Need opinions on restaurant choices

[suzydisney971]

I need to start planning my ADR's and need some advice on what I've chosen so far. We are going 7/30-8/7 on the dining plan staying at the Poly (thank you pin people ). Cast of characters is me, DH and DS (2yrs old)

Fri 7/30 1900 Park Faire (7:00pm) (1ts) (this ADR is for me lol)
Sat 7/31 Crystal Palace (8:00am) (1ts) (spending the day at MK)
Sun 8/1 Le Cellier (6:30pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Epcot)
Mon 8/2 Whispering Canyon ??? (6:30pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Studios)
Tues 8/3 Beaches N Cream ???? (5pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Animal Kingdom)
Wed 8/4 O'Hana (6:30pm) (1 ts) (free day)
Thurs 8/5 Chef Mickeys (8am) (1 ts) (spend day at MK)
Fri 8/6 Coral Reef (12pm) (1 ts) (spend day at Epcot)

We will be taking breaks during the day depending on how my DS holds up. It's his first time and my first time with a toddler so I'm not sure how he will do so I'm trying to fit in breaks and take things slow and try to get back to the hotel early to relax.

I'm just not sure of Beaches N Cream and Whispering Canyon. Le Cellier and Crystal Palace are definites. I've been to Chef Mickeys, Coral Reef and O'Hana.

Thank you all for your advice.

 

[ToddyLu]

I would maybe try 50's Prime time for your day at DHS. Great fried chicken and sandwiches and the best hand dipped milkshakes on property..

We got a pretty good meal at Yak and Yeti our last trip in Nov 2009. We also have good luck with Rain Forrest Cafe (not on DDP, kinda loud). There is a cute character breakfast at Tusker House, near Safari in AK....in case you were looking for restaurants in that park instead of Beaches and Cream.

I would dave Whispering Canyon for a day when you are closer to MK and can take the boat over to WL. It is a fun place to eat and the Canyon skillett buffett thing is the bomb as well as their steaks....the steaks rival the ones at Ca Grill in my opinion. Have a great trip.

 

[ToddyLu]

If possible check your schedule and see what night EMH is going on at AK. it is really fun seeing that park in the dark. I would eat around 5--after the parade and still have time to walk around before evening close time for EMH.

If you do Tusker House in the A.m. for character breakfast...you could walk right out and get on Safari. After dark the safari obviously is closed so I would go for Rainforrest or Yak and Yeti, since one is at the front gate and one is back by Everest and the lights are really neat there.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

My son just turned 2 yrs when we first took him to Disney and he was bitten with the Disney bug. Anyway, most of dinner reservation we had to rearrange or cancel b/c my son was still napping. So our first time at Disney with him we did have to cancel a few dinner plans. Best for us was breakfast and lunch. Do try to keep his schedule of eating and naps and he'll have a great time. Recommendation, Tusker House breakfast meal is great food and great character interaction. Hollywood and vine character meal my son always had a blast...they have sing/dance ever 15 mins.

 

[Hazzard101]

I need to start planning my ADR's and need some advice on what I've chosen so far. We are going 7/30-8/7 on the dining plan staying at the Poly (thank you pin people ). Cast of characters is me, DH and DS (2yrs old)

Fri 7/30 1900 Park Faire (7:00pm) (1ts) (this ADR is for me lol)
Sat 7/31 Crystal Palace (8:00am) (1ts) (spending the day at MK)
Sun 8/1 Le Cellier (6:30pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Epcot)
Mon 8/2 Whispering Canyon ??? (6:30pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Studios)
Tues 8/3 Beaches N Cream ???? (5pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Animal Kingdom)
Wed 8/4 O'Hana (6:30pm) (1 ts) (free day)
Thurs 8/5 Chef Mickeys (8am) (1 ts) (spend day at MK)
Fri 8/6 Coral Reef (12pm) (1 ts) (spend day at Epcot)

We will be taking breaks during the day depending on how my DS holds up. It's his first time and my first time with a toddler so I'm not sure how he will do so I'm trying to fit in breaks and take things slow and try to get back to the hotel early to relax.

