Help...need to plan PS's

[glencoe]

OK, I have changed my PS ressies twice already and now it might happen again. I can't make up my mind what would work. We are a family of 5 /
3 kids 9 and 5 and a 2 yr old . We will be staying at the poly, not to bore you but this is the basic schedule...How would you make it better/change it. I had a Poly Luau ressie and Chef Mickey ressie, but heard horrible things about both (yes check back threads) and don't want to waste the time or the $$ so they are cancelled.
Sun. Feb 13. Magic Kingdom
11;45 Crystal Palace lunch
Mon. Feb 14 (valentines) AK day/Epcot Eve
1:00 Rainforest Cafe at AK (is there somewhere better to eat in AK for lunch?)
Tues. Feb 15 Sea World
7 pm kona cafe (at Poly)
Wed. Feb 16 hang out enjoy hotel
7 pm Ohana (at hotel)
thus. feb17 Epcot
8:50 Akerhaus princess breakfast
4:30 Alfredo's-world showcase
Fri. Feb 18 MK
8:00 Ohana character breakfast
WE dont know what to do!!
As you can see I have not scheduled breakfast at Kona's yet (gotta get that tonga toast!) I am so confused
Any help and suggestions are welcome. what has worked for you? Do you guys leave the park and go back to the hotel or get in the park and stay....thanks!

 

[glencoe]

bump-still need HELP!!!

 

[Tabetha]

Hi! We'll be at the Poly the same time as you...
I don't see anything "wrong" with your schedule, personally speaking. My only suggestion is that you either make a PS now for the 14th for dinner, or know that you'll probably be eating counter service. May also have better luck venturing out to a resort for that dinner.

We're also planning on eating room service for breakfast at least once - can be a good, relaxing option to get your tonga toast fix!

 

[glencoe]

Are you requesting any special longhouse or room? I think for the 14th we will have to go back to the hotel to drop the car off(we would rather drive to AK than bus it) so since we will be at the hotel we figured we would eat there before we venture out to Epcot. Our "VAlentines' meal " will be at Rainforest w/ the kids (how romantic )

If anything I tried to scaled down so we wont be to "over scheduled" but I don't want to leave us hanging. I hate trying to find seats for a family of 5 at counter service. thanks again!!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I was wondering if you are planning on doing MGM. They have lots of good places for kids especially Sci-FI and 50's Prime Time Cafe. For Valentine's Day Hollywood Brown Derby would be nice also.

 

[solotraveler]

OK, first things first:

Make your Kona breakfast ressie for the morning of the 16th. You'll be at the hotel anyway, so that's probably the easiest day to do it. Or maybe even elimate the CB at Ohana on the 18th since you have so many character meals already.

Second, everything else looks pretty good. Rainforest is the only sitdown place at AK, but they do have some really good quick service places in the park, if that is your preference. Flame Tree BBQ comes to mind.

I would be carefully about full scale eliminating places based on others' reviews. If you really want Chef Mickeys or the Luau, go for it. Especially staying at the Poly, I think the Luau might be a lot of fun for your resort day (provided you could get ressies again, or even wanted to.) You'll find good and bad reviews about everywhere-- go with your instincts and what you think your family will enjoy.

Just my .02
Solotraveler

 

[glencoe]

I was actually not planning MGM, we thought we would skip that one this trip.
I was thinking maybe on the 13th go to Kona's for breakfast and make Crystal Palace for early dinner?
I want something to sit down for the 14th since that will be our "valentine's dinner" !! I will wait on the Luau, my husband was disappointed we ditched it, but fate will tell if we will do it.
As for alot of character meals......well w/ the kids the age they are, I think the more the merrier! LOL. I would rather do the meals than wait on long lines to see the characters!
Thanks again for the help!!

 

[jajsmom]

Just wanted to say we will be there the same week as you. I haven't even done PS yet. Don't know where to eat or where we'll be when. I think we are doing AK Sunday and then the Hotel Pool. I'm thinking of doing lunch at the Rainforest Cafe.
I'm jealous you have PS for the Princess Breakfast on the 17th. Want to take me and DD with you?lol I keep calling for cancellations but nothing yet.

I better start moving soon.
Robyn

 

[luvey]

my two cents about chef mickey, my nephew who was five at the time loved it. i've heard negative reviews about the dinner, but we went for breakfast -- it was reasonably priced. it was an experience i can tell ya. and the food was rather yummy -- and i'm a picky eater. the characters we were able to see were chip and dale, minnie, pluto, mickey, and goofey was in the lobby. my nephew being the little show boat, loved it when they did the musical breaks and got to fling the napkins around and dance.

so don't rule out chef mickey due to bad reviews. you have to kinda look at them all and see what works for you best because opinions, even mine lol, are subjective.

have fun!

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

Here's another vote for reconsidering Chef Mickey. We're going next month and a little girl in my daughter's class (2nd grade) just got back, so I was asking her some of her favorite things. She's been 3 times already, so pretty experienced. Her favorite place to eat was Chef Mickey! You've got some other good places planned, but don't cancel CM because of what people posted, as this little girl raved about it.

