Where Should I go with DDP

[mbrowninc]

Hello everyone newbie here!

I will be taking first WDW trip with DDP in May. We will be at VB three nights then VWL for three nights. I have never stayed in the park so I really do not know any of the restaurants.

I need advice of where to make reservations. I will be traveling with DH & DDs (3, 21 months & 8 months at travel time).

My oldest will turn three while we are there. I would like advice on where to make reservations for her b-day dinner & character meals etc.

I am looking for casual nothing formal as it is going to be hard enough with their ages anyways.

Thanks ahead of time for suggestions!

Melanie

 

[Aimeedyan]

My advice is to get the park hours off the Disney website and plan a tenative touring schedule based on those (ex: day 1, Magic Kingdom day 2, Epcot, day 3, off day, etc).

THEN look at the restaurants offered at each of those parks and the nearby resort restaurants (like, on your MK day you could also consider eating at one of the monorail resorts since it's not a far trek).

It's not worth trekking across the World just for a meal; it's always better to plan a meal for where you'll already be. Also consider if you're going to take a break in the afternoon for naps and such. With young preschoolers, you might want to plan for that. If you don't need it - no harm done - but if you do, then you'll already have planned for it.

www.allearsnet.com has great menu information and is broken down by resort or park. I would also consider whether or not you want to mess with a buffet. Most families with young children find it's not worth the hassle and would rather have a family style or menu meal so they don't have to get up and down from a buffet line. Here are my first thoughts on good restaurants at each place:

Magic Kingdom:
Crystal Palace character meal (buffet)
Liberty Tree Tavern character meal (family style, I believe)

If you want to leave the MK for a meal:
Kona Cafe (menu)
'Ohana character breakfast (preplated)
'Ohana dinner (family style and has fun activities for kids)
Chef Mickeys character breakfast or dinner (buffet)
Concourse (menu and has monorail to watch above)
Whispering Canyon (menu and has antics to watch and participate in)

Epcot:
Garden Grill (characters family style)
Coral Reef (menu and has huge fishtank to watch)
Biergarten (buffet and has entertainment to watch)

If you want to leave Epcot (short walk to Boardwalk):
Spoodles (on Boardwalk, menu)

MGM:
SciFi (menu and has movie clips to watch)
50's PT (menu and has antics and TVs to watch)

If you want to leave (short boatride to Boardwalk):
Spoodles again

AK:
Rainforest (though I'm not sure it's on DDP and can be scary for small children)

Hope that helps some!

 

[mbrowninc]

Thanks for the advice this is a great start. I agree and I think we will avoid the buffets this trip.

Melanie

 

[TheDizMom]

My advice is to get the park hours off the Disney website and plan a tenative touring schedule based on those (ex: day 1, Magic Kingdom day 2, Epcot, day 3, off day, etc).

THEN look at the restaurants offered at each of those parks and the nearby resort restaurants (like, on your MK day you could also consider eating at one of the monorail resorts since it's not a far trek).

It's not worth trekking across the World just for a meal; it's always better to plan a meal for where you'll already be. Also consider if you're going to take a break in the afternoon for naps and such. With young preschoolers, you might want to plan for that. If you don't need it - no harm done - but if you do, then you'll already have planned for it.

www.allearsnet.com has great menu information and is broken down by resort or park. I would also consider whether or not you want to mess with a buffet. Most families with young children find it's not worth the hassle and would rather have a family style or menu meal so they don't have to get up and down from a buffet line. Here are my first thoughts on good restaurants at each place:

Magic Kingdom:
Crystal Palace character meal (buffet)
Liberty Tree Tavern character meal (family style, I believe)

If you want to leave the MK for a meal:
Kona Cafe (menu)
'Ohana character breakfast (preplated)
'Ohana dinner (family style and has fun activities for kids)
Chef Mickeys character breakfast or dinner (buffet)
Concourse (menu and has monorail to watch above)
Whispering Canyon (menu and has antics to watch and participate in)

Epcot:
Garden Grill (characters family style)
Coral Reef (menu and has huge fishtank to watch)
Biergarten (buffet and has entertainment to watch)

If you want to leave Epcot (short walk to Boardwalk):
Spoodles (on Boardwalk, menu)

MGM:
SciFi (menu and has movie clips to watch)
50's PT (menu and has antics and TVs to watch)

If you want to leave (short boatride to Boardwalk):
Spoodles again

AK:
Rainforest (though I'm not sure it's on DDP and can be scary for small children)

Hope that helps some!

I agree. We decided which parks we were going to on chich day and then picked our restaurants based on that. We did a lot of buffets which may be a bit harder for you since your kids are so young. So our recommendations may not be good for you. My kids loved Prime Time and it's got a good menu for kids. While Rainforest is a great restaurant and my kids love it, I feel that since it's a chain and we can eat there any time it's better to go someplace they don't get to go to at home. Here are our favorites, although mostly buffets, if you decide to brave them.

Crystal Palace
1900 Park Fare
Our all time favorite is Chef Mickey's, which we have also chosen for our DD birthday celebration when we go over spring break.
Akershus was great for the princess lunch. It's not a buffet. The kids meals are basic fare so the Norwegian themed fare isn't a problem for kids. I loved their open faced salmon sandwich, but my DH hated it because the food was to our there for him. If you are adventurous eaters try it.