Need advice on Dining and ADR's? Come inside! [Merged]

[pennymaggie]

It's a little tooooooo late for Meadowlark, but next time you go, you can call up to 6 months (180 days) prior to your getting to your hotel. I do it all the time and have all the restaurants that I want. Because of the dining plan, you have to get a good jump on the restaurants that you want.

[heathermouse]

We are debating between eating lunch at the Crystal Palace or Chef Mickey's. I know Chef Mickey's is not typically open for lunch as it will be during our trip, so I am a bit concerned that the food won't be great. My daughter has no preference over which characters she sees, so it's really all about the food.

[Drince88]

I doubt that the food would be drastically different at lunch than at dinner at Chef Mickey's - maybe leaving out a carving station or something like that.

I've never been to Chef Mickey's, but I did enjoy the food at lunch at Crystal Palace.

[pixiedust]

We did the Chef Mickey's lunch when it was offered last year during the free dining time. No carving station, and :( no parmesan mashed potatoes, but everything else was the same.

IMHO I prefer the Crystal Palace, though we've only had breakfast and dinner there. They have a larger salad bar with more variety, and overall seem to have a better food selection. I would guess at the lunch they also don't offer the carving station.

[eyeorelover]

Hi all,

I am in the early planning stages of our June 2008 trip. It will be myself, my DH, my DD (9) and my DS (6) and we will be staying at POR from 6/8-6/20. My husband has told me (repeatedly) that he wants this to be a much more relaxed trip than any of our previous DL, where I am constantly pushing that we have to be here at this time and here at this, get that fastpass, etc. Since this is our first trip to WDW with the family (he and I went on our honeymoon in 96) he does not want to feel stressed about having to be anywhere at any certain time. I (being a over planner) have agreed to control myself and try to be much better about it - which is why we are getting 10 day hoppers to make sure we can take more time to enjoy things I wouldn't normally "schedule in". We are not the formal dining crowd by any means, in fact my kids are very picky eaters and do not like much that varies from the chicken strip and pizza side of things, but, I do want to make sure we get to enjoy a few of the dining experiences WDW has to offer. My husband agreed I could make a couple/few ADR's that will dictate our schedules for those days. We have done all the character meals at DLR and am not sure we need to do more at WDW, but I am still open to those too. I guess I'm mostly looking for the most non-exotic food with the most memorable atmosphere. If you could only make a couple ADR's - where would you choose? Thanks!

[littlej]

Wow, that's a fun question. Usually I'm all about the food and atmosphere is secondary, so this will take some thought.

Magic Kingdom - breakfast at the Crystal Palace is Pooh characters (to meet, not to eat) and your normal breakfast buffet. Lunch and dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern features Chip n Dale, Minnie, etc. in colonial garb, and offers good home cookin' (sandwiches at lunch, pot roast, turkey and fixins' at dinner)

MGM/DHS - 50's Prime Time Cafe has you sitting in mom's kitchen eating comfort food and getting yelled at by your waiters to eat all your veggies and get your elbows off the table. At the Sci-Fi Dine-in you'll sit in your own car parked at a drive-in theatre watching old sci-fi trailers and eating burgers and fries. The shakes are pretty good.

Animal Kingdom - I'd stick with the counter service here, or the Rainforest Cafe is pretty entertaining (loud) with jungles and volcanoes.

Epcot - The Coral Reef, at the Seas with Nemo and Friends affords a close up view of the main aquarium in the dimmed dining room. Great atmosphere! It's mostly seafood, but there are land-based options as well. And Le Cellier in Canada is the most popular restaurant at WDW right now. If you decide to do this one, make an ADR right away! It's a basic steakhouse, plenty of homey options to eat.

I don't know if you'll have time to visit any of the resorts, but if you can, I highly recommend checking out the Wilderness Lodge (close to Magic Kingdom by boat) and eating at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Burgers, barbeque, mac and cheese, and loud and boisterous entertainment for the kids. Lots of fun!

Check out the menus at http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

Have fun!

[Drince88]

Crystal Palace also has lunch and dinner with Pooh characters (pretty standard fare)

In fact, any of the character meals are going to be pretty 'standard' food, since they're just about all buffets.

