First Trip! how are my choices?

[MandeeLeigh]

Hello! I've been lurking for a while, thought I'd finally post to see what people think of my TS choices - it my first trip to the world, my Dad and I are going the first week of December - we usually go to Disneyland since we live in California, but thought we'd splurge a little this year.

I'll be honest, I'm a little overwhelmed by the all the choices we have compared to our usual week in Disneyland. We're only staying five days, so we've already accepted that we aren't going to experience everything, but we're going to try to hit each park once (and hopefully get to universal as well, but we're still debating that..) I think I'm rambling, so to stay on the topic of food:

Here are the ADRs I've made (Dad isn't picky, so he's put me in charge of this)-

(btw we arrive sunday night and are staying offsite, then checking into AKL on Monday for the rest of the week and leaving Saturday.)

Monday:
Boma (b)
Brown Derby (d)

Tuesday:
Biergarten (d)

Wednesday:
Tony's Town Square (d)

Thursday:
Tusker House (b)
Rose & Crown Pub (d)

I've never been a huge planner, and it's pretty difficult for me to predict what we'll feel like eating/doing 150 days ahead of time, when I really don't know what to expect. So if anyone has any tips for me it'd be greatly appreciated! I'm sure I'll be around in the other sections too, asking many questions and worrying about little things. It's highly possible that this will be my only chance to go to Florida, so I don't want to make any huge rookie mistakes.

 

[KTJAY]

I think you have a good mix of places.

Are you on the dining plan? Just so you know Brown Derby will take up 2 credits on the ddp. Personally I didn't think Brown Derby was worth it but you may like it.

 

[jjsmom]

Sounds pretty good. . I would question Tony's, though. Definately not one of our favorites, but everyone's taste is different . Have a great trip!

 

[BarleyJack]

My opinions below!~

Hello! I've been lurking for a while, thought I'd finally post to see what people think of my TS choices - it my first trip to the world, my Dad and I are going the first week of December - we usually go to Disneyland since we live in California, but thought we'd splurge a little this year.

I'll be honest, I'm a little overwhelmed by the all the choices we have compared to our usual week in Disneyland. We're only staying five days, so we've already accepted that we aren't going to experience everything, but we're going to try to hit each park once (and hopefully get to universal as well, but we're still debating that..) I think I'm rambling, so to stay on the topic of food:

Here are the ADRs I've made (Dad isn't picky, so he's put me in charge of this)-

(btw we arrive sunday night and are staying offsite, then checking into AKL on Monday for the rest of the week and leaving Saturday.)

Monday:
Boma (b) Yay! Good choice considering you'll be at this resort
Brown Derby (d) (best option at DHS, 50s Prime Time is fun too if money comes into play)

Tuesday:
Biergarten (d) YaY! There are SOOOO many dining options at EPCOT, this is a safe bet

Wednesday:
Tony's Town Square (d) It's OK, just ok. Look into LTT or Crystal Palace? Just a thought

Thursday:
Tusker House (b) LOVE this place! Even better than Boma IMHO
Rose & Crown Pub (d) Yum! Request a table with a lagoon view near Illuminations time! Have a black n tan for me!

I've never been a huge planner, and it's pretty difficult for me to predict what we'll feel like eating/doing 150 days ahead of time, when I really don't know what to expect. So if anyone has any tips for me it'd be greatly appreciated! I'm sure I'll be around in the other sections too, asking many questions and worrying about little things. It's highly possible that this will be my only chance to go to Florida, so I don't want to make any huge rookie mistakes.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

Monday:
Boma (b) We are trying this for the first time in October, already experienced dinner and it was great!
Brown Derby (d) I don't like BD, but only because of personal food tastes. I had to order from the kids menu because I didn't like anything on the adult menu, however my parents LOVED it.

Tuesday:
Biergarten (d) I would skip this and go somewhere else in the World Showcase, maybe Tutto Italia. We didn't like sitting with other families and there wasn't that many things on the buffet I found enjoyable.


Wednesday:
Tony's Town Square (d) I would go to Liberty Square, Crystal Palace or Plaza (our favourite) over Tony's.

Thursday:
Tusker House (b) Trying this for the first time in October too, heard so many great things and the photos I've seen look fantastic!

Rose & Crown Pub (d) Amazing! And I'm not just saying that because I used to work there Lots of great choice, and a beautiful restaurant!

