First timers in need of advice

[meachell13]

We will be going to WDW for the first time in Sept. I have a few more days to decide on my ADRs before I get to the 180 days. (P.S. so glad that I have been reading lots on this forum because I would never have known to do this to get decent seating and not have to wait in line for an hour to eat!!) I have most of it figured out but I would like opinions on one meal in the Epcot-DHS area....

These are my Table Service choices
Day 1 - MK Poly Dinner (Kona or Ohana)
Day 2- Crystal Palace Breakfast, MK for a few rides? then switch to Epcot?, Swim and DTD in the evening
Day 3- AK, Yak and Yeti later lunch, stop and see AKL (hoping for next trip)
Day 4- DHS? Cape Mays Dinner
Day 5 - Epcot? Help help with this one. Going to either be at DHS or EP during the day and heading to MK for Wishes and electrical parade. I was thinking Coral Reef but then thought if there was another suggestion maybe at the resorts nearby. I'm really thinking that we will be at Epcot during this day...
Day 6 - DTD, swim,Poly Dinner (Kona or Ohana, which ever I don't get the first day), hoping for MNSSHP

My kids are young so Day 4 and 5 I was going to see how they are doing and adjust to what I know would be fun for them to do...if we aren't liking DHS we will leave and do something else... CS we are just going to eat when we see something that we like... as of right now I don't think that I'm planning that far

 

[FoundinWonderland]

My first piece of advice? Scrap Kona and see if you can get a Chef Mickey's ADR; just a hop on the monorail and you get some great food and characters! I think your kids will love it.

For your EPCOT day you may want to consider what type of food your family might enjoy. Mexico is always good, as is Italy and Great Britain is excellent for Lunch. The Coral Reef might be fun for your kids to see the fish, but it is a slightly more "intimate" setting as Disney goes.

Crystal Palace is always fantastic; be sure to try pooh's french toast! And both sit-downs at AK are great; never had a bad meal at either!

I hope this helps; I know you will have great time no matter where you wind up eating.

 

[meachell13]

I have been looking through the menus around the world showcase nothing is really popping out at me...maybe I have been staring at them too long lol is there anything out at the epcot area resorts that would be fun to try?

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Captain's Grille is a good dinner at the Yacht Club, or there is Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club, but I see that you are already going there. I would recommend trying World Showcase though. Via Napoli and Les Chefs de France are just two of our favorites.

 

[Pakey]

We have dined at all of the World Showcase restaurants except for the new La Hacienda (only open for dinner) in Mexico. Our favorite is Biergarten buffet. The food is much better than the menu looks and the band/dance floor is fun for the kids.

At Teppen Edo they cook the food at your table which the kids might enjoy.

Coral Reef is fun too. I've dined here many times. The food is okay, not great, the tanks are fun and as a party of 4, you might get lucky and be seated up front. We always make our lunch reservations for right when it opens as it's quieter and they aren't so far behind (this place can be very slow in both seating and service).

September is a slow month so you will be able to get into the counter service places very easily. World Showcase has a lot of options for that; we rarely do a TS meal during the day at Epcot because it's more fun to do counter service or snack.

 

[mom2munchkins]

We did Cape May's dinner and it was really good. It was less crazy and sensory overloading than some of the character meals that I jammed into that trip. My DD is a huge seafood lover so it was great for her but also plenty of other options. We ate at 50's Prime Time in DHS that was really good and very fun.Lots of the decor reminded of my grandma's house.In Epcot we ate at Beirgarten it was yummy(of course if you like German food)My kids loved dancing to the oomba band too.

 

[meachell13]

Captain's Grille is a good dinner at the Yacht Club, or there is Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club, but I see that you are already going there. I would recommend trying World Showcase though. Via Napoli and Les Chefs de France are just two of our favorites.

What meals have you liked the best? I don't want to eat steak every night for dinner while we are there so I am looking around to get a variety of restaurants so it doesn't feel like we are eating the same things....

