New Member Really Needs Some Dining Advice...and Any Other!!

[Englands Disney Gang]

Hi
I posted the below on another thread on the site but had a lovely reply from Allie5 who guided me over here to get some dining advise...I really am stupid and done knoe how to even book Disney restaurants in advance. The last time wecam we stayed and eat all the time at our hotel on I.D and went to the 4 parks!!. That was it so this time we really want to experience the food and other places. I have copied an pasted the below from the other thread and any advise about dining or anything else would be great as we go on the 6.9.05!!...Thanks!!

Hi

I really hope I can get some advice and I apologise now if I am in the wrong area!!

We are coming to to Disney in 2 weeks and staying at Caribbean Beach Resort. We have not got a car so are using the Disney transport and taxis. There is myself, husband and our two sons aged 12 & 6. We have only been once to Florida before a few year ago and stayed on International Drive and used the hotel we were staying in for all our meals.

I really need some advice on meals whilst at Disney. We are on a budget as its ah holiday we have saved so long for but I want to make it a memoriable time mainly for our sons as I know as a family we cannot afford to come over again for at least 5 years!!. Has anyone got any suggestions to where we should dine?? I like the idea of 'eat as much as you like' so we can eat light throughout the day and know we have a good meal at the end of the day and maybe some entertainment. My husband and I do like an alcohol drink but mainly this holiday is for our sons. We would LOVE some advise on where to go rembering we are on a budget!!...many thanks for any help!!

 

[mushumadness]

hiya

welcome to the dis, we go in three months 2 weeks

if you want to catch a character meal the crystal palace at wdw is really nice its a buffet style meal with winnie the pooh and friends.

off site we really like dennys and the outback, though you will find sizzler and ponderosa good value.

hope you have a great time

anna

 

[Amyrlin]

To book the meals you need to call Disney on (oh no this is sad I know it off by hear) from the UK on 001 407 WDW DINE (939 3463). If you are on a budget and staying on Disney property then breakfasts can be managed in the room with a grocery stop at tome point, if you have a car booked to take you from the airport they may let you take a grocery trip for no extra charge.

For meals the buffets or all you can eat meals are better value as you can bulk up on them, there is a web page with all the menus, costs and locations of the restaurants at http://www.allearsnet.com. They are also good for the children as they can choose what they want to eat.

Lunches are cheaper than dinners, but you might get hungry later. At the resorts you can get refillable mugs that last the length of the stay, with a family you may not need one each! I think they are about $12 each.

There are also some interesting places to eat at Down Town Disney, Earl of Sandwich is good and cheap, Wolfgang Puck Express is also a good place to get a meal as you choose what you want and they are quiet good value.

If the children like ice-cream sundaes then Garderellis (not sure of spelling). If you sign up for the newsletter they will send you an email voucher to get one sundae free when you buy another one. Don’t do this until just before you go as the voucher is valid for a month after you sing up, you can sign up at http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/ghrdl/lp/join/join.htm

That should get you started

 

[SammieG]

If I were you I would rush out before your trip and get a guide book..
that way it will list all the restaurants in all the different places. You can read which ones you like the sound of and then try to book them

Dont worry that you are not booked yet, we usually get what we want either on the day or by phoning the night before.

There are some fabulous restaurants at WDW.. you will have a great time trying them!!


Tell us what kinds of food you like best, and we can try and offer some suggestions in the meantime!

 

[Miss Mickey Mania]

Hi

I would definitely go to the link mentioned above and see the menus and costs for the many restaurants. http://allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm It lists each park and resort menus with link on the left of the screen.

Remember you can eat at any Disney resort, even if you're not staying there. You just use the Disney buses to get there. I have done it many times and hop on and off Disney transport like a native now .

You'll be aware now that there is a free dining deal going on at the moment. This has seen an increase in people dining at the restaurants. You may find it hard to get into certain restaurants as a walk-in. Some will be easier to get into than others. You can always check with Disney Dining from your hotel room, or guest services at Caribbean Beach can help too if you want to make plans when you get there. I know it can be had to plan where you want to eat in advance when you're not familiar with the setup.

