recommendations for newcomers

[dream5866]

Hey everyone,

We are first time disney goers with 2 boys (8 and 12 - turning 13 while there) and I have been reading all the rest. reviews and posts but am still so confused. How do I go about planning a week of meals when I dont even know where we will be? We have the base dining plan (1 sit down, 1 cs, and 1 snack). Any recommendations on restaurants, meals etc. We are staying at CBR. My boys are autistic and can at times be picky. Tyler loves pasta, hot dogs, chicken fingers and chips. Justin loves seafood, steak, chicken fingers. My husband and I are more adventurous but I dont like mexican. Any recommendations.

Phyllis

 

[tnkr mom]

Well you will be able to get chicken and pasta EVERYWHERE at a buffet and table service meals for the boys. Check out www.allears.net, they have a huge section for restaurant/menus to help you plan. Start by figuring which day at which parks and plan your meals accordingly. You dont want to be in Magic Kingdom and have to leave to go to Epcot for dinner if you want to see the MK parade later! AllEars also has a guest special needs section that may be helpful for you! Enjoy your time there and how exciting for your first trip!!!!

 

[slduck]

I always start by looking at the menus of the table service meals either here or all allearsnet. The dessert menu is always my deciding factor.

I try to plan out a park "schedule" before we go. I ususally end of planning which park to visit based on my food choices. You can always cancel if you find that you will not be able to make it there at that time. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[tnkr mom]

PS we love Cape May Buffett for seafood (and they have chicken and reg kid food!) And Boma in Animal Kingdom lodge is really cool - and you can go out back the hotel before or after dinner for a closer viewing of the animal savannahs-really my kids fav thing to do!

 

[pumba]

I think that you will do fine with the menus with your boys........The buffets have plenty of the mentioned foods for the picky eater and good foods for your other son and you and your hubby......We loved Crystal Palace at MK and it was a great selection for anything and everything......
We also have a great board here for Disabilities and they can assist in any questions you have for yourselves or your children.....
have fun

 

[stacy6552]

Your best plan of action is to call Dining and tell them your children's needs. They will be able to tell you in one call, what might be too loud (ie Wispering Canyon?) or that Sci-fi has a large movie screen with 50's monster movies, which places having flashing lights (Rainforest Cafe has thunder and lightening), and which of these places might have alcoves that could accomodate you anyway.

I do think one must do for your family is the Coral Reef. The entire side of the resturaunt is open to the aquarium. Arrive early and ask for a tank side table.

 

[DVCMama]

I think your boys will be fine. Pretty much every single resturant on the Disney property has chicken fingers from what we've found! My son has PDD and totally picky about his food as well. WDW is the one place that he always finds something he will eat and actually likes it. I would just check the menus and see what you and dh would like best. Have fun!

 

[Pumbaa_]

Hello fellow CT resident! Welcome to the DIS! Glad you found us.

Planning meals in advance is hard! Especially when you haven't been before.

When are you going? Some restaurants fill up faster than others.

What I do when I am planning a trip is decide which park which day. When are you going and how many days? Weather is a factor. For us, if it is hot, we plan on doing mornings and evenings, midday is too hot. We head for naps or the pool or both!

Here is a link to park hours and EMH hours and Days

Here is a link to the DIS menus at Disney

Now your task is to map out the park hours and extra magic hours for your days in the world. Then factor in EMH. Are your kids early risers? Night owls? Or skip the EMH completely on those days and do another park. Then when you think you know which park would be best for each day, factor int eh restaurant plan.

Would you prefer a TS breakfast lunch or dinner? Characters or no characters? Buffet or no buffet? Mix of all?

We don't do TS breakfasts. We like to be out the door first thing and hate to do it on a FULL tummy. Rather grab a bagel or something like that.

