OK people, whaddaya think...

[gopherit]

Here's our sit-down ressie play list for our August trip, with some debating still open, and contingent on approval by the rest of our party of 9 (4 adults and also 5 kids aged 8 mos to 9 yrs) The gang leaves the planning to me, but retain veto power, you might say! THought I'd run this by your WDW savvy palates first! Meals not mentioned will be eaten in our DVC villa or on the go somewhere...

Day 1: Dinner, Cape May

Day 2: Bfast --Cape May (is this Cape May overkill?)
Lunch -- ESPN (on a Sunday in August - crowded?)

Day 3: Dinner-- Prime Time 50's

Day 4: Dinner / Dessert: B&C

Day 5: B'fast -- C Palace OR Grand Gathering at Tony's?
Dinner -- Ohana

Day 6: Lunch -- GF Cafe (kids on Pirate cruise, we hope!)
Dinner -- HDDR

Day 7: Lunch / snacks -- San Angel Inn (margaritas, appetizers)
Dinner -- LeCellier OR Teppanyaki ?

Day 8: (At the villa...dessert on boardwalk!)

Day 9: Lunch -- RF Cafe DTD -OR- Earl of Sandwich?

Day 10: (Half our party leaves -- now just dh, me, & 3 kids)
Lunch -- Artist's pallette ( at SSR)

Day 11: Bfast: CRT (pending getting the ressie, of course!)
Dinner: 1900 Park Fare (IF we can't get CRT!)
OR Whispering Canyon Cafe

Day 12: Dinner: LeCellier or Teppan? (whichever wasn't done)


(Can't decide which is better for party of 9 -- teppanyaki or LeCellier. Hoping baby doesn't "count" as a full body and they could put our party at one table in Teppan. I think it would hold the kids' interest better than LeCellier.) Still trying to figure out how to squeeze in Chef Mickeys -- we went last time for dinner and SIL/BIL and all kids loved it. If push comes to shove -- there's always the fairly empty Day 8!

 

[disney queen]

teppanyki is one of our favorites!! the children in the party would love the antics of the chef. but then lecellier is very yummy. since you are planning both, i would suggest doing teppanyki w/the group and le cellier w/your family. love the HDD!! we prefer big river over ESPN, but you will get mixed reviews on both of those. hope this helps!

 

[disneyfan551]

Can you post your park/itinerary plans for each day too? Would love to help critique, but hard to do, not knowing where you are going for the day!

 

[EmmasGrammy]

You are hitting about all of my favorites!! Sounds great!! I think the Teppanyaki would probably be better for the kids over Le Cellier. The chef's there will make it a good show for the kids.

Do you use or have you thought about adding the silver plan? We have found that to be a money saver and like having or meals "prepaid".

Have a great trip!!!

 

[disney4us2002]

On day 2 if you do the Cape May bkft (buffet) you may not want to eat lunch at ESPN unless it's really an early dinner/late lunch thing. Depending on where you are this day, Chef Mickey's for bkft may be an option rather than doing Cape May back to back. We love Chef Mickey's for bkft or dinner so we'd throw it in for at least one or the other.

I agree with the other posters about doing Teppan as the group and then LeCellier with just your family. We <b> love</b> LeCellier but I don't think it's 'entertaining' for a large group the way Teppan would be.

 

[dzneelvr]

Throw a Kona Cafe in for dinner and/or lunch as well.

For non-PSs: The taco counter service by POC is a favorite of our family for a lunch. They serve large portions that can be shared. Pecos Bills is another fine choice for a large group. It's in MK Adventureland and we hit it around 2pm--cool and not crowded. Boy--they have hamburger fixins like you wouldn't believe.

Good job in planning for meals. The worst thing is to get to the Parks without a PS and have a very hungry (and unhappy) group of campers told that it will be a 2 hour wait at best.

My DH used to make fun of my pre-trip planning around meals until he saw how we just walk in with a PS while other families are milling around waiting.

WDW on June 24

 

[gopherit]

Firstly, thanks so much for your input! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_7.gif' alt='Thanks' border=0></a>

Secondly, to answer some questions / comments:

Yes, I agree, the lunch at ESPN should be late! In fact, we plan on everything being a bit "late" that day -- b'fast at about 9:00 am, then ESPN closer to 2 pm. At least with ESPN if all anyone wants is an appetizer or cold drink, they have it, and it's not a big deal that you didn't order the full course meal or waste a big buffet.

I think Teppanyaki would be lots of fun too for all of us! Does anyone know if adding the baby will mean 2 tables, or can they squeeze 8 folks (plus an 8 mos old) at one table? If it means two tables, I think it's a no-go.

With us being DVC members, we don't typically do any of the "plans" (silver, etc.) Goodness knows I think I would enjoy it though -- a good reason to never cook and try that many more places, too!! Yum! <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_4_9.gif' alt='Sandwich' border=0></a> I will admit though that I don't wholly mind cooking in our villas -- with the small kids it sometimes gets exhausting keeping them on good behavior at all the eateries... sometimes it's nice to eat in the villa where we adults can feed the kids, then sit down to a leisurely meal for ourselves while the kids play and have some down-time without having to watch their every p and q!

Lastly -- here's a rough itinerary so you can see where we are and how that meshes with the choices:

Day 1: Arrive at noon BCV (dinner Cape May)

Day 2: Bfast Cape May -- hang out at SAB
Move over to BWV mid-day
Late lunch ESPN

Day 3: MGM (dinner Prime TIme 50's)

Day 4: Blizzard Beach (B&C dinner / dessert)

Day 5: MK (b'fast CP or maybe Grand Gathering?)
(dinner at Ohana.. also our 14th anniv!) <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/227.gif' alt='Couple 2' border=0></a>

Day 6: Pirate cruise for kids, GF cafe adults for lunch
Dinner at HDDR (a no-park day!)

Day 7: AK in am, then EPCOT for late lunch and evening
(light lunch at San Angel; dinner at Teppan I guess!)

Day 8: Typhoon Lagoon (maybe dessert on the boardwalk)

Day 9: DTD, pool, relaxation day (RFC-DD or ES-DD for lunch)

Day 10: BIL's family leaves <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_9_10.gif' alt='Bye Bye' border=0></a>
Our fam moves over to SSR to try DVC's newest resort!
(lunch at artist pallette)

Day 11: Girls' day out for me and dd (CRT, hopefully for bfast)
Guys are doing DQ. Meet up for dinner at either 1900PF or WCC

Day 12: EPCOT (we always end off with our FAVORITE park!)
(dinner at LeCellier)

Day 13: They don't call it unlucky 13 fer nuttin'... we leave to go home. <a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_9_8.gif' alt='Walking Home Crying' border=0></a>

 

[disneyfan551]

Your plan is excellent! Can I go with you?!

My only suggestion would maybe be to skip 50's PTC at MGM. Maybe your kids have gone before and liked it, but I just don't know that kids would enjoy it. Most seem to enjoy SciFi better. (We even enjoy SciFi a whole lot better than 50's! ) Just a thought.

Go and have a great time! You've done a great job planning!

 

[vicb]

I too think your plan looks good but would only ? doing Cape May first night for dinner and next morning for breakfast. How about breaking them up a bit? Maybe move it till the end of your trip. I would suggest Spoodles for a breakfast alternative. Be sure to rent surrey bikes with your group, fun! And lastly, when you go to Teppan. would the 8 month old just be on someone's lap? If so, do you even need to put them on the ressie?