Overwhelmed by all the choices!!!

[gabriellewatson]

I have never been to WDW. I would like to get the most out of my dining experience. I need to make an itinerary or something, and I still need to make our Priority Seating Reservations. I have bought books and been to all the sites, but I still don't know where my fiance and I should eat.
Can you give me ideas or list your favorite Disney restaurant that is included in the DDP?

I know for sure we want to do one character dining experience, eat at 50s Prime Time, and Coral Reef, but we have so many nights and days left over.

We will be there 7 nights; that includes one quick service and one full service a day. That's how I'd like to schedule this out.

A little help please Thanks a ton!!!

 

[sistertrip]

It looks like you're going during free dining, so my first advice is to make your ADRs as soon as possible. Also, check out allearsnet.com. Under the Dining section, they have menus from just about all the restaurants, so it can help you make your decisions based on what you like to eat.

 

[Cruz Family]

My advice is to move fast, you need to make those ADR's ASAP.
You may want to do something near MK like Chef Mickeys or 1900 PF (that would give you your character meal) and maybe Boma @ AK Lodge. This way your dining will be all around WDW rather then traveling around the same area for every meal.
You may want to look at the Park hours and EMH's and get an idea of where you will be when. This way you can make ADR's that fit your schedule.
We love LeCellier and it is a good deal being only one TS credit.
What resort will you be staying at? If it is a mod. or better you may want to plan a meal at your resort restaurant to cut back on traveling.
Again, get those ADR's soon! Good Luck, Melissa

 

[Princess4Eeyore]

Hi ... Firstly reading these boards will help a lot.
Secondly, i would suggest a plan of action - example, which day are you doing which park, find out the times of the shows like Wishes, Illuminations etc and then try to schedule your dining plans asap.
I Would suggest you do it soon as its only 2 months away.
Which parks are you doing?
I would suggest looking at the menus on allearsnet.com to get an idea of where you want to eat too.

Good Luck and happy planning.

 

[jeepgirl30]

I have to say I'm more overwhelmed with each trip.

allearsnet.com has all the menus with the pricing. They also have reviews. When you read the reviews, try to keep in mind its all opinion. I'm surprised how many negative reviews I read for places I love ('Ohana, Flying Fish, San Angel, Cali Grill, etc). I have only had one "bad" meal. I don't like to post it because it was many years ago and the place could have changed by now and it was one meal only. I don't want to influence someone based on that. When I think of trying a new place I check the menu first, then read the reviews then check the menu again! If there are a lot of bad reviews I look over them to see if the posters review other places I've been and liked. If they review a lot of places poorly I go on my own.

I love Disney dining, its all about the atmosphere to me.

 

[hamlet35_2000]

Hi ... Firstly reading these boards will help a lot.
Secondly, i would suggest a plan of action - example, which day are you doing which park, find out the times of the shows like Wishes, Illuminations etc and then try to schedule your dining plans asap.
I Would suggest you do it soon as its only 2 months away.
Which parks are you doing?
I would suggest looking at the menus on allearsnet.com to get an idea of where you want to eat too.

Good Luck and happy planning.

This is exactly what we did. We started with what parks opened early for resort guests and which ones closed late for resort guests. We then made a list of restuaruants which we had to do, and fit those into the plan and then looked at all of the websites and decided on the rest. We had no problems getting ADR's but we are still a month out from the trip. Hurry up and make some initial plans and then start making those ADR's. Also, don't worry about changing the plan and having to change ADR's -- I changed plans about 5 times and kept calling back and never had any problems.

 

[UKDEB]

I don't know where to begin and I've been visiting several times a year since 1992, so I can't begin to imagine your dilemma!

The first thing to mention is that you should just chill out and be prepared to enjoy every choice. You can't possibly experience every dining option in one trip (hell, we haven't experienced them all in over 200 days!), so don't torture yourselves by imagining you might be missing out.

On the whole, the resort restuarants beat the park restaurants hands-down. That said, that won't always fit with your itinerary and, anyway, I think it's nice to get a mix of both.

I assume you'll be visiting all 4 parks and, as you're asking about DDP, that you'll be staying onsite. You've already identified full dining options at MGM and Epcot.

For a first-timer, I would recommend the following:

MK - Peco's Bill (Counter). Great burgers, chilli-cheese fries and fixins bar. Crystal Palace (Buffet). Beautiful space. Good character interaction (Pooh and friends). Very popular, so you definitely need to book. Go for a later breakfast or lunch and that way you wil get more attention from the characters as they wind down for the next session.

Epcot - You've already selected Coral Reef as your full-service choice. It's a tad over-priced in my opinion, but quite nice nonetheless. Trust your instincts - as I say, you can't possibly do it all. Le Cellier is another good choice. For counter service, consider Cantina de San Angel (Mexico) or the new Season food court at The Land.

