Thoughts on these restaurants?

[momto2girlsLA]

I can book my ADR's in 2 weeks from tomorrow and am getting really excited although not looking forward to getting up at 5am CT to make the reservations. Anyway, my family (my DH and I, our 2 girls who will be 4 1/2 and 6 when we go and my parents) are doing a 4 night Dream Cruise and a then spending 3 nights at the Poly. We are only going to the Magic Kingdom on this trip. My girls are huge into the Princess stuff right now.

We will arrive at our resort sometime the morning of 10-18 and will just plan a fast lunch that day. This is what I am thinking for the rest of the trip depending on what ADR's I can get.

Day 1 - breakfast on the cruise and a cs lunch at the hotel (Poly) or at MK depending on when we actually get to the hotel and all of that fun stuff.
Dinner I am going to try for the 1900 Park Fare although this is not a must do for me unless we can't get CRT. (if we don't do 1900 Park Fare, might just leave this open as we might all be really tired with the long day and might be fine just grabbing something on the go)

Day 2 - Breakfast at CRT - lunch open and dinner at the Poly's Spirt of Aloha dinner/show. If are still awake, we can watch the Halloween Fireworks from the beach at the Poly.

Day 3 - Breakfast at Chef Mickey's, lunch open. Not sure about dinner - I want to do something in the park but debating if I should book something or just wing it this day. This is the one night we are planning to stay in the park late for the electrical parade and fireworks and the last night of our vacation. We will take the girls back to the hotel to rest and maybe swim after lunch and then head back to the park in later afternoon for dinner and evening events.

Day 4 - day we leave and we are leaving this open - airline tickets are not booked yet. We do have 4 day passes so can go into the park if we want.

What do you think? (Oh and we will not have a car and will be relying on Disney transportation and we do not have park hopper tickets so will only be at MK - planning future trips when the girls are older to hit the other parks). We do not have the dining plan and are hoping to split some meals when possible.

 

[DJFan88]

Just one thought I have is that we enjoyed the buffet at Crystal Palace much better than Chef Mickeys (breakfasts at both). Tigger, Pooh, Piglet are at CP. Its much prettier and just seems less hectic. Food is great too, easier I thought, more relaxing.

 

[DJFan88]

Actually I have another thought. What we do is go to early entry at MK on an early entry day and get alot done at that time (quick thing at hotel at this point to just get by). We really get alot done at that time, esp. with the ages of your kids youcan easily get in Peter Pan, Pooh ride, small world, You probably want dumbo too. We usu. head over to tomorrowland after the first 3 and then get into Buzz and maybe tommorowland speedway. Then we do either Monsters or carosel (or both) and then book one of the later breakfasts at CP (around 11 something, right before it ends). Fill up because we're hungry and it's a buffet. Now, if that is the night you are coming back later, you could then book say Liberty Inn (more fancy, pricy, family style dinner) or The Plaza (more sandwichy and less expensive, but still good, pleases our crowd).

 

[ChristineOH]

My two cents... we stayed at the Poly last summer, our first visit. If you decide not to go to a park on your last day, the character breakfast at the Poly is really nice. We had to leave for our flight early enough not to have time for a park, so that was a fun and relaxing way to end our trip.
We also did the Spirit of Aloha show. My thoughts would be to pay extra for the best seating, given the ages of your daughters, or save it for a later trip. We were on the dining plan and were seated off to the side. We could still see, but if I was paying OOP, it would have been worth it to pay more for tier one seats so the kids would be front and center. That being said, it's very expensive. My 9yo ds loved it, my 7yo dd liked it, and my 4yo ds was probably too young. I don't regret doing it at all though.
I can't offer any other suggestions, because we didn't do any table service meals at MK except for CRT, and we loved that. We did a late dinner (because that's all I could book) and exited the castle right before the fireworks. It was amazing!
I think you are very wise to focus on MK for this trip! You will have a great time!

 

[Freckleflower]

Day 2 - Breakfast at CRT - lunch open and dinner at the Poly's Spirt of Aloha dinner/show. If are still awake, we can watch the Halloween Fireworks from the beach at the Poly.

That sounds like a great idea we plan on doing that too now

 

[smellyia]

How about Ohana for dinner on the first day since you're staying at the Poly? I hear it's wonderful, but haven't had the pleasure yet.

 

[AshtonsMom99]

My 2 cents.....I love Ohana, both for dinner and character breakfast....If you are staying at the Poly it is a good call IMHO

AND...The Spirit pf Aloha is a MUST for us every WDW visit....

 

[DD Dreamer]

Sounds like a great trip. We LOVE Ohana. It has become a must do for every trip. The dinner food is wonderful and a really nice atmosphere. We went to 1900 park fare and since our kids were a bit older, the characters did not hold the same appeal, so we would not do it again. The food for us was really only so-so. But if it's the Cinderella and crew you are after, the food doesn't matter. (the desserts were decent there).