Monorail Resort Progressive Dinner DIY

[glassslippergirl]

inspired by the Highway in the Sky Dine Around Progressive Dinner (which looked fabulous but is just not possible with our DS4), we set out on New Year's Day to create our own very simplified, counter service version. We had dinner at the Contemporary's Contempo Cafe. We had also hoped to have an appetizer of sushi here, but they were out. Then, we went to GF for dessert-- gingerbread shingles from the gingerbread house. The gingerbread house actually closed for good just as we got there, but with some detective work, I was able to find the extra cookies on sale in the convenience store right behind the gingerbread house-- and they were buy one, get one free!

Like I say, it was a super-simplified (we came up with the idea the day before, so not much time to prepare) but fun and yummy monorail progressive dinner. DS loved riding the monorail again and again, and we finished the evening watching Wishes from the dock at GF (the speaker wasn't working, which was disappointing. Wishes is much more meaningful with the soundtrack).

We'd like to do it again but better. What would you recommend for appetizer, entree, and dessert from different resorts in the MK area? For us, CS only, please. We'd also like to integrate a boat ride and watch fireworks along the way.

Or would a progressive Dinner at Epcot resorts be better? Suggestions there?

 

[jltook]

Love this idea! Bumping for suggestions!

 

[elaine amj]

I don't think there are many appealing CS places on the Epcot resort route.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The EP resorts could be tough. IMHO, the only good QS is at BWI (Boardwalk Bakery, the food kiosks, Ample Hills) and you could certainly do that, maybe rent a surrey bike, see the entertainment, play carnival games and watch Illuminations from the bridge?! Marketplace at BC is more like a convenience store and Picabu at Dolphin is a cafeteria. Not great atmosphere IMHO.

In the MK area, maybe consider incorporating Trader Sam's into your tour? I did this with DS9 on our DIY monorail tour in December! We started there at 4 pm to see the antics and ordered non-alcoholic drinks ($5 each) and an app (about $12 if I recall), we then also went to GF for gingerbread and had dinner at CR (we had TS, but you could certainly do QS there). I might also consider starting at CR for apps (you could even sit at the bar at the Wave), take the boat to Ft. W or WL (eat at the new grill on the water!) take the boat back to CR and monorail to Poly for Dole Whip or bread pudding (at Tambu Lounge) and fireworks. I think for any configuration you come up with, I would try to end at GF or Poly for the fireworks.

 

[T00dles]

Around MK monorail, start at one of the lounges at the grand Floridian, contempo cafe for dinner and then the tambu lounge for 'ohana bread pudding dessert.

QS at Epcot resorts is harder. S&D have a lot of dinner choices, and or course there's ample hills and beaches and cream take-out window. It would be helpful if you could get world showcase qs dinner, then ample hills or boardwalk bakery (the strawberry cupcake is great!) There's also the pizza window, but then you're just chilling on the boardwalk.

 

[ElizaDoesDisney]

My sister and I did a version last night, hitting up the following places for drinks and apps/small plates:

• The Wave - the bar - the Bacon and Eggs was awesome
• Mizners
• Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace

Plus a Dole Whip brought back just in time to catch Wishes from the deck at Trader Sam's ... it worked out great (though I was jealous of the actual Highway in the Sky people that we saw at both Contemporary and GF.

 

[bfost87]

My sister and I did a version last night, hitting up the following places for drinks and apps/small plates:

• The Wave - the bar - the Bacon and Eggs was awesome
• Mizners
• Trader Sam's Tiki Terrace

Plus a Dole Whip brought back just in time to catch Wishes from the deck at Trader Sam's ... it worked out great (though I was jealous of the actual Highway in the Sky people that we saw at both Contemporary and GF.

Haha I'm doing this exact thing next weekend