feedback on my dining reservations?

[abq mom]

My first-ever trip to WDW is in April with my husband & 2 sons ages 9 & 6. The boys want to do some character dining. I prefer smaller portions of well-prepared foods over all-you-can-eat. I think the Epcot Flower & Garden booth menus look terrific. We are staying at the Dolphin & paying OOP. We probably will get park-hopper tickets, although I made my plans so far for 1 park per day. Any suggestions on the following plans? Should we skip either Garden Grill or Tusker House? Any thoughts on where to eat for the meals I haven't planned yet?

Thursday: Epcot
b-fast in the room
lunch: CS. ?Sunshine Seasons or F&G booths or Tangerine Cafe or Boulangerie Patisserie
dinner: Garden Grill (I have a 7:20 reservation. Is that good timing to watch Illuminations after dinner?)

Friday: Magic Kingdom
b-fast: Crystal Palace 8:15 (park opens at 9)
lunch: CS. ?Columbia Harbor House
dinner: ???
dessert: Tommorowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert

Saturday: Hollywood Studios
b-fast in the room
lunch: Mama Melrose Fantasmic! package
dinner: ???

Sunday: Animal Kingdom
b-fast in the room
lunch: Tusker House at 1:30
dinner: ???

Thanks

 

[Lintasare]

With a 7:20 reservation you might be cutting it close on Illuminations. You will probably make it but you might not get a choice viewing area. I would try for something in World Showcase like The Rose & Crown or Chefs de France. Or you can skip it and do a CS for dinner. That would give you time to eat and find a good viewing spot. I like to watch from the rail out in front of the Germany Pavilion next to one of the torches so I can really hear the music.

Other than that your plans look good. Are you going to fill in the ? marks with CS places? I can probably help suggest a few.

BTW looking at your name...are you in Albuquerque?

 

[abq mom]

I will see if I can move the Garden Grill reservation earlier. I was showing the boys pictures of it & Tusker House, asking them to pick a Mickey meal, & of course they wanted to do both.

I still need to pick restaurants for the ??? Any suggestions are appreciated. CS, TS or resort dining in the Epcot area. We're going after Spring Break, so there are still a lot of TS reservations available. I would prefer places that have lighter options, since we already have a big meal scheduled each day.

& yes, I'm in Albuquerque. It's so hard to find usernames for these boards

 

[Lintasare]

I will see if I can move the Garden Grill reservation earlier. I was showing the boys pictures of it & Tusker House, asking them to pick a Mickey meal, & of course they wanted to do both.

I still need to pick restaurants for the ??? Any suggestions are appreciated. CS, TS or resort dining in the Epcot area. We're going after Spring Break, so there are still a lot of TS reservations available. I would prefer places that have lighter options, since we already have a big meal scheduled each day.

& yes, I'm in Albuquerque. It's so hard to find usernames for these boards

The Kona Cafe at the Polynesian is a good place to eat. If you are looking for something light I recommend The Plaza at the Magic Kingdom, it's sandwiches and I think there is 1 salad on the menu. It has a nice view of the Castle.

For CS there are a lot of options. Sunshine Seasons is a favorite of mine, lots of variety and it's all freshly made. They recently refurbished the Bakery in France and I hear it has a better menu now. Haven't tried the CS in Morocco but it is on the list, same with Japan. I have always enjoy the CS in Germany, Sommerfest. I am kinda limited on Epcot CS since it seems we always eat at the same places.

As for resort dining in the Epcot area, I have eat at Kouzzina at the Boardwalk and enjoyed every minute of it. It is Greek/Mediterranean inspired cuisine so some people don't like it. At the Beach Club is Beaches & Cream, I hear the No Way Jose is amazing. Haven't eaten at the Swan/Dolphin or Yacht Club so I can't comment on those.

 

[sharonabe]

I'm not sure I would do a dinner on the night you have the Dessert Party. You should be pretty full from breakfast, so a later afternoon lunch at CHH should suffice until time for dessert.

 

[disnmooner2013]

My first-ever trip to WDW is in April with my husband & 2 sons ages 9 & 6. The boys want to do some character dining. I prefer smaller portions of well-prepared foods over all-you-can-eat. I think the Epcot Flower & Garden booth menus look terrific. We are staying at the Dolphin & paying OOP. We probably will get park-hopper tickets, although I made my plans so far for 1 park per day. Any suggestions on the following plans? Should we skip either Garden Grill or Tusker House? Any thoughts on where to eat for the meals I haven't planned yet?

Thursday: Epcot
b-fast in the room
lunch: CS. ?Sunshine Seasons or F&G booths or Tangerine Cafe or Boulangerie Patisserie My favorite counter service in all of Disney World is Tangierine Cafe
dinner: Garden Grill (I have a 7:20 reservation. Is that good timing to watch Illuminations after dinner?)

Friday: Magic Kingdom
b-fast: Crystal Palace 8:15 (park opens at 9)
lunch: CS. ?Columbia Harbor House I would do this for dinner and do Be Our Guest (counter service) for lunch
dinner: ???
dessert: Tommorowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert

Saturday: Hollywood Studios
b-fast in the room
lunch: Mama Melrose Fantasmic! package
dinner: ???I would go to 50's Prime Time your kids should like hte food and antics

Sunday: Animal Kingdom
b-fast in the room
lunch: Tusker House at 1:30
dinner: ??? DEFINITELY SANAA (MAKE EARLY ADR LIKE AROUND 5PM SO IT IS LIGHT OUTSIDE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE ANIMALS ON THE SAVANNAH AND IT WILL BE LESS CROWDED AROUND 5 SO EASIER TO GET WINDOW TABLE TO VIEW ANIMALS AND HAS EXCELLENT FOOD)

Thanks

My answers are above in blue.

 

[abq mom]

ah, decisions, decisions. I appreciate all of the suggestions so far.

I did move my Garden Grill reservation to 6:50. Hopefully that will give us time to finish our meal & find a spot to view Illuminations. We don't think it is worth battling the crowd to get the "perfect" spot (thus our Fantasmic! dining & Tomorrowland Dessert party reservations)

I was considering Sanaa instead of Tusker House. I think I would prefer the food, but my kids are more interested in the Disney experience than fine dining. I think both in 1 day might be too much food for me.

I can probably make a dinner of the Dessert Party (I have a sweet tooth). My husband & kids will probably want to eat something before, but I was thinking CS in Epcot (if we get Park Hoppers) or the Epcot resort area. The menu at BOG looks good, but I am a little intimidated by the pictures I have seen of the lines.

The Kouzzina menu looks good. I am tempted to make late reservation there on our arrival night.