Character meals questions

Question

We were hoping to do fantasmic package in Hollywood and vine but in October when I do my day plan it’s says closed ? Should I just use a QS in studios and keep table for epcot and Animal kingdom ( tusker house)

Also garden grill for breakfast , is it possible to rope drop Soarin , book breakfast for 9:30ish and keep a use a LL for journey instead.

I know Remy is top rope drop ( is Remy same as the paris ride) and is crush same as paris?

And in AK what time should I be looking at safari , to get Everest & dinosaur aswell.

Thanks for any replies

Answer

It sounds like you’re planning a packed trip with lots of character meals and great rides! Let me break down your questions to help with your planning:

Fantasmic! Package and Hollywood & Vine:

It’s unfortunate that Hollywood & Vine is closed when you plan to visit. If you’re looking for an alternative for dining and securing a good spot for Fantasmic!, I recommend looking into other Table Service (TS) dining options like 50’s Prime Time Café or Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, which are also great options that offer priority seating for Fantasmic! However, if you prefer flexibility, you could just grab Quick Service (QS) meals in the park and book table service meals for other parks like Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Keep in mind that some character dining may be available in other parts of the park, so you can check availability as you get closer to your travel date.

Garden Grill Breakfast and Rope Dropping Soarin’:

It’s definitely possible to rope drop Soarin’ at Epcot and then make your 9:30 AM Garden Grill breakfast reservation. Soarin’ tends to get a good queue early in the day, so if you arrive right at park opening (or even a bit earlier), you can expect to get on quickly. The ride usually has shorter lines during the first hour of park operation, so you’ll be able to check that off your list first. Afterward, you can head to Garden Grill for your breakfast with plenty of time to spare. As for using a Lightning Lane (LL) for Journey Into Imagination with Figment, that’s a solid strategy as well, as it’s one of the less popular rides and usually has LL availability even later in the day.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Crush’s Coaster:

Yes, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is similar to the Paris ride in that it’s based on the same movie and concept, but it has been slightly modified for the U.S. audience. It’s a great family-friendly ride with a fun trackless ride system, and it offers a unique experience in Epcot. As for Crush’s Coaster, that ride is part of Disney Paris, but the one in Epcot is called Turtle Talk with Crush, which is an interactive show with the character from Finding Nemo. The two rides are not the same, but both are equally fun in their own way!

Animal Kingdom: Safari and Other Attractions:

If you’re planning on hitting all the big rides in Animal Kingdom, a good strategy is to do Kilimanjaro Safaris first thing in the morning when the animals are more active. Afterward, you can head over to Expedition Everest and Dinosaur. If you plan to get on Everest and Dinosaur, try to hit those right after the safari or during lunchtime when lines tend to be shorter. Dinosaur in particular usually has shorter wait times after 11 AM, and Expedition Everest’s waits are a bit lower in the afternoon as well. I recommend looking at the official app to track wait times and adjust your plan accordingly.

Summary of Suggestions:

Since Hollywood & Vine is closed, try other dining options for Fantasmic! Priority seating like 50’s Prime Time Café or Mama Melrose’s.
Rope drop Soarin’ and then have your 9:30 AM Garden Grill breakfast afterward. This timing should work perfectly.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is similar to the Paris version, and Crush’s Coaster in Paris is a different experience (Turtle Talk with Crush in the U.S.).
At Animal Kingdom, start with the Safari early, then aim for Everest and Dinosaur shortly after, keeping an eye on wait times.

Hope this helps! Your trip is going to be amazing, and it looks like you have some great plans already in place. Enjoy!