Tentative itinerary - how does this look?

[NWOhiogal]

Hi all,

So I've sort of got a tentative itinerary set up for my trip in January(Jan. 14-16 park days). I'd appreciate it if those who know more about Disney than I do could look at this and tell me if it makes sense. It's going to be two adults, me and my twin sister.

Right now I'm focusing on the dining because I can start making reservations on Tuesday, July 17.

I'm getting the Park Hopper option on my tickets, so I can jump around the parks.

Monday: Magic Kingdom
Lunch: Be Our Guest or Tortuga Tavern
Dinner: Liberty Tree Tavern

Tuesday: Animal Kingdom
Lunch: Counter Service
Dinner: Rainforest Cafe

Wednesday: Epcot
Lunch:Rose & Crown

Hollywood Studios
Dinner: Brown Derby

At some point I'd like to do dinner/dessert at California Grill and watch the MK fireworks from there.

Thanks for any input!!

 

[Cinderella94]

is Hollywood Studios also on Wednesday? We never do a Table Service lunch and dinner in the same day - we're never hungry enough by dinner after having a full meal of lunch. Also, this is just personal preference, but we never eat at Rainforest Cafe because it isn't uniquely Disney. There's one in a city not horribly far from us. But that's just our thought.

Aside from that, it looks fine to me.

 

[Artygal90]

That looks like a pretty good use of your three park days! A few notes:

I think Tortuga Tavern is only open seasonally, so it might be closed in mid-January. Be Our Guest is 10/10 on theming, and I think you'll get a better bang for your buck going there for lunch.

Do you have your heart set on Rainforest Cafe? It's an international chain, and I've always found the food pretty underwhelming (although I LOVE the atmosphere so understand if you really want to go for it!). Tusker House, Tiffins, Flame Tree Barbecue, and Yak & Yeti are all supposed to be pretty good, and are unique to Animal Kingdom. And if you want a dinner break outside the park, Sanaa and Jiko are excellent restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge, just a short bus ride from the AK entrance. The hype around the bread service at Sanaa is totally legit IMHO.

Finally, unless you really want to spend your final evening at Hollywood Studios, I would consider swapping Epcot and Hollywood Studios on your final day. You could knock out most of the rides at Hollywood Studios in the morning/early afternoon with rope-drop and judicious Fastpass use. That would give you more time to explore Futureworld and World Showcase at Epcot in the afternoon/early evening. And there are lots more delicious lunch options at World Showcase than there are at Hollywood Studios. Then you could get on the monorail from Epcot and have dinner and/or dessert at Cali Grill to see the fireworks. Or, do Cali Grill and fireworks on your Magic Kingdom day.

 

[goodeats]

Is your MK day the same as MLK day? If so, it will be more crowded than usual. I would switch your AK and MK day. I'm also not a fan of Rainforest Cafe, but if you're excited about it? I would probably switch to Yak n Yeti or Tusker House. Tiffins if your budget allows.

As long as you don't have an app, entree, and dessert at R&C and leave enough time between the two I think your Brown Derby Adr is fine.

 

[NWOhiogal]

That looks like a pretty good use of your three park days! A few notes:

I think Tortuga Tavern is only open seasonally, so it might be closed in mid-January. Be Our Guest is 10/10 on theming, and I think you'll get a better bang for your buck going there for lunch.

OK! I wasn't sure how fast the dining reservations for BOG would sell out, and I won't be able to make dining reservations until Tuesday morning. Do you think all the lunch reservations might be gone by then?

Do you have your heart set on Rainforest Cafe? It's an international chain, and I've always found the food pretty underwhelming (although I LOVE the atmosphere so understand if you really want to go for it!). Tusker House, Tiffins, Flame Tree Barbecue, and Yak & Yeti are all supposed to be pretty good, and are unique to Animal Kingdom. And if you want a dinner break outside the park, Sanaa and Jiko are excellent restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge, just a short bus ride from the AK entrance. The hype around the bread service at Sanaa is totally legit IMHO.

