qs re: Hollywood & Vine and Calif. Grill

[bigwino]

Hi everyone!

My family (me, DH and dd(who will be just 4 when we go)) are heading to WDW first week in may (1st time for all 3 of us!! yay!). A few qs re: our plan of attack for restaurants:

1. Our DD is super into the characters and we have a bunch of princess meals planned (CRT, Askerhus and Grand Feast at the GF). I added one more: a lunch at Hollywood and Vine for a non Princess character meal (she also loves the LIttle Einsteins) and b/c someone said it's a lot of fun (conga lines, etc)

DH are not buffet people, but we're willing to "take a few for the team" so to speak and hit some buffets in the interest of maximizing DD's character-related fun. I'm really on the fence about H&V though... is it alot of fun or just basic character interaction that might not be worth the fact that we're having a buffet lunch that we prob. won't love. I realize it's pretty subjective, but would love to hear how much your kiddos like the H&V character aspect (and is there really a conga line? and if so, is it at one particular meal?).

2. Wanted to do Calif. Grill for dinner, with hopes of seeing fireworks, but with the earliest fireworks of the week being 9 p.m., I think we'd be pushing DD for a long dinner at such a late hour. I opted for Narcosee's instead b/c we're staying in the GF and at least we can head right to our room once the show is over (DD is pretty good about sitting still for restaurant meals, as long as we have a coloring book or two). But I'd love to see the view from Calif. Grill though.... do they do lunch? If so, is it worth it? How hard would it be to get from Calif. Grill at night back to GF (I assume the monorail might make it a tad easier). How's the view from Narcosee's if we get a window view? I'm so confused!

Sorry for being so verbose.. if you've read this far, thanks!!

 

[TDC Nala]

California Grill does not serve lunch. You can try to access the lounge during dinnertime - best time to do that is just as they open, or after the fireworks - if you just want to see the view from there, and have a drink and/or some appetizers. If you're in the lounge you can order from the full menu so you could even have an early dinner that way. They probably won't let you up just to see the view.

 

[mphalens]

The last time we went to Disney my older son was just turning 3. He was in LOVE with Playhouse Disney -Little Einsteins, Mickey, etc.
I am NOT a buffet style person either (I'm pretty picky, esp. when a meal costs a lot) but I had read that the Hollywood & Vine was not to be missed if you had a Playhouse Disney nut like I did...
I got a last minute reservation at H&V for lunch (we spent the morning in AK and had BOTH sets of G-rents with us) and I am SO glad I did.
The food was some of the best we had that week (if you like salmon, be sure to try theirs!) and my son talked about that meal long after our trip had ended.
He spent most of lunch up dancing with Leo & June and JoJo and Goliath and the adults got to relax and enjoy the food. They definitely did a conga line (I didn't participate, but my son did) ...
I have such fond memories of that meal that I've already booked breakfast there for our upcoming trip

 

[bigwino]

Thanks to you both!

I ended up just going with CG instead of Narcoosee's... we'll just have to work in a late nap that day to help DD stay up! She usually rolls with that kind of stuff pretty well.

Mphalens, that's what I was kinda hoping to hear.. I needed to hear that it was sufficiently fun for DD to make up for being a lunch buffet... sounds like it will be! (we don't watch JoJo or whomever the other PD characters are, but Little Einsteins are a big hit here!). And hey, maybe we will be pleasantly surprised at the food!

Thanks again!

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Hello;

I am one of the few folks who don't mind the H&V buffet...but we have gone there for dinner.

BUt if you want some AWESOME Character interaction, with a parade around the room a la conga...etc...I would highly recommend

'Ohana Character Breakfast...which is NOT a buffet but a "Family served" meal...where they bring a lot of different foods to each family and replenish what you eat as you go....

It's Loads of fun...

Mary

 

[bigwino]

Thanks Mary! That's a great tip and sounds fun!

Do you remember which characters were at that breakfast?

I appreciate it!!

Edited to add: nevermind! I found it... not sure if Lilo & Stitch would be such a hit with DD, but of course, there's Mickey! It sounds fun! Might not remove H&V, but would consider adding O'hana's breakfast. Thanks!