Critique my itinerary?

[nancybotwin]

Dining reservations opened for us today and I managed to snag a lot of what I think I want. For those of you who are experienced Disney people, please feel free to provide input, critique or suggestions. FWIW we have 3 kids (13, 9 and 6) and this is probably a one-time-only trip for us. Also we don't eat meat or shellfish, which makes things tricky at times:

Arrive on Friday, April 14th - no dining reservations
Saturday, April 15th - Magic Kingdom, no dining reservations
Sunday, April 16th - Hollywood Studios, Disney Jr character breakfast @ 8:30am
Monday, April 17th - Animal Kingdom, 12:45 lunch @ Yak and Yeti
Tuesday, April 18th - Epcot, lunch at 1:05 at Space 220
Wednesday, April 19th - Breakfast at Cinderella's castle @ 8:10am

Thoughts? Changes? (I had really wanted to do Epcot on day 2 and HS on day 4 but I couldn't get a Space220 reservation on Day 2 so I made the switch...)

Thanks for all of your help!

[mrsslocombe]

Unless your kids are really into the Disney Jr characters, I'd probably skip that breakfast. I'd probably swap it for a Fantasmic dining package, unless you don't think you guys will be interested in Fantasmic. I realize breakfast is probably any easier meal for you guys than dinner though.

For your Cinderella's Royal table rez-since it's before park opening, I'd plan on getting there extra early to get some photos in front of the castle with no one around. The photopass photographers are there that early and they have always spent some extra time getting great photos at that hour.

[lemoncupcake]

I’m a vegetarian who just got back from Disney. If you want a character meal, Tusker House in animal kingdom is a buffet and had a lot of veggie options. I also enjoyed Jungle Cantina in magic kingdom (I had falafel, Brazilian cheese bread, tofu and vegetable curry).

[nancybotwin]

Feb 13, 2023 13:38:41 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

Unless your kids are really into the Disney Jr characters, I'd probably skip that breakfast. I'd probably swap it for a Fantasmic dining package, unless you don't think you guys will be interested in Fantasmic. I realize breakfast is probably any easier meal for you guys than dinner though.

For your Cinderella's Royal table rez-since it's before park opening, I'd plan on getting there extra early to get some photos in front of the castle with no one around. The photopass photographers are there that early and they have always spent some extra time getting great photos at that hour.

It seems all of the Fantasmic dining packages are unavailable :/ Is there a trick I am missing?

[mrsslocombe]

Feb 13, 2023 20:34:23 GMT -5 nancybotwin said:

Feb 13, 2023 13:38:41 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

Unless your kids are really into the Disney Jr characters, I'd probably skip that breakfast. I'd probably swap it for a Fantasmic dining package, unless you don't think you guys will be interested in Fantasmic. I realize breakfast is probably any easier meal for you guys than dinner though.

For your Cinderella's Royal table rez-since it's before park opening, I'd plan on getting there extra early to get some photos in front of the castle with no one around. The photopass photographers are there that early and they have always spent some extra time getting great photos at that hour.

It seems all of the Fantasmic dining packages are unavailable :/ Is there a trick I am missing?

I know that Disney has been late making the packages available sometimes, but they do sell out quickly. I would just keep checking back to see if anything opens up.

Also, if there are two Fantasmic showings that day, the second showing is always way less in demand, so you can get a good seat without waiting on line forever, the dining package is less important. 

[purplepenguin7]

Feb 13, 2023 13:38:41 GMT -5 mrsslocombe said:

Unless your kids are really into the Disney Jr characters, I'd probably skip that breakfast. I'd probably swap it for a Fantasmic dining package, unless you don't think you guys will be interested in Fantasmic. I realize breakfast is probably any easier meal for you guys than dinner though.

For your Cinderella's Royal table rez-since it's before park opening, I'd plan on getting there extra early to get some photos in front of the castle with no one around. The photopass photographers are there that early and they have always spent some extra time getting great photos at that hour.

This was reccommended to us as well but last August we had CRT reservations at 8am and the grounds were PACKED.  They let people fill in on main street before they actually open. I was dissapointed that it didn't really work that way.  Just want to point out in case you plan for that. 

[kath16]

i agree that your kids sound a little old for the Disney Jr breakfast, unless your 6 year old is super into them i'm not sure i'd bother with that one.

[nancybotwin]

Feb 15, 2023 11:11:04 GMT -5 kath16 said:

i agree that your kids sound a little old for the Disney Jr breakfast, unless your 6 year old is super into them i'm not sure i'd bother with that one.

Thanks for this. 

If I can't get a Fantasmic Dining Package, and if we don't do the Disney Jr, is there another place at HS you'd recommend?

