Please, please, please READ and Comment

[jenk1013]

Ok, here is what I have so far, but remember that nothing is set in stone. We are a family of 4 (Me, dh, ds-5, dd-4) staying at CBR from Sept 24th-30th. If we don't feel like doing something or want to add something else that I didn't include, no problem. This is just my rough guide:

Sat--Arrival; check in and relax at hotel; dinner at O'Hana's

Sun--Magic Kingdom; lunch at Crystal Palace (Pooh) or counter meal; rest at hotel; dinner at Boma's

Mon--Animal Kingdom; Lunch at Counter; rest at hotel; Chef Mickey's for dinner; MK again??

Tues--Epcot(Futureworld); lunch at Alfredo's counter; rest at hotel; Crystal Palace dinner; Spectro Parade and fireworks(if they are scheduled this day based on last year)

Wed--MGM; lunch at Sci-Fi or 50's Primetime or counter; rest at hotel; Dinner at Le'Cellier in Epcot World Showcase--Illuminations??

Thurs--Magic Kingdom; lunch at Counter; Rest at Hotel; Dinner at MGM Mama Melrose--Fantasmic??

Fri--Character Breakfast--any suggestions?; repeat any favorite attractions;
depart for airport

Notice I have way too many sit down meals. I don't plan on doing all of them, but I'm just trying to put in anything that I'm slightly interested in. I know we can't do it all, but I figure it is easier to drop something then to try to add it later (and have to wait in a long standby line). Also, the parks that I have for each day are also pretty flexible. I pretty much know that I want to start and end with Magic Kingdom, but the others can be interchangeable. I just put them down for the sake of making the dining reservations.

My goal is to be at the park openings and come back to the hotel for an afternoon break, but if we happen to sleep in (I doubt my kids will, but you never know) then we will just go for the late morning and all afternoons, skip the break and go right to dinner.

So, you've been to Disney--what do you think of this itinerary? I would LOVE your feedback on the restaurants and itinerary in general!! Thanks!

Jen

 

[jenk1013]

just bumping this up because this board is so darn busy

 

[Fast Pass]

It all sounds good to me. How many sit downs do you want to have? I can't comment on Alfredo's but here on the boards recently there was a whole thread about the restaurant.

Definitely to Chef Mickey's and the Crystal Palace.

 

[BCV23]

I don't think you have too many table service restaurants. It makes for so much more enjoyable day to have those nice breaks.

I do think if it were me, I'd only schedule 2 or at most 3 character meals and spread them out a bit more. I think it is more exciting to children if it stays fresh.

Lastly, I don't believe there is counter service at Alfredo's? If there is, we've missed seeing it all these years!

Are you having fun planning? You're doing such a good job, I bet you are. Planning our meals is one of my favorite things about a WDW trip.

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

Who says you've got too many sit downs?? That looks about normal for us! If your kids are up to it, go for it. DS (3) thinks we take him to WDW for the rides and the characters... we don't want to tell him it's just an excuse for us to go eat!!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Alfredo's isn't a counter service, just table - so that puts two big sitdowns on that day. OUR family would be fine with it, but you may decide that it wastes too much time, esp if it's your first trip. There is lots of good counter service at WS, esp if your family enjoys trying new foods, so that's always a good option if you decide to stick with Crystal Palace for dinner and do a counter at Epcot.

I think 1 sitdown a day is important, the break is nice to have. I don't think you have too many, but you can play it by ear when you're there =)

You have LOTS of great places chosen!!!!!!

 

[CTillberg]

Your family sounds alot like ours - 2 adults, two preshooler/kindergarten staying at CBR this fall.

I agree about limiting yourself to two, maybe three character meals to keep it fresh. Also, more than one sit down a day, I feel is too much food and too much time away from the parks. Also, I assume you are using Disney transporation, so if you are planning to drive your own car, you can forget what I say here about travel time. With all that said, here are my suggestions:

Sat--Arrival; check in and relax at hotel; dinner at O'Hana's
We really like Shutters at CBR and this would give you more time to relax and see things around the hotel and not take alot of travel time to just get to your dinner and back (as you may be tired from travelling that day anyway).

Sun--Magic Kingdom; lunch at Crystal Palace (Pooh) or counter meal; rest at hotel; dinner at Boma's
Why not get an early start with breakfast at Crystal Palace? If your kids are like ours, our kids are much better breakfast eaters than any other meal so we feel we get our money's worth with them at a breakfast character meal. Plus this will get you into the park and started ealy on the rides. I can't really comment on Boma's, except that it will take alot of travel time to get there from CBR.

Mon--Animal Kingdom; Lunch at Counter; rest at hotel; Chef Mickey's for dinner; MK again??
I would think about a good breakfast (like Mickey waffles!) at CBR (there is alot of walking at AK), a counter service or snacks for lunch, then maybe try Boma's late afternoon after the park closes as you could take a 5 min. bus ride to the AK Lodge.

Tues--Epcot(Futureworld); lunch at Alfredo's counter; rest at hotel; Crystal Palace dinner; Spectro Parade and fireworks(if they are scheduled this day based on last year)
You might want to try Coral Reef for either lunch or dinner in Future World- we thought the food was great and the kids loved watching the sea life and divers swim by. I wouldn't go back to Crystal Palace since you were just there two days ago and there are so many other restaurants to try. Or maybe stay at Epcot all day and do dinner at Coral Reef or LeCellier and stay to see the great night show at EPCOT, Illuminations- of course you don't want to miss Spectro and fireworks at MK, but maybe you can hit those another day, I am sure they will be held more than once that week.

