a table if you show your Landry's card. And membership isn't outrageous.

 

[coolbrook]

I was able to get a Sanaa lunch reservation! Thank you for the suggestion!

Lunch sounds like a good option there for the easier transportation and also for seeing the animals out the windows in the daylight. I may have to try this for our November trip on our AK day.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Another keep Sanaa vote!

Our way of doing it while staying at Poly was to start our AK visit early in the morning and eat lunch at Sanaa as the bus from the park to Kidana leaves directly with no transfer. This might mean dropping the AK eateries or returning later in the evening and catching the AK electric lake show (sorry don’t recall the name) before or after dinner at Y+Y or Tusker. You might just feel so full from Sanaa that a lighter dinner is wanted.

Not a fan of the food at Magic Kingdom so comment-less on that park’s offerings. We normally boat over to Geyser Point or monorail to GF Cafe.

The coffee at Captain Cook is not that great according to the man (I‘m a tea drinker) so consider bringing Starbucks’ instant with you. Or just buy coffee from the Kona kiosk.

Have fun!

Just a tidbit, Rivers of Light (the night show at AK), was closed and the floats were dismantled.

 

[quoo]

We tend not to stay at the parks much past 5/6. We like to get back to the hotel and have a drink in the hot tub while we soak our feet. Although this time we’ll mix it up a bit and head back to MK at night but I think it’ll be easier now that the youngest will be 6 and not 3.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Just a tidbit, Rivers of Light (the night show at AK), was closed and the floats were dismantled.

Darn! Hopefully the next show will be better.
Thanks for the heads up

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Darn! Hopefully the next show will be better.
Thanks for the heads up

Sadly, Rivers Of Light was a show that didn't get much love! I actually really enjoyed the show, and found it to be something I wanted to do most trips. But since AK is built around nature and the animals, they don't do fireworks - and many people prefer the boom and pizazz of a fireworks show than they do music, water, and something a bit more artistic. The only 'replacement' potential I've heard so far is something about a daytime show with kites and music? But they built that interesting theater on the water, and I have to hope they'll bring back another nighttime show. Guess we'll see over the upcoming months as things return to more 'normal'.

 

[kwdw]

That is A LOT of TS dining. You say that's what you prefer - I hope you have a plan to keep the 6 and 9 yo entertained during that many meals.

I would recommend against 3 TS meals on your EPCOT day. I just think that's a lot of time in restaurants in one day. I'd keep the Kona breakfast, and then opt for dinner only at EP. Skip lunch TS at EP. There are so many great snack and QS options there. And EPCOT is a BIG park - and I struggle to predict exactly where I will be in the park when it's meal time and I don't like to have to be in the right place at the right time for an ADR. I'm not walking from Morocco to Mexico just to make an ADR. And I can't imagine spending 4 hours walking between Mexico and England with two boys.

 

[quoo]

We’ve been to Epcot before. This is what timing looked like last time. Not sure what we did for 4 hours but it worked.

and yes, as I said we really prefer table service. The kids do fine at restaurants and enjoy the break to sit down and get out of the august heat.