By the way CBR is a great resort. I stayed for Christmas a couple of years ago and loved it. It's big but that means it never looks too busy except in the food court at times. I used to enjoy walking round the lake to get to the food court for breakfast. Very chilled out!

Louise

 

[arieliwish]

Hey, we're at the CBR from the 13 Sept and we're from the North East (I'm originally from the North West, but it's still a funny accent!) - maybe we'll bump into you!!

Last time we went Sizzlers, Ponderosa and Golden Corral were excellent value all you can eat off site restaurants. We didn't experience many on site ones so are hoping to try some of these this time.

Hope you have a great trip, I have DD10 and DS7 and they are so excited, as I bet yours are too!!

 

[UKDEB]

As you're staying onsite without a car, I'm assuming you'll only be eating onsite. There are literally hundreds of choices, so I can understand why it might seem a little overwhelming.

Staying at the Caribbean Beach Resort, bus is going to be your main form of transport. As Miss MM says, you don't have to stick to the parks - you can visit the other resorts for meals, too and it's a great way of seeing them without having to pay to stay! Bear in mind, though, that many of the more popular resort restaurants don't open for lunch.

A buffet breakfast is a great way to start your holiday - the jet lag will have you awake at the crack of dawn, so you can make a reservation for 7am and be at a park gate for opening. Boma at Animal Kingdom Lodge seems to have become a first day tradition for us and AKL itself is well worth a visit - don't miss the opportunity to check out the Arusha Savannah. Boma is also open for dinner and AKL takes on a very special ambiance in the evenings.

I haven't tried it, but Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary is a popular character meal choice (breakfast and dinner buffet) and would be a good option for a Magic Kingdom day. It's easily walkable from the bus stop at MK (or hop on the monorail).

The BoardWalk and Yacht and Beach Clubs surround Crescent Lake between Epcot and MGM. The whole area is accessible from both parks either on foot or by Friendship boat (water taxis), although it is closer to Epcot - 5 minutes walk from the International Gateway entrance between France and the UK in World Showcase. There are loads of options here. Your boys (and husband!) might enjoy the ESPN bar - the food is cheap and plentiful (burgers, hot dogs, wings, etc) and a variety of sports (including Premiership football ) is shown on the hundreds of screens. Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club is another hugely popular choice for burgers and sundaes, although I've always had trouble understanding why.

'Ohana at the Polynesian gets rave reviews - meats and shrimp on huge skewers cooked over an open fire. It's supposed to be great fun for families and your boys will be well entertained. We keep meaning to try it, but we've not yet managed it - so many places to eat, so little time!

We first visited in 1992 when our girls were 7 and 5. They absolutely loved Mickey's Back Yard Barbecue at Fort Wilderness and you also get the opportunity to see the Electrical Water Pageant (which circles Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon each evening). It's like a mini SpectroMagic on water and I love it because it has been going since WDW opened.

Yet another popular choice for families is the Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge and, again, your boys will be well entertained. This one's open for lunch, so it's a good opportunity to take a water taxi across from the Magic Kingdom - something we love to do.

Here are a few of my favourites at the parks:

MK
- Pecos Bill (Counter Service burgers and hot dogs with a 'help yourself' fixins bar);
- Crystal Palace (Character breakfast, lunch and dinner).

Epcot (there are so many good choices here)
- Garden Grill at the Land Pavilion (Character again in a revolving restaurant - during the course of your meal, your view will slowly change);
- Le Cellier at Canada in the World Showcase.

MGM
- 50s Prime Time Cafe (such good fun - every should try this at least once!);
Mama Melrose (pizza and pasta).

Animal Kingdom
- AK itself only has Counter Service offerings and I don't particularly rate any of them. Just outside the park entrance is the Rainforest Cafe. People seem to either love it or hate it, but we think it's great and always choose to eat there when we visit AK. It does seem to work out a tad expensive compared with other similar themed restaurants, but the food is good and plentiful - you could easily share a pizza, for example. We tend to just have entrees (main courses). In fact, we tend to do that at most places - two weeks in Orlando can quickly turn into a huge food fest!

