Help with restaurant choices

[queenbeechast]

Hi everyone. Newbie here- this is my very first post! I've been lurking around for a while, and have finally decided to post.

My DH, DD (age 2), and I will be heading to WDW June 8 - 14, with PH and dining plan. Star Wars weekends and my graduation (nursing school) decided these dates for us. Anyhow, what I'm trying to figure out is how to use our dining plan. I love to pre-plan every little detail, DH hates to stick to a schedule. I'm trying to find a happy medium - make some ADR's without making DH feel like he has to stick to a "plan".

I want to try out CRT, which would be best breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Are ADR's necessary for Crystal Palace and Liberty Tree Tavern?
Any suggestions for "must not miss" restaurants?

Thanks for suggestions in advance!

 

[ash&abby'smom]

First, welcome to the Disboards. You will recieve lots of good info here. I would definately make ADR's for CP & LTT if you know you want to go there. These are very popular restaraunts. Having only been to CRT for breakfast I can't compare lunch and dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast there. With the new changes coming Feb. 1, we'll see what the reviews are.

I would suggest making one ADR per day (for me it would be dinner) and use cs for during the day. With a 2 yr. old, you will not want to have to wait long periods of time trying to get into restaraunts.

What type of foods are you looking for? Wispering Canyon at WL is a fun choice as is OHana's at the Poly. Maybe LeCellier for a nice rest. in Epcot. We absolutely loved Boma's at the AKL, they have adventurous foods and well as foods for the not so adventurous. Have fun planning.

 

[queenbeechast]

We don't really have any preferences for the type of food. I'm semi-picky, but I'll try anything once!

Thanks for the welcome! I love everything I've seen here!

 

[jennifer293]

We didn't like feeling like we were stuck to a schedule but what we did was eat a bowl of cereal in them morning before heading to the parks and had lunch pretty much just whereever we were at the moment we got hungry at around 11 or 12 and then we had our ADR at around 6pm or so (If DD eats much later than that she gets fussy). We really enjoyed all of our meals except Akershus. The ones we are returning to this trip at Liberty Tree nad Ohana. Everything else will be new for us. If your DH is a picky eater like mine I looked at the menus and found places that offered a variety of things. He praised LTT and Ohana so that is why we are going back to those not to mention LTT has sweet iced tea.

The food is really good at most places so I am sure where ever you land you will be happy with!!

OH and CONGRATS on Nursing school!!! That is a HUGE accomplishment!! WAY TO GO~~~~and welcome to the DISBOARDS you will find a TON of info here!!!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Welcome and congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
We have been to WDW in June several times. You really need to make dining reservations. We saw many people turned away this past June without reservations. Suggest you go over to allearsnet.com....dining....menus. You will find all the menus for all WDW restaurants there. Great source of WDW info. Check out mousesaver.com for discount information.

 

[Kaycee]

Welcome to the DIS Boards! And congratulations on your graduation!

Like wdwgoofeeee, we have been to WDW several times in June, and I agree that you really need to make ADR's. June can be hot and crowded in the parks, and it's no fun being told that you can't get into a restaurant when you're hot and tired.

We have menus for many of the restaurants here on the DIS. Here is the link:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

Take a look at the menus, read restaurant reviews here on the boards, and start a list of the restaurants that sound good to you. Make the ADR's for the restaurants where you really want to eat first, then fill in with restaurants that fit in with what you think you may be doing each day. When you get there, if your plans change or you don't feel like eating at a restaurant where you have an ADR, you can always try to get in someplace else and cancel your ADR. You aren't tied down by ADR's (with the exception of restaurants where you have to pay ahead like CRT) but it's nice to have the ADR to fall back on if you need it.

Happy planning!

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

Another recommendation I would make is in the MGM - 50's Prime Time. The food is "just like Mom's" with things like fried chicken and meat loaf, etc. Plus the restaurant is decorated in the 1950s and with a young one the waiters correct the parents and admonish them as if they were children. The first time we ate there my DS was around 11 years old and my sister didn't eat all of her vegetables so the waiter, Dad, asked her in that so parental way why she didn't eat all of her veggies and she had to eat more before she could be excused. I was also admonished for having my elbows on the table even though dinner had not been served but it was great fun.

Just have fun!

Disney Crazy Debbie

 

[queenbeechast]

Thanks everyone! I'm still looking through menu's, trying to make up my mind! I did go ahead and book CRT for breakfast on our first morning. I think the DD will absolutely love it (even if Cindy's doesn't circulate).