I do like a TS midday. We often go when it is HOT. Love to end the morning touring with a TS air conditioned meal, often in the park of the day. (Unless at AK, then it is ALWAYS Flame Tree barbeque )

And just know this, no matter what you pick, you will be second guessing yourself the entire time before you go! We all do it

 

[dream5866]

We are going 9/22-9/29, yes I know, not that far away. This was a last minute decision. We just booked it this week. I started out being really excited and am now totally overwhelmed and stressed out.

My husband likes to eat a big breakfast but not sure he would prefer that to a bigger dinner. Lunch doesnt have to be big but my kids are always complaining they are hungry. They also tire easily. My kids are 8 and 12 and not sure if a character meal would be too young for them or not although both kids want to see stitch and my younger son has a fascination with Ariel. Actually, he says he LOVES Ariel.

We like buffets just as well as menu meals. As long as there is a variety to choose from we are fine.

I am still trying to decide if we are going to make an attempt to leave midday and come back or go to another park or stay in one park all day. Having never been there before I dont know how my kids will do or how we will do. We do not plan on leaving the resort area. No universal or sea world or anything like that. We are not renting a car.

Since we have never been to anyplace like this before I would like to give my kids some fun unique dining experiences. However, both my kids and my husband are sensitive to the heat.

Phyllis

 

[DeborahA]

Hi Phyllis, Welcome
Everyone has given you lots of good information.
May I add one suggestion?
Our 3 boys--all grown now-always requested The Hoop de Doo Reveue at Fort Wilderness. The food is very kid freindly- fried chicken and ribs- the show is corny but alot of fun--my boys were never into the princess stuff and this show fits the bill.
Have fun.
Deb

 

[Soubrette]

I'll second Hoop de Doo! It's a great dinner to do on a day when you're in the Magic Kingdown (just take the boat over to Ft. Wilderness).

Since you one the dining plan, it's best to just go ahead and accept the fact that you'll need to plan in advance (specify certain days for certain parks), but also know that you can be somewhat flexible while you're there. It's easier, IMO, to book TS dinners, and leave my day open (CS restaurants are scattered all over, so if I'm in the park, great...or at the resort, also great)

8 and 12...great ages! My guess is that they'd still enjoy some character meals (Liberty Tree Tavern is a good one w/ a convenient park location), but also some fun places like Prime Time Cafe, Whispering Canyon, or Ragland Road.

If you want to do an Epcot dinner/Illuminations night, I'd suggest trying to find a Rose and Crown ADR around 7:30-8:00- they are located well for the show, have lots of outdoor seating (although you're not guarenteed), good food for kids and adults, & great service.

Try not to stress too much; read the boards a bit more; line up some places that look fun and make sense with your plans; have a great trip!

 

[GOOFYDONALDMICKEY]

We usually try not to plan too much but we will plan what parks that we are going to each day so that we may make the ADR's for the must-go full service restaurants.

Our favorites:

MGM = Sci-Fi/50's Primetime (Great Theming)
Epcot = Marrakesh/Alfredo's/Sunshine Seasons
MK = Tony's/Casey's/Peco's Bill Cafe/Starlight Cafe
Animal Kingdom = Rainforest Cafe/Tusker House

Have a great trip.

 

[disneygal2007]

I think your boys will be fine. Pretty much every single resturant on the Disney property has chicken fingers from what we've found! My son has PDD and totally picky about his food as well. WDW is the one place that he always finds something he will eat and actually likes it. I would just check the menus and see what you and dh would like best. Have fun!

The chicken fingers in this house is a touchy subject. My kids haven't eaten chicken fingers or nuggets since their last trip in Feb of 06. They ate so much of it those 7 day they won't touch it now. They just started eating PB&J again

 

[disneygal2007]

U have to try Ohana Dinner so good everytime we eat there I don't eat again until mid day the next day. It's at the poly resort

 

[Nikki_Mouse]

Realize that you are going during free dining and many many restaurants are filled to capacity already. Decide what palces you would like to eat and that would be wonderful for your boys and call members services fast! Chef Mickey's is a favorite of both my kids in the Contemporary Resort- good food and character interaction. Good luck!!