Revised October Itinerary-help with dining

[dr&momto2boys]

I've been working and working on arranging things to get in all the restaurants we want to visit!

This trip all began with me having a conference to attend in San Francisco on Oct 2nd to 4th. I ended up deciding to ditch the conference (except the Oct 2nd evening presentation I do) and just make it a VACATION!

So my itinerary starts in San Francisco.
(The first part isn't planned so well, yet. I was focusing on Disney first!)

Wednesday, October 1st
Arrive in San Francisco 11:30am
Check-in at hotel and tour the city
Dinner: (?)

Thursday, October 2nd
Tour the city during the day
Breakfast: (?)
Lunch (?)
4pm-get ready for presentation-will take up rest of evening

Friday, October 3rd
Arrive in San Diego at 10:15am
San Diego Zoo (ASAP to 6pm)
Dinner (?)
Check-in at hotel

Saturday, October 4th
Breakfast (?)
SeaWorld (10am to 7:30pm)
Dine with Shamu
Return to SD hotel

Sunday, October 5th
Drive to Legoland
Legoland (10am to 5pm)
Drive to Anaheim (kids nap in car)
Check-in at GCH
Dinner at French Market (don't think kids could handle TS tonight)
A few FL rides and fireworks (DL open until midnight--will retire earlier than that!)

Monday, October 6th
Breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen (8am) (Does it open that early? Original plan was Storyteller's but think kids will like characters better at Goofy's--then did away with Goofy's dinner later in trip.)
DCA at RD (hours: 10am -6pm)
Lunch at Corn Dog Palace or Pacific Wharf Cafe (About 1pm)
Return to GCH for nap/pool
DL (closes at 8pm)
Dinner at Cafe Orleans (late)

Tuesday, October 7th
MM at DL at 9am
Grab something from Blue Ribbon Bakery Will there be access to this before 9am or not? I heard usually 30 min before on non-MM days.)
Lunch at Carnation Cafe (about 12:30pm)
Back to GCH for nap/pool
DCA (? to 6pm)
Dinner at Rancho del Zocalo Are they open right up to park closing?
Either retire early tonight or go to DL until 8pm

Wednesday, October 8th
Breakfast at Hearthstone Lounge or Whitewater snacks
DCA at RD (hours 10am -6pm)
Lunch (about 12:30pm) Wine Country Trattoria or Pacific Wharf Cafe
Back to GCH for nap/pool
More DCA if we want
Dinner at Storyteller's (about 6:30pm)
DTD

Thursday, October 9th
MM at 8am
Breakfast with Minnie & Friends (late)
Nap/Pool
DCA (closes at 6pm) &/or DL (closes at 9pm)
Dinner at Blue Bayou (late)
Pack for trip home tomorrow

Friday, October 10th
DL at RD (8am)
Breakfast at Riverbelle Terrace
Must leave around 11am for airport.

Please help answer questions/ make suggestions on items in purple! Also if you have any other comments or suggestions--I'll take them.

We're still looking for a hotel in San Diego. And if there are any sights or restaurants we shouldn't miss in San Francisco, I'd like to know!

Keep in mind my kids are 2 and close to 4 yrs old. BUT, they are very well travelled and good mannered. California will be the 16th state they've visited and they've been to other countries too. They are very used to a fast-paced schedule and nice restaurant meals. I, on the other hand am pregnant and tired all the time!

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Your plans sound great. Just some thoughts,

Rancho Del Zocoro does not take reservations. You simply go up to the counter and order your food. There are four seperate counters, two that have the hot food, one with the salads and one with the drinks. Then, you take your tray through the cashier line and pay. If you going during the "busy" times when lots of people are eating, finding a clean place to sit can be a challenge.

I like the Pacific Wharf Cafe but it is nothing like the Trattoria. Trattoria is a sit down meal that is very yummy and has lots of great options. We love it. We get a PS close to parade time (5pm) or the electical parade (8:15). We ask for one of the tables next to the wall and that way we can sit and eat while the kids are entertained with the parade. You might want to opt for more sit down meals since you are pregnant.

We just got back from a week at GCH. Loved it! Especially the pool area. Have fun!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Which is better for dinner: Goofy's or Storyteller's? I realize Storyteller's isn't a character meal at dinner. I just mean as far as food goes. DH likes buffets. I like lots of desserts!

Perhaps I should swith to Lilo and Stich breakfast instead of Goofy's and do Goofy's for dinner one night.

Originally we planned to do Storyteller's for breakfast because the kids do like Chip and Dale and the food looks good, but I'm concerned the kids won't really care about he other characters. I also wanted to do Storyteller's for lunch or dinner for the make your own pizzas for the kids. And because they have good food, right?

Now I'm so confused...again!

 

[dizneekrazee]

I have always been told that when DL opens at 9am or later, Main St. opens 1 hour earlier. Switching to Lilo and Goofys might be a good idea from Goofys and Storytellers. Are your kids not familiar with Lion King characters?? Timon and Rafiki make appear there from my understanding. Rafiki also appears at Goofys, that I know. If your kids are familiar with them, and since they do like Chip and Dale, I would rather stick with Storytellers than do the switch.

HTH!!

