Dining Reservations

[ttfn2u2pooh]

Alright we're now in that 60 window of making reservations for meals. However, I'm wondering if it's really necessary. We're going Sept 19-23rd. If we go without reservations anywhere will we screw ourselves at not being able to get into places even though it's "off season"?? I guess I'm afraid of locking us down on making sure we're at some place and a specific time. Does anyone just go without any reservations and toss the dice during that time of year?

We have one Premium Character meal... though can someone tell me what is the difference between a "premium" and a regular character meal? I was hedging towards doing Minnie & Friends breakfast but it's trying to figure out what day to do it. We arrive mid morning on a Monday and leave mid afternoon that Friday so we have Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. Will we find one day better over any of the others?

Also, we do have the concierge level at GCH... if we don't make any dining reservations prior to our arrival and find that we DO want to make reservations will they be able to do this for us if we ask or do we still need to call??

 

[TeddiBarra]

Premium= Goofy's Kitchen OR Ariel's Breakfast/Lunch. DOES NOT include WOC dining.

I'm sure you could use premiums towards Mickey's or Storytellers or Minnie's, you are just "over paying" per se.

I think you would be ok. The only major issues I would see could possibly be WOC dining packages, Ariel's can get a little harder to do on walk-up basis, and Cafe Orleans gets booked up. As the Blue Bayou will be closed, it might be a good idea to make ressies at Cafe Orleans- however, even if you made them a day ahead of time, you should still be ok, I think. Concierge should be able and willing to make ressies for you, that's part of the service you pay for.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

Premium= Goofy's Kitchen OR Ariel's Breakfast/Lunch. DOES NOT include WOC dining.

I'm sure you could use premiums towards Mickey's or Storytellers or Minnie's, you are just "over paying" per se.

I think you would be ok. The only major issues I would see could possibly be WOC dining packages, Ariel's can get a little harder to do on walk-up basis, and Cafe Orleans gets booked up. As the Blue Bayou will be closed, it might be a good idea to make ressies at Cafe Orleans- however, even if you made them a day ahead of time, you should still be ok, I think. Concierge should be able and willing to make ressies for you, that's part of the service you pay for.

I didn't realize that Ariel's Grotto offered a breakfast Character meal. Are the princesses at that meal? And what type of food is served. I think I backed away from doing a meal there because it seemed a little heavy of the fish side (no surprise) but we're not big fish eaters and the kid's menu didn't really offer much that my DD would eat. But if they serve a good breakfast and has characters I think that might be where we end up.

Goofy's Kitchen is at DLH, correct? Has it changed at all with the remodeling of the hotel?? How is the Minnie & Friends breakfast... that's in the park, correct? Does Minnie actually show up or is it more "friends"?

I think I do need to make reservations at Cafe Orleans. We were planning on doing a meal at the Blue Bayou to try for ourselves the famed Monte Cristo sandwich. I posed the question and someone mentioned that Cafe Orleans offers the sandwich at their location. So thank you for letting me know that I should make reservations there.

 

[skiingfast]

Your visit is midweek during a slow time, unless you have your heart set on a certain time and meal, you could do the reservation the month, week or day before. Probably on a whim even an hour before. Mostly it will save you waiting time.

GK got a light rehab but mostly on the exterior part of the major remodel of the DLH.

Ariel's Grotto brunch, includes princesses.

 

[mousterpiece]

The ADRs are about peace of mind, at least when it comes to the off-season, IMO. You probably won't need them desperately, especially since Blue Bayou won't be open. But if you want to feel good knowing that you're absolutely getting a table at Cafe Orleans, or Ariel's Grotto, and so on, go for it. But it's probably not necessary for your trip.

 

[TeddiBarra]

Yes Ariel's does breakfast. It's not a buffett, it is served "family" style, I've only done lunch and dinner there (dinner pre-WOC) but from the photos it's American Breakfast. Yes it's character dining- princesses only. Ariel is pretty much always in front and you take your photo with her, the other princesses rotate- you'll see probably 4 others (we've seen snow white, aurora, cinderella, belle, jasmine). If you like the princesses then it's worth. In terms of character interaction, I honestly feel it's one of the least entertaining, but if you have a Princess lover, they'll be happy.

Goofy's is at the DLH. It did get relocated to one of the ballrooms, and I *think* it still is not in it's regular location. It is for sure still open though.

Yes, Minnie's is in the park, at the Plaza Inn. Yes, Minnie is always there and you will see her. We usually see about 8 other characters (sometimes more). Minnie's and Goofy's have a nice assortment of characters. Never seen a Princess in Minnie's (probably too distracting being as it's in the park) but have always seen some of the Pooh Crew (tigger always, but has been eeyore and or rabbit and or pooh) and we always see Captain Hook. We have frequently seen Chip and Dale, we recently just for the first time saw two of Cinderella's mice (so cute!) Goofy's does somtimes have one princess on hand (snow white and jasmine are fairly frequent). Storyteller's (at the Grand) has only "critters" including always Chip and Dale, and then Coda (brother bear) and Kenai, and usually Briar Fox or Briar Bear, etc. We haven't done Mickey's Surfs up (and Mickey is always there) but usually this is the one place you can find Daisy! Also should be all or most of the Fab 5.

If you are going to have a free/included character meal, my pick would be Goofy's - mostly because it is the most expensive had a good variety of characters and best food. UNLESS you have princess lovers who really would get a kick out of the princess meal. If you do, I'd pick that because I don't really find the food to be that great at Ariel's (it's not bad, it's just not the kind of food I walk away from going, yes that was worth $250! which we did once when we ordered a couple of extra drinks). The food at Goofy's for sure blows away anything the princess breakfast would have- it has the biggest buffet with tons of food choices. 2nd best buffet foodwise is storytellers (I haven't done Mickey's), but Mickey's might be a close tie from what I've read. Minnie's has the most "basic" menu, though I find it to be completely satisfying, nice variety and best value. Minnie's has the perk, especially on a shorter trip- of being in the park, so it's a time saver over other options further away (esp mickey's and goofy's), though the same can be said about Ariel's.

 

[TeddiBarra]

Ariel's breakfast menu:
Breakfast Tier
A three-tier platter filled with fresh fruit, a selection of cheeses and cold cuts,
and breakfast pastries, bagels and croissants.

Breakfast Platter
Scrambled eggs, bacon, turkey sausage and breakfast potatoes.


Personally, I dislike the fact that this is how they do breakfast. For some reason I don't mind it so much for lunch/dinner, but it seems like glorified concierge breakfast to me?? You'd think they could at least offer a menu to order from also... I really don't think I am ever going to pay for princess breakfast/lunch again (but we did it twice, when my twins were 3 and 5) .. we're already to the point where they are getting past princesses and I'd do only a WOC dinner here in the future. I did have their tri-tip and it was very good, the service once wasn't good- the next time was pretty ok. The way they do the seating and bring out the food, it's like in "droves" so our hot meals weren't that hot.

 

[ttfn2u2pooh]

I'm very glad I asked about this. I think it would have been a little frustrating to have a sub-par meal when it's that expensive. I'm thinking we might hit Goofy's. Is it just a breakfast character meal or is there a lunch or dinner that we could use the Premium Character Meal for?

 

[skiingfast]

I'm very glad I asked about this. I think it would have been a little frustrating to have a sub-par meal when it's that expensive. I'm thinking we might hit Goofy's. Is it just a breakfast character meal or is there a lunch or dinner that we could use the Premium Character Meal for?

Goofy's Kitchen is the only character meal that's Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. So if you want to use it for dinner that is your only option.

Ariel's is brunch.

The others just breakfast.