Nah, Rainforest Cafe was just the only restaurant I really knew anything about in AK! I'll check the other restaurants out, thanks!

Finally, unless you really want to spend your final evening at Hollywood Studios, I would consider swapping Epcot and Hollywood Studios on your final day...there are lots more delicious lunch options at World Showcase than there are at Hollywood Studios. Then you could get on the monorail from Epcot and have dinner and/or dessert at Cali Grill to see the fireworks. Or, do Cali Grill and fireworks on your Magic Kingdom day.

OK, thanks! I've heard that the MK fireworks are awesome when you watch them from CG, but I'm a little concerned it might be cold, since we're going in January. But I guess we'll just see how it goes!

 

[NWOhiogal]

Is your MK day the same as MLK day? If so, it will be more crowded than usual.

No, MLK Day is Jan. 21 next year. So we're good!

 

[Artygal90]

OK! I wasn't sure how fast the dining reservations for BOG would sell out, and I won't be able to make dining reservations until Tuesday morning. Do you think all the lunch reservations might be gone by then?

Just for fun, I just now went to the Disney website and tried to pull up a lunch reservation for two at BOG for the Monday before you'll be there, Jan. 7th (my anniversary, actually!). I'm seeing availability for 12:00, 12:50, and 1:20. So I think you'll be fine, especially with only two people. If not, just keep checking and I'm sure something will open up as people change their plans last minute. Worst case scenario, Columbia Harbour House and Pecos Bill are other good quick service options that will definitely be open!

 

[NWOhiogal]

Just for fun, I just now went to the Disney website and tried to pull up a lunch reservation for two at BOG for the Monday before you'll be there, Jan. 7th (my anniversary, actually!). I'm seeing availability for 12:00, 12:50, and 1:20. So I think you'll be fine, especially with only two people. If not, just keep checking and I'm sure something will open up as people change their plans last minute. Worst case scenario, Columbia Harbour House and Pecos Bill are other good quick service options that will definitely be open!

Cool! Thanks for checking for me! (PS happy anniversary!)

 

[gharter]

Overall it looks good. As mentioned Tortuga is open only seasonally. We have yet to be there when it is open and we have done multiple trips.
BoG is usually busy and can be difficult to get. I would try and get that ADR first.
AK Satu' Li and Flametree are both really good for QS.
Unless there is a reason, I would eat somewhere else other than Rainforest. Only because it is a chain and can eat there in many locations. My bias is to eat at unique restaurants there. YMMV.

 

[NWOhiogal]

Thanks for the tips, everybody! Got my dining reservations made this morning! Here's what I ended up with:

Monday, 1/14: Magic Kingdom

Lunch at Be Our Guest at 12:55 - QSR

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern at 5:25 (wanted to make it early enough so we could catch the fireworks at the castle)

Tuesday, 1/15: Animal Kingdom until afternoon, Epcot in the evening

Dinner: Rose and Crown Dining Room at 6:30

Wednesday, 1/16: Epcot in the morning/very early afternoon, then Hollywood Studios

Lunch: Brown Derby at 2 p.m.

Dinner: California Grill at Contemporary Resort at 7:05 p.m. (so we can watch the MK fireworks from the roof - hope it's not too cold!!!)

Any thoughts? Thanks again for all your help, this noobie really appreciates it!!!

 

[AngieInOH]

Thanks for the tips, everybody! Got my dining reservations made this morning! Here's what I ended up with:



Dinner: California Grill at Contemporary Resort at 7:05 p.m. (so we can watch the MK fireworks from the roof - hope it's not too cold!!!)

Any thoughts? Thanks again for all your help, this noobie really appreciates it!!!

Did they have anything a little earlier Cali Grill? With fireworks at 8:00 I would be a little worried about making it to see fireworks. Plus I wouldn't want to be rushed eating.

 

[NWOhiogal]

Did they have anything a little earlier Cali Grill? With fireworks at 8:00 I would be a little worried about making it to see fireworks. Plus I wouldn't want to be rushed eating.

I can sure check! I figured we could just watch the fireworks right from where we were. Does it not work that way? What time would you recommend? Maybe 6:30??

