Only 1 Character Meal...what would you do??

[Charmaine]

We are only going for 2 days and I am trying to do the math on the DDP's...if we were only going to do one Character Meal...which would you suggest?

Sor Far here are my thoughts for our two days...Yes...I am planning over a year in advance!! lol not going till Oct of 2011!! But I need to budget my $$!!

Friday September 30th, 2011
Kona Cafe @ The Poly - Table Service Breakfast (Est. OOP to be $75-85 if we didn't do the Dining Plan)

Lunch is still up in the air (need to see what is in the middle of these two or on our way to our rooms...depending on where we stay. Probably a QS Meal, though (Est OOP $50)!

Le Cellier - Table Service Dinner (Est. OOP to be $150)

Saturday, Oct. 1st, 2011
Breakfast is still up in the air (might use our snacks for a quick breakfast so we can get in the park asap) (Est. $25 OOP)

Flame Tree BBQ @ Animal Kingdom Quick Service Lunch (Est. $50 OOP)

Narcoosee's @ Grand Floridian Table Service Dinner (Est. $300 OOP)

We're a family of 4 our ages next year when we go...Me (38), Hubby (41), Son (16), & Daughter (7) and this is our first trip to WDW!

I am going to add up what we might spend and see if the dining plan is a good idea, and if so, which one!

I would love some input!!!

 

[LoriABil]

I am guessing you will be at AK Saturday morning because of your lunch choice? A Breakfast at Tusker House (the character breakfast there) might be good because it would get you into the park earlier...Usually AK opens at 9, so if you got an 8am ADR, that would get you in early...plus, it's near the safari, and it's a neat way to start your morning. Just a thought!

Lori B.

 

[Mom2Elliot]

If you have never been, I would ditch the dining plans and use the extra money to stay longer! 2 days is not anywhere near enough!

 

[Charmaine]

If you have never been, I would ditch the dining plans and use the extra money to stay longer! 2 days is not anywhere near enough!

Haha! Thanks for the advise! We live in Cali and go do Disneyland a lot! The only reason we are going is to go on the Disney Cruise (the new Dream), so really WDW is just an afterthought...either way we have to pay for food, whether we do the dining plan or pay OOP...it's still a signifigant expense. Staying extra days at WDW is not an option or a need for us. Thanks for the advise...

 

[Charmaine]

I am guessing you will be at AK Saturday morning because of your lunch choice? A Breakfast at Tusker House (the character breakfast there) might be good because it would get you into the park earlier...Usually AK opens at 9, so if you got an 8am ADR, that would get you in early...plus, it's near the safari, and it's a neat way to start your morning. Just a thought!

Lori B.

That is a great suggestion! Thanks so much! I saw that on the list of Restaurants...and it was a thought. How's the food there? Is it pretty much just an average buffet?? I know the at DL the Character meals are pretty average...

 

[Shleedogg]

That is a great suggestion! Thanks so much! I saw that on the list of Restaurants...and it was a thought. How's the food there? Is it pretty much just an average buffet?? I know the at DL the Character meals are pretty average...

Out of all the character breakfasts we've done (Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, Tusker House), the food at Tusker House was by far the best. Character interaction was not nearly as good as Chef Mickey, but the food was really good.

 

[buzz1fan]

I would suggest Ohanas in place of Kona cafe for breakfast. I think that breakfast is so much fun. Now I have not been to Tusker house, and i think that is a great idea if at AK. I am looking forward in trying that soon.

I will throw in my opinion on the dining plan too. For two nights, and I would do the deluxe if you want to do more than one TS a day. You would get 6 credits over the time you are there. Most likely it would be cheaper too. We normally have a short trip with a beach trip when we go to Florida, and we have used the deluxe plan for short stays.

 

[Mom2Elliot]

Haha! Thanks for the advise! We live in Cali and go do Disneyland a lot! The only reason we are going is to go on the Disney Cruise (the new Dream), so really WDW is just an afterthought...either way we have to pay for food, whether we do the dining plan or pay OOP...it's still a signifigant expense. Staying extra days at WDW is not an option or a need for us. Thanks for the advise...

Okay, THAT makes much more sense! I was having a panic attack at a total newbie trying to do everything in 2 days! We are also doing the Dream next year in April - so exciting! We probably won't add on any days at WDW though.

I agree on the Tusker House BF at park opening. Haven't done this one yet (am in July) but it always get such praise. Is Epcot your other park besides AK? If so, you could consider doing a character breakfast at Cape May Cafe that morning instead of Kona.

 

[catne]

with those estimates on OOP costs, I'd say you definitely should look into the Deluxe dining plan...will run you about $73 per person per night (less for child under 10) You'll get 6 meal credits per person, plus 4 snacks per person, plus the refillable (resort) mug. That number of credits would cover everything you have planned...including using snack credits for breakfast that 2nd day. That's only if Le Cellier does not go to "signature" status next year (current rumor is that it will go to 2 credits per person in 2011)

We love Kona Cafe breakfast...the "big Kahuna" is wonderful breakfast...and if you're paying OOP and do not have large appetites, you could easily get two of the Big Kahuna and split it amongst the 4 of you (making the cost more like $30 including beverages.)

