Making ADRs next week! Opinions?

[rufio]

My mom and I are going to WDW this December! She's been once before but it was a day trip and she spent about four hours at MK. The only restaurants we ate at were Saana and Grand Floridian Cafe. This is likely going to be her only trip unless she really loves it, so I want to make sure that I don't waste any food opportunities. Let me go ahead and say that Ohana is not an option (my husband hasn't been and he'll kill me if I go without him).

We are not using DDP. Breakfasts not specified will be eaten in our room! So here's my tentative list and any restaurant I haven't been to yet is pink.

Please make any suggestions you have for alternatives that I haven't considered! I want to make sure this trip is special! Just keep in mind that the restaurants listed are within my price range! Thanks!!

Day One: Travel day
Dinner - Garden Grove

Day Two: MK
Breakfast - Crystal Palace
Lunch - QS (if needed)
Dinner - Be Our Guest (during MVMCP)

Day Three: DAK
Lunch - Flame Tree BBQ or Restaurantosaurus
Dinner - Beaches & Cream

Day Four: Free day
Lunch - Undecided
Dinner - Coral Reef

Day Five: Epcot/MK
Breakfast - Akershus
Lunch - Les Halles
Dinner - QS (Resort or MK)
Dessert party if we can get in

Day Six: DHS
Breakfast - 1900 Park Fare
Dinner - Sci Fi or Mama Melrose (suggestions?)

Day Seven: Epcot
Late Lunch - Biergarten (CP Package)

Day Eight: Travel, leave at 3pm
Breakfast - Captain's Grille
Lunch - Undecided

 

[stevehousse]

Like your plans! Nice seeing lots of new places! What is Les Halles? I don't think I ever heard of that before! Garden Grove is at the Swalphins right? I have dined there once years ago. The food was good and I remember they had Timon and Rafiki as the characters, but not sure if they are the same as of now.

Good luck securing everything!

 

[CheshireCat12]

You didn't mention where you are staying but given the locations of many of your restaurants I would guess the Yacht/Beach club or Swan/Dolphin? I would choose Sci-Fi over Mama Melrose (perhaps nostalgic for Mom) BUT if you can swing it, maybe you could treat Mom to Brown Derby?
I would not choose dinner at Beaches and Cream unless you are really in love with it or your mom likes burgers. Maybe something in WS again?
@stevehousse- Les Halles is Boulangerie Patisserie les Halles (in France at WS)

 

[loriloughs]

I would choose Prime Time Cafe over either Sci-Fi or Mama Melrose. If you have the means I would do Brown Derby over all of them.

 

[rufio]

Like your plans! Nice seeing lots of new places! What is Les Halles? I don't think I ever heard of that before! Garden Grove is at the Swalphins right? I have dined there once years ago. The food was good and I remember they had Timon and Rafiki as the characters, but not sure if they are the same as of now.

Good luck securing everything!

Les Halles is the bakery in France. Technically it's Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie (used to be just Boulangerie Patisserie). I'm excited about Garden Grove! I've wanted to go for awhile but we normally use DDP.

You didn't mention where you are staying but given the locations of many of your restaurants I would guess the Yacht/Beach club or Swan/Dolphin? I would choose Sci-Fi over Mama Melrose (perhaps nostalgic for Mom) BUT if you can swing it, maybe you could treat Mom to Brown Derby?
I would not choose dinner at Beaches and Cream unless you are really in love with it or your mom likes burgers. Maybe something in WS again?
@stevehousse- Les Halles is Boulangerie Patisserie les Halles (in France at WS)

At the moment we're booked at Kidani Village, but we're on the waitlist for Boardwalk and fingers are crossed so we're planning around that. I did enjoy Sci-Fi, but my mom chose Mama Melrose. Based on reviews I've seen, I'm thinking Sci-Fi might be the way to go. I highly doubt Brown Derby is happening. This is going to be an expensive trip with all the extras (MVMCP, CP, DP, etc.). I chose Beaches and Cream just because it's fun and the sundaes are AMAZING! I'll talk to my mom and consider something different though!

 

[rufio]

I would choose Prime Time Cafe over either Sci-Fi or Mama Melrose. If you have the means I would do Brown Derby over all of them.

I've never done Prime Time, but I don't really like restaurants where people want me to play along. That's why I've never been to Whispering Canyon Cafe or even Dick's Last Resort. Brown Derby is out of our price range.

 

[LAM378]

I would not choose dinner at Beaches and Cream unless you are really in love with it or your mom likes burgers. Maybe something in WS again?

I will (sadly) second this. I used to love Beaches & Cream but it was nothing special last month. The food (burgers, hot dog, grilled cheese, fries) were not much better than any other QS around the World, and the service was lacking--although YMMV.

The ice cream was still awesome, though. I'd eat a "real dinner" somewhere else, and make a later ADR at B&C for ice cream!

 

[stevehousse]

I will (sadly) second this. I used to love Beaches & Cream but it was nothing special last month. The food (burgers, hot dog, grilled cheese, fries) were not much better than any other QS around the World, and the service was lacking--although YMMV.

