Thoughts?

[disneyktee]

Hi All,

We're going on our first ever Christmas trip Dec 20-26, I have it mostly planned out but with it being the merriest time of year I'm wondering if I need to have every meal planned?

Going away: myself (gluten intolerant vegetarian), my husband (eats anything), my mom & pop & 2 younger siblings (14 & 12).

Sunday Dec 20:
Breakfast: airport
Lunch: ?????
Dinner: late Beaches & Cream

Monday Dec 21:
Breakfast: ??? room, might try Trattora Al Forno but haven't made ADR
Lunch: ???
Dinner: early Kona Cafe then to MK

Tuesday Dec 22:
Breakfast: ???
Lunch: ???
Dinner: Flying Fish for my parents, Boma for us & sibilings

Wednesday Dec 23:
Breakfast: ???
Lunch: Sanaa for me & hubby, no plans for fam
Dinner: Bluezoo for us (still not 100% on this), Sci Fi for fam

Thursday Dec 24:
Breakfast: Garden Grill for fam, relaxing at Gasparilla Grill for us (gluten free Mickey Waffles!)
Lunch: ???
Dinner: Yachtsman

Friday Dec 25:
Breakfast: early Cinderella's Castle
Lunch: ???
Dinner: B&C??

Saturday Dec 26:
Breakfast: Cape May Cafe
Lunch: ???
Dinner: plane?

So really my questions are...

1. Do you think we'll need lunch reservations? Are there any can't miss lunch places we should try? I'm mostly a Mickey Bar for lunch kind of person but since the gluten intolerance it's a lot harder to wing it.
2. What do you think of Bluezoo? I was torn between there or California Grill
3. I love B&C but is there somewhere else you would recommend for our last night?
4. Our plane doesn't leave until around 7 PM on Saturday so I'm hoping we'll have time for lunch, maybe even an early dinner, any suggestions?
5. Any other thoughts?

Thank you

 

[TheRustyScupper]

During such a busy holiday, you should have ADR's for everything, except QS meals.

 

[Barbydoll8]

This time of year is the most crowded at WDW. There is a risk at any TS meal w/o a ressie of not getting in. You have a better chance of non-ressie places at the resorts than in the parks.
Other than B&C you could try The Fountain in the Swan/Dolphin. Similar but I've heard much better and usually easy to get in.
Never been to Bluezoo or CG. Bluezoo gets high marks while CG from what I've read is mixed since it's been redone. I am not a fish/sushi person so I stay away from places that specialize in sea food in general.
Where ever you go, tell them you have a gluten problem. Even QS will try to accommodate you as much as they can or at least tell you what gluten free options are available.
Don't know where you are staying so on the last day, or if you are using ME back to the airport. If you are, I'd try to stick close to where they were picking me up.
Anyone else?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you want TS that week, you must have a reservation. Rare is the season you get in many places without one; Christmas week is not that season ever.

quick service won't require ADRs and are perfectly suitable for lunches and other meals. You can also grab snacks as meals at QS locations.

But don't try walking up to TS without an ADR that week hungry.

 

[crabbygal902]

So really my questions are...

1. Do you think we'll need lunch reservations? Are there any can't miss lunch places we should try? I'm mostly a Mickey Bar for lunch kind of person but since the gluten intolerance it's a lot harder to wing it.
2. What do you think of Bluezoo? I was torn between there or California Grill
3. I love B&C but is there somewhere else you would recommend for our last night?
4. Our plane doesn't leave until around 7 PM on Saturday so I'm hoping we'll have time for lunch, maybe even an early dinner, any suggestions?
5. Any other thoughts?

1. You can easily find G/F foods at counter service locations for lunch. We have been on many G/F trips and it has not been a problem at all. I suggest that you show up at the restaurant opening to have a few uncrowded minutes to talk to a manager about foods to avoid.
2. Never been to Bluezoo, but CG is mega awesome.
3. I know you are doing Cape May breakfast on your last day, but I love Cape May seafood buffet in the evenings. It is worth trying for sure.
4. Since you are having breakfast at Cape May the last day--nicely played, by the way...great way to end the vacay--I'd roam the world showcase and sample the best offerings. My person favorites are the pretzels and bratwurst in Germany and the shawarma platter in Morocco.
5. Since I'm guessing that you are staying in the Epcot area, be sure to hit the Boardwalk Bakery: delicious sandwiches, cupcakes, and well...everything. Also, the French bakery is so amazing and is very close to those resorts.

 

[JeninTexas]

Unless you want to eat QS, you need a reservation. You have some awesome restaurants planned out. Sanaa was our absolute favorite restaurant on property and was a huge hit with our kids!

 

[disneyktee]

Thank you everyone!

Bluezoo gets high marks while CG from what I've read is mixed since it's been redone.

That's why we're currently on the Bluezoo side. I haven't heard any bad or even mediocre Bluezoo reports but I've gotten both best-meal-ever and not-worth-it reports from Cali.

Rare is the season you get in many places without one; Christmas week is not that season ever.

HAHAHA that made my day! I think I was just spoiled by our March trip where we could change ADRs on the fly. It's my extended family's first trip in a decade so I'm trying to balance their desire to go-with-the-flow with my reality check of Christmas season!

Since you are having breakfast at Cape May the last day--nicely played, by the way...great way to end the vacay--I'd roam the world showcase and sample the best offerings. My person favorites are the pretzels and bratwurst in Germany and the shawarma platter in Morocco.
5. Since I'm guessing that you are staying in the Epcot area, be sure to hit the Boardwalk Bakery: delicious sandwiches, cupcakes, and well...everything. Also, the French bakery is so amazing and is very close to those resorts.

Yup! We're staying at the BC so snacking our way around World Showcase (and all the holiday around the world spots) is definitely on the lunch-list! Boardwalk bakery is a great idea, I'm not sure if they have gluten free but for everyone else they'd love it!

Sanaa was our absolute favorite restaurant on property and was a huge hit with our kids!

Thanks! We're addicted to Boma (taking one very picky eater there with the promise that they have mac and cheese and good desserts lol) but when I heard Sanaa has gluten free naan I had to find somewhere for it!

 

[kollerbear]

Yeah-- at the beginning of your trip (like, 20-22, maybe... I've been during that time in the past 2 years and it's not terrible) you might have some ADR last minute availability if you are very flexible yourself... but honestly unless you would be just as happy ending up at QS, I would NOT bank on getting in anywhere during that season.

 

[soniam]

HAHAHA that made my day! I think I was just spoiled by our March trip where we could change ADRs on the fly. It's my extended family's first trip in a decade so I'm trying to balance their desire to go-with-the-flow with my reality check of Christmas season!

Unfortunately, I haven't found that to be true for all of March. The week before/after Easter (never can remember which one) is terrible. We went mid-March this year, and I was very glad we had ADRs for every TS we wanted. It was a very busy time due to Spring Break.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

You can be free flowing almost any time, but that free flowing needs to be able to be excited about quick/counter service.

So long as you're not at Hollywood Studios, there are usually good options there. I think we can all name multiple interesting or at least adequate options at the other parks, and at some of the resorts, and certainly in Disney Springs. (In Hollywood Studios, abandon all hope ye who have hunger pangs.)