Need WDW advice...

[Melora]

OK..I posted a similiar question on the planning boards and I got one response (Thanks Dan!!!)

So I am hoping that I can get a bit more response here!!

We are off to the world for 9 days in less that a month and I am at a loss of what to plan for.

Should we do the Christmas party? What night? Is it too late to get tickets?


What restaurants are your favorites that I should (or should HAVE) made some PS for?

So far we have ressies for the hoop de doo and thats it.

Is it too late to get some seating at the castle for lunch or dinner? (I know its prob too late for breakfast).

California Grill? Too late or still available? When to go?

I suddenly feel like I haven't done nearly enough planning and maybe just winging it isn't such a good idea even though thats what we did last time....

 

[Minnie824]

Well, first of all, for food, I'm not sure if you have kids going or not, but try Le Cellier either way. Very good! Also, Biergarten, Yachtsman Steakhouse, we liked Fultons in Dowtown Disney. Also, make an effort to go to the Boardwalk Bakery. Try to go to see the Candlelight Procession in Epcot too. Its amazing. Have a great trip!

 

[always quiet]

OOHH!! I LOVE planning trips!!

Let's see, MVMCP...is a MUST DO!! The best night to go is on a Tues. Avoid Fridays or Sundays at all cost!!!! I believe you can order the tickets now, before you leave (which would make them cheaper than buying when you arrive) and have them delivered to your hotel. Call 407- WDISNEY for the tickets.

You can more than likely get seating at Cindy's for lunch or dinner but I don't think they have the characters there during those meals. You will love to Hoop Dee Doo! We did that in 2000 and had a blast. I have a great photo of my DH playing the wash board that they pass out to the audience. I've never eaten at the California Grill so I really can't help you with that one.

You have to see the Candlelight Processional in Epcot. It is so beautiful!! I know they have a dinner package that includes seating for it, but we were there in early Dec. and I really don't think you would need it. I have heard the 1st showing is less crowded than the later one.

Hope this helps!! If you decide on the Christmas party....DO NOT wait for the 1st parade!!!!!! Catch the one at 11 pm....less crowded!!! I made this mistake last year and had to wait forever since it got off to a late start!!

 

[TINKTWINS]

Id say yes to the Christmas party and you can buy tickets at your hotel if your in property. Its alot of fun.

Call now and book lunch or dinner at the castle. We had lunch there and really liked the experience. Cinderella and the godmother actually popped in, but it isnt a definate that they will. But you need to eat there just once for the experience.

We liked 1900 Park Faire. Weve done Crystal Palace several times. I also like Liberty Tree Tavern.

Hated the dinner food at Chef Mickeys but the characters and atmoshpere were great. I got an awesome family pic there, its one of my favorites.

Fantastic food at Shulas in the Dolphin.

I think we all feel that way right before the big trip. But dont worry things will fall into place. Just have fun. You can always book things while you are there, its not impossible!! Enjoy

 

[DoeWDW]

Are you going to be there during the Thanksgiving rush? If so, then make PSs. If you're going after Thanksgiving and it won't be too crowded, I wouldn't over-plan for food.

I've had good luck with calling for PSs a day or two ahead of time while I'm there. That way we can see what we're in the mood for.

We had a good lunch at the Garden Grille in the Land pavilion at Epcot. The character interaction here was great with Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale, and the food was good!

 

[ead79]

I LOVE trip planning, so I'm more than happy to help, LOL!

It's not too late to get tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, and I say to go for it! It's really a lot of fun! It's best to avoid the weekend parties for crowd reasons, though tickets are limited so even the weekend party crowds would not be bad.

It's probably not too late to get PS's at most places. Cindy's breakfast is out, but you could probably still get lunch or dinner reservations.

Some of my very favorites places to eat are 'Ohana at the Polynesian for breakfast and for dinner, Liberty Tree Tavern at the Magic Kingdom for lunch and for dinner, and Le Cellier in Canada at Epcot for lunch.

Also, be sure to check out the decorations at the Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, and Animal Kingdom Lodge, as they are really spectacular. All the resorts are decorated for the holidays, so it's fun to tour them.

Be sure to check out www.wdwig.com for lots of details on all the holiday events at WDW. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Pooh67_68]

Yes do the christmas party. As for food...
50's Prime Time Cafe is great, also like Planet Hollywood and Rain Forest Cafe in DD.

 

[Mishetta]

I have to agree with EAD79 about O'Hana's. It's especially fun for children since they have a coconut sweep contest & a hula hoop contest. We loved the food but everyone has their own opinions on food (we didn't care for Le Cellier & everyone that posts seems to rave about it )

Chef Mickey's is definitely a lot of fun if you go with kids.