Chef Mickey's is kind of cool since the monorail goes right over some of the tables.

Garden Grill in the Land at Epcot is kind of cool - not sure what the current menu is, but the restaurant rotates and looks out over the greenhouses.

[tjrj]

Just because you've done character dining at DL, don't assume that WDW is the same. Yeah, the character interaction is very similar but the food at WDW(overall) character meets is a step up(sometimes several steps) from my personal experience at DL.

MK: Liberty Tree Tavern-character dinner; lunch is not. Standard fare-good atmosphere and the characters are colonial garb.

MGM: loved, loved Prime Time. homey food, decor is fabulous

Epcot: Ah! Where to choose? There isn't a place in WS that I WOULDN'T try at least once. Favorites-Le Cellier and Rose and Crown.

Resorts: gosh, I know you said "standard fare" but...Boma was a highlight. Yes, it has more exotic choices but it also has a carving station, mac and cheese, roasted potatoes, roasted chicken and yummy desserts. WCC-homey food and fun atmosphere.

[littlej]

MK: Liberty Tree Tavern-character dinner; lunch is not. Standard fare-good atmosphere and the characters are colonial garb.

tjrj, thank you for the clarification. Sometimes I'm so excited to answer someone that I'm just not thinking straight. And eyeorelover, I really agree with tjrj about Boma. I love it because it's a buffet with both familiar and exotic foods, and allows everyone in the party to try new things or not, according to their comfort level. One of my favorites!

[eyeorelover]

tjrj, thank you for the clarification. Sometimes I'm so excited to answer someone that I'm just not thinking straight. And eyeorelover, I really agree with tjrj about Boma. I love it because it's a buffet with both familiar and exotic foods, and allows everyone in the party to try new things or not, according to their comfort level. One of my favorites!

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions - I think this does sound like a good place for us since my husband and I will try new stuff but I always want to make sure the kids will eat when you pay more to be somewhere. I know it's still 10 months away but I am so looking forward to this trip. Thanks everyone!

[Dianna]

OK I hope I know the answer to this but just to make sure. I know the dining plan has undergone a lot of changes. I will be there a week from today under the free dining plan. This has been booked since June. I am assuming the plan I was told about in June is still the plan I am under. Please somebody confirm this for me. I am just worrying that it will be changed when I arrive.

Thanks

[Drince88]

OK I hope I know the answer to this but just to make sure. I know the dining plan has undergone a lot of changes. I will be there a week from today under the free dining plan. This has been booked since June. I am assuming the plan I was told about in June is still the plan I am under. Please somebody confirm this for me. I am just worrying that it will be changed when I arrive.

Thanks
Dianna, the plan you booked under is the plan you will get.

Table Service will include appetizer, entree and dessert, and will include tip in the pre-paid portion. The changes do not start until 2008.

[MoKat72]

1. I know I should have been more conscientious, but I wasn't.
2. I know I could probably call and find out the answer, but I'm trying here first.

My ADRs are all made for my trip starting two weeks from tomorrow, but in the excitement of planning, I don't remember all the exact times. I assume that we don't receive a printed dining itinerary when we check in, so is the best way to remember my reservations to call WDW-DINE and ask for them to look them up for me by my phone number?

Thanks again. :)

[tjrj]

No, one doesn't receive a dining list printed out-wish we did. So, yes, the best way would be to call the dining line and ask them to confirm the times-as well as the confirmation numbers.

I always took the confirmation number and the time with me. The staff always had us listed, but I had a fear that the one time I didn't have the confirmation number with me, would be the one time that they didn't. Murphy's Law, yanno?

[Drince88]

I thought I'd heard you could get Guest Services to print out your ADRs for you. In most resorts, it's the desk right next to the check-in desk.

[tjrj]

Now that you mention it Drince, I remember hearing that too. If true...just ignore what I said above!:rolleyes:.

[MoKat72]

Thanks, both of you, for your help. :)

The worst case scenario (like if there isn't someone available at Guest Services) would be that I'd have to pull up a chair somewhere and call the dining line.

