First experience dining itinerary

[WyattsMom]

Our 180 day mark is coming up on Thursday. I'm trying to plan our dining reservations. We have never done any dine in reservations. We did all quick service last time (our first visit) and I remember specifically that we were ferociously hungry. We basically ate rotisserie chicken and mashed potatoes for every meal, because it was the heartiest quick service meal we could find. I don't know if it was because it was the week of Thanksgiving, and we started the week off with an amazing meal at T Rex, or if I was just burning off so many calories. Whatever it was, I was hungry at Disney. This time we're going with the dining plan, and we have one quick service, one snack, and one dine in per day.


As I said, we have only ever done Disney once before, and we never ate and any restaurants. Here is my idea of what I would like to do, just from my own research. I will add to my questions in the itinerary. If you see a question mark it means I need advice


Since we have the dining plan, cost is not a factor. Also, I'm not sure we are into the character dining, or at least it's not a big deal. We want to go for the experience, the food, and location. We have a seven-year-old son who will be thrilled to eat in a castle for instance. My main concern, is that it feels like a magical experience. I'm pretty sure we'll get that anywhere at Disney, but I would like to hit a lot of the highlights. If I missing a highlight, please let me know!

6 snacks
6 quick service
6 dine in credits
To work with



Monday- Magic Kingdom
Lunch: Be Our Guest (counter)
? Dinner: Cinderellas Castle (2)
Or
Liberty tree
Or
Be our Guest
Depending on if we get a reservation


Tuesday- Animal Kingdom and Epcot
Lunch: yak & yeti?
?Dinner: Akershus? Biergarten?


Wednesday- Magic Kingdom
Breakfast: Cinderellas Castle before park opens?
Lunch: open (must be quick service)
?Dinner: Be Our Guest
OR
Liberty Tree
OR
Cinderellas Castle
Depending on reservations


Thursday- Hollywood Studios
Lunch: open Quick Service
Dinner: quick service
Or maybe a Fantasmic package?


Friday- dinner at Ohana ?
Open/any free day


Saturday- breakfast at Chef Mickeys or Cinderellas castle before park opens?
Open/any free day




How'd I do? Care to help me improve my itinerary?
If we do a meal with two dining credits, like Cinderella's Castle, I guess we could skip dining reservations at Hollywood studios, or on one of the free days.

Which is better, a Fantasmic dining package, or Cinderella's Royal table?

Do any of the restaurants on my list take two dining credits, aside from Cinderella's Royal table and Fantasmic?

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Do any of the restaurants on my list take two dining credits, aside from Cinderella's Royal table and Fantasmic?

You're correct in stating that Cindys is a 2 credit venue, Fantasmic packages are 1 credit unless you eat at Hollywood Brown Derby.

You say that you have a son - yet almost everyday you mention Cindys. I've never eaten here, but personally I think your son would prefer somewhere other than princesses ??? As for 2 credits, I think its a bit too much for a meal of average quality. Just my opinion.

 

[Figgy1]

Skip the castle and try and get BOG for both lunch (1qs) and dinner (1ts). For a large meal Tangerine Café has some rather large portions (1qs). For the Fantasmic dining package just don't do Hollywood and Vile. Another good place with kids is the buffet at the Crystal Palace all you can eat and Winnie the Pooh and friends, much better with a boy, try and get an ADR before park opening or do lunch or dinner. Askerhus is another princess meal, lots of girls in princess costumes. Definitely do Chef Mickey's!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

You're correct in stating that Cindys is a 2 credit venue, Fantasmic packages are 1 credit unless you eat at Hollywood Brown Derby.

You say that you have a son - yet almost everyday you mention Cindys. I've never eaten here, but personally I think your son would prefer somewhere other than princesses ??? As for 2 credits, I think its a bit too much for a meal of average quality. Just my opinion.

Yep. I personally don't think that any of the meals are worth two credits. I'd rather have two separate meals than one signature when on the DDP.

ETA: That's not to say I don't enjoy the signature restaurants. They're great experiences, but it's a better value to pay OOP for them.

 

[Andy_0410]

Only signature restaurant I love and think is totally worth it is California grill
Great view and get a whole new look at how the fireworks show works seeing it from above
But depends on if the kids love the fireworks and there is something for them to eat there
Check out the menus on the disney website so you can see what they offer you and the kids

 

[littleroo]

My boys love Garden Grill in Epcot. Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale are all there. Plus the rest turns. I think a 7 year old boy would love it. It is also one dining credit and you are not packed in like sardines. I also agree to pay out of pocket for any two credits restaurants. CHH is a great quick service in MK. The lobster roll is yummy.

 

[Tinkerkelle]

We love LTT. The food is great and they keep bringing you more of what you like but they're closed when we're there in Oct.
BoG is gorgeous and the food is good-the beast only greets at dinner. We enjoyed Crystal Palace for breakfast and scored 8am reservations for this trip, not a castle, but we really like the setting.
At AK we like Tusker House (ts) and Flame Tree for qs. CHH is good for qs at MK. Ohana is one of our favourites and, we find, a good way to end a trip.
I've also made a list of snacks we want to try this time as last time we ate so much at meals, and with the heat, we let the snack credits mount up amd ended up with bagged jelly sweets from DTD. cronuts at epcot and cupcakes from starring rolls at HS are just two!!

 

[Andy_0410]

Love the garden grill to. Similar food to LTT and you can get some great photos with the characters great way to save time in the parks by not having to queue for the character experiance. Plus only place you will see Micky dressed as a farmer