Dream ADR's - - please help me create a stellar line up!

[TheLittleRoo]

So, I have LOTS of advance time to work this out for free dining in August!!!! I can't stand myself right now - I'm bouncing up and down with excitement!!

I'm trying to create a dream line up for my cast and crew this year. We will not have hoppers and we only go to Epcot one day, max two days. We are in MK at least 3-4 times, Animal Kingdom 1-2x and Studios once.

We'll have 7 TS's and CS's to work with this year. My kids are DS14 (a crab/lobster lover which I think are off the menus everywhere, and a steak eater), DD7 (somewhat adventurous with food), and DS4 (a mac n cheese kind of guy, and it better be simple, buster...). I like Asian flair (Kona ) and my DH is very adventurous too.

I want a character meal with Mickey, Donald and the gang - - I'm thinking Garden Grill this year as none of us were impressed with Chef Mickeys' buffet LY. I want a girlie character meal for DD7 -- torn between the traditional Akershus Princess Lunch or maybe 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella, Prince Charming and the gang.

I really liked the buffet food at Crystal Palace, but my kids aren't especially into Pooh and friends...

We've eaten at:
Le Cellier - loved it, but I've heard it's going downhill with choices and portions
Kona - loved it, lots of good choices for steak lovers and Asian and seafood
O'Hana's - mixed reviews, lots of fun for the younger kids, food so so
Boma's - loved it, but a few of us had upset tummies that night and the next day
Capn Jacks - loved the lobster, but wouldn't go back for fish entrees only.
Wolfgang Pucks - loved the food, felt like they didn't like FD patrons

I think that's it for my tried and true's. We're a mostly adventurous lot and are open to any suggestions and recommendation, but would really like to get into some of the places that are harder to get since we have so much lead time this year.

Send some suggestions my way!!!

 

[Tigjam630]

We did Donald's Safari Breakfast at AK on our last trip. At the time we were there Donald, Mickey, and Goofy were all there along with Daisy I think. It was a decent meal and got us into the park early, so that we were ahead of the crowd when the park opend.

If you are interested in a Signature Jiko is fabulous. I think it is now one of my favorites.

 

[njprincess601]

California Grill is my favorite restaurant. It is 2 table service credits, but well worth it.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I second the Donald AK breakfast. Food was pretty good (better than Chef Mickey's, I thought) and we ended up on the first safari truck.

What about "The Wave" in the Contemporary? We almost cancelled our reservation there last year & were so happy we didn't ... it ended up being one of the best meals of our trip!

And Tutto Italia has become our new fav in EPCOT! Very good, pricey but we had free dining as well!

 

[dawnbu40]

How about Narcossees for your son the lobster lover. It is 2ts credits but they have whole lobster or steak and lobster on the menu. I've never been there but I'm looking forward to going in May. Our favorite "girlie" meal is the breakfast in Norway at Epcot. It was the best breakfast we had in Dec and the character interaction was wonderful! Have fun planning!

 

[WrightFamily06]

How about the Flying Fish for your son the Seafood Lover ? I would go with 1900 Park Fare for the Princess meal , it's a must do on our list every year very good buffet in my opinion and the entertainment is Awesome ! As far as the character meal is concerned I would try Cape May for Breakfast or Donald's Safari Breakfast . We love Chef Mickey's ourselves but it gets old after awhile and the Garden Grill is not our kinda food not really into catfish but you may be so this could be a good pick for you . I wish Liberty Tree was still doing character meals cause I would totally recommend it for your character meal , it was our favorite . Hope this helps with your choices

 

[ShannonMB]

We really LOVED Yak and Yeti in February. We weren't planning on eating there, but happened to walk in, and it was the best meal of our trip. A little Asian flair as well! The babyback ribs with Hoisin BBQ sauce were some of the best I've ever had. My mom had the skirt steak with tempura shrimp, and DD had rice, noodles, and fries. The cream cheese wonton dessert was to DIE for, too. It's pricey, so a great value on the dining plan (or free dining, of course!!).