The ice cream was still awesome, though. I'd eat a "real dinner" somewhere else, and make a later ADR at B&C for ice cream!

This is what we r doing on our "off" day. Dinner at Yachtmans Steakhouse followed by a kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream!

 

[rufio]

I will (sadly) second this. I used to love Beaches & Cream but it was nothing special last month. The food (burgers, hot dog, grilled cheese, fries) were not much better than any other QS around the World, and the service was lacking--although YMMV.

The ice cream was still awesome, though. I'd eat a "real dinner" somewhere else, and make a later ADR at B&C for ice cream!

That sounds like a great idea! Maybe dinner in the WS and ice cream later. Any suggestions?

 

[cw1982]

FYI, we did Coral Reef, Sci Fi, and 50's PTC this week. Loved them all! I would look at the menus for Sci Fi and 50's PTC and see which foods appeal more to you and her. They both offer unique experiences and the food is good either way. DH and I had a burger at Sci Fi that was pretty good. The fried chicken at 50's is awesome. So imo it really depends on your tastes and whether a drive in or old school dining room appeals more to you.

 

[CheshireCat12]

I know it is not as popular but we really enjoyed dinner at Marrakesh. If you like ethnic flavors, it is one to try.

 

[cw1982]

That sounds like a great idea! Maybe dinner in the WS and ice cream later. Any suggestions?

At WS, Teppan Edo is really good. Then you could meander over to France for some ice cream or Italy for some gelatto

 

[lpet11984]

For AK, I *love* Flametree BBQ, but I'd also throw Yak & Yeti into the mix for lunch. Great food!

 

[PUSH]

Between Sci-Fi and Mama Melrose's I would say Mama Melrose's. I've been to both, but Sci-Fi was a few years back. I was at Mama Melrose's in March for the first time and loved my food. I had a chicken alfredo-esque pasta, except instead of alfredo sauce it was a cheese sauce. Simple, but delicious. My mom had the chicken parmigiana and said it was just okay. My dad had a flatbread (it basically was pizza) and said it was good, but would probably get something else next time after seeing our food.

 

[rufio]

Between Sci-Fi and Mama Melrose's I would say Mama Melrose's. I've been to both, but Sci-Fi was a few years back. I was at Mama Melrose's in March for the first time and loved my food. I had a chicken alfredo-esque pasta, except instead of alfredo sauce it was a cheese sauce. Simple, but delicious. My mom had the chicken parmigiana and said it was just okay. My dad had a flatbread (it basically was pizza) and said it was good, but would probably get something else next time after seeing our food.

Hmmm... might have to be Mama Melrose. You know, because of that cupcake.

 

[seahawk7]

Try to get a fastpass for Be Our Guest. We really like it. You get in right away and it's a great QS option. Mama Melrose has better food and service that Sci Fi Diner. Our experiences with Sci Fi have been LENGTHY service. On two separate occasions our server was very slow and it became torture to watch the movie clip reel.

 

[Sparkle81]

I've never done Prime Time, but I don't really like restaurants where people want me to play along. That's why I've never been to Whispering Canyon Cafe or even Dick's Last Resort. Brown Derby is out of our price range.

I'm not really a 'play along' kind of person either, but I've done 50s Prime Time twice and the servers have never bothered us at all. I guess they pick up on how likely you are to want to play along, and I must have been giving off a vibe The food and atmosphere is great though, so maybe consider it You wouldn't regret it!

 

[cw1982]

I've never done Prime Time, but I don't really like restaurants where people want me to play along. That's why I've never been to Whispering Canyon Cafe or even Dick's Last Resort. Brown Derby is out of our price range.

Lol... DH and I split a meal there this week. The server got onto him when she saw how little he gave me off of the plate... told him he was welcome to give me a little more lol... so we had to explain that I can't eat much because of my surgery. I was glad we told her, though, because I've heard of them spoon feeding guests who don't finish their plates!

 

[Kate Alan]

I've never done Prime Time, but I don't really like restaurants where people want me to play along. That's why I've never been to Whispering Canyon Cafe or even Dick's Last Resort. Brown Derby is out of our price range.

Lol... DH and I split a meal there this week. The server got onto him when she saw how little he gave me off of the plate... told him he was welcome to give me a little more lol... so we had to explain that I can't eat much because of my surgery. I was glad we told her, though, because I've heard of them spoon feeding guests who don't finish their plates!

Happened to me! Was there two years ago with my then-boyfriend and had the server try to feed me the green beans I hadn't eaten. We let him know the reason was that I had actually been ill earlier on the trip, and he didn't push the issue, though we did get a great picture of him feeding me one. Most of the servers are good at picking up on whether you want to play along. I've never had any as forceful as at Dick's Last Resort (which is a place I also avoid like the plague).

 

[jlsHouston]

I see I've got you enamored of character dining now.....I second Mama Melrose. The steak and mac n cheese is awesome!!