hotel recommendation for Disney World trip??

[Positiveone]

thanks for all your responses. They were very helpful!

One more question - do you know if SeaWorld is far from the disney park? We may want to do that maybe the last day and will probably have to rent a car for that. I don't know if there's any transporation from the hotel to that. Has anyone done that?

Also do you think that a 5 day hopper pass is too much for the kids being that they're 4 and 5 years old? and plus Sea World on the 6th day? I don't want to overwhelm them but at the same time I want them to see most of everything while we're there.

Thanks again!

[Positiveone]

Thanks everyone for your quick replies! You were very helpful!

Happy Holidays and a very Happy, Healthy New Year!!

[Pigsty333]

Here is a list of all the places and as you can see there are plenty of restaurants to eat at, which can be mind boggling.

Which Restaurants Accept the Dining Plan?

Here is the list of participating restaurants/food outlets as of 5/06.


NOTE: Click on the links for the restaurant menus -- in some cases we have menus for a variety of meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), so the link will take you to the main menu page, rather than to a specific menu.
Disney Dining Plan Participating Restaurants

Location
Snack Counter Service Table Service Signature Dining
Experience and
Dinner Shows*
All Star Resorts Movies - World Premiere Food Court World Premiere Food Court
none none
Movies - Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar

Music - Intermission Food Court Intermission Food Court
Music - Singing Spirits Pool Bar
Sports - End Zone Food Court End Zone Food Court
Sports - Team Spirits Pool Bar

Animal
Kingdom Lodge The Mara The Mara Boma - Flavors of Africa Jiko - The Cooking Place
Uzima Springs Pool Bar

Beach Club
Resort Hurricane Hanna's Grill
Hurricane Hanna's Grill Beach Club Buffet at
Cape May Cafe** none
Beaches & Cream Soda
Shop
Cape May Cafe

BoardWalk Inn
& Villas BoardWalk Joe's BoardWalk Joe's ESPN Club Flying Fish Cafe
Spoodles Pizza Window Spoodles Pizza Window Spoodles
BoardWalk Bakery BoardWalk Bakery Big River Grille and Brewing Works
Leaping Horse Libations Pool Bar

Caribbean
Beach Resort Old Port Royale Old Port Royale Shutters at Old Port Royale none
Banana Cabana Pool Bar

Contemporary
Resort Food and Fun Center
Food and Fun Center Concourse Steak House California Grill
The Sand Bar Chef Mickey's Fun
Time Buffet**

Coronado
Springs Resort Pepper Market Pepper Market
Maya Grill none
Siesta's Pool Bar La Tienda


Fort Wilderness
Resort & Campground none
none Trail's End Restaurant Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical
Revue
Crockett's Tavern Mickey's Backyard
BBQ

Grand Floridian
Resort & Spa Gasparilla Grill & Games
Gasparilla Grill & Games Grand Floridian Cafe Citricos
Beach Bar Cinderella's Gala
Feast at 1900 Park Fare** Narcoossee's
Supercalifragilistic
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare**


Old Key West
Resort Goods to Go Goods to Go Olivia's Cafe none
Turtle Shack Snack Bar Turtle Shack Snack Bar

Polynesian
Resort Captain Cook's Snack
Company
Captain Cook's Snack
Company Kona Cafe Disney's Spirit of Aloha
Dinner Show
Barefoot Pool Bar 'Ohana

Pop Century
Resort Everything Pop Shopping
and Dining Everything Pop Shopping
and Dining none none
Petals Pool Bar

Port Orleans
Resort Riverside - Riverside Mill Riverside - Riverside Mill Riverside - Boatwright's Dining Hall none
Riverside - Muddy Rivers Pool Bar
FQ - Sassagoula Floatworks and
Food Factory FQ- Sassagoula Floatworks and
Food Factory
FQ - Mardi Grogs

Saratoga
Springs Resort & Spa Artist's Palette Artist's Palette none none
On the Rocks Pool Bar

Wilderness
Lodge Roaring Forks Snacks Roaring Forks Snacks Whispering Canyon Cafe Artist Point
Trout Pass Pool Bar

