First timer to WDW, pls critique my ADR's!

[bcwife76]

A quick background; first trip to WDW, it's a quick trip.
Flying in on a Thursday night (so no ADR needed), staying at POR. Choosing to spend one full day (Friday of the MLK weekend) at Epcot before leaving Saturday morning for our Disney Fantasy cruise. We will have a rental car. Travel party will be myself, dh, our two kids (6 & 8 at the time of travel). Made our ADR's this morning.

Friday morning: 8:10am @ Garden Grill (Epcot 9am opening) so we'll head to Soarin' right after
Lunch: no ADR, doing quick service
Dinner : 7pm @ Chef de France Wanted Saana but didn't want to have to leave the park so.....

Saturday morning: 9:05am @ Tusker House before driving down to Port Canaveral. Debated on whether or not to just grab breakfast at our resort but really wanted to try and see at least one more resort before we left. Obviously haven't checked in for our cruise yet (that's not til mid Oct) but will get a PAT of 11:30 or later.


***EDITED**** I foolishly didn't realize we needed park tickets for Tusker House (thought it was in the resort, not the park) so I have changed the Saturday morning ressie to 9:00am @Kona Cafe. This way we get to see the Poly resort (sorry AKL!) and it doesn't have to be a character breakfast since we're doing one the day before.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Epcot day sounds good, Tusker House is in Animal Kingdom park so you would need park tickets. If you want Animal Kingdom Lodge you want to eat at Boma.

'Ohana in the Poly is a nice character breakfast or Cape May Cafe in the Beach Club.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

At first I was confused why you wouldn't go to the Magic Kingdom but I see in your signature you at Disneyland regulars.

 

[bcwife76]

Epcot day sounds good, Tusker House is in Animal Kingdom park so you would need park tickets. If you want Animal Kingdom Lodge you want to eat at Boma.

'Ohana in the Poly is a nice character breakfast or Cape May Cafe in the Beach Club.

Argh I JUST realized this (re: Tusker House) as I was rereading my email confirmations! Darn it. The breakfast at O'Hana didn't thrill me, I have heard good things about Cape May and will check out the menu for Boma. Thank you!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you don't have a park ticket for Saturday morning, look at Cape May, 1900 Park Fare or Ohana or Chef Mickey's for a character breakfast that won't require a park ticket.

The Garden Grove, at Swan/Dolphin, also has characters at breakfast on Saturdays, and is a good option for a non-park departure character meal.

Boma or Trail's End are two good non-character options with buffets, or Kona Cafe or Grand Floridian Cafe for plated breakfasts.

 

[Pkltm]

Tusker House is in AK park so you will need to use a park day. I don't believe that that would be worth it for you.

 

[bcwife76]

Tusker House is in AK park so you will need to use a park day. I don't believe that that would be worth it for you.

I know, I stupidly realized after I made the ressie so I cancelled that and we're doing Kona Cafe instead.

 

[Pkltm]

I know, I stupidly realized after I made the ressie so I cancelled that and we're doing Kona Cafe instead.

That is good too! I really enjoyed Cape May. I hope that you have a great trip! It sounds like fun!

 

[raddisneyfan]

I vote BOMA at AKL instead of Kona at Poly--much more of a WOW factor with the lobby and dining room and after you can stroll around and view animals too! I like Chefs de France. I didn't like Garden Grill, but I wasn't there at breakfast--breakfast should be fine since I think most buffets are okay for breakfast. Love a lot of the QS in EP, especially Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion, Tangierine Cafe at Morocco, Katsura Grill at Japan, and Boulangerie Patisserie des Halles in France. Have a great 1st time--nothing like it!

 

[minniebeth]

I've read your plans on various threads and love seeing your trip come together! I'm excited for you!
We've done Garden Grill for dinner several times and have liked it! It can get a little nutty at the height of busy but so are all character meals pretty much. We haven't done breakfast, but I've seen the reviews and it looks nice, and I like the way they serve family style at your table. It's standard Disney breakfast fare, which you will have a lot of similar on your cruise. I don't know about you, but I could eat Mickey waffles every day. It's definitely a good place to be if you want to head right to Soarin'. No Frozen frenzy, eh?

There are a ton of good counter service options at Epcot, so that's a great choice! My only suggestion is to pick something a little different than the food you will have on the ship. Stick with something in the World Showcase ie from Mexico, China, France, Morocco, UK, etc.

We love Chefs de France, that's a nice choice for your family!

For breakfast the following day, before I read further in the thread, I was going to suggest Boma as a great replacement for Tusker House too. It's one of our favorite buffets and a pre-cruise breakfast tradition for us! Kona is a great option though! Like you said, it will give you a chance to see the Polynesian (our favorite deluxe resort). We have breakfast at Kona on every trip. The food is good, and pretty consistent, just be aware the service can be a little slow sometimes. We like 'Ohana for breakfast too but it would be very similar to Garden Grill and you will have plenty of character photo ops on the cruise. It will be a nice relaxing start to your day that will be so fun and busy!

