Thoughts on my dining ideas pls

[Tenkawa]

Hi everyone.

I'll be arriving in early May with a group of 5, including one 12 year old, staying at Saratoga Springs. I need some help with some fine tuning.

As a side note, I will have one more day (Sunday), and am debating if I want to do HS or Epcot for it. If HS on thursday I can't get on Rise, I feel like I should do HS.

Overall plan:

Tuesday: Disney Springs / resort day. Probably doing a late dinner in DS. Dining: late dinner at Polite Pig or Raglan Road

Wed: Magic kingdom, Rope drop and extended evening hours. Likely a break in the middle of the day. Dining: 10:00am Crystal Palace, 7 or 8pm O'hana

Thurs: Hollywood studios, rope drop. Dining: Quick service for breakfast like items, thinking late lunch at Sebastian's, trying for a late booking at Olga's (Can we get in with my 12 year old as well?)

Fri: Epcot, rope drop. Dining: Lunch or dinner at La Hacienda. Debated going with San Angel Inn, but reports say the food is bland. Like the ambiance idea. Note: Must do one of these two, as it will be Cinqo de Mayo. For other means, I'm thinking Quick Service (Unless they bring back breakfast at the Garden Grill)

Sat: Animal Kingdom. Rope drop. Dining: I'm at a bit of a loss here. I like the idea of some of the restaurants in the park, but am debating doing lunch at Boma (AKL).


So what do I need your help with?

Well, does this seem reasonable / doable?
For AK, should I just go with Boma rather than in park?
For MK, Is the O'hana idea workable?
For HS, can my kid get into Olga's?

Thanks!

 

[StarCruzer]

Some thoughts (and keep in mind these are just my opinions):

-Oga's doesn't really serve food, so you may want to consider hitting up Docking Bay 7 if you get hungry around dinner. It doesn't seem like there's an issue for kids to go to Oga's though. They have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks that are fun!

As for O'hana and/or Boma, it depends on how much your family eats. We usually don't do buffets because we don't eat enough to justify the cost; especially with O'hana having the extra premium for being a character meal. We're actually making an exception for Boma breakfast on our upcoming trip because we really love the variety of food and AKL ambiance--so it depends on if you're planning for budget, convenience, or simply because you really like the restaurant.

AK is usually an excellent park to do a more tapas-style quick service meal, as they have lots of great smaller food stands (but they can rotate frequently on what is served, so it can be hard to plan in advance).

Keep in mind if you are leaving a park in the middle of the day and plan on returning after lunch: this can take way longer than you might expect if you're taking the buses (versus boats, Skyliner, or rideshare). We have waited as little as 10 minutes and as long as 40 minutes for resort buses in or out of the parks in the "slow" time from 11 am to 3 pm.

Hope some of this helps!

 

[Pens Fan]

In regards to your AK day:

Boma isn't open for lunch, only breakfast and dinner. I'm not sure how late you can make a reservation, but the breakfast hours end at 11:30. There are lots of great places to eat within AK itself. We love Yak and Yeti and Nomad Lounge. Satuli Canteen is one of the best quick service locations on property. If you really want to go all out, Tiffins is great, though expensive.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

In regards to your AK day:

Boma isn't open for lunch, only breakfast and dinner. I'm not sure how late you can make a reservation, but the breakfast hours end at 11:30. There are lots of great places to eat within AK itself. We love Yak and Yeti and Nomad Lounge. Satuli Canteen is one of the best quick service locations on property. If you really want to go all out, Tiffins is great, though expensive.

Totally agree with the options in AK itself, including Y&Y and Satuli - and Tiffins. For something in between, there's the Rainforest Cafe at the park entrance. If you opt for a short break and the trip to AKL, I'd certainly recommend Sanaa at Kidani - very good food and service. At lunch, it'd be nice to have a table by the windows looking out over the animals on the savanna!

 

[RanDIZ]

Boma is not up for debate. It is a must do! Try and schedule it for dinnertime. Take a break from the park and head back until closing. If you stay in the park, Tiffins and Yak n Yeti are good options.

 

[RoseGold]

I would def go Jaleo in Disney Springs, the best restaurant on Disney property IMO.

I'd also think about just cutting Ohana. Reviews here of it recently have been brutal, and it's very expensive.

Oga's is all ages, a 12 year old will be great. Toddlers were kind of bored, not much food.

