this or that?

[constantstar]

I have a while until it's ADR time for us. But, I want to be prepared. This trip, I'm thinking no dining plan and just paying out of pocket for more sit down, reasonably priced, meals. We're a family of 4 and it will be me, my husband, our daughter who will be 5, and our son that is turning 3 during the trip. I'm on the pickier side and if you take me to a fancy place, I'll probably order a hamburger. That's one of the reasons the dining plan doesn't save us a ton. We also like to drink water with meals and don't get desserts.

All that to say, I'm considering so many places for our trip and would love some help narrowing it down! Any suggestions are welcome!

Epcot day: Via Napoli or Rose & Crown?
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a visit to Disney Springs: Boathouse or Raglan Road?
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a tour of the resorts to see decorations: Wave or Kona?
Before our Chip & Dale campfire: Whispering Canyon or Trails End?
HS day (my least favorite meal choices): Sci Fi or Beaches & Cream? (Anywhere else easy to get to from HS you'd suggest? We'll be there all day so we don't mind leaving for dinner. I just want to be back to see Fantasmic! as we've never done it.)
AK day: Tusker House or Sanaa?
MK lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern or Be Our Guest?
Character breakfast: Crystal Palace or Garden Grill (I've had and love both of these so I may do both)

If you guys have any suggestions for great out of pocket meal choices, I'd love to hear them!

 

[figment_jii]

Epcot day: Via Napoli or Rose & Crown? Via Napoli, but both are good
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a visit to Disney Springs: Boathouse or Raglan Road? Raglan Road
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a tour of the resorts to see decorations: Wave or Kona? Kona
Before our Chip & Dale campfire: Whispering Canyon or Trails End? Ones is a TS the other is a CS, but I'd go with Whispering Canyon Cafe
HS day (my least favorite meal choices): Sci Fi or Beaches & Cream? (Anywhere else easy to get to from HS you'd suggest? We'll be there all day so we don't mind leaving for dinner. I just want to be back to see Fantasmic! as we've never done it.) Sci Fi
AK day: Tusker House or Sanaa? Tusker House (it's a buffet so a wider range or options). Personally, I like Yak & Yeti at AK best
MK lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern or Be Our Guest? Have you been to BOG? If yes, then I'd go with LTT. If no, then I'd go with BOG
Character breakfast: Crystal Palace or Garden Grill (I've had and love both of these so I may do both) Garden Grill; I'm more of a Chip & Dale fan than Winnie the Pooh and friends

 

[constantstar]

Thanks! I didn't think about Yak & Yeti - my husband may like that more. We have been to Be Our Guest for lunch but not dinner. I've always wanted to try LTT so we may do it instead.

 

[Lisa F]

I have a while until it's ADR time for us. But, I want to be prepared. This trip, I'm thinking no dining plan and just paying out of pocket for more sit down, reasonably priced, meals. We're a family of 4 and it will be me, my husband, our daughter who will be 5, and our son that is turning 3 during the trip. I'm on the pickier side and if you take me to a fancy place, I'll probably order a hamburger. That's one of the reasons the dining plan doesn't save us a ton. We also like to drink water with meals and don't get desserts.

All that to say, I'm considering so many places for our trip and would love some help narrowing it down! Any suggestions are welcome!

Epcot day: Via Napoli or Rose & Crown?
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a visit to Disney Springs: Boathouse or Raglan Road?
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a tour of the resorts to see decorations: Wave or Kona?
Before our Chip & Dale campfire: Whispering Canyon or Trails End?
HS day (my least favorite meal choices): Sci Fi or Beaches & Cream? (Anywhere else easy to get to from HS you'd suggest? We'll be there all day so we don't mind leaving for dinner. I just want to be back to see Fantasmic! as we've never done it.)
AK day: Tusker House or Sanaa?
MK lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern or Be Our Guest?
Character breakfast: Crystal Palace or Garden Grill (I've had and love both of these so I may do both)

If you guys have any suggestions for great out of pocket meal choices, I'd love to hear them!

Epcot: Via Napoli with kids. Nothing on R&C kids menu would appeal to my kiddo
After MK day: Raglan Road. Less expensive and reviews seem consistently much better than Boathouse. Boathouse is also very very loud.
After MK day 2: Wave. Purely based on my last trip, I had a room service dinner at BLT out of the and it was one of my favorite dinners. absolutely delicious. I had the filet and it was excellent. our dinner at Kona not so much - i ordered chicken wings and they were pink and cold at the bone and the sushi felt like it had been made hours in advance and was taken out of the fridge with cold and firm rice. IMO the wave is one of those "hidden gems" while Kona is so popular now that it can be hit and miss. The higher volume of doesn't seem to help quality at any restaurant.
Chip & Dale: Trails end. I say that because I have never been but the buffet looks good to me! I also find buffets easier with my kiddo, I find he eats a better variety than at pre-plated places
HS day: Sci Fi. This was a HUGE hit with my 6 year old when we went in 2014 and going back in 2016. It was on his must do list. The shakes are great, the prices are reasonable, and the atmosphere is not to be missed. I think it is very similar to B&C in menu but the atmosphere puts it over the top for me. But no amazing ice cream dessert choices, you'll stick with shakes there.
AK day: Tusker House. Character meals are great with little ones and the best parts of our last trip were character meals - so much that I added more to our upcoming trip. bonus of Tusker House is that the menu is rather boma-like with interesting and appealing things for adventurous eating adults while having plenty of basic stuff for the kiddos and picky eaters. They are only little once Sanaa will be around for when they are older, or get some indian food somewhere else Plus less hassle getting back and forth
MK Lunch: tough one here. Liberty Tree is traditionally one of my MK faves but I did not go on my last trip and won't be going on this one. I have never tried BoG and will try it on my upcoming december trip. I would say just based on my own priorities... eat in a castle while you are in the MK! edited to agree if you have done BoG I'd do LTT. TOFFEE. CAKE. lol
Character breakfast: I'd do both. I can't pick. We are doing both in our upcoming trip. If I HAD to pick I'd pick garden grill because it is more mellow and easy going having a preplated meal than the chaos at CP. But honestly... both. lol.

