Reservations?

[Disney_Bound2007]

OK I'm starting to freak out a bit! This is our first trip to disney and I hadn't really thought about this much until now, do I need reservations every night for dinner??? I had made reservations at the Liberty tree pub but no where else! Will we be stuck with counter service for the other nights??? I also forgot to mention I leave in 8 days!

 

[bicker]

I bet there will be at least someplace nice for you to have a nice sit-down dinner at each night. The issue with advance reservations is having your choice of restaurant -- having your choice of dining experience. If you're at the Magic Kingdom at 5PM without dining reservations for the evening, then yes, you may have to take a bus to (for example) Port Orleans Resort or Coronado Springs Resort (or perhaps have to head to one of the less popular restaurants at one of the other theme parks) to find a place that will accommodate you that night for dinner. But you won't be left completely without any choices whatsoever.

Having said that -- it isn't "too late". Figure out where you'll probably be, and call to make dining reservations today, for your trip next week.

 

[Disney_Bound2007]

I bet there will be at least someplace nice for you to have a nice sit-down dinner at each night. The issue with advance reservations is having your choice of restaurant -- having your choice of dining experience. If you're at the Magic Kingdom at 5PM without dining reservations for the evening, then yes, you may have to take a bus to (for example) Port Orleans Resort or Coronado Springs Resort (or perhaps have to head to one of the less popular restaurants at one of the other theme parks) to find a place that will accommodate you that night for dinner. But you won't be left completely without any choices whatsoever.

Having said that -- it isn't "too late". Figure out where you'll probably be, and call to make dining reservations today, for your trip next week.

Thanks for the in-put, do you have any suggestions as to where to eat? We have one night covered but I have 4 more nights that I have to cover

 

[bicker]

I tend to go the other way. I figure I want to be here on this day, here on that day, here on the next day, and then I find suitable meals for each day. Here's what we did for our last trip with the kids:

Day 1 - Magic Kingdom - Dinner at Whispering Canyon (Wilderness Lodge, that's where we were staying) - then back to the Magic Kingdom for fireworks. I would still do this, even if you're not staying at the Wilderness Lodge; it's that much fun.

Day 2 - Animal Kingdom until mid-afternoon; then Epcot into the evening - Dinner at Garden Grill character meal. Coral Reef is a good alternative.

Day 3 - Disney-MGM Studios all day - Dinner at Brown Derby -- I wouldn't make that choice, though; with the kids I'd go to 50s Prime Time Cafe.

Day 4 - Magic Kingdom - Dinner at Artist Point (again back at our hotel). Other good choices are Spoodles at the BoardWalk, Kona at the Polynesian, or Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom itself, though that would be too many character meals.

Day 5 - Epcot - Lunch at Chefs de France.

Day 6 - Magic Kingdom - Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern character meal.

 

[Disney_Bound2007]

Day 1 - Magic Kingdom - Dinner at Whispering Canyon (Wilderness Lodge, that's where we were staying) - then back to the Magic Kingdom for fireworks. I would still do this, even if you're not staying at the Wilderness Lodge; it's that much fun.


Day 3 - Disney-MGM Studios all day - Dinner at Brown Derby -- I wouldn't make that choice, though; with the kids I'd go to 50s Prime Time Cafe.

Just talked to my DH and he said why don't we do a couple nights counter service and book Whispering Canyon and 50's primetime cafe( we are heading on DCL after our disney stay, his thought was we could live with some burgers and fries for a couple days. ) Is whispering canyon closer to MK or AK??? Thanks again!

 

[bicker]

Whispering Canyon is at Wilderness Lodge, which is a very short bus ride or nice leisurely boat ride from the Magic Kingdom.

 

[Disney_Bound2007]

I got some ressies but we can't seem to decide on where to eat at Epcot. Anyone have a fav???

 

[hortnut]

Our favorite restaurant at Epcot is the Biergarten in Germany. It's a buffet and there's a show. It's so much fun and we love the food. We went there twice on our last trip (March). The first night we went to Guest Services to make reservations for 6:00. The man said it's all booked until 8:30! We made the reservations anyway. Our daughter was meeting us after work at 6:00 so we decided to go see if we could get in at that time anyway. Well, not only was there no wait but when we sat down and looked around, there were lots of tables open! When we were leaving we approached the hostess to cancel our 8:30 reservation and guess what? They never received the reservation!
On the second try of the week we decided not to make reservations. We went at 5:30 and had a 20 minute wait which isn't bad at all!
I can't wait to go back to the Biergarten next year!
Lynn

 

[aljack33]

We just got back. I think you will be fine. We made reservations, but we able to get in places that we didn't have reservations for. Just call when you get there or go to the restaurants and they will usually fit you in. I wouldn't panic

 

[ZoZo]

I got some ressies but we can't seem to decide on where to eat at Epcot. Anyone have a fav???

I recommend Le Cellier - good steaks, pretzel bread, and other things. (lots of folks like the cheddar cheese soup and creme brulee dessert.)

 

[Disney_Bound2007]

Thanks so much for all the help!

 

[Grumpy92]

You might want to look at the menus on this site. That can help alot. Having been there the last two weeks I can tell you many of the restaurants that we ate at were turning walk ins away. With it still the spring break season and the DDP so popular now I would strongly encourage ADRs.
Also follow these rules for ADRs:
* You definitely need them if you want to do a character meal
* You definitely need them if you have a large party.
* You definitely need them if you are visiting during a holiday period.
* You definitely need them if you like to dine from 6-7pm. Or you want to dine at one of the more popular restaurants (Cindy's, WC, Chef Mickeys, Ohana, Konas, Le Cellier, Sci Fi, 50s PT)

We did try a restaurant we hadnt been to in a while, the menu had changed. Coral Reef was wonderful for lunch. We even got a table right next to the glass. Great meal.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

LeCellier and Rose N Crown Pub are our fave's for Epcot. You can also check out the menus for all restaurants on WDW property on this link.
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm The resorts have some really great places to eat as well. You may even want to consider doing breakfast as a TS and dinner as a CS. Our favorite breakfast is Chef Mickey's.