Need dining help in general, and about WOC

[momtotwolittleones]

We're going to be a party of 9 Aug 2-6. We would like to make some reservations but really don't know where. I've always gone off season, so have always just dropped in to wherever we wanted to eat, and have never been to DCA other than on a Mickeys Trick or Treat night, so don't know anything about those restaurants.

We thought we'd do one night at the Rainforest Cafe (we're staying at the DLH). Any other recommendations for places to make reservations? I feel kind of lost as to where you even can make reservations.

The kids want to see WOC, but everything I've read on here indicates that the dining packages are a ripoff because you wait forever and have crappy "blue section" reserved seating. Is this the case for Ariel's Grotto as well? Is it better to just walk up and try to see the show?

We need lots of help!

 

[Somegirl]

I made reservations for the Carnation Cafe and Cafe Orleans and was really happy with both places. We loved the baked potato soup at the Carnation Cafe and they have this cute PB&J painters pallet thing on the kids menu.
We also ate at the House of Blues and it ok. I'd go again because we had fun but the food was so-so.
If you want the full WOC experience than do a meal package or FP. We watched it from the back and it was still very enjoyable with out the expense or extra effort. A cast member told us it to watch it by the Fun Wheel next to the Hot Dog Hut and we were back there with maybe 20 other people. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the full experience but it was still great.

 

[Flitterific]

We're going to be a party of 9 Aug 2-6. We would like to make some reservations but really don't know where. I've always gone off season, so have always just dropped in to wherever we wanted to eat, and have never been to DCA other than on a Mickeys Trick or Treat night, so don't know anything about those restaurants.

We thought we'd do one night at the Rainforest Cafe (we're staying at the DLH). Any other recommendations for places to make reservations? I feel kind of lost as to where you even can make reservations.

The kids want to see WOC, but everything I've read on here indicates that the dining packages are a ripoff because you wait forever and have crappy "blue section" reserved seating. Is this the case for Ariel's Grotto as well? Is it better to just walk up and try to see the show?

We need lots of help!

Hi momtotwolittleones! I will be at DLR Aug 2-4 so maybe I'll bump into you! Anyway, I have not seen the WoC yet so someone else will have to answer your question regarding WoC dining but I can answer your other questions.

You can make reservations at the following places at DL: Cafe Orleans, Blue Bayou, Carnation Cafe, Plaza Inn for the Minnie & Friends, and Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue. I personally love Cafe Orleans (very yummy pommes frites, gumbo and beignets!) and the loaded baked potato soup at Carnation Cafe. Minnie & Friends has tons of characters (usually around 10) so it's a great place to eat and meet characters without having to worry about lines, but the food is more cafeteria style.

The following places accept PSs at DCA: Ariel's Grotto and Wine Country Trattoria. Most places at DCA are counter-service and do not require reservations. I recommend Pacific Wharf Cafe for their yummy bread bowls with soup and salad. Taste Pilot's Grill has pretty good burgers and their barbecue ribs are supposed to be good as well.

As for dining at the hotels and Downtown Disney, you can make PSs here:
Grand Californian Hotel:
~ Napa Rose: mmm...my favorite restaurant at DLR, the food is amazing but it is also very expensive
~ Storyteller's Cafe: they have a critter breakfast with all the woodsy/jungle characters
DL Hotel:
~ Goofy's Kitchen: character meal with Goofy (the host), Pluto, Chip, Dale (the other three are almost guaranteed there) along with other characters including princesses, Baloo, Aladdin, etc. Goofy's Kitchen has the largest variety of food and the quality is pretty good.
~ Steakhouse 55
~ Hooke's Point
Paradise Pier Hotel:
~ PCH Grill: has Surf's Up with Mickey character meal...the only character meal that Mickey appears in
Downtown Disney:
~ Catal
~ Naples
~ House of Blues
~ La Brea Bakery & Cafe
~ ESPN Zone
~ Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen: my favorite place to dine in DTD...their food is very good
~ Rainforest Cafe (but you have to book directly through them)

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

I would do picnic meal if I were you guys.

We did the dining at wine place but the food sucked if we go again we are doing the picnic.

Unless you want to go to the late show I hear its easier to get tickets to and not have to wait in line forever.

We like blue buyou, carnation cafe, minnie friends breakfast and we like the jazz kitchen express downtown disney.

As far as burgers and stuff they are pretty much the same everywhere you go in the parks.

 

[QueenDoOver]

We're going to be a party of 9 Aug 2-6. We would like to make some reservations but really don't know where. I've always gone off season, so have always just dropped in to wherever we wanted to eat, and have never been to DCA other than on a Mickeys Trick or Treat night, so don't know anything about those restaurants.

We thought we'd do one night at the Rainforest Cafe (we're staying at the DLH). Any other recommendations for places to make reservations? I feel kind of lost as to where you even can make reservations.