Wed--MGM; lunch at Sci-Fi or 50's Primetime or counter; rest at hotel; Dinner at Le'Cellier in Epcot World Showcase--Illuminations??
My kid's loved SciFi (even though they hardly ate - next time they will split a meal or share mine) I think your plan will be too much food. After our Sci-Fi lunch, I was full the rest of the day and just had a snack at the hotel that night before bed. Maybe try LeCellier on Tuesday.

Thurs--Magic Kingdom; lunch at Counter; Rest at Hotel; Dinner at MGM Mama Melrose--Fantasmic??
This might be a good day to do Chef Mickey's (take a lunch break away from the park or dinner after you are done with the park) if you don't go on Monday. Personnaly, I don't like Fanstasmic and my kids were kind of frightened by it.

Fri--Character Breakfast--any suggestions?; repeat any favorite attractions;
depart for airport
It sounds like you have a late flight out, but you may just want to have a breakfast at the hotel since you will need to check out by 11 am. This will give you the most time to go back and see things you missed (Epcot- World Showcase?) or your favorites.

Anyway, those are just my thoughts.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Cathy

 

[jenk1013]

Oops, it was supposed to read Alfredo's OR Counter meal. I left out the "or".

Anyway, I don't plan on doing both the lunch and dinner sit down meals, because we have the MYW dining and we only have 1 sit down meal a day. I know we could pay out of pocket for the additional meal, but we are already spending more than we should on this vacation so we will be trying to just stick with just what is included in the package.

That is why I have the "or counter". If we go to the lunchtime sit down, then we will skip the dinner sit down and do a counter. I'm just trying to cover all my bases.

Jen

 

[eeyore0062]

Sat--Arrival; check in and relax at hotel; dinner at O'Hana's.
Our family loves 'Ohana! The food is good, it is fun for the kids and we always get our money's worth!


Sun--Magic Kingdom; lunch at Crystal Palace (Pooh) or counter meal; rest at hotel; dinner at Boma'sSince you will be eating BIG at Boma that night, stick with the counter service. We like Pecos Bills or Columbia Harbour House. If you want something "sit down", but a bit lighter, try the Plaza Restaurant.

Mon--Animal Kingdom; Lunch at Counter; rest at hotel; Chef Mickey's for dinner; MK again?? The best of the counter services at Animal Kingdom is definitely Tusker House in Harambe. Chef Mickey's isn't our cup of tea, but by looking at the fact that it is EXTREMELY difficult to get reservations there, others must really LOVE it. Personally of the 2 at MGM, 50's Primetime is far better and more fun. I would do a very early lunch, say 11:30 to save room for that delicious dinner at Le Cellier!


Tues--Epcot(Futureworld); lunch at Alfredo's counter; rest at hotel; Crystal Palace dinner; Spectro Parade and fireworks(if they are scheduled this day based on last year) As has been mentioned before, Alfredos doesn't have a counter service, only full service. It is delicious, and we would do it over the Crystal Palace anyday, but of course, we aren't as into character meals and the type of buffet offered at the Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's.

Wed--MGM; lunch at Sci-Fi or 50's Primetime or counter; rest at hotel; Dinner at Le'Cellier in Epcot World Showcase--Illuminations??

Thurs--Magic Kingdom; lunch at Counter; Rest at Hotel; Dinner at MGM Mama Melrose--Fantasmic??We love Mama Melrose, although they don't make my favorite anymore, which was the Mushroom Risotto. If you can get it with the Fantasmic Dinner Package, it is well worth it!

Fri--Character Breakfast--any suggestions?; repeat any favorite attractions;
depart for airport
Our favorite of the character breakfasts is at 1900 Park Fare. Delicious buffet, great character interaction and wonderful atmosphere! Have a great vacation!

 

[slk537]

Hello! I think you have a great start there - and truly some of the best advice I can give you is what you're already doing: make AR's knowing you can cancel if they don't fit your plans/mood at the time.

I always plan for everything - breakfast and dinner and often lunch. Then when we get there, we play our trip by ear and if we want to skip something, we do. But it is SO nice to have the option so you're not looking at a long wait for dinner without AR's.

Cape May Cafe (Beach Club) has a great character breakfast, but I have heard that 1900 PF is excellent - we're trying that on our next trip.

Listen to your kids and listen to your feet - sleep in if you need to and always take the nap. I don't believe crowds will be that heavy when you're there (we'll be there 2 of the days you are!) so commando style touring might not be necessary. Breaks are terrific if you want to keep going late at night.

Just keep researching, and then when you're there do what feels good. ENJOY!!!!

 

[lillygator]

Sun--Magic Kingdom; lunch at Crystal Palace (Pooh) or counter meal; rest at hotel; dinner at Boma's


as far as that day goes - what are your times? both lunch and dinner are buffets - for us, I have found that if we try a buffet for lunch and then go for one at dinner...we usually don't get to enjoy much at dinner cuz we are so full...I would try CP for breakfast that day - they do have a great spread for bfast - will even make blueberry or choc chip pancakes for you!! then do a light cs lunch and Boma for dinner....