I'm just not sure of Beaches N Cream and Whispering Canyon. Le Cellier and Crystal Palace are definites. I've been to Chef Mickeys, Coral Reef and O'Hana.

Thank you all for your advice.

I would scrap B&C for Cape May( right next door ) they have a great variety and if you like seafood they have steamed clams and muscles and crab legs and a bunch of other great food. Deserts are to die for according to my wife. Just a thought

 

[MickeyNicki]

Fri 7/30 1900 Park Faire (7:00pm) (1ts) (this ADR is for me lol) Would never go back, the food is horrible and the noise level will give you a migraine!
Sat 7/31 Crystal Palace (8:00am) (1ts) (spending the day at MK) Awesome choice!
Sun 8/1 Le Cellier (6:30pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Epcot) Love the food here!
Mon 8/2 Whispering Canyon ??? (6:30pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Studios) Horrible food, very fatty and greasy and we found chicken bones in our soup!
Tues 8/3 Beaches N Cream ???? (5pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Animal Kingdom) Love the food and the decor
Wed 8/4 O'Hana (6:30pm) (1 ts) (free day) Pretty good but the wait was loooong!
Thurs 8/5 Chef Mickeys (8am) (1 ts) (spend day at MK) Our second fave behind Crystal Palace
Fri 8/6 Coral Reef (12pm) (1 ts) (spend day at Epcot)I loved my grouper here an the atmosphere is awesome!

 

[OhThePain]

I like some of your choices. However, I was working on the numbers for my upcoming trip and deciding with my ADR's if the DDP is worth it, and I saw that if I used my TS credits on character breakfasts, then it doesn't pay. The average breakfast buffet is about $21 or so. Thats half the cost of the DDP. Most CS lunch and dinner meals plus the snack don't make up the difference. Where as if you use it for a dinner buffet or family style TS, the average cost is about $31. Just figured I'd throw that out there for you.

 

[KatMark]

I need to start planning my ADR's and need some advice on what I've chosen so far. We are going 7/30-8/7 on the dining plan staying at the Poly (thank you pin people ). Cast of characters is me, DH and DS (2yrs old)

Fri 7/30 1900 Park Faire (7:00pm) (1ts) (this ADR is for me lol)never done -- I've read good and bad
Sat 7/31 Crystal Palace (8:00am) (1ts) (spending the day at MK) A must do for us every year
Sun 8/1 Le Cellier (6:30pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Epcot)Our favorite Disney restaurant
Mon 8/2 Whispering Canyon ??? (6:30pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Studios)IOne of two Disney restaurants you could not pay us to eat at again
Tues 8/3 Beaches N Cream ???? (5pm) (1ts) (spending the day at Animal Kingdom)Never done
Wed 8/4 O'Hana (6:30pm) (1 ts) (free day)never done
Thurs 8/5 Chef Mickeys (8am) (1 ts) (spend day at MK)We've done breakfast and dinner; definitely prefer breakfast
Fri 8/6 Coral Reef (12pm) (1 ts) (spend day at Epcot)haven't done in years...but we enjoyed when we were there

We will be taking breaks during the day depending on how my DS holds up. It's his first time and my first time with a toddler so I'm not sure how he will do so I'm trying to fit in breaks and take things slow and try to get back to the hotel early to relax.

I'm just not sure of Beaches N Cream and Whispering Canyon. Le Cellier and Crystal Palace are definites. I've been to Chef Mickeys, Coral Reef and O'Hana.

Thank you all for your advice.

Comments in red.

 

[suzydisney971]

Thanks everyone. We might skip Beaches N Cream. Still not sure what I want to do and the logistics of traveling between the places. DS isn't a big napper at home and if he does take a nap, he goes to bed late. His bed time lately has been 9:30-10pm no matter what we do but that's another story. I've never done Whispering Canyon so I thought that might be fun for him and for us. We are going with another couple who have a 2 1/2 (will be at time of trip) but they don't have the dining plan. I'm trying to get their opinions on where to go. Cape May might be another place we can try. We do enjoy seafood.

We usually don't spend the whole day at Studios or Animal Kingdom so we can go anywhere for dinner.