If you're going to Magic Kingdom that first day, I'd say do Crystal Palace for breakfast/character meal (Winnie the Pooh & Friends.) We've done Chef Mickey's...good characters, but just OK breakfast (good food, just not a lot of variety.)

 

[LuvLuvLuv]

Tusker House breakfast is great!!! Character interaction is fun and great, even for big kids!! The food is plentiful, and it does get you in the park early which helps big time!! Definately recommended!! The waitstaff here is amazing and attentive!! If you have an celebrations, they make sure they are celebrated How fun... I can't wait to do it again!!

 

[Charmaine]

Thank you all so much for the input...I have over a year to make myself crazy over this!! LOL! I am definately thinking Tusker House for Breakfast!! The rest I am sure I will change a million times before I make my reservations (ADR's??).

My friends and family think I am crazy planning a vacation a year in advance...lol...I love being in good company here with you DIS'ers!

 

[LoriABil]

That is a great suggestion! Thanks so much! I saw that on the list of Restaurants...and it was a thought. How's the food there? Is it pretty much just an average buffet?? I know the at DL the Character meals are pretty average...

The food is just about typical breakfast buffet food, but they have the mickey waffles, and the quiche/frittata was really good, and I loved the roasted potatoes! Also, lots of pastries and fresh fruits/cereals to choose from.

Plus, seeing the characters decked out in "Safari" gear was really cute!

 

[kristina87]

1900 park fare breakfast with alice, mary poppins, the fantastic mad hatter, pooh and tigger, or Cinderellas Royal Table because its an awesome experience. Crystal Palace was okay too

 

[TxRabbit]

More to think about...

We did Tusker House last June. Because we did PM EMH at MK and were up until 4:30 AM the morning of our before the park opened ADR, it was really difficult for us to get to that ADR on time. We were parking the car at the time of our ADR 8:10 AM.

The park opened at 9:00 AM. OMG. What an absolute SEA of people waiting around to get into that park! It was amazing to walk through the people to the character breakfast turnstyle and go into an empty park. There was a Photopass photographer there and we got some great pictures of us in all our tired glory in front of the iconic tree. If you get a dining plan, then you will get a voucher for a free 5 x 7 photopass photo...

There was virtually no one else checking in when we did. One other family. So we didn't wait long for the photo that the restaurant itself takes. Which I thought was totally lame with you standing in front of a wall of masks. Whatever. You don't have to buy this photo. When we got into the restaurant, it was PACKED. The characters were making good time getting to all the tables. They were fun, but they were being moved right along. I assume this is because they assume people also want to get a move on into the park early.

The food at Tusker was tasty food. Some of it was very normal...DS loved the tator tots...but there were some other choices there that reflected the fact that it had an African theme, though not to the extent of Boma at AKL.

Even though we were parking at 8:10 AM, we were walking down the path to EE around 9:15 AM. I reviewed our visit here in my 2009 dining report (see signature). This was a fast meal. Very fast.

If that fits with your plans, then I would definitely say go for it. I'm a big fan of having your restaurants be along the way and not going too far out of your way just for food.

However, if you happened to stay in the Boardwalk area...I would recommend Cape May Cafe. LOVE that one. It is the ONE that we are doing in our upcoming trip.

 

[septbaby]

Disney World and Disneyland are quite different, esp with WDW having Epcot and the Animal Kingdom. Personally I wouldn't waste park time at AK at a sit down meal. That park closes at 5pm, so not a lot of time to enjoy something that is tremendously different than DL. I would have dinner at Boma after the park day. I also like Sanaa and Jiko, but Boma is so easy after a hot day in the park.

You say you can't stay more than a day, but if your stay is before or after the cruise are you unable to stay another day or leave a day earlier? Chances are very good that you will be able to get the Dining Plan for free at that time of year, so the expense of meals will be greatly reduced.

At 5yo we took my nephew to Chef Mickey's and he loved it. At 7yo I took him to Crystal Palace and he actually requested to return there this year. I was shocked at the quality of the food at Crystal Palace, it was very, very good during our early dinner. I would even suggest 1900 Park Fare for a character breakfast, the ice cream machine is on and operating then too!

 

[jakeybake]

I would say take a spin over to the Beach Club and do the Cape May Cafe character breakfast.

Great character interaction and the food is wonderful. Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Chip & Dale are there.

It is a "must do" for us each trip.

Jay

 

[Fantasmiss]

If I could eat only ONE meal at WDW I'd chose CHEF MICKEY, no doubt!
Food is good, character interaction and overall experience is AWESOME!

 

[Irishgrl6975]

Our kids are the same age, except my DD is 16 and my son 7.....Both Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's have great character interaction. We have done dinner at both and we loved the food at CP so much last time we actually cancelled one of our CM ressies to eat at CP a second time We were not impressed with CM food CP has Pooh and friends while CM has Mickey and friends. We are doing CP for Thanksgiving this year