AKL is a LONG trip from AK, especially for just dining. Boma's OK, but this can be a 2 hour discussion with transportation, and that's a long time on valuable park tickets. This is not a short break. I'd stick to the park.

One of my favorites is the Hollywood and Vine holiday character meal for a late lunch. It's on the cheaper side of character meals, not impossible to book, and the buffet is huge and excellent. I'd pick it over Ohana, for the money.

I wouldn't worry too much about Cinco de Mayo. The quick serve in Mexico is excellent also.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

AKL is a LONG trip from AK, especially for just dining. Boma's OK, but this can be a 2 hour discussion with transportation, and that's a long time on valuable park tickets. This is not a short break. I'd stick to the park.

Sorry, but it's really not a long trip! Unless you have to wait a long time for buses to arrive, it's a 5-10 minute bus trip!

 

[RoseGold]

Sorry, but it's really not a long trip! Unless you have to wait a long time for buses to arrive, it's a 5-10 minute bus trip!

Buses were running about every 20-30 mins off peak last time I was there. So sure, maybe you get really, really lucky. Or maybe really unlucky. Fighting Disney transportation for a hotel you don't even need to go to is not how I want to spend expensive park time.

I'd do this the first night from Disney Springs, if you must do this. I'm from a city with any dining option I could want, so Boma is not worth all of this to me.

 

[Jacq7414]

Sorry, but it's really not a long trip! Unless you have to wait a long time for buses to arrive, it's a 5-10 minute bus trip!

We went to AKL to go to Sanaa from AK and I didn’t find it that long of a ride either. It is kind of inconvenient though leaving and coming back. I had planned to go to another park after since we had a late lunch, but my FOP ILL went from 11 am to 4 pmish during booking so we had to go back.

 

[Tenkawa]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I didn't think that AK would be the one that all of you jumped on.

It is sounding like Yak and Yeti is a good one, I'll adjust my list.


As for Cinqo de Mayo, my DW and family is partially of that ethnicity, so they want to do it. I'm not going to argue, I get Star Wars day at Galaxy's Edge.

 

[Dsny4fun]

Hi everyone.

I'll be arriving in early May with a group of 5, including one 12 year old, staying at Saratoga Springs. I need some help with some fine tuning.

As a side note, I will have one more day (Sunday), and am debating if I want to do HS or Epcot for it. If HS on thursday I can't get on Rise, I feel like I should do HS.

Overall plan:

Tuesday: Disney Springs / resort day. Probably doing a late dinner in DS. Dining: late dinner at Polite Pig or Raglan Road

Wed: Magic kingdom, Rope drop and extended evening hours. Likely a break in the middle of the day. Dining: 10:00am Crystal Palace, 7 or 8pm O'hana

Thurs: Hollywood studios, rope drop. Dining: Quick service for breakfast like items, thinking late lunch at Sebastian's, trying for a late booking at Olga's (Can we get in with my 12 year old as well?)

Fri: Epcot, rope drop. Dining: Lunch or dinner at La Hacienda. Debated going with San Angel Inn, but reports say the food is bland. Like the ambiance idea. Note: Must do one of these two, as it will be Cinqo de Mayo. For other means, I'm thinking Quick Service (Unless they bring back breakfast at the Garden Grill)

Sat: Animal Kingdom. Rope drop. Dining: I'm at a bit of a loss here. I like the idea of some of the restaurants in the park, but am debating doing lunch at Boma (AKL).


So what do I need your help with?

Well, does this seem reasonable / doable?
For AK, should I just go with Boma rather than in park?
For MK, Is the O'hana idea workable?
For HS, can my kid get into Olga's?

Thanks

AK....Yak & Yeti is a must do for my family. For Epcot, I just ate at San Angel Inn last month and it was one of the best meals I had that week. I haven't eaten there in years due to reviews but decided to try it anyway and it was really very good.

 

[RoseGold]

As for Cinqo de Mayo, my DW and family is partially of that ethnicity, so they want to do it. I'm not going to argue, I get Star Wars day at Galaxy's Edge.

If that's true, you should read a lot of reviews. They might be disappointed. And those restaurants are both quite expensive and difficult to book. I would imagine Cinco de Mayo is worse.

It's not hard to get a good quick serve taco and a decent margarita without fussy reservations.

