trying to get dining organized

[brooker]

Hey all,

We are currently trying to get our ADR's using the dining plan for Dec 3-10. My question is do you generally have a counter service meal and a sit down in the same park on the same day? We do not have the park hopper option. For example on our first full day we are going to MGM and we are thinking of a CS at maybe Backlot Express and booking Hollywood and Vine with the Fantasmic Dinner PAckage. Is this a good way to go? Our 2nd day we may have lunch at Cosmic Ray's and then skip over to the Boardwalk for dinner at Espn. Is this a good start? Also, if we leave a park can we go back to that same park later that day?

 

[henrylovespooh]

If you leave a park and want to go back, you can do it - just get your hand stamped as you leave.

Your plan so far sounds good. We usually get hopper tickets, but often spend some days in only one park. Sometimes we do two CS meals, such as when we're in Animal Kingdom. We love Tusker House and Flame Tree Barbecue, and that means another day we can do two sit downs.

 

[brooker]

Well this is our first trip so we don't want to be to rattled with so much to take in. To keep my plans going,

Tuesday(3rd day)

we are looking at Chef Mickeys for breakfast on our third day, then Le Cellieur for dinner spending most of our third day at Epcot.

Wednesday
On our fourth day we are planning on typhoon lagoon with a CS probably at Leaning palms and another CS for dinner back at POP.

Thursday
Animal Kindgom
Rainforest Cafe, any other suggestions for that day?

We still have 2 more days to plan.........

 

[jrogers345]

Well this is our first trip so we don't want to be to rattled with so much to take in. To keep my plans going,

Tuesday(3rd day)

we are looking at Chef Mickeys for breakfast on our third day, then Le Cellieur for dinner spending most of our third day at Epcot.

Wednesday
On our fourth day we are planning on typhoon lagoon with a CS probably at Leaning palms and another CS for dinner back at POP.

Thursday
Animal Kindgom
Rainforest Cafe, any other suggestions for that day?

We still have 2 more days to plan.........

Pretty sure Rainforest is not on the Dining Plan. Did you get the list to check the places you're planning on going?

Also, I would of booked Chef Mickey for the day you plan on being at Magic Kingdom. I guess you're staying at POP? So you're going all the way over to the Contemporary by MK for breakfast and then going back to Epcot?

 

[jrogers345]

Hey all,

We are currently trying to get our ADR's using the dining plan for Dec 3-10. My question is do you generally have a counter service meal and a sit down in the same park on the same day? We do not have the park hopper option. For example on our first full day we are going to MGM and we are thinking of a CS at maybe Backlot Express and booking Hollywood and Vine with the Fantasmic Dinner PAckage. Is this a good way to go? Our 2nd day we may have lunch at Cosmic Ray's and then skip over to the Boardwalk for dinner at Espn. Is this a good start? Also, if we leave a park can we go back to that same park later that day?

We have park hoppers so will be at different parks for the morning and then afternoon/evening. We also looked at restaurants that are not in the parks for dinner but are near the parks where we're going to spend our evening. Ones at resorts or boardwalk area. Will have dinner at one of them early and then head over to the park

 

[brooker]

Your right I hadn't noticed that Rain forest cafe wasn't included. Will probably go with Flame tree instead. I will probably change Chef Mickeys for Friday or Sat. as well. Any other suggestions?

 

[Merriwind]

We are currently trying to get our ADR's using the dining plan for Dec 3-10. My question is do you generally have a counter service meal and a sit down in the same park on the same day? We do not have the park hopper option. For example on our first full day we are going to MGM and we are thinking of a CS at maybe Backlot Express and booking Hollywood and Vine with the Fantasmic Dinner PAckage. Is this a good way to go? Our 2nd day we may have lunch at Cosmic Ray's and then skip over to the Boardwalk for dinner at Espn. Is this a good start? Also, if we leave a park can we go back to that same park later that day?

Well this is our first trip so we don't want to be to rattled with so much to take in. To keep my plans going,

Tuesday(3rd day)

we are looking at Chef Mickeys for breakfast on our third day, then Le Cellieur for dinner spending most of our third day at Epcot.