We're going in Dec & my DH has made PS's for us for everyday (has everything mapped out for us on a spread sheet!) We are going with a just turned 2 y/o (as well as an 8 y/o) & that's why. My 2 y/o would not be able to "wait" a long time, so DH made PS's so that we can hopefully get seated within a reasonable amount of time.

Regarding Cindy's Castle for breakfast....altho they are probably booked up, it still wouldn't hurt to call each day because people do cancel PS's (like us) if they know they can't make it. I think they do expect a CC # now for Cindy's Castle, so you can bet that people will cancel if they know they can't make it or have had to reschedule their trip.

MVMCP is a must. We're arriving the last day it is offered & figured we'd be too tired to go so we'll miss it this year.

Have a great time!

 

[tc]

Definately try Le Cellier for lunch. We loved it. Make sure to try the Cheddar cheese soup. Also, Beaches and Cream is good and fun, but they don't take PS. Don't try to go after Epcot closed cus it's crazy. Try lunch in an off hour.

It looks like you'll be there a week after Thanksgiving, that should make it not so crowded for most meals.

I've never done MVMCP, but it sounds like fun. Too bad the Osborne lights are not on this year, that's a must see.

Take some extra time to tour other resorts. The Christmas decorations are so great. We were there last year for New Year's and the decorations were still up. We spent a whole day just enjoying the decorations (and eating at different resorts)

Have fun and don't stress, you'll do fine!

 

[Melora]

WOW..you guys are great!!

We will be there from the 5th-14th of Dec. We have 2 seniors who have never been there and only have a vague idea of what its all about..then there are 3 teens, an 8 year old and a 3 year old who will have had his brithday the week before. (Shhhh, hes going as a 2 year old! Hes very tiny)

Definately want to try the castle for a meal..never done that. I will get tickets for the Christmas party..Tuesday is out, thats our Hoop de Doo day.

I would love to do one character meal... whats a good suggestion that I can still get ressies for? Where is chef Mickeys? Ive never been there... I think the 3 year old would enjoy the characters... (I think!)

Also in regard to the Candellight processional, I know nothing about it...its at Epcot right? In the evening (well I guess that goes without saying). Is it a parade that you stand and watch, or would it be good to get some dinner reservations to watch it?

Thanks for all the info!!!!!!!!!!

 

[always quiet]

Try and get MVMCP for Thurs....2nd least busy night!

The Candlight Processional is in Epcot at the America pavillion. There is a HUGE choir and a celebrity narrator recites the Christmas story.

I would definitely try and get Chef Mickeys for either breakfast or dinner. It's in the Contemporary. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale are there. Loads of fun for the kids!!

Since you are going to be at FW for the Hoop Dee Doo, try and get there early and check out the petting zoo! The kids totally loved that! It's right at the Settlement Depot area. Oh yeah....we stayed there (FW) last year....that area is so decorated for Christmas....you won't believe it!!!!! Gorgeous!!

 

[RNMOM]

Oh yes, do the Candlelight processional. We were there last Christmas week. DH and I had dinner at Chefs of France (nice but he liked it better than I) following our processional so we would not have to hot foot it back over to the pavillion. We loved it so much we waited in line and went again two nights later. It is held in a big outside ampitheater. There is plenty of seating but no guarantees unless you have dinner ressies.

We had 3 teen boys and us. What I did was make a P.S. for one big meal each day in our designated park for a latish lunch or early dinner. Between 1-2 for lunch and about 5 for dinner. That left lots of evening time to go to another park, swim, or ride rides and the waits were not a problem. The other meals we did independently. There are so many fast food type places in each park that we all wanted to do this really worked out for us. Also, the boys knew when they had to meet up with us and the rest of the time they were on their own...with cell phone connections frequently. We always knew where they were but they still had lots of independence.

This was our best trip ever.

Restaurants, hmmm. Le Cellier is a definite. The fast food at San Angel is good too. Liberty Tree tavern is very good and they have a character meal but I can't remember the hours. We love Prime Time Cafe at MGM. Lots of fun and just plain food but good and plentiful. We love Whispering Canyon Cafe and Artist Point at WL. Do go to see the resort if you have never been. The tree is amazing. Downtown Disney is a faorite of ours. The Rainforest was surprisingly good. We like Planet Hollywood too.

That leaves plenty of room for the turkey legs, hot dogs, beaver tails and various and sundry items you will have trouble passing up. We were at CBR and it was nice to have the food court if anyone was still hungry at night. Wait, what am I saying, with 3 teen boys, that was a must at night.

If I could give my best advice, with a group that big, don't expect everyone to be together all the time. Let the older folks go off on their own and meet up later. Or let them take the little one and you go off to ride something they may not want to. We had two cell phones and each group had one. Our plans just have the "national" coverage and we had two different cell phone companies. I have never had trouble getting a call through at WDW. It works great to meet up in a couple hours after having a break from following or leading a bunch of people around. Just my opinion as a person who needs some space of my own often.