My process for picking adr's - The DIS Discussion Forums

DSLRuser · 02-19-2013, 12:14 PM

#1 look at the park schedule for your trip

#2 decide what park you will go to what day (avoid emh ect ect)

#3 map you park days out for the week

#4 decide on breakfeast, lunch, dinner or all for each day

#5 make the adr based on what is in your location (resort or park) for your day.

i see too many people deciding on what or where they will eat first, then building park days around that.

to mee, the park hours and where you will be is more important.

how do you all do it.

ses1230 · 02-19-2013, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSLRuser

#1 look at the park schedule for your trip

#2 decide what park you will go to what day (avoid emh ect ect)

#3 map you park days out for the week

#4 decide on breakfeast, lunch, dinner or all for each day

#5 make the adr based on what is in your location (resort or park) for your day.

i see too many people deciding on what or where they will eat first, then building park days around that.

to mee, the park hours and where you will be is more important.

how do you all do it.

I do it the same way. Parks first, ADRs second.

Tarheel Mom · 02-19-2013, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSLRuser

#1 look at the park schedule for your trip

#2 decide what park you will go to what day (avoid emh ect ect)

#3 map you park days out for the week

#4 decide on breakfeast, lunch, dinner or all for each day

#5 make the adr based on what is in your location (resort or park) for your day.

i see too many people deciding on what or where they will eat first, then building park days around that.

to mee, the park hours and where you will be is more important.

how do you all do it.

I do it the same as you

GillianP1301 · 02-19-2013, 12:41 PM

I'm the same, park first and then meals. For me, a WDW vacation is about the parks and attractions and the food is very much secondary in my priorities.

MinnieLovesMickey12 · 02-19-2013, 02:57 PM

I pick my park days based on touring plans crowd calendars then schedule our adr's around our park plans. A lot of times we eat at DTD and resorts and we drive ourselves so picking a place to eat isn't as hard for us. We don't eat TS lunch only TS dinners and we usually leave the parks by 3.

omgninjas · 02-19-2013, 03:42 PM

I do a combination of both - I'll plan out park days and special stuff (BBB, tours, etc) and then decide on where to eat, but if we decide on a late dinner one night I'll move around park days so we're not doing rope drop first thing the next morning.

connie254 · 02-19-2013, 05:16 PM

I always park hop. Start the day at EMH, have TS dinner at another park. If no EMH, pick a park to start at, and still transfer someplace else for dinner. That way, we can either go back to our room at midday and swim, or go directly to another park. DTD is a wildcard afternoon.

Peachkins · 02-19-2013, 07:26 PM

We were one of those that got our ADRs first and then planned our days at the parks around them. My brother was planning the trip, and one of the reasons we did that was because he wanted