Help planning character meals!

[lingiemom]

Hi everyone,

This is our first time as a family going to Disney World. I've been a few times myself, but the last time was over 10 years ago and the entire dining scene has changed so much with reservation requirements. Plus, with kids the character experiences seem more important.

The boys will be at that time 16 months and 6 years old. We'll be staying at the Contemporary.

This is what I'm thinking right now, and I'd appreciate comments, suggestions:

Sun 22 July: travel day (we'll probably arrive at the airport around 4pm). Dinner at T-REX (boys like dinos) maybe with reservations at 7 or 8pm? How long does Magical Express take typically?

Mon 23 July: Epcot Day
breakfast: in room dining for first breakfast
lunch: counter service in epcot
dinner: Garden Grill

Tue 24 July: MK
breakfast: counter service in hotel
lunch: Cinderella's Castle
dinner: Liberty Tree? Something else simple?

Wed 25 July: Epcot
breakfast: counter service in hotel
lunch: Les Chefs de France
dinner: Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show

Thu 26 July: MK
breakfast: Crystal Palace
lunch: counter service somewhere
dinner: Hoop Dee Doo Review

Fri 27 July: Animal Kingdom
breakfast: counter service at hotel
lunch: counter service in AK (maybe that pizza place?)
dinner: Sci-Fi! My husband and I are Sci-Fi nerds and the boys like to drive cars

Sat 28 July: Going home, hoping for a 2pm or so flight
breakfast: chef mickey's

Based on this, I'm wondering if we should do the Deluxe meal plan?

Thanks so much!
Anna

 

[PrincesaMama]

Hi everyone,

This is our first time as a family going to Disney World. I've been a few times myself, but the last time was over 10 years ago and the entire dining scene has changed so much with reservation requirements. Plus, with kids the character experiences seem more important.

The boys will be at that time 16 months and 6 years old. We'll be staying at the Contemporary.

This is what I'm thinking right now, and I'd appreciate comments, suggestions:

Sun 22 July: travel day (we'll probably arrive at the airport around 4pm). Dinner at T-REX (boys like dinos) maybe with reservations at 7 or 8pm? How long does Magical Express take typically?

Mon 23 July: Epcot Day
breakfast: in room dining for first breakfast
lunch: counter service in epcot
dinner: Garden Grill

Tue 24 July: MK
breakfast: counter service in hotel
lunch: Cinderella's Castle
dinner: Liberty Tree? Something else simple?

Wed 25 July: Epcot
breakfast: counter service in hotel
lunch: Les Chefs de France
dinner: Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show

Thu 26 July: MK
breakfast: Crystal Palace
lunch: counter service somewhere
dinner: Hoop Dee Doo Review

Fri 27 July: Animal Kingdom
breakfast: counter service at hotel
lunch: counter service in AK (maybe that pizza place?)
dinner: Sci-Fi! My husband and I are Sci-Fi nerds and the boys like to drive cars

Sat 28 July: Going home, hoping for a 2pm or so flight
breakfast: chef mickey's

Based on this, I'm wondering if we should do the Deluxe meal plan?

Thanks so much!
Anna

Hi Anna,

Travel time depends on your resort you can call ahead of time and ask...they will give you an approximate travel time estimate. For your ADRs We liked Cosmic Rays in MK...they had great food at large portions. This was the only QS that my husband remembered during our stay....he didn't care too much for the other QS places. AK has a great BBQ place called Flame Tree BBQ...we didn't get to eat there, but it smelled FABULOUS and many people have raved about it. Otherwise, I'd keep it simple as the more meals you plan the less park time you have.
Another thing you might want to look at is it seems as though you are park hopping quite a bit. You might want to simplify by keeping the dining options to one park each day, unless you do an afternoon switch.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[havoc315]

1. A family of 4 pays over $200 just for the privelege of park hopping. Looks like you are just hopping 1 day -- to go for dinner at Sci Fi, after AK. So think carefully about whether you really want to pay for park hopping.

2. In-room dining, especially breakfast, is a horrible use of credits. You're basically paying $60 for scrambled eggs and juice. Easy enough to walk downstairs to the Contempo Cafe.

3. 4 pm flight.. Magical Express.. Checking in... I wouldn't make any dinner reservations, except maybe a late reservation right in your hotel.

4. You have a lot of cs planned, so not so sure the dxdp would save you much. If you were doing less cs, and more ts, then the dxdp would be 'savings.'
But I suspect your current plan would be cheaper oop.

 

[ElizabethG]

It seems like a lot of food to me. I would cut out a couple of meals and just do the regular dining plan. I also question the park hopping for one day. I think Sci Fi is not worth it!