• On Aug 14, 2020
    Stacey from OH Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi again, planning on taking GD (10) this year ( her first trip). We had meals planned during day, then trip cancelled x 2. Now with parks closing early, not sure if we want to plan a meal or will she miss out on precious park time, advice pls?

    Welcome back to planDisney, Stacey!

    Aw, your granddaughter's first visit to Walt Disney World? What a magical trip this will be!

    When planning days at The Most Magical Place on Earth, we always begin with who is with us. Consider if your granddaughter is an early riser, has any favorite characters, her dining preferences (a grazer? adventurous eater?), and if a late dinner works for her.

    Next, look at Park Hours and start lining up strategic dining opportunities accordingly. EPCOT opens at 11:00 AM, so consider a breakfast on the day you'll call that park home. Book an Advanced Dining Reservation for breakfast at The Wave...of American Flavors (a family favorite for breakfast), Grand Floridian Cafe or Chef Mickey's, then head over to EPCOT for a day filled with fun!

    For a Magic Kingdom Park day, enjoy Quick Serve at your Walt Disney World Resort hotel or upon arrival at the park. Main Street Bakery and Sleepy Hollow (Mickey Waffles!) would make a great start to the day, followed by a Quick Service lunch. The park is scheduled to close at 6:00 PM, so consider a 5:45 Advanced Dining Reservation at Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, Liberty Tree Tavern, or Be Our Guest Restaurant. This will cap off a practically perfect in every way day; even better, once finished your meal, you'll wander out to the park exit sharing that path with only Cast Members and a very few guests. (Great for picture taking!)

    Similarly, for your Animal Kingdom Park day--which likely ends at 5:00--book a dinner reservation at Rainforest Cafe at Disney's Animal Kingdom (located right by the park's exit), or head back to your resort for a great meal. I see from a prior question that you are staying at Disney's Beach Club Villas, so I highly recommend a visit to the outstanding, newly-expanded Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. Their menu? YUM!

    Lastly, for your Disney Hollywood Studios day, (currently 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM), consider taking a midday break at a family favorite location: Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano. Many times, we look forward to getting off our feet, into the air conditioning, and enjoying a truly fantastic meal midday, energizing us for the few more hours we'll have until park close.

    With some strategic planning, Stacey, this trip will be just as magical as any other--even more so because it's your princess's first visit!

    Send more questions as you think of them, too. We love to help!

    Andrea
thumbnail image for Andrea

Meet the Panelist: Andrea, Pennsylvania

I am a teacher, wife and mom who has been a member of the Disney Vacation Club since 2003. I love discovering a new favorite DVC resort, fantastic restaurant or hidden gem onboard a Disney ship! I'm a micro-planner who can help you capture your own magic! Learn More About Andrea

Didn't find what you were looking for? Click the Ask a Question button to open the Ask a Question dialogue box. If you are not logged in a dialogue box will appear to signin in order to ask a question.

To submit your question, please log in now if you have not already done so.

Ask a QuestionOpens the Ask a Question dialog box.
x

Update Browser

For a better experience browsing this website, please download an updated version of Internet Explorer.


Or you can continue browsing without updating.