Is this doable? Monorail Resort Restaurant Tour

[triciambe]

We are going to WDW in August and staying off-site (we are a big group of three families).

Because of the parking situation at MK which makes it harder to leave for a mid-day break and go back/forth from the house, we were thinking of doing a progressive meal at the three monorail resorts during the afternoon. This would give us a chance to 1) get out of the park/crowds/sun, 2) experience a little bit of the resorts (we haven't stayed at any of those specific ones), and 3) try some good food at different places*.

*FYI, we definitely already plan on tipping well at each place even though we're only technically eating one part of the meal there.

Here is the plan and what I have booked so far:

• 9am to 12pm - Rope-drop MK and enjoy rides
• 12:15pm reservation @ Steakhouse 71 (appetizers and drinks)
• 1:50pm reservation @ Grand Floridian Cafe (entrees)
• 3:15ish @ Polynesian resort (dessert: Dole Whip at Pineapple Lanai, bread pudding at Tambu Lounge, or pastries at Kona Island)
• 4:30ish - back to MK to close out the night

Questions:

• How feasible in terms of timing is all of this? Is it this enough time to eat and travel between places without feeling rushed? It's really the time between our reservations at Steakhouse 71 and GCF I'm worried about. We've used the monorail before but not a lot to know what to expect in terms of waits.
• I was thinking of doing Steakhouse 71 Lounge instead of the restaurant for apps and drinks, but worried about the unpredictability of possible crowds? From what I've read, it's mostly walk-in? Then again, we are big group (12).
• Other recommendations or things you would do differently?

Thank you!!!

 

[kanerf]

If you do your Steakhouse 71 at the bar you can probably do it. I would not go into the restaurant.

 

[Meglen]

I would give yourself atleast an hour to eat at restaurants even if it's apps and drinks. The monorail goes contep>poly> gf so I would swap the 2 around. The monorail can be a 20 min wait plus the loading time and ride time.

 

[GAN]

I'd say you'll probably be fairly close to what you hope for. Might be tough to get to Poly by 3:15 unless you rush a little at GF. But no big deal ...maybe you get to the park around 5 or so which isn't the end of the world. I'd say it's a solid plan.

 

[triciambe]

If you do your Steakhouse 71 at the bar you can probably do it. I would not go into the restaurant.

I'm a little worried about not being able to have a reservation for the Lounge - do you think we'll be okay?

I would give yourself atleast an hour to eat at restaurants even if it's apps and drinks. The monorail goes contep>poly> gf so I would swap the 2 around. The monorail can be a 20 min wait plus the loading time and ride time.

I thought about that, but the menus for apps and entrees seem to be better to do Steakhouse 71 (esp the lounge) for apps and GFC for entrees. My other issue is that lunch only goes until 2PM at both places.

I'd say you'll probably be fairly close to what you hope for. Might be tough to get to Poly by 3:15 unless you rush a little at GF. But no big deal ...maybe you get to the park around 5 or so which isn't the end of the world. I'd say it's a solid plan.

Thank you! If we don't get to Poly by 3:15, that's no biggie since we don't have a reservation anyway. And like you said, getting to MK by 5 should be fine - yay!

 

[Meglen]

I'm a little worried about not being able to have a reservation for the Lounge - do you think we'll be okay?


I thought about that, but the menus for apps and entrees seem to be better to do Steakhouse 71 (esp the lounge) for apps and GFC for entrees. My other issue is that lunch only goes until 2PM at both places.


Thank you! If we don't get to Poly by 3:15, that's no biggie since we don't have a reservation anyway. And like you said, getting to MK by 5 should be fine - yay!

I would skip poly and just enjoy more time relaxing at contemporary and grand Floridian.

 

[tobikaye]

If you have younger kids, it might be easier in the restaurant portion of Steakhouse 71. With that big a group in the lounge, unless you can get one of the little seating areas just for yourselves, you might have to divide up in the the various seating areas and bar stools. I was there during lunch last month, a bit later reservation that yours and there was at least one smaller parties in each of the lounge seating areas. It still left space for others, just not for 12 all together.

I probably would go ahead and monorail from CR to GF, but I would walk from GF to Poly if you do decide to get dessert there.

 

[GAN]

I'm a little worried about not being able to have a reservation for the Lounge - do you think we'll be okay?

Strange you ask... I was there 3-weeks ago(solo) around 1/2pm and approached the host/hostess station out front , mentioning I was just going to the bar. I could see only MAYBE 6 people total at the bar -and she said hold on, let me see if they will take you(huh???). The original bartender seemed "new" so maybe they didn't want to overwhelm them. Another bartender showed up and was great -we both had played golf that morning so we had a good conversation. I would have a Plan B just in case....

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

I think Steakhouse 71 is one of the better restaurants on property.... especially at the price point. If I was in the OP shoes, I'd eat the entire lunch meal there. I'd then head to Poly for the Dole whip. I'd then head to GF and check out Enchanted Rose for a cocktail. I think it opens around 3 or 330.

The OPs plan will def work...I'm just not in love with the GF Cafe.

 

[triciambe]

If you have younger kids, it might be easier in the restaurant portion of Steakhouse 71. With that big a group in the lounge, unless you can get one of the little seating areas just for yourselves, you might have to divide up in the the various seating areas and bar stools. I was there during lunch last month, a bit later reservation that yours and there was at least one smaller parties in each of the lounge seating areas. It still left space for others, just not for 12 all together.

I probably would go ahead and monorail from CR to GF, but I would walk from GF to Poly if you do decide to get dessert there.

Oh, I hadn't considered walking - that's a great idea! Thank you!

 

[WALTSAGOD]

Why are you mentioning that you’ll be tipping well?

 

[MrConnor]

Why are you mentioning that you’ll be tipping well?

Probably because they aren't eating full meals at each place. So, I assume OP is saying they will be tipping as IF they were eating full meals at each spot bc they feel bad taking away tips from reservations that might be eating full meals at each restaurant.

 

[gharter]

It looks doable. But you time from GF to Poly is aggressive. I would expect an hour (maybe more) at each stop. By your timeframe, that would give you 20 minutes to get from GF to Poly. Walking, maybe. Monorail, not likely.
Otherwise looks like a fun time.
Except, for us, we would skip dessert at the Poly, and go to Trader Sams instead. Not cheap, but a really fun lounge. Yo can always do the dolewhip after.

 

[tzolkin]

Why are you mentioning that you’ll be tipping well?

So they don't receive snarky comments from other posters. I have seen quite a few times over the years where someone gets flamed for having a reservation and only planning to eat appetizers or dessert or drinks. The assumption being that the server is losing money by you taking up a table that could otherwise be occupied by a party ordering more expensive food.

 

[JKMastalski]

Definitely plan on walking from GF to Poly, it's a very short relaxing walk!

 

[Jaymarkm]

I think it’s cool that you are thinking about the servers!

 

[borgthe]

That sounds like a really fun plan!