 

[rndmr2]

Monday:
Boma (b)-- Haven't tried this place but it is high on my list of restaurants I would like to try in the future

Brown Derby (d)

Tuesday:
Biergarten (d) --- LOVE this one. Eating with other people isn't as bad as people think it will be, we've met some nice people and other times everyone kept to themselves, not a big deal.

Wednesday:
Tony's Town Square (d) -- We ate here in 2010, we liked it, I would eat there again

Thursday: -- Haven't tried either of these.
Tusker House (b)
Rose & Crown Pub (d)

 

[MandeeLeigh]

Thank you so much everyone!

Tony's is the big one I was debating about. I chose it not so much for the menu, but for the theme. I had originally decided on LTT, but changed my mind. Maybe I should go with my first instinct! Crystal Palace doesn't send me much, character meals aren't really our thing. We like to do at least one, but without a kid at our table it's not quite as fun.

From what I've read I feel like I could spend 5 days in epcot, eating everything! Nearly every restaurant looks great. The TS places I chose are due to the fact that there aren't any German places easy to get to around here and my dad loves german food so it's kind of a given to eat there. We decided on that place before we even knew about it - not excited about the seating or it being buffet, but that's not enough to stop us from trying it. The menu at Rose & Crown is incredible and I never turn down good beer, lol.

And yes, we do have the dining plan. I know BD is 2 credits, but there's a lot on the menu I think we'll like, and I really want to try it. Though that does remind me of a question about that:

I know the DDP doesn't include alcoholic beverages, but we can still order them, right? I don't really get how that works. I'm assuming I can order a beer or something and just pay for that? Would I have to get a soda as well to use the dining credits?

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Great choices! We love the theme at Tony's as well, but if the food is part of your decision, then I'd say swap it out for LTT.

 

[KatMark]

Here are the ADRs I've made (Dad isn't picky, so he's put me in charge of this)-

(btw we arrive sunday night and are staying offsite, then checking into AKL on Monday for the rest of the week and leaving Saturday.)

Monday:
Boma (b)Our favorite non-character breakfast in all of Disney
Brown Derby (d) We were not impressed

Tuesday:
Biergarten (d)We used to love this place, but it was unsatisfying in September; the desserts are terrific though

Wednesday:
Tony's Town Square (d)We've never had a bad meal here

Thursday:
Tusker House (b)Have never been
Rose & Crown Pub (d)We have always had good meals and service here

I've never been a huge planner, and it's pretty difficult for me to predict what we'll feel like eating/doing 150 days ahead of time, when I really don't know what to expect. So if anyone has any tips for me it'd be greatly appreciated! I'm sure I'll be around in the other sections too, asking many questions and worrying about little things. It's highly possible that this will be my only chance to go to Florida, so I don't want to make any huge rookie mistakes.

Comments in red above

 

[Quin]

Pretty good choices, I'd say. There are some dinner/experiences I prefer, but this is your first trip and you only have a few days; I'd recommend maximizing your park time rather than your meal time.

Boma is a GREAT meal, breakfast or dinner. It will start your trip out right. I'm not a huge fan of Brown Derby but I don't really love any of the TS in DHS. I'd rather take the boat over to one of the Epcot area resorts but, again, it takes more time. If you want to see F!, do book the BD package that gets you into the reserved seating area.

I do get good German food and Biergarten is good German food. And good German beverages. And yes, you can order anything you like to eat or drink and pay for it separately from any of the Dining Plans.

I don't think Tony's is a bad option. Without kids, if you wanted a character meal I'd say CP instead of LTT, but I think you'll be fine at Tony's.

Have not tried the breakfast at Tusker House but it gets pretty good reviews and is convenient on an AK day. And R&C for an adult dinner (with adult beverages) is also a great way to end.

You are staying 5 nights so you have 5 TS credits. If you keep Brown Derby I'd pay for that one OOP. If you switch Brown Derby to a 1-credit TS at an Epcot area resort, pay for one of the breakfasts OOP instead.

 

[MandeeLeigh]

Everyone is making me excited for Boma! Good thing too, as I didn't think too hard about about making that ADR; it seemed the obvious choice - starting the trip with breakfast at our resort and all.

To be honest, I haven't even looked at restaurants at the other resorts - for the reasons you already stated...I really don't want to take the time going to other resorts when we don't have a lot of time at the parks. As good as all the food looks, our priorities are in exploring the parks.

As for QS meals; is there a lot of planning I should do for that? Since neither of us are very picky I pretty much figured we'd eat wherever was close when we got hungry. (Which is our usual plan at DL aside from breakfast; it was Rainforest Cafe every morning for us.)

