Resturant picks tell me if these are ok... HELP!!!!

[ssatterly]

Ok here is my plan I am going the 1st week of Aug 2006 for 9 nights and 10 days. Staying at WL in a woods view room. Four people for $5882 for the Sliver plan. At 2 wisher per person per day that should be about 72 wishes. Is this a good deal?

Thing 2 I have a basic meal and park plan laid out tell me what you think. Not sure of which day's are which parks due to not knowing whic ps's I can get whne but here's what I hope to do. Tell me what you think.

Day 1 Arrival day after flight
Lunch Beaches and Cream
Dinner Wispering Caynon
Day 1 we paln on 1 round of Mini Golf and hanging at WL for most of the day. To rest up for the rest of the week.

MGM Day
Breakfast at Spoodles
Lunch at Hollywood and Vine
Dinner at Si Fi Diner

MK Day
Breakfast at Crt or Crystal Palace (which ever one I can get)
Lunch at Paeco's Bill's Cafe
Dinner at Chef Mickey's (son's 10th B-day)
Then back to park for Wishes

Epcot Day
Breakfast at Akershus
Lunch at Marrakesh
Dinner at Coral Reef

DTD Day
Breakfast will be later kind of early lunch (sleep in day)
Lunch Wolfgang Puck Express
Dinner Fultons

AK Day
Breakfast Restauranasaurus (hopefully) If not then Kusafiri
Lunch Pizzafari
Dinner Rainforest Cafe

Water park day
Breakfast Old Port Royal then off to TL
Lunch The Mara then off to BB
dinner after BB at Maya grill

Day 8 sleep in and see things we may have missed at MK
Breakfast Cape may Cafe
Lunch Sleepy Hollow
Dinner 1900 Park Fare

Day 9 Sleep in and see anything missed at Ak for 1/2 day then do some boating and recreaction
Breakfast Kusafiri or Restruantusars if could not go on AK day
Lunch Tusker house
Dinner Mickey's back yard BBQ

Last day Sleep in See anything Missed at MGM
Breakfast at Trails End
Lunch at Roaring fork
then flight home.


ok tell me what you think.

 

[tinkernelllec]

My............2006 and you already have restaurants picked out!!!!!!!!! You are a very prepared person.

 

[ssatterly]

I want everything to be as perfect as i can get it. Don't get me wrong I know that things will go wrong and I understand that BUT I do like to be perpared for anything. I have been like that ever since i began the job I am in. i am a Emergency Medical Tech. So I have to always be perpared.

 

[linda_pizzuro]

You might consider changing your MGM day and do lunch at Si Fi and dinner at Hollywood and Vine and do the Fantasmic dinner package. You do not always need to do this but it is great to get out of dinner and not have to wait to get into Fantasmic (and there is no additional cost for the package). We have done Fantasmic both with and without the package. Since you are planning on eating there anyway you might as well take advantage of the package.

 

[ssatterly]

Does Hollywood and vine have the Characters at dinner time? Thats why I picked it for lunch and not dinner but if they do then I would have no problem changing them.

Other than that how does it look?

I just may change it anyway. How does the dinner package work?

 

[GoodFairies]

No characters at H&V anymore, if I remember correctly.

Also, does your family normally eat three big meals per day? We just got back last week and it is very hot in August. I find this tends to dampen the appetite. Also, the amount of food is such that we usually eat one big meal per day (sit down) OR at most early breakfast and late dinner sitdowns without lunch in between. For example, I would say for your Epcot day (Akershus, Morrocco, Coral Reef) there is NO WAY I would be able to eat meals from those three places in ONE day. Same with your MGM day. But like I said, it really depends on your family's normal eating habits.

 

[linda_pizzuro]

No, Hollywood and Vine does not have characters at dinner. Basically when you make your PS, tell them you want to book the Fantasmic package. While you are eating, or maybe when you sit down, I don't remember, you are given a slip of paper that allows you go get into Fantasmic "through the back door" without a wait. The seats are on the right side but the stage is basically a half circle, with a mote in front of it, and the action takes place all over the stage. We have always enjoyed these seats. I also agree with GoodFairies about the three large meals a day. We usually do not do three full meals (although it might depend on the age of your children - if there are children going with you). When we go with my boyfriends 15 year old son, I think he could eat five full meals a day and still be hungry (growning boys).
Linda

 

[ssatterly]

Well it will be me my 2 kids and my mom. I am thinking of adding 1 more day as well so it would be 10 nights and 11 days.

So what would you all say do a Breakfast and snak type lunch and Dinner?

What restraunts would you change as in keep get rid of or add?

 

[goofy about mickey]

I think this is a great meal plan and even if it doesn't change at all before you go, you all will have a wonderful time. I'd also add that I wouldn't worry too much about everything being perfect...some of favorite experience and meals at WDW were not planned and just happened by accident. That being said, I definitely think its smart to be prepared...especially on a first trip.

