First trip with kids please review my ADRs.....

[Buttercup7and10]

Day 1: MK, CP late breakfast
Day 2: EPCOT, AKERSHUS late breakfast
Day 3: HS, late breakfast with Fantasmic package at H&V
Day 4: AK late lunch Tusker House
Day 5: CRT breakfast and BOG late lunch

Are we spending too much time doing buffets? We love buffets. Any suggestions ? Forgot to add that on Day 2 we also have a ressie at Beache & Cream for a late dinner. Should we include another dinner at Downtown Disney even though we prefer to eat breakfasts?

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Day 1: MK, CP late breakfast We love the characters at CP.
Day 2: EPCOT, AKERSHUS late breakfast We really enjoy Akershus. Never did breakfast - only lunch or dinner.
Day 3: HS, late breakfast with Fantasmic package at H&V Never did H&V - didn't hear good things about it.
Day 4: AK late lunch Tusker House We love Tusker House for lunch. Great variety of foods - and great characters.
Day 5: CRT breakfast and BOG late lunch Didn't love the food at CRT but maybe after the renovations it will be better. Really enjoy BOG lunch.

Are we spending too much time doing buffets? We love buffets. Any suggestions ? Forgot to add that on Day 2 we also have a ressie at Beache & Cream for a late dinner. Should we include another dinner at Downtown Disney even though we prefer to eat breakfasts?

Are you on the dining plan? If so you will be losing money doing your TS for breakfast. We love buffets with kids - so much variety. Also we love Beaches and Cream - we eat there at least once - sometimes twice each trip. Enjoy!

 

[Buttercup7and10]

Hi DisneyFaninNYC, my DH is not a fan so I am all on my own here. We are paying OOP. ( can tell I have been lurking with all my abbreviations ?? LOL ! ) I have doubts about H &V too ! Not sure about prime time and could not get ressie at Sci Fi. Where else to eat at HS ?

 

[BuzzyBelle]

We all really enjoyed H&V for breakfast. I didn't know you could get the Fant! pkg for breakfast If your kids like Sofia, Doc, Handy Manny, & Jake they'll love it. I haven't heard good things about lunch and dinner here, but we're going back again for breakfast this year.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

Hi DisneyFaninNYC, my DH is not a fan so I am all on my own here. We are paying OOP. ( can tell I have been lurking with all my abbreviations ?? LOL ! ) I have doubts about H &V too ! Not sure about prime time and could not get ressie at Sci Fi. Where else to eat at HS ?

Sorry about Sci Fi - it truly is our favorite. So much fun and my DD loves the burgers and we enjoy the sandwiches. We also love Prime time - especially for the milk shakes. We go each time for dessert. Not sure about other restaurants. We love the Brown Derby - but not truly a fun place for kids. The PP said that H&V is good - so give it a chance. Enjoy!

 

[cybershmecky]

We have also eaten at H & V for breakfast and we do it every year now. Its a nice way to meet characters and enjoy your morning, and it can be a good use of time, especially if you are planning lots of fast passes in the afternoon and evening. We find that breakfasts can be a good value for character meals if you are dining without a dining plan.

 

[Buttercup7and10]

Just checked again, our H & V reservation is for lunch not breakfast like I thought and it is 11.30am, the only time slot left. BuzzyBelle, you are right, there is no Fantasmic Package for breakfast. Lunch and dinner is the same price for the package. Hope the food is good, still having some doubts due to the reviews.

 

[BuzzyBelle]

Just checked again, our H & V reservation is for lunch not breakfast like I thought and it is 11.30am, the only time slot left. BuzzyBelle, you are right, there is no Fantasmic Package for breakfast. Lunch and dinner is the same price for the package. Hope the food is good, still having some doubts due to the reviews.

Darn! I got excited We had it for Mama Melrose last year and were less than impressed with our meal there. I was willing to try the package again if it included the H&V breakfast. DD thinks it is the greatest meal of the trip because she can have ice cream for breakfast so we'd never convince her to eat there at another time

 

[MmmSuite]

I didn't love the food at H&V but if they have the cookie bars again I will eat a whole tray! The waitress there was BY FAR the best of the trip. When I told her we were supposed to be in for breakfast and canceled last minute she gave all my kids Happy Birthday cards just so they could have the Disney Jr stars autograph we missed. She was super swamped and still so attentive to us!

I am doing a lunch fantasmic! too so my baby can meet the characters and I have a guaranteed seat for the show!

 

[Momof2girls1920]

On our last trip with my two daughters who were 3 and 1, We did all character meals which were mostly buffets. My kids loved them, of course by the end of the trip my husband and I didn't even want to look at another. However, with that said we are going in August and doing pretty much the same ones- Akershus, CRT, Ohana, Tusker House, Chef Mickey's, H&V and Crystal Palace. It makes breakfast/dinner more enjoyable for the kids (if the like characters) and we avoid having to wait in line to see all these characters. We doing prefer having some dinners over breakfast, just for the fact that we go in August and after a day in the heat, its nice to sit in the air evening and relax for a bit.

 

[jezebel73]

I love your line up from a kid perspective for sure! I would normally recommend a dinner at DTD but 2 sit down meals in one day can take a lot of time away from other things, rides, shopping, etc. Not sure if I am on track thinking your kids are 7 and 10 (from your signature), but they will likely be pretty gung-ho about so many things, 2 long meals in the same day won't be too welcome. That being said, there are lots of good counter service places in all the parks and Downtown. Check out menus online in advance so you don't feel stuck with the same things each meal There are so many neat options around if you are willing to research!

 

[Mikie]

Love all of your choices, especially as you say you love buffets. My family likes buffets fine, but near the end of a trip when we're exhausted, we do enjoy simply being served! If you're usually pretty gung-ho on buffets, I think you'll be happy with all of these.

Are your kids interested in characters in general and the ones at these meals particularly? The character buffets are pricey, especially for a 10 year old who will be charged adult prices. If your kids aren't real excited about characters, the novelty may be worn off after so many. Again, I do love your choices, but depending what characters you like, if you decide to cut any, I *would* say H&V, but I like the fantasmic package. . . Maybe either CRT or Akershus since the princesses are similar and they're both expensive.

 

[Suzanne74]

What are your kids ages? As much as I like buffets too, they are not relaxing, especially if your kids are younger and you are serving them and yourself. I also recommend you do the late breakfasts with morning EMH so you can get a lot of rides in before eating. Once you get out of those late morning breakfasts, the parks are packed.

I would probably take away AKERSHUS since you are doing CRT. At least at CRT you can relax and two princess character meals are a lot. The other character meals all have different characters which is fun. Don't give up the Fantasmic option - it is great seats and no waiting/worry.

For Epcot, I would avoid a sit-down meal and save money. Sunshine Seasons has great counter service options as do all of the countries.