Keep the suggestions coming. Thanks.

 

[heatherlynn444]

love WCC and coral reef, yummy!

 

[suedaisy]

We always like the Kona Cafe at the Poly. We have traveled with a little one on several Disney trips. Although the Kona is a sit-down restaurant, it would be convenient for you and the table service there seems relatively quick. It (a walk-up) could be a nice back-up if there is bad weather or if your party is too tired to travel one night...

I think it would be easier than trying to get to Beaches and Cream. The food at Kona is more sit-down, whereas B&C is more 50s diner...

 

[Hazzard101]

We have done Whispering Canyon and really enjoy it. I was surprised for my Bday and made a fool of in front of 100 + strangers.

There is a lot of fun to be had for children as well. Dinner seems to be more fun than lunch and better service. If you can get a reservation I would highly recommend it.

I don't know where you are staying but as a suggestion, go back to the resort in the afternoon and hit the pool. Your son may not be a napper but this will give him a few min to relax and de stress. I know I even need a break from the parks and I am 40
Hope you have a great time whatever you choose.

 

[Hazzard101]

Oh, did I mention Cape May? BTW I love Cape May. Oh, and one more thing, there is this place called Cape May (just in case no one else mentions it.)

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Just 2 thoughts..

I would scrap Beaches & Cream for a Great AK restaurant on your AK day...

Have you thought of 'Ohana BREAKFAST?

(OKAY - 3 Thoughts!)

Cape May Seafood Dinner BUffet...isn't really a "Destination" restaurant for ME IMHO...I"ve eaten there 3 times...that's only because I was staying in the Beach CLub...there are BETTER options out there...

Hugs,
Mary

 

[suzydisney971]

Just 2 thoughts..

I would scrap Beaches & Cream for a Great AK restaurant on your AK day...

Have you thought of 'Ohana BREAKFAST?

(OKAY - 3 Thoughts!)

Cape May Seafood Dinner BUffet...isn't really a "Destination" restaurant for ME IMHO...I"ve eaten there 3 times...that's only because I was staying in the Beach CLub...there are BETTER options out there...

Hugs,
Mary

We probably won't stay at AK all day. I'm always so hot there and it will be worse in the summer. We will probably be ready to leave around lunch time. But thank you for your recommendation. Also, I'm not a big fan of Lilo and Stitch so I don't want to do the breakfast at O'Hana. My DH and I did the dinner there last time we went and we really liked it so I thought it would be a good place to check out again since we are already staying at the Poly. My DH does like seafood so we may swap Beaches N Cream for Cape May (does it still have the characters in bathing suits?)

Thanks.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Hm...Well - The three times we ate there...we had the Dinner Seafood Buffet....which is not a character meal...

I believe only the Cape May Breakfast Buffet is the Character meal.

Also - I love seafood...just the seafood they had just didn't appeal to me...HOWEVER...they (I HEAR) have now added crab legs to the buffet...so that might bring back some appeal if I bring the family...

There's something weird about me...that boiled shrimp, crab legs, mussels, clams....don't taste "Right" if they are on a buffet...but that might just be "me" because the kids ate it and seemed to enjoy....

ALso - FWIW ....we are not "particular" character fans...so I can take or leave "Stitch"...but the thing I loved about 'Ohana was the atmosphere and also the parading the kids around the restaurant with the characters and mariachi's...there was a LOT of interaction...and themeing....

"Ohana means Family...and family means No One Ever Gets Left BEhind..."

Hugs,
Mary

 

[pooh2001]

Where ever you go - if you do not see anything your DS will eat - just ask. TS always have something for lttie ones like applesauce, pasta, pizza, chicken nuggets. veggies - just ask.

Enjoy !

 

[suzydisney971]

Well I've changed my mind about Beaches N Cream and am going to take pp's advice and do Cape May buffet for dinner. We've already have some character breakfasts lined up. My DH really likes seafood (me too) and I know that they will have other stuff there too so I'm sure I can find something for my 2 yr old. (He pretty much eats everything anyway). It's something we haven't done so it should be fun. Thank you everyone for your opinions/advice.