Recommendations and/or comments wanted

[drwadadli]

My wife and I are heading down to WDW for a long weekend in November just in time to still enjoy the Food & Wine Festival. Since it is for 3 nights / 4 days, we have limited ourselves to Epcot (the day we arrive), Animal Kingdom (since we haven't done Pandora), Epcot and probably resort or Disney Springs (departure day). I guess I should also say that this is not our first time at WDW or at the Food & Wine Festival. We were last at WDW last October and did F&W all weekend.

We have never had any problems with DME so we are taking the DME from MCO to POR and then on to Epcot. We arrive at MCO at 9:30 a.m. and leave MCO at 5:00 p.m. but with the DME, we understand that we won't be at Epcot until around 12:00 p.m. and have to be at our resort around 2:00 p.m. to catch the DME back to MCO.

For this trip, we have decided to try restaurants that we haven't tried before. So with that being said, here is our picks. By the way, we are on the regular Dining Plan.

Day 1:
Epcot -
Lunch - Food & Wine

Dinner - La Hacienda de San Angel ----- IllumiNation is at 10:00 p.m. and got reservations for 9:00 p.m. in hopes of being able to watch the fireworks from our table. I know you can't request "lake-view" table too far in advance but how early would you recommend checking in at the restaurant to try to request a "lake-view" table? What are you recommendations for food selections??

Day 2:
Animal Kingdom -
In the past AK has always been a half-day park for us but this time, we are making it a full-day especially since we hadn't done Pandora.

Lunch - We were thinking Flame Tree Barbecue but not sure since we live near Charlotte, NC and have plenty of great BBQ joints around us. Any other place you would recommend? Any snacks you would recommend?

Dinner - Tusker House Restaurant ----- We are just two adults and don't do a lot of character meals unless we are with our extended families. With that being said, we had done Garden Grill and loved it.

Day 3:
Epcot -
Breakfast - Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie ---- Might consider trading a Quick Service credit for 2 Snacks credit here (I think it is still 1 QS = 2 Snacks)

Lunch - Food & Wine

Dinner - Spice Road Table ---- IllumiNation is at 9:00 p.m. and got reservations for 7:50 p.m. As before with La Hacienda de San Angel, we are hoping to watch the fireworks from our table. How early would you check-in at the restaurant and what do you recommend ordering??

Day 4:
Disney Springs (likely)
Lunch - As we would have 1 Quick Service (each) credit left and since we made a pack to try someplace new, I am greatly sad to say that that would leave out Cookes of Dublin. Suggestions are greatly appreciated.


Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you (ahead of time) for those that leave suggestions/recommendations/comments.
Rich

 

[shifteru]

The only suggestion I would make is depending on how you do Food and Wine you may not want a full big meal for dinner. We always plan to just grab something at counter service those days, but that's just us. Also, I've never eaten there but I have been inside and I don't think the Illuminations view from La Hacienda de San Angel is very good, even with ideal seating.

 

[Quellman]

Your criteria is well stated and you seem to be set on where you are eating and they are all fine choices. I like some of the outdoor locations at Flame Tree, like by the water. I also recall reading that Pizzafari has a new fixed price. Spice Road is a good place for dinner because you can just get tapas if you are full from binging on food around world showcase.

There are plenty of places at Disney Springs. Earl of Snadwich, Bongos Express, Chicken guy and Polite Pig.

 

[Nancyg56]

My wife and I are heading down to WDW for a long weekend in November just in time to still enjoy the Food & Wine Festival. Since it is for 3 nights / 4 days, we have limited ourselves to Epcot (the day we arrive), Animal Kingdom (since we haven't done Pandora), Epcot and probably resort or Disney Springs (departure day). I guess I should also say that this is not our first time at WDW or at the Food & Wine Festival. We were last at WDW last October and did F&W all weekend.

We have never had any problems with DME so we are taking the DME from MCO to POR and then on to Epcot. We arrive at MCO at 9:30 a.m. and leave MCO at 5:00 p.m. but with the DME, we understand that we won't be at Epcot until around 12:00 p.m. and have to be at our resort around 2:00 p.m. to catch the DME back to MCO.

For this trip, we have decided to try restaurants that we haven't tried before. So with that being said, here is our picks. By the way, we are on the regular Dining Plan.

Day 1:
Epcot -
Lunch - Food & Wine

Dinner - La Hacienda de San Angel ----- IllumiNation is at 10:00 p.m. and got reservations for 9:00 p.m. in hopes of being able to watch the fireworks from our table. I know you can't request "lake-view" table too far in advance but how early would you recommend checking in at the restaurant to try to request a "lake-view" table? What are you recommendations for food selections??

