Hi...First Timer

[Rich_NY]

Hi new on the boards, will be taking my first Disney family trip 7/16-7/23. We are a couple with 2 kids 7,8. We are staying at the Dolphin with no car. I was planning on "winging" it for meals. My kids aren't big eaters, and very picky...pizza, chicken nuggets, etc. Do I need reservations? Am I going to be in trouble not planning my meals? Any "tips/info" will be appreciated, thanks!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Im sure many will strongly suggest you make a ressie...esp since your going in july. But i honestly think you will be fine as long as your not picky. When you know which park you'll be going to, simply ask your concierge (or guest services at the park) to check and see which restaurants have openings that day. As long as your flexible with the place and time, you will get something. There's no way there wont be anything available at any of the parks or resorts! Know what i mean? Plus there are a lot of no-shows and cancellations all the time. so you'll be ok im sure.
I personally think its best to wing it rather than have all the days structured.

 

[vicki_c]

If you don't mind eating counter service meals (where you order at the counter and take your tray to your table), you don't need any reservations at all.

If you want to eat with characters, or any of the popular sit-down restaurants, the majority of the sit-down restaurants in the parks, then you really need a reservation.

There are places to eat in the Swan/Dolphin as well, but I don't know anything about them.

Keep in mind that due to the extreme heat and humidity in July, it would be an excellent idea to either return to your room for a break if possible, or at least get inside for a while at a table-service meal. Many of the counter service places do not have indoor seating. Some do but not all.

 

[Big Kid in Alabama]

My advice is to make dinner reservations now. We are going the same week as you and staying at Pop. We have been the last 4 years in July and always make reservations. You will definately have problems getting into a restaurant if you don't.

 

[Rich_NY]

Thank you guys so much for the quick responses!!! I wouldn't even begin to know where/when to make reservations. I don't know which park we'll be in when, and how do you know when you'll be hungry for dinner, based on your day. How does one decide even if they know what they want? Do you guys plan your whole day, based on reservations? Can you make a reservation and not show up if it doesn't work? Help.....and thanks again.

 

[Quin]

At both CS (counter service) and TS (sit-down table service) restaurants, kids menus are pretty basic - with good reason. Most kids really do seem to prefer burgers/nuggets/pizza. As a prior poster said, there are no reservations at CS restaurants. There are multiple CS options in the parks and also at least 1 CS, often a multi-station food court type, at every resort. So if you need a break from a park, take a Disney bus or monorail or boat to a resort that sounds interesting. Wander around and explore it a little and eat there.

If you do decide you want some TS meals, it is safest to have reservations (called ADRs). You can call Disney now or make them online. Cancellations come up all the time so even if a restaurant has no availablity now, keep checking until the start of your trip.

In busy times such as mid-summer it can be difficult to walk up to a TS restaurant and get seated. Some of the most popular restaurants such as Ohana simply have no unreserved seats for the entire night. If you do decide to try to walk-up, try to hit less traditional mealtimes. Resort restaurants are generally less crowded than park restaurants. If they tell you it will be a 3 hour wait, they are probably right - go to a nearby CS place instead of wasting all that time.

And enjoy! We have done trips with ADRs every day and trips with none at all. We ate very different food on the 2 trips, but we never starved!

 

[DadMomBoyGirlBoy]

I personally like to make reservations. I think you always do better with a plan at Disney. If you decide to change it as you go along, that is ok as well but I always start with a plan.

If your kids are picky - you might like some of the buffets. They have decent selections and always have a kid-station with things like Macaroni and Cheese, chicken nuggest and the like. My kids (9,7, and 5) love buffets at Disney. I would personally recommend Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace or Boma (don't let the menu scare you - it is a great selection and everyone can find stuff they will like).

Have a great time!!

 

[Jeanieblue114]

If you are flexible and don't mind counter service as most options you are perfectly fine.

The Dolphin has a great cafeteria style restaurant called Picabus and has the dolphin fountain that is also good and has great custard ice cream as well as sandwiches.

The restaurants at your resort as well as the sister resort of the Swan have availability often because they are not involved in the disney dining plan.

The Garden Grove Buffet at the Swan is a character meal and I don't think you would have much problem getting a last minute reservation there because of the dining plan not being accepted.

I have often been at Disney and called disney dining 407-wdw-dine and said "i'm at this park or want to go to this resort...do you have something in an hour or 2?" I have always found something open. Especially if i'm willing to go to a resort.

