Need advice please

[gower525]

I am taking DS6 and DD3 to Disney at the end of June by myself because of my upcoming divorce ( but we won't go into that ugly story). We do have the DDP and I am trying to make our ADR's. I can't decide if it would be easier to do mostly buffet's because they are faster - or full service because I wouldn't have to keep getting up to get a plate for all three of us. If I do buffets, can I leave the children at the table while I go get plates? How do people do this? I am also looking for suggestions for specific places. Here is what DS6 and I think so far::

Sci-Fi ( we went last year and he loved it: but can we all sit in one row??

Chef Mickey's ( we didn't go last year, but wish that we had.)

We want to go to at least one meal with a princess (Not CRT) which is best?

Last year we went to O'Hana, Hoop-De-Doo, San Angel, WCC, and Concourse - so I already know about those) We might do WCC, but want to do more character meals that we didn't do last time.

So I guess my main question is which places would be easiest and most fun to do alone with my two children?? We will be there for 6 nights (staying at POP). Thanks for your help.

 

[Mkrop]

Given the ages I dont think I would feel comfortable leaving them at the table, that's just me. I have never done a trip with only one grownup but I wont leave them at a table in the food court at the mall either.

So with that said I might avoid buffets.

We did Garden Grill in the Land at Epcot. It was Farmer Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale. The food is family style and they bring it all out to you, not getting up. The characters were great here.

I think LTT is the same concept, where they bring the food to you.

I think you could fit in one row at Sci Fi too.

What about Coral Reef?

The rest we did were buffets, so one of us would stay with the kids and one would go get food, we also did this so we wouldnt miss characters

GL and have a nice time

 

[debbiedoo]

LTT -- it is family style and the food is brought to you

Most places have kid friendly menus and you can see them at allearsnet

As for the ages, no I would not leave them at table during a buffet.

 

[jdcthree]

My ds6 and I just went to Disney alone - enjoy your time with your kiddos. I think the Garden Grill (family style) and the Crystal Palace (buffet) are both fun and easy to do with kids. Ds loves the characters at both, and at the Crystal Palace he gets a real kick out of the parade around the restaurant with Pooh. If your ds6 can carry his own plate, you can carry dd's plate and your own. You could ask for a table close to the buffet if you need to leave them at the table for a minute for a 2nd trip.

Liberty Tree Tavern is another fun one and it's family style, too. There are no characters at the Prime Time Cafe, but ds and I both enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. The Rainforest Cafe at AK was really fun (and good), too!

 

[annie1995]

We loved Crystal palace which has the pooh characters, Garden Grill, and LTT. I agree about not letting your kids by themselves while you are at the buffet. If they were a bit older yes, but not right now.

 

[Mkrop]

My ds6 and I just went to Disney alone - enjoy your time with your kiddos. I think the Garden Grill (family style) and the Crystal Palace (buffet) are both fun and easy to do with kids. Ds loves the characters at both, and at the Crystal Palace he gets a real kick out of the parade around the restaurant with Pooh. If your ds6 can carry his own plate, you can carry dd's plate and your own. You could ask for a table close to the buffet if you need to leave them at the table for a minute for a 2nd trip. Liberty Tree Tavern is another fun one and it's family style, too. There are no characters at the Prime Time Cafe, but ds and I both enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. The Rainforest Cafe at AK was really fun (and good), too!

I dont know, you still cant see them. At least where we were, we couldnt except for maybe the ice cream station. We had the table to the right when you walk in against the wall. We were in btw the buffet and the kitchen door. So we had to keep an eye on our little guy and even ourselves so as to not get in the way of the staff. And all the real food is around the corner. I mean we were as close to the buffet as I think you can get. Also I would be afraid that a character would come around and my kids would get too excitied to stay put.

I dont maybe I am too overprotective

 

[engle]

I too suggest Liberty Tree and Garden Grill...also what about Teppan Edo? That's fun and you would be seated with others so that might at least give you a break into some adult conversation if you know what I mean! No characters but your kids would get a kick out of it!

