Dinner help!

[mama2abunch]

I know this sounds crazy, but we are leaving in 4 days for Disney & just began planning the trip this past weekend

So, basically, I know *nothing* about Disney (dh nor myself have ever been.) AND, we have 6 young children (9 & under.)

I was planning on "winging it" like we do at any other amusement park... ...forgot that Disney is like no other Amusement park .

Any suggestions on dining? We will be at Disney for 3 days. Thinking Magic Kingdom, Epcot & ???

I think a character dinner would be nice for the kids. But, I really don't know what it entails or how to find out about them.

Any advice is deeply appreciated!!

 

[HappyCamper87]

I suggest you call 407-WDW-DINE as soon as you can figure out one place you want to eat each day. I would suggest:

Magic Kingdom - Crystal Palace for Breakfast with Pooh and Friends

Epcot has Restaurant Akershus with has the princesses but I have not eaten here yet.

Downtown Disney has Rainforest Cafe which I would highly suggest for a family with kids as long as they won't mind the artificial rain storm. My kids always loved it.

And, if you don't end of making ADR's just go with the flow and check out the counter service place that looks most apetizing at the time.

I hope you have a great trip.

Best Wishes!

 

[ready4mouse]

I know how fun it is to "wing it" and I love to do that when we go on other vacations, but NOT Disney! I've talked to so many people that come back from Disney hating it b/c they didn't plan before they went... Do yourself a favor and come up with a rough itinerary. Don't worry, you won't feel overscehduled. Map out which park you'd like to go to on which day and then try to call 407-WDW-DINE and see if you can get one dinner a night in or around these parks. ESPECIALLY if you want a character breakfast, dinner, or lunch. And I would recommend doing one of these- it's a great way to get character face time w/o waiting in lines.

You can go to www.allears.net to look at menus before you call for your ADR's. It will be much better to have a reservation and cancel it when you're there if it won't work with your schedule than to get there and have no where to eat!

Please feel free to ask any questions and good luck !

 

[DisneySweetheart]

Just wishing you good luck and a wonderful vacation.

I also leave in 4 days.

 

[Mommyto1andtwins]

The garden grill will usually have Mickey, chip and dale, & pluto for dinner. The Wave at the contemporary might be easier to get into but no charaters. Disney channel morning characters can be found at the Hollywood and Vine -Jojo & Goliath and Leo & June. Japan is fun, usually a little different for kids but still enjoyable. With a group of eight I would start calling NOW and try for anything and then worry about changing later unless you know what you want.

 

[Hootch]

you do or don't know so I'll start off simple. Please don't be insulted.

Disney has generally two types of dining options, tables service (TS) and counter service (CS). People can make Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) at TS locations. This essentially gets you the next available table at a specific time. CS locations are similar to fast food palces. It's first come first serve. Food is ordered at a counter and carried to a table.

Summer is a high season and TS ADRs, especially for eight, are going to be difficult. Don't count htem out though if you want to try. If you want to try, you'll need to be very flexible. You can continue to call even after you are on site or even stop at a Guest Services location. The number is 407-939-3463 (407-WDW-DINE).

There are various options in the parks and rersorts. The parks and resorts each have CS and TS locations with the exception of the value resorts (All Stars and Pop Century) and POFQ. Quality and taste vary. This site has sample menues for each location. These are grouped by locations which makes it easier to narrow down options if you know where you will be toruing:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm

I mentioned above that quality varies. This is a link that collects and averages reviews from various people. It's useful to narrow down options in a short period of time. The restaurants are grouped similarly:

http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/

Some TS locations are character meals in which characters mingle among the tables for pictures and autographs. The menu list above generally identifies who the characters are. Some of the favorites are Crystal Palace (CP), Chef Mickey's (CM), Cape May, Ohana, Garden Grill and Tusker House. These tend to be a little more expensive because you are paying for the convenience of meeting characters. They are also popular for the same reason so they may be hard to get, but don't give up. If you miss out characters can be found throughout the parks. Toontown Fair in the Magic Kingdom and The Character Meet (name?) in Epcot usually have a few. Cast members (CMs or Disney "employees") can help you find others.

Some of the easier TS locations may be Biergarten, Trails End, Whispering Canyon and Boatwrights. Some of the better CS locations are:

Magic Kingddom - Columbia Harbor House, Peco Bills and Cosmic Rays

Epcot - lot's of them; Sunshine Seasons, Tangierien Cafe, Yorkshire Fish House, Cantina de San Angel, Sommerfest

Disney Hollywood Studios - lesser choices; Pizza Planet, Backlot Express

Animal Kingdom - Flame Tree Barbq and Pizzafari.

Maps of all of the parks, as well as times guisdes for parades and shows, are available as you enter the park. If you want to look before getting there this next link has scans of the maps available in the parks.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/index.htm

One note, with this being high season the CS locations will get busy at normal lunch times. Sometimes seating can be diffidcult to get. If you plan around slightly off hours seating is easier.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

All I can say is Good Luck! You maybe able to in my opinion wing it other places but if you want to eat at certain resturants they better be booked.
Good luck and have a wonderful vacation.

 

[daisy112878]

Another choice for a character breakfast is Cape May at the Beach/Yacht Club (near Epcot). It's usually less crowded then the other character breakfasts. Another good breakfast is Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge but it does not have characters.

Call WDW dining and tell them the dates and park to look what's available for your size group.