Recommendations? First day, kid friendly, non park meal

[lovetoscrap]

We are arriving fairly early on our first day. I am planning that we will either hang out at the resort (POP) and swim, or go to a water park for a few hours, or just go to DTD.

We are on Free Dining, and I have already made all of our ADR for the rest of the week. It is just my 2 girls (ages 10 and 6) and I. We are doing mostly character meals because DH doesn't enjoy them. We are doing the "fun" places that he wouldn't like (he is a bit uptight ).

We will be eating at:
1900 Park Fair
Crystal Palace
H&V new character meal
Aloha Show
50's Prime Time (paying OOP)
LTT
Norway Princess Meal

I just realized that we will need/want a meal our first night. I have ADR's for all our credits so I will just plan for another OOP meal. I can't decide if I should make another ADR or just plan to eat at POP.

If I make anothe ADR where is another FUN kid friendly place we could try (not in a park)? We have been to WCC and love it so it is an option. We have done Chef Mickey's--don't want to go again this trip so it is out.

I keep reading about Ohana and wondering if we should try there? Anything else that I am forgetting as a good place with kids? We don't have to have characters, and certainly not fine dining, just decent food and a good atmosphere.

 

[tluvstink]

How about Beaches & Cream?

Terri

 

[jeepgirl30]

We are close in situations here, I'm taking just my DD6 and I. We are on the free dining and doing all the girly fun things. We are staying at ASMo and arriving early. For our first night we are doing 'Ohana.

I've been there a few times and really enjoy it. I picked it this time as our first night because if you get a window table you can view Wishes. I thought it would be a great way to introduce and prep DD for our trip.

I love the Poly and hope someday to do a LONG family trip there.

 

[bluejasmine]

We love Ohanas! We go for our first night each trip.. For something cheaper I say grab a bite at POP food court it has alot of variety and pretty decent food. If you go to DTD I say eat at WPE great bbq chicken quesidillas and pizzas or go to EOS!

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

What about Boma or Spoodles?

If you go to Boma, arrive in time to wander around the beautiful resort and visit the animal viewing areas.

After eating at Spoodles, you can stroll on the Boardwalk, play some games, enjoy the entertainers or rent a surrey bike to peddle around the lake.

 

[scuba girl]

The ohana breakfast was delicious and fun, Hurricane Hanna's at the BC&YC serve kids meals in a sandbucket and shovel.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Is Beaches and Cream on the Dining Plan? If so, is it TS or CS? Can you make ADR's?

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Is Beaches and Cream on the Dining Plan? If so, is it TS or CS? Can you make ADR's?

Yes, Beaches and Cream is on the dining plan as a TS. No, you can't make ADRs.

Most people say it is not the best use of a credit and pay out of pocket.

 

[Nancyg56]

My family wants Chef Mickey as their first meal, but you may not want to add an additional character meal on. They also enjoyed "Ohana, the atmosphere is fun. It was another request they made.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I was going to suggest Beaches and Cream as well. You can catch the MGM bus, then take the boat over. I did this last week (well, I did spend the day at MGM). If you decide on an early dinner/late lunch, you probably won't have a wait. I arrived around 3:30 and had no trouble getting a seat--it was at the counter, but tables were also available.

My plan was to go over to the Boardwalk and look around for a while, but it started to rain as I was finishing my meal. This rain brought hoards of people into Beaches and Cream!

I was not on the dining plan, but if I were, I don't think I'd use a TS for Beaches and Cream. The food was good, but not that expensive--I think my meal was $13 including tip. Better to apply that TS to a 2TS meal.

If you do an early dinner at Beaches and Cream, you will have time to get back to Pop for swimming and early to bed. The Pop food court is open until midnight if you need a snack before retiring. They had a pretty good selection of snacks that were on the DP there.

 

[LUVMICKEY]

How about Beaches & Cream?

Terri

I second this. I would pay out of pocket for this too and not use a TS credit. We love it here, the food is great and their wonderful sundae's can't be beat.