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Well, I don't know what would work best for your family, but I will share with you our experiences.

Keep in mind that our kids are older and they really don't know any of the characters at Storytellers outside of Chip and Dale. They have enjoyed the breakfast there but they do not really do any of the activities like the dancing and etc. We do the Storytellers' breakfast because we enjoy the food and it seems not to be so crowded. And, to be honest, it is a little less hassle in the morning since we stay at the GCH. There is no big huge line and I can order off the menu while the others do the buffet. After we eat, we run upstairs to get our stuff and head off to the park. We also end up at Storytellers when we run back to the hotel mid-day to take a break or swim at the pool. We have always enjoyed the menu.


We were there last week and we did Goofy's kitchen for dinner. The kids enjoyed that. Plenty of choices for picky eaters in my opinion. And tons of desserts. Maybe because it was in the middle of the week, but it was barely crowded, unlike breakfast. Lots of character interaction, especially with the old stand-bys like Goofy, Pluto, Fairy Godmother, the fox from Splash Mountain, and the Prince from Sleeping Beauty. (He spent a lot of fun time with my boys, trying to convince them to see his movie.... Tried to sell them on the sword fighting and etc. They still refused...something about all that kissing stuff )



We did the Lilo & Stitch Breakfast during our trip last year and the kids enjoyed it as well. They were still into the autograph books at that trip, so the character breakfasts were great for that. I think there was Daisy and the characters from Stitch. We also did the Plaza Inn Breakfast on that trip and there were tons of characters at that breakfast. It was great for the autographs, since my DH really did not want to spend precious ride time standing in line for autographs.


So, I don't know if that helps you or not hopefully others can comment on their experiences and help you come a choice.....

Enjoy the planning.

 

[Brady's Mom]

One of the things you could do in San Francisco is the Exploratorium. It is a hands on science museum. You actually touch and use the science. My kids love it. Even my 20 yr old!! Also, if you are going to be in Chinatown, there are a bunch of good places to eat. DH is from San Francisco!! We love the Museum of Natural History and I don't know if the big aquarium is open yet, but they were/are building a really cool one in SF. Pier 39 is fun to go to, try the crepe place when you are there. You should also be able to see the sea lions on Pier 39, my kids really love to see them. And Ghiradelli square is fun for adults, maybe not as fun for little kids.

 

[dizneekrazee]

I don't know if the big aquarium is open yet, but they were/are building a really cool one in SF.

Last time I checked, it was not open yet. My DH was on the construction team that built the aquarium. There is a small one though at Pier 39, I have never been to it though, I just have always heard it wasnt really worth the money. But again, it is SF, and everything is expensive!!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Thanks for the help!

Here's the newest plan:

Wednesday, October 1st
Arrive in San Francisco 11:30am
Check-in at hotel and tour the city
Dinner: (?)

Thursday, October 2nd
Tour the city during the day
Breakfast: (?)
Lunch (?)
4pm-get ready for presentation-will take up rest of evening

Friday, October 3rd
Arrive in San Diego at 10:15am
San Diego Zoo (ASAP to 6pm)
Dinner (?)
Check-in at hotel recommendation, please

Saturday, October 4th
Breakfast (?)
SeaWorld (10am to 7:30pm)
Dine with Shamu
Return to SD hotel

Sunday, October 5th
Drive to Legoland
Legoland (10am to 5pm)
Drive to Anaheim (kids nap in car)
Check-in at GCH
Dinner at French Market
A few FL rides and fireworks (DL open until midnight--will retire earlier than that!)

Monday, October 6th
Breakfast at Storyteller's (8am)
DCA at RD (hours: 10am -6pm)
Lunch at Corn Dog Palace or Pacific Wharf Cafe (About 1pm)
Return to GCH for nap/pool
DL (closes at 8pm)
Dinner at Cafe Orleans (late)

Tuesday, October 7th
MM at DL at 9am
Grab something from Blue Ribbon Bakery Will there be access to Blue Ribbon Bakery before they let us in for MM at 9am?
Lunch at Carnation Cafe (about 12:30pm)
Back to GCH for nap/pool
DCA (? to 6pm)
Dinner at Rancho del Zocalo Are they open right up to park closing?
Either retire early tonight or go to DL until 8pm

Wednesday, October 8th
Breakfast at Hearthstone Lounge or Whitewater snacks
DCA at RD (hours 10am -6pm)
Lunch (about 12:30pm) Wine Country Trattoria or Pacific Wharf Cafe
Back to GCH for nap/pool
More DCA if we want
Dinner at Goofy's (about 6:30pm)
DTD

Thursday, October 9th
MM at 8am
Breakfast with Minnie & Friends (late)
Nap/Pool
DCA (closes at 6pm) &/or DL (closes at 9pm)
Dinner at Blue Bayou (late)
Pack for trip home tomorrow

Friday, October 10th
DL at RD (8am)
Breakfast at Riverbelle Terrace
Must leave around 11am for airport.


Would still like to do lunch or dinner at Storyteller's sometime. I'll just keep it in mind in case we're not in the mood for one of the other places at the time.

Does anyone have any other suggestions/comments about or park or dining plans? They're all appreciated!