Dining
As we've been discussing over the last few days, we've decided that it would be prudent to re-evaluate our dining plans and focus on good value versus being really splurgy. Considering the scope of extra expenses we will be facing before our travel dates (the purchase of our new home, closing costs, legal fees, moving costs, fees for painting and other cosmetic updates, and the new furniture and other decor items that we will want to buy to finish the new spaces) it seems much more responsible to maximize our vacation dollars while (hopefully) not sacrificing quality.
We are also endeavoring to not dine at places that we can easily eat here at home. While many of the American chains used to be our Orlando go-to's (Olive Garden, Chili's, TGI Fridays, Steak & Shake, Longhorns, etc.), we can now enjoy those anytime as they are literally within a few miles of our front door here in SE Michigan.
We also don't really want to lock ourselves into any specific meals, so we can be flexible when needed and eat where and when we want. For the most part, our plans are just a rough guide, and will change a bit once we are actually on vacation. We often get to the point where we simply can't bear the thought of another big meal, and just want light snacks at the villa or informal vittles by the pool. That said, we have a few places we would like to squeeze in if we can. Here's the list:
Breakfasts
When on vacation, we tend to be twice a day eaters: a more substantial breakfast/brunch, then a nice dinner. Three big meals a day, especially if its hot, makes us feel sluggish and icky. So you'll generally not find us partaking in too many real lunches along the way.
Breakfast is provided at Discovery Cove, so we won't need a restaurant pick for that specific day of our vacation. We will take part in the all day dining on our SeaWorld days (so far I've pre-purchased one day of ADD for SW, and I figure the other day we'll just purchase at the park when we arrive), so breakfast on those days will be at the park. For the balance of our morning meals, we'll try and dine at least once at Sweet Tomatoes (an Orlando favorite), Golden Corral, and the Marketplace at the Vistana (their deli features Starbucks coffee and some really, really tasty breakfast sandwiches). Ponderosa is also a possibility, as is somewhere at Disney Springs (Wolfgang Puck Express, Earl of Sandwich, or maybe even the Poutine place). We enjoy the flexibility of being able to go with whatever we happen to feel like when we wake and greet the day.
Dinners
Two must-do's this trip will be 4 Rivers BBQ and, of course, Kobes with the lovely
@chiamarie 
. Both will be new experiences for us, and come highly recommended by many folks here on the boards. We always try to do at least one new thing on each trip, so these were perfect fits.
We don't land in Orlando on our arrival day until 5:45 pm, so we'll likely do Sweet Tomatoes for our arrival day dinner. While Sweet Tomatoes has been a favorite breakfast and lunch on previous trips, we've never done dinner before.....so this, too, will be a somewhat new experience. By the time we make it to Lake Buena Vista, we figure we'll be tired and hungry and ready to just dig into a good, healthy meal without a lengthy wait......then we can make the hop, skip and jump to the Vistana and check into our villa in enough time to get settled and enjoy a good soak in the hot tub. Our back up plan is just to check in to SVR and then have dinner at the Tacky Tiki Bar. It's always good to have options, just in case.
Manny's Chophouse (which would also be a new restaurant for us), Millers Ale House and Smokey Bones are also on our dining list for May. All are places we don't have here in Michigan. Steve would really like to squeeze in Manny's if possible, just to add yet another place to our long list of
Places We've Tried While In Orlando.
The All Day Dining plan will cover our SeaWorld days (though they close at 6 pm during the week we are in Orlando, which means the restaurants will close between 5:30 and 6) and all of our food for the day is provided at Discovery Cove. We will pick up some groceries from Publix and just have some healthy but easy foods to enjoy at the villa after our customary pool time: cheese, crackers, sliced meats, fresh fruits, veggie trays, and those types of things. I can't imagine us wanting much more than that after long days of indulgence. We always have the option to order a late night pizza from the Tiki Bar if we decide we want something more substantial.
Snacks
The Wonderland Cookie Dough Co. is an absolute,
I-refuse-to-go-home-until-we've-been-there must-do stop
. I'm generally willing to make concessions where necessary, but sometimes a girl has to stand her ground
. It's going to be cookie dough or bust, baby
(or maybe cookie dough until I bust?
)
https://www.facebook.com/wonderlandcookiedough/
Twistee Treat is a favorite for ice cream, and we didn't make it there last trip. I'd love it if we could squeeze that in at some point.
And of course, there's Krispy Kreme
. We have one here in SE Michigan (about half an hour from home), so its not an absolute "must do"......but its a long-time family favorite so I'm pretty sure you'll see us there at least once during the course of our vacation. Thank goodness calories don't count on holiday
. And the ones that do will be negated by all the walking and swimming we do, right?
RIGHT?!?!?
Of course, these are the plans now but a great Groupon, Livingsocial offer, or Travelzoo deal could have us switching things up between now and May. I never print our itinerary until a few days before departure just in case. As they say......"change is good!"
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I am so ashamed! We had hoped/planned to squeeze it in last October, but we were travelling with Steve's brother and sister-in-law and that was their first time at the Universal parks, so we ended up doing a lot more dining at Universal than what we normally would have.....which meant 4 Rivers took a back seat. But this time, we are COMMITTED to fitting it in! We've done Sonny's BBQ, and Bubbalou's, and Smokey Bones (not an official barbecue joint per se, but kind of close)....so 4 Rivers is the last major one we need to try.
. The last time we were at Crystal Palace, there was an extended group at the table beside us.....it looked like it was a Grandma and Grandpa with a couple of their children with their spouses and kids. Maybe around 10 of them all together. When it came time for the bill to be covered, he insisted on paying for everyone. I'm not sure he knew just how pricey the per person cost was of that buffet, because I thought he would PASS OUT when he looked at the total. When he grabbed his chest in mock heart attack, I was not so sure he wasn't actually suffering a real pain or two!!
. There's enough on their menu that's calling out my name that I'll need to go more than once!
. That can't be easy for her. I will keep my fingers crossed that she....and you!...gets some unexpected good news soon!!
.
. I must remember to check Wonderland's hours to see how late they are open. And for the record, I'm quite disappointed in you, girl. A brand new restaurant devoted solely to cookie dough, and you haven't made a beeline for it yet? I'd have been there opening day if I lived as close to it as you do 
Are you driving? Here in MI, we are apparently in for quite the snowy week 
. Hopefully you won't have too treacherous of a commute until you get far enough south that winter is no longer a factor.
... sometimes with crazy good things, other times with crazy not-so-good 
. But, everything tends to work its way out eventually, and usually for the better. And when the going gets tough, its good to have you all here on the boards to keep my mind off the bad stuff!
Oh, how I wish Steve had been transferred to somewhere equally as tropical rather than frosty Michigan 
. And may I say, you are quite a lady to open your home to 4 foster kids: there's a special place in heaven for folks like you, who selflessly give such love to children who so desperately need it. Bless your hearts. Thank you for your sacrifices! 
