Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Deb, good point about the SciFi diner though, my son who will be six when we go, is really very sensitive to scary things, not motion or fast rides, but things that are suppose to be spooky. He likes HM and Pirates too though
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Something else that just occurred to me. I thought I read somewhere, you can trade two counter service vouchers for one table service meal. If they offer free dining, and I stay at a value resort and get the 2 quick service per day vouchers, can I just them to pay for one table service meal per day?
Originally Posted By RoadTrip CC... are you familiar with Deb Will's Website? It has menus for all the WDW restaurants. That can help you in checking prices. <a href="http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm" target="_blank">http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm</a> As for counter service locations, these are my favorites: Magic Kingdom Columbia Harbour House Cosmic Ray's Epcot Kringla Bakery & Cafe (Norway) Sunshine Seasons (The Land) Tangierine Cafe (Morocco) Disney Studios Studio Catering Company Animal Kingdom Flame Tree BBQ (I've never dined there since I don't care for BBQ. But it gets very good reviews from most who've been there.) Downtown Disney Earl of Sandwich Wolfgang Puck Express (The two above are probably the best counter service locations on WDW property in my opinion) Resort Hotels Riverside Mill Foodcourt (Port Orleans Riverside) I will be happy to tell you the specifics of why I like the above locations if any are of particular interest to you.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Well, I'd be happy to hear anything you care to share. Since we most likely won't be back to WDW for a couple to a few years after our first trip, I'd like to make the most of the trip. Any place that is particularly fun/well themed or unique would be of interest to me. I'd say the food is almost 2nd in importance to the experience. Looking for something that isn't same old same old to make this trip extra special. Especially for our kids.
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Oh and thanks for the link. I forgot which site it was that had all of those posted. Anyone know what the sales tax in Florida is?
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Oh F, I just looked up the T-Rex restaurant. My kids would absolutely freak out. TOO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM!
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 "Can you make restaurant reservations without having a booked vacation or buying tickets?" Yes, but just keep in mind that if you do some of the special experiences, like Cinderella's Royal Table, you will have to pay in advance if you don't have your dining plan booked yet. Here are some of the restaurants I liked: MK- Tony's Town Square restaurant. Part of what we liked about is that the kids menu was actually pretty decent, and the food overall is pretty good. Plus, I love Lady and the Tramp, so I think it is great AK- Bengal BBQ for quick service, Tusker House buffet for breakfast (it was actually my favorite breakfast I had at WDW), and Yak & Yeti, but if you have picky eaters they may not like it Epcot- Restaurant Marrakesh, one of my very favorites Hollywood Studios- we did Hollywood Brown Derby for the Fantasmic! meal, and it was really good, but it is a pretty fancy place and again, may be a bit much for your picky ones. Resorts- O'hana is my absolute favorite restaurant that we ate at during our trip, and your kiddos will have a lot of eating there too. The Hoop De Doo Review was also really fun and the food was really good.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Well, I don't know that the dining experience is that great at any WDW counter service place, but will give you my thoughts. Magic Kingdom Columbia Harbour House. Better than average menu, lots of little nooks and crannies where you can sit. I like tables in the bridge across the Fantasyland walkway where you can look at all the activity below. Cosmic Ray's. Several counter service places in one... different areas specialize in Burgers, Chicken, and Sandwiches, Salads and Soup. Entertainment is offered by the animatronic "Sonny Eclipse" playing and singing "lounge lizard" music. Fairly amusing for anyone, especially kids. Epcot Kringla Bakery and Cafe. High quality pastries and sandwiches. Comfortable outdoor seating overlooking the Showcase Promenade. Sunshine Seasons. A food court with a wide variety of high-quality offerings. Seating is rather uninspired. Small tables under umbrellas are crowded into the center area of The Land lower floor. Tangierine Cafe. Excellent Food. Adequate dining space inside, comfortable seating outside where you can see the activity of Morocco's live entertainment. Disney Studios Studio Catering Company Good menu, indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor area is nicely themed, although neither area really provides any type of a "special experience". But then in my opinion no counter service place at The Studios does. The Studios is NOT a great place for counter service dining in my opinion. Animal Kingdom Flame Tree BBQ. BBQ menu that gets excellent reviews. OUTSTANDING outdoor seating area with shaded seating overlook water and excellent views of "Everest" in the background. Some guests buy food elsewhere and go to the Flame Tree dining area just to enjoy the pleasant surroundings (which apparently is allowed). Downtown Disney Earl of Sandwich Wolfgang Puck Express VERY GOOD food at both locations, Nothing special about the experience at either one of them. The food makes up for it though. Resort Hotels Riverside Mill Foodcourt. Great dining options, the most well themed and attractive foodcourt dining on property. If you can get a table by the windows overlooking the waterwheel or the Sassagoula River it is especially nice.