Need some dining advice

[Dis_Grk Grl]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the DIS, and am in the process of planning my first Disney vacation. We are booked in the POP century from Dec. 6-11. Since it will be the first time for my husband and myself, we have no idea on where to start when it comes to eating. We have one child, our 3 year old daughter, and we would like to do 1 or 2 character meals. Maybe a breakfast and a dinner. We are pretty adventerous eaters at home, and while my daughter loves chicken fingers, mac-n-cheese, hot dogs, etc. she will eat things that are considered more "adult". So, does anyone have any ideas? We will probably spend most of our 5 days in the Magic Kingdom & Epcot, with maybe 1/2 each for MGM & Animal Kingdom. Another question, we are also doing the 4 day Wonder following WDW, what is a good quick breakfast you would suggest that would still allow us plenty of time to get to the port? Thank you all in advance!

Best Wishes,
Nicole

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I hope you enjoy your trip! You arrive the day after we leave.

For a character meal in MK I would suggest Crystal Palace. Our DD2 will LOVE Pooh and friends. Plus if you do dinner, you can probably get some more adult items in her. I think lunch is mostly sandwich type stuff. Check out the menus at allearsnet.com. Alot of people also like Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner which has characters, but I have never been there.

In Epcot we used to do the character meal in the Land, but I've heard alot of stuff on these boards that they changed the meal and it stinks. But, the restaurant rotated and it was never really that crowded.

We are also doing the Wonder the week before you. We will probably just eat at the resort food court or grad something offsite on the way to the port.

Hope this helps - enjoy your planning!!!!

 

[Donnaksmj]

hi
I would take her to the castle to the princess breakfast....you have to call exaclty 90 days before to get in.
Chef Mickey is really cute too...it's in the comtemporary....
We'll be there from Dec2 to the 10th...I had your cruise booked too then switched it to the 7 day Eastern leaving on the 10th instead.
We just got back from Long island, we stayed at the Sheraton in Hauppauge, it was very nice.

 

[Dis_Grk Grl]

Thanks for the advice so far! I have heard things about breakfast with Cinderella in the castle. I just won't tell my daughter about it in case we can't get it. Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and friends sounds like fun, maybe we'll do that on one of our MK days. Everything seems so overwhelming. This is our dream trip, probably only time we will go before our daughter starts elementary school. I know that no vacation is perfect, but we want to make it as close as possible for Alexis. So if I seem to ask way to many questions, I am apologizing in advance!
What about World Showcase? Do they all welcome children, or some to "stuffy".

And donnaksmj, we live about 30 min from Hauppauge. It is very nice!
Nicole

 

[indigoxtreme]

All the restaurants welcome the children. LeCellar is a great place and many others from what I hear. Don't forget to take her to the Kidcot stations in the World Show Case.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

Thanks for the advice so far! I have heard things about breakfast with Cinderella in the castle. I just won't tell my daughter about it in case we can't get it. Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and friends sounds like fun, maybe we'll do that on one of our MK days. Everything seems so overwhelming. This is our dream trip, probably only time we will go before our daughter starts elementary school. I know that no vacation is perfect, but we want to make it as close as possible for Alexis. So if I seem to ask way to many questions, I am apologizing in advance!
What about World Showcase? Do they all welcome children, or some to "stuffy".

I'm sure your daughter will think it is just perfect no matter what!

World Showcase has great restaurants. My DS loved Mexico for dinner. Great interior - volcano and river ride in the backround and permanent twilight setting. He enjoyed the quesadilla and chips with salsa. This year we are giving Marakkesh a try. I hear kids get a kick out of the belly dancing and atmosphere. We took DS and my sister everywhere. Even Brown Derby in MGM, and every single place was fine with kids (mind you, our kids don't really run around, etc. but we did see some of that too at other tables, it was fine).

You won't get to see and do it all, but you'll have fun with whatever you get to. Enjoy!!!

 

[lmhall2000]

I would recommend Chef Mickey's and Liberty Tavern for your character meals...my daughters at 3 were more into the "pretend" characters than real princesses in dresses. It depends on what you think is best for your daughter...if you won't be back before she's over the age of 10 then I'd do a princess meal. Enjoy and have a great trip!
Tara

 

[gigi1313]

i will ditto the recommendations for crystal palace and/or liberty tree tavern... the epcot restaurants are all kid-friendly, some moreso than others (biergarten, tepanyaki, marakesh, askerhus, garden grill come to mind)... if you are interested in princesses and some adventurous eating, the restaurant in norway is your best bet... breakfast at 'ohana is a great character meal, controlled fun, perfect for a 3yo and it's a great fun monorail ride away (which my kids consider an "attraction!" LOL!)

another thought... don't undersell mgm and ak... there is a ton of fun stuff for all ages... you might want to reconsider and go for a full day or two half days to each...

also, if you have not picked up a wdw guide book yet, may i recommend the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World or the Passporter... both have websites you can check out and both are very comprehensive in giving detailed information... the UG may be a bit overwhelming for a first-timer but worth a look (my library has it, so that may be a good place to start)

where are you staying at wdw? that could make a difference in where you dine during your stay as well as where you grab a quick bite before heading to the cruise... most resorts have decent food courts w/quick and easy breakfast food...

last but not least... where on long island are you? i'm a little east of riverhead

 

[Dis_Grk Grl]

gigi 13,

We are staying at the POP century. I am just basing my decision to spend little time at AK & MGM based on what I have heard from people that have been before. They are known as the half day parks...at least to the parents in my playgroup and my daughter's nursery school! Animal Kingdom we may consider a full day though, since my daughter adores animals.

We are in Port Washington, on the north shore in Nassau County. I know Riverhead quite well...for the wonderful Tanger outlets!

Thank You all for the wonderful advice, it is greatly appreciated!

Nicole

 

[LiteBrite]

I agree that you should wait and see about MGM and AK, because you might find more there than you expect to!

I'm voting for Chef Mickey's or Crystal Palace (you could just choose between these two based on whether you think your little girl would enjoy Mickey & friends more, or the 100 Acre Woods gang). In the Epcot area, you could try the character breakfast at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club, or maybe go for Teppanyaki, which doesn't have characters, but the chef is very entertaining. You'd have to be careful to keep your DD's hands away from the hot grill, though.

And here's one last thought for you - if you're like a lot of us, after this trip you'll be finding a way to make more of them before she's in elementary school

 

[gigi1313]

there are lots of great shows in mgm and ak for the littler ones... really, give yourself a full day... don't go by what others have said... see it for yourself... again, a good guidebook would be helpful, tell you each attraction and you can decide if you want to hit it!
i was just at tanger this weekend... it was a ZOO!

 

[annie1995]

Last year we did mainly counter service, we did however eat at Rain Forest Cafe and absolutely loved it. It had "thunderstorms", monkeys in the trees, lots of birds (not alive ), etc. If you go use ADR's we did not last year, and had quite a bit of a wait! Have fun Planning!!

31 days till we go back to WDW