February 2013 PTR

[ginnygi]

So I already booked our flights for February 23rd - March 2nd, 2013!!! SO EXCITED. We will be there for 8days/7night, so its our longest trip yet. I havent booked anything else yet because I am a.) waiting for 2013 package booking to open up, and b.) hoping for a military discount to be announced soon, or perhaps free dining? Who knows? I can dream, cant I?

We will be staying at Coronado Springs this time. While we have stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort the last two trips, and really loved staying there, I just really want to try something different. There is so much to love about CSR, like the buffet quick service meals, the amazing pool, the playground that definitely seems a notch above the rest of the hotels in Disney (what can I say, my kids are playground people), and the night club withing the resort - whoo-hoo!

Our plan:

Sat 2/23: EARLY flight in (we have to get up around 4am), landing in Orlando about 9:20. Magical Express to hotel. Counter service lunch buffet, and then explore the hotel for the rest of the afternoon, swimming, marshmallow roast in the evening, hot tub...

Ok, my first indecision. From Coronado Springs, should we go to Polynesian hotel for Captain Cook's counter service dinner, or Downtown Disney for Wolfgang Express? We will be using Disney transportation. I want to go to Captain Cookes for the dole whip. Yes, I know they have them in MK, but I really want to save my MK snack for a cream cheese pretzel, and I really like to get the most out of the dining plan so want to get the best dessert possible every time. I should warn you know that most of my dining decision making is based on what deserts are served... Sad, but true. Second part of the question, has anyone gotten the dole whip as part of their counter service meal? Can you pay for the meal, eat your meal, and then go back up for the dessert? I dont want my dole whip to melt while I am eating, and I like saving desert for last...

Ok people, I need your help here. Please give me your opinions, insight, experience, etc. Cant wait to hear from you all!

 

[ginnygi]

Epcot day. I dont know what it is, I just enjoy starting my Disney trip at Epcot. I do believe it is a little less "wow" than the other parks, so I feel like you should build up to MK a little, you know? So 90% of the trip we use our snack credits for breakfast. You know, cereal or bagel or something from the food court so we can head out to the parks early.

We would like to have lunch at Le Cellier. I hear great reviews about the place. The place was so good it got bumped to a 2 credit place during dinner. I refuse to pay two credits to eat there though, so hence the lunch reservation. I tried the soup during food and wine festival two years ago and did not care for it at all. I though it was actually kind of gross, and people rave about it all the time so I dont know WHAT to think. The pictures of the filet with mushroom risotto look delish and who doesnt like creme brule, right? So I am going to give it a try and hope I dont regret it...

Ok, so for dinner we were all originally going to eat at Biergarten. My husband LOVES saurbraten (?) and the oompah band sounds kind of cool. But then (!) I heard that Akershus now has Rapunzel appearing and that is an absolute must for me and my daughter! We have eaten at Akershus for breakfast and lunch before. We enjoyed both. I liked the dinner better. I like to eat things that I dont get to try often and the food was very yummy. Breakfast food is a little boring and predictable but tasted fine, so no complaints. My mother in law and my mother are joining us and they arent into the "princess meals" so they will go to Biergarten with my husband. I Will let my DS decide which restaurant he would rather go to. He will be 7, but I think he likes the pretty princesses and the attention they give him... We will see

After dinner we plan to go to MK for evening extra magic hours and i can get my cream cheese filled pretzel =)

 

[ginnygi]

This will (hopefully) be our sleep in day. My kids are not great at sleeping in, ever, but (hopefully, if they dont poop out and have meltdowns) we should be at MK late the night before enjoying many rides at evening extra magic hours.

We will swim at hotel and possibly go miniature golfing. I am looking forward to CS lunch at Earl of Sandwich. I have seen pictures of the sandwiches and they look MOUTHWATERING I cant wait.

Dinner tonight will be at Raglan Road. We are Irish so I cant wait to see the live dancers. My husband's favorite food is Shepard's Pie. Really looking forward to this. Has anyone seen the show before?

 

[ginnygi]

We are going to Islands of Adventure this day. We are excited to see Harry Potter World, and will naturally eat at the Three Broomsticks. I havent seen any reviews on this. Has anyone eaten there? How is the food?

