Hi everyone,
I could use some help. I am going to disney in early november with my 2 kids (5 & 7) and husband. We got the mealplan, and I am trying to make some table-service reservations. Also, I am trying to figure out a schedule. While I want to be kind of spontaneous, it's tough when you have to make reservations in advance. At any rate, here are my questions:

1. We are staying at the Port Orleans, French Quarter. Is there anything I need to know about this?

2. I've made table service reservations at the Norway Breakfast with princess for our first full day, and the sci-fi dinner on our 2nd full day. Where else should I book?

3. My father is visiting, who lives 2 hours away, on our last full day. He will not have a park pass and just wants to visit with us for a couple of hours. Is there an area around Port Orleans where we can eat?

4. We've never been to any of the parks. We'll have about 3 days to go to the parks. Should we try to do MK, Epcot, MGM, and the Animal Kingdom???? Should I cut out one, or can one be done in half a day? Example, on the day we do Epcot for breakfast, should the rest of that day be for the Animal Kingdom??

5. Are there any counter-service foods/restaurants you would highly recommend?

So many questions, feeling a little overwhlemed

Thanks in advance.
Robin

OK - meant to say 4 nights

At least 1 full day at MK. Since you are staying "on property" you will have access to early admission/late nights. Check the schedules to see which parks have extended hours on which days. I think that the usual thought is to do Animal Kingdom early before it gets too hot for the animals to be active. A lot also depends on what your kids like, my daughter did not like MGM at all, we left and went back to MK, however, most kids love MGM. You can probably meet your dad at Downtown Disney for a meal and to walk around.

First of all - Port Orleans does have a restaurant (Called "Boatwright's) & a food court. You can make reservations for Boatrights. You can see the menu by scrolling down to Port Orleans Resort on this page: http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm#res

Are you in a preferred room? If not, we requested the building "Magnolia Terrace" which was well positioned without costing extra. It is one of the Mansions buildings and is just across the bridge from the pool. It isn't too far to the food court and there are bus stops to the rear, just across the parking lot.

Second - if you want to do a 1/2 day in Animal Kingdom, do it for the first half as this park closes earlier than the other parks.

You'll save about $45 per person if you just do 3 parks because you won't need Park Hoppers.

My personal counter-service favorites:

Magic Kingdom - Columbia Harbour House.

Animal Kingdom - Flame Tree Barbeque. Yak & Yeti is new and may be open by the time you're there.

Epcot - I like Sunshine Seasons, Tangierine Cafe (Morocco pavilion), and Kringla Bakeri og Cafe (Norway pavilion). Avoid the America & China pavilions...not the best food.

Disney-MGM Studios - ABC Commissary or Flatbread Grill.

There are some excellent resources available to help you plan your days in the park. There is a book called "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World" - it has sample touring plans. www.tourguidemike.com is a subscription website (about $20) with excellent information. www.buildabettermousetrip.com will do custom touring plans and will help with dining reservations.

Your kids will be least interested in EPCOT, most interested in MK. Both AK and MGM will entertain them. If you are using Disney transportation, you are a short ride from Downtown Disney that offers a lot of restaurants. The Boardwalk area outside EPCOT also has several restaurants that don't require park passes and should work on the dining plan. Overdoing will be a major risk. You can burn out in three days. Better to enjoy what you do, get some rest and not feel like you need to see everything on the property.

ajcolorado: The OP mentioned they're staying in French Quarter, not Riverside, so the building recommendations are misleading.

Port Orleans French Quarter is very compact (compared to Riverside) and every building is close to the front area (check-in, food court, bus stop & pool), so I wouldn't worry about a preference or anything like that.

There's no sit-down restaurant, but you can and still should consider Boatright's, as Riverside is within walking distance (up the river).

Thank you all!
Couple of follow up questions: I booked the French Quarter for the precise reason that it was smaller and more compact. Was this the right thing to do, or should I move us to the riverside?

Also, being unfamiliar, I'm not sure of the differences between Downtown Disney and the parks. My father wouldn't need a ticket to get into downtown disney? If it were you, would you recommend this or the restaurant at the Riverside?

Again, thank you all. I've seen the resouces and the books, but until you are there, it is hard to picture...

In our experience with two kids at Disney, we found it helped to take a break sometime in the day, because the kids can get over-stimulated which makes them over-tired and cranky. Maybe you can take park transportation back to your hotel to unwind for a bit, maybe let the kids nap, eat a bite in a more quiet place, even take a swim to unwind. It worked for us.

I think doing three parks is plenty for the little ones. Having breakfast at Epcot, and then going to the Magic Kingdom might be a good plan.

We went to MGM a couple of years ago and were disappointed in it, especially compared to the Disney properties. I'd skip it if I were you.

Have you looked into joining the Disney club, to get better rates? It's been years, but that's how we did it.

Also, we stayed at the Contemporary, so we could come and go from the monorail. And they have characters at their breakfast buffet, for which we didn't need reservations (years ago).

Have fun. Don't overdo it, because there are so many choices. Your kids will love it if it doesn't get too overwhelming.
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Riverside and French Quarter are sister resorts, so it's really a matter of personal taste as to which is the better choice.

My wife and I prefer Riverside when we want a more 'romantic' trip -- but French Quarter is good with my son since it is a bit more compact.

Guests at either resort can swim in all of the pools that are at both Port Orleans resorts.

Downtown Disney is a free restaurant, shop & entertainment area -- you don't need a pass to go there and hang out. It's a nice place to get some food, and pick up items that you've seen for sale in the theme parks. Both Port Orleans resorts offer boat service (free) to and from Downtown Disney.

