Copycat request: Please rate these ADRs

[cnjmom]

A little background:

My DH and I each have been to WDW independently years ago, and next week we leave for our first trip together as a family, with three kids. DD5, DS2 (turns 3 during trip) and DS13 months. We are not on the DDP, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about our meals. We haven't ever eaten any of these meals, so I'm going with what sounded good and also opinions here, although I realize that there never seems to be 100% agreement on any restaurant.

With that said, I have probably made too many ADRs, given our budget. We will have access to a kitchen and plan to eat breakfast in the room and do some type of QS or bring our own meals for others.

Here are the ADRs we have:

Akershus (dinner)
'Ohana (dinner)
Crystal Palace (lunch)
Hollywood and Vine (lunch)
The Plaza (lunch)
Whispering Canyon (dinner)
Hoop dee Doo (dinner, of course)

If you had to eliminate 3 of these based on food alone, which three would you eliminate? If I said to not just consider food but the entire experience, including price (remember, we're not on DDP), would your list change? I will say that it is unlikely I am going to spend any more time trying to change my ADRs and I am pretty much only focusing on either lunches or dinners, not breakfasts. And, because we have a CM room discount, we can't enroll in the DDP.

One additional bit of information. My kids know princesses, Pooh characters, but not the characters at H & V. Not sure if that would impact your ratings.

Thanks for your input.

 

[tar heel]

What kind of food do you like? That will help with answers, although I've not eaten at enough of them to eliminate three. Here's my comments on the three I've been to:

My oldest and youngest sons are super carnivores and they love the skillet at Whispering Canyon. We go there pretty much every trip. My family also enjoys the noise and craziness, but I can see where people looking for a more diverse and refined menu and a quieter experience would not like it.

My DH was an exchange student in Finland and Akershus reminds him of that. Before it was turned into a princess meal, I cheerfully went each trip b/c it was one of the cheapest table service meals at WDW -- I think the lunch was $11.99. There's no way I would give $30+ for that meal, though. I see you have only two adults -- I have five, so that makes a huge difference. With tip, this would be a $200 meal for us, and this is not what I would choose. Princesses are pretty easy to find if you just want to do photos.

It's been too long since I was at O'Hana to fairly evaluate it. When we went, we thought it was okay but were not overwhelmed so we've never gone back. I know people who love it, though. It's another good place for carnivores.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

A little background:

My DH and I each have been to WDW independently years ago, and next week we leave for our first trip together as a family, with three kids. DD5, DS2 (turns 3 during trip) and DS13 months. We are not on the DDP, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about our meals. We haven't ever eaten any of these meals, so I'm going with what sounded good and also opinions here, although I realize that there never seems to be 100% agreement on any restaurant.

With that said, I have probably made too many ADRs, given our budget. We will have access to a kitchen and plan to eat breakfast in the room and do some type of QS or bring our own meals for others.

Here are the ADRs we have:

Akershus (dinner) - We did breakfast last year, now a must do this year!
'Ohana (dinner) - Must do for food and atmosphere!
Crystal Palace (lunch) - Great reviews, we are trying breakfast this time!
Hollywood and Vine (lunch) - Does NOT catch my fancy, friends went and hated it!
The Plaza (lunch) - My hidden gem, loved everything and so did the kids!
Whispering Canyon (dinner) - Food seems to heavy for our tastes, never been.
Hoop dee Doo (dinner, of course) - My kids are 14 and 16, started seeing the show when they were 3 and 5 and STILL request it every trip!

If you had to eliminate 3 of these based on food alone, which three would you eliminate? If I said to not just consider food but the entire experience, including price (remember, we're not on DDP), would your list change? I will say that it is unlikely I am going to spend any more time trying to change my ADRs and I am pretty much only focusing on either lunches or dinners, not breakfasts. And, because we have a CM room discount, we can't enroll in the DDP.

One additional bit of information. My kids know princesses, Pooh characters, but not the characters at H & V. Not sure if that would impact your ratings.

Thanks for your input.

My thoughts are in red. I would definetely go over menu's, and then price/entertainment value for each to help make your decisions. The best advise I can give you is to relax and enjoy the meals when you are there. The price is the price, don't fret over it. Have a great trip.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I would eliminate HDDR, as I think 3yrs and 13 months is a little young to appreciate it given the price. Hollywood & Vine is really not great, so I would cross that one off.

I would definitely keep Crystal Palace and Akershus.

The others are up in the air. I haven't been to Ohana but people seem to like it here. WCC is fun for the kids, more than going for the food.

I know you said you were set and not looking for breakfasts, but honestly I would look for a meal with the traditional characters, something at Chef Mickey's or Donalds Safari Breakfast. If you do the latest breakfast, it's like an early lunch.

 

[squirrel]

I agree on going for late breakfast. We loved our character breakfasts! Lots of good food.

 

[Colleen27]

A little background:

My DH and I each have been to WDW independently years ago, and next week we leave for our first trip together as a family, with three kids. DD5, DS2 (turns 3 during trip) and DS13 months. We are not on the DDP, and I have spent a lot of time thinking about our meals. We haven't ever eaten any of these meals, so I'm going with what sounded good and also opinions here, although I realize that there never seems to be 100% agreement on any restaurant.

With that said, I have probably made too many ADRs, given our budget. We will have access to a kitchen and plan to eat breakfast in the room and do some type of QS or bring our own meals for others.

Here are the ADRs we have:

Akershus (dinner)
'Ohana (dinner)
Crystal Palace (lunch)
Hollywood and Vine (lunch)
The Plaza (lunch)
Whispering Canyon (dinner)
Hoop dee Doo (dinner, of course)

If you had to eliminate 3 of these based on food alone, which three would you eliminate? If I said to not just consider food but the entire experience, including price (remember, we're not on DDP), would your list change? I will say that it is unlikely I am going to spend any more time trying to change my ADRs and I am pretty much only focusing on either lunches or dinners, not breakfasts. And, because we have a CM room discount, we can't enroll in the DDP.

One additional bit of information. My kids know princesses, Pooh characters, but not the characters at H & V. Not sure if that would impact your ratings.

Thanks for your input.

Since your kids don't know the characters, I'd cut H&V. The food gets pretty sad reviews, so if you aren't going for the characters I don't think it's worth the price.

Since your kids know the Princesses & Pooh, definitely keep Akershus & Crystal Palace. I'd think about switching Akershus to lunch, though. With breakfast in the room and your TS meal at lunch, you could probably manage with a light quick service or snack to tide everyone over until you get back to the room. And with the buffets, lunches are cheaper for the same basic menu.

We've never done Ohana for dinner, but it looks like it would be great fun for a 5 & 3yo with the coconut races and all.

The Plaza really is, as a previous poster said, a hidden gem. The prices are good and the portions are plenty big enough for sharing too, so you might be able to manage that one for a quick-service budget. DH & I aren't light eaters, but we agreed that if we were ever there without the DDP we could easily split a sandwich and both have more than enough to eat. And one banana split there would be enough dessert for my family of 5, even with a bottomless pit of a DS11.

Whispering Canyon is another one that we've never done. The menu & antics don't appeal to us, but it is another one that looks like fun for little ones.

I think I'd skip Hoop Dee Do until the kids are a bit older. That's a lot of money to spend on a show that the kids aren't old enough to enjoy. If you want to take an evening at Ft Wilderness, I'd have dinner first and then check out the campfire & movie instead of the dinner show.