Yacht Club Hurricane Hanna's Grill Hurricane Hanna's Grill Yacht Club Galley Yachtsman Steakhouse
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop

Eagle Pines and
Osprey Ridge Golf
Courses none none Sand Trap Bar and Grill none

Blizzard Beach Avalunch
Avalunch none none
Lottawatta Lodge Lottawatta Lodge
The Warming Hut The Warming Hut

Typhoon
Lagoon Leaning Palms Leaning Palms none none
Typhoon Tilly's Typhoon Tilly's

Animal
Kingdom

Flame Tree Barbeque Flame Tree Barbeque Donald's
Breakfastosaurus at
Restaurant-osaurus** none
Restaurantosaurus Restaurantosaurus
Tusker House Restaurant Tusker House Restaurant
Pizzafari Pizzafari
Dino Bites
Harambe Fruit Market
Fruit Carts
Petrifries
Popcorn Wagons
Ice Cream Novelty Carts
Soda Carts

Disney-MGM Studios ABC Commissary ABC Commissary Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant The Hollywood Brown
Derby
Backlot Express Backlot Express 50's Prime Time Café
Catalina Eddie's Catalina Eddie's Mama Melrose's Ristorante
Italiano
Rosie's All-American Café Rosie's All-American Café Hollywood & Vine
Toy Story Pizza Planet Toy Story Pizza Planet
Fruit Carts
Popcorn Wagons

Ice Cream Carts
Soda Carts

Epcot Boulangerie Patisserie Boulangerie Patisserie
Les Chefs de France
Cantina de San Angel Cantina de San Angel San Angel Restaurant
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe Princess Storybook
Dining at Restaurant
Akershus**
Liberty Inn Liberty Inn Le Cellier Steakhouse
Electric Umbrella
Restaurant Electric Umbrella
Restaurant Coral Reef Restaurant
Fountain View Espresso &
Bakery Fountain View Espresso &
Bakery L'Originale Alfredo di Roma
Sommerfest Sommerfest Biergarten Restaurant
Sunshine Seasons Sunshine Seasons Chip 'n' Dale's Harvest Feast at The Garden Grill**
Yorkshire Co. Fish Shop w/Harry Ramsden Fish and
Chips Yorkshire Co. Fish Shop w/Harry Ramsden Fish and
Chips Rose and Crown Pub &
Dining Room
Lotus Blossom Cafe
Lotus Blossom Cafe Nine Dragons
Fruit Carts Tangierine Cafe
Restaurant
Marrakesh



Yakitori House
Yakitori House Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki Dining Room
Soda Carts
Ice Cream Novelty Carts
Popcorn Wagons
Refreshment Outpost
Refreshment Port at
Showcase Plaza

Magic Kingdom Casey's Corner Casey's Corner Once Upon a Time
Breakfast at
Cinderella's Royal
Table** with photo package as of 2/1/06
Columbia Harbour House Columbia Harbour House A Fairytale Lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table** with photo package as of 2/1/06
Cosmic Ray's Starlight
Café Cosmic Ray's Starlight
Café Dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table** with photo package as of 2/1/06
El Pirata Y El Perico
Restaurant El Pirata Y El Perico
Restaurant Goofy's Liberate
Your Appetite
Character Dinner at
Liberty Tree Tavern**
The Lunching Pad The Lunching Pad Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch
Main Street Bakery Main Street Bakery The Crystal Palace,
A Buffet with Character**

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and
Cafe Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and
Cafe Tony's Town Square
Restaurant
Pinocchio Village Haus Pinocchio Village Haus The Plaza Restaurant
Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station
Aunt Polly's Dockside Inn
Popcorn Wagons
Ice Cream Novelty Carts
Soda Carts
Toontown Farmer's Market

Downtown Disney Marketplace -
Earl of Sandwich Marketplace -
Earl of Sandwich Marketplace - Cap'n Jack's Restaurant none
Marketplace - Wolfgang Puck Express Marketplace - Wolfgang Puck Express Pleasure Island - Planet Hollywood
Pleasure Island - Cooke's of Dublin Pleasure Island - Cooke's of Dublin Pleasure Island - Raglan Road