 

[Belle83]

Of those, I've only been to Tony's, Biergarten, and Rose & Crown. I don't remember much about Tony's because it was a while ago, but I did really like it. It's probably over priced for what it is (more so than other restaurants there), but I did enjoy it.

I looove Biergarten I was totally surprised by this one. The food is great, and the ambiance is fun.

We had lunch at Rose & Crown. While we had excellent service, the food was just ok. Not bad, but not amazing, and certainly not a restaurant I'd go out of my way to eat at again in the near future. I would keep the reservation, though, because I do think it's worth trying at least once.

I've heard great things about Boma, have fun! I would try Jiko too, since you are staying at AKL. I'd pick Jiko over Brown Derby if you have to eliminate one.

 

[minnie mum]

As for QS meals; is there a lot of planning I should do for that? Since neither of us are very picky I pretty much figured we'd eat wherever was close when we got hungry. (Which is our usual plan at DL aside from breakfast; it was Rainforest Cafe every morning for us.)

I think your ADRs will be great. Everyone has his or her favourites, and may recommend one over another, but in the end it comes down to you checking the menus and seeing what appeals most. And you have done all of this. Good for you- so many people can't be bothered to do even this much!

As a PP has said, you have 5 TS available, but have 6 ADRs booked requiring 7 TS credits total. I haven't taken the time to figure out the estimated costs for each meal, but the easiest (and probably cheapest) meal to pay OOP would be BD since it is 2 TS credits.

You had a question about alcohol and the DDP. This is absolutely no problem. They will give you a separate bill for drinks or food (ie: appetizers) that are not included in the dining plan.

Regarding QS: I think your plan is logical and practical. DH and I usually use our QS credits for lunch. When we feel like eating we just check out whatever place is reasonably close, and eat there. However we do have a couple of favourites that we have been known to make a detour for: Flametree BBQ at AK, and Columbia Harbour House or Cosmic Rays at MK.

I hope you have a wonderful, and delicious WDW visit.

 

[iloveeeyore]

I'm just curious, do you have park hopper tickets? Are you purchasing PHs just so you can eat in Epcot twice? You will need entrance into both AK and Epcot on that Thursday. I wasn't sure if you had thought of that.

I have never dined at Tony's...been avoiding it due to all of the negative reviews. There's one dish that gets raves, and that's the shrimp scampi. If I ever ate there, that's what I'd order. Love all your other choices!

Don't miss the night-time entertainment in the parks. IllumiNations, Wishes and Fantasmic! are all awesome, and worth the price of admission to the parks, IMO!

 

[MadamCankles]

Brown Derby is nice - my family love it.

 

[MandeeLeigh]

As a PP has said, you have 5 TS available, but have 6 ADRs booked requiring 7 TS credits total. I haven't taken the time to figure out the estimated costs for each meal, but the easiest (and probably cheapest) meal to pay OOP would be BD since it is 2 TS credits.

That's the next thing I was going to look at - and probably what's going to happen. I'll do some math and try to get the best option there.

I'm just curious, do you have park hopper tickets? Are you purchasing PHs just so you can eat in Epcot twice? You will need entrance into both AK and Epcot on that Thursday. I wasn't sure if you had thought of that.

We do have park hoppers. Not just for that reason, but because we wanted more freedom in where we went. I don't like the idea of being "stuck" at one park day.

Don't miss the night-time entertainment in the parks. IllumiNations, Wishes and Fantasmic! are all awesome, and worth the price of admission to the parks, IMO!

Wouldn't miss them! We didn't know anything about Fantasmic!, but wandered over to the show on our last trip to DL after the fireworks one night and were blown away. After that, I refuse to miss out on any of the night time shows.

 

[tina.tina]

I don't have any comments on your TS but I wanted to suggest that you research counter service restaurants in each park.

It irritates me when we wander around saying where do you want to eat- I don't know, where do you want to eat?

If I were you, I'd look at menus and get an idea of locations of the places you are interested in. It will save time and walking.

 

[saradela]

If it is your first time, The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater in Hollywood Studios for a Milk shake (just Milk shake) to refresh yourself would be nice.

Boma is delicious!!!!

 

[Goofy_Mom]

There are a few apps that may help if you have a droid or an iphone. Mousewait (there is a CA and a FL version, both free) has the wait times for each ride and the FP return times and a list of resturants w/menus for each park. Undercover Tourists has a couple for WDW (one free, one you pay for) tells you which park is likely to be less crowded, what's scheduled for the day, menus with prices, ride wait times, and how many yards away you are from that ride or resturant.