Trader Sams or Tangaroa Terrace?

[kittyklawz]

I know most people will say to keep the trader sam's reservation BUT the only day I could get one is on Friday next week at 3pm, and we might be doing a character meal at 11 (I have another day reserved as well so can cancel this) but we also have a fantasmic dining package for 5:30 and we have never seen fantasmic. We have eaten at trader sams once a year ago and I thought the food and drinks were good but I didnt think our server was very nice. We were considering cancelling the reservation and going to Tangaroa Terrace either for dinner on our arrival night Tuesday next week or going on Saturday for lunch or breakfast (but saw that you cant order the tiki drinks until 11 am). I know tangaroa terrace is quick service but is it hard to get a table for 4 so we can all sit down and eat and grab drinks from the walk up bar? We are staying at the GCH so not too far of a walk but I know it's also supposed to be a little chilly this next week. I am just concerned about wasting so much time outside of the park on Friday if we do trader sans at 3 and then have our fantasmic package at 5:30

 

[cruisehopeful]

I've always been able to get a table, but it depends on if you are there at a popular mealtime on an excessively crowded day. There are other random tables and chairs around the hotel that you could carry your food to if necessary.

 

[kittyklawz]

I've always been able to get a table, but it depends on if you are there at a popular mealtime on an excessively crowded day. There are other random tables and chairs around the hotel that you could carry your food to if necessary.

We were thinking of going either Tuesday night for dinner or Saturday for breakfast or an early lunch.

 

[maleficent55]

Where is your Fantasmic dinner package?

I missed eating at trader Sam’s last time I went and said I wasn’t going to do that again, just because the ambience and there is so fun and nice and magical to me. So it’s also hard to give that one up because it’s a very hard situation to get. Walk up so usually seated outside.

But if you already have a fantasmic dinner package that night those are two really big chunks of time to take away from a park day which makes me think you shouldn’t do it

 

[kittyklawz]

Where is your Fantasmic dinner package?

I missed eating at trader Sam’s last time I went and said I wasn’t going to do that again, just because the ambience and there is so fun and nice and magical to me. So it’s also hard to give that one up because it’s a very hard situation to get. Walk up so usually seated outside.

But if you already have a fantasmic dinner package that night those are two really big chunks of time to take away from a park day which makes me think you shouldn’t do it

The fantasmic package is the standard one for river belle terrace which we have never done before and we also haven’t ever seen fantasmic and we have eaten at trader Sam’s once before, I also am not sure how my kids will deal with either dinner reservations because they both have autism and sometimes don’t do well with having to sit around for a long time. I am not sure if the fantasmic dining package is worth it?

 

[maleficent55]

The fantasmic package is the standard one for river belle terrace which we have never done before and we also haven’t ever seen fantasmic and we have eaten at trader Sam’s once before, I also am not sure how my kids will deal with either dinner reservations because they both have autism and sometimes don’t do well with having to sit around for a long time. I am not sure if the fantasmic dining package is worth it?

I think Trader Sams has the potential to be overwhelming inside for your kids, it's dark and loud, very loud, lots occasional rainstorms and yelling. You know your kids best though. You could definitely opt for outdoor seating at trader sams and your kids might do better that well. Although for me the drive to sit inside is for all of that magic and craziness.

My opinion is that all of the Fantastic dining reservations are VERY worth it because you get a designated area to see the show and even though it's ground seating, it's obtained without a wait. Without a dining package for Fantasmic you have to search out a viewing area hours before the show and then it's standing only. To me, that would be harder for your kids.
Check out Rancho Del Zocalo, it's the least expensive package, still with a great viewing area for sitting for the show (to be clear, not at dinner but later for the show) and it's a great place to eat with kids because they can run/wander around more in that restaurant than River Belle Terrace.

 

[kittyklawz]

I think Trader Sams has the potential to be overwhelming inside for your kids, it's dark and loud, very loud, lots occasional rainstorms and yelling. You know your kids best though. You could definitely opt for outdoor seating at trader sams and your kids might do better that well. Although for me the drive to sit inside is for all of that magic and craziness.

My opinion is that all of the Fantastic dining reservations are VERY worth it because you get a designated area to see the show and even though it's ground seating, it's obtained without a wait. Without a dining package for Fantasmic you have to search out a viewing area hours before the show and then it's standing only. To me, that would be harder for your kids.
Check out Rancho Del Zocalo, it's the least expensive package, still with a great viewing area for sitting for the show (to be clear, not at dinner but later for the show) and it's a great place to eat with kids because they can run/wander around more in that restaurant than River Belle Terrace.

My kids have been to trader sams before and they thought it was cool, but I think we would probably like fantasmic more? All the reservations are gone so I cant switch the fantasmic package at this point unless I see a premium one appear for river belle lol. Also I think they would eat the food from river belle over the food at the Mexican place. Do you know if they cancel the show if it rains?

 

[maleficent55]

My kids have been to trader sams before and they thought it was cool, but I think we would probably like fantasmic more? All the reservations are gone so I cant switch the fantasmic package at this point unless I see a premium one appear for river belle lol. Also I think they would eat the food from river belle over the food at the Mexican place. Do you know if they cancel the show if it rains?

I think they would definitely like Fantasmic more, it's amazing. And the focus would be the show vs a restaurant experience.
So keep Fantasmic, don't worry about Rancho Del Zocalo or not, just keep what you have.

The premium river belle terrace one books in a heart beat and it's not the best view, but having a table and chairs was priceless. You won't see one appear but you can sign up for alerts through an alert system, anyone waiting for one to pop up is likely using an alert system and they go FAST when they pop up
not 100% sure about the rain, it may get cancelled.

I think you have to decide if you're ok taking park time away to go have lunch at trader sans and then losing som more park time for you dinner package later...
how ride focused are your kids?

 

[kittyklawz]

I think they would definitely like Fantasmic more, it's amazing. And the focus would be the show vs a restaurant experience.
So keep Fantasmic, don't worry about Rancho Del Zocalo or not, just keep what you have.

The premium river belle terrace one books in a heart beat and it's not the best view, but having a table and chairs was priceless. You won't see one appear but you can sign up for alerts through an alert system, anyone waiting for one to pop up is likely using an alert system and they go FAST when they pop up
not 100% sure about the rain, it may get cancelled.

I think you have to decide if you're ok taking park time away to go have lunch at trader sans and then losing som more park time for you dinner package later...
how ride focused are your kids?

They are pretty ride focused but it feels illegal to cancel trader Sam’s I might wait to see if we are able to eat there on Tuesday first before I cancel it since I do have a little bit of a grace period.

 

[maleficent55]

They are pretty ride focused but it feels illegal to cancel trader Sam’s I might wait to see if we are able to eat there on Tuesday first before I cancel it since I do have a little bit of a grace period.

I feel the same!!!! It’s so hard to get and a pretty top tier reservation to hold ;-)