Dining advice

[ljmiii]

I booked Rosa for our last night….Had no idea this was a chain restaurant.

It’s a small chain with less than a dozen restaurants that started in NYC. They have wonderful Mexican food and drink and we’ve been going to the Lincoln Center location for twenty years now.

 

[johnnythatsmyboy]

Ok here’s another question:

Do we keep 8am Cake Bake breakfast reservation on our last day, or switch to Ale and Compass?

I was looking at the breakfast menu at Ale and Compass, and it looks pretty good. We have eaten there for dinner once.

My vibe is to keep Cake Bake, because we’ve never tried it and it’s a harder reservation to get. But Ale and Compass is tempting. We will be back to stay at BCV in March 2026, so can try the Ale and Compass breakfast then, I guess.

Also- I was checking out Rosa Mexicana and they have a breakfast buffet that looks fantastic- but it’s not offered any of the days we are there. Do any of y’all know when that brunch is offered?

When having breakfast at the Ale and Compass I would definitely recommend the Chocolate Waffle with Dried Cherry Compote. I try to eat healthy but it was totally worth the sugar high

 

[nomoretslt]

@heathpack ….. did you read about the Parisian Breakfast Buffet on Fridays and Saturdays starting September 5 during F&W? DH is wanting to do this..$64.99 plus tax and gratuity I assume …. Unlimited mimosas. I’m not excited about it but if it makes him happy. I’d rather try out the new bar in the globe. Reservations open August 12….I think it will be popular and I’m hoping it’s a sign that they may start bringing back the regional lunches and Party for the Senses. They never came back after Covid closing.

 

[heathpack]

@heathpack ….. did you read about the Parisian Breakfast Buffet on Fridays and Saturdays starting September 5 during F&W? DH is wanting to do this..$64.99 plus tax and gratuity I assume …. Unlimited mimosas. I’m not excited about it but if it makes him happy. I’d rather try out the new bar in the globe. Reservations open August 12….I think it will be popular and I’m hoping it’s a sign that they may start bringing back the regional lunches and Party for the Senses. They never came back after Covid closing.

No I did not hear about it. I will check it out. Not a mimosa fan however!

 

[heathpack]

No I did not hear about it. I will check it out. Not a mimosa fan however!

The brunch... um seems like a lot of $ for pastries and bread.

But we might try it except we have that early SciFi lunch scheduled as our Fantasmic dining package. I like our existing plan for the day: Rope drop HS until our 11:30am lunch, take the boat back to Beach Club. Hang at the pool. Dinner at Rosa Mexicano, then watch Fantasmic on the last night of our trip.

 

[nomoretslt]

The brunch... um seems like a lot of $ for pastries and bread.

But we might try it except we have that early SciFi lunch scheduled as our Fantasmic dining package. I like our existing plan for the day: Rope drop HS until our 11:30am lunch, take the boat back to Beach Club. Hang at the pool. Dinner at Rosa Mexicano, then watch Fantasmic on the last night of our trip.

I agree…although there is supposed to be some kind of French egg/cheese sandwich (and don’t forget the mimosas). DH has his heart set on this for some reason so I will try to get a spot. He’s been in a spending mood since his second chance. I would rather spend the $$ at Flying Fish. I’ll suggest making reservations there too!

 

[ljmiii]

I would rather spend the $$ at Flying Fish. I’ll suggest making reservations there too!

After a few years in the wilderness, Flying Fish has come back with a vengeance. It’s now our favorite restaurant at WDW (though in all fairness we’ve never been willing to splurge on Victoria and Albert).

 

[heathpack]

@nomoretslt you mentioned the Welcome Home Weeks discount in my thread about my March trip so I am replying here: THANK YOU!

We made 40% dining reservations for Ale and Compass Breakfast x 2, Cape May Cafe dinner x 1 and Toledo dinner x 1. I am not sure I will keep all of those, or if I will get just rid of many of the dining reservations I had already planned. In need to think it through.

