I will echo what others are saying. If you have never been, you just can't comprehend the logistics of getting around WDW. Our first trips to a Disney property were to DLR when my kids were very young, expressly for that reason-it could not have been easier to walk back and forth between the GCH and DP and of course DCA was right downstairs. It was fantastic with a 2 year old that was taking daily naps. When we finally went to WDW for the first time, my kids were a bit older and I was soooo glad we waited-I could not believe how more involved and time consuming the traveling around was compared to DLR-and our first five trips were spent at BC or YC, so it is not like we were off property. Having since stayed yearly at deluxe resorts, it still takes a while every time to remember how to get where we need to be. And, we have never been during the busiest week of the year which will add lots of time/stress to getting around. The wait for buses, monorails, boats, entry and bag check lines, even just checking in for your ADRS will all be compounded by the masses of people.
For a first timer, I think your best bet is to make as simple a plan as possible-eat TS meals at your resort or at the park you will be in, skip Disney Springs-there is so much else to do and see that is a better use of your time, IMO. Yes, La Nouba is great, but the trip there, plus a meal, the show and travel time back and forth will easily use up most of a day. Any dinner show will be at least a 2 hour experience, excluding travel time. As pp have said, adding in all the other activites, you will be lucky to get one attraction in a day.
All that said, we have done both Spirit of Aloha and HDDR more than once and much preferred HDDR for both the food and the show.
Tony's is awful, especially if you are a foodie. The food is much better at LTT and BOG.
California Grill is not the restaurant it once was- before the rehab, it was our absolute favorite, since we have been twice and thought it the biggest waste of money we ever spent in WDW with the exception of Coral Reef-horrible food. Many better choices in Epcot like Les Chefs de France, Tutto Italia, Rose & Crown. V&A is exceptional-on par with any top restaurant in NYC or San Francisco, etc.
Tusker House and 'Ohana breakfasts are must do every trip for us. We do not care for CP.
If I had to choose between the two, I would pick Yachtsman over Le Cellier, but unlike many here, we still enjoy Le Cellier.
HBD and Mama Melrose are both good choices for the Fantasmic package-we tend to do lunch at Mama Melrose with the show and save dinner at HBD for a night we are not seeing Fantasmic so as not to rush through a dinner there as it is a slower paced, more "fine dining" type of meal-more suited to a regular hour dinner than a lunch or early dinner, IMO.
We love Yak & Yeti and eat there twice every trip.
Some final thoughts. Keep in mind that character meals will always take longer than regular meals. In my experience, we have never been seated on time at 'Ohana, Tusker House, Mama Melrose, LTT and BOG. Many others always run behind as well. You also have to factor that into your time spent eating.
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