The main things that you pretty much HAVE to have a reservation for are the Disney Dining Plan accepted character meals.
And even those you can sometimes luck out.

It's really easy to play with the disney online reservation system.

 

[OhThePain]

Im sure many will strongly suggest you make a ressie...esp since your going in july. But i honestly think you will be fine as long as your not picky. When you know which park you'll be going to, simply ask your concierge (or guest services at the park) to check and see which restaurants have openings that day. As long as your flexible with the place and time, you will get something. There's no way there wont be anything available at any of the parks or resorts! Know what i mean? Plus there are a lot of no-shows and cancellations all the time. so you'll be ok im sure.

I agree with goofy. If there is any restaurant that you and your family must do, try to make that ADR ASAP. If you can be flexable on when and where you eat, once you figure out where your going to be or what resort you might want to see that day, see what is available from concierge or guest services. You are going during a busy and HOT time of year as PPs have said, so be prepaired to eat nothing but CS meals.

If you do a little research on what the CS restaurants offer, your kids can eat all the chicken nuggets, burgers and pizza they want while you and your wife don't have to eat any of those things once. Allears.net has a lot of menus that should give you a good idea of what restaurant offers what.

 

[PuppyPrincess]

I would try to get some reservations. Try to pick a park you might be at and get some TS dining reservations. Being July, I would get some indoor ressies to cool off. I agree with the buffets, and the character ones are great. Chef Mickey's would give you the option of easy access from either MK or Epcot being located in the Contemporary. CP is great (both I have eaten at for breakfast or dinner and enjoyed them all). In AK there's Tusker House breakfast with Donald and friends. All have specific kids station. Biergarten in Germany has a buffet that also has hot dogs, etc. for kids. You can check out menus under the dining section - prices are also listed. If you make the ressie and closer to your trip, you decide against it, you can cancel. I usually plan my Disney trip as far as which park I am going to what day and make my ADR for my TS and leave the CS open.

 

[DEA]

Thank you guys so much for the quick responses!!! I wouldn't even begin to know where/when to make reservations. I don't know which park we'll be in when, and how do you know when you'll be hungry for dinner, based on your day. How does one decide even if they know what they want? Do you guys plan your whole day, based on reservations? Can you make a reservation and not show up if it doesn't work? Help.....and thanks again.

Let's see... in reverse order:

1. Yes, in most places you can make a reservation and not show up. However, you are taking a table away from someone else if you do so. Oh, Disney will "sell" the table quickly, no problem, but it could prevent someone from planning a meal at that restaurant. It is nice to cancel as soon as you know you aren't going to make it.

A few places to require payment in advance or a credit card to hold the reservation. CRT and Akershus come to mind.

2. I tend to think in terms of where I am going to be during the day before making ADRs (Disney's name for reservations; it's less a reservation and more a "you get the next appropriate table when it opens after that time") and plan accordingly. So, if I'm going to be in Epcot, I'll make an ADR at Chefs de France around the time our family usually eats lunch/dinner (depending on the meal).

Also, we have traditions like: The first full day at WDW, we go to Akershus for the Princess Storybook Breakfast.

3. Most restaurants, and all buffets, have a fairly wide assortment of food. You can pretty much find what you want. Some places specialize, but my procedure is to think about restaurants I want to try (or go back to), review the menus online, and get ADRs there. If nothing on the menu looks good, though, I will most likely skip the restaurant.

4. I generally book meals at the usual time our family eats meals -- 6pm-7pm for dinner, 11:30-1:30 for lunch -- but am flexible if there are special dining experiences we are after. There are snacks aplenty to tide folks over.

5. If you don't have a plan for visiting the parks, then it will be harder to pin down ADRs, of course. But, you can certainly make it through a vacation with few or no ADRs. You will not go hungry. But, if there are special dining experiences you want, like eating inside the Castle, having a character meal, steak and Cheddar Cheese Soup at Le Cellier... it would be wise to find a spot in your schedule for them and book them ASAP.

6. You can make reservations online at: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/

You can find restaurant menus at: http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm
or
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

And, of course, get helpful feedback on this board if you have any questions about these places.

 

[Quin]

Thank you guys so much for the quick responses!!! I wouldn't even begin to know where/when to make reservations. I don't know which park we'll be in when, and how do you know when you'll be hungry for dinner, based on your day. How does one decide even if they know what they want? Do you guys plan your whole day, based on reservations? Can you make a reservation and not show up if it doesn't work? Help.....and thanks again.