In light of having now having a bunch of TS planned Wed-Sat, I am inclined to get the 1 day QS dining plan for our OKW stay on day 1.

 

[nomoretslt]

@heathpack you are welcome! Glad you can take advantage of the offer. It’s a good one. I meant to post that here….I’m operating on less than four hours of sleep. I’m glad DVC is offering more extras.
If you add the quick service DP, I think you need to do it at least 48 hours before your arrival.

I can’t believe DH and are are discussing a small add on at Riviera (resale) and a small Hilton Head. Prices are good. Hilton Head is a good halfway stop for our drives to Disney…..8 hours isn’t too bad, but we are getting older and I-95 is unpleasant. The lane addition in South Carolina (will make it 3 instead of 2) will probably not finish in my lifetime. And we love the Riviera and one bedrooms…a few extra points for a studio or tower studio at the bookends of our trips would help stretch our stays. It’s very pointy to stay there, but that’s the path I think the newer resorts will take.

 

[elaine]

Thanks, also! Just booked Cape May!

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

The brunch... um seems like a lot of $ for pastries and bread.

But we might try it except we have that early SciFi lunch scheduled as our Fantasmic dining package. I like our existing plan for the day: Rope drop HS until our 11:30am lunch, take the boat back to Beach Club. Hang at the pool. Dinner at Rosa Mexicano, then watch Fantasmic on the last night of our trip.

You are definitely paying for the alcohol and not food. As a non-drinker this would be a hard pass, I can’t imagine it’s worth it unless you’re going for the mimosas.

Also a questionable decision by WDW. All we need are more drunk idiots wandering around Epcot at 11 in the morning.

 

[bnoble]

Also a non-drinker---at least, a non-drinker now. My experience is that most people do not drink the way I used to, so most people will have, maybe, two of them. There will be a handful who come out drunk, but those folks were getting drunk one way or another. This doesn't really matter.

 

[nomoretslt]

What an ordeal (a two day ordeal) getting the Parisian Brunch. One day Disney IT will get straightened out. Was lucky to get the morning we wanted….then apparently the system glitched and showed none available (I did get reservation confirmation). Then this morning was ADR day for the new pirate bar/small plate place at the exit of pirates of the Caribbean (Beak and Barrel). The entire ADR system crashed. I wasn’t trying for that, but seriously?

DH is not a big drinker, but was really looking forward to the brunch. We’ve had great times at Monsieur Paul’s (upstairs) when they had the regional lunches during F&W. We always got the same waiter. And great food. Good memories. I was happy we got in…after the last 6 months of h*LL for him, it’s great to see him enthused about things. We can have our food and many mimosas, and take a leisurely stroll back to our resort and nap by the pool.

The kiosk menus are out….we spent a great deal of time on the Food & Wine app today…lots of really good things to eat.

 

[heathpack]

What an ordeal (a two day ordeal) getting the Parisian Brunch. One day Disney IT will get straightened out. Was lucky to get the morning we wanted….then apparently the system glitched and showed none available (I did get reservation confirmation). Then this morning was ADR day for the new pirate bar/small plate place at the exit of pirates of the Caribbean (Beak and Barrel). The entire ADR system crashed. I wasn’t trying for that, but seriously?

DH is not a big drinker, but was really looking forward to the brunch. We’ve had great times at Monsieur Paul’s (upstairs) when they had the regional lunches during F&W. We always got the same waiter. And great food. Good memories. I was happy we got in…after the last 6 months of h*LL for him, it’s great to see him enthused about things. We can have our food and many mimosas, and take a leisurely stroll back to our resort and nap by the pool.

The kiosk menus are out….we spent a great deal of time on the Food & Wine app today…lots of really good things to eat.

What was the name of the app exactly?

 

[nomoretslt]

Food&Wine
Wine glasses with what looks like a red ribbon in the background
It is not a Disney app

 

[TheHolleys87]

What was the name of the app exactly?