Lots of places to choose from, of course, but if you're going to AK twice, I don't think you'd be disappointed if you fit it in!

Have fun planning!!!

 

[lurkernj]

I would say Coral reef in Epcot. Has something for everyone. My DS14 also is a lobster/crab lover and while they didn't have that here, they had some great fish dishes that he loved (catfish and Mahi Mahi). There was also a delicious steak that my DS11 had. Atmosphere was really nice for all. It was one of our favorites (and we had 10ts).

We had the Tusker house breakfast and it was delicious and the characters were great.

Kona seems like a given since you seem to enjoy it so much, and you don't need to enter a park.

How about cape may clam bake if DS14 likes clams (we haven't done this yet so I can't say how it is).

We did Narcoosees last year and it was awesome and worth the 2TS.

We did 50's primetime and Mama Melrose last year and enjoyed 50s more (although the coveted fantasmic package is alluring at Mamas)

We did Chef Mickeys for breakfast and it was really good, as were the characters.

 

[Singinglizzie]

Here are my recommends for you:

- Coral Reef (disregard any negative comments you read, it truly is a great restaurant). They offer a shrimp/crabcake appetizer that my DS14 still talks about. It was slightly sweet but very delicious!

- Teppan Edo - the shrimp and scallops there are nice, and the setting is so fun! This is a good place for steak too! You can upgrade your sirloin for filet for an extra $7.50 - which I thought was very good.

- Artists Point (WL) yes it is 2 table credits if you are on the DDP, but it is a very elegant restaurant

Since this is a "dream" list, the ones below I havent eaten at, but would love to try:
- California Grill
- Tutto Italia
- Le Cellier
- Jiko

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Thanks for all the good advice so far!!

I think with only 7 TS credits, we won't be able to do the 2 TS restaurants. Plus, I cringe at the thought of taking my little monster (4) anywhere "too nice", <= that's him at a dinner table.

We talked about it last night and DD7 says she's ready to try something different from PSL, maybe 1900 PF - - but then I read that PSL has the photo pkg included, and that would be a nice keepsake.

Neither of my seafood lovers like fish or clams, so they're really after lobster or crab to be blunt, LOL! I think they can put those hopes aside for free dining, and stick with a nice juicy steak.

So, here's what I'm thinking so far:

Crystal Palace - for the little guy
Kona - once for DS14
Kona - again for DH
Le Cellier - for our Epcot day (my pick)
Chef Mickey - maybe breakfast our last day?

That leaves:
1900 PF or PSL for DD7
Sci Fi Drive In - - thinking this would be good fun for all, and we've never been. Heard it's hard to get in to now??!?

Will we regret so much steak? None of us can imagine eating Italian food in the hellish August heat... I'd love someplace fun (which is why I like Sci Fi for a nice change of venue..) or different the kids would think is cool.


We are rope drop people, so I can't imagine any breakfast is worth getting up at the crack of dawn to eat. Please correct me if I misunderstand how breakfast in a park works? Isn't rope drop at 8 in the summer months? Our last morning wouldn't be a big deal, or if we were going to FW in Epcot, we could have a leisurely breakfast, but we don't usually go there 2x in one trip.

I could also use some suggestions for CS places in AK, Studios (a real shortage of good places - we've only liked ABC Commissary) and Epcot. I know especially in Epcot, there are some really good ones that people have mentioned. We might try the Moroccan place.. what else is good ? Are they open for early lunch at 11:30, or is it 12 that FW opens?

Thanks everyone!

 

[TheLittleRoo]

Also, I read that now the park hours and events aren't released until 90 days before, along with ADRs. How am I supposed to plan my ADRs now that match my park days, without knowing my park days?!?

Hello? Am I missing something, or what is everyone doing to plan for this? You need to be able to call in at the crack of dawn on your 90 days before arrival, and you won't have had time to study the park days! Anyone??!?!?