Hello friends!
We have a Disney vacation booked for this coming February. We plan to celebrate two special life events while there, the one is still under wraps (top secret) and the other will be Naomi's first birthday. My parents love to spoil the girls and take them every two years, this will be Ava's third trip, Charlotte's second and Naomi's first. I grew up going to Disney World but not quite as often. We went every 5 years starting at age 5, that being said I've definitely picked up more tips and tricks since we started taking the girls along. I honestly wish we knew a few of the things that we know now, such as how to get the most of out the parks, our resort and the dining plan. Over the next three months as we plan and finalize our itinerary I thought I would share our favorite dining spots, our favorite Disney hacks, even my touring plans that I spend hours pouring time into so I can make our trip extra special. I know, I know A LOT of people are thinking just book the trip, get there, go to the parks and just wing it. Well, I'm not a 'just wing it' kind of girl. First of all, a Disney vacation is pricey so I want to make sure we maximize our time and money while hitting up all of the attractions that are perfect for our girl's ages.
Because the Disney website is only now starting to release the showtimes and schedules for our week there and we still under 30 days before we can pick our FastPass+ selections my touring plans are not complete just yet. So, today I'll share with you something that is 100% booked- our dining reservations! We include the dining plan on our trips because we find it to be easier, there are some people that like the dining plan and then there are some people that don't think it's worth it. But we think it's worth it because we like to visit some of the unique dining selections that can get expensive outside of a plan. We also maximize the plan to the best of our ability and there are new benefits rolling out for the meal plan in 2018.
For those who are unfamiliar with the dining plans here is what the 'Standard Disney Dining Plan' includes, each person on the meal plan will receive credits for the following, per day of your stay:
- One table service entrée, dessert (lunch and dinner only), OR full buffet
- One quick service meal, including entrée OR combo meal
- Two snacks from a wide variety of options
- One Resort refillable drink mug per person, per package
- AND NEW FOR 2018: Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage with their Quick Service and Table Service meal (including specialty beverages — i.e. Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement.
Our Dining Schedule:
Day One
(Hollywood Studios)
Table Service Credit- 8:05 AM reservation at Trattoria al Forno for the Bon Voyage Character Breakfast with Ariel, Prince Eric, Rapunzel & Flynn Rider. This particular restaurant is located on Disney's BoardWalk. We chose this because it's the newest character meal available and Ava is obsessed with Rapunzel (we missed seeing her on our last trip and Ava hasn't let me forget it). Our first full day just happens to be at Hollywood Studios so this will work out perfectly because you can take a boat from the BoardWalk to Hollywood. I've heard such wonderful things about the food selections and presentation, they offer a frittata with roasted red peppers, prosciutto, onions, potatoes and Pecorino Romano cheese. Fluffy buttermilk pancakes with bacon or sausage. A breakfast calzone with scrambled eggs, cured meat and a blend of cheeses stuffed in an oven-baked dough and served with Sunday gravy. Also seasonal fruit and freshly baked pastries including specialty pastries inspired by the movies for the table. We can't wait to try it!
Quick Service Credit - D-Luxe Burger at the new Disney Springs. Since it won't take us a full day to get through Hollywood Studios (most of the park is currently shut down because they are building TOY STORY LAND - opening 2019) we decided we will grab a bus and spend the second part of our day at Disney Springs. Disney Springs was still under constrution that last time we were visiting and I can not wait to see the finished project because I hear it's shopping heaven sprinkled with foodie delights. I picked D-Luxe Burger to try because while we do make sure to work in TONS of princess-themed meals we try and remember we have men traveling with us-- they are much more inclined to do what we want to do if we ocassionally feed them burgers and beers.
Day Two
(Magic Kingdom)
Table Service Credit- 11:45 AM reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table in Magic Kingdom. I haven't eaten at this particular resturant since my first trip to Disney at age five. While the food and atmosphere are incredible we have always shyed away from dining here because it requires two table service credits. But, Charlotte is our Cinderella obessed child so we decided to give up an extra one of those precious credits and dine here for lunch. They also plan to shut down the restaurant for refurbishment from Feb 28th until April of this year so we will get there just in time! Charlotte is a lucky little girl that the timing worked out in her favor. This is also the day that the girls have their appointments at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique so at 8 am that morning they will be transformed into their favorite princesses, Ava as Rapunzel and Charlotte...yeah, you guessed it- Cinderella!
Quick Service Credit - we are going to try out one of two places we haven't dined at before for our dinner, Pinocchio Village Haus or Columbia Harbour House. I've heard lots of good reviews about both locations on the disney food blog and they are both in the perfect location for us to stop and nosh at before we make our way out to Main Street USA to grab a spot to sit to catch the new Happily Ever After fireworks display.
