Please Critique Our Dining Plans

[JAMIESMITH]

My family is heading back to Disney next January. We are staying in a standard studio at Boardwalk Villas. I'm hoping for some feedback on the restaurants we're planning to visit. We have a couple of repeats, but are also trying a lot of new to us places. We will be on the regular dining plan, but are also planning to pay out of pocket for a few extra meals.

Sunday (Arrival Day)
Lunch at Boardwalk Bakery
Dinner at Ohana after Wishes

Monday (Epcot Day)
Lunch at Le Cellier
Dinner at Coral Reef (we loved this one back in 2012)

Tuesday (AK Day)
Breakfast at Tusker House before park opens
Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ
Dinner at Big River Grille (I'm nervous b/c they don't take reservations)

Wednesday (MK Day)
Breakfast at Gaston's Tavern
Lunch at Be Our Guest with FP+
Dinner at Grand Floridian Café (my family's favorite from 2012)

Thursday (HS Day)
Lunch at Mama Melrose with Fantasmic Package (really nervous about the food here)
Dinner at Pizza Planet (we've never tried Disney pizza)

Friday (DTD No Park)
Lunch at Earl of Sandwich
Dinner at Garden Grove seafood buffet (thinking of leaving our daughter in one of the child care centers)

Saturday (Epcot Day)
Lunch at Liberty Inn
We'll fly home after lunch

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for looking at this!

 

[marybogue]

I think everything looks great - especially how you planned according to location (parks, hotel, etc). The only thing I would question, and this is sooooo subjective, but with all the deliciousness at Epcot, I find Liberty Inn to be just fair. What about Via Napoli or something with a little more flair? Hmmmmm, now I am craving Via Napoli pizza. Have a great trip!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I think everything looks great - especially how you planned according to location (parks, hotel, etc). The only thing I would question, and this is sooooo subjective, but with all the deliciousness at Epcot, I find Liberty Inn to be just fair. What about Via Napoli or something with a little more flair? Hmmmmm, now I am craving Via Napoli pizza. Have a great trip!

I'm trying to use up one last quick service credit on our last day. Is there another quick service at Epcot you might suggest? Via Napoli is a table service, isn't it?

We've tried the French bakery and the Mexican quick service before.

 

[figment_jii]

Dinner at Pizza Planet (we've never tried Disney pizza)

Disney pizza isn't really all that great...it's kind of like the kind you get from the freezer or a high school cafeteria. If that's the only reason you're going to Pizza Planet, I'd consider heading somewhere else.

Lunch at Liberty Inn

This is pretty generic food...given that you're in Epcot, I'd consider going to one of the other WS QS locations (Kringla, Les Halles) or Sunshine Seasons. Sunshine Seasons has a nice variety of items and it's among the better QS locations.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

Disney pizza isn't really all that great...it's kind of like the kind you get from the freezer or a high school cafeteria. If that's the only reason you're going to Pizza Planet, I'd consider heading somewhere else.

This is pretty generic food...givent hat you're in Epcot, I'd consider going to one of the other WS QS locations (Kringla, Les Halles) or Sunshine Seasons. Sunshine Seasons has a nice variety of items and it's among the better QS locations.

Is there an alternative QS location you might suggest at HS?

We've been to Les Halles and did really enjoy it. I need to look at the menu from Kringala.

Thanks so much!

 

[figment_jii]

Is there an alternative QS location you might suggest at HS?

Um...err...not really...I tend to feel that DHS is the weakest of the parks in terms of QS food. I'd probably head over to Sunset Boulevard because it's has the most options.

 

[Amanda Esmeralda]

Your dining plans look good. I just want to say major props for planning the meals for your January trip the March before! I have a week long trip in September and I am already putting together a schedule for it. DH is ready to put a psychiatrist on speed dial.

I knew I loved this board.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

Starring Rolls at DHS has good sandwiches and delish cupcakes yumm..I would skip the pizza at DHS

 

[JAMIESMITH]

Um...err...not really...I tend to feel that DHS is the weakest of the parks in terms of QS food. I'd probably head over to Sunset Boulevard because it's has the most options.

