First Time Family of Five on Deluxe Dining Plan Review (Sept 12 - 18)

[Kathymcbain]

I've been reading reviews with great interest for a few months now and since our trip is just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to do our own dining report.

First, a little background. Our family consists of:

Me (Mom): The last time I was at Disney, there was only The Magic Kingdom...and maybe Epcot, but I never went. That's a long time ago.

DH: He's been to WDW a few times - but never with me, obviously.

Jordyn: DD1 - she's 14 and has never been to Disney

Olivia DD2 - she's 8 - never been to Disney either

Isabelle DD3 - she's 5

I've wanted to go to WDW since my oldest was little but things always got in the way of a trip. When we recently decided to move from Hawaii to Georgia, I took the plunge and booked a trip during free dining.

To understand why we upgraded to the deluxe dining plan, you have to know that I grew up in Florida. My parents managed to take us to the Magic Kingdom at least once a year, but money was always tight and my mom packed our lunch every trip. If we were lucky, we were able to buy a snack in the park.

Alright, that's the story. We leave September 18.

ADR's are already made, but I can't even share what they are because I had to make them the day after I moved from Hawaii to Georgia and LOST the paper I wrote them on -- Can someone tell me how I can find out where we are eating and on what days? I promise lots of pictures and good reviews in return!

 

[Kathymcbain]

Okay - got a brain - called Disney Dining and found out what ADR's I already have. And then I remembered that I had packed my Disney planning stuff in a box that wasn't yet at our new home when I had to call in.

Here's what we have so far:

Saturday, September 12: Chef Mickey's Dinner

Sunday, September 13: Hollywood & Vine, Lunch
Narcoossees, Dinner

Monday, September 14: Cinderella's Royal Table, Breakfast

Tuesday, September 15: Nothing

Wednesday, September 16: Coral Reef, lunch

Thursday, September 17: Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, Dinner

Friday, September 18: 1900 Park Faire, Breakfast.

We don't have park hoppers, so I have to plan meals in the parks where we'll be each day, or at a restaurant.

Here's what I'm wondering - what's good at Animal Kingdom for lunch? What about Hollywood Studios for dinner. I think we have enough buffets on the meal plan already so I don't want any more of those if I can avoid them.

I'm also trying to figure out where to have dinner on the 15th. We'll be at Animal Kingdom during the day and will then head to the Halloween party at the Magic Kingdom. I thought about adding dinner at a resort or somewhere in the Magic Kingdom - but I'm not sure if that's such a good idea. Any thoughts?

Also looking for a good place for dinner either at Epcot or at one of the resorts for the day we are there.

I'll take any and all advice!! Thanks in advance.

 

[flamom]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/


if i remember correctly you can check your Adr's when you click my disney vacation. we love pizzafari at AK. they have this yummy italian sandwich it's served warm and they have good pizza too. alot of people also like flame tree bbq. the only place that i've had a TS dinner at MK is crystal palace you said you didn't want any more buffets but theirs is really good plus it has pooh and friends. also cosmic rays has really good food as does pecos bills those are CS. i envy you having lunch at coral reef we had lunch there for the first time in a very long time in june and it was wonderful. i'm looking forward to your pictures and reviews. have a great time!

 

[KatMark]

Okay - got a brain - called Disney Dining and found out what ADR's I already have. And then I remembered that I had packed my Disney planning stuff in a box that wasn't yet at our new home when I had to call in.

Here's what we have so far:

Saturday, September 12: Chef Mickey's Dinneralways a fun time

Sunday, September 13: Hollywood & Vine, Lunchsorry...this is one place that you could not pay us to return to
Narcoossees, Dinner never done

Monday, September 14: Cinderella's Royal Table, Breakfastnever done--we have two boys who wouldn't dare eat in a castle with princesses

Tuesday, September 15: Nothing

Wednesday, September 16: Coral Reef, lunchit's been years..but we really enjoyed our meal

Thursday, September 17: Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue, Dinner never done

Friday, September 18: 1900 Park Faire, Breakfast. read great reviews on this

We don't have park hoppers, so I have to plan meals in the parks where we'll be each day, or at a restaurant.

Here's what I'm wondering - what's good at Animal Kingdom for lunch? What about Hollywood Studios for dinner. I think we have enough buffets on the meal plan already so I don't want any more of those if I can avoid them.

I'm also trying to figure out where to have dinner on the 15th. We'll be at Animal Kingdom during the day and will then head to the Halloween party at the Magic Kingdom. I thought about adding dinner at a resort or somewhere in the Magic Kingdom - but I'm not sure if that's such a good idea. Any thoughts?

Also looking for a good place for dinner either at Epcot or at one of the resorts for the day we are there.

I'll take any and all advice!! Thanks in advance.

Our comments are in red.

At the Studios, we have always had good food and good service at Mama Melrose; we are going back to Sci Fi for the first time in years next month to sit in the cars

At the AK, we love Yak & Yeti--it was our second best meal of our trip last year.

As your dates are close, you really need to try to book something now. I'm trying to change my 1:30 at Yak & Yeti at the AK and nothing is available there except for Tusker House & Rainforest Cafe (which we don't like--we've eaten at the one in Chicago and Vegas and found them very expensive and the food mediocre at best)

 

[emilyann415]

For HS I would look at Sci Fi Drive In or 50s Prime Time. I think your kids would get a kick out of either. Personally I would not go to Hollywood and Vine and so Sci Fi and Prime Time. Then at AK I would add the Tusker House buffet in the AM. I have never done it but everyone seems to love that place and it would replace the Hollywood and Vine buffet. I hate it when people tell me their horrible experiences when I have my heart set on one place or another...it's just my opinion....take it for what it's worth.

 

[Kathymcbain]

For HS I would look at Sci Fi Drive In or 50s Prime Time. I think your kids would get a kick out of either. Personally I would not go to Hollywood and Vine and so Sci Fi and Prime Time. Then at AK I would add the Tusker House buffet in the AM. I have never done it but everyone seems to love that place and it would replace the Hollywood and Vine buffet. I hate it when people tell me their horrible experiences when I have my heart set on one place or another...it's just my opinion....take it for what it's worth.

Thanks for your comments. I've read the reviews on Hollywood and Vine and trust me, I'm not real excited about it. The only, and I do mean, only reason we're going there is because I have a 5 year old that's OBSESSED with Little Einsteins.

I figure we've got plenty of meals and snacks with our deluxe plan, so if it's completely inedible, we can always get some snacks or counter service soon after we leave.

I've also heard it's loud and wild, but I'm hoping that my daughters reaction to seeing her favorite characters will be worth the torture that the rest of us will live through! I'm such a good mommy...

 

[Kathymcbain]

Our comments are in red.

At the Studios, we have always had good food and good service at Mama Melrose; we are going back to Sci Fi for the first time in years next month to sit in the cars

At the AK, we love Yak & Yeti--it was our second best meal of our trip last year.

As your dates are close, you really need to try to book something now. I'm trying to change my 1:30 at Yak & Yeti at the AK and nothing is available there except for Tusker House & Rainforest Cafe (which we don't like--we've eaten at the one in Chicago and Vegas and found them very expensive and the food mediocre at best)

Thanks for the suggestions. I commented on my reasoning behind Hollywood and Vine in another post - I don't have high hopes for that meal...I just really hope my daughter loves it!!

I think I'll try to get Yak & Yeti at Animal Kingdom. I also think one night I want to eat in Downtown Disney so the kids can hang out down there for awhile...and I really want to get to Goofy's Candy Company. I dream about that place and I've never been.