Enjoy! I hope you have good experiences!

 

[B-Ride]

IMHO with one day at Disney I wouldn't waste time with a breakfast ADR.

 

[bcwife76]

@minniebeth awww thanks, you're too sweet!

My girls (at least my oldest) have outgrown Frozen so that ride might not be such a draw for them anymore. However, having said that I'll probably try and get that as our tier 1 FP+ lol since we'll be right by Soarin' for breakfast.

Mickey Waffles.....YES! Could eat them every morning!! I have yet to buy my own mickey waffle maker for home, though I've probably put one in my virtual shopping cart on both Amazon and Zulily countless times! But I know they just won't be as good as they are when you are at Disney (I always go for those at Plaza Inn at Disneyland for breakfast, too!)

I agree about not needing two character breakfasts, as there will be lots of character interaction on our cruise.

@B-Ride well since our ressie is for 1 hr before the park opens I don't really see it as taking away any park time, since we'll be in the park for opening, but I do get what you're saying.

 

[bcwife76]

After reading another thread now I'm thinking I should change our Kona Cafe ressie to Boma! Confused! What to do....what to do?!

 

[LovesTimone]

Chef Mickey might be a fun way to start your cruise.

1900 Park Fare (character dinning) or Grand Floridian Café we enjoy breakfast here, nice relaxing atmosphere and breakfast is pretty tasty.

Kona's at the Poly, basic breakfast options except for the Tonga toast, but I will agree with another poster that service when the food comes out is a bit slower at times, not that service is bad, just slow with the kitchen end.

Thinking another way - there are lots of other breakfast options, right outside of the gates. All the basic chains, and a few spots that offer brunch, this way you could stop and grab sun screen or any thing else you might need..

Also there is a great restaurant at the port. "Grills Seafood Deck" food is so good seafood omelet is my favorite and its right on the water, with the cruise ship all around great place to start your vacation or when disembarking for a real breakfast. Also there is a Wal-Mart and Ron Jon's Surf Shop within about 10 minutes for some last minute items..

Have a wonderful time....

 

[bcwife76]

@LovesTimone thanks for another perspective! What is Tonga toast, a couple of people have mentioned it to me now?! Is Grills Seafood Deck the restaurant where people have a great view of the cruise ships? I just think it would be too long of a wait for breakfast the morning we embark on the ship - drive to the port, drop the car off, get the shuttle, find the restaurant. By then I think we'd be dying of starvation!

 

[crabbygal902]

I'd skip the big breakfast on cruise arrival day. Your sister resort, POFQ, should be done with its food court refurb by then, which means that delicious fried dough with powered sugar on top (my spell check isn't working--LOL!) Choose an early PAT and head straight for that wonderful arrival buffet including crab claws, shrimp, and gorgeous fruits! I'm pretty sure we were on the ship and eating before 12, perhaps well before then.

 

[LovesTimone]

@LovesTimone thanks for another perspective! What is Tonga toast, a couple of people have mentioned it to me now?! Is Grills Seafood Deck the restaurant where people have a great view of the cruise ships? I just think it would be too long of a wait for breakfast the morning we embark on the ship - drive to the port, drop the car off, get the shuttle, find the restaurant. By then I think we'd be dying of starvation!

Tonga Toast - is stuffed French toast stuffed with banana's rolled in cinnamon sugar served with Strawberry compote, and you choice of ham, bacon or sausage. Its about the size of 1/4 of a loaf of bread.

Yes Grills is a the place with the view of the ships.... I thought you were parking at the port. If you are driving over to the port area, then returning a rental car, having to catch a shuttle to the cruise port. You might want to rethink and just grab breakfast at the resort. The traffic going into the port can be super crowded especially if there are multiple cruise lines in at the same time. Also returning cars is insane. Also they open the buffet quite early. We go with the breakfast at Grill as we drive, and normally wait to start the cruise food at dinner. Also we normally order like a cheese plate or other appetizer for the room, some wine, to enjoy while we get ready for dinner we do the later dinning time.

 

[bcwife76]

I'd skip the big breakfast on cruise arrival day. Your sister resort, POFQ, should be done with its food court refurb by then, which means that delicious fried dough with powered sugar on top (my spell check isn't working--LOL!) Choose an early PAT and head straight for that wonderful arrival buffet including crab claws, shrimp, and gorgeous fruits! I'm pretty sure we were on the ship and eating before 12, perhaps well before then.

That was my husbands' suggestion, grab breakfast at the resort then hit the road! So I might end up cancelling that breakfast all together.