Neither of us will eat Sushi and I'm not sure how I feel about the people right there with us at the table.... My kids might not eat and be a little scared about that part.

 

[haPevraftr]

When we were there two years ago, DS2 and DD5 enjoyed Teppan Edo in Epcot. The Japanese chef at the table was entertaining and the food was good for all. 1900 PF dinner at the GF is another option that we love.

You might want to consider not getting the park hopper if you are concerned that your kids will wear out. Make your ADRs in resorts (that don't require park admission) or in the park that you start in the morning. If you decide that you really want to hop, you can always add it once you are there, but in all of the years that we have gone, we have never needed it. We will leave midday and then if we want to return to a park, we just go back to the park that same park in the evening.

We do DTD on the evening of AK day since it closes earlier, or as you stated, you could do it on the morning of your MNSSHP. I think hopping from MK to Epcot then swimming and DTD (Day 2) is too much to do in a day with little ones. You might consider just doing MK in the AM, returning to swim, then heading back to Wishes on that same day. Then do Epcot all on one day and not have to hop back to MK. It is just a thought that might save you some money and time. Hopping takes time with little ones.

Also, if you are not doing the dining plan, there are some great restaurants at Swan and Dolphin that would be close to Epcot. You can get gift certificates on restaurant.com for the signature restaurants there.

 

[meachell13]

We have dined at all of the World Showcase restaurants except for the new La Hacienda (only open for dinner) in Mexico. Our favorite is Biergarten buffet. The food is much better than the menu looks and the band/dance floor is fun for the kids.

At Teppen Edo they cook the food at your table which the kids might enjoy.

Coral Reef is fun too. I've dined here many times. The food is okay, not great, the tanks are fun and as a party of 4, you might get lucky and be seated up front. We always make our lunch reservations for right when it opens as it's quieter and they aren't so far behind (this place can be very slow in both seating and service).

September is a slow month so you will be able to get into the counter service places very easily. World Showcase has a lot of options for that; we rarely do a TS meal during the day at Epcot because it's more fun to do counter service or snack.

I was looking at the Teppen Edo menu ( I will not be able to pronounce any thing on it ) The scallops would be good on there I think.

My plan would be to do whatever I decide as an early dinner 5:30 or so and then from there go to MK for Wishes so I don't mind if I have to leave the park to eat somewhere. I just figured getting something that was nearby epcot or in it would be nice and easy. We will definitely be doing CS lunch and snacks during the day.

 

[meachell13]

When we were there two years ago, DS2 and DD5 enjoyed Teppan Edo in Epcot. The Japanese chef at the table was entertaining and the food was good for all. 1900 PF dinner at the GF is another option that we love.

You might want to consider not getting the park hopper if you are concerned that your kids will wear out. Make your ADRs in resorts (that don't require park admission) or in the park that you start in the morning. If you decide that you really want to hop, you can always add it once you are there, but in all of the years that we have gone, we have never needed it. We will leave midday and then if we want to return to a park, we just go back to the park that same park in the evening.

We do DTD on the evening of AK day since it closes earlier, or as you stated, you could do it on the morning of your MNSSHP. I think hopping from MK to Epcot then swimming and DTD (Day 2) is too much to do in a day with little ones. You might consider just doing MK in the AM, returning to swim, then heading back to Wishes on that same day. Then do Epcot all on one day and not have to hop back to MK. It is just a thought that might save you some money and time. Hopping takes time with little ones.

I want to have the flexibility of the hopper with the kids so if we want to go back to something instead of being where we are then we have that option. As far as Day 2 - there will be no Wishes that night or Day 3 b/c they are doing Night of Joy? I think it was called and MK closes at 7pm. On that day I plan on having a 8am ressie (fingers crossed) and then maybe hit a ride or two once we done eating then go to Epcot and walk around to see what is there. Eat lunch somewhere there probably and then head back for a few hours to swim since we will have gotten up early. I'm not planning everything in stone, I just want to have an idea of where I would like to be so I can get ressies done and then while we are in the parks we are just going to do whatever the kids want...no big daily plans there

 

[RooRach0906]

Big River Grille is at and on the Boardwalk. It is really good, they give you a ton of food, enough to share and will work for either day. You have to call the resturant to make a reservation.