Can't speak from personal experience as this is our 1st family trip.

 

[Tabetha]

Are you requesting any special longhouse or room?

When we booked, we asked for Samoa, Volcano Pool side, but I don't think all that info made it onto our reservation. I just wanted something central. I'm actually thinking about asking for the prices to upgrade when we get there!

If anything I tried to scaled down so we wont be to "over scheduled" but I don't want to leave us hanging. I hate trying to find seats for a family of 5 at counter service. thanks again!!

If your goal is "not overscheduled" I think you've succeeded! It looks like a really nice blend to me.

See you around the pool. I'll be the one drinking out of a pineapple and giggling about it!

 

[sk!mom]

We are going in April and I don't think that you have too many character meals. We are traveling with an 8 year old and we find that each trip we plan more Character meals. This trip we will be having Character Breakfasts at Crystal Palace, Cindy's, Ohana, and Chef Mickey's. This is a quick 5 day trip. The fifth day will be Kona for breakfast. We have lunches at Rainforst Cafe at AK and the Sci Fi Dine In. Dinners at Ohana, Whispering Canyon, Marrakesh, Prime Time. All of these meals are planned at places my DD will find fun and entertaining.

 

[serene56]

We went last year during your time frame. I can tell you that the lunch time you picked for Crystal palace will be very very crowded. Can you not eat a later breakfast so you can dp lunch about 2pm? the place was practically barren and we had the characters at our table many times over-- I absolutly loved it.

Taking ohana at 7pm for dinner (just in time for wishes--) we picked 6:30 and were seated at 6:30. Many many people stay around to see wsihes from Ohanas.. and you may not get to be seated until wishes is over.

We also did the Princess breakfast in Noway-- get there early in hopes that a daughter coul dbe picked as princess of the day and get to open the place. Was very cute watching the little kids get some magic.

We also did Rain Forrest Cafe but went when the Animal kingdom was closing. Crowded but with a PS we had no wait. and it was more relaxing not rushing to get done since the park still had some stuff to see--like the parade at 3pm.

On our off night we went to beaches and cream to share the kitchen sink for something different and fun.

 

[MECH8T7]

Any thoughts of getting a baby sitter one night and doing an adult sit-down meal? We're putting our 2 kids into the Disney childare on three nights of our stay and dining at California Grill, Artist Point and Jiko. (As you probably know, your 2 year-old is too young for the on-site childcare).

For our Sea World day, we are going out there after lunch and staying to see their fireworks / laser show (Mystify) but we're going just before Easter and I'm not sure if they would be running the show during your stay.

Since you'll be at the Poly, did you think about signing up your 9 year old or 5 year old for any of the kids programs at the Grand Floridian? Pirate Cruise, Grand Adventures in Cooking, etc.?

 

[princess-rn]

I too had heard negative things about Chef Mickeys..but I made PS's anyway. I feared the worst..but it ended up being one of our most memorable dinners there. My DS (2) LOVED the character interaction and it was one of the few buffets that he actually ATE!!! It was wonderful and the food was wonderful!! I would try it for yourself.

 

[glencoe]

Wow!! Thank you all for your suggestions!! I think I will do Chef Mickeys, my kids will love it. I will try for Breakfast I think. I hope I can get anything else I want to add.....when I called Tues. I was surprised that quite a few of the PS's I thought about changing to were booked! I was hoping this would be a not so crowded time, but our end of our vacation runs into Pres. weekend. As for the babysitter, even though it is Valentines, I just feel funny leaving the kids behind. My dh and I go out here at home often so I don't feel I need to have a night out and worry leaving them w/ a stranger- I am funny that way, plus my boys(9 and 5) might break out in a fight and freak outwhat ever sitter we get!
Jajmoms....I made the PS for the princess breadfast just for my daughter and I , they had nothing for larger groups of people but for two it was not problem. My husband will do something else w/ the boys while we are there.
I did notice no one commented about the Luau......
I will consider changing Crystal Palace for later if they have it.

I also want to request Samoa by the Volcano Pool as well. If I call Dis. ress back again can they add it? I will also fax my request too. Thanks again!!

 

[glencoe]

When we booked, we asked for Samoa, Volcano Pool side, but I don't think all that info made it onto our reservation. I just wanted something central. I'm actually thinking about asking for the prices to upgrade when we get there!



If your goal is "not overscheduled" I think you've succeeded! It looks like a really nice blend to me.

See you around the pool. I'll be the one drinking out of a pineapple and giggling about it!

Tabatha, I too will be drinking something tropical ( I can't wait!), I will have my lime green ribbon on my backpack/stroller and whatever else. look for me!! I have two boys 9 & 5 and a little 2 yr old girl, all w/ very italian names!! You will know it if you hear me yelling!!

 

[Tabetha]

You can definately have them add the longhouse request to your reservation by calling CRO - between that and faxing you're more than covered.

I will watch for you!