Please help with our meal decisions!

[fivefordisney]

My DH, DDs (6 and 9) and DS (2) are visiting WDW and staying at POR from Aug 20-26. We have reservations for meals at the following places:

Sunday night: 5:00 Hoop Dee Doo Revue (We arrive around 2:00)
Monday night: Sci-Fi Cafe
Tuesday night:Whispering Canyon ( + princess breakfast at Askershus)
Wednesday night: Teppanyaki (+ lunch at Prime Time Cafe)
Thursday night: O'Hanas
Friday Morning: Chef Mickeys character breakfast

We leave on Saturday morning.

I am wondering if this is too much in terms of stimulation after spending the mornings in the parks. I realized that other that the sci-fi cafe these meals are more entertainment type meals (as opposed to laid back/relaxing). I want to make the most out of my trip but hope I haven't gone overboard.

In addition, I spoke with the CM who helped me figure out where to eat. I had very little knowledge so she guided me through the process, step by step, night by night. I have the dining plan and she thought these would be the best choices. (I will have to pay for some of the additional TS meals obviously.) Does anyone have better suggestions?

Also, does anyone have a favorite in terms of CS restaurants, or are they all basically the same?

Thanks so much for your input. We are so excited and simply cannot wait!!! We planned this trip spontaneously when the opportunity presented itself and now it is all I can think about!!

 

[Texian@WDW]

I'm a little worried about your arrival time - are you arriving at the airport at 2:00 or the resort at 2:00? I think they want you to check in at HDR about 45 minutes early (mainly to take pictures). You might be cutting it a little close because it takes a tad longer to get to Ft. W.

I don't think the kids will be overwhelmed by the dinners - in fact it may be more relaxing than a day at the park. I would take advantage of going to your room to rest during the heat of the day.

CS does differ according to tastes. There was a thread just last week on favorite CS meals that may be helpful. I'm excited for you! Have fun.

 

[bluejasmine]

I think it sounds great...Youll have a blast! We will be at Ohanas that Thur night too! What time is your ADR? Mine is 7 me and the kids will be wearing our lime mickeys with our names in glitter..

 

[fivefordisney]

I'm a little worried about your arrival time - are you arriving at the airport at 2:00 or the resort at 2:00? I think they want you to check in at HDR about 45 minutes early (mainly to take pictures). You might be cutting it a little close because it takes a tad longer to get to Ft. W.

I don't think the kids will be overwhelmed by the dinners - in fact it may be more relaxing than a day at the park. I would take advantage of going to your room to rest during the heat of the day.

CS does differ according to tastes. There was a thread just last week on favorite CS meals that may be helpful. I'm excited for you! Have fun.

Our flight gets in at 12:39 so I was just guessing (hopefully) we'd make it to POR by 2:00. Thanks for the tip about getting there early--there is so much I don't know and I would LOVE to get pictures. Any suggestions on what time to leave POR to get to FW?

Thanks again!

 

[fivefordisney]

I think it sounds great...Youll have a blast! We will be at Ohanas that Thur night too! What time is your ADR? Mine is 7 me and the kids will be wearing our lime mickeys with our names in glitter..

We couldn't get anything near 7:00. We are eating at 5:10!!! Hopefully, it will be fine. We may make it back to the MK after if the kids aren't too pooped! I'll look for you as we are leaving--I have no idea what we'll be wearing. Just look for the exhausted mom with three kids!!

 

[gigi1313]

are you driving or depending on wdw transport? (and lemme suggest, do NOT take the boat to DTD and hope to get a bus to the FW 'cause it does not happen that way... buses from DTD are VERY few and far between during the day... we were almost late for our HDDR dinner last year because we waited almost an HOUR for the bus to FW and when a bus finally did arrive, it was not sched'd to go all the way to pioneer hall, but the driver made an exception! it was a NIGHTMARE!)

if you are driving, give yourself 15-20 mins (FW can be difficult to navigate)... if you are taking wdw transport, give yourself at least an hour, maybe more... i would leave as soon after check-in as you are able, figuring there's plenty to do at FW to keep you occupied while waiting (petting zoo, beach, etc)...

another option, and what we'll probably do this time, is take a taxi! for a few bucks it's worth not waiting and potentially being late!

