Opinions? Restaurant choices, First timer

[LibrarianBecky]

Thanks in advance for the opinions!

My 180 day window is a few weeks away, but I'm busy planning which restaurants I want ADRs at. To give you a little background information, this will be our first trip to WDW. We will be on the DDP. My son will be 5 when we go in September. We're looking for a magical Disney vacation, without stressing everyone out. We won't have parkhopper passes.

Here's our current dining plan:

Arrival day: Visit Magic Kingdom, Dinner at Chef Mickey's
Sunday: DHS Fantasmic package at Mama Melrose
Monday: Epcot Biergarten
Tuesday: Magic Kingdom, Cape May Seafood buffet for dinner
Wednesday: Animal Kingdom, Donald's Safari Breakfast
Thursday: Epcot, Teppan Edo
Friday: Magic Kingdom, Crystal Palace for Dinner
Saturday: time to go home...

Any opinions? Changes I should make? Probably my biggest concern right now is that Chef Mickey's has some negative reviews...but I thought meeting those characters would be a great way to start off our magical vacation!

 

[kerri0616]

I think Characters are a great way to start the vacation. Sure, Chef Mickey's isn't our favorite, but most don't go for the food anyway.

I would think about your MK day with dinner at Cape May. I'm not sure where you are staying or if you have a car. You won't have hoppers, so you cannot monorail to Epcot and walk through on your way to Cape May. You might want to consider dinner at one of the monorail restaurants or WL. The boat ride to WL is really relaxing and most enjoy dinner at WCC. My kids are older and our new fave is The Wave. My husband's favorite is Ohana.

Have a relaxing trip. And I agree about not being stressed out! It's supposed to be fun!

Kerri

 

[angiejg]

I would also rethink the MK day. Have you thought of taking the monorail from MK to the Polynesian for O'hana? It's one of our favorite meals. They do hula lessons for the kids and you can watch the MK fireworks from the Poly beach.

Our favorite Epcot restaurant is Coral Reef. My son is 8 and loves the huge fish tank with sea turtles, sharks and tons of fish. This trip we are trying Garden Grill with Chip and Dale. We sometimes don't lke to book too many sit downs at Epcot and enjoy "eating around the world". Try the crepes in France, churros in Mexico, the bakery in Norway to name a few. All are things you can grab and then sit down outside with.

Studios is really not know for its food choices, so I think you are good there. We do love Sci Fi Dine In, but your son might not. My son has been since he was 4 and been fine. They show cheesy old sci fi B movies. You sit in cars to eat like you are at a drive in. Great for shakes, etc.

And we LOVE Chef Mickey's! We have been to Disney 6 times and never miss it. Remember, you aren't going to get gourmet food, but the atmosphere cannot be beat! A great way to start or end a trip!

Hope that helps!

 

[tink20]

Looks good, Your son will love Chef Mickey's and the other character meals, enjoy that now, my DS is getting to cool for characters .

I would maybe rethink the Cape May also. Where are you staying, maybe a meal at your resort on that day.

Have a Wonderful, Magical first trip, there is nothing like that first trip!

 

[Cafeen]

The biggest issue I can see would be the MK to Cape May dinner. But, this could be eased by a few things. Do you have a car available? Are you staying in one of the Epcot resorts? (Ok, eased by a couple things )

If niether of the above, it may be easier to do this on one of your Epcot days, and then do something else on the MK day (Ohana is a good suggestion from what I've heard).

Beyond that, everything looks good. Chef Mickey's does get some poor reviews, but as always, take them with a grain of salt. Each and every restaurant in Disney has some scathing reviews, but don't let them fully persuede you one way or the other. Chef Mickey's is a great start to a Disney trip. There's nothing more Disney than dining with the "Fab 5".

Tusker House breakfast is great as well. Characters are good and the food was very good last year. As an added plus, if you can make an early enough reservation (not sure how your little one is at mornings) you can get into the park nice and early for some great photo opportunities .

Crystal Palace dinner was also pretty good when I did it in 2009.

