March Trip- 4 year old BOY

[lolobug]

Hi!
Visiting the World with our 4 year old son for the first time!
- Planning a March 2025 trip; staying for 8 nights/ 8 days at Poly
- Not planning on purchasing Dining Plan
- We are not big breakfast eaters so we will most likely eat breakfast in our room, lunch QS and dinner TS
- We like chicken, steak, hamburgers, pizza, italian, mexican and chinese food.
- Past favorites- Ohana, Raglan Road, TRex (atmosphere)

Friday- (arrival mid day) Ohana for dinner?
Saturday- Epcot
Sunday- HS (will not stay for Fantasmic)
Monday- MK
Tuesday- AK
Wednesday- MK/EP?- Thinking Ohana for a brunch with Lilo and Stitch (rope drop and then come back to Poly)
Thursday- EP/HS?
Friday- MK

Any suggestions? We will most likely head to the parks early, take a break at some point mid afternoon and then return late afternoon/ early evening
Thank you!

 

[CarolynFH]

Have you considered Hoop Dee Doo Revue? Fried chicken, BBQ ribs, and a really funny show that a 4 year old would probably love. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/d...wilderness-resort/hoop-dee-doo-musical-revue/

 

[pixiedust33]

We stayed at the Poly with our 2.5 year old son last March and he LOVED Chef Mickey's right over at the Contemporary. The character interactions were great and he absolutely lost it over getting to dance with the characters. We went for breakfast and the food was perfectly fine. We also did Ohana for breakfast and dinner and honestly hated it - super slow service and mediocre food that has gone way down hill. But I understand it's a nostalgic favorite for many so hope it's better for you if you do it! We also LOVED the Kona Cafe at the Poly - their poke was delicious, the kids menu was great, and the service was quick and attentive (which was the key thing for me at all these meals with an antsy 2.5 year old!)

4 is probably very different from 2.5 and you know your kid best, but I would also say this seems like a LOT of park time. We had also planned all park days, with rests in the middle for nap, but our son's favorite things to do on our last trip were the splash pad at the poly, playing in the sand with some trucks he brought from home, playing the silly games in the grass at the Poly, and character meals. He got tired pretty quickly of being shuttled off to a bunch of different things and always being hurried around and just wanted to like chill and play. We're going back this March too and doing a much more resort heavy trip this time.

If your son is a car kid at all, Sci Fi Cafe at HS was a huge hit with our car-loving son. Also all the forms of Disney transit. He badly wanted to ride the skyline last time after he saw it, but it made no sense with our plans/where we were staying, so we didn't. This next trip, we're staying on the skyline to take it everywhere!

 

[SG131]

I agree that Hoop De Doo is a lot of fun. My son also loved Space 220. Or if he likes fish, Coral Reef is fun because you have a view of one of the big tanks throughout the meal. If your son is interested in characters, I would do at least one or two sit down character meals vs waiting in a lot of lines to meet them in the parks.

 

[lolobug]

Have you considered Hoop Dee Doo Revue? Fried chicken, BBQ ribs, and a really funny show that a 4 year old would probably love. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/d...wilderness-resort/hoop-dee-doo-musical-revue/

I have hear it is great but I am not sure it is worth the $$ for our family of 5.

 

[lolobug]

We stayed at the Poly with our 2.5 year old son last March and he LOVED Chef Mickey's right over at the Contemporary. The character interactions were great and he absolutely lost it over getting to dance with the characters. We went for breakfast and the food was perfectly fine. We also did Ohana for breakfast and dinner and honestly hated it - super slow service and mediocre food that has gone way down hill. But I understand it's a nostalgic favorite for many so hope it's better for you if you do it! We also LOVED the Kona Cafe at the Poly - their poke was delicious, the kids menu was great, and the service was quick and attentive (which was the key thing for me at all these meals with an antsy 2.5 year old!)

4 is probably very different from 2.5 and you know your kid best, but I would also say this seems like a LOT of park time. We had also planned all park days, with rests in the middle for nap, but our son's favorite things to do on our last trip were the splash pad at the poly, playing in the sand with some trucks he brought from home, playing the silly games in the grass at the Poly, and character meals. He got tired pretty quickly of being shuttled off to a bunch of different things and always being hurried around and just wanted to like chill and play. We're going back this March too and doing a much more resort heavy trip this time.

If your son is a car kid at all, Sci Fi Cafe at HS was a huge hit with our car-loving son. Also all the forms of Disney transit. He badly wanted to ride the skyline last time after he saw it, but it made no sense with our plans/where we were staying, so we didn't. This next trip, we're staying on the skyline to take it everywhere!

Thank you SO much! Such great suggestions!

 

[Disturbia]

If you’re staying at the Poly don’t discount 1900 Park Fare. It had really good chicken curry and prime rib. Also easy to get to. We booked at 5 pm and headed to MK around 6:30 pm. The characters spent plenty of time (they only come around once). It really surprised us. Our 5 year old was smitten and loved Mirabel and Alladin.

Chef Mickey was a one and done. The food was mediocre, atmosphere chaotic and loud. I would rather eat at Crystal Palace. Tusker house is good at AK (selections improved, although we prefer Boma on one night). Ohana is good except the Steak (dinner).

Space220 is great but takes about 2 hours unless you book the lounge. We all love the food and vibe esp going during a busy time when food booths can have a 30+ min wait at each.

At the Poly we went to Oasis bar & grill a lot (fish tacos good; less crowded). The restaurant in the island tower is not QS. It does have better quality food.

https://blogmickey.com/wailulu-bar-grill-review/

We had the dining plan but honestly loved the flexibility of QS. If kids didn’t have severe allergies we would probably not do too many TS. Btw Captain Cooks special ordered vegan cheese for our son and made him a Hawaiian pizza!