Just made PS for our trip!!!

[Kauinohea]

So excited!! I finally got to make some of our PS today! It seems so real now. We will be in DL for 8 days. I made the PS listed below. Any other ideas for meals would be greatly appreciated! It will be me, DH, DD9, DD7, DS1.5. I'm not sure that my 1.5 year old will be able to take a long sit down dinner other than the character dinners or rainforest. So we may do counter service for other meals. Any other suggestions? Any thoughts on Ariel's breakfast?

7/24, Friday (arrive John Wayne @ 9:00), Dinner?
7/25, Saturday, PS for Minnie & Friends @ 7:30 AM Need res for Fantasmic PS)
7/26, Sunday, Seaworld. PS for Rainforest @ 7:30 PM
7/27, Monday, PS for Storytellers @ 7:30
7/28, Tuesday, Magic Morning, PS for Goofy's @ 10:30 AM
7/29, Wednesday, LegoLand
7/30, Thursday, Ariels Grotto breakfast ? (could not make PS yet)
7/31, Friday, Maybe Rainforest breakfast?
8/1, Saturday flight home at John Wayne 3:00. Morning in the park.

Your suggestions are appreciated!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

For counter service we like Rancho Del Zocalo and Pizza Port (both places have large portions and can be shared).

For table service we like Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe. Or Wine Country Trattoria in DCA.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

YAY ~ you've picked some fun ones! We've been to each of the character meals you have planned ~ GK is our least favorite *far away from the parks, $$$, not a lot of characters. We love Minnie's! Our favorite way to do M&F is after a MM we enjoy a brunch @ Minnie's. Ariel's is great ~ we've had all 3 meals with the girls! Storytellers was nice ~ or you going in the am or pm? We went for brunch ~ it's a lovely restaurant.

One suggestion ~ I'd visit Legoland on a different day, Wednesdays tend to be less crowded at DLR.

Check out purchasing vouchers for your CM ~ from Ares - *under Character Experiences - http://arestravel.com/77_DisneylandResort.html (from what I've read hear recently the Disney Character Breakfast buffet voucher will work for any CM breakfast) or Getawaytoday.com http://www.getawaytoday.com/TicketListing.aspx *under dining

 

[Kauinohea]

Thank you so much for the LegoLand tip! We already had Sea World Scheduled for Sunday, but have not committed to Wed for Lego land yet.
Maybe We'll move that to Thursday.

 

[Kauinohea]

Hmmm...come to think iof it, maybe I should change my PS times to brunch??
We could have small breakfast in the room, then hit the parks for a few hours,THEN have brunch. That might work better for us.

 

[disneydreamer74]

Sounds like you have really thought this through. Very smart of you to plan several character meals so that the children are entertained. My DD2 does not like sit down meals at all. We have Ariels grotto for dinner 1 night and no other PS's as of yet. not sure! I have heard that Rainforest Cafe has yummy breakfast! For counter service, my little one liked Daisy's Diner in Toontown, the pizza was literally the best I had in the park. And you get a delicious little cucumber/summer salad with it that was awesome and refreshing on a summer day!

Last summer we did DLR/Sea world/legoland. Sea World was a blast. the little ones love it. I must warn you , the food there is reallly bad, My opinion, but after eating in the parks at DLR, then eating there? ewwww!!! We literally chose to go back to our hotel for meals. Legoland is awesome! Good food too! your children are the perfect age for it. SOunds like you will have a blast!

 

[Sherry E]

I think you made great choices all around! I like pretty much all of those, except I have never done Minnie and Friends but they do seem to have a lot of characters! I am eager to try it eventually! And Ariel's isn't my cup of tea because I am not into Princesses, but everyone on DIS raves about it, for the most part. Good picks for food!

I have been eating at Goofy's Kitchen since 1992 (see my Trip Report, link below in signature), and that is my favorite DLR restaurant overall, so you picked wisely there There are about 5 regular characters and then a revolving cast of guest stars which change from day to day or week to week. The food choices are bountiful, the quality is great, the atmosphere is lively and fun, and GK is not that much more expensive than the other character meals, especially Ariel's. (But if you have AAA or an AP, use that for a discount!) Character meals are not cheap, period. If you saw Charmama4's recent "Goofy's Kitchen was AWFUL..." thread, you know she had a fabulous time there just last week, as did BunnieGene, etc. So I hope your group will love it too. I would stick with an early time for Goofy's, rather than going for brunch. Sometimes the characters leave as it gets later in the morning. I think 10:30 is great!

Otherwise, I like Wine Country Trattoria and Carnation as well, along with ESPN Zone, Taste Pilots Grill (no PS needed for that one), and Naples. I think breakfast at Rainforest is an excellent idea because there are so few people there in the early morning hours

 

[wdhinn89]

How did you make PS so early? I thought it was 60 days out


edited to add: I see it is 60 days out. For me too. I think I will wait until 6/2/09 so I can reserve everything at once.

 

[aprincess@mail.com]

Good Choices!!
I love Ariels Grotto and Minnies Breakfast!
you will have a great time!

 

[pycees312]

i just wanted to say have fun in Legoland!! i happen to love this park for kids and wish it was closer.. that is all

 

[Kauinohea]

Thank you all again for your tips and well wishes.
Pretty much done with PS, will soon be starting on Ridemax planning (with hydroguys Fast Pass tips, of course)