I am completely against your "Time to go home..." though! I think you should plan something else there!

 

[Pakey]

I have to agree on Cape May. Fine if you are driving but if you plan to use WDW transportation and not staying at an Epcot resort, it won't be easy.

The rest look good.

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

Another vote for 'Ohana on your MK day! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE 'Ohana. Just hop on the Monorail and you're there in no time. Best thing is to pop back into MK for the rest of the evening.

 

[angiejg]

Doesn't hurt that Ohana has the BEST bread pudding on the PLANET!!!!

 

[LibrarianBecky]

Thank you for the input. Just a little more information for everyone, we are staying at POFQ and won't have a car. Here is what I was thinking for the Cape May dinner. Go to MK in morning, come back to hotel mid-afternoon for nap/swim. Have ADR at Cape May's in the evening, take bus to DHS and boat from there to Cape May. I guess to get back to the hotel we would need to take boat back to DHS and then shuttle back to POFQ.

The other option I was considering was to eat at Cape May's on the day we go to AK. I guess we would go from the park to the restaurant. It does sound easier to do it from Epcot, though. I might be able to convince my husband we should do this instead of Teppan Edo (while it has good reviews, we've done Japanese Steakhouse many times, so it isn't like we would be missing something new.)

 

[momtwoboys]

we are doing the same thing with Cape may! We did this last year and it worked out so easy!!! Only our resort is POP but same idea. We take a break anyway so leaving from the resort to DHS and take boat is so fun!!!!! Give it a try we'll be doing it in April

 

[serendipity]

Thanks in advance for the opinions!

My 180 day window is a few weeks away, but I'm busy planning which restaurants I want ADRs at. To give you a little background information, this will be our first trip to WDW. We will be on the DDP. My son will be 5 when we go in September. We're looking for a magical Disney vacation, without stressing everyone out. We won't have parkhopper passes.

Here's our current dining plan:

Arrival day: Visit Magic Kingdom, Dinner at Chef Mickey's
Sunday: DHS Fantasmic package at Mama Melrose
Monday: Epcot Biergarten
Tuesday: Magic Kingdom, Cape May Seafood buffet for dinner
Wednesday: Animal Kingdom, Donald's Safari Breakfast
Thursday: Epcot, Teppan Edo
Friday: Magic Kingdom, Crystal Palace for Dinner
Saturday: time to go home...

Any opinions? Changes I should make? Probably my biggest concern right now is that Chef Mickey's has some negative reviews...but I thought meeting those characters would be a great way to start off our magical vacation!

My one suggestion would be to eat at 'Ohana during the fireworks. They pipe in the music and have a great view. It's a great experience.

 

[CathieArms]

Thanks in advance for the opinions!

My 180 day window is a few weeks away, but I'm busy planning which restaurants I want ADRs at. To give you a little background information, this will be our first trip to WDW. We will be on the DDP. My son will be 5 when we go in September. We're looking for a magical Disney vacation, without stressing everyone out. We won't have parkhopper passes.

Here's our current dining plan:

Arrival day: Visit Magic Kingdom, Dinner at Chef Mickey's
Sunday: DHS Fantasmic package at Mama Melrose
Monday: Epcot Biergarten
Tuesday: Magic Kingdom, Cape May Seafood buffet for dinner
Wednesday: Animal Kingdom, Donald's Safari Breakfast
Thursday: Epcot, Teppan Edo
Friday: Magic Kingdom, Crystal Palace for Dinner
Saturday: time to go home...

Any opinions? Changes I should make? Probably my biggest concern right now is that Chef Mickey's has some negative reviews...but I thought meeting those characters would be a great way to start off our magical vacation!

It all looks good. The only thing I might change is that seafood buffet at Cape May. You'll be at MK that day and that's such a long trek to leave the park to eat and then come back. If it were me, I'd do something different. I'd do: Whispering Canyon, 'Ohana, 1900 PF, Kona, or something at the MK park itself. I just wouldn't want to travel all the way over there just for dinner.