I guess if we had time we could catch a boat back to BW or one of the other resorts nearby and grab a QS lunch there...

Your dining plans look good. I just want to say major props for planning the meals for your January trip the March before! I have a week long trip in September and I am already putting together a schedule for it. DH is ready to put a psychiatrist on speed dial.

I knew I loved this board.

I have a good excuse....really I do!

My job gets really hectic from April-September. We can make our ADRs in June (and believe me I'll do it on the first possible day!) and I know if I don't have a good plan in place now, I won't have time to make one when it's closer to time

Starring Rolls at DHS has good sandwiches and delish cupcakes yumm..I would skip the pizza at DHS

That's one place we probably won't go back to. My (at the time) four year old threw up right after we ate there on our last trip. One of her first requests when we started planning this trip was not to go back to "that puke place". I don't think there was anything wrong with the food, but it made a bad impression on us

 

[Amanda Esmeralda]

I have a good excuse....really I do!

My job gets really hectic from April-September. We can make our ADRs in June (and believe me I'll do it on the first possible day!) and I know if I don't have a good plan in place now, I won't have time to make one when it's closer to time

Makes total sense! I just love planning so I start as soon as I can!

 

[aacvacation]

I'm sorry to hear Starring Rolls isn't an option, as I just went there last month and was thoroughly impressed by the value and quality of the food. But I also understand, there are some places that you just can't go back to.

I also understand that you probably don't want to leave the park to go eat elsewhere as it wastes time.

For me, I settle when I go to HS, because their food just isn't the best. And, until my last trip, I always ate at Pizza Planet. In no way is it terrible, (unless you have amazingly high standards, in which case, I'm sorry for suggesting it haha.), and it won't kill you! Plus for me, it was always fun to say that I was eating at Pizza Planet!

Another thing to consider, QS locations tend to close early in HS. Don't be surprised if Pizza Planet is closed by 6! In that case, another place I would suggest is Backlot Studio Express. The theme is cool. However that is nothing but nuggets, fries, and burgers.

 

[MSSANDRA]

It looks good. We have eaten at most of the places you have planned.

We always do Mama Melrose for the Fantastic Package and have never been unhappy with the choice. Trip before last it was our favorite meal of the trip. An added bonus is with the package and on the regular dinning plan you get an appetizer with the meal where you don't anywhere else.

Pizza Planet is just ok, but my DS7 thinks it is the coolest thing in the world, so its a must do for us.

Love Ohana and Be our Guest.

One thought: If I was doing a date night at WDW, I'm not sure I would choose a buffet. There are tons of more romantic, couple places that are great!

 

[Gette88]

I really want to try Tangerine Cafe in Morocco. That's a counter service.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

I'm sorry to hear Starring Rolls isn't an option, as I just went there last month and was thoroughly impressed by the value and quality of the food. But I also understand, there are some places that you just can't go back to.

I also understand that you probably don't want to leave the park to go eat elsewhere as it wastes time.

For me, I settle when I go to HS, because their food just isn't the best. And, until my last trip, I always ate at Pizza Planet. In no way is it terrible, (unless you have amazingly high standards, in which case, I'm sorry for suggesting it haha.), and it won't kill you! Plus for me, it was always fun to say that I was eating at Pizza Planet!

Another thing to consider, QS locations tend to close early in HS. Don't be surprised if Pizza Planet is closed by 6! In that case, another place I would suggest is Backlot Studio Express. The theme is cool. However that is nothing but nuggets, fries, and burgers.

Starring Rolls wasn't very good when we were there, but maybe it was just an off day Maddy getting sick knocks it off our list of places to revisit at least for a while.

Fantasmic starts at 7. I hope we can eat around 5.

Backlot Studio Express could give us our burger fix since I'm looking for something more interesting at Epcot.

It looks good. We have eaten at most of the places you have planned.

We always do Mama Melrose for the Fantastic Package and have never been unhappy with the choice. Trip before last it was our favorite meal of the trip. An added bonus is with the package and on the regular dinning plan you get an appetizer with the meal where you don't anywhere else.