Sorry; you posted while I was typing!

You probably want to look at the park schedules, which are posted on many sites, to get an idea of what parks will be open for what hours. Think about what your family's preferences are. Most of us here will counsel you that the earlier the better; you can get more done in much more pleasant temperatures the first 2 hours of the day than you can in the entire time from noon until 6 pm. But if your family simply will not get up in the morning, then don't ever decide to go to a park that had early morning EMH (extra magic hours, when the rides are open to Disney guests only). If you don't have Park Hopper passes you really want to plan which day you are going to which park so that you're not at the very most crowded one. Look at www.easywdw.com for a good starting place. If you want to make ADRs, pick restaurants that fit with your park plans or are at a nearby resort so you don't spend hours traveling instead of touring.

Except for certain special dinner shows and the Wishes Dessert Party, there is no financial penalty for missing an ADR. It's kind of rude, though; somebody else would have liked a chance at that table.

Really, for your first trip, I'd say to pick no more than 2 or 3 TS meals and plan on the rest as CS. You are just going to be getting 'the lay of the land' this trip, and look at all the incentive you'll have to come back once you know your way around! With kids ages 7 & 8 I would strongly suggest at least 1 character meal. Does your family enjoy the characters from Pooh? Breakfast at the Crystal Palace buffet in the MK is a good place to start, and breakfast is usually the least expensive meal. If it's really important to see the Fab 5 then Chef Mickey's (breakfast, dinner, and now they are trying lunch service as well) buffet in the Contemporary Resort is the best choice.

 

[Rich_NY]

Thank you all for such great/quick responses to my questions.....what great people on here!!!!

 

[JimmyV]

I wouldn't even begin to know where/when to make reservations. I don't know which park we'll be in when, and how do you know when you'll be hungry for dinner, based on your day.

1. How does one decide even if they know what they want?
2. Do you guys plan your whole day, based on reservations?
3. Can you make a reservation and not show up if it doesn't work?

Help.....and thanks again.

Welcome to the world of obsessive uber-planning. Sometimes it is done because people are obsessive compulsives about WDW, and other times it is done because it is just plain necessary. We can debate all we want about which is which.

But to get you started down the path of no return, here's how many people plan their WDW vacations, which will answer questions 1 and 2 above. First, you get an idea of what park you want to go to on each day of your trip. How do they know? Well, very few people here are first timers, so they have an idea of what they (and their group) want to see and do. Are you an early riser and plan to take advantage of morning Extra Magic Hours (when one park each day is open one hour early exclusively for WDW Resort guests (including the Dolphin))? If so, you go to the "Hours" section of the WDW website (or many other third party sources) to find out which park opens early each day. That would give you a good idea of where you will be each day. Conversely, if you do not plan to beat the roosters to the park, then you would be well advised to avoid the park that has the morning EMH each day. So, for example, if the Magic Kingdom has a.m. EMH on the Tuesday that you will be there, but you do not plan to make "Rope Drop" (the term used here to mean arriving well before the opening so that you are literally at the front of the pack when the Cast Members drop the ropes to let people in), then you probably want to skip the MK that day. That means that you have three other parks to chose from. Simply pick one and lock it into your schedule.

This same process works for late nights as well. Most nights, one of the parks will stay open extra late, just for WDW Resort guests. Do you want to close down a park at midnight (or later)? If so, pick that park and lock it into your schedule. You will find that once you start to do this, the puzzle sort of solves itself; e.g., "Must stay at Magic Kingdom until 1:00 a.m.. Hmmm. Next day, I probably won't be getting up at the crack of dawn. So I will head over to World Showcase at Epcot when it opens at 11:00 a.m. and therefore won't be behind the curve there. Seems like a light day. So the next day, we will attack Disney Studios for all its worth and get there at opening and stay all day..." Before you know it, you will have an itinerary that is more structured than you think. And once you do, you will know where you will be (pretty much) on any given day.

Of course, you do not have to do any of this. But the Disney veterans will tell you that it is better to have a plan (even if it is flexible) than to "wing it", especially in the summer. For example, as a first timer, you may not know that Toy Story Mania is the "it" ride right now at Disney Studios. Once you are at that park, you and your kids will want to ride it. But if you decide to have a leisurely breakfast and dawdle to the park and arrive at 10:30, there is little chance that you will ride it with less than a 70-80 minute wait. Will you get to ride it without advanced planning? Sure. But 80 minutes of your valuable time will be eaten up staring at the back of the head of the person in front of you. Many people who drop thousands of dollars on their vacations try to use their time more productively. Others don't mind at all. It's up to you.