 

[Quin]

I might be able to convince my husband we should do this instead of Teppan Edo (while it has good reviews, we've done Japanese Steakhouse many times, so it isn't like we would be missing something new.)

THIS.

Cape May buffet is good because it has both seafood and ribs/standard American fare. You would have a far better experience to do Cape May on your second Epcot day (I do agree with Biergarten for your first Epcot day; we love it there and buffets are great for kids).

For the Tuesday MK day, definitely see if you can get Ohana. Or Kona. Or try Tonys if DH likes Italian (it's kind of basic, but you don't have to leave the park). If DH likes Asian food, the Polynesian flavors of Ohana or Kona might appeal to him as well.

 

[starrysky]

Thank you for the input. Just a little more information for everyone, we are staying at POFQ and won't have a car. Here is what I was thinking for the Cape May dinner. Go to MK in morning, come back to hotel mid-afternoon for nap/swim. Have ADR at Cape May's in the evening, take bus to DHS and boat from there to Cape May. I guess to get back to the hotel we would need to take boat back to DHS and then shuttle back to POFQ.

The other option I was considering was to eat at Cape May's on the day we go to AK. I guess we would go from the park to the restaurant. It does sound easier to do it from Epcot, though. I might be able to convince my husband we should do this instead of Teppan Edo (while it has good reviews, we've done Japanese Steakhouse many times, so it isn't like we would be missing something new.)

We stayed at POR last year and when we wanted to get to a resort we took the boat to DTD and then got the bus from there to the resort. At the end of the night we did the reverse and if no boat we got the bus. Easier than going all the way to DHS and then getting the boat etc. The market place bus stop is a short walk from where the boat dock is.

I would say if you are not planning to go back to MK after cape may then go for it. If you are planning to go back then I would also agree with the other posts about choosing somewhere around MK to go.

total opposite would be to make an ADR at DTD they have some really cool themed restaurants that might make things a little easier.

 

[LibrarianBecky]

Talked to Dh to see what he thought. We agreed that POFQ to DHS to BC seemed like quite a bit of to'ing and fro'ing for us. We've decided to go with taking out Teppan Edo at Epcot and replacing it with Cape May. On the MK day, we're going to try for ressies at Ohana (somewhere I wouldn't have thought to pick, but food looks great and looks like fun for kids too!)

 

[starrysky]

Sounds like a good plan has come together, hope you enjoy all your meals and especailly your first and hopefully not last trip to WDW

 

[mikeyg1479]

Do Chef Mickeys only for the kids if they MUST see characters. That said, I've had better food at Old Country Buffet (not saying much), so don't go for the meal.

However it still does remain the best single place for kids to see and get photo ops with Mickey, minnie, donald, goofy, pluto in quick order without having to wait out enormous lines at the parks.

 

[dixonsontour]

My only comment would be you have a lot of buffets.

I find I spend too much time going up and down with my DD (she was almost 5 last trip). I like more of a mix of TS and buffets.

Agree Ohana good choice for you. Have you thought about whispering canyon? That is an easy boat trip from MK and your son might like the ketchup joke and 'pony' races.

My DD loved Teppan edo and Coral reef at epcot - maybe switch biergarten and keep teppan edo?

 

[Quin]

Talked to Dh to see what he thought. We agreed that POFQ to DHS to BC seemed like quite a bit of to'ing and fro'ing for us. We've decided to go with taking out Teppan Edo at Epcot and replacing it with Cape May. On the MK day, we're going to try for ressies at Ohana (somewhere I wouldn't have thought to pick, but food looks great and looks like fun for kids too!)

Enjoy your trip - hope it is the first of many more to come!

 

[angiejg]

Talked to Dh to see what he thought. We agreed that POFQ to DHS to BC seemed like quite a bit of to'ing and fro'ing for us. We've decided to go with taking out Teppan Edo at Epcot and replacing it with Cape May. On the MK day, we're going to try for ressies at Ohana (somewhere I wouldn't have thought to pick, but food looks great and looks like fun for kids too!)

It is! So excited that you are going to try it!