I need some encouragement....

[megan4777]

We're going to Disney at the end of Nov/beginning of Dec and will have the dining plan.
It'll be Dh, me, 2 dd's (they'll be 4 and 2), and my parents.

I CAN'T figure out where to eat!?!?!

Our last trip was 2 yrs ago, but we didn't have the dining plan, and I had all our dining planned out 6 months before you could make reservations.
I feel overwhelmed this time, though, b/c of allllll the choices.

I have asked DH for help and he replied, "I trust you, you make good decisions....whatever you think." I asked DD#1 and she would basically like to eat with EVERY character plus hold Prince Charming's hand.

I also know that my parents won't be joining us for every meal but I'm basically planning theirs, too.

Anyway, does anyone have any words of encouragement? Do you have a not to miss meal with kids? Do you want to plan our dining?

Thanks

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Here are some of our "can't miss" meals. Right now my kids are dd (9), dd (8) and ds (6) but we've gone at least every year for the last four years so the suggestions pertain to you kids ages also:

1900 Park Fare (CInderella and Prince Charming!)
Crystal Palace (Pooh and Friends)
Chef Mickeys (Mickey and Donald and friends)
Liberty Tree Tavern(Minnie, CHip and Dale, Goofy)
Sci-Fi (kids love the atmosphere)
PSB in Norway (all the princesses)
Ohana (Lilo and Stitch Breakfast)
Ohana dinner (No characters but kids hula hooping and coconut races)
Biergarten (this may just be my kids but they loved the oompha band and they let the kids get up and dance)

THese are some of my kids favorites. Hope you can find something in there for your family!

 

[familyS]

Start by deciding which park you will be visiting each day. Then decide if you want to dine in the park or want to leave the park for a break at meal time. Then check out the available restaurants.

I suggest planning your meals for your immediate family, then let the grandparents know your plans and let them choose which meals they'll join.

When my children were that young they loved the Crystal Palace in MK. The Pooh characters were less intimidating for them than other characters. A late breakfast worked great for us. (In fact DD 13 and DS 10 still want to dine there on our next trip )

We haven't been to the Akershus (sp?) in Epcot for a princess meal, but if your DDs are into princesses, it is a way to see multiple princesses without waiting in lines.

Have fun planning!

 

[pumba]

we have done Crystal Palace with just adults .....so maybe your parents will like that one too and join you.....Biergarten for everyone.......wonderful atmosphere and the kids and adults will enjoy the beer, the food and the entertainment...wait the kids wont enjoy the beer but some adults do....Hollywood and Vine was good because of the buffet and no waiting for food.....actually all these I have mentioned are buffets and delicious......The ones taht the previous person posted are all great.....
Hope you have a good time with everyone

 

[C_leen]

Hi there!

OK, here's a checklist to consider:

1. Is there a night grand parents or you want alone to dine as a couple? Maybe a signature TS?
2. What character meal(s) are going to rock your kids' world?
3. Is there a restaurant or one of the dinner shows you really think would be fun for your group to try?
4. What order do you plan to tour the parks on your dates? Do you plan to have park hoppers?
5. Borrow someone's planning sheet and personalize it or use Excel. Look around on DIS as several kind people have posted planning sheets.

Once you see your park plan on paper, you will have an idea where you want to build in some rest time with a TS ADR or what range of TS restaurants will be convenient. It is overwhelming, but I did it! It can be done!

 

[agentpleakley]

Here are some of our "can't miss" meals. Right now my kids are dd (9), dd (8) and ds (6) but we've gone at least every year for the last four years so the suggestions pertain to you kids ages also:

1900 Park Fare (CInderella and Prince Charming!)
Crystal Palace (Pooh and Friends)Chef Mickeys (Mickey and Donald and friends)
Liberty Tree Tavern(Minnie, CHip and Dale, Goofy)
Sci-Fi (kids love the atmosphere)
PSB in Norway (all the princesses)
Ohana (Lilo and Stitch Breakfast)
Ohana dinner (No characters but kids hula hooping and coconut races)
Biergarten (this may just be my kids but they loved the oompha band and they let the kids get up and dance)

THese are some of my kids favorites. Hope you can find something in there for your family!

Bolded are ours too. I'll add that Teppanyaki become our close second favorite to Ohana. We will all surprised at how well we LOVED Teppanyaki.