Day 2:
Animal Kingdom -
In the past AK has always been a half-day park for us but this time, we are making it a full-day especially since we hadn't done Pandora.

Lunch - We were thinking Flame Tree Barbecue but not sure since we live near Charlotte, NC and have plenty of great BBQ joints around us. Any other place you would recommend? Any snacks you would recommend?

Dinner - Tusker House Restaurant ----- We are just two adults and don't do a lot of character meals unless we are with our extended families. With that being said, we had done Garden Grill and loved it.

Day 3:
Epcot -
Breakfast - Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie ---- Might consider trading a Quick Service credit for 2 Snacks credit here (I think it is still 1 QS = 2 Snacks)

Lunch - Food & Wine

Dinner - Spice Road Table ---- IllumiNation is at 9:00 p.m. and got reservations for 7:50 p.m. As before with La Hacienda de San Angel, we are hoping to watch the fireworks from our table. How early would you check-in at the restaurant and what do you recommend ordering??

Day 4:
Disney Springs (likely)
Lunch - As we would have 1 Quick Service (each) credit left and since we made a pack to try someplace new, I am greatly sad to say that that would leave out Cookes of Dublin. Suggestions are greatly appreciated.


Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you (ahead of time) for those that leave suggestions/recommendations/comments.
Rich

I am not at all sure you will get a lake view table at that time frame. I think folks may already be camped out. I would try about 30 minutes ahead of check in.

For DAK, I would toss TH. I know you like character meals, however I think that a nice place to dine might be Tiffins. It is near Pandora and is absolutely lovely with excellent food. My family enjoyed Flame Tree, however if you are on the fence, Satuli is getting some very good reviews.


I am not sure you can trade CS for snacks at Les Halles any longer. I think I read that change recently.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Destinyz12]

1 QS meal can actually be converted to 3 snack credits generally, as long as you get them all in the same transaction, however... like the person above just stated, I read on here recently that someone said Les Halles is no longer doing it, but a lot of other places still are.

 

[bphilb]

It seems like a very sound plan to me. As Shifteru suggested above, you may just want to grab a counter service after food & wine and use your table service at Disney Springs. Homecomin and Raglen Road would both be fun experiences. You may want to look at Wolfgang puck for your counter service option as Disney Springs, but there are a ton of places to choose from.

 

[gharter]

For what you are looking for, seems like a good list.
For AK, I would consider either Flame Tree or Satu'Li Canteen for lunch. Both are very good. Satu'Li is lighter fare. Both can do mobile ordering.
Hope you enjoy your trip.

 

[drwadadli]

So...second question....

If we decide to drop one of the dinners at Epcot, which one would you drop???

 

[gharter]

So...second question....

If we decide to drop one of the dinners at Epcot, which one would you drop???

I would keep Spice Road Table. For our area, we can get good Mexican, but Mediterean/Morroco inspired food is not available. YMMV.
I would also consider moving your ADr at La Hacienda de San Angel to an earlier time. From everything I read, even with a window view, which are few, you can't see Illuminations very well.
Spice Road, outside has a great view.

 

[drwadadli]

I would keep Spice Road Table. For our area, we can get good Mexican, but Mediterean/Morroco inspired food is not available. YMMV.
I would also consider moving your ADr at La Hacienda de San Angel to an earlier time. From everything I read, even with a window view, which are few, you can't see Illuminations very well.
Spice Road, outside has a great view.

Thank you for your thoughts on our plan. We have good Mexican food around us so I see your point.

 

[Shellyred8]

If you are not set on a character meal, I would drop TH and go for Satuli. The food there is different from what you can get anywhere else at WDW, and its pretty good too!. Sometimes Satuli will open for Breakfast. If it is open when you are there, I would recommend it for breakfast too!

Have a great trip!

 

[drwadadli]

If you are not set on a character meal, I would drop TH and go for Satuli. The food there is different from what you can get anywhere else at WDW, and its pretty good too!. Sometimes Satuli will open for Breakfast. If it is open when you are there, I would recommend it for breakfast too!

Have a great trip!

Thank you for the recommendation!!

Since there is just the two of us, is the Sampler Platter at Satuli too much for 2 people?

 

[nkereina]

I agree with dropping La Hacienda, especially if the whole purpose is for an Illuminations view. As mentioned, very few tables offer that so its not a reliable place to go for Illuminations viewing. If you want something more reliable, Rose & Crown has more tables that offer a view and for the ones that don't, they have a standing room section to view it.