 

[Marlyn]

I have a while until it's ADR time for us. But, I want to be prepared. This trip, I'm thinking no dining plan and just paying out of pocket for more sit down, reasonably priced, meals. We're a family of 4 and it will be me, my husband, our daughter who will be 5, and our son that is turning 3 during the trip. I'm on the pickier side and if you take me to a fancy place, I'll probably order a hamburger. That's one of the reasons the dining plan doesn't save us a ton. We also like to drink water with meals and don't get desserts.

All that to say, I'm considering so many places for our trip and would love some help narrowing it down! Any suggestions are welcome!

Epcot day: Via Napoli or Rose & Crown?
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a visit to Disney Springs: Boathouse or Raglan Road?
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a tour of the resorts to see decorations: Wave or Kona?
Before our Chip & Dale campfire: Whispering Canyon or Trails End?
HS day (my least favorite meal choices): Sci Fi or Beaches & Cream? (Anywhere else easy to get to from HS you'd suggest? We'll be there all day so we don't mind leaving for dinner. I just want to be back to see Fantasmic! as we've never done it.)
AK day: Tusker House or Sanaa?
MK lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern or Be Our Guest?
Character breakfast: Crystal Palace or Garden Grill (I've had and love both of these so I may do both)

If you guys have any suggestions for great out of pocket meal choices, I'd love to hear them!

Via Napoli
Raglan Road
Kona
Trails End
Beaches and Cream
Tusker House as its a character meal kids will love
Be Our Guest if you've never been because castle is so cool (food at Liberty tree is better though)
Garden Grill

 

[mkla2015]

1- Via Napoli
2- I've never been to either, The Boathouse menu appeals to me more than Raglan Road
3- The Wave
4- WCC
5- Sci-Fi
6- Tusker House- our favorite character meal and must do for my family
7- Be Our Guest
8- Crystal Palace for breakfast (try to get pre park opening)

 

[krm222]

My four year old son LOVED Sci-Fi Diner! I was also pleased with my meal and the cars were fun to sit in!

 

[Micca]

Epcot day: Via Napoli or Rose & Crown? Via Napoli for pizza for the kids, but mom & dad might like a Black & Tan at R&C

After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a visit to Disney Springs: Boathouse or Raglan Road? 50/50 unless you're looking for the entertainment at RR

After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a tour of the resorts to see decorations: Wave or Kona? Kona!

Before our Chip & Dale campfire: Whispering Canyon or Trails End? Trail's End for proximity

HS day (my least favorite meal choices): Sci Fi or Beaches & Cream? (Anywhere else easy to get to from HS you'd suggest? We'll be there all day so we don't mind leaving for dinner. I just want to be back to see Fantasmic! as we've never done it.) Sci-Fi is more of an experience, B&C is just a tiny ice cream shop with a small
menu for food. Probably nothing remarkable about the food, unless you're looking for a special ice cream treat.

AK day: Tusker House or Sanaa? Both have good food, TH is a character buffet (a very good one!), Sanaa is table service and is at AKL not the park.

MK lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern or Be Our Guest?
Best reason for lunch at BOG is if you really need to see the inside of the restaurant. I'd pass on LTT and go to CHH.

Character breakfast: Crystal Palace or Garden Grill (I've had and love both of these so I may do both) CP

 

[LSLS]

Epcot day: Via Napoli
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a visit to Disney Springs: Raglan Road
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a tour of the resorts to see decorations: Wave
Before our Chip & Dale campfire: Whispering Canyon
HS day (my least favorite meal choices): Beaches & Cream. If you like seafood maybe head to Cape May for the clam bake.
AK day: Sanaa
MK lunch: Be Our Guest?
Character breakfast: Crystal Palace

 

[mickeyschickie]

Epcot day: Via Napoli
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a visit to Disney Springs: Raglan Road?
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a tour of the resorts to see decorations: Wave
Before our Chip & Dale campfire: Trails End?
HS day (my least favorite meal choices): Beaches & Cream?
AK day: Tusker House
MK lunch: Be Our Guest?
Character breakfast: Crystal Palace

 

[mar21]

Epcot day: Via Napoli
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a visit to Disney Springs: Raglan Road
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a tour of the resorts to see decorations: Wave
Before our Chip & Dale campfire: Whispering Canyon (for kid appeal)
HS day (my least favorite meal choices): Beaches & Cream
AK day: Tusker House
MK lunch: Be Our Guest
Character breakfast: Crystal Palace

 

[Disneylover99]

Out of the ones I can compare I would choose,

Via Napoli
Raglan Road
Kona
SCiFi
Tusker House

LTT and BOG are a draw for me.

 

[dachsie]

Epcot day: Via Napoli - you will be able to keep costs down here
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a visit to Disney Springs: Raglan Road - kids will enjoy the dancing and the food is good
After MK day (kicked out due to MVMCP), a tour of the resorts to see decorations: Wave
Before our Chip & Dale campfire: Whispering Canyon - kids may enjoy the antics
HS day (my least favorite meal choices): Sci Fi
AK day: Tusker House - great character meal! Kids will love this!
MK lunch: Be Our Guest gotta eat in a castle
Character breakfast: Crystal Palace you kids will probably love the characters here, esp the 2 yr old