After IoA we will have dinner at Kona Cafe. Has anyone has the coffee rubbed pork shop? I have never had any coffee rubbed meat. It sounds interesting and I would like to try it. Any reviews? I am most looking forward to the fondue desert. I WILL be gaining weight on the trip, and I am totally fine with that

 

[artemis908]

Epcot day. I dont know what it is, I just enjoy starting my Disney trip at Epcot. I do believe it is a little less "wow" than the other parks, so I feel like you should build up to MK a little, you know?

I love Epcot, we always go there the first day. I don't feel like I am truly at Disney World until I go on Spaceship Earth. Last time I was at WDW in 2007 it was closed, that killed me! I can't wait until we go in February!

 

[Terkina]

Joining in We are traveling to WDW from 11th to 16th of February 2013
Sounds like you have a great plan so far

 

[ginnygi]

Day 5: MAGIC KINGDOM!!!
I would like to try BE Our Guest Restaurant for CS lunch. Cant wait to see what the menu will be...
Dinner will be at the Plaza for the following reasons (listed in the order of importance): 1. The ice cream sundae/banana split pics that people have posted look AMAZING 2. I have a friend who swears this is her favorite restaurant in all of Disney and insists that I have to eat here. 3. The Plaza gets pretty consistently good reviews on the disboards = I am sold

Day 6: Hollywood Studios
Sci Fi Dine in for lunch. We have eaten here before and everyone in our party loved it. I know it gets slammed alot in reviews, but we LOVED it. The food is yummy. I had the chicken sandwich and it was very tasty. The best part, obviously, is the atmosphere. It is very fun, and it was my kids favorite meal, and we did like 4 "character" meals, but they liked this the best.
Ok, I am hoping to get a Fantasmic package at Mama Melrose. I have seen mixed reviews of this place. A little nervous... Your thoughts?

 

[ginnygi]

Animal Kingdom followed by the park that everyone wants to revisit (hoping it is MK, but open to HS too)

Tusker House Breakfast with Donald and Goofy (and Mickey too, but we love Donald and Goofy more, are we weird?) This is, by far, the BEST breakfast buffet in Disney. We LOVE the food. It is everything you would get anywhere else - the eggs, and bacon, and mickey waffles - but that extra something a little exotic too, I love it The character interaction is among the best we have had as well. They spend lots of time with you and no rushing at all throughout the meal. Yea!

Ok, so right now I plan to do CS lunch at Yak and Yeti. Yum! We can get pizza anywhere and the Flame Tree BBQ, while it gets rave reviews, really didnt look that appealing to me. We love Chinese food and the "food porn" I have seen looks promising.

We will have a CS dinner at MK or HS in the evening. I need your help again. What are the best counter service places in these two parks?

Day 8: CS breakfast buffet at CSR and then home (Thats ok, my husband told me no more Disney Vacations after this because he wants to something different, but I am not resigned to that at all! I WILL convince him that we need to go again, and soon )

 

[artemis908]

I would have a back up for Be Our Guest in case either it gets booked up or you can't make ADR at 180 days. I have heard a mix of things about when ADR will start. My 180 mark is August 6th so I plan on booking an ADR that day for my second choice of restaurant since it's likely Be Our Guest won't be open for ADRs and then as soon as I hear it's open go in and change it.

 

[ginnygi]

Thank you artemis and terkima for joining me! I was afraid I was going to be all alone there for awhile! Btw, I cant wait to do a post trip report and post all the pictures from all my dining adventures.

 

[ginnygi]

I would have a back up for Be Our Guest in case either it gets booked up or you can't make ADR at 180 days. I have heard a mix of things about when ADR will start. My 180 mark is August 6th so I plan on booking an ADR that day for my second choice of restaurant since it's likely Be Our Guest won't be open for ADRs and then as soon as I hear it's open go in and change it.


Be Our Guest is a counter service place for lunch, so no ADR needed. It will definitely be crazy busy, but I think it will be worth braving the crowds and insanity!

 

[Terkina]

I didn't know Be Our Guest is a Counter Service for lunch. Wonder how the menu for lunch will be. Maybe we have to try it for lunch.

 

[Stoneham92]

What do you think the odds are that the weather will be hot enough for the pools? Should I get a ticket that includes the Water Parks or just plan to use resort pools if we luck out and have great weather?

 

[artemis908]

What do you think the odds are that the weather will be hot enough for the pools? Should I get a ticket that includes the Water Parks or just plan to use resort pools if we luck out and have great weather?

I would just wait until we know more about the weather. I mean you could always buy a one day ticket for the water parks, I believe you can get them at the resort. You just can never tell what the weather will be, this past winter was crazy!