Pizza Planet is just ok, but my DS7 thinks it is the coolest thing in the world, so its a must do for us.

Love Ohana and Be our Guest.

One thought: If I was doing a date night at WDW, I'm not sure I would choose a buffet. There are tons of more romantic, couple places that are great!

I am really worried about Mama Melrose! What did you order?

Is it possible to eat at Pizza Planet with a kiddo and not play at the arcade?

Going to a buffet and not having to fix a child a plate as well as my own sounds perfect! We hope to spend a little time alone in our room before picking her up

I really want to try Tangerine Cafe in Morocco. That's a counter service.

Thanks! I'll look at that menu, too!

 

[dachsie]

I'm trying to use up one last quick service credit on our last day. Is there another quick service at Epcot you might suggest? Via Napoli is a table service, isn't it?

We've tried the French bakery and the Mexican quick service before.

The Tangierine bakery in Morocco is a great QS option

 

[WendyLou]

My family is heading back to Disney next January. We are staying in a standard studio at Boardwalk Villas. I'm hoping for some feedback on the restaurants we're planning to visit. We have a couple of repeats, but are also trying a lot of new to us places. We will be on the regular dining plan, but are also planning to pay out of pocket for a few extra meals. Sunday (Arrival Day) Lunch at Boardwalk Bakery Dinner at Ohana after Wishes Monday (Epcot Day) Lunch at Le Cellier Dinner at Coral Reef (we loved this one back in 2012) Tuesday (AK Day) Breakfast at Tusker House before park opens Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ Dinner at Big River Grille (I'm nervous b/c they don't take reservations) Wednesday (MK Day) Breakfast at Gaston's Tavern Lunch at Be Our Guest with FP+ Dinner at Grand Floridian Café (my family's favorite from 2012) Thursday (HS Day) Lunch at Mama Melrose with Fantasmic Package (really nervous about the food here) Dinner at Pizza Planet (we've never tried Disney pizza) Friday (DTD No Park) Lunch at Earl of Sandwich Dinner at Garden Grove seafood buffet (thinking of leaving our daughter in one of the child care centers) Saturday (Epcot Day) Lunch at Liberty Inn We'll fly home after lunch Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for looking at this!

Ohana's is one of my faves, loved Tusker House, can't help with the others. We loved Kona cafe and sci-if dine in for extra options. So glad to see you enjoyed coral reef, we have an ADR for our May trip and have really gone back and forth due to reviews but think the entire family will love the atmosphere and views ( if we have one).

 

[pammydw]

I am most excited for you to dine at Le Cellier! Great good. Too bad I am having a hard time talking my hubby into using 2 dinner credits to eat here again. He didn't think it was worth the two credits, but I just tell him he didn't order the right thing! Your ADR's look great! Have fun!

 

[JAMIESMITH]

Ohana's is one of my faves, loved Tusker House, can't help with the others. We loved Kona cafe and sci-if dine in for extra options. So glad to see you enjoyed coral reef, we have an ADR for our May trip and have really gone back and forth due to reviews but think the entire family will love the atmosphere and views ( if we have one).

The steak and the lobster pasta were the best entrees we tried We were seated at the farthest tables from the aquarium and still had a decent view of the aquarium.

I am most excited for you to dine at Le Cellier! Great good. Too bad I am having a hard time talking my hubby into using 2 dinner credits to eat here again. He didn't think it was worth the two credits, but I just tell him he didn't order the right thing! Your ADR's look great! Have fun!

I couldn't see using two credits here either, so we're just paying for it

 

[sazzifrazz]

I would skip liberty inn also and grab quick service from around the world. Everything else looks good.

 

[hogwartsdropout]

We did Big River Grille and we were also worried about not being able to make a reservation so on the morning that we knew we were going to eat dinner there we went to the restaurant and the manager put our name down on a reservation list.
Honestly though, we were not very impressed by Big River Grille, mediocre food that you could get anywhere, bad service (they put our desserts down on the table when we were still eating our entrees) and a table facing the wall.