PS making time is coming soon! Need advice! (long)

[maidmarion]

Okay, slowly (but surely) narrowing! Gomez Gang, I really appreciated your Chefs de France dish recs- very convincing as many things I love were on it! Might have to let him win on that one!

Everyone has been so wonderfully forthcoming and helpful about character breakfasts, but i am still struggling. I have a little tally going of what y'all said about them, but I am still confused! Character-wise, I love all of them! My partner is not so into character meals (though I bet he'll love him once we're there) so he said it's totally up to me which characters we see but he wants good food to go with it. There are fans and detractors of CP, CM, Breakfastasaurus all here and now, new suggestion, 1900 Park Faire! Based 100 percent on food quality and variety (for breakfast), which of these four wins the big blue ribbon? Whichever has the best food will win. If there is a tie, we might just have to do two!

Sorry to be so needy. In a few months, I'll be helping y'all sift through things for the hopeless newbies, but for now, this is so nice.

 

[Mustangdi]

We went to Donlad's Breakfast last Sept and will not be going back. It was a rushed meal with so-
so food and a big disappointment. It was a big
waste of time and money. I would scratch this one.

 

[wdwpluto]

Originally posted by maidmarion

No one seems to have much to say on Kona, Cali. Grill, Tempura Kiku or Trails End.

Never been to Kona or Trails End.

Tempura Kiku was really good the last time I was there (probably 4 years ago). Neither of us had 'discovered' sushi at the time, so we both had Tempura which we both agreed was the best we've ever had. We're planning on going during our Oct trip to try the sushi (and have some tempura!)

California Grill is excellent! We were there last November. Upscale, classy, and amazing food! I can't say enough good things about this place. If you can get a table by the window during the fireworks, even better! The sushi here is amazing! Yum!

Ok, it's almost 8am and I'm hungry for tempura and sushi - how bad is that?!

 

[Gomez Gang]

Maidmarion,
I agree, Breakfastaurus is rushed--skip it. Crystal Palace USED to have good food and a terrific variety but last time we went (May'02) it was not worth the price--skip it.
I have heard 1900 is great--we will be trying it on our trip in 2 weeks!
As always, we will be going to Chef Mickey's. Wewill be there on 9/23 to celebrate my son's 5th b-day!!
Chef Mickey's ALWAYS has a fantastic variety and good food. It IS NOISY in there but loads of fun!
Hope this will help!
Happy eating!

 

[Boo Mc]

If you have a non-park day, I'd pick either Chef Mickey's or 1900. That way you don't waste valuable park time eating and you still get a bit of Disney without going to the parks. Plus, at either one you can ride the monorail and look at the resort decorations. If you go for dinner, you can see the MK fireworks from various places and you can see the EWP, too. Have fun!

 

[CindyAnn]

Okay, I tried to pick 3 things from each of your lists to bring the total up to 10. In some cases I think you need to choose restaurants by their location, too, so I tried to take that into account. Also, if you don't have a car with you, it's nice to keep the transportation requirements down. Here are my picks with some stream of conciousness thinking ...

QUOTE:

" Okay, so we are in agreement on these so far:

Boma (dinner), Ohana (dinner), California Grill, Trail's End.

My choices are: Hollywood and Vine (for the Fantasmic package), Donald’s Breakfastasaurus, Spoodles, Cape May Café, Crystal Palace, Tempura Kiku and/or San Angel Inn and/or Le Cellier, Chef Mickeys.

His choices: Coral Reef, Chefs de France, Rainforest Café, Marrakesh, Citricos, Cosmic Rays, Pecos Bills, Le Tangerine Cafe (sp?), Whispering Canyon, Artist Point, Kona Cafe."

END QUOTE

YOUR LIST

Okay, the four choices you both agree on are all ouside the parks, so something inside the parks would be nice, and easy too. I notice that you're the only one who wants to do character meals, so my first choice would be Donald's Breakfastasaurus on your Animal Kingdom morning (as early as they'll let you make it if it's a non-EE day or as late as possible if it's an early entry morning).

I think that doing the Fantasmic Dinner Package is a great idea, but I'm going to take the liberty of suggesting that a young couple would probably enjoy the food & atmosphere at Hollywood Brown Derby much more than Hollywood & Vine, so that's my second choice. The only disadvantage is that when Fantasmic is offered at e.g. 7:00 p.m., you'll be told to make a PS at least 2 hours in advance, which makes for a pretty early dinner, unless there's a second showing of Fantasmic when you're there.

The Boardwalk is a really fun place to head to in the evening, and the food at Spoodle's is great, so that's my third choice for a dinner at 7:00 p.m. or later.

By the way, you can't make a PS at Tempura Kiku, so that's a freebie! You just get to go there anyway for lunch or dinner in any case (at least that's the way my rules work).

HIS LIST

World Showcase in Epcot is an especially nice place to have dinner, so I'd pick Chefs de France for one dinner around 7:00 p.m. so you'll still have time to snag a viewing location for Illuminations, which is usually around 9:00 p.m.

Since you're staying at Wilderness Lodge, dinner at Artist Point seems like a good fit - just a walk down the hall for you. (This is a restaurant I haven't actually tried yet, but it's on my list for December/January, too). I'd make this a later dinner - maybe 8:00 or 8:30 so you'll be able to fit in a full park day and still have time to freshen up for dinner.

For a third choice I'd go with Citricos for dinner around 8:00 so that you have an excuse to visit the Grand Floridian and see the beautiful holiday decorations. I'd eliminate Kona because you've already been to 'Ohana at the Poly, Rainforest Cafe because you probably have other opportunities to visit, and Marrakesh because you can visit Le Tangierine instead. Your honey gets some freebies, too - Cosmic Rays, Pecos Bills, and Le Tangerine Cafe are all counter service eateries that don't require PSes.

Happy Eating!

 

[Gomez Gang]

Maidmarion,

I wanted to add something else.......My husband is originally from Mexico City so we are very familiar with Mexican food. I have to be honest telling you that San Angel Inn, although very scenic and romantic, will rape you with thier prices and most of the food there is not as authentic as one thinks. We ate there on our first trip and will never go back. If you want to experience Mexico, I suggest taking the ride on Rio de Tiempo, wander around the market (which is adjacent to the restaurant), and look at the artifacts when you first walk into the pyramid. Finish up with a "fiesta margarita" found at the margarita kiosk just outside the pyramid. (I sample these often throughout the trip!) Also, try to catch the performance on the steps of the pyramid given by the Aztec performers--it is excellent and authentic!