AK - for me, this is the most disappointing of all the park dining options. I'm probably not the best person to advise on this as I think they're all dire. We always end up at the Rainforest Cafe. It's definitely a 'love it or hate it' place. I don't think it deserves the bad reviews. We've always found the food to be fresh and plentiful, and the theming is quite cool. It does always seem to be a bit on the expensive side, but the portions are huge, so don't over order.

MGM - The full-service options are better than the counter options. The ABC Commissary (Counter) is acceptable. The 50s PTC is fun - good choice. We also enjoy Mama Melrose and Brown Derby.

Where are you staying? Do you enjoy fine dining? There are so many good options at the resorts. Caifornia Grill (Contemporary), V&As, Citricos (Grand Floridian), Flying Fish Cafe (BoardWalk), Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge), Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge), bluezoo (Dolphin). They all afford a great opportunity to check out the resorts, too. Then there are loads of fun options at the resorts - ESPN, Whispering Canyon, 'Ohana, Boma ...

 

[gabriellewatson]

Wow Debbie that was sooo helpful!! I checked out and printed some of the menus from places I'd like to eat at. Gavin and I would definitely like to eat at, at least one table service meal and one quick service meal at every park. We would like have a character meal at Liberty Tree I think. I would like to eat at either Coral Reef or the Moroccan restaurant. We will definitely dine at the 50s Diner and Planet Hollywood because of our free voucher. We are staying at POFQ, so we plan to eat at Boatwright's Dining Hall that's near our hotel. We would like to have dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table, but I don't plan to get my hopes up considering we are making ADRs so late, we don't imagine that we can do that one. Le Cellier sounds great as does Biergarten. So we will choose one place to eat at Epcot. We are also looking at the Sci Fi Dine In. I would also like to eat at Tony's Town Square. Ugh.. so many choices. I am definitely going to look at the EMH for each day, and schedule each day accordingly. We also plan to visit Universal Studios one day, so we will forfiet a meal or two to eat in Orlando and sightsee. We definitely want to visit all the parks including the waterparks. Other than that... do you have to make ADRs for quick service meals. I imagine you don't have to, but I'm asking just in case...?

 

[lovehoney]

Wow Debbie that was sooo helpful!! I checked out and printed some of the menus from places I'd like to eat at. Gavin and I would definitely like to eat at, at least one table service meal and one quick service meal at every park. We would like have a character meal at Liberty Tree I think. I would like to eat at either Coral Reef or the Moroccan restaurant. We will definitely dine at the 50s Diner and Planet Hollywood because of our free voucher. We are staying at POFQ, so we plan to eat at Boatwright's Dining Hall that's near our hotel. We would like to have dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table, but I don't plan to get my hopes up considering we are making ADRs so late, we don't imagine that we can do that one. Le Cellier sounds great as does Biergarten. So we will choose one place to eat at Epcot. We are also looking at the Sci Fi Dine In. I would also like to eat at Tony's Town Square. Ugh.. so many choices. I am definitely going to look at the EMH for each day, and schedule each day accordingly. We also plan to visit Universal Studios one day, so we will forfiet a meal or two to eat in Orlando and sightsee. We definitely want to visit all the parks including the waterparks. Other than that... do you have to make ADRs for quick service meals. I imagine you don't have to, but I'm asking just in case...?

If you do Cinderella's Royal Table it will take 2 of your table service credits, so going to Universal won't make you forfeit a meal. Go ahead and call about CRT. I just called 2 days ago for our Aug/Sept trip. They had tons of breakfast and lunch openings and some early dinner openings. You never know unless you call.

Good Luck and have lots of fun.

Oh yeah, our favorite last December was Le Cellier. We've booked it for lunch this year. We also enjoyed Boma and Crystal Palace for Breakfast. Donald's Breakfastasaurus was great but you might want to use your table servicers for dinner.

 

[lovehoney]

I just noticed it was your Honeymoon! Congratulations! We will be there the same exact dates.

Since it is your honeymoon - tell the CM when you make your reservations. I've heard the California Grill is awesome. I think it would be very romantic to see the fireworks over the castle during your dinner. Since you are planning on leaving the world yo I would make reservations at some of the signature Dining places (such as Cinderellas royal table, California Grill, Citricos or Narcoossee's) these all take 2 table service credits. Maybe do the Hoop de doo Review or the Spirt of Aloha Dinner Show. - also 2 table service credits.

 

[Redwitch]

Another thought... For your AK day, consider a resort resteraunt. As the park usually closes earlier, you can just take a bus to whatever resort you've picked and enjoy a meal.