Day Three
(Magic Kingdom)
Quick Service Credit - 9:00 AM reservation at Be Our Guest (Beasts Castle) while this is a quick service option it is unique in the way that you still need a reservation. It's extremely hard to land one and some guests feel that the food is mediocre BUT the experience and the detail featured in this restaurant make it all worth it. You also order your food selections before you arrive, and once you are seated your meals are delivered right to you.
[Dining Tip] if you book a reservation in a park at a time before the park opens then they allow you in 'before rope drop'. When you finish your meal you can walk around the empty(ish) park and even jump in line for a ride like the Seven Dwarfs Mine train before the wait time skyrockets to 120+ mintues.
Table Service Credit - 6:45 PM reservation at Boatwright's Dining Hall located at our resort- Port Orleans Riverside. A lot of the resorts have awesome dining options and they are often overlooked. When we decided to stay at Port Orleans Riverside instead of Polynesian I was worried that we would miss out of some great resort dining but surprise, surprise Boatwrights comes highly recommended. I'm excited to try the Gumbo! Since we plan to keep our second Magic Kingdom day on the shorter side it will be nice to head back late afternoon, change, dine, bathe the kids and have them in bed early so we can hit the ground running the next morning.
Day Four
(Resort / Disney Springs)
Quick Service Credit - breakfast or lunch at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory while swimming at the French Quater Pools. We decided to have one down day at the resort, its something we've talked about doing in the past two trips and just never made the time for it. Since we have three little girls in tow and some jam-packed park days we thought we would be nice to have a rest day to rejuvenate. The Floatwork's is Mardi Gras themed, recently refurbished and supposed to have a ton of great food options.
Table Service Credit- 5:15 PM dinner and bowling reservations at Splitsville Luxury Lanes located at Disney Springs. Since there is so much to see at the new Disney Springs we decided that we would grab a boat from our resort and head back there to finish off our relaxing day. We've never checked out Splitsville before and we thought about how fun would it be to take the girls bowling! Ava went with her class last year and loved it. They have booths located at the bowling lanes so you can bowl and eat at the same time- which I think is a wonderful option and I can't wait to try it out.
Day Five
(Animal Kingdom)
Table Serivce Credit - 1:05 PM lunch reservation at the Tusker House for the Donald Duck Safari Character Buffet. In my opinon this is one of the best (there are many) characther meals offered on the Disney World grounds. Not because of the characters, while they are great but because of the food options! It's all so delicous and flavorful, a buffet style meal- one that I may have gone back up to visit several times last time. Also, we make sure to schedule this meal while we are in Africa hitting up the Safari Ride and catching The Festival of the Lion King show.
Quick Service Credit - there are SO many great quick service options in the Animal Kingdom, my two favorite spots are Yak & Yeti™ Local Food Cafes and Harambe Market. The attention to detail in these locations are incredible. I can never decide where I'm going to eat until I am actually there- also, you can't go wrong with Flame Tree Barbecue.
Day Six
(Epcot)
OK, guys! Epcot is my FAVORITE day. It's an adult foodie haven. I'll probably save a bunch of my snack credits just to use on this day because, well-- the stuff is just that good all around the World Showcase.
Quick Service Credit - Katsura Grill - We have tried many food options around the World Showcase, and most never disappoint except for in the American Pavilion, they are pretty basic with burgers and such. The one Pavilion we constantly overlook is the Japan Pavilion. But I've read rave reviews about Katsura Grill so we are going to give that a shot this trip! Sushi, Teriyaki, Plum Wine & Green Tea Cheesecake anyone?
Table Service Credit - Rose & Crown Dining Room located in the United Kingdom Pavilion of the World Showcase. Ok, first of all, friends do not waste a FastPass+ for the "Illuminations fireworks showing area' it's not worth it- save those for Mission Space, Soarin' & Test Track or Frozen! There are two amazing spots in the park to catch the fireworks, and if you time just right and request to be seated on the patio you can enjoy them from a front-row seat while they set them off over the pond. The two locations to dine at during Illuminations are Rose & Crown or La Hacienda de San Angel in the Mexico Pavilion.
And that's it, folks, for our dining plans anyway! I have many, many more favorites so if you have any questions just ask! We try and switch up or restaurants picks on each trip to talior our wants and needs for that partilcar vacation. I'll do another post featuring my favorite snack picks and what items have made it onto my 'must try' list for this upcoming trip.
