Suggestions Needed

[shenaniganzz]

This week I will be reserving our trip for September!

I am trying to plan out an itinerary and need some thoughts/suggestions please!

Here is what I am thinking and I need to fill in some blanks. We will be on the DxDp. I have no intentions of worrying about maxing it out by doing all TS meals.. the main issue is quantity (DH is a big eater) and quality. We also like to have adult beverages with our meals so we'd like to eat somewhere in the evenings where we can order a drink (I understand the MK is "dry").

Sunday
-Arrive at resort late afternoon. We're only going to try and see the parade and maybe fireworks this night.

Dinner??

Monday
MK all day.

Breakfast: Crystal Palace
Lunch: Wolfgang Puck Express or Cafe
Dinner: Whispering Canyon Cafe

Tuesday
Epcot in AM / HS in PM

Breakfast: Akerhaus
Lunch: ?????
Dinner: Flying Fish

Wednesday
MK all day.

Breakfast: Grand Floridian Cafe
Lunch: Earl of Sandwich
Dinner: ????

Thursday
AK in AM / Epcot in PM

Breakfast: Tusker House
Lunch: Coral Reef or Le Cellier
Dinner: ^Whichever we don't have for lunch.. Coral or Cellier

Friday
Depart by 9 am - Will we have time to do a breakfast at Cape May? If no time to do a character meal this day, I may skip adding the dining plan for this day and just pay for breakfast OOP at Pepper Market.


Thoughts, suggestions? Are the restaurants I have picked good choices? Anything missing that is a must do?

I know that Flying Fish is a 2TS but we are adding DxDP on our arrival day.. but since we won't be there for breakfast or lunch that day, we'll be ahead 6 TS credits anyway. So, I can even afford to do another 2TS meal somewhere in the week.

 

[KatMark]

You might have to check and see if some of the ones you want are available. As people make their ADR's 180 days out, some of your more popular choices may already be gone (we are going September 22 - 29 and made our ADR's in late March). The character meals are very hard to book for breakfasts and LeCellier is probably one of the top restaurants. We did not care for WCC and won't go back, but others love it.

For your afternoon at the Studios, I would think of maybe doing Sci-Fi; it's not great food, but the theme is great and the food is not bad if you stick to the basics.

For your all day at the MK (Wednesday), maybe The Plaza at the Magic Kingdom. The portions are huge and it is good sandwiches and AWESOME desserts.

Unless you are staying at the CSR, I would not go out of my way to go to the Pepper Market for breakfast. It is okay, but nothing spectacular (we stay at the CSR and very seldom eat breakfast at the Pepper Market; we prefer lunch/dinner).

 

[shenaniganzz]

Hi Kat

We are planning to stay at CSR. I would prefer to have a good breakfast on our last day... but I am guessing we will have to be leaving DW by 10 am to make it to the airport for our flight home.

I actually went ahead and checked the ADRs and have been pretty lucky!

I got ressies for Crystal Palace, Akershus, Tusker House and Flying Fish for those days and the times I wanted (or within half hour).

For Le Cellier and Epcot - neither was available for lunch. Since I had the extra 2TS to use, I booked Le Cellier at 4:30pm.

The rest is still up in the air.

 

[KatMark]

Hi Kat

We are planning to stay at CSR. I would prefer to have a good breakfast on our last day... but I am guessing we will have to be leaving DW by 10 am to make it to the airport for our flight home.

I actually went ahead and checked the ADRs and have been pretty lucky!

I got ressies for Crystal Palace, Akershus, Tusker House and Flying Fish for those days and the times I wanted (or within half hour).

For Le Cellier and Epcot - neither was available for lunch. Since I had the extra 2TS to use, I booked Le Cellier at 4:30pm.

The rest is still up in the air.

Have you considered Maya Grill for breakfast (also at the CSR)? It used to be a buffet, but it is now ala carte.

I wouldn't say the breakfast is bad at Pepper Market (I didn't particularly care for my omelet), but DH loved his waffle and the bacon was crisp and the potatos were good.

You did great with your ADR's!

When in September will you be there? Perhaps we'll run into each other.

 

[Cafeen]

This week I will be reserving our trip for September!

I am trying to plan out an itinerary and need some thoughts/suggestions please!

Here is what I am thinking and I need to fill in some blanks. We will be on the DxDp. I have no intentions of worrying about maxing it out by doing all TS meals.. the main issue is quantity (DH is a big eater) and quality. We also like to have adult beverages with our meals so we'd like to eat somewhere in the evenings where we can order a drink (I understand the MK is "dry").

What's the party makeup? It'd help a bit in suggesting some of the places.

Sunday
-Arrive at resort late afternoon. We're only going to try and see the parade and maybe fireworks this night.