West Side - FoodQuest West Side - FoodQuest West Side - Wolfgang Puck Cafe

Disney's Wide World of
Sports none none Official All-Star Cafe none



* 2 Table Service credits will be used for each person dining
**Indicates a Disney Character Dining Location

Disney offers a wide array of beautifully themed restaurants with surprisingly gourmet food. The restaurants are often an attraction in and of themselves, not to mention a relaxing respite from the crowds, noise and heat. The Disney Dining Plan provides an incentive to try new places and new food choices, such as seaweed in Teppan Edo or Maple Crème Brulee in Le Cellier. Savor those expensive entrees, enticing appetizers and rich desserts without feeling guilty about the cost per item. For those of us who typically order from the "right hand side of the menu" to save money, it is a rare pleasure to order whatever tickles our tummy. Generally, anything on the menu is usually included in the plan, although some specialty items may be restricted. Just ask before you order. The servers at Disney are very familiar with the plan, and will gladly explain the choices to you. This is especially true for counter service meals, where there seems to be more inconsistency. For example, at Cosmic Rays literally anything on the menu, including the ribs/chicken combo platter, is an option, but for some reason at Kringla Bakeri og Cafe the "lunch platter" is not available on the Disney Dining Plan.

Of course, value, like beauty, is in the eyes -- or in this case -- the taste buds of the beholder. In some cases, you may choose to sacrifice a bit of monetary value for a memorable experience. Disney has designated certain establishments as "signature dining experiences." These locations, such as Cinderella's Royal Table and California Grill, will use two table service credits for one meal. If atmosphere and magical memories are of utmost importance to you, then the credits are certainly well used. Likewise, most character meals are included in the plan. While a character buffet may not equal the dollar amount spent on a la carte dinners elsewhere, the chance to spend quality time with Mickey, Minnie and the gang may be better than a lottery win. Even for those of us who have left the autograph books behind, a breakfast at Crystal Palace before park opening, with photos of us in front of the castle with no one else in sight, may be priceless. The key is to determine what will make you the happiest guest in the world!

One word of caution: some counter service establishments may offer both snacks and meals. Most snack items under $4 are eligible for the dining plan snack credit. Eligible snacks will be indicated on the menu with a Disney Dining Plan symbol. Anything more may cost you a counter service credit. Be sure to clarify your options, or you may find your morning muffin and coffee gobbling up the credit you had planned to use for lunch. Sometimes it may still be worthwhile to pay out-of-pocket for that special must-have item, the Main Street Bakery cookie or Dole Whip. Generally, your best monetary value is to eat a very light breakfast -- bringing cereal bars or bagels from home to eat in your room or grabbing a danish in the food court -- and save the counter service credit for an early lunch. Consider sharing one counter service breakfast and then splitting a lunch. Or get a counter service breakfast, skip lunch and have an early dinner. The portions at Disney eateries are ample, to say the least. Within a few days, most guests on this plan are gaining a pound or two. You definitely won't starve!

Plan: It is no accident that Disney terms this the Dining PLAN, as opposed to the Dining Feature or the Dining Experience. The immense popularity of this plan has filled restaurants that would previously accommodate walk-ins even on the busiest of days. You must book your advanced dining reservations as early as possible, especially for dinners. You can always try to make last minute changes if necessary, but if you want table service dinners or character meals, reservations are now essential. Magic Kingdom actually puts a sign near City Hall advising guests if dinner seatings are no longer available and often lists limited openings for lunch at the table service restaurants. Many a family may find themselves disappointed without those valuable reservation numbers in hand.

Of course, the ultimate method of making the most of the Disney Dining Plan is to take advantage of the occasional promotions in which Disney includes the Disney Dining Plan at no charge as an incentive, usually for late summer/early fall off-season travel periods. This is planning at its best! But whatever the season, with careful planning, you'll find the Disney Dining Plan is a culinary treat and affordable luxury. Bon appetit!

