Disney and dining outside of the parks

I see all these great recommendations for restaurants inside resorts, but realistically, is it possible to leave the park for dinner, say at 6:00 with a three and five year old? I want to try so many places for dinner but I cannot see myself leaving the park and returning. I assume if I leave, we will call it a day. My kids don't nap anymore so that won't be included in our schedule. Should I just stick to recommended restaurants within the park I am in? I am open to suggestions.

Re: Disney and dining outside of the parks

I have some clients who have no problem leaving the parks for dinner and heading back to the parks and I have other clients who call it a night after dinner.

A nice alternative is to go to a different park, so maybe leave MK to eat dinner at the Boardwalk and then walk over to Epcot for the fireworks.

Leaving and going to Downtown Disney where there are some amazing dining options may not be as feasible for returning to the parks depending on the age of your kids but there is entertainment there and Downtown Disney is a destination on it's own that's worth exploring.

Kerri Hill
Authorized Disney Travel Planner
www.TravelKerri.com

Re: Disney and dining outside of the parks

We just got back with 3 DCs, 5 and under.

I think it depends on your kids and their dynamic in your family.

We had a villa and ordered groceries so we'd have dinner at the villa every night. We went to the parks early, packed lots of snacks/drinks/lighter fare, had dinner at "home" and then went back to the parks if we were up for it.

We were thankful we didn't do the dining plan because we found the need to be very flexible and our plans changed quite a bit while we were there. I wouldn't have liked having to base all our plans around dining reservations and then get there, check-in, wait for the table to be ready, and then have dinner and rush back to whatever event we were planning next.

Disney and dining outside of the parks

If you are staying off site, absolutely no way would I want to endure the parking situation at the MK more than once in a day. So I would just eat in the park. If I couldn't get reservations, I would just eat counter service. Many yummy options for that.

Re: Disney and dining outside of the parks

Are you asking if it is doable to leave the park for dinner and then return to the park for more attractions?

My kids are the same age as yours and my kids are beat after dinner. As are the parents! There is no way I would leave a park for dinner and return after dinner.

We have gone from MK to Epcot for dinner when we stayed on the monorail. It was easy to take the monorail back to our hotel after dinner.

Re: Disney and dining outside of the parks

With kids that age I would either leave the park midday for a break have dinner and return (or return to the park for dinner) or if you want to eat outside the park, leave at 4 or 5 and have dinner, swim relax. To be in the park from rope drop, leave at 6 for dinner then go back is a lot esp with kids that age.

Re: Disney and dining outside of the parks

we had a 1 1/2 year old and 5 year old when we went. We mostly went to dinner at 5pm and then called it a night.

However 2 nights we did push it and go back to the park after (trick or treating, fireworks), etc. Especially nights in which they had good naps during the day.

but if they both don't nap anymore, i would do dinner and call it a night.

plus you'll be exhausted too.

Message edited 1/31/2014 8:40:18 PM.

Disney and dining outside of the parks

Thanks for all the advice. I may push to go back to the park one day to see the fireworks. We are staying on site but one of my debates has been to schedule a dinner out of the park. What if we are having fun and don't want to leave? I think I rather eat in the park. If they are tired we can call it a day, otherwise we can still do a few more attractions. I think I'll sample other restaurants when they are a little older.