Dinner?? - If you really want TS here, I'd look at the Plaza or one of the lesser popular locations at the monorail resorts for here. Late afternoon arrival is tricky though, as you don't want to make it too early in case stuff gets delayed, and you don't want to make it too late so you're missing out on the parade and fireworks. If you can't get anything before 90 minutes before the parade, I'd just grab CS somewhere here.

Monday
MK all day.

Breakfast: Crystal Palace
Lunch: Wolfgang Puck Express or Cafe - If you're at MK all day, why are you heading all the way down to DtD for lunch? Don't get me wrong, it can work, especially if you're using it as a midday break, but just seems out of the way to me. Also, be prepared for eating light here, buffet breakfast and potential AYCE dinner may make this not a good choice to have a heavy meal.
Dinner: Whispering Canyon Cafe

Tuesday
Epcot in AM / HS in PM

Breakfast: Akerhaus
Lunch: ????? - Consider a lighter CS meal here, Sunshine Seasons at Epcot is usually a very good choice for this. Alternatively, for TS, look at any of the WS restaurants or Captain's Grille over at Yacht Club.
Dinner: Flying Fish

Wednesday
MK all day.

Breakfast: Grand Floridian Cafe
Lunch: Earl of Sandwich - Same deal with DtD as above. Just seems out of the way. Go for it if the traveling works for you guys though.
Dinner: ???? - Since you're looking at having extra credits, consider another 2TS here. Citrico's is VERY good, and I've also heard Narcoossee's is as well (I've never been there myself though). Alternatively, Kona or The Wave would also be good choices.

Thursday
AK in AM / Epcot in PM

Breakfast: Tusker House
Lunch: Coral Reef or Le Cellier
Dinner: ^Whichever we don't have for lunch.. Coral or Cellier - Remember that Le Cellier is 2 credits for dinner now. While it makes reservations easier to get (at least for dinner), it may have an effect on your other choices.

Friday
Depart by 9 am - Will we have time to do a breakfast at Cape May? If no time to do a character meal this day, I may skip adding the dining plan for this day and just pay for breakfast OOP at Pepper Market. - Unless they've changed something, you can't just skip adding the dining plan for a day. Only DVC members staying on points can have their dining plan different from their resort stay. At CSR, this wouldn't be the case.


Thoughts, suggestions? Are the restaurants I have picked good choices? Anything missing that is a must do?

I know that Flying Fish is a 2TS but we are adding DxDP on our arrival day.. but since we won't be there for breakfast or lunch that day, we'll be ahead 6 TS credits anyway. So, I can even afford to do another 2TS meal somewhere in the week.

Assuming that you're ???'s will be 1TS locations, you are using 15 of 18 credits each. This gives you chance for several more signatures if you want them. I would personally choose Le Cellier Dinner and Coral Reef lunch (actually, I did, but that's beside the point ) and then Citrico's, Artist Point or Narcoossee's dinner on Wednesday. That would leave you with a single credit left over, which isn't too big of a deal.

However, from some of how you said stuff, I just want to make sure that you're clear on how the dining plans work. The dining plans are length of stay, based on the number of nights your reservation is for. You can't add or subtract nights (or days) unless you're a DVC member staying on points (in which case you can "segment" the trip to have different plans applied, but that's not applicable in this situation). So, for 6 nights, you will have 18 credits, even arriving in the late afternoon and leaving in the mid-morning. I'm sure you already know this, but I just have to make sure .

And lastly, in regards to planning with DxDDP, one thing to keep in mind is that its break even (that is the point where covered options equal cost paid to the plan) at around 2/3 of total credits spent at TS locations. So, even for your trip above, adding in 1TS locations for the ???s, you'd still be in the black (most likely), so just do what you want .

 

[shenaniganzz]

Oooh - I checked the menu at Maya Grill and I like that idea much better Kat, thanks!!

We will be there before you Kat so unfortunately we won't run into each other. I know you're a huge CSR fan too! I have never been and very excited to!

Okay - here is what I have come up with. DH loves his food, but I don't really want 3TS meals each day or that is all we will have time for! I've reserved lunches for QS or CS.

I tried to get Ohana but there was no availability so I reserved Raglan Road instead. I think we lucked out since we're past the 180 days. The only ressies I couldn't get were Ohana and Coral Reef. Hopefully these are good choices!

Sunday
Arrival late afternoon. MK - parade fireworks

Dinner: Boma (reserved)

Monday
MK all day.

Breakfast: Crystal Palace (reserved)
Lunch: Wolfgang Puck Express or Cafe
Dinner: The Wave (reserved)

Tuesday
Epcot in AM / HS in PM

Breakfast: Akerhaus (reserved)
Lunch: La Cantina de San Angel or Backlot Express (depending on where we are)
Dinner: Flying Fish (reserved)

WednesdayMK all day.