Just a few observations:

I think Chef Mickey's is a great choice for your son's B-Day. You may want to schedule your PS time so that you can also see the Electric Water Pageant outside of the Contemporary.

Are there any little girls going on the trip. If not, many boys might actually prefer Crystal Palace to CRT and something else to Akershus.

You're restaurant choices seem to be heavily weighted towards finding "fun" experiences for the kids (such as Sci-Fi, Coral Reef, Whispering Canyon). Based on that criteria, these three are good choices, but just realize that you may be sacrificing food quality for experience. Sci-Fi is a neat setting, but the food is just OK. Given the prices, I would prefer the food at Flying Fish at the Boardwalk over the Coral Reef for dinner (or even the buffet at Cape May), but the view of the fish at the Coral Reef is nice.

Another fun place to consider is the 50's Primetime Cafe at MGM.

Fulton's is very pricy, but only gets mixed reviews. Are you planning to spend some time at DisneyQuest while at DTD? If not, you may find that it's not worth spending the whole day at DTD (even a day in which you have a late start.) For roughly the same price, I would definitely prefer leaving DTD early and going to California Grill at the Contemporary. If you are lucky enough to get a window seat and time your PS time so that you can see the fireworks at MK (either from your seat or the observation deck), you may find that it is one of the highlights of your trip!

If you do decide to have dinner at DTD, you may want to skip dessert at the restaurant and head over to Ghiradelli's for an ice cream sundae.

As time, money, and energy saver, you may want to switch around your meal schedule so that so more of you're sit-down meals are during lunch. Since your going in August, it will be HOT, so taking some time out in a sit-down, air-conditioned meals when the crowds are at their largest is not a bad idea. The lunchtime menus at sit-down restaurants are generally less expensive, too.

Food portions at WDW restaurants can be quite large. If this sounds the least bit intimidating, you may want to reduce the number of buffets that you are attending for breakfast. You may find that your either wasting your money or that your not hungry for later meals. At the very least, I'd determine which meal you are most looking forward to and check where your planning to go the rest of the day. If it's too much for one day, you might not enjoy it as much.

It looks like you chose some restaurants to check out some of the hotels (one of my favorite activities ). However, I have to add that Mara at AKL is probably my least favorite WDW fast-serve restaurant. On the other hand, many people really enjoy Boma (yet another buffet) at AKL. (I like it a lot, but DW did not care for it.) If there are any Rainforest Cafes near your hometown, you may want to consider trying a restaurant close to AK (like Boma) instead.

Different kids have different feelings about Epcot. Some love it, some not so much. Still, it's a very large park, so you might want to account for the possibility that it will take more than one full day to see everything. On the other hand, I was able to see just about everything in AK in less than a day.

Will you have a car? If not, it will require alot of travel time to visit two hotels and two water parks in the same day.

I hope this all helps. Since you still have a lot of time for planning, I figure that it would be beneficial to get as many differing opinions as possible.

 

[GoodFairies]

I would suggest that if you want to have two sit-down meals per day it should be breakfast and dinner. It also might work for you to do early breakfast, late lunch (example: 7-8 am and then 3 pm)or early lunch, late dinner (example: 11:30 am and then 8 pm), but you will have to wait for park hours in order to maximize your time with that schedule. I still don't think you will feel like eating 3 sit-down meals per day, plus you are missing valuable park time when you do that. You could probably just move some of your days around a bit and still get to eat everywhere you want to.

Day 1, MK Day, & AK Day are probably okay. You might decide you just want to skip lunch altogether when you are there, which is fine since only counter services were planned.

For your water park day, all of the running around for breakfast and lunch won't maximize your time, especially since it's just to go to food courts.

I would try to cut back the sit downs for the MGM day and the Epcot day.

 

[linda_pizzuro]

Our favorite place for dinner is 'Ohanas. It is in the Poly. It is all you can eat family style - so they bring the food to you. You start off with a pupu platter style dish with greenbeans, salad, wontons, chicken wings, stir fried rice and wonderful dippings sauses and pinnapple bread. Then they walk around with large skewers of turkey, shrimp, beef and pork loin. They bring these over to the table and give you as much as you want. They will also give you more of all the starters and the bread. They also give you fresh pineapple and carmel sauce for desert. They have a separate childrens menu if your child does not like what is on the family style eating. If you get a PS request the front room. They have coconut races and hula hoop contests for the kids and an entertainer with a youkalali (sp?) singing songs. If you time it right you can also ask for a window seat and they dim the lights and pipe in Wishes and you have a wonderful view of the fireworks from MK.
Linda

 

[Abracadabra]

Each wish -- for an adult -- is valued at around $34 - 38 (average). So you want to be sure that whatever you use the wishes for is the best value. I'd avoid using wishes for breakfast, which usually runs less than $34 a person.

