Please help me with my plans!

[gemjoy]

Okay ~ We're new to Disney - myself, DH, DD9 and DS11. We're spending four days at DisneyWorld before our 7 day Disney Cruise. I need help/suggestions on where and when to dine!!! Also, feel free to offer any other tips! Also - we have the dining plan - but don't care too much about character meals at Disney due to the fact that the kids will get lots of characters on the ship! Also - if you can fit in a little relaxing time - we'll take it - however it's not totally necessary. I plan to relax on the ship

Arrive Feb 28th at approx. 11:30 am - get situated at hotel - CBR
Head to Downtown Disney and I'm thinking about Planet Hollywood for dinner???? Is this good?

March 1st ~ MGM
I'm thinking Sci Fi Dine in Theatre for lunch.... or should we do Counter Service for lunch and Sci-Fi for dinner?
Fantasmic? Not sure if this will be going on.

March 2nd ~ Early entry at Magic Kingdom
Now this is the day I'm stumped on!!! I'd like to eat lunch at Liberty tree and then go to O'hanas for dinner. Is this something that can work easily... I know it's going to be a long day ~ will we be trying to do too much? Is there time to do dinner and go back to the park for the parade and wishes? HELP

March 3rd ~ 9am Animal Kingdom until after lunch... I know this is limited but I want to split this day between AK and Epcot. (Plus Epcot is open late this night.)
What Counter service is good for lunch at AK?
Planning on LeCellier for dinner at Epcot

Okay ~ as you can see - I'm in desperate need of some real Disney experts here!
What do you think?????
ThAnK~yOu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gemjoy]

 

[AUDramaQueen]

I haven't eaten at Sci Fi so I'm no help there. I would assume Fantasmic is going at least once during the night you're there. You should look into the Fantasmic Dinner package which will guarantee you seats. Only a number of restaurants are included though so you'll be limited in choices. I don't think Sci Fi is one of them.

Your second day should be OK. 'Ohana is at the Poly which is a monorail resort. So if your at the MK you can just hop on the resort monorail to dinner then hop back on.. If your reservation is early enough you should have time to get back for the parade and fireworks.

I haven't eaten at Planet Hollywood in a long time, but I wasn't that impressed. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe at DTD and it was good.

We've got small kids though so we're more of a counter service family.

Just relax. Talk to the family and let them get involved. (If they will)

Have fun!

 

[mommystieg]

According to the WDW site, Fantasmic is offered every evening of your stay at 7:00 pm. We have never eaten at Sci-Fi Dine In so I can't really help you there--our favorite TS at MGM is 50's Prime Time Cafe but I don't think it is part of the Fantasmic dining package.
Now about your MK day -- unless you eat an early lunch at Liberty Tree you probably won't be hungry enough to eat dinner at 'Ohana--they serve you a TON of food. Since the park closes at 8:00 pm maybe you could get the latest seating at 'Ohana. You may want to eat a lighter lunch (counter service) and then eat at the earliest seating for dinner at 'Ohana which should give you time to come back to the park. I don't know what crowds are like at the time of year you are going but when we go (early June) we typically have to stake out our seats for Spectromagic and Wishes about 2 hours before Spectro starts. You may want to take this into consideration when planning your meals that day.
We have never eaten at Planet Hollywood (I haven't seen too many favorable reviews on the DTD location)so I don't have any advice to offer about that meal. Our favorite place to eat at DTD is Earl of Sandwich--the food is good and the prices are reasonable. Since it is counter service, you may have more time to check out DTD after you eat.
We really enjoyed Flame Tree Barbeque on our last visit to AK but thought both Pizzafari and Tusker House were good, too. Here is a link to the menus:http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm#
Just remember that you will not be able to see/do everything in just one visit so pick the things that are really important and focus on seeing/doing those. Don't worry--you will fun no matter what because you are going to DISNEY WORLD!!!

 

[gemjoy]

Okay ~ I've changed everything and I've made our dining reservations!!! What do you think? This board is soooo helpful! When I look back at where I started... I feel so organized now! Thanks everyone!

Day 1 - I think we will stick with Downtown Disney the first night, however, I'm going to scratch Planet Hollywood and hop on the monorail and hit O'hanas for dinner.

Day 2 - MGM
lunch at Sci Fi Dine in Theatre (kids are 9 and 11 and will LOVE this place!)
maybe grab a cs dinner this night and hopefully see fantasmic!

Day 3 - Early entry at Magic Kingdom
(I took your advice on not trying to do two sit down meals this day.)
CS lunch and Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner.

Day 4 - Split between AK and Epcot(Epcot has extended hours this night!)
AK at 9am and we're going to opt for a cs meal here for lunch
Epcot in the afternoon with a sit down dinner at Le'Cellier!
Hopefully we'll see Illuminations!

That's all for now!

 

[mdmbfly]

Hi!

Just MTCW...my girlfriend and I went to Sci Fi for lunch and loved it! I am not into sci-fi at all but it was really a unique experience. We enjoyed the food and spent the entire time looking around and giggling because it was so cool and weird! Hope you kids (and you) love it as much! Have fun.

I had sort of forgotten about our lunch there, you gave me a neat little trip down memory lane. Thanks.

 

[marylou]

A suggestion for counter service at MK is Cosmic Rays. They have burgers and chicken etc. but the "Lounge Lizard" is great entertainment.
p.s. you will need to have park hoppers to split your day or pay 2 entrance fees .
We usually have park hoppers and take a break during the day and go to a different park for the evening. Then do the park that we were at in the morning on an evening another day