As for your third question, there is no penatly for being a no-show unless you have pre-paid for a portion of your meal which you are required to do for certain reservations. (California Grill, Cinderella's Royal Table, Victoria and Albert's). But for the others, no-shows are common. Still, in this day of cell phones, I personally think that there is no reason for not finding a minute to call Disney Dining and cancelling if you know that you aren't going to make your reservation.

Hope this helps. And I hope I haven't scared you to death.

Edit to add: Was typing this as a couple of posts above came in, so sorry for some of the repetition.

 

[vicki_c]

JimmyV - nice explanation!

 

[TDC Nala]

If, when you make the reservation, you are asked to give a credit card number, then it means you can't just not show up, because the restaurant has a "no-show" fee that will be charged to your card per person that didn't show up. This is applicable to very few restaurants. The ones that will do this are Akershus, California Grill, Victoria & Alberts (that particular restaurant is also quite expensive, has a dress code and is restricted to diners 10 years old and older) and special meal packages like the Fantasmic dining package.

There are four events for which you are required to pay in full when you book them (Cinderella's Royal Table and the three dinner shows - Spirit of Aloha, Mickey's Backyard Barbecue and the Hoop de Doo Revue).

You can cancel reservations like this, but there will be a cancellation time that you have to meet (24 to 48 hours before the reservation).

 

[Niki in NJ]

You are fine to wing it if you just want to do CS meals. I wouldn't want to wing it with TS meals, because there are definitely some good ones and the not so good ones .. and why pay for a TS meal that is just okay.
You are staying in a great location for lots of eating options!! If you don't want to pre-plan what days to go to what parks (which I do think comes somewhat with experience in knowing what you like to do first), you can make reservations at restaurants at YC/BC (ex. Captain's Grille, Yachtsman Steakhouse), Boardwalk (ex. Kouzzina, Flying Fish), or anywhere in Epcot (as long as you have park hoppers). Since it's the summer, and will be hot, I'm sure you will be taking breaks going back to the hotel sometime in the afternoon to swim or take a nap. You can easily walk to many restaurants right in the area for dinner before going off to any of the parks at night. I haven't dined in Swan or Dolphin, but I am sure others can give recommendations. You can find many of the menus for many of the restaurants through WDW on allearsnet.com or http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm That might help in seeing what your kids might enjoy at the restaurants.

Since it's your first time, I would recommend getting a guide to make sure you get the most out of your vacation. WDW is definitely a place you want to do your research since there is so much to do and see. It will just point out little things that will make your life easier (as will reading through the boards). I really liked the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World, which you can find at any bookstore. It's a really great guide, with info on resorts, restaurants, parks, touring suggestions, and tips.

Good luck and Happy Planning!!

 

[Rich_NY]

All the info here has been wonderful......still a little intimidating, but I'm sure we'll figure it out .......Thanks again!!

 

[julie4423]

I just wanted to say that when I took my girls for the first time, we didn't do any TS meals. WDW is a HUGE and somewhat confusing place for a first timer. We thought it was easier to just do CS because we had no idea what our plans were. The CS options are pretty extensive, and you will never go hungry. There are a few TS places that seem to have easier availability if you want to change your mind. We found that 50s Prime Time had a 30 min wait when we went in early July with no ressie. Also, try the resorts as a PP suggested if you start to seriously crave a real meal. If we had stayed a day more I would have done this.

 

[Rich_NY]

I just wanted to say that when I took my girls for the first time, we didn't do any TS meals. WDW is a HUGE and somewhat confusing place for a first timer. We thought it was easier to just do CS because we had no idea what our plans were. The CS options are pretty extensive, and you will never go hungry. There are a few TS places that seem to have easier availability if you want to change your mind. We found that 50s Prime Time had a 30 min wait when we went in early July with no ressie. Also, try the resorts as a PP suggested if you start to seriously crave a real meal. If we had stayed a day more I would have done this.

Thanks..the more research I do, the more I tend to agree....with our family/kids we don't need fancy meals. If it was just adults or older kids, I might feel differently. The nice restaurants seem too pricey and for the most part too fancy for my kids tastes.