First Trip - Need opinions on dining choices!

[kmartin555]

This is our first Disney trip and we are SO excited! We will be there 6 nights in Sept with free dining. I am worried that all of the ressies will be hard to get b/c of everyone else on the free dining as well! Anyway, these are the choices I have come up with. How do these sound, and how hard do you think it will be to get ressies? I am going to try to do early dinners, as suggested by Tour Guide Mike. Oh and these are all dinner as we are going to do breakfast in the room to be there for rope drop.

It is me, my DH, and 2 DD 7 and 10. The 10 yo is super picky eater and would much prefer to have her ordering from kids menus but what can you do?

Arrival Day - OHana
MK Day - 1900 Park Fare
2nd MK Day - MNSSHP, counter service
Epcot Day - Garden Grill
Downtown Disney/Rest Day - Hoop De Doo Review
Hollywood Day - Hollywood & Vine for Fantasmic DP (was going to do Mama Melrose but didn't see much I thought 10 yo DD would eat.)

Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[ReneeA]

This is our first Disney trip and we are SO excited! We will be there 6 nights in Sept with free dining. I am worried that all of the ressies will be hard to get b/c of everyone else on the free dining as well! Anyway, these are the choices I have come up with. How do these sound, and how hard do you think it will be to get ressies? I am going to try to do early dinners, as suggested by Tour Guide Mike. Oh and these are all dinner as we are going to do breakfast in the room to be there for rope drop.

It is me, my DH, and 2 DD 7 and 10. The 10 yo is super picky eater and would much prefer to have her ordering from kids menus but what can you do?

Arrival Day - OHana
MK Day - 1900 Park Fare
2nd MK Day - MNSSHP, counter service
Epcot Day - Garden Grill
Downtown Disney/Rest Day - Hoop De Doo Review
Hollywood Day - Hollywood & Vine for Fantasmic DP (was going to do Mama Melrose but didn't see much I thought 10 yo DD would eat.)

Thanks in advance for any help!!

The only thing I'd change is the H&V to the Sci-Fi diner. Fun place, and great burgers. They don't list a burger on the dinner menu, but we've never had any problems with getting it at dinner time.

 

[dzneelvr]

Just a couple suggestions: for MK day, I'd stay in the park and do Crystal Palace. it's a fun character meal with Winnie The Pooh characters and your kids will do better with the buffet choices. for MNSSHP instead of counter service--which can be long lines and difficult seating during crowded days, try an ADR at The Plaza. it's behind the ice cream shop, last shop on the right as you head down Main Street and is a true "hidden gem" of a dining experience. it has yummy sandwiches and all the ice cream concoctions from the shoppe without the line Have you thought about a TREX adr while at DTD? Its new and the reviews are coming back very promising.
all the menus are on allearsnet.com. Call in the 90th day before your trip and have a few time choices or lunch/dinner options for each especially the MNSSHP day. Have a wonderful time

 

[kmartin555]

ReneeA, do they offer the Sci Fi with the Fantasmic package?

 

[kmartin555]

dzneelvr,

DD is set on Park Fare b/c she wants to see Cinderella, and I am not even THINKING about trying for CRT.

You may be right about CS on MNSSHP day.

Do u think I will have any trouble securing the ressies?

 

[dina7]

ReneeA, do they offer the Sci Fi with the Fantasmic package?

I'm pretty sure Sci-Fi is Not offered with the Fantasmic pkg.

 

[kmartin555]

I'm pretty sure Sci-Fi is Not offered with the Fantasmic pkg.

Thanks.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

dzneelvr,

DD is set on Park Fare b/c she wants to see Cinderella, and I am not even THINKING about trying for CRT.

You may be right about CS on MNSSHP day.

Do u think I will have any trouble securing the ressies?

They have extra seatings for CRT for MNSSHP and they are easier to get if your worried about availability. I called last year a few weeks out and they said no problem they always have openings for the extra added seatings for the party.

 

[geenerbell]

After looking at your list these will be the toughest to get in order of difficulty:
1.Ohana
2.Fantasmic Dinner Pkg at any rest.
3.HDDR

Have you considered an early ADR at Crystal Palace for breakfast? It's a must for us. The earliest ADR is 8:05am with the hope of making it to Rope Drop.

 

[kmartin555]

They have extra seatings for CRT for MNSSHP and they are easier to get if your worried about availability. I called last year a few weeks out and they said no problem they always have openings for the extra added seatings for the party.

Wow, thanks, I never thought we stood a chance getting CRT.

 

[kmartin555]

After looking at your list these will be the toughest to get in order of difficulty:
1.Ohana
2.Fantasmic Dinner Pkg at any rest.
3.HDDR

Have you considered an early ADR at Crystal Palace for breakfast? It's a must for us. The earliest ADR is 8:05am with the hope of making it to Rope Drop.