 

[Englands Disney Gang]

Many Thanks for all your advise and help I am going to reread a few times and make notes!!
I do have a few other questions (I know I am stupid and cheeky!!)-when you phone the WDW Dine do you pay when booking/reservation fee??
We have not got a car as neither of us dare drive an automatic!!....If we went to International Drive to check the restaurants out is the only option a taxi?? and does it cost a fortune in them??. I am really looking forward to going!!. My friend is popping over this afternoon she stayed at Movie All Stars a couple of years ago and is giving me a dining list that was in her room with all the WDW restaurants I know its out of date but should give me a better idea!!. I cant get over the fact that hopefully this time in 3 weeks we will be on the plane going!

Arieliwish-Where in The North East are you from?? We live in Redcar although I am originally from London...we should plan to meet up!!

 

[Englands Disney Gang]

Oh silly me I had another question!!. I know if you eat at other WDW hotels you can use the transport and change at the parks but does anyone have an idea what time the transport finishes?? ...wouldnt like to miss the last bus with 2 tired kids!!

 

[arieliwish]

Hiya,

We're south of the Boro, just off the A19!

You can find info on all the disney eateries on allearsnet.com and they also have sample menus and prices, so you can check them out before you decide to go.

By the way, I did all the driving in Orlando last year and it was a doddle, and I HATE driving in Middlesbrough!!

 

[UKDEB]

If you're going directly from one resort to another, the official (Disney) directions are to get a bus to Downtown Disney and then another to your destination resort. I think it's often quicker and easier to get a bus to a park and then change to one going to your destination resort. Either way, you probably need to leave yourselves an hour and a half to be on the safe side. My choice would be to get a taxi (there are always several on standby at the resorts) for around $10 for a one-way trip. If you're going en-route to or from a park, then the buses will be fine. They start to run about an hour before park opening and continue until an hour afterwards. The last buses from Downtown Disney to the resorts are at 2am. Here's a link to the bus timetables right here on the DIS.

Mears Towncars and Florida Tours are alternatives to taxis for getting to and from I-Drive.

 

[UKDEB]

Sorry, forgot to mention that, with the odd few exceptions, you don't need to pay anything when you make an ADR (Advance Dining Reservation). The whole point of the system is that Disney does not hold a table for you at a specified time - it helps them to manage the flow and means that 'no shows' are not an issue. You will be asked to turn up 15 minutes before your ADR time and you will then be assigned the next available table.

Details of those restaurants requiring either a CC deposit or guarantee can be found here.

 

[Englands Disney Gang]

You have all been so helpful!!!...to think when went last time a fews back we eat only in our hotel we were staying in (we only came for a week and visited the parks once!) My husband has just rang from work and I have been reading out your replies!!...his voice started squealing when I read out there is somewhere that plays the Premiership Football games!!..he then informed me that I had wasted his money the first time we went as we never knew there was all these places!! (of course its not his fault!!)

 

[Englands Disney Gang]

Sorry its ME again with another question....Can anyone tell me the difference between a Credit Card Deposit and a Credit Card Guarentee. I am guessing that the guarentee means they dont actually take any money off the card unless you dont show and its just for their own safety and you can pay a different way when you are at the restaurant??
Thanks!!

 

[Amyrlin]

Yep you are right. When you put a deposit down they take the money and the final bill when due is less that deposit. When they take a card to guarenteea booking they do not take any money off of it and you don't need to pay with it. However, if you do not show up and do not cancel they will charge whatever the guarentee was.

 

[SammieG]

driving an automatic is MUCH easier than a manual car !!!
its almost the same, but you dont have to remember to change gear!

Sammie xx

 

[gbrchill]

Can anyone tell me the difference between a Credit Card Deposit and a Credit Card Guarentee.

With a credit card guarantee they may process a reservation charge on the credit card. This is not a real transaction but one that eats a chunk out of
your credit limit and can be converted to a real transaction if need be. This
will allow them to make sure that the money will be there if they need it.

This is what often happens when one checks into hotels or collects a hire car,
declining the optional insurance.

Chris.