 

[haPevraftr]

I want to have the flexibility of the hopper with the kids so if we want to go back to something instead of being where we are then we have that option. As far as Day 2 - there will be no Wishes that night or Day 3 b/c they are doing Night of Joy? I think it was called and MK closes at 7pm. On that day I plan on having a 8am ressie (fingers crossed) and then maybe hit a ride or two once we done eating then go to Epcot and walk around to see what is there. Eat lunch somewhere there probably and then head back for a few hours to swim since we will have gotten up early. I'm not planning everything in stone, I just want to have an idea of where I would like to be so I can get ressies done and then while we are in the parks we are just going to do whatever the kids want...no big daily plans there [/QUOTE

Makes sense. I am used to traveling during spring break times when all of the parks are open late, so we haven't needed to hop for those reasons. On the other hand, we deal with bigger crowds...

Another option for you could be eating in DTD with an ADR at T-Rex or Rainforest Cafe (those are fun for the kids) or just doing CS at Wolfgang Puck Express or Earl of Sandwich. All very different, but all worth checking out.

 

[CathieArms]

I have been looking through the menus around the world showcase nothing is really popping out at me...maybe I have been staring at them too long lol is there anything out at the epcot area resorts that would be fun to try?

Biergarten in Germany. EXCELLENT food! This was the only restaurant I was dreading last trip, and it ended up being my absolute favorite. LOVED it, and so did my kids!

 

[meachell13]

I want to have the flexibility of the hopper with the kids so if we want to go back to something instead of being where we are then we have that option. As far as Day 2 - there will be no Wishes that night or Day 3 b/c they are doing Night of Joy? I think it was called and MK closes at 7pm. On that day I plan on having a 8am ressie (fingers crossed) and then maybe hit a ride or two once we done eating then go to Epcot and walk around to see what is there. Eat lunch somewhere there probably and then head back for a few hours to swim since we will have gotten up early. I'm not planning everything in stone, I just want to have an idea of where I would like to be so I can get ressies done and then while we are in the parks we are just going to do whatever the kids want...no big daily plans there [/QUOTE

Makes sense. I am used to traveling during spring break times when all of the parks are open late, so we haven't needed to hop for those reasons. On the other hand, we deal with bigger crowds...

Another option for you could be eating in DTD with an ADR at T-Rex or Rainforest Cafe (those are fun for the kids) or just doing CS at Wolfgang Puck Express or Earl of Sandwich. All very different, but all worth checking out.

Yes I'm hoping that lines and such won't be as long since it isn't peak season but you never know. I am hoping to get my husband to do Rainforest.... he is very touchy about the price for what you get there... He hasn't eaten at the one down there but there is one up close to us and just wasn't impressed...

 

[haPevraftr]

Another resort restaurant that I have heard good things about is Olivia's at OKW. You could go to DTD and and then take the boat shuttle from DTD to OKW and eat there. The boat shuttles in that area are a very nice relaxing ride. When we stayed at POFQ, we really enjoyed the boat shuttle to DTD. This is not the same shuttle that runs between OKW and DTD, but similar.

 

[nanni]

I really like Garden Grill at Epcot if you're looking for dinner. It seems quieter than other character meals to me.

 

[jake&samsmom]

For Epcot with a 4 and 2 y/o? Le Chefs de France, of course!

My kids loved the simple, but delicious French food, and the character interaction with Remy was priceless! We went during lunch, had a 12nn ADR, and was seated at the corner table by the windows. We also got a great view of the exciting and funny Serveur Amusant balancing act right in front of the restaurant.

Btw, we were just there 2 weeks ago, so I'm pretty sure Remy is still appearing at certain times to entertain guests.