 

[fivefordisney]

are you driving or depending on wdw transport? (and lemme suggest, do NOT take the boat to DTD and hope to get a bus to the FW 'cause it does not happen that way... buses from DTD are VERY few and far between during the day... we were almost late for our HDDR dinner last year because we waited almost an HOUR for the bus to FW and when a bus finally did arrive, it was not sched'd to go all the way to pioneer hall, but the driver made an exception! it was a NIGHTMARE!)

if you are driving, give yourself 15-20 mins (FW can be difficult to navigate)... if you are taking wdw transport, give yourself at least an hour, maybe more... i would leave as soon after check-in as you are able, figuring there's plenty to do at FW to keep you occupied while waiting (petting zoo, beach, etc)...

another option, and what we'll probably do this time, is take a taxi! for a few bucks it's worth not waiting and potentially being late!

Wow! Thanks for the advice. That is exactly what I was planning to do--take the boat to DTD and wander for a bit and then go to FW. Thank you so much for helping us avoid that calamity. We are getting to POR by the ME option so I am a bit nervous about that to begin with... So I should leave POR at 3:00 for a 5:00 dinner?

Thanks again!

 

[Texian@WDW]

According to the Our Laughing Place estimator - http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.asp

To drive from POR to FW = 10 min.
POR - MK - FW = 40 min.
POR - BB - FW = 47 min.

I guess MK and Blizzard Beach are the only parks that have direct "flights" to FW.

 

[Texian@WDW]

Oh, I remember looking at a map of FW and the parking for HDR looks kind of far from Pioneer Hall, so you may want to allow even more time to walk to the venue.

 

[gigi1313]

i would! (plan to leave at 3 for a 5pm dinner 'cause you know you'll get halfway to the bus stop and someone will have forgotten something or need to run in for a potty break or or or... you know how it goes! LOL!) and then you'll have two choices... jump on the first bus that comes along, or wait for the bus to MK and grab the boat to the campground... there are people that have strong reasoning for both options... personally, i'd wait for the MK bus and take the boat but that's just me! LOL!

be sure to bring your camera... i'm sure you know to bring it for character meals, but bring it to HDDR too... you never know when a family member will be invited on stage to be a part of the show!

 

[fivefordisney]

According to the Our Laughing Place estimator - http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.asp

To drive from POR to FW = 10 min.
POR - MK - FW = 40 min.
POR - BB - FW = 47 min.

I guess MK and Blizzard Beach are the only parks that have direct "flights" to FW.

COOL site--thanks!

 

[fivefordisney]

i would! (plan to leave at 3 for a 5pm dinner 'cause you know you'll get halfway to the bus stop and someone will have forgotten something or need to run in for a potty break or or or... you know how it goes! LOL!) and then you'll have two choices... jump on the first bus that comes along, or wait for the bus to MK and grab the boat to the campground... there are people that have strong reasoning for both options... personally, i'd wait for the MK bus and take the boat but that's just me! LOL!

be sure to bring your camera... i'm sure you know to bring it for character meals, but bring it to HDDR too... you never know when a family member will be invited on stage to be a part of the show!

We'd be a mess without ya!!! Thanks! Any other suggestions?

 

[gigi1313]

LOL! go hungry! and if the kids are not keen on the choices, ask for something else (they can run next door to trails end kitchen and get mac/cheese or pizza and maybe other selections, my kids had those two)... i think that's it for my HDDR recommendations... LOL!

 

[fivefordisney]

LOL! go hungry! and if the kids are not keen on the choices, ask for something else (they can run next door to trails end kitchen and get mac/cheese or pizza and maybe other selections, my kids had those two)... i think that's it for my HDDR recommendations... LOL!

Knowing my kids, they'll probably want the mac and cheese!

You're the best! Thanks!