The kids want to see WOC, but everything I've read on here indicates that the dining packages are a ripoff because you wait forever and have crappy "blue section" reserved seating. Is this the case for Ariel's Grotto as well? Is it better to just walk up and try to see the show?

We need lots of help!

How old are your kids? I like to make a contingency plan and have a reservation every day, just in case. It really sucks when everyone gets hungry and kranky and all the lines are miles long to get food. It is at that time that I love to say, well we can go sit down at Carnation Cafe because I made a priority seating there. Sound good? And then Mom is the hero once again!
We will be there the same time as you, and we plan on doing the WOC picnics. The food seems to be pretty good and we will go in early and try to get a rail so my youngest(7) will be able to see. I am also going to reserve the BBQ this time, probably carnation cafe, and cafe orleans. Sometimes we don't even eat a full meal, but it is nice to sit down, relax and get waited on.

 

[jimreuter]

For a party of 9 at Blue Bayou, book as far ahead as possible. There are very few reservations open for parties larger than 6 without agreeing to be seated as 2 separate parties.

 

[Eeee-va]

The kids want to see WOC, but everything I've read on here indicates that the dining packages are a ripoff because you wait forever and have crappy "blue section" reserved seating. Is this the case for Ariel's Grotto as well? Is it better to just walk up and try to see the show?

Ariel's Grotto and WCT "preferred viewing" is the exact same viewing area.

My own review for the dining "preferred viewing", and at least couple others, were mostly positive as far as WoC goes; I'd say reviews were closer to 50/50, than all negative. You do have to wait for quite a while, but once you reach the viewing area, there is enough room to sit down (on the ground) quite comfortably to wait. If you do the 9 PM show (recommended), the pre-show starts around 8:30, so you're really "only" waiting a little more than an hour.

For Preferred Viewing, in general you are not at all in the blue section proper, but rather, between the yellow and blue sections. The one poster who repeatedly mentioned being in the blue section appears to have had the bad fortune of ending up in absolute worst WoC area in the preferred viewing area. (Yes, it would have been fine if people hadn't sat on/stood on the wall, but they did.) I'm not sure why they even allow that area as part of Preferred Viewing, in fact--I guess to get more "railing" areas for Preferred Viewing?

All that said, for 9 people especially, that preferred dining meal is pretty pricey, especially considering it is in effect a gamble. Depending on my budget, I'd probably go for a picnic package instead. Reviews for the picnic package viewing may be slightly better than 50/50 in favor. But in fairness, those people paid $13-$15 for each adult viewing spot, instead of $40+ with tax and tip, so they're more likely to be forgiving of little glitches.

You cannot get into the viewing area if you don't have a FP, so there is no "walking up" to the show itself, unless you want to see it from the back, where you miss a lot of the effects. Besides the picnic package, your other choice is to get to the parks at opening to try to secure a FP. Sometimes that line can be very long (you aren't going at the peak of crowds, but at the peak of crowds they could be up to 2 hours). Particularly since you are staying on-site, though, just getting FPs might also be a viable option. (I think they are letting ALL Disney hotel guests in early to get the FPs; hopefully someone else can confirm.) If they do let you in early for a FP, then you'll be able to get FPs for the 9:00 show (no guarantee that you'll be in a good section, granted) without much wait.

Have a great trip!

 

[silence]

Are the FP for the picnic meal in the same place as Ariels????

 

[momtotwolittleones]

Thanks so much. This has been really helpful! Two more questions: what happens if you don't show up for a priority seating reservation? How many reservations can you make - is there a limit? Also, if you do the picnic for the first WOC show, what time do you pick up the baskets? As you are getting in line to be seated?

 

[Eeee-va]

Are the FP for the picnic meal in the same place as Ariels????

Probably not. The first day, some of the FPs for the picnic meal were in the same area as Preferred Dining. But even if they still let a few Picnic FPs into that section, most of the Picnic folks seem to get FPs for Blue or Yellow.

Thanks so much. This has been really helpful! Two more questions: what happens if you don't show up for a priority seating reservation? How many reservations can you make - is there a limit? Also, if you do the picnic for the first WOC show, what time do you pick up the baskets? As you are getting in line to be seated?

Nothing happens if you don't show up for your reservation (though it would be nice if you'd call them from your cell and let them know as soon as you know you're not going to make it). I don't THINK there's a limit on reservations you can make.

Also, for many restaurants, you can call the same day or at least the day before and get reservations. I heard a great success story from someone who, faced with a long line for Cafe Orleans, called the dining number from his or her cell phone and got a reservation for just a little while later--less time than they would have waited standby! Just keep the number in your cell phone, if you have one.

I think you can pick up your picnic meal/snacks starting at 2 PM? Most people do not eat them while waiting in line; they're meant to be a meal/snack that comes with the bonus of a FP.