Opinions please..

[sunemom]

Made all of our ADRs for this July. We have the DDP as we enjoy getting out of the heat and plan on heading out early. Our group will be DH, two DD (15 & 17), and me. My DH is very much a meat and potatoes person. We are staying at the AKL.

Read a lot on these boards (thank you) and was able to get everything we wanted to book. My question is for all the experienced folks- did I miss anything? As my oldest is going away to school, this may be last family vacation for a while. Also, my daughters wanted to a lot of character meals.

1st day- arrive around 2, eat in hotel, Hoop Dee Doo @ 7:15

2nd day- 8:30am Donald's Tusker House (park opens at 9), 6:40 1900 Park Fare

3rd day- do EMH at Epcot, grab FP, breakfast Royal Askershus @ 9:15, lunch 1:20 @ Rose & Crown Pub, dinner 7:00 @ Garden Grill

4th day- 11:30 lunch @ 50's Prime Time Cafe, Fantasmic Dinner 5:00 @ Hollywood & Vine

5th day- 8:25am Crystal Palace (park opens 9), 1:00 Liberty Tree Tavern, 7:00 Boma

6th day- 12:30 Sci Fi, 6:30 Chef Mickey's

7th day- 1:10 Coral Reef, 7:05 Le Cellier

8th day- 8:30 Boma breakfast, leave for home

I realize it is a lot of TS, but we will get our money's worth. Also, thought if it was too much after first couple of days, we could cancel and do CS.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

 

[juliemcalister]

You certainly have some great meals planned! For the most part, I like your plan and what you selected.

Personally I would not be able to enjoy breakfast starting at 8:25 or 8:30 when the park opens at 9:00. There's just no way to enjoy the meal, visit with characters and be out by the time the park opens. But this very much has to do with our vacation style. We're up early, eat and there for park opening. You might want to consider looking for earlier times for CP and TH. It's a good possibility that you could get an 8:05 for your CP (earliest seating). That way you're seated with the first group and can request your check while eating and settle your bill before everyone else is trying to do the same thing.

My only other comment has to do with H&V. I know it has supporters but the lunch we had there was nothing less than disgusting. Uninspired selection, luke warm food and just not to our taste. The best I could say for it was that it didn't make us sickl And we are the opposite of picky. If I were chatting with a friend I would advise her to avoid it at all costs. A little harder to advise when you don't know someone.

I hope this helps a bit and that you have an awesome trip!

 

[sunemom]

Thank you for your comments. I tried for earlier breakfast seatings, but those were the times offered. We are planning on getting there at 8:00 for the park meals and see if we can be sat earlier. I will try again to see if there are earlier times that opened. Good idea about asking for the check right away.

As far as H&V, I didn't want to book Brown Derby as it counts as 2TS and we are already doing 2 of those restaurants. Would you recommend Mama Melorose? I have read mixed reviews on that restaurant as well.

 

[juliemcalister]

If you're not able to push your breakfast times up between now and then, I think arriving early is a great idea. That worked for a lady behind me last time we went to CP this past August.

Unfortunately I've never been to Mama Melrose's so I can't provide a comparison but the negative comments about H&V seem to be much more emphatic than the negative remarks I've read about Mama Melrose's.
It might be worth starting thread asking for feedback from those who have been to both.

Even if you have less than a perfect meal at H&V, it's worth it for the Fantasmic! preferred seating. Good luck deciding!

 

[gregrmike1]

Our family has been to both Mama Melrose, Hollywood and Vine and Hollywood Brown Derby! Out of the three Mama Melrose was my favorite for Fantasmic Package. Hollywood Brown Derby was good however I am not sure I would use 2 TS credits for it in the furture and Hollywood and Vine is the only disney restaurant that our family has decide we will not return to. I hope you have a great trip.