Late Sept/Early Oct WDW/Universal Trip

[picksthemusic]

Okay, it's official! We're booked for 9/29-10/6. We are going to start at the Caribbean and move on to the Hard Rock at Universal for the remainder of our trip.

My questions: Must-do restaurants? We are planning on the Sci-Fi diner, Yak and Yeti, Satu'li Canteen, Woody's Lunchbox.

We for sure will be hitting the quick bite places and treat stops for ice cream and the like.

Any tips for Halloween?

Kids will be 11 (DD) and 8 (DS).

Thanks!

[midwestmama]

Here are some of our favorite restaurants (most are table service, but a few are quick service (QS)):

Disney Springs: Ragland Road (the bread pudding there is amazing)
MK: Liberty Tree Tavern (the sticky toffee cake is amazing), Pecos Bill's (QS)
Epcot: Chefs de France, Rose & Crown, La Cantina de San Angel (QS), Biergarten
HS: Sci-Fi diner, Mama Melrose's, 50's Prime Time Cafe
Wilderness Lodge: Whispering Canyon Cafe
Grand Floridian: 1900 Park Fare (this is a character meal)
Polynesian Resort: Ohana (we liked breakfast there; this is a character meal)

ETA:  The ones I mentioned that are character meals, I should have clarified they were when we went pre-COVID, not sure of the status now.

[huskymom]

We are doing a similar trip in April so ping me if I don't do a report by May!

We are doing:
Rose & Crown (EP), Beaches & Cream for dessert (Beach Club), Le Cellier (EP), Topolino Terrace breakfast (Riviera), Sci Fi Diner (HS), Skipper's Canteen (MK), Ogas for drinks (HS), and Teppan Edo (EP). Most of these are new to us except Sci Fi & Rose & Crown. We are at BCV so clearly very EPCOT focused, ha. I can't decide if Space 220 looks cool or just too over the top, but DH didn't seem to think it was cool so I skipped it. Sanaa at AKL is one of my favorites but we couldn't fit it in. We usually skip Disney Springs.

A lot of the character meals are not yet back to being character meals - but I have high hopes for your trip! Ohana dinner, Tusker House were hits. I LOVED the Bon Voyage breakfast on the Boardwalk but that still has not returned. I think you may also likely be done with princess stuff like we are sadly.

For Universal, I have booked CowFish Sushi Burger Bar, The Kitchen and the Palm (we are also at the HR). My friend told me to check out Voodoo Doughnuts as well. We haven't been since our first was very young so this is our first real Universal experience. I would also love any food recs there, besides the frozen butter beer of course!

[picksthemusic]

Thanks for the info!

Can someone explain park hopper tickets to me in language that is more understandable than the Disney website? They made it sound like you could park hop but only after certain hours and even then it's not guaranteed. I think I get it, but we're going to be there for 3 days before we move on to Universal, and I'm concerned we won't be able to spend a good amount of time at Epcot. :/

[mrsslocombe]

Mar 18, 2022 19:16:01 GMT -5 picksthemusic said:

Thanks for the info!

Can someone explain park hopper tickets to me in language that is more understandable than the Disney website? They made it sound like you could park hop but only after certain hours and even then it's not guaranteed. I think I get it, but we're going to be there for 3 days before we move on to Universal, and I'm concerned we won't be able to spend a good amount of time at Epcot. :/

The current rules are (which could change before your trip):

1. You must make a park reservation each day you plan on going to the parks.
2. You may park hop to any other park (s) after 2pm, as long as they are not at capacity 

So there is a chance that you could make your reservation for Animal Kingdom on a Monday,  and then at 3pm move to Epcot but they are at capacity so they don't let you in (at least not until enough people leave). I believe it's fairly rare for that to happen though, except for the absolute busiest days of the year (like the week between Christmas and New Years).

In February we were able to park hop without any issues. My sister even hit all 4 parks in one day because she was stranded due to weather.