New Disneyworld family needs help/suggestions for dinner reservations

[thebluebudgie]

Hello all-

Just joined this great board - it has been so helpful and filled with tips. But now, I realize with my May 10th to May 17th booking..I should have had dinner reservations done already.

I have nothing reserved...and will do it asap...but I would really appreciate some veterans advice on what I should go for in MK and AK.

I have a 2 yr old and 5 yr old and we are on a dining plan.

So overwhelming! I wish I had been more on the ball, but we just booked last week - and everyone here is so prepared! thank thank thank you!!

Marisa..thebluebudgie
First Disney vacation! May 10-18th at wilderness lodge

 

[DisneyMomx7]

If you can get the reservation I would go with either Crystal Palace or Liberty Tree Tavern in MK. We've tried Tony's twice and have been disappointed both times. If you are not tied into eating in the parks there is also 1900 Park Fare at the Grand FLoridian (character meal), Grand Floridian Cafe (GF), Ohana (Polynesian), Kona Cafe (Polynesian) and the Wave (Contemporary). Of course there is Chef Mickey's but unless you get very lucky it's probably already booked for May. Any of the restaurants on the monorail line are easy to hop to from the park.

I would just do counter service at AK and save my table service for a restaurant outside the park. Another really nice buffet is Cape May Buffet at the Yacht and Beach Club. If you have hoppers you might want to do a dinner at one of the EPCOT restaurants - my kids favorites there are Coral Reef, Tutto Italia and they also liked Garden Grille (character meal).

HTH.

 

[eventamy]

Don't worry too much too, some of my favorite places are CS places too.
For CS in MK I would do Columbia Harbour House for TS I would try the Plaza, it's probably your best bet at getting an ADR at this point, although I would definitely try for Crystal Palace and see what you can get!

Epcot - my favorite restaurant is Sunshine Seasons which is CS. REally yummy and fresh. For TS there's some great one that you might still be able to get an ADR for. Try Teppan Edo. OR you can just walk out the International gate and it's really close to the Boardwalk where there's some great restaurants. Spoodles is our favorite restaurant anywhere, not just WDW. Plus it's changing to another restaurant in the fall so I would definitely try it while you can.

DHS - We LOVE Sci-Fi, but we're trying 50's Prime-Time next time to try something different, plus I think my mom would love it.
For CS I would do Toy Story Pizza Planet or just grab sandwiches at Starring Rolls.

Animal Kingdom - I would do Yak & Yeti, either CS or TS, see if you can get TS. If not just do CS during the day there, it closes early anyway, and then do a TS at one of the resorts. We got a last minute ADR at Kona Cafe when we were there. Service was slow but the food was ok to excellent depending on what you get (Tuna Oscar all the way!)

A lot of the resort restaurants are overlooked quite a bit. Try for TS ADRs at some of those and see what you can get! A lot of them are try diamonds that others forget about!

 

[marylouwho]

I do know how you feel, but.....

Don't worry.... in 2007, we booked our June trip in May..... and WE STILL ATE!!!

Even ate at the castle, altho dinner was at 7:50... just in time to walk out of the castle afterwards, and see the parade from atop of the castle exit.

Pixie dust to you!

 

[thebluebudgie]

I was able to get:
Polynesian luau for dinner at 5:15 cat 3
Hoop de Doo at 7:15 cat 2.
Tusker dinner at 4:50

I am going to try for some of the suggestions and move forward. I am not sure about the Hoop de Doo...its not at the park..is it worth it? The Luau I have read is worth it.

 

[aceys_h0ney]

We loved Crystal Palace in MK and were able to book that on very short notice last year. The character interaction was wonderful and the food was pretty good.

 

[adreamisawish]

We loved Crystal Palace in MK and were able to book that on very short notice last year. The character interaction was wonderful and the food was pretty good.

I agree...your kids just have to meet Pooh and friends, and it is right there in the midst of everything at MK!!!

 

[ValinWV]

My Teen DD didn't like the Hop Dee Doo very much, but then she is a teenager. I didn't do it with her she was on a school trip. I would definately try to get the Crystal Palace to eat with Pooh and friends. My littlest ones love it 2 and 4. The older ones like it too.

 

[catne]

Some things to consider with some of your choices, there. Are you on the deluxe plan...I ask because two of the three reservations you mention are 2 table service per person places. And both of those (Luau & Hoop de Doo) are time consuming & outside the parks - are your kids used to dining in places that take a couple of hours to eat? Seems like most people who like those shows the kids are grade school aged. Just a thought. Do you have a car with you to get around easier? Now, the Luau is at the Polynesian, so if you're at the Magic Kingdom that day you can just hop the monorail to the Polynesian from the Park. But you do have some travel time to consider there.

In Animal Kingdom, with kids, I'd suggest Tusker House. We found the food & service very good there (have been for dinner.) Yak & Yeti probably not aimed so much for kids. When our kids were little, we found the buffets the best bet because there was always something for everyone.

In Magic Kingdom, Crystal Palace is great.

At the Contemporary Resort, there's Chef Mickey's of course. It's either a short walk from the MK or hop the monorail if you're not wanting to walk.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Must do with the little ones: Chef Mickeys with original characters, Crystal Palace with Pooh and friends. My kids also loved the characeters at Hollywood and Vine which are Playhouse Disney. Good Luck!!

 

[srwarden1928]

In MK we are eating CS--Cosmic Rays and Columbia Harbor House. We also like Pecos Bills. Near MK we are eating at California Grill and Ohana.

In AK we are eating CS--Flame Tree (which we think is the best CS in WDW) and maybe Pizzafari. Near AK we are eating at Boma.

Hope this helps. We are excited about trying several new restaurants this time, especially some in the resorts.

 

[thebluebudgie]

Ooooh! thank you for the suggestions. Crystal Palace sounds like a must do.

And srwarden1928 poster, thank you for those suggestions - I never heard of those.

I think I am going to Drop the Luau based on this input, and that its not at the park. And either is Hoop de Doo ... the CM on the dining reservations suggested these. I may keep the Hoop de Doo since it looks fun. Sad to see the luau go (personally).

And yep, I am on the dining plan. Is Tusker a 2 point deal too? Is Crystal palace a two table service too?

 

[rocio]

We have kids similar in ages (5 and 2). We're traveling around the same time you are and also have the dining plan. This is also our first trip.

Here's what we have that week:
Breakfast at Tusker House (character breakfast, they're not around for the other meals-1 TS credit)
Lunch with the princesses at Norway in Epcot (1 TS credit)
Lunch at Sci Fi diner (kids wanted to eat in a car-1 TS credit)
Lunch at Crystal Palace (1 TS credit)
Dinner at Biergarten (1 TS credit)
Dinner at California Grill (it's for my birthday so a bit more upscale-2 TS credits)

We're mostly doing lunches b/c that time of the day is when the kids are in a better mood. We're doing two dinners for specific reasons:Cali Grill only does dinner and Biergarten has a band/dancing after 2pm (which is naptime) so we're pushing it to dinner time. Most of the meals have some form of entertainment for the kids (3 character meals, a band/dancing, movies/car, and a view of the magic kingdom--at CA Grill, this once won't be the most entertainment, but like I said, it's my b-day and I really want to eat there.)

Good luck!

 

[rocio]

Oh and if you're interested in looking at the menus of places. All ears is a good place: http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

 

[thebluebudgie]

THANK YOU rocio
Looks like we are on the same boat with kids ages...naptime is tough.

I think I may copy your dining list

 

[thebluebudgie]

Thank you eventamy - I appreciate the write up!