First Night Meal Help, please

[GoofySon'sMom]

DS and I are arriving in WDW on August 23rd. We will 'recheck in' on the 24th for free (well upgraded deluxe) dining. So we are paying to eat on the 23rd and want to keep it relatively inexpensive. Also, we can't do any parks that day. We are planning to go to DTD and have lunch at Earl of Sandwich. I am totally up in the air about what to do for dinner. We thought of just eating at the POP Food Court but I have read mixed reviews. We also may go to the Campfire Singalong at Fort Wilderness so I thought about maybe Trails End but I can't find much info about it here on the Dis (and Search doesn't seem to be working! )

Any suggestions for a decent, cheaper meal out of the Parks?

 

[disneysuncat]

Depending on how long you plan to stay in DTD, Wolfgang Puck Express is a great place for a good meal. It's considered "counter service" but had absolutely delicious chicken. (around $12 for a chicken meal) They also have gourmet pizzas, etc.

 

[skw444]

I second the recommendation for Wolfgang Puck Express. I thought the food was great and the portions are a good size...a great value for the money.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Depending on how long you plan to stay in DTD, Wolfgang Puck Express is a great place for a good meal. It's considered "counter service" but had absolutely delicious chicken. (around $12 for a chicken meal) They also have gourmet pizzas, etc.

Yes, I actually had thought of this as well. Our flight lands at 9 in the morning so I am thinking we will be in DTD fairly early. Just not sure we will be up for staying there all afternoon. And I am sure our room won't be ready so I know we have to go back to POP at some point. I agree WPE has wonderful food! It was a hard decision for us whether to have lunch there or at Earl of Sandwich.

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

Totally agree with Wolfgang Puck Express! Not only is it our favorite spot at DTD but one of our favorites in all of WDW! We have eaten here many, many times and have never had a bad experience.

 

[mickeynut1]

Another one for Wolfgang Puck Express . We love eating there and we make sure we do so atleast once every trip .

 

[bookbabe626]

We also may go to the Campfire Singalong at Fort Wilderness so I thought about maybe Trails End but I can't find much info about it here on the Dis

Try http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_teb.htm

 

[thestevied]

Thats a good question. I'll be arriving at the Dolphin at around 7 or 8pm on Saturday Sept 13th. Any suggestions where we can eat that is near by?? After the 8 and a half hour flight we'll probably not want to go too far and just have something fairly cheap and basic.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Thats a good question. I'll be arriving at the Dolphin at around 7 or 8pm on Saturday Sept 13th. Any suggestions where we can eat that is near by?? After the 8 and a half hour flight we'll probably not want to go too far and just have something fairly cheap and basic.

There is a pizza window on the Boardwalk. ESPN Zone is also there for a quick sitdown. I have thought about the pizza window for DS and I.

bookbabe_disneynut, thank you for the link. I had seen the menu, but wanted to see reviews from anyone that may have eaten there. I did read some on allears & then seem pretty positive.

I am thinking that we could get WPE and bring it back to POP with us if we leave before we are ready to have dinner. Or just eat at the food court. Geesh, for someone that made 10 days worth of deluxe dining reservations 180 days out, you would think I could make up my mind!

 

[moparop]

What about Beaches & Cream?

 

[lntsmom]

Don't believe the slams on the food courts. Unless you are extremely picky and your sense of self worth is determined by how much money you can spend on a meal, the food courts are just fine!

I had salmon twice on our trip...back-to-back nights. Not by choice, mind you, but because Whispering Canyon was out of trout. The salmon at Movies beat the salmon at Whisperinc Canyon hands-down!!!

If money weren't an issue I'd suggest Raglan Road or Whispering Canyon, but if you want fairly inexpensive, do the food court! They have enough variety to make it possible for anyone to find something they can enjoy!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

It's not so much that money is an issue, but more than we are going to have 10 days of Deluxe Dining with a ton of food! I just didn't want to spend a ton of money on an out of pocket expense dinner. Would rather spend that on "stuff"! I agree that food courts aren't necessarily 'bad'. We had a good dinner at POR food court last year. But we also had some not so great late night snack type meals. I guess it is like everything else ... hit or miss depending on the day!

We plan to hit Beaches & Cream later in the week. Will be paying out of pocket for that as well since we are planning to get the Kitchen Sink for lunch one day!

I had thought about Raglan Road as well. But again, not sure we will be in DTD that long. Decisions, decisions ...

THANK YOU all for your advice! It is much appreciated.

 

[mom2jcc]

Just wondering how old your son is? I really want to surprise my son with a mom/son trip next year for his 10th birthday.

I would suggest "trying" the food court or if you feel like resort hopping that evening try one at another resort.

 

[roselark]

I would stick to the food court. Since your flight comes in at 9am, that probably means you got up very early to begin with. You will probably get tired pretty early. I would have an early dinner at the food court then head back to the room to rest. You need to build up your strength for your next 10 days of FUN!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Just wondering how old your son is? I really want to surprise my son with a mom/son trip next year for his 10th birthday.

I would suggest "trying" the food court or if you feel like resort hopping that evening try one at another resort.

He's 12. We have been to Disney the past 4 years as a family and DS and I went once with my sister and her family. He and I spent quite a bit of time alone in the parks on that trip which made me realized that I could definitely do this trip. DH can't take the time from work and he still wants us to go. I go back and forth between being very happy to have the trip with DS and feeling very guilty that DH won't be there.

I think it would be wonderful to surprise your DS with a trip! The only 'issue' that I could come up with is restrooms. But in Disney, I don't even think that is an issue. I felt that DS was fine (and safe) last year at 11 to go into the men's room alone. We used the restrooms that exited in the same spot so there was no confusion on where we'd meet.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I would stick to the food court. Since your flight comes in at 9am, that probably means you got up very early to begin with. You will probably get tired pretty early. I would have an early dinner at the food court then head back to the room to rest. You need to build up your strength for your next 10 days of FUN!

Yes, I know this is the logical thing to do! We have to be at the airport at 4am so we may be tired. I am afraid that we are going to have that Disney excitement though and want to 'do something'. That is why I thought of the Campfire at Fort Wilderness. I think this is one decision that I am going to have to just make on the fly when we are there. Not an easy thing for a compulsive planner to do!

 

[dizneyluv]

You could actually share at Wolf Gang Puck Express. It was very delicious. Mil and I shared the BBQ Chicken Quesadilla and Dh and youngest ds shared the Rotisserie Chicken with YUMMY mashed potatos.

We went to DTD our first night, we checked in at SSR and went over to eat and look around a little. It was alot of fun and started the Disney Magic.