What to do now?

[Angel Ariel]

I've never been to Napa Rose. I have kids...picky kids. Not spending that kind of cash when all they want is chicken nuggets and pizza. NR reminds me of Victoria & Albert's at WDW....a little too fancy for my tastes.

As for Carthay Circle, the inside was very elegant, my food was good (not great), and my wife had the worst food she's ever had (some funky scaloppini with horrible flavor). We're more traditional, though. I wish Big Thunder Mt BBQ was still around. That was a place we went to every time! Great for families. I'm just sad I started hitting DL right before they shut it down forever.

Oh I certainly agree that when it comes to personal tastes, restaurants will differ! That wasn't what your original post came across as. For myself, I can recognize that certain experiences may be an "amazing TS meal," even if they aren't ones that I personally would like - that's where my comment was coming from. Using Victoria and Albert's as the example - I would agree that V&A's is not our personal taste and not a restaurant we're likely to go to. Citricos and Narcoosee's are also other restaurants I'd say aren't so much our taste in terms of menu. But if someone was asking about the GRand Floridian or WDW, I'd still include those restaurants in my count of possible "amazing TS experiences" because I know there are *many* people who find those restaurants to be incredible, even if they aren't for us.

As for Napa Rose, I do disagree that it's like V&A's. If anything, ti's most like the California Grill, IMO. Upscale food, but not so fancy that bringing young kids is difficult. Thinking of pizza - NR's flatbreads are fantastic. They even have cheese pizza on their kids menu, for under $10. DD was 3 when we went last year, and she was fascinated by the open kitchen. I want to go back again this year, but DH keeps wanting to try Steakhouse 55...w/the prices of both it's pretty much one or the other, and we haven't figured out which one is going to win out this year yet

We did Carthay Circle for lunch and did the WOC package, so we may have had different offerings to choose from. I went with their burger...expensive for a burger - but then any meal packaged w/a show is expensive at DLR - but it was very good, and the service we received was top notch.

 

[az4boys]

I haven't thoroughly read everyone's comments, but I think the biggest thing to do is research. Learn how the fast pass system works, how to maximize your fast passes, learn how parades impact crowds, where to sit for parades, learn about ride wait times and the benefits of rope drop. Research restaurants and menus - this is big. The more information you have before you go, the more relaxed you can be while there. I like to go having a pretty decent touring plan so we don't waste a lot of time stopping to think about what to do next. It helps our day go much smoother.

 

[LATJLP]

I love how people's experiences and preferences can vary so wildly!

Our family loves Napa Rose (actually taking our 11 year old son to the chef's counter in March), have enjoyed Carthay Circle (3 dinners and 1 lunch in the lounge), was seriously disappointed with BTMBBQ (went once, that was enough for us) and the worst meal I had over 10 Disney trips was at Cafe Orleans (which most people love but I will never go back to, yuck!).

How do you go about booking chef's counter?

 

[Aladora]

How do you go about booking chef's counter?

You just call Napa Rose directly and book it that way.

 

[DizMe]

Just want to note that the annual NAMM conference is in January, the 19-22 this year. It brings in huge numbers of people, and while it doesn't affect the parks very much, it very much impacts traffic, restaurants, and hotels. The hotel rates will shoot up like crazy pretty soon because of it. I know you have your hotel and you didn't say when in January you were going, but just thought I'd throw it out there that everything from getting to the hotel from the airport to finding a place to eat can be seriously affected that weekend. I know because I used to go for my birthday every year and it happens to coincide with NAMM