Actually, I guess the real worst case scenario is that all of our ADRs magically disappear during the next 15 days and we're left to fend for ourselves. Even so, there are only 2 of us and we're pretty resourceful. I'm sure we'd figure it out. Besides, we'll be at WDW! I believe that a hard day at Disney is still better than an easy day at work. :)

[Drince88]

The worst case scenario (like if there isn't someone available at Guest Services) would be that I'd have to pull up a chair somewhere and call the dining line.
Just call from the in-room phone. There's a button that gets you right to dining!

[TinaMouse]

EXACTLY. No reason to pay for it.

I got a print out at the front desk, so you guys are right about that possibility!

Have a great trip and please write a trip report! I'm COMPLETELY addicted to those!

[thrashers09]

Hello. Are we allowed to order ANYTHING off a menu with the Deluxe Dining Plan? We are going in Sept '08. Some of the menus I am looking at have some pretty pricey things on them ;), so that is why I am asking.
Do they have a different menu for those of us on the plan? Thanks.

[tjrj]

AFAIK-the only place that used to have a different menu was Mama Melrose for the Fantasmic! Dinner package. And even then, those on the dining plan were allowed to order off the regular menu. I haven't heard of any place else having a different menu.

For '08-and for the deluxe plan, I'd keep your ear to the ground-I'm sure if there is, we'll hear about it here on MP.

[TinaMouse]

I'm looking over the most recent menus because I heard that several places are changing up their menus (Chefs de France is already different!). Looks like Kona is still the same, for now.

Which is better--NY Strip (teriyaki) or the Filet???

I assume I should go for the sticky wings, but I'm not a huge wing person as I don't really like chicken skin. How's the Kona Salad???

[thrashers09]

We are going September 14-20, '08. We have decided to go with the Deluxe Dining Plan. Can someone help me with EXACTLY how many reservations I would need to make? I am assuming all the signature restaurants, character dining and dinner shows have to have a ressie. What about the table and counter service locations?

[jengold29]

Thanks, both of you, for your help. :)

The worst case scenario (like if there isn't someone available at Guest Services) would be that I'd have to pull up a chair somewhere and call the dining line.

Actually, I guess the real worst case scenario is that all of our ADRs magically disappear during the next 15 days and we're left to fend for ourselves. Even so, there are only 2 of us and we're pretty resourceful. I'm sure we'd figure it out. Besides, we'll be at WDW! I believe that a hard day at Disney is still better than an easy day at work. :)

There is almost always someone at guest services who can help you. I always head over to that line while DH waits to check us in. They will give you a printout and they can search by name, phone number, etc.

[tjrj]

We are going September 14-20, '08. We have decided to go with the Deluxe Dining Plan. Can someone help me with EXACTLY how many reservations I would need to make? I am assuming all the signature restaurants, character dining and dinner shows have to have a ressie. What about the table and counter service locations?

Counter service places do not accept ADR's.

For the others-you need an ADR at ANY TS-that's dinner shows, character dining and signatures, sit downs. Especially since it's possible that you are going during a free dining promotion, you'll want to have everything booked before you get there.

That's not to say that you can't change/dump a reservation once you are there-you definitely can but in my view-why risk dining at a less than desirable place or a less than desirable time or-horror-not being able to use up those credits that you've already paid for in advance. You are also not locked into an ADR once you make it. Goodness knows, I changed ours often enough. The CM's are for the most part really pleasant and helpful. The only time you'll be charged for not showing up to an ADR is if it's one that's secured with a credit card-shows, fantasmic dining package, CRT, etc. But it is of course, good manners, to call and cancel prior, if you know you aren't going to keep an ADR.

You'll have credits for every night of your reservation-3 a night with the deluxe(yes?) so-that's 21(?)TS if my math's correct? So, there's a start-figure out where you want to eat(your most desirable) and how many TS's you want in a day.

And Tina-we didn't get to try Kona-but I know that I gave that menu the once-over on several occasions-the strip steak and the creme brulee kept calling my name. It gets high marks consistently-for something lighter the Kona salad sounds wonderful!