What meals to plan?

[Raenstoirm]

I am a WDW vet, so the idea of not making ADRs is foreign!
That said, what meals/packages do I need to book in advance? We are planning on going during the gay days, so i am thinking it might be busier than usual for the fall. This is also probably a once in a lifetime trip to DLR so we want to be able to experience as much as we can. We would/will pay for "vip spots" to fantasmic, WoC, fireworks?, Aladdin?. Are there vip spots to all of those? Are they attached to meals? (buy dinner get the special seating type thing)
I have read Napa Rose is hard to get into. As well as Goofy's kitchen. When should I make ADRs if we want to try both of those?

 

[KateDrake]

It is weird to make the adjustment when you are used to waking up at 4 a.m. 180 days before your vacation! But it's pretty easy when you start planning. At DLR, you can make all your dining reservations 60 days in advance, but often you can find same-day reservations.

First tip would be to read the "Disneyland dining for WDW vets" thread, which of course I don't know how to post here Shouldn't be hard to find though. There are also WOC and F! super threads, but I'll do a quick summary.

F! offers a dessert seating that gets you reserved spots, so that is a good option. Depending on when you go, F! may only be on weekends, so that will be the big one you need to arrange the rest of your schedule around.

WOC is also not to be missed! Two restaurants offer packages. Wine Country Tratoria has a prix fix three-course menu, which includes FPs for the preferred dining section. You can also do a WOC package at the new Carthay Circle. You have to order one entree and an appetizer or dessert for each person, and you get the preferred viewing section as well.

The other option is the WOC picnic, but that just gives you the same FP you can pick up when entering the park each day, so most people don't think it's worth it.

For other restaurants, you probably want to be sure to try Blue Bayou if it is a once in a lifetime trip. This is the restaurant inside POTC. The food isn't the best, but the atmosphere can't be beat. Some of my other favorites are Cafe Orleans for the pommes frites and Goofy's for characters. For CS I like Pacific Warf Cafe, Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta, Bengal BBQ, the Hungry Bear, and I know I'm going to love Flo's V8 Cafe, even though I haven't tried it yet

Have a great trip, and don't stress! DLR is so much easier to conquer than WDW!

 

[HydroGuy]

I am a WDW vet, so the idea of not making ADRs is foreign!
That said, what meals/packages do I need to book in advance? We are planning on going during the gay days, so i am thinking it might be busier than usual for the fall. This is also probably a once in a lifetime trip to DLR so we want to be able to experience as much as we can. We would/will pay for "vip spots" to fantasmic, WoC, fireworks?, Aladdin?. Are there vip spots to all of those? Are they attached to meals? (buy dinner get the special seating type thing)
I have read Napa Rose is hard to get into. As well as Goofy's kitchen. When should I make ADRs if we want to try both of those?

This might be a good place to start:

"What WDW Vets Need to Know About Dining at DLR" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2914467

 

[dizneekrazee]

Goofy's is not hard to get into at all. Napa Rose, I have never tried, but I would believe that.

I have done the priority seating myself for WOC at Wine Country Trattoria. The menu appears to have changed since I did it 2 years ago, but the bf had what I think was halibut and he said it wasn't that great. I had a red meat, don't think it was filet mignon, but it could have been, and it was AMAZING to say the least.

I have never been to WDW, but I do not think you guys have a Blue Bayou in your POTC ride. That is an amazing restaurant just for the ambiance, the food isn't shabby either!! It is pricey, but if this is a once in a lifetime trip, then don't miss it.

For any character dinning, pls correct me somebody if I am wrong, the Goofy's is the only charachter dinning available for dinner (maybe Ariel's too). I honestly didn't care for Ariel's at all when we had lunch there, but that was also about 10 years ago, so I imagine a lot has changed! Lol. Minnie's is good for breakfast with characters in the park, lots of characters too, but not the biggest selection on food.

There are a few quick snack places that cannot be missed! A Dole Whip from in front of the Tiki Room, a corndog from the Red Wagon on Main St. would be my top 2 recommendations, with Bengal BBQ falling just behind. Yumm, now I'm hungry. Oh, and a chimichanga too. There are also turkey legs that everyone raves about, but I just cannot get myself to try one, I am afraid of looking like a cave woman walking around eating that thing!!

Some places are not even worth the time to me. For example, Red Rockets Pizza Port. While the salads & pastas are big for 1 person (those are ok), the pizza sucks. You can get crappy pizza anywhere.

Have a magical trip & I hope that helps at least a lil bit!!

 

[Raenstoirm]

This might be a good place to start:

"What WDW Vets Need to Know About Dining at DLR" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2914467

Hydro, you seem to be the go-to guy for DL. I skimmed a lot of the sticky info, but apparently not enough. Is there a compiled list of DL threads for WDW vets somewhere? (I read the DL for WDW vets general thread a while back- guess I need to locate that again.)

Thanks everyone else with your opinions. I will look into each of your suggestions!

 

[KateDrake]

That's the thread! I would also suggest reading anything by Hydroguy, his stuff is always awesome!

 

[DisneytheKid]

Check out the thread at the bottom of hydroguys signature. It has a compilation of his DL tips

Hydro, you seem to be the go-to guy for DL. I skimmed a lot of the sticky info, but apparently not enough. Is there a compiled list of DL threads for WDW vets somewhere? (I read the DL for WDW vets general thread a while back- guess I need to locate that again.)

Thanks everyone else with your opinions. I will look into each of your suggestions!

 

[Raenstoirm]

Check out the thread at the bottom of hydroguys signature. It has a compilation of his DL tips

I didnt know he laid them out so perfectly. thanks for the tip!

 

[belle'ssister]

Goofy's is not hard to get into at all. Napa Rose, I have never tried, but I would believe that.

I have done the priority seating myself for WOC at Wine Country Trattoria. The menu appears to have changed since I did it 2 years ago, but the bf had what I think was halibut and he said it wasn't that great. I had a red meat, don't think it was filet mignon, but it could have been, and it was AMAZING to say the least.

I have never been to WDW, but I do not think you guys have a Blue Bayou in your POTC ride. That is an amazing restaurant just for the ambiance, the food isn't shabby either!! It is pricey, but if this is a once in a lifetime trip, then don't miss it.

For any character dinning, pls correct me somebody if I am wrong, the Goofy's is the only charachter dinning available for dinner (maybe Ariel's too). I honestly didn't care for Ariel's at all when we had lunch there, but that was also about 10 years ago, so I imagine a lot has changed! Lol. Minnie's is good for breakfast with characters in the park, lots of characters too, but not the biggest selection on food.

There are a few quick snack places that cannot be missed! A Dole Whip from in front of the Tiki Room, a corndog from the Red Wagon on Main St. would be my top 2 recommendations, with Bengal BBQ falling just behind. Yumm, now I'm hungry. Oh, and a chimichanga too. There are also turkey legs that everyone raves about, but I just cannot get myself to try one, I am afraid of looking like a cave woman walking around eating that thing!!

Some places are not even worth the time to me. For example, Red Rockets Pizza Port. While the salads & pastas are big for 1 person (those are ok), the pizza sucks. You can get crappy pizza anywhere.

Have a magical trip & I hope that helps at least a lil bit!!

Ariels has dinner, same menu as lunch. I ate there about five years ago. It was fine. The princesses are at dinner now, as well as lunch. My granddaughter will be going with in a few weeks. She's very excited to see Cinderella. Sure hope she is there that day.