We are trying Sci Fi and PSB this trip.

 

[princess mom of 4]

I am always in favor of buffets - no waiting for food, which helps with little ones. Cinderella's Gala Feast at the Grand Flor. has a separate kids buffet too. And Liberty Tree Tavern is not a buffet, but food is "comfort food", familiar stuff for kids like mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans, ham, turkey, etc...

 

[megan4777]

Thanks for all the help so far!!

 

[summerlandjeff]

We always start with the food style, then find the restaurant;

Seafood: Fulton's @ DTD
Steak: LeCellier @ Epcot
Mexican: The Pepper Market or The Maya Grille @ CSR
Irish / Pub Grub: Raglan Road @ DTD or Rose & Crown @ EPCOT
Southern : HOB @ DTD
Kid fun: Whispering Canyon Cafe @ WL
Adult Fun: Jiko @ AKL
Character: 1900 Park Fare @ GF (Prince Charming)
Buffet: Cape May Cafe @ BC or Boma @ AKL

Check out the restaurant guide on the DIS or pick up the PassPorter guide book. It has an awesome restaurant review and rate section!

 

[Flossbolna]

Start by deciding which park you will be visiting each day. Then decide if you want to dine in the park or want to leave the park for a break at meal time. Then check out the available restaurants.

That would have been my advice as well. If you want to try some resort restaurants, try to combine them with the park that is closest to them. For example Ak closes early when you are there, this would be a great opportunity to jump over to AKL have a look at the lodge and the animals there and then have a dinner at Boma. It might sound adventurous but I think it has plenty to offer that is not so strange as you first think.

For deciding which park to visit on which day I can highly recommend the crowd predictions by ***************** as well as Tourguide Mike.

 

[atisikitabasket]

Our DS4 loved our meal at the coral Reef it was my favorite too. He also loved the hollywood and Vine Character meal at MGM. He really liked his food at Le Cellier he ate everything clean he was able to get Spaghetti there which is his favorite.

 

[debit34]

We just got back from WDW and it was me, dh and our almost 3 year old. I was very happy with my ADR's and I worried as well. I tried to get into Chef Mickey's constantly while I was there but it was just completely booked so that is the one place I would have liked to go. 50's Prime Time was the only place we were unhappy with, we had a 6:30 ADR and were seated nearly an hour later. Here's where we had ADR's:

1900 Park Fare - Breakfast (Mary Poppins, Pooh and Tigger, Alice and Mad Hatter) EXCELLENT
Crystal Palace - Breakfast (Pooh and friends) EXCELLENT
Hollywood and Vine - Breakfast (JoJo, Goliath, June, Leo) GOOD - my dd liked this one best
Ohana's - Dinner EXCELLENT
Whispering Cannon Cafe - GOOD
50's Prime Time - POOR
Garden Grill - Lunch (Chip, Dale, Mickey, Pluto) FAIR

Hope that helps.

 

[simonkodousek]

Crystal Palace is a great restaurant, in fact is is one of our WDW traditions. I highly recommend it if you want a character meal.

~Simon

 

[lynninpa]

Like you, we were a three-generation-family on our last trip. We all very much enjoyed the places we ate together: Dinner at CRT, WCC, Le Cellier, B-fast at CM and B-fast at CP. Teppanyaki is another choice-we would have eaten there all together yet only 8 were allowed to a table and we were a party of 9. Whatever you decide, I am sure you will have a magical adventure!

 

[WeRblam]

That would have been my advice as well. If you want to try some resort restaurants, try to combine them with the park that is closest to them. For example Ak closes early when you are there, this would be a great opportunity to jump over to AKL have a look at the lodge and the animals there and then have a dinner at Boma. It might sound adventurous but I think it has plenty to offer that is not so strange as you first think.

For deciding which park to visit on which day I can highly recommend the crowd predictions by ***************** as well as Tourguide Mike.

Boma is the best! My DD is vegetarian, DS and DH are meat eaters and me - I like salads but dislike pasta. We had the best meal at the buffet because it had something for everyone. Even my DH who is very plain eater sampled (and liked) some of the things he would not normally try! I highly recommend this! The kids will love the Zebra (dome) cookies.

 

[The Sweetness]

You can do it

The planning is half the fun. And your fam will really appreciate your efforts