Breakfast: Grand Floridian Cafe (reserved)
Lunch: Earl of Sandwich
Dinner: Raglan Road (reserved)

Thursday
AK in AM / Epcot in PM

Breakfast: Tusker House (reserved)
Lunch: Liberty Inn
Dinner: Le Cellier (reserved)

FridayDepart by 9 am

Breakfast: Maya Grill

 

[KatMark]

Oooh - I checked the menu at Maya Grill and I like that idea much better Kat, thanks!!

We will be there before you Kat so unfortunately we won't run into each other. I know you're a huge CSR fan too! I have never been and very excited to!

Okay - here is what I have come up with. DH loves his food, but I don't really want 3TS meals each day or that is all we will have time for! I've reserved lunches for QS or CS.

I tried to get Ohana but there was no availability so I reserved Raglan Road instead. I think we lucked out since we're past the 180 days. The only ressies I couldn't get were Ohana and Coral Reef. Hopefully these are good choices!

Sunday
Arrival late afternoon. MK - parade fireworks

Dinner: Boma (reserved)

Monday
MK all day.

Breakfast: Crystal Palace (reserved)
Lunch: Wolfgang Puck Express or Cafe
Dinner: The Wave (reserved)

Tuesday
Epcot in AM / HS in PM

Breakfast: Akerhaus (reserved)
Lunch: La Cantina de San Angel or Backlot Express (depending on where we are)
Dinner: Flying Fish (reserved)

WednesdayMK all day.

Breakfast: Grand Floridian Cafe (reserved)
Lunch: Earl of Sandwich
Dinner: Raglan Road (reserved)

Thursday
AK in AM / Epcot in PM

Breakfast: Tusker House (reserved)
Lunch: Liberty Inn
Dinner: Le Cellier (reserved)

FridayDepart by 9 am

Breakfast: Maya Grill

Sorry we will miss you; yes, we are diehard CSR fans, but we are trying AKL this trip along with CSR.

We are thinking of switching our Fulton's to Raglan Road. We loved Liberty Inn for lunch at the MK--very good!

 

[AggieTexan]

Will you have a car? I think it's going to be very difficult and time consuming to get from a park to DTD for lunch and back again if you're using Disney transportation. Even with a car, it's going to eat a LOT of time. What about a CS lunch in the park you're in?

 

[shenaniganzz]

Hmmm - I didn't realize it would take *that* long to get from MK to DTD. I may have to change that up a bit! I have heard good things about both of these places, so maybe I will pick one and if we have enough time on our 2nd MK day - then we can head over to DTD for an afternoon.

Time to go check other options...

Sorry - editing to add no car!

 

[sharonabe]

Buses do NOT run from the parks to DTD and back. You will either have to get a cab or go to one of the MK resorts or the TTC to catch a bus to DTD. Then do the same on the way back to MK. I would count on at least an hour each way plus the time to eat at DTD and you've easily taken three hours out of your day.

As another PP said, this wouldn't be bad as an afternoon break from the park. Although the parks won't be crowded, it will be hot and the buses do have good A/C. But your walking and waiting time for the buses may un-do any "rest" factor.

I'm a little concerned about your Boma reservation and MK. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the MK and find a spot to watch the parade. If the parade is at 8:00, I would want to be walking out of Boma by 6:30. Did you check to see if Calif Grill had anything? or Kona Cafe at the Poly? Being close to MK would be better.

 

[shenaniganzz]

^Hmmmm. I think I am a bit naive about how long it takes to travel everywhere!

Perhaps we should stay at CSR and eat at Maya Grill that night?


I am expecting our flight to land around 1pm-ish. I figure by the time we clear Customs, get our luggage, catch the ME and get to DW... it will probably be 3 / 3:30. We'll wait to check in for 4. If we eat at Maya Grill then hopefully we won't be too rushed when getting a bit settled in our room.

I checked and MG has ADRs for 5:00, 5:15 and 5:30.


WWYD?

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

Traveling from a theme park to DTD will take you approximately 45 minutes to 90 minutes each way, so as others have mentioned it's really not a good idea to go to DTD for lunch unless you plan on staying there for the afternoon. Returning back to a theme park after is very time consuming. You will have to transfer from a theme park to a hotel then on to DTD.

One of the Magic Kingdom days you might want to eat at Whispering Canyon Cafe it has an all you can eat BBQ skillet dinner that might be to your husbands liking. Also Trail's End Buffet at Fort Wilderness Campground is also a hearty all you can eat buffet with fried chicken and ribs.

I haven't heard many good reviews of the Grand Floridian Cafe. Nothing bad but nothing out of the ordinary. You might want to try Chef Mickey's Character breakfast at Conteporary instead or Ohana character breakfast at the Polynesian.