 

[DisneycrazedX6]

Welcome to the boards....this is absolutely the BEST place to find advice about ANYTHING!!!!

How is your little one with characters??? When mine were really small I went to as many of the character meals as possible. This way they got to see them without waiting in line or in the heat!!! Alot of them are buffets too so better food choices for your child!!

Our other child friendly favorites: Toy Story Pizza Planet-CS
Sci Fi- Diner-TS
Cosmic Rays-CS
Enjoy your trip!!!!

 

[The Sweetness]

Welcome to the DIS boards. Here are some faves to try~


Arrival night dinner (if no parks that day) Chef Mickeys. Its good food, good times, and a gaurantee that you will meet Mickey mouse for sure!

At MK, Cosmic Rays is a fave for counter service (burgers, dogs, chick& ribs) they have a little entertainment going ala Chuck E Cheese
for a TS at MK, I love Crystal Palace

At EPCOT, World Showcase has many different cuisines to choose from. Both counter and table services. Check out the menus, and see what your fam will like (they do have a cs of burgers etc... if you arent adventurous)

At MGM, dd LOVES pizza planet, and I love Prime Time 50's for the food and fun times as well. Sci-fi, on the other hand, didnt impress me, nor was I disapointed. It was just there.

At AK, I cant help much. There is no table service for lunch or dinner on the dining plan (if using that) but my DD loves the Rainforrest Cafe. Shes 14 and was just trying to hit me up yesterday for a trip to a mall thats an hour away that may still have a Rainforest Cafe

If your dd is frightened of the characters, avoid the buffets that are characret meals (Im sure you could figure that out for yourself) I had my dd used to Chuck E Cheese by the time we had our first trip when she was 2, and were lucky that shes always loved them all

 

[queenbeechast]

Welcome to the DIS boards. Here are some faves to try~


Arrival night dinner (if no parks that day) Chef Mickeys. Its good food, good times, and a gaurantee that you will meet Mickey mouse for sure!

At MK, Cosmic Rays is a fave for counter service (burgers, dogs, chick& ribs) they have a little entertainment going ala Chuck E Cheese
for a TS at MK, I love Crystal Palace

At EPCOT, World Showcase has many different cuisines to choose from. Both counter and table services. Check out the menus, and see what your fam will like (they do have a cs of burgers etc... if you arent adventurous)

At MGM, dd LOVES pizza planet, and I love Prime Time 50's for the food and fun times as well. Sci-fi, on the other hand, didnt impress me, nor was I disapointed. It was just there.

At AK, I cant help much. There is no table service for lunch or dinner on the dining plan (if using that) but my DD loves the Rainforrest Cafe. Shes 14 and was just trying to hit me up yesterday for a trip to a mall thats an hour away that may still have a Rainforest Cafe

If your dd is frightened of the characters, avoid the buffets that are characret meals (Im sure you could figure that out for yourself) I had my dd used to Chuck E Cheese by the time we had our first trip when she was 2, and were lucky that shes always loved them all

I love the Chuck E Cheese idea! I'll have to take the DD there a few times before the trip. I know she will do well with the Princesses. She LOVES anything princess! As for the others, I'm not so sure about. Chuck E Cheese is a great way to prepare her! Thanks for that idea!

 

[queenbeechast]

Thanks everyone for the replies! This is finally what we decided to do. The DH agreed that I could plan out which parks to visit each day, as long as I didn't come up with a step-by-step plan. He suggested that I would make out a schedule such as "9am, arrive at MK, 9:10 am walk to castle, 9:10:22 am stop for picture" My reply was something to the effect "now would I do that?"

Anyhow, here's my list:

Day 1 - grab a CS at the hotel (we won't be arriving until late)
Day 2 - Breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table
Day 3 - Sci-Fi Diner (dinner)
Day 4 - The Princess Storybook Dining (Norway) (dinner)
Day 5 - Chef Mickey's (dinner)
Day 6 - 'Ohana (dinner)
Day 7 - Coral Reef (dinner)

We're not much on Breakfast, I figured a quick something (maybe bagels/cereal) and then a CS for lunch at whichever park we happen to be in. After a nap/swim we'd be off to dinner and then check out the parks.

Keeping my fingers cross that this works! Also, hoping I don't change my mind too many more times!

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

I would also suggest going to www.touringplans.com (the UG's site) and finding best days for parks and parks to avoid days. Being a newbie myself, I wanted to know all that I could before I made our ADRs.