Day One
(Hollywood Studios)
Table Service Credit- 8:05 AM reservation at Trattoria al Forno for the Bon Voyage Character Breakfast with Ariel, Prince Eric, Rapunzel & Flynn Rider. This particular restaurant is located on Disney's BoardWalk. We chose this because it's the newest character meal available and Ava is obsessed with Rapunzel (we missed seeing her on our last trip and Ava hasn't let me forget it). Our first full day just happens to be at Hollywood Studios so this will work out perfectly because you can take a boat from the BoardWalk to Hollywood. I've heard such wonderful things about the food selections and presentation, they offer a frittata with roasted red peppers, prosciutto, onions, potatoes and Pecorino Romano cheese. Fluffy buttermilk pancakes with bacon or sausage. A breakfast calzone with scrambled eggs, cured meat and a blend of cheeses stuffed in an oven-baked dough and served with Sunday gravy. Also seasonal fruit and freshly baked pastries including specialty pastries inspired by the movies for the table. We can't wait to try it!
 |
| Bon Voyage Character Breakfast @ Trattoria al Forno |
 |
| D - Luxe Burger |
Day Two
(Magic Kingdom)
Table Service Credit- 11:45 AM reservation at Cinderella's Royal Table in Magic Kingdom. I haven't eaten at this particular resturant since my first trip to Disney at age five. While the food and atmosphere are incredible we have always shyed away from dining here because it requires two table service credits. But, Charlotte is our Cinderella obessed child so we decided to give up an extra one of those precious credits and dine here for lunch. They also plan to shut down the restaurant for refurbishment from Feb 28th until April of this year so we will get there just in time! Charlotte is a lucky little girl that the timing worked out in her favor. This is also the day that the girls have their appointments at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique so at 8 am that morning they will be transformed into their favorite princesses, Ava as Rapunzel and Charlotte...yeah, you guessed it- Cinderella!
 |
| Cinderella's Royal Table |
Day Three
(Magic Kingdom)
Quick Service Credit - 9:00 AM reservation at Be Our Guest (Beasts Castle) while this is a quick service option it is unique in the way that you still need a reservation. It's extremely hard to land one and some guests feel that the food is mediocre BUT the experience and the detail featured in this restaurant make it all worth it. You also order your food selections before you arrive, and once you are seated your meals are delivered right to you.
[Dining Tip] if you book a reservation in a park at a time before the park opens then they allow you in 'before rope drop'. When you finish your meal you can walk around the empty(ish) park and even jump in line for a ride like the Seven Dwarfs Mine train before the wait time skyrockets to 120+ mintues.
 |
| Be Our Guest |
Day Four
(Resort / Disney Springs)
Quick Service Credit - breakfast or lunch at Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory while swimming at the French Quater Pools. We decided to have one down day at the resort, its something we've talked about doing in the past two trips and just never made the time for it. Since we have three little girls in tow and some jam-packed park days we thought we would be nice to have a rest day to rejuvenate. The Floatwork's is Mardi Gras themed, recently refurbished and supposed to have a ton of great food options.
 |
| Splitsville Luxury Lanes |
Day Five
(Animal Kingdom)
Table Serivce Credit - 1:05 PM lunch reservation at the Tusker House for the Donald Duck Safari Character Buffet. In my opinon this is one of the best (there are many) characther meals offered on the Disney World grounds. Not because of the characters, while they are great but because of the food options! It's all so delicous and flavorful, a buffet style meal- one that I may have gone back up to visit several times last time. Also, we make sure to schedule this meal while we are in Africa hitting up the Safari Ride and catching The Festival of the Lion King show.
 |
| Tusker House |
 |
| Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes |
Day Six
(Epcot)
OK, guys! Epcot is my FAVORITE day. It's an adult foodie haven. I'll probably save a bunch of my snack credits just to use on this day because, well-- the stuff is just that good all around the World Showcase.
Quick Service Credit - Katsura Grill - We have tried many food options around the World Showcase, and most never disappoint except for in the American Pavilion, they are pretty basic with burgers and such. The one Pavilion we constantly overlook is the Japan Pavilion. But I've read rave reviews about Katsura Grill so we are going to give that a shot this trip! Sushi, Teriyaki, Plum Wine & Green Tea Cheesecake anyone?
 |
| Katsura Grill |
 |
| Rose & Crown Pub |
And that's it, folks, for our dining plans anyway! I have many, many more favorites so if you have any questions just ask! We try and switch up or restaurants picks on each trip to talior our wants and needs for that partilcar vacation. I'll do another post featuring my favorite snack picks and what items have made it onto my 'must try' list for this upcoming trip.
1 comment
Sound amazing another trip of a lifetime!
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