More dining questions that probably can't be answered

[monkistan]

So, I'm almost done planning. I've made so many changes to everything, but now it's go time. Trip is in <30 days. The last thing is, should i just do dinner at counter service in Epcot, noshing around the world? or should I keep my Monsieur Paul reservation.

Little background, coming down for my 40th birthday, this will be a few days before the actual bday and we're leaving DS(16 months) with the grandparents. Just DW and I. Originally thought i wanted to do fancier meals, but now am feeling over scheduled and just not all that fancy. Thinking of canceling our ADR for our first night, in Epcot and just dining around the world. Can we still eat well?

Thanks in advance.

(normally we do dinner at SAI, but it's kinda feeling too old hat)

 

[shortnsassy730]

I think so! My fave quick service in all of WDW is Tangerine Cafe in Epcot. They have great Schwarma. Not to mention Spice Road has lots of good apps that you can share from their patio while watching Illuminations and its usually not to hard to get in there even as a walk up. And there's Karmel Kuche in Germany for great caramel based desserts. My fave is the dark chocolate covered caramel with sea salt. The ice cream place in France, Les Halles, is wonderful. You gotta love their Brioche Bun warmed and stuffed with ice cream. Take a look at Allears.net and review the all the menus for Epcot. There's lots of snacking to be done.

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

We love to eat our way around the world. We get one thing or one meal from each country and share so we don't fill up too soon and get to try more things.

 

[baler31]

I would cancel if as you mentioned it is your first night. You are very likely to be a bit tired and may just want to wing it.

 

[disnut8]

I agree with the others. Just walking around World Showcase, taking in the sights and eating what you want and when you want it is a fantastic adventure. Which is why my husband and I do it every night we are at Disney World

A few stories to help others understand how easy it is to do this with all types of groups. Husband, older teenage son, and me needed dinner and were at Epcot. Husband wanted a burger, son wanted nachos, I wanted Chinese. So, son went to Mexico, picked up his nachos and carried the tray with us as we went to China and I got my food (OK, there was a stop in Norway for wine). Then we continued on to the Liberty Inn, son and I took at table outside and husband went in for his burger and a beer (he had finished his wine, it was not for the son). Then all three of us had a nice meal together in one spot.

Another time is was my husband and I sitting at the Liberty Inn outside area and saw two people who were arraigning several tables close to us. We kind of sighed and said "oh well, they will be having fun". It turned out to be a group of about 13 people and each was "assigned" a specific pavilion to go to for food or drink. Each came back and the entire table had more than enough to share. To me, THAT is the way to enjoy the food of World Showcase counter service.

 

[Lisa F]

I totally get overscheduled and not fancy. I feel that way on some weekends, all week we talk about going out and it sounds like a great idea but then the weekend gets there and I just want to get thai, sit in my underwear on the couch and watch xfiles reruns and that's what date night consists of 9 times out of 10. I find that if I am already "tired" by the idea of something more fussy in advance of the event, that feeling only intensifies as the event approaches. If you're already not feeling it it's not likely to get any better.

Totally agree about Tangierine Cafe too. Also I'd be hitting la cava del tequila pretty hard if I were kid free. they have higher end chips with guac/salsa/queso too. and a Macaron ice cream sandwich from france. Then another avocado margarita while I park my butt for a good view of illuminations an hour in advance. But as I'd be in public, I'd leave my pants on... but IMO that's as close as I get to my date night in at home

 

[Hopefully]

I totally get overscheduled and not fancy. I feel that way on some weekends, all week we talk about going out and it sounds like a great idea but then the weekend gets there and I just want to get thai, sit in my underwear on the couch and watch xfiles reruns and that's what date night consists of 9 times out of 10. I find that if I am already "tired" by the idea of something more fussy in advance of the event, that feeling only intensifies as the event approaches. If you're already not feeling it it's not likely to get any better.

Totally agree about Tangierine Cafe too. Also I'd be hitting la cava del tequila pretty hard if I were kid free. they have higher end chips with guac/salsa/queso too. and a Macaron ice cream sandwich from france. Then another avocado margarita while I park my butt for a good view of illuminations an hour in advance. But as I'd be in public, I'd leave my pants on... but IMO that's as close as I get to my date night in at home

WAY TOO MUCH TMI.
I have trouble with the "sitting in my underwear ". I don't need to know that.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

You have until the night before the reservation to cancel. Why not wait and see how you feel then? We love Monsieur Paul, but I totally get the not wanting to feel fancy! Yes, you can definitely eat your way around the world! (highly recommend the QS and ice cream parlor in France along with the QS in Morocco!). You could also cancel Monsieur Paul and then see how you feel when you get there. If then you are in the mood for a TS, go on your phone and see what's available. MP may be gone, but something will be available and there are a lot of other good TS in EP. We've done last minute TS reservations in EP quite a lot.

 

[HopperFan]

You can totally eat well in Epcot without ADR.

- Morocco can be your friend: QS very good, Spice Road excellent and often easy to walk up and Marrakesh often takes walkups especially at off times. It can be entertaining and good eats.
- France: Wonderful sandwiches, desserts and eats in the QS. Take it to go and find a nice spot to enjoy.
- England: Fish and Chips from QS and grab a table by the water, saving room for a dessert from France.
- Keep it light and enjoy some good drinks and/or enjoy some time in Mexico's La Cava Del Tequila bar.
- No meals but lots of wonderful snacks and drinks around the world.

 

[monkistan]

from what I recall, tangerine cafe had really tasty falafel. and of course, ka cava del tequila. that has been a first night savior in the past.

turns out we might be going to Cali Grill for my actual birthday and I only need one fancyish meal per trip. well, that and sanaa lunch.

I'm finally getting excited again about the trip!

 

[JerseyJanice]

No one mentioned the bakery in Norway. I'm crazy for the food in there and they have a nice outdoor eating area. The salmon and egg sandwich is the bomb. I buy school bread to go. They package it well, then I bring it back to our room for breakfast the next morning.

Hope you have a happy 40th birthday!

 

[SunnieRN]

from what I recall, tangerine cafe had really tasty falafel. and of course, ka cava del tequila. that has been a first night savior in the past.

turns out we might be going to Cali Grill for my actual birthday and I only need one fancyish meal per trip. well, that and sanaa lunch.

I'm finally getting excited again about the trip!

Yay!! So happy you're getting excited!! I love Tangieriene Cafe!! Everything there is so good!!! Happy birthday!! Have a wonderful time!

 

[Nancyg56]

I love schedules! I like knowing I have a place to eat at the time I want to eat. However, In your case, on the first noght, I would ditch the ADR> And just enjoy Epcot. You never know how you will feel on an arrival day, and by dinner time you may be ready to just snack, but if not, you could not choose a better park to just wing it and still eat well. Epcot is filled with dining options that offer plenty of choices.

 

[monkistan]

I like being prepared, but I can't have too rigid a disney schedule. Sometimes i just want to enjoy the sights. Epcot is kind of the perfect park for that too, because there are only a handful of attractions that i NEED to do. I'm finally (after months of planning and getting too stressed about this trip) getting super excited about it.

Thank you all for the thoughts and reassurance.

 

[Nancyg56]

I like being prepared, but I can't have too rigid a disney schedule. Sometimes i just want to enjoy the sights. Epcot is kind of the perfect park for that too, because there are only a handful of attractions that i NEED to do. I'm finally (after months of planning and getting too stressed about this trip) getting super excited about it.

Thank you all for the thoughts and reassurance.

Do not be stressed! Of all the parks to be free and easy, Epcot is the best choice. I am a planner, but I have never worried I would go hungry in the WC.

Enjoy!