As others have said, 3 Disney-size meals a day may lead you to start literally rolling out of the parks after the first few days. Disney doesn't skimp on portions and wishes meals include appetizer, entree, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage. That's a lot of food, especially when some appetizers could easily substitute for an entree.

Personally, at Disney Studios, I'd sub 50's Prime Time for Sci Fi any day of the week. Just don't care for Sci Fi's food, but 50's has wonderful food and a fun atmosphere.

As for CRT -- unless your other child is a girl, I'd opt for Crystal Palace for that day. JMO.

Epcot Day -- I'd do a lite b'fast that day rather than the PSB b'fast at Norway. Marrakesh is great but filling and Coral Reef is good, too, but also a BIG meal. Add b'fast at Norway, plus the inevitable snacking through the countries -- it's nearly impossible to resist -- you might find you need to be carried out on a cart.

Cap May Buffet -- wonderful breakfast buffet, but I recommend as EARLY a PS as you can get. They are notorious for slow seating, even with a PS and the later the morning gets, the slower it comes to getting seated. I had a 25 min. wait once for an 8:45 a.m. PS. No big deal -- we were in no rush, but we were pretty hungry when we finally got in.

 

[ssatterly]

I do have a girl with me as well my 6 y/o DD and my 9 y/o DS who will be truning 10.

None of the days are set in stone by any means it all depends on which Ps I get at which resturants when. I think i may change si Fi for the 50's

But I HAVE to do some kind of Prinness meal for my DD who call's her self Princess Destiny.

I have decided to add one more day what should i add.

 

[princess pooh]

I would skip Old port Royale and The Mara. The food there isn't so special and it's not worth going out of you way for it.

I would also add the Cape May Cafe breakfast to the list. It's my favourite character breakfast

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I can't help you with wishes but I do have a few suggestions for your schedule. I agree with other posters to book only two meals a day. We like to dine out and spend a lot in dining but three meals is just way too much and it will interfere with your enjoyment of the parks. I think for the day you come in that you should pick a place close to the hotel. You will be tired and it is best to stay close for lunch especially with children. I'm not sure about minature golf in the August heat( I would only do that at night) but if you can stand it you are a better person than I am I would explore the hotel and go in the pool with the kids or take the boat to the MK and spend a little time there. I would knock out Spoodles breakfast the next day ( too much food and running around) and follow your schedule for the rest of day. Generally I schedule what days I want to have breakfast usually character breakfasts and then we skip lunch that day . We might pick up some snacks during the day but that is it or pick up something light for breakfast and then sitdown lunch. It is so hot in Florida that I would schedule more lunches. You will need to get out of the heat. On MK day skip Peco Bills. Won't need it after your breakfast. Epcot day eliminate lunch or breakfast. Follow this through your schedule. You have scheduled wonderful places to dine but too many of them.

I also think your kids might like Boma's at the AK lodge. Go early and tour the resort which is fabulous. They get to go and look for the animals in various locations. They have a storyteller there. They also have a good childrens buffet ( at least mine thinks so) and I'm sure you and your mother will love the resort. We never miss going there. My kids love looking for and at the animals better than the Rainforest cafe. Also I would skip the restaurants you picked for Water Park day. There are so many better place to go. Well hope you have a wonderful time. Is this your first time in Disney? Remember it is VERY HOT in August so slow down and enjoy . Don't forget the pool

 

[marcyinPA]

Originally posted by ssatterly
Well it will be me my 2 kids and my mom. I am thinking of adding 1 more day as well so it would be 10 nights and 11 days.

So what would you all say do a Breakfast and snak type lunch and Dinner?

What restraunts would you change as in keep get rid of or add?

Absolutely YES to a big breakfast, snacky lunch and big dinner. We do this all the time and not only does it save money, it saves us from eating when we aren't hungry.

Have a great trip!

 

[mjmcca]

I would do either a big breakfast and light lunch big dinner or early lunch then dinner. You wont be able to eat all that stuff and if you do you will feel too sick to do anything else in the heat in August.

 

[jann1033]

never used one of the package plans but imo unless you eat tons, 3 sit down type meals a day is just too much food! portions are usually big and we are really overstuffed unless we limit it to 2 light meals( nothing more than what would equal a sandwich or cereal) and 1 sit down meal or we split meals...we have normal sized appetites but otherwise we just waste food and money. if you haven't booked the plan already have you checked costs with and with out? it just seems like so much food i'd never be able to eat it all but if the wishes are worth 30+ each you would have to eat at least 2 large meals a day and most breakfasts are 20 or less ( by the time you get a beverage ) so that means a big lunch (probably appe, entree and dessert at most places) and a big dinner ( at least appe and entree or entree and dessert)...yikes!

 

[mickeycw]

You may want to price it out....it seems you may be paying more for the wishes than they are worth.