 

[Tenkawa]

If that's true, you should read a lot of reviews. They might be disappointed. And those restaurants are both quite expensive and difficult to book. I would imagine Cinco de Mayo is worse.

It's not hard to get a good quick serve taco and a decent margarita without fussy reservations.

Yup. But gotta try for them. It'll be booking at 60+5 (due to resort stay), so I figure I stand a chance.

 

[RoseGold]

I think the Ronto Wrap is the best cheap meal on Disney property. It's right by Oga's. You have to stand in line and talk to a human now for it. Maybe a little adventurous for some.

Because Ronto Roaster doesn't have mobile order, I think a lot of people pick the other Star Wars choices instead. It's not too hard to snag a seat. It is covered, but not inside with AC, like the other choices would be.

I've never had the morning Ronto wrap, but maybe I need to tuck that idea away for later.

 

[jimmymc]

Hi everyone.

I'll be arriving in early May with a group of 5, including one 12 year old, staying at Saratoga Springs. I need some help with some fine tuning.

As a side note, I will have one more day (Sunday), and am debating if I want to do HS or Epcot for it. If HS on thursday I can't get on Rise, I feel like I should do HS.

Overall plan:

Tuesday: Disney Springs / resort day. Probably doing a late dinner in DS. Dining: late dinner at Polite Pig or Raglan Road

Wed: Magic kingdom, Rope drop and extended evening hours. Likely a break in the middle of the day. Dining: 10:00am Crystal Palace, 7 or 8pm O'hana

Thurs: Hollywood studios, rope drop. Dining: Quick service for breakfast like items, thinking late lunch at Sebastian's, trying for a late booking at Olga's (Can we get in with my 12 year old as well?)

Fri: Epcot, rope drop. Dining: Lunch or dinner at La Hacienda. Debated going with San Angel Inn, but reports say the food is bland. Like the ambiance idea. Note: Must do one of these two, as it will be Cinqo de Mayo. For other means, I'm thinking Quick Service (Unless they bring back breakfast at the Garden Grill)

Sat: Animal Kingdom. Rope drop. Dining: I'm at a bit of a loss here. I like the idea of some of the restaurants in the park, but am debating doing lunch at Boma (AKL).


So what do I need your help with?

Well, does this seem reasonable / doable?
For AK, should I just go with Boma rather than in park?
For MK, Is the O'hana idea workable?
For HS, can my kid get into Olga's?

Thanks!

Tuesday: easy, both good choices
Wednesday: You're giving up a lot of park time for those two meals. If your family wants to do all or most attractions in MK then I would just pick one. O'hana is easy enough to get to on the monorail.
Thursday: 12 year old is allowed in Oga's and they have neat non-alcoholic options. Sebastian's is a good choice for a Studios day.
Friday: La Hacienda has a much better reputation for food, although IMO neither spot is great. For ambiance, go inside and grab a margarita from La Cava del Tequila.
Saturday: Boma is good, but Tusker House is similar food, in the park, and has characters. Tiffins is great if you want something quieter and high quality, and Satuli Canteen has fantastic quick service food and has nice indoor seating. Also Boma closes between 11:30 and 5, so you'd have to go really early or for dinner.

 

[Maggie The Cat]

Yup. But gotta try for them. It'll be booking at 60+5 (due to resort stay), so I figure I stand a chance.

Just our experience, but we've never had an issue getting an ADR at La Hacienda. Last trip we were able to book a table for 4 for dinner on that same day. We enjoyed the food just fine and we have excellent Mexican food here at home.

We are also trying Yak & Yeti for the first time this next trip, looking forward to it.

 

[Tenkawa]

I will tack on that we are coming from the Pacific Northwest, so we are very used to multicultural cuisine.

I'm really appreciating the feedback, there have been so many choices.

@jimmymc The MK day we are intending to rope drop AND they have extended hours for deluxe guests, so taking a few hours in the middle to rest is the plan. It is also possible that MiL may not join us for the late night stuff.

 

[Pyxie]

Because Ronto Roaster doesn't have mobile order, I think a lot of people pick the other Star Wars choices instead. It's not too hard to snag a seat. It is covered, but not inside with AC, like the other choices would be.

I've mobile ordered the Ronto Wrap every time I've gotten it (most recently September).

 

[RoseGold]

I've mobile ordered the Ronto Wrap every time I've gotten it (most recently September).

Interesting. I've def mobile ordered it before, but it was down my last two trips. Who knows?