I wouldn't feel comfortable at buffets without another adult. But if you only plan one, Chef Mickey's, then maybe having to get up and down with both kids wouldn't be bad...and yeah, ask for a table close to the buffet...you may be able to keep an eye on them and the food!

 

[jdcthree]

Mkrop - what I had in mind were the table on the left-hand side of the restaurant as you walk in. There were tables pretty much directly in front of the buffet. If I knew exactly what I wanted at the buffet I would trust my ds to stay put as I got it and checked over my shoulder every 3 seconds, lol. Of course it depends on the child, but I know he would be fine.

I'm sure a server would be more than happy to hang out at the table for a minute if necessary! We always get really great servers at Crystal Palace.

 

[Melissa_E]

In your situation, what I might do is bring them to the buffet each time and leave a sign on your table saying that you are still eating and to not clear and set up the table as if you left. I'd just make up something simple and leave it on the table each time you go up.

Personally, depending on the size and shape of the buffet, I might leave them for a minute to grab things quick.

 

[Mkrop]

Mkrop - what I had in mind were the table on the left-hand side of the restaurant as you walk in. There were tables pretty much directly in front of the buffet. If I knew exactly what I wanted at the buffet I would trust my ds to stay put as I got it and checked over my shoulder every 3 seconds, lol. Of course it depends on the child, but I know he would be fine.

I'm sure a server would be more than happy to hang out at the table for a minute if necessary! We always get really great servers at Crystal Palace.

Yeah I still probably would do it. I hope she could request this type of table then. I just thought of where we were sitting and although I felt like we were on TOP of the buffet. I didnt really like our table but it was a great time anyway, but if she made a request to be near the buffet and got our table that I described, technically she is near the buffet but you still cant see them.

The sign idea might work. I like that.

I guess I am lazy unless my kid HAD to see that character I think I would be picking the ones that bring me the food. In fact I think I like those better no matter what

 

[gower525]

Thanks everyone for your replies. We are definitely going to do Chef Mickey's just because the kids really wanted to do it last year and we didn't. We have had a really hard year ( with the upcoming divorce and all) and I really want to go all out and do fun things that we didn't do when DH was with us. I think we will do CM's, Sci-Fi, LTT, WCC, 1900 Park Fare ( or is that a buffet?), and either Mama Melrose or Coral Reef. I am a little worried about bringing both kids on my own, but this trip is saving me emotionally right now. I just need to plan this to give me something to occupy my mind and to give us something to look forward to. I am determined to do this on my own, and I know that, one way or another, I can do it.

 

[Mrsduck101]

Thanks everyone for your replies. We are definitely going to do Chef Mickey's just because the kids really wanted to do it last year and we didn't. We have had a really hard year ( with the upcoming divorce and all) and I really want to go all out and do fun things that we didn't do when DH was with us. I think we will do CM's, Sci-Fi, LTT, WCC, 1900 Park Fare ( or is that a buffet?), and either Mama Melrose or Coral Reef. I am a little worried about bringing both kids on my own, but this trip is saving me emotionally right now. I just need to plan this to give me something to occupy my mind and to give us something to look forward to. I am determined to do this on my own, and I know that, one way or another, I can do it.

Just wanted to send a

I am going through a divorce myself and I am also planning a trip in '08 to have something to look forward to. I am lucky that my oldest is 11 so I can leave my kids are the table if I need to for a short time.

 

[Shmily1]

to you also.

I would suggest Coral Reef, because the food is good and it is fun, Cape May Cafe character breakfast, because it's a buffet breakfast with good food, fun, and you can see your table from the buffet, and Crystal Palace. The CMs there will definitely watch your DD and DS while you go back for more food for you three. All the CMs there were great when we've been.

Have a great time!! You definitely do have something to look forward to!!!