I really considered Crystal Palace. I keep hearing great things about it. You dont think my girls are too old for Pooh and friends?

Also, can hubby and I call at same time, one trying for Ohana and one trying for Fantasmic on the 90 day mark? Or can only one ressie be made at a time?

Thanks!

 

[geenerbell]

I really considered Crystal Palace. I keep hearing great things about it. You dont think my girls are too old for Pooh and friends?

Also, can hubby and I call at same time, one trying for Ohana and one trying for Fantasmic on the 90 day mark? Or can only one ressie be made at a time?

Thanks!

My DS 7 still enjoyed the characters at our visit in March. Even if they're not into the characters the food is good. If you get an early ADR you can walk up Main Street with no crowds and get great pictures of your family and the castle. Not sure about both calling at the same time but it sounds like a great idea.

 

[kmartin555]

My DS 7 still enjoyed the characters at our visit in March. Even if they're not into the characters the food is good. If you get an early ADR you can walk up Main Street with no crowds and get great pictures of your family and the castle. Not sure about both calling at the same time but it sounds like a great idea.

Its worth a try I guess! Think I might add in the Crystal Palace one day...

 

[Mickey_Man]

I really considered Crystal Palace. I keep hearing great things about it. You dont think my girls are too old for Pooh and friends?

Also, can hubby and I call at same time, one trying for Ohana and one trying for Fantasmic on the 90 day mark? Or can only one ressie be made at a time?

Thanks!

My wife's DH is 33 and he has been known to bounce with Tigger at CP!!

I think your ressies are great - if those are the meals that have jumped out to you as the ones you want to try, go for it! I have never been to H&V because the reviews I have heard on it have scared me away, so that might be the one place that would scare me off a little. Other than that, your meals seem to be a good mix of Disney magic and food quality. 1900 is one of the better buffets, IMO.

 

[kmartin555]

My wife's DH is 33 and he has been known to bounce with Tigger at CP!!

I think your ressies are great - if those are the meals that have jumped out to you as the ones you want to try, go for it! I have never been to H&V because the reviews I have heard on it have scared me away, so that might be the one place that would scare me off a little. Other than that, your meals seem to be a good mix of Disney magic and food quality. 1900 is one of the better buffets, IMO.

Thanks for the encouragement! The process is intimidating for a first timer, and I know ressies will be harder to get during Free Dining.

I also wondered about H&V - I have read the reviews, good and bad. The only reason I chose it is because of the F! pkg. Is it hard to get F! seats without the package? What else is good at Hollywood if I don't have the package?

thanks so much for all the advice!

 

[squirrel]

Sci-Fi or 50's Prime Time if you can't get Fantasmic Pkg.

I'd stick with 1900 Park Fare for dinner, CRT is two TS credits-and you already have HDR that is two TS credits.

We ate at H & V with the Fantasmic Pkg. last year-it was okay. Better than staying in long lines to watch F.

 

[kmartin555]

Sci-Fi or 50's Prime Time if you can't get Fantasmic Pkg.

I'd stick with 1900 Park Fare for dinner, CRT is two TS credits-and you already have HDR that is two TS credits.

We ate at H & V with the Fantasmic Pkg. last year-it was okay. Better than staying in long lines to watch F.

That's what I was thinking about 1900 PF, I dont want to use 2 credits and my DD wants to see Cindy! Is the food at 1900 okay?

Which order do you think I should stick to when calling for ressies?

Thanks SO much for the input!

 

[Mickey_Man]

I would keep 1900 PF too. For DHS, if you aren't going to H&V, then Sci Fi is a fun place to go and 50s Prime Time is a fan favorite as well. I don't recall which places have the Fantasmic Package though, so that seems to be a key part. Brown Derby is the best restaurant at DHS, but that is 2 TS if I recall correctly. There is some decent CS at DHS too. A lot of people like the ABC Commissary, and we had a good time at Toy Story Pizza Planet. The Pizza is mediocre at best (most kids like it, but I am a bit of a pizza snob), they had a decent chicken salad, and the prices weren't too outrageous.

 

[LMO429]

Since you are going with children I would suggest the Sci Fi. I think they will love the atmosphere and the food is pretty basic (hamburgers, fries etc) so you shouldnt have a problem finding something on the menu they will enjoy to eat.

 

[kmartin555]

Since you are going with children I would suggest the Sci Fi. I think they will love the atmosphere and the food is pretty basic (hamburgers, fries etc) so you shouldnt have a problem finding something on the menu they will enjoy to eat.

That is key - finding stuff they will eat!!

4 DAYS!! I am so jealous! Hope you have a wonderful time.