Questions about ps's, need advice

[tzuhouse]

I've been to WDW once, back in 92. Just me and DH. Now we are going in December with our two boys. They will be 6 and 4, at the time.

Here is our itinerary. What do you think?
12/4 - we arrive in morning. Have ps at Rainforest Cafe for 6:30 at DTD

12/5 - ps at Chef Mickey's early morning. We've got ressies for Family Magic Tour at 10am. Have thought about ps at CG for dinner, to watch fireworks. My little one hates loud noises and I think he would be much more likely to enjoy them if he couldn't hear them. What are the odds we'd be able to see them from our table? Could my older son and I go onto balcony somewhere while DH stayed with Sean at table? Any recs. for another idea for ps that night? Are the fireworks better just standing on mainstreet than being at CG? I'm not set on even having ps that night unless it will be better for fireworks.

12/6 - we'll be at Epcot. Saw that Garden Grill has character lunch? What characters are there? Has anyone gone to Coral Reef for lunch? What is it like? Planning on Rose and Crown for dinner ps to watch Illuminations unless I can find a group that wants to share cost of Illumination cruise that day.

12/7 - ps for lunch at sci-fi Dine-In. Thought boys would like that. PS for Fantasmic! dinner package at H & V? Can't decide if my boys would like Fantasmic or not. I've never been a fan of Fantasia, myself. I'm more of a dwarves and Bambi kind of gal.

12/8 - was just going to punt for AK day. No ps's or anything.

12/11 - our day to tour resorts and see Christmas decorations. What is breakfast at 1900 Park Fare at GF like? Thought about Whispering Canyon for lunch. We'll be doing MVMCP that evening.

I kind of feel like this is too many sit down meals. I'd love to be able to not pay so much, if at all possible, so I won't be heartbroken if ya'll don't recommend one of these and such. I will have DDE card, to save some $$, but this trip is already way more $$ than originally planned.

Thanks in advance!
Mary - who can't wait for the magic to begin

 

[brynnsandra]

California Grill is nice. You could always watch the fireworks from the beach at the Poly. Plus I use to love The Sci-Fi rest, went last year and the food was bad. I don't know if it was a bad day or what. I am skipping this year

 

[beattyfamily]

I've been to WDW once, back in 92. Just me and DH. Now we are going in December with our two boys. They will be 6 and 4, at the time.

Here is our itinerary. What do you think?
12/4 - we arrive in morning. Have ps at Rainforest Cafe for 6:30 at DTD

12/5 - ps at Chef Mickey's early morning. We've got ressies for Family Magic Tour at 10am. Have thought about ps at CG for dinner, to watch fireworks. My little one hates loud noises and I think he would be much more likely to enjoy them if he couldn't hear them. What are the odds we'd be able to see them from our table? Could my older son and I go onto balcony somewhere while DH stayed with Sean at table? Any recs. for another idea for ps that night? Are the fireworks better just standing on mainstreet than being at CG? I'm not set on even having ps that night unless it will be better for fireworks.

12/6 - we'll be at Epcot. Saw that Garden Grill has character lunch? What characters are there? Has anyone gone to Coral Reef for lunch? What is it like? Planning on Rose and Crown for dinner ps to watch Illuminations unless I can find a group that wants to share cost of Illumination cruise that day.

12/7 - ps for lunch at sci-fi Dine-In. Thought boys would like that. PS for Fantasmic! dinner package at H & V? Can't decide if my boys would like Fantasmic or not. I've never been a fan of Fantasia, myself. I'm more of a dwarves and Bambi kind of gal.

12/8 - was just going to punt for AK day. No ps's or anything.

12/11 - our day to tour resorts and see Christmas decorations. What is breakfast at 1900 Park Fare at GF like? Thought about Whispering Canyon for lunch. We'll be doing MVMCP that evening.

I kind of feel like this is too many sit down meals. I'd love to be able to not pay so much, if at all possible, so I won't be heartbroken if ya'll don't recommend one of these and such. I will have DDE card, to save some $$, but this trip is already way more $$ than originally planned.

Thanks in advance!
Mary - who can't wait for the magic to begin

Wishes fireworks are MUCH better sitting or standing on Main Street in front of the Castle then anywhere else, IMHO.

Garden Grill is Mickey and friends similar to Chef Mickey's

I think you and your kids will LOVE Fantasmic! It's the best most magical and amazing show at Disney and we never miss it.

We usually book breakfasts and dinners, not that many lunches unless it's HOT like in August. We do at least 3 character meals but don't really like to duplicate the characters seen.

I'd maybe switch Whispering canyon to either a late lunch or early dinner so you can just head to MVMCP right after it.

Good luck deciding and planning!

 

[tzuhouse]

I think I'll remove CG completely and GG completely, and move Whispering Canyon to early dinner. What about that 1900 Park Fare and Coral Reef. Any thoughts on those?

Mary

 

[beattyfamily]

I think I'll remove CG completely and GG completely, and move Whispering Canyon to early dinner. What about that 1900 Park Fare and Coral Reef. Any thoughts on those?

Mary

I've never had breakfast at 1900 but I've only heard great things about it. I believe it's Mary Poppins and friends.

I've also never eaten at Coral Reef but it looks REALLY cool!

 

[cowtownmom]

We really like the Garden Grill. The characters are Mickey, Chip & Dale and Pluto. They're dressed up like farmers. The food was really good too. DH was very happy with the value of the food for the price and it was all you can eat - they just kept bringing it to us!

 

[Joe T.]

A couple of thoughts. We've had wonderful character meals at the Crystal Palace - Pooh and Friends. Maybe switch the Rainforest to lunch in the MK. Also our grandkids really enjoyed the buffet at Cape May Cafe. We think one of the best dinner buys in the World. Rose and Crown is great, but you are very close to the fireworks - much louder than the MK show. Viewing the MK fireworks from Main St. would be considerably less noisey, and dinner at Tony's Town Square is reasonably priced. Also, for lunch the Plaza is a good buy. Sandwiches are excellent and large enough to share. The Fantasmic show is extremely noisey. Nothing to do with Fantasia. It is about Mickey fighting the Disney villains,

If you have your heart set on the Rainforest Cafe, go the day you are at the AK. Easy in and out.

Email me if you have any questions.

 

[tzuhouse]

The reason I was doing Rainforest on day 1 is that we are flying in and arrive just before lunch. I figured by the time we got to the hotel and stored our stuff, we could ride the boat from POR to DTD and just hang out. I was afraid if I took the boys into a park that day, it might make them upset if we left after eating. The idea is that next morning, we are doing Chef Mickeys, then riding the monorail to MK. (They've never been there before) Once it opens, ride train around the park (youngest is a train fanatic), then go meet up at 9:45am for our Family Magic Tour. I thought day 1 should just be seeing that area and we are familiar with Rainforest already.

Would love Crystal Palace, but the boys aren't much into Pooh, anymore. Now if it was breakfast with the Incredibles... I'll check out Cape May and look at Tony's Town Square.

Do they still have the fireworks show at Christmas time? MVMCP would not be happening that night. If so, are they about 9pm?

Thanks for all your help!
Mary