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Yes, but just keep in mind that if you do some of the special experiences, like Cinderella's Royal Table, you will have to pay in advance if you don't have your dining plan booked yet.>> If you want to book using the Disney Dining Plan and have not made your room reservations yet, you will have to pay in advance. If you are NOT using the DDP, no pre-payment is required.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh To book the most popular table service restaurants you really have to book six months in advance, so mark your calendar. It only takes a couple of hours for Be Our Guest to be reserved out each day. If there is something you really want to do, be prepared to be on the website just before 3 am pacific time to book a reservation 180 days out.
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips Cosmic Ray's....like RT said has different stations and we experienced some really good baked chicken and green beans several times while we were there The different stations were good because there was something for everyone CC....not sure if you know this or not .... When you check in at your resort....they give you a plastic card....much like a credit card size and you use that for entry to the parks ( unless that has changed since December) and if you are on free dining....the cashiers would just swipe it and give you a receipt showing the meals you had used and had left .... It also gets you into your room.... You can if you choose hook a credit card to your card for things you wish to purchase with credit
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance I seriously appreciate all the time you're all taking offering advice. I'm one of those people who feels like I have to check out every possible option and then make my decisions. WDW website has info, but still leaves so many unanswered questions.
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips I wish I had asked for advice on my first trip to Walt Disney World
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 "If you want to book using the Disney Dining Plan and have not made your room reservations yet, you will have to pay in advance. If you are NOT using the DDP, no pre-payment is required." Pre-payment is only required for a couple of things. Booking Cinderella's Royal Table is one of them. If you do not have the dining plan you have to pay in full at booking, unless they have changed it since last year. There was one or two other experiences that require pre-payment too. If you go to All Ears, they have the information on which reservations require payment up front. I believe Hoop-Dee-Doo and the Aloha dinner show also require pre-payment if you are not using dining plan credits.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Sorry I didn't have current information. The last I heard a reservation at Cindy's required a credit card and a cancellation fee was charged to it if you did not appear. I was unaware that it now had to be paid in full, but I read the information on All Ears that you referred to and that is now the case. There is no more reputable site for that type of information. If Deb Wills says it, you can count on it!
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance Dang, just saw that free dining wasn't offered this year in January and February. Well, if they don't offer it, I don't think I'll buy it, heck I don't know. I still have to add it all up and see if it's cheaper.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 Really do add it up. It can save you quite a bit of money depending on where you want to eat. All Ears has menus with prices listed. You can add up what you are likely to spend and then figure out if it is worth it. If you are doing much character dining, it will probably save you money.
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 I agree Road Trip...All Ears is one of the best places to go for planning information! It is my go-to place for sure!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yes, they only have characters at breakfast. But they have kid-friendly entertainment in the evening that your kids may enjoy just as much. They have coconut races (kids push coconuts around the room with brooms), hula hoop contests, etc. Although reservations later in the evening are largely groups of adults; early in the evening there are a LOT of kids. If you are there during the MK's fireworks, they dim the lights in the restaurant and play the music from the show.