As above, it’s WDW Food&Wine, copyright by Small World Code, LLC. I keep it on my phone because it updates to the current festival when you open it. Lists booths, items offered, prices, and also has a map. You can tag things you want to try and see their location on the map, so you don’t miss them, and you can make notes about them too.

 

[heathpack]

I am starting to think I might cancel all the dinner ADRs- Wine Bar George, Grand Floridian Cafe, Toledo, Cape May and Rosa. I am started to feel hemmed in by the schedule.

Maybe we will get the QS dining plan x 1 day, keep Ale and Compass late breakfast x 2 days, plus Sci Fi early lunch and Cake Bake breakfast on our departure day. Then leave the evenings open for Festival Booths and more spontaneous QS dining. We only have 5 evenings total, and 2 would be accounted for by the QS DP. We'd be just as happy with a Ronto wrap in lieu of Rosa on our Fantasmic evening. That leaves us two nights to explore festival booths and/or check out Bar Riva.

Sometimes less is more.

 

[nomoretslt]

If we were there to take advantage of the 40%, I’d have done Cape May and tried Toledo at Coronado.

There are lots of tasty sounding items at the booths. We like going when they are just opening….around 11, before the crowds and heat.

And an easy skyliner ride to Riviera. You have great plans. I can’t wait for our trip….we really need it. We haven’t gone this long between trips for many years.

 

[elaine]

I think you can now Canx at least 2 hours in advance? If so, I’d keep at least some and decide on the fly.

 

[heathpack]

I think you can now Canx at least 2 hours in advance? If so, I’d keep at least some and decide on the fly.

Yeah I was planning on keeping all of the time being. If we do the 1 day QS plan, we’ll cancel the table service reservations for those 2 days but otherwise keep the reservations and see how we feel day of. We’re expecting to only be in the parks morning or evenings and poolside otherwise, so having the short park hours of Sept and dinner table service reservations really cuts down on park time. Somewhere something’s gotta give!

 

[heathpack]

Ok I added the QS dining plan to the one day OKW reservation that starts our Sept trip.

In the end, the deciding factor was reviewing our retirement savings plan. We are in that last big savings push prior to retirement- maxing out our 403b, our 457b, our HSA, and our pension, and Rothing everything Rothable. There is an appeal to finding the least expensive way to have an enjoyable trip!

I shall endeavor to drink lots of resort fountain beverages.

 

[nomoretslt]

DH has been retired since 2018. We have managed to mostly live on his pension and our social security. We have not touched deferred comp or 401K, except in 2020 when replacing a car that was still good (HondaCRV 11 years old) but did not trust it for long trips to Disney and to visit family up north. We took out a 15 year mortgage when we built our house…12 years left. Our splurge is our DVC that we enjoy so much. We do make use of our kitchen and grills when staying at our resorts, and have the occasional meal out. DH enjoys cooking so it works for us. We pack a lunch to bring to the pool and make sure we have plenty of beer and wine on hand. We love the parks in the morning and later at night. You can definitely enjoy your trip and not spend a fortune. Although the Parisian Brunch was pricey….but a splurge. I’m just hoping DH will be able to walk around without tiring out too easily. I’ve stopped mentioning renting a scooter. I don’t know why he’s being so stubborn as out it. He’s going to slow me down!

 

[heathpack]

Ok so we got an email from Touring Plans today that park hours changed a bit during our trip. We have our Fantasmic dining package booked for Friday, the last night of our trip. Previously Fantasmic was at 8:30pm and the park closed at 9pm. Now there’s a second Fantasmic show at 10pm.

Should we just cancel the dining package and attend the 10pm show?

Pros of cancelling: We aren’t committed to a table service reservation for early lunch at a restaurant (SciFi) we’re not particularly interested in eating at. Plus we make an earlier night of it, and will have a 7-8 hr drive to get home the next day.