[redheadk]

Feb 16, 2023 18:54:49 GMT -5 nancybotwin said:

Feb 15, 2023 11:11:04 GMT -5 kath16 said:

i agree that your kids sound a little old for the Disney Jr breakfast, unless your 6 year old is super into them i'm not sure i'd bother with that one.

Thanks for this. 

If I can't get a Fantasmic Dining Package, and if we don't do the Disney Jr, is there another place at HS you'd recommend?

I’ve never been but my sisters family has ended up eating at Mama Melrose twice. They really like it. I think they have some good veggie options, too; my sis gets a pasta with artichokes that she likes.

The Disney jr breakfast is the only sit down breakfast option, I think. Only worth it if your kids REALLY love those characters. On the upside, mornings are a great time to get things done at HS!

[Patsy Baloney]

A near-HS breakfast you might try to get is Toppolino’s Terrace at the Riviera resort. It’s a Skyliner ride away. It’s also a character breakfast, but minnie, Mickey and crew. Food is well-reviewed.

[kath16]

Feb 16, 2023 18:54:49 GMT -5 nancybotwin said:

Feb 15, 2023 11:11:04 GMT -5 kath16 said:

i agree that your kids sound a little old for the Disney Jr breakfast, unless your 6 year old is super into them i'm not sure i'd bother with that one.

Thanks for this. 

If I can't get a Fantasmic Dining Package, and if we don't do the Disney Jr, is there another place at HS you'd recommend?

ehhh i'd keep it loose, unless you really want to do a character breakfast.

[lemoncupcake]

Feb 16, 2023 18:54:49 GMT -5 nancybotwin said:

Feb 15, 2023 11:11:04 GMT -5 kath16 said:

i agree that your kids sound a little old for the Disney Jr breakfast, unless your 6 year old is super into them i'm not sure i'd bother with that one.

Thanks for this. 

If I can't get a Fantasmic Dining Package, and if we don't do the Disney Jr, is there another place at HS you'd recommend?

Hollywood and vine is another buffet character meal in HS - I wouldn’t try to do a character meal for breakfast on a park day; take advantage of the lower crowds and temps to ride stuff and sit down later in the day when you need a break

[sent]

Feb 16, 2023 18:54:49 GMT -5 nancybotwin said:

Feb 15, 2023 11:11:04 GMT -5 kath16 said:

i agree that your kids sound a little old for the Disney Jr breakfast, unless your 6 year old is super into them i'm not sure i'd bother with that one.

Thanks for this. 

If I can't get a Fantasmic Dining Package, and if we don't do the Disney Jr, is there another place at HS you'd recommend?

We had a really nice dinner at The Hollywood Brown Derby. I had the Salmon Coulibiac and it was good. I'd never seen that entree anywhere before so it was super interesting to me. We also had these flights of drinks in little martini glasses which were fun. This was the one nice meal where DS (age 4 at the time) behaved the entire time so I actually remember eating it. 

[abs]

I would not do the Disney Jr. dining. If you do switch it to a brunch. HS usually opens up 30 minutes before the posted hours which means it would be opening at 8:30. You can get so many rides done in that 30 minutes! When we went in November we got Slinky Dog, Toy Story Mania, and Rock n Roller Coaster all in the first 40 minutes we were there. After that our productivity crawled to a stop, lol. It's the park that requires the most patience IMO because it gets crowded quickly.

For your first Magic Kingdom day I really recommend making some kind of reservation. Of all the parks this is the one that quick service is mostly hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch and dinner. If you want to leave the parks for dinner look at Citrico's or California Grill. Lots of fish options and more of a chill dining experience.

[imimahoney]

Chef Mickey is at the hotel right outside of Magic Kingdom. Going there for dinner our first night really started the trip with the "magical disney" feeling. All the big Disney characters are there and it's a nice way to take a break from the crowds at MK. Maybe a late lunch/early dinner reservation if there is availability?

[sb]

Feb 21, 2023 7:20:31 GMT -5 imimahoney said:

Chef Mickey is at the hotel right outside of Magic Kingdom. Going there for dinner our first night really started the trip with the "magical disney" feeling. All the big Disney characters are there and it's a nice way to take a break from the crowds at MK. Maybe a late lunch/early dinner reservation if there is availability?

I'd second this, and if you time it right you can watch the fireworks from the Contemporary after your dinner.  Or if you can't get it, maybe Ohana or Kona cafe a little earlier and then head out to the Polynesian beach to watch fireworks.

Also for your CRT breakfast, try to plan to be at the gates ready to enter at 7:45.  Yes they start letting people onto main street but once you get closer to the hub they direct early entry folks to one side so you can still get some nice, relatively uncrowded pictures.