 

[stacy6552]

OUr fave first night thing to do is the HDDR! Its a splurge, but so worth it and sone DH isnt going, you can save on his meal.

 

[timandlesley]

My kids favorite non-character meals are OHana's or Whispering Canyon Cafe. They love the races, dancing, games at OHanas and the food is great. At Whispering Canyon they LOVE the antics, horse races, etc.

I would recommend Chef Mickeys hands down to get the trip started off though, it's my kids all time favorite and I don't see it on your list, but I know you didn't want another character meal.
Lesley

 

[Hoopfamily]

Whispering canyon @ WL. Great for kids, lets them blow off steam and they can be loud as they want fun for all. Ask for the ketchup.

 

[scuba girl]

Where did you get those pictures? I love them. We are going to the BCV and I would love to have them on my computer.

 

[Eeyore2003]

I think a quiet day could use Ohana's to spice it up a bit. That or WCC again.

Beaches and Cream is nice, but it's an ice cream shop. We didn't think the burgers were that great and the lines are usually very long. I would use it for a nice snack rather than a meal.

If you DO want to "spring" for it, I agree that the Hoop de Doo is lots of fun also.

 

[lovetoscrap]

Thanks all!

HDDR is not an option because we are planning to go there with Grandma next year--we are doing a 2TS splurge on the Aloha show this time, and hope to use the dining plan for HDDR next year. We purposely chose to do one Dinner Show this trip and one the next time. So many meals, so few TS credits. . . .

As my OP said, we have "Been There, Done That" with Chef Mickey's so we don't want to go there again. 3 times has been enough for us!

I did forget about Beaches and Cream, and would definitely pay OOP for it, but after looking at the Menu and thinking about it, we will probably eat lots of burgers for CS during the week at the parks, so I think we want something different. They are also planning to spend most of their Snack Credits for ice cream--they don't appreciate a "sundae" enough to be worth the money. They would rather have a Mickey Bar or Itzakadoozie!

It sounds like I am still back to my original 3 choices,
Ohana --which looks intriguing, but am thinking we would be over Polynesianed with that and the Aloha show--But it would be fun to do with Grandma next time. I think my girls would appreciate it more if we do only one Poly "event" a trip.

WCC-- also lots of fun and my girls love it--a definite possibility. They were really disappointed when I said we weren't going back there this time.

POP food court--which I have a feeling they will want to check out for dinner one night anyway, and I can use CS credit.

I also looked at the Trail's End Buffet, but am not sure I want that much "travel" on our first day. I do want an early bedtime as we are doing EMH the next morning.

Since I don't want to make an ADR that I might not keep, I guess I will just take my chances. If we get there and they want to go to WCC I will call and see if there is space. If not, we will just eat at POP. My kids are pretty flexible.

UNLESS ANYONE ELSE HAS A GREAT IDEA . . . .

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Yes, I do have another great idea...take the bus to Downtown Disney and eat at the Earl of Sandwich. They are CS. Good food. I ate there twice last week. Simple bus ride there and back--no transfers.

I think if you are arriving early and plan to stay at Pop all day, you will get a bit stir crazy. The pools are not "all that" and the rooms, while adequate, are not the type to hang out in. I enjoyed my stay there last week, but I was out of the room 12-15 hours and day. Really only was at the hotel to sleep and do laundry.

 

[tammy1210]

Our first day on our last trip was very similar - after traveling, checking in, we relaxed around AKL for the day, and then we went to Spoodles - everyone loved it. Afterwards we strolled around the Boardwalk - took the kids to the arcade - it was a really nice first night. Also - I agree with you about the two nights at the Polynesian - we LOVED O'Hana and the Aloha show - but next time we'll only do one and leave ourselves another night to see other things. Let us know what you decide!

 

[Wendi2000]

I would either stay at Pop and eat at the food court there or go to Boma for a fantastic dinner and a nice stroll on the property to check out the Savannas and the grounds or do 'Ohana because there's a lot of fun stuff for the kids to do there (plus if you're there during Wishes it'll be nice to watch the fireworks on your first night from afar).