Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

Ok so we are staying in orlando next spring for a week... Dd will be just shy of 3.... I don't want to overdo the trip with parks... Essentially just looking to go to MK for 2-3 days. My dd is not a huge animal person. She kinda just blows right by em still... So I think we'll be skipping AK just because of that... Is Hollywood studios any good for her? Or should I just stick to MK...

Onto restaurants.... I booked an 8:05 at crystal palace on one of the days. Is it worth it just to be in the park that early or no? It's not a EMH day.

What would be the one restaurant we'd have to go to... I'm really not into laying out $60pp for a so-so meal...

Any other tips/tricks with a toddler in tow? I've prob read every website known to man on the topic though LOL

Thanks in advance!

Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

8:05 really doesn't get you into any attractions early. The only thing going for you would be pictures in front of the castle with your own camera, without a bunch of people in the background. By the time you get out of there, it would be 9am or later.

Re: Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

you can go to the new be our guest restaurant for a quick service lunch if you dont want to spend to much on a pricey meal. I don't love AK but i feel like it is a bit more kid friendly then hollywood studios.

Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

We had a fastpass for lunch at Be Our Guest, I thought the food was great, and the restaurant itself is so nice! Really enjoyed it.

Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

I highly recommend Hollywood Studios for her age. They have the Disney Junior show and meet Sophia and Jake, Disney Junior dance party, Toy Story Midway Mania ride, Little Mermaid show, Beauty and the Beast Live and most importantly, the Frozen sing a long and Wandering Oakens Frozen Funland. Also, if you only do one character meal, the one I would suggest is at Hollywood Studios - Disney Junior Play and Dine at Hollywood and Vine. It is interactive - every few minutes the kids get up and dance and sing with the characters - it is so awesome.

For food at the Magic Kingdom, I highly recommend Cinderella's Royal Table. We have had dinner at Be Our Guest and Cinderella's blew it away. Under 3 they are free, but it is $75 a person (including tax and gratuity). It was worth every penny - dinner was amazing, it includes a picture with Cinderella and a wand. We also got to see the fireworks from inside the castle - it was amazing. You could also do breakfast or lunch there I believe. We didn't eat the Crystal Palace bc my kids aren't into Pooh. We did Chef Mickey's (which is very easy to get to from MK) and the kids really loved it - it is the classic Disney characters.

IMO 2 days at that MK is plenty - I wouldn't do 3. I would spend the third day at HS!

I have lots of Disney experience - this year we have been to Orlando twice and to Disneyland! Let me know if you have any other questions - I am happy to share my experiences!

Re: Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

Re: Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

I agree to do HS. My girls loved the Disney Jr live show plus the meeting Disney Jr characters at Hollywood & Vine. They are HUGE Disney Jr fans. The also loved the whole Frozen experience (singalong, build a snowman).

At MK, we LOVED lunch at Be Our Guest.

But one restaurant out of all, would be Chef Mickey's hands down. The food may be eh but you can't beat the whole atmosphere, characters..it's truly Disney.

oh and no parkhopper tix for us

Message edited 11/10/2014 10:46:50 AM.

Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

I would do 2 days in MK and 1 day in HS. DD just turned 3 and we leave on Monday for Disney. This will be her 4th trip. HS is mostly shows and not rides for her age, just as a heads up. However, with all the Disney Jr characters there is a lot for them to see. Plus, if she's into Frozen they have the new Frozen show.

As far as meals, I agree with the pp that recommended Cinderella's Castle. I've only been for breakfast but the food is outstanding. I also really love the food at O'hana but it's so hard to get a reservation. Drives me nuts!!

Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

I've been to Cinderellas royal table for both breakfast and lunch and it's an amazing experience! A must do IMO. However I did like the breakfast a little more.

Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

Cinderella's Royal Table is undergoing refurbishment and will close in January. Not sure when it will re-open. They are shifting the meal to another location, which is surely not as nice as the castle!

Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

I recommend looking at the menus for the restaurants before booking things other than buffets. It doesn't matter how fabulous one person thinks the food is if the menu offerings are not to your liking. I say this because I personally love the experience at the Castle but DH hates the lunch and dinner menu and won't eat there again. With regard to HS, while it is likely Disney will continue to capitalize on the popularity of Frozen, the sing a long etc was scheduled to end August 31 and was extended to December 31. It has not officially been extended to next spring. Disney has however announced it will be removing the Sorcerer's hat in early 2015. It hasn't announced exactly when, or what the construction plans are after that. Construction in HS could impact your visit next spring.

Re: Disney fanatics... I need your advice!!

I totally agree. Our whole family, including our 6yp never wants to eat in the castle again! It was her least favorite meal the entire trip!

We sadly also had a very poor experience at Ohana for dinner (& we loved it 2 years ago). We will not return, same with Brown Derby in HS (wouldn't consider it signature, and again we ago their 2 years ago & loved it)

You need to know your families eating style. We enjoyed chef Mickey (B), cal grill, Jiko, Tusker house (L), crystal palace(B), Kona (b), be our guest (L & D), Tonys (L), Fulton crab house (L), whispering canyon.