Cons of cancelling: Losing our guaranteed seat and maybe trying to attend the 10pm show is a hassle?

What are thoughts on the hassle factor of Fantasmic standby for a 10pm show the second week of Sept? I feel like if you’re ever going to standby Fantasmic, low season 10pm show is the time to do it. How early would we need to be in line to get an ok seat?

 

[nomoretslt]

Not an easy answer. I know from past experience they are very strict about making you sit where they want you to sit. Unless things have changed, they fill up sections at a time. The reserved section I believe has a better view. If it starts at 10, you won’t get out until 10:45. You’re staying at B/C, so getting a boat back may take a while. Not sure if skyliner will be running that late for transfer to Epcot for short walk to B/C. Or you can walk back (takes 13 minutes from studios gate to reach quiet pool area of Boardwalk….probably another 15 to B/C.
It’s a matter of preference… do you want to avoid the hassle of finding a seat and getting back to B/C later? Then again, maybe the later show won’t be as crowded. Hard to say. If I had never seen the show, I would prefer doing Sci Fi and getting the reserved seat.

 

[heathpack]

Not an easy answer. I know from past experience they are very strict about making you sit where they want you to sit. Unless things have changed, they fill up sections at a time. The reserved section I believe has a better view. If it starts at 10, you won’t get out until 10:45. You’re staying at B/C, so getting a boat back may take a while. Not sure if skyliner will be running that late for transfer to Epcot for short walk to B/C. Or you can walk back (takes 13 minutes from studios gate to reach quiet pool area of Boardwalk….probably another 15 to B/C.
It’s a matter of preference… do you want to avoid the hassle of finding a seat and getting back to B/C later? Then again, maybe the later show won’t be as crowded. Hard to say. If I had never seen the show, I would prefer doing Sci Fi and getting the reserved seat.

I was reading that one strategy is to attend the later show, and then hit up some rides during the earlier show. The park officially closes at 9:30. So there’s not much opportunity to ride anything after Fantasmic. But I think we will just keep the dining package to keep that hassle factor to a minimum.

Retirement- we are in good shape, just need more cash stashed. We have our house paid off, and the money in the bank for our next car. In three years I’ll be 62 but have enough in an HSA to pay for several years of health insurance until I can get Medicare. Mr H is 5 years older so can go straight to Medicare. With the turbo savings, we’re living on 60% of my salary, which is around our future SS amount. We don’t spend wildly and we consider value, but we basically do what we want, so we think the plan is doable. However if I work to 68, I get the pension and by waiting, not spending out of the HSA for insurance, and letting the retirement accounts grow, we’d really be set for life. So I’ll might try to see if I can downgrade my current job to something minimal.

I also like to cook and often prefer something I make to what I’d get in a restaurant- but mostly not having to go out is nice. There’s so many simple easy things that are almost effortless to cook, it’s hard for me to understand the “chore” that people make cooking out to be. However at Disney we do tend to eat out mostly, which is an opposite trend to almost all other travel, where we cook/eat in 90% of the time.

We had a groove for Disneylanding but are still finding our groove for Disneyworlding since coming back to the east coast. This year we’re trying to experience lots of things and stay in a variety of locations, to start to develop our useage pattern. Right now we think it’s going to be 75% studio stays, 25% 1BRs, in the 5-9 day range in slower times of the year + Christmas. So Jan, early March, May, Sept, early Dec. Use our BCV, CC, and HHI points for home resort stays, and our VGC points to stay at Poly, VGF, AKL, maybe Boardwalk, Riveria, Cabins. Get an AP every 2-3 years and have a Year of WDW. Then in the off years, use our Marriott weeks for timeshare stays.

I am so tempted to add more DVC points at a monorail resort or pick up another EOY lock off Marriott week, and I might do those things. But right now I think we own exactly what we need and the smart thing is to just sit tight.