Wednesday
On our fourth day we are planning on typhoon lagoon with a CS probably at Leaning palms and another CS for dinner back at POP.

Thursday
Animal Kindgom
Rainforest Cafe, any other suggestions for that day?

We still have 2 more days to plan.........

To save a little (or a lot of) of running around, I would consider a couple of changes. On your Magic Kingdom day, I would have breakfast at Chef Mickey's and then do Cosmic Ray's for a lunch/snack when you get hungry. After you eat, it's an easy walk to MK.

On your Epcot day, I would eat at Le Cellier and ESPN zone. Either works for lunch or dinner. Le Cellier is in Epcot and ESPN is an easy walk from there.

Without having visited WDW, it's hard to comprehend how large the property is. Traveling around property to get to different restaurants can be time-consuming and stressful. We try to make our meal plans as close to where we'll be touring that day. Gives us more time to enjoy!

Have a great trip!

 

[brooker]

So on a day that you went to Animal Kindom...how much time would you spend there, and if you didn't have park hopper what else would you do that day?

 

[solferino]

If you don't have the park hopper and are at AK, why not have a sit-down at a resort or at downtown disney?

 

[Kris & Steve]

FYI...

The Rainforest Cafe is on the dinning plan BUT that is a mistake, they won't accept the dinning plan there. My TA just informed me of this yesterday.

 

[Principessa]

So on a day that you went to Animal Kindom...how much time would you spend there, and if you didn't have park hopper what else would you do that day?

I would arrive as early as comfortable...which for me is say 10am. I would pick the show I want to see, do that, then head to the Dinosaur ride.
Then maybe another show and head to Tusker House Restaurant. Just outside there is an area where you can eat and watch the African dancers/limbo/acrobatics. My ds and I spent about an hour there in March! Very relaxing...
Then walk through the park headed for the safari tour and after that, a walk through Asia. Do the Kali river rapids if it's not too cold. Then head toward the exit as the parade is happening and do some pin trading. Then I'd head back to my resort and hang out at the pool.

No park hopper? Eat at a resort. Or if you have the hopper, then hop to Epcot for dinner and to watch IllumiNations.

It's true, they call it a park hopper, but it's more like a park take a bus for 20-30 minutes mover pass....hopping implies speed, and what you really need to do is assume it will take you a full 60 minutes to get from ride X at one park to ride X at another park. Definately plan meals in your park or at the closest resort.

One question: are you traveling with kids? Because it's a lot harder to 'hop' with the under 12 crowd than say with just two reasonably fit adults.

Have you thought of going to the character breakfast at Restaurantosaurus? That gets you in AK and sets the mood for the rest of the day.

Will you try to eat at the Sci-Fi Dine in Theater in MGM? I thought it was really a fun idea for a restaurant.

Happy planning!

 

[brooker]

Thanks for all the great ideas, as I said this is our first visit and the planning is a little overwhelming. In my small city I have never had to make a reservation in my life...lol. yes we do have a 7 year old who doesn't like to walk a lot. Anyway here is a kind of dinner schedule I did up. Feel free to suggest changes.

So here is our plan:

Day 1- arrive in the afternoon go to dinner at Crystal palace and spend the rest of the evening at MK.

Day 2 MGM a CS at maybe Backlot Express( any opinions on this place?).
Fantasmic Dinner package at Hollywood and Vine.

Day 3 MK Chef Mickeys for breakfast and Cosmic Rays for Dinner.

Day 4 Epcot Electric Umbrella for lunch and Le Cellieur for Dinner

Day 5 Typhoon Lagoon Leaning palms for lunch and later in the evening to ESPN for dinner
Day 6 Animal Kingdom for Donalds Breakfastsarus buffett for breakfast and maybe back to POP for dinner that day

Day 7 Downtown Disney Earl of Sandwich for lunch off to the boardwalk for Big River Grill and brewing works for dinner

Day 8 last day, breakfast at POP, we leave at around 11 AM

In 7 nights we would use 7 TS and 7 CS meals.