 

[wdw&sonny]

I would put more time between your TS lunch and dinners. Unless you are used to eating a big lunch and big dinner, 12:55 lunch and 5:25 dinner is not much time. Even 2:00 and 7:05 is too tight.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

I would only do one ADR per day, if that. It's just SO much food (even their quick service is), and it takes up a chunk of time. Since you're only there a couple of days I would not want to spend too much time going from ADR to ADR. I would keep either Brown Derby or CG - that's a short amount of time to eat two big meals in, plus with lunch at 2pm and having to be at CG at 7, you might not have as much time to spend in Hollywood Studios as you'd like. DHS has a bad rep for QS lunch, but you can always split something with your sister & that way you have lots of room to enjoy California Grill!

 

[KCEMOM]

I wouldn't worry about your California Grill ADR time. I thought your plan was to watch the fireworks from there? If so, they will time your dinner so you can take a break and head out to the viewing area to watch the fireworks. The music is piped in so you can get the full experience. I do agree with not making to TS reservations close together. We have been to WDW numerous times and have actually never done 2 TS meals in one day. The amount of food is just so much. I for sure would never give up the Cali Grill ADR, it's one of our favorites.

 

[NWOhiogal]

I would put more time between your TS lunch and dinners. Unless you are used to eating a big lunch and big dinner, 12:55 lunch and 5:25 dinner is not much time. Even 2:00 and 7:05 is too tight.

OK, thanks! How much time would you recommend?

 

[AngieInOH]

I wouldn't worry about your California Grill ADR time. I thought your plan was to watch the fireworks from there? If so, they will time your dinner so you can take a break and head out to the viewing area to watch the fireworks. The music is piped in so you can get the full experience.

Didn't realize you could take a break from dinner to outside and watch. No need to change your ressie time. Enjoy!!

 

[NWOhiogal]

OK, I got our ADRs tweaked! This is what it looks like now:

Monday:
Magic Kingdom
Lunch: Be Our Guest 12:55
Dinner: Counter service

Tuesday:
Animal Kingdom

Epcot
Dinner: Rose & Crown 6:30

Wednesday:
Epcot morning

HS afternoon
Dinner: California Grill at Contemporary 6:25

We cut back the Table Service restaurants and shifted some times around.

 

[GillianP1301]

I liked your 2nd revision the best. For me, your current plan is too light on TS dining, but dining is a big part of a Disney vacation for me personally. If you've cut back on TS for budget reasons, then I get it, but other than that, I would consider adding them back in. 2 TS meals a day is not too much. In fact, I go so far as to say 2 - 3 today is fine. But I know I'm in the minority on these boards with that opinion.

 

[Jedi Dad]

Thanks for the tips, everybody! Got my dining reservations made this morning! Here's what I ended up with:

Monday, 1/14: Magic Kingdom

Lunch at Be Our Guest at 12:55 - QSR

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern at 5:25 (wanted to make it early enough so we could catch the fireworks at the castle)

Tuesday, 1/15: Animal Kingdom until afternoon, Epcot in the evening

Dinner: Rose and Crown Dining Room at 6:30

Wednesday, 1/16: Epcot in the morning/very early afternoon, then Hollywood Studios

Lunch: Brown Derby at 2 p.m.

Dinner: California Grill at Contemporary Resort at 7:05 p.m. (so we can watch the MK fireworks from the roof - hope it's not too cold!!!)

Any thoughts? Thanks again for all your help, this noobie really appreciates it!!!

If it were me;

Monday: I would swap the lunch and dinner. There's just something a little more special about dinner at BOG... (ask the dishes)

Tuesday: Lunch recommendation; I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the ribs at Harambe Market in Animal Kingdom for lunch. Quick, simple and great atmosphere in that section of the park with the music, etc. I have never ate inside Rose and Crown but I can say the Fish and Chips at the Fish Shop right outside are AMAZING!

Wednesday: Cobb Salad at Brown Derby. No brainer, get it.

Enjoy your trip!!!
-Mike