Please critique my dining plan

[hillview]

We are going to DL for 4 days (3 nights). Here is the plan. It is me, DH and 2 DSs ages 4 and almost 2. Both kids are pretty good at restautants in general. We are coming from the east coast so many meals may seem to be at odd times. We are staying at the HoJos and will be taking a break in the afternoons I think. Also no breakfasts -- thought is that kids will be up pretty early (6ish or before) as they will be on east coast times. So we will eat pre-park.

Goofy's Kitchen (takes about an hr from the hotel walking)-- 5:00 pm August 7 @ Disneyland hotel
Minnie Mouse -- 10:20 am August 8 @ Disneyland Park
Wine County Trattoria for dinner @ August 8th at 5 pm outside -- DCA -- parade at 5:15!! -- also parade at DLP at 6:30 -- order orange sorbet for dessert
Ariel's Grotto -- 11:40 am -- August 9 @ Disney California Adventure -- confirmed to sit inside -- playhouse disney show at 10:30 am at DCA
Dinner Café Orleans -- Aug 9th @ 5:30 pm @ Disneyland Park -- parade at 6:30 at DLP -- order the monte cristo and pome frys
Carnation Café for lunch -- on the 10th @ noon (DTDisney) Line can be very long so get there early -- MD order PB&J Pallett!!

I am open to any and all suggestions. Should I be working the BB in somewhere? Maybe instead of the Cafe Orleans?

TIA!
/hillary

 

[sahbushka]

Carnation Cafe is on main street - not DTDisney...just wanted to make sure you knew that and no, I would not work in BB with the ages of your children...would not be up their alley unless they have a very discerning palatte and like to sit quietly over a long meal.

Everything else looks good, expensive, but good! Have fun!

Sarah

 

[jernysgirl]

and no, I would not work in BB with the ages of your children...would not be up their alley unless they have a very discerning palatte and like to sit quietly over a long meal.

Everything else looks good, expensive, but good! Have fun!

Sarah

I agree. Although I do enjoy the BB, I will only go when my boys are not with us. It is too expensive to risk them not eating their meal and throwing a fit instead!

 

[disney4metoo]

You have to order a corn dog in the Farmer's Marketplace in DCA....delicious!

 

[hillview]

Thanks everyone! I am SOOO excited. If there are any changes we should make please let me know. DH thinks I am NUTS
/hillary

 

[avalon451]

It won't take you an hour to walk from HoJo to Goofy's kitchen unless your toddler is walking it (which I wouldn't recommend-- stroller! ) It's just over to the gates and through the Esplanade and DTD. Probably 20 minutes. However, when we had dinner at GCH after a long day of walking and tired-out tootsies, we just had the front desk at HoJo call us a cab. It cost about $10 with tip and it was worth it. We walked back slowly afterwards, enjoying the evening air and walking off our meal.

Also, I'm wondering if you're cutting it a little fine with the Playhouse Disney show / Ariel's Grotto, and the Cafe Orleans / parade. Come to think of it, I don't know how long Playhouse Disney lasts, since we didn't go, so maybe an hour and 10 minutes is ok there. But one hour for dinner at CO and then making it to a spot somewhere where you can actually see the parade seems like it might be kind of difficult. If your server is a little slow with the check or something, you might be in trouble. People start staking out parade spots an hour ahead of time.

Just a couple thoughts as they occurred to me-- HTH

 

[hhoman]

I would add Blue Bayoo for yourself, it's such a great place to eat.

 

[lcasa]

I don't think Playhouse Disney is more than 20-30 min max - they keep it short for an audience of little ones.

And I would skip BB - it's really pretty, but the food is way overpriced - the quality in my opinion is not what it used to be.

The best food on the premises is Napa Rose - but not for kids...

 

[ballarinamom]

I agree with Gail about CO and the parade. You'll never make it.
Also for WCT I would amke ressies for 4:45. That might give you a better chance of getting a table outside by the wall to see the parades. There are only about 5 or 6 tables that you can actually watch the parade. I would think most people will have 5:00 ressies.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Not knowing whether your 2 young sons enjoy meeting the princesses, I'm not sure if the princess character meal at Ariel's Grotto is worth the expense. Now that said, if you know they'll love it or you really want to do it, then enjoy it. The food is excellent and the interaction is good. But if you're doing it for the character meal experience, you have two others scheduled and may find a better use for that money since character meals can add up.

If you're looking to work in Blue Bayou, I would drop Ariel's and just get something beforehand for the 2 little ones. It is a great atmosphere and nice and quiet.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I agree with Gail about CO and the parade. You'll never make it.
Also for WCT I would amke ressies for 4:45. That might give you a better chance of getting a table outside by the wall to see the parades. There are only about 5 or 6 tables that you can actually watch the parade. I would think most people will have 5:00 ressies.

I made my WCT ressies for 4:10 for the 5:15 parade on our sept trip. When I called they weren't making patio ressies, it had to be requested when you checked in. CM said it was a new thing do to the popularity of watching the parade from the patio.

 

[wendylady36]

I agree that you might not make the parade with that Cafe Orleans sitting time. Every time I've been there, they've been really slow at getting us our food, usually because it's packed there and that's pretty much prime dining time that you're scheduled for.

I wouldn't suggest Blue Bayou unless you want to spend a lot of money on a meal. My nieces hardly ever eat anything on their plates there so it just wastes food and money for us.

I don't really have any suggestions on places to add, you've pretty much chosen my favorite places.