 

[drwadadli]

I agree with dropping La Hacienda, especially if the whole purpose is for an Illuminations view. As mentioned, very few tables offer that so its not a reliable place to go for Illuminations viewing. If you want something more reliable, Rose & Crown has more tables that offer a view and for the ones that don't, they have a standing room section to view it.

Thank you for the recommendation. We were wanting to try restaurants we haven't eaten at before. Rose & Crown is one of favorites that we eat at every time we are down.

 

[Hopefully]

9PM at La Hacienda is too late if you are hoping for a window table. Anyone in one is likely staying for Illuminations b

 

[epcotobsessed]

Be sure to add a stop at Nomad Lounge when you're in AK. Cocktails and atmosphere are fantastic. Food is very good too.

 

[Princess Madeleine]

For what you are looking for, seems like a good list.
For AK, I would consider either Flame Tree or Satu'Li Canteen for lunch. Both are very good. Satu'Li is lighter fare. Both can do mobile ordering.
Hope you enjoy your trip.

I second this. If you're looking for table service in AK and are worried about eating too much that day, the bowls at Satuli can be split between two people. I did this on my last trip because we were starving getting off the plane but had reservations at Sanaa at 5pm. Splitting a bowl was perfect for us.

 

[crabbygal902]

For this trip, we have decided to try restaurants that we haven't tried before. So with that being said, here is our picks. By the way, we are on the regular Dining Plan.

Day 1:
Epcot -
Lunch - Food & Wine

Dinner - La Hacienda de San Angel ----- IllumiNation is at 10:00 p.m. and got reservations for 9:00 p.m. in hopes of being able to watch the fireworks from our table. I know you can't request "lake-view" table too far in advance but how early would you recommend checking in at the restaurant to try to request a "lake-view" table? What are you recommendations for food selections??

The Del Mar platter for 2 is one of my favorite dishes at Disney: scallops, fish, esquites, roasted veggies...oh my! The avocado margaritas are really good, also.

Day 2:
Animal Kingdom -

Lunch - We were thinking Flame Tree Barbecue but not sure since we live near Charlotte, NC and have plenty of great BBQ joints around us. Any other place you would recommend? Any snacks you would recommend?

Hi, I'm from an hour north of Charlotte so I live and love BBQ. (My favorite is eastern style, but we can debate that at another time!) I love Flame Tree and this is more like Kansas City style, or so I've heard. It is nothing like what we are used to at home and has thick sauces. Flame Tree has a beautiful seating area, especially if you go to the back near the water.


Day 3:
Epcot -
Breakfast - Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie ---- Might consider trading a Quick Service credit for 2 Snacks credit here (I think it is still 1 QS = 2 Snacks)

We are obsessed with this place: the cheese plate, the macaroons, the baguettes, the everything.


Day 4:
Disney Springs (likely)
Lunch - As we would have 1 Quick Service (each) credit left and since we made a pack to try someplace new, I am greatly sad to say that that would leave out Cookes of Dublin. Suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Have you been to Wolfgang Puck Express? I love it so much and it is a great way to spend your dining credits. It feels like a table service but uses quick service credits. The wine list is quite good here as well and as a lovely outdoor seating area if the weather is cooperating.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you (ahead of time) for those that leave suggestions/recommendations/comments.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Be sure to add a stop at Nomad Lounge when you're in AK. Cocktails and atmosphere are fantastic. Food is very good too.

Sorry, The food/appetizers were really good, the drinks however, were off the wall different, very strong (even for me), maybe it was the bartender. We were 5 and only 1 is positive he wants to return, I'm in the IDK camp! Always give it a couple of tries, just to be sure. Did you have a favorite cocktail?

OP, AK's Satu'li's is one of our new favorites, the food is delicious and there's enough seating inside and out! And during F&W we still always make a pitstop at Spice Road, a few small plates (Brie Fondue, garlic shrimp, hummus) and a nice glass of wine, view of the water, a bit of a break from the heat and walking. Depending on if/how you switch around your credits, Disney Springs, has new restaurants, Wine Bar George (very good) & Frontera Cucina (Hope to Try in September)

 

[epcotobsessed]

Sorry, The food/appetizers were really good, the drinks however, were off the wall different, very strong (even for me), maybe it was the bartender. We were 5 and only 1 is positive he wants to return, I'm in the IDK camp! Always give it a couple of tries, just to be sure. Did you have a favorite cocktail?

I've had several but the Tempting Tigress is my favorite. Absolutely delicious.