For more info (and a place to ask some more specific questions), head over to http://www.intercot.com/

Have a great trip!!

MaureenB: The "Magic Kingdom Club" is no longer -- they discontinued that years ago.

However, discounts can be had by being a Florida Resident, and Annual Passholder, or with AAA.

You are all so helpful!

Last question:

We will have four Table-service each on the dining plan. I've already reserved the Character Breakfast at Norway (princesses, but not Castle), and the Sci-Fi Drive in. I'd like to reserve two more, even if I eventually cancel them...

The 50's prime time seems like fun, but we really don't like that kind of food.

Any recommendations. As always, thanks.

1. Great choice of hotels ... centrally located and beautiful area. You won't be within walking distance of any of the resort areas, but the buses will get you where you want to go if you're not renting a car.

2. Norway can be a bit dicey on the food selection. Make sure you check out the menu before going. If you want a really nice dinner, book a reservation at California Grill. For some fun at dinner time and a lot of food, book Ohana at the Polynesian. A lunch at the Germany pavilion is also entertaining.
3. At Downtown Disney there is the Rainforest Cafe and a bunch of other locations. At Wilderness Lodge there is a great BBQ place where you can do lunch. If you're doing dinner, look at the restaurants on the Boardwalk for something nice ... can also plan to watch the Epcot fireworks from the Boardwalk.
4. MK will take a full day with the kids, as will MGM. Animal Kingdom is great in the morning, though, so maybe get there early one day and then head off to MGM. Epcot can probably be a quick day unless the kids like to learn about the countries in World Showcase area.
5. Any of the food locations in Animal Kingdom are great. The quick service location in the Land pavilion at Epcot has some good options for kids and adults. At MGM, try a turkey leg over by the Tower of Terror (they are good).

See: http://www.livingorlando.com/2007/09...tion-part-iii/

We have stayed at both French Quarter and Riverside and like French Quarter better. It is really personal taste and not that big a deal - stick with your first impression and what you've got. The thing about Disney is that the more you read, the more overwhelming it can seem. French Quarter is fun.

Also, while most people say their kids are least interested in EPCOT, our family has always loved it. So, I'd just look through the various park offerings and see what might be the best fit for your family. As you will already be in Norway for the breakfast, it might work well to spend time in EPCOT.

Downtown Disney will probably be the most convenient place to spend time with your Dad, but you can also access the Boardwalk area without a pass. It is smaller with less to do than DD, but does have some good restaurants and fun arcadey/boardwalk things for the kids, especially in the evening.

It will be easier to recommend table service restaurants once we know where you will be when you want them. Sketch out your "schedule," then look for the best restaurant to match up with your plan. Remember you can use the resort and Boardwalk restaurants as well as restaurants in the Parks - so, you could eat at Polynesian on your way out of Magic Kingdom or Boardwalk from EPCOT or whatever.

ajcolorado's counter service recommendations are good.

The best advice I can give is to get in early, have some idea of the things you most want to do and see, but remember that you can't see/do it all. Have fun with what you do and don't go crazy. A break in the middle of the day for a swim, nap or ice cream might be more fun and important than getting on "one more ride!"

I highly recommend using the "Unofficial Guide" to Disney series. It helps you pick which attractions you most want to do and gives a guidline for putting them in some sort of order. My husband thought I was crazy the first time, but as we breezed through our choices while we watched others standing around confused and arguing about what to do, he thanked me. Yes, you have to be spontaneous and allow for free time and deviations, but we found that we had MORE free time than others because we spent a bit of time "penciling" a plan. Do we always stick to it, NO, but we found it worked for us. Know yourself, though, if getting up early and researching is going to make you hate your trip, then do what works for you.


Hope this helps. Have fun!

Thanks! I think I'll take a look at the restaurants at Broadway...

Ok - meant Boardwalk.

I also have to recommend the Unofficial Guide to Disney Book - check your local library if you don't want to purchase. Their sample tours are great and really work. I 2nd the previous poster re: when we followed their tours we got sooo much more done than the day we were with family and they wanted to wing it. We spent so much time standing around saying where to next? My husband is now a believer in letting me plan our trips.

You almost need to decide which parks you want to do on which days (look at their schedules - early hours etc) and then book your dining based on that. And just to throw a wrench into what others are saying my kids LOVED MGM and we went their 2 days.

make sure to check the park hours and plan according to that.

All day MK would be good.

Half Day of MGM for that age and half day Epcot. Kids usually don't appreciate the countries at Epcot, whereas they enjoyed the Future World (especially Journey, Spaceship Earth, Nemo and the Land).

Animal Kingdom can be done in a half day as some of the rides maybe too advanced. Although the shows are cool. My daughter loves Pocahantos (sp?) because of the up close animals and the Lion King (Broadway like). You could then try and hit MK again that night.

There are a couple of really good Disney 3-D 'rides', and I think they are at Epcot. One is "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids", and the other has to do with insects, but I forget the name of the movie it's based on (the one about ants??). They are theater-type seating, with great special effects that you actually feel. Your kids would probably really like them.
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MaureenB: There are actually 3-d attractions in each of the 4 Disney theme parks:

Magic Kingdom: Mickey's Philharmagic
Epcot: Honey I Shrunk the Audience
MGM Studios: Muppet Vision 3d
Animal Kingdom: It's Tough to be a Bug

It's Tough to be a Bug-- that's the one I was thinking of. I forgot it's at Animal Kingdom. Thanks for clarifying, thepeters. Good to know there's one at each park. They're fun.

Is MGM a Disney property?
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