Dining suggestions

[Mic]

We have FINALLY finalized our plans for our trip in October...we have played around with the dates so much I am having nightmares about booking rooms on the Loewshotels website. Anyway, we are now spending 2 nights at Hard Rock Hotel in early October with our 3 girls(16,14,and10) 1 son(will turn 12 the day we arrive), and 4 of my son's friends, then heading over to Disney for 5 more nights of non-stop fun: pray for me! I have planned our meals at Disney, and we will have a full kitchen in the 2-bedroom unit and a kitchenette in the studio for breakfast and a dinner or two while at WDW, but I am at a complete loss for meals at Universal! Our only trip over July 4th to activate our AP's was last-minute, so we ate at Mythos for lunch and Latin Quarter for dinner. We did not try any of the restaurants at our hotel(RPR) that trip. I remember having a hard time finding a good breakfast at Universal in July, so I want to definitely avoid that pitfall in October with 5 hungry 12 and 13-year-old boys. We will have 2 full days and 1 half-day in the Universal parks, so I need 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners. The parks will close early for HHN, so we can go off-site for dinner the first night, or have pizza delivered. We liked Mythos, so will probably eat there again. Since it will cost a small fortune to feed 10 of us there, I'd like to do a cheaper lunch on the 2nd day. One dinner will probably be the Race Car restaurant(I think the boys will like this), but where for the 2nd dinner? In July, we ended up eating breakfast at the pastry shop just inside IOA, but I may need something more substantial in October. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks so much!

 

[AspiringCindy]

Thunder Falls in IOA is great for lunch!..They have chicken, ribs, burgers etc. served with rice or potatoes and corn on the cob! It is located right next to Jurrasic Park (Water ride).
Another place we ate was Pastamore in City Walk for dinner. We spent 11 days in WDW and Universals in August, and Pastamore was our favorite meal out of all the places we ate!!!

 

[Mic]

Thanks, Cindy! Thunder Falls sounds great for lunch. And I've been wanting to try Pastamore (because I love pasta); if I plan the meal there for after 6 or 7, the boys should be hungry enough to eat a bear(or pasta)! Thanks again!

 

[robvia]

Pray for you is right.
The girls will probably want to go off on their own and won't eat much. Give them some money, a cell phone, and let them tour the park on their own. We let our 13 year old and friend go off on their own, but we stayed in touch with a cell phone.
The HRC between the parks is where we met at noon, before the crowd arrived. Order a couple jumbo combo apps and everyone can share it. The boys can eat a burger or pasta to fill them up. Some have claimed their service and meal was bad, but our meal was great, the music was playing on the monitors and our server was friendly.
http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes/menu.aspx?lc=MENU

Are you renting a car or using a limo?
If the limo, have the driver stop at the Publix 1.5 miles north at Conroy Road, and let everyone go shopping for doughnuts and snacks. I can't imagine you checking into the hotel without being armed with a couple coolers. Read my TR here and look at the pictures of what I brought. At least the boys can carry it all in for you.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=643094

 

[phamton]

I love to eat at Enchanted Oak Tavern across from Dueling Dragons. I love being inside a "tree" and the BBQ ribs are fantastic. My kids love the hamburgers there also. The corn on the cob is roasted with the shucks of the corn pulled down so you hold the corn by the stalk. It is a very fun place to eat and less expensive than the restaurants. Here are some pictures and the menu with prices: http://www.ioacentral.com/islands/the_lost_continent/restaurants/enchanted_oak_tavern.htm

Another place that is easy on the budget is Louie's Italian Restuarant across from Beetlejuice show at Universal. You can buy a large pizza for around $10 and share it. There is also a Starbucks inside.

 

[Eclpz314]

Louie's Pizza iin Universal is definitely a cheaper way to do a meal. They have pizza by slice or whole, plus spaghetti, etc. too. Not that expensive and my family ate a good share of meals/snacks there over our two trips. In July we were over at IOA and happened upon a pizza place....turns out it serves identical menu items as Louie's but is called something different. The Nascar Cafe is a good choice for your crew.....portions are pretty big and would hold everyone for a while. I would definitely stock up on bottled water/juice and sodas from home or publix. You'll save yourself a fortune in drink costs throughout the days. Good luck and have fun!

 

[PooohBear]

wow you are either a saint or just plain crazy !!!
Would you adopt me and my family and take us on a vacation with you too !??!
I'm just teasing you ! I always thought I was the best mom, but I think you've beat me !!!!

 

[2BigKIdz]

When we were there in July Pastamore also served breakfast, I believe it was buffett but not positive. I don't know if that is an in-season type of thing or if they serve breakfast all the time. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[h20jag]

Here's another vote for Enchanted Oak Tavern. Great ribs & you can sit down close to the little Alchemy Bar where there's a TV! (kinda important during football season)

And Burger Digs in Jurassic Park is good chow for reasonable too.

 

[robvia]

I've put up my directions to Publix site.

http://www.nogodforme.com/directionstopublix.htm

 

[Mic]

The boys love ribs, so the Enchanted Oak will be one meal stop for us. And Louie's Pizza will probably be where the boys eat "between" meals. We will definitely let the 14 and 16-year-old walk around without us; the oldest has had a cell phone for 2 years, and is not afraid to use it! Since we are driving down in 2 vehicles(the boys in my new Suburban with DVD player and power inverter for video games, the girls in my daughter's new Mini Cooper), I'm planning on packing a few boxes of cereal and poptarts for breakfast. I will plug our travel cooler up in the Suburban and put a gallon of milk and juice in there, along with drinks for the males on the drive down. That cooler will be nice to use in the room as well, and I'll bring along some snacks and drinks. My husband agreed with me that eating breakfast in the room will save us time for the 2 days we are at Hard Rock. Usually, I plan my grocery stop for the day we check-in at Disney. Hubby stays at the pool with the kids, and I go to Winn-Dixie for groceries for the week. I guess I'm just concerned about having a meal plan with so many boys...my own is a bottomless pit lately!

PoohBear--I'm just plain crazy! We've done this type of trip twice so far: once for each of our older daughters for their 14th birthdays. However, the last trip with girls was a little much for my husband. He decided he really was not interested in anyone's menstrual cycle or who was going out with who at school. Apparently, he finds who can burp(or worse) the loudest and who has the highest video game score more interesting. I'm just glad I'll be riding in the Mini with the girls! Ten hours one way is a lot of burping!

 

[PartyofSix]

I hate to say this but i would skip Nascar Cafe. It's just medicore food at best. If you just want to visit and play the games or get a beer or appetizer that would be safe but i would'nt do a meal there. That being said a MUST do for us is Margariville. I can't wait in just a FEW days i'll be sitting on the porch of indesicion eating a cheese burger in paradise sipping on a cold concotion! Oh my. Anyways the food is awesome i've had everything from soup to dessert and it's all very good food your AAA card and AP's will get you a discount there. AAA gets you a discount in the store that's deeper than your ap rate if you want to shop there. Mythos is another favorite and we have enjoyed HRC on longer trips but this is a shorty for just HHN staying at the HRH so we are doing Mythos (try the pizza of the day if you havent' and the soups are awesome) then Margaritville at night. If you had time Mama Della's over at PBH is worth your time to jump over there. Portions are big so sharing is recommended unless you want to leave extremly full and hurting.LOL We share then hit the gelato bar for dessert. Have a great trip.