Just to give you some ideas:

All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet served 8:00am - 10:30 a.m. daily

Join Donald, Mickey, Pluto and Goofy

Menu subject to change without notice


Egg Beaters Available from Your Server Upon Request
Coffee Cake
Muffins
Croissants
Breakfast Pizza
Quiche
Bagels
Biscuits
Fresh Fruit
Cinnamon Apple Slices
Assorted Cereals
Scrambled Eggs
Western Eggs
Omelets (upon request from server)
Hash Browns
Pancakes and Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Cinnamon French Toast
Sausage
Bacon
Oatmeal
Grits
Juices
Coffee
Milk

$18.99 for adults / $10.99 for kids

Tax and gratuity extra


Admission to Animal Kingdom required.


Tusker House at Animal Kingdom Menu:
Blatjang Chuntneys with South African Preserves, Sambals
Tabbouleh, Hummus and Baba Ghanoush
Endive, Apple and Walnut Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Caesar Salad
Mixed Greens
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Sliced Turkey, Ham and Cheeses
Tunisian Couscous Salad
Green Bean and Onion Salad
Curried Rice Salad
Fresh Fruit

Vegetarian Table:
Marrakesh Couscous with roasted vegetables
Vegetable samosasa, spiced tandoori tofu
Jollaf Rice
Pearl Couscous with sweet basil essence

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Corn Dog Nuggets
Macaroni and Cheese
Corn Medley
Chicken Drumsticks
Green Beans
Mashed Potatoes

Salmon Filet
Root Vegetables and Cabbage
Seafood Stew
Orzo Pasta
Green Bean Medley
Rotisserie Chicken
Yukon Gold Potato Wedges
Mashed Potatoes
Carved Top Sirloin Roast and Pork Loin
Cape Malay Curry Chicken
Basmatic Rice with Toasted Almonds

Fruit Cobbler
Warm Bannana-cinnamon bread pudding
Assorted Pastries

50's Prime Time Cafe MGM Studios Dinner Menu:
From Dad's Liquor Cabinet

Our Family's Glowing Drinks
served with Dad's "Experimental Electric Ice Cubes"


Blue "Glow-Tini" inspired by the Year of a Million Dreams - Skyy citrus vodka, peach schnapps, blue curacao, sweet-and-sour, and pineapple juice with a sugared rim $9.75

Dad's Electric Lemonade - Dad whips up an electrifying blue drink with rum, vodka, blue curacao, sweet and sour mix and Sprite $9.50

Mowie Wowie -- Malibu rum, melon liqueur, peach schnapps, orange and pineapple juices. $9.50

Grandma's Picnic Punch -- Grandma concocted a wonderful drink for the family picnic with vodka, peach schnapps, creme de cassis, pink lemonade and pineapple juice. $9.50

Non-Alcoholic Drink Specialties

Pirate's Punch - Minute Maid light raspberry lemonade served in a souvenir Pirate Cup with a glowing Tinker Bell or Captain Hook clip-on light $6.49

Mickey's Bee Bop Drink -- Cherry Sprite with glowing "Electric" ice cube in a souvenir cup. $5.99

Strawberry Smoothie - strawberries and low-fat yogurt $4.29

Flavored Sodas - Coke blended with vanilla or cherry flavors $3.09

Root Beer or Coke Float - $4.29
Milkshakes and Malts - $4.99

Bottled Beer


Budweiser $4.25
Coors Light $4.25
Heineken $5.25
Heineken Light $5.25
Samuel Adams $5.25
Corona $5.25
Corona Light $5.25
Stella Artois $6.25
Newcastle Brown Ale $6.25
O'Douls Non-alcoholic Beer $4.25


Draft Beer


Miller Lite $5.00
Bud Light $5.00
Michelob Ultra $5.50
Yuengling $5.50


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Appetizers

Shrimp Cocktail - Jumbo Shrimp served with cocktail sauce and lemon $7.99

Chicken Noodle Soup - Hearty mixture of chicken, vegetables, and egg noodles $5.99

Caesar Salad $5.49

Beer Battered Onion Rings - served with Horseradish sauce $5.99

Fried Herb Cheese - Lightly breaded, served with Toasted French Bread and Fresh Fruit $6.49

Don't forget to mind your manners!


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Entrees

Glazed Salmon - Pan-seared, served with Mashed Potatoes and corn relish $19.99

Char-grilled Pork Tenderloin glazed with port wine and served with root vegetable hash and apple raisin chutney $20.99

Traditional Meatloaf - a blend of beef and pork topped with tomato glaze, mashed potatoes, and green beans $14.99

Grilled Chicken - breast of chicken topped with smoked ham, Swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms served on root vegetable hash $14.99

Top Sirloin Steak - char-grilled and topped with roasted mushrooms, red and green peppers, and served with root vegetable hash $20.99

Old Fashioned Pot Roast - Slow cooked 'til fork tender, served with mashed potatoes, carrots, celery and onions $16.99

Golden Fried Chicken - Served with mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, and Southern greens $14.99

Roasted Pepper - stuffed with whole grains and smoked ratatouille $12.49


"No dessert unless you finish your vegetables"


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Desserts

S'mores $4.79

Ice Cream Sundaes $4.99

Brownie Sundae - Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream, Hot Fudge, and Caramel topping $5.99

Seasonal Cobbler $5.49; ala mode $7.49

Ice Cream Sodas $4.29

Angel Food Cake with fresh berries and whipped cream $4.99

We are happy to discuss with you and attempt to accommodate any dietary or special needs diets.
Prices do not include sales tax and gratuity.
18% gratuity will be added to parties of 8 or more


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Beverages

Coca Cola, Sprite, Caffeine-free Diet Coke, Pink Lemonade $2.00
Cappuccino $3.25
Cafe au Lait $2.50
Espresso $2.95
Milk $2.00
Chocolate Milk $2.00
Brewed Iced Tea $2.00
Hot Tea $2.00
Coffee (regular or decaf) $2.00
Carnation Hot Cocoa $2.00

MGM - Toy Story Pizzafari Counter Service Meals:
Menu Date: July 2007


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Buzz's Meal Deal - Individual Cheese Pizza, with Garden Salad $7.59

Woody's Meal Deal - Individual Pepperoni Pizza with Garden Salad - $7.89

Junkyard Meal Deal - Individual Veggie Pizza (with mushrooms, peppers, onions, and tomatoes) with Garden Salad $8.19

Individual Cheese Pizza $5.59
Individual Pepperoni Pizza $5.89
Individual Veggie Pizza (mushrooms, peppers, onions, & tomatoes) $6.29

Toy Story Salad (Kalamata olives, pepperoncini, feta cheese, onions, tomatoes with balsamic vinaigrette) - $4.99
Garden Salad $2.19

Cookies: Chocolate Chip, Sugar or Oatmeal Raisin $1.89
Mickey's Crisped Rice Treat $2.69
Chips $1.29

Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Nestea, Barq's Root Beer, Minute Maid Light Lemonade - $2.09/$2.39
Disney's Toy Story Souvenir cup (with drink) $4.19
Bottled Water $1.25/$2.00
Nescafe Coffee (Reg. or Decaf) $1.69/$1.89
Milk (skim) $1.29
Chocolate Milk or Milk $1.99
Nestle Hot Cocoa $1.69
Hot Tea $1.69
Apple Juice $2.39

If you need any further info, PM me and I will be able to send you a complete PDF on the restaurants and meals.

Sea World is about 20 mins. away and it will cost you over $30 for a cab each way. There is no direct transportation from Disney to Sea World. If you are in the military, retired, they will allow you and up to three guests in for free as part of their Salute to Heroes.

Keep in mind - there are seven disney parks, so you will have to plan it and see which ones you want to do and how to do it.

If you stay on property - Extra Magical hours (either in the AM or PM are available to guests at different days and different parks). Also, take advantage of FastPass.

[kevin924]

hI,iVE BEEN TO DISNEY THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN A ROW WITH MY SONS IF YOU HAV'NT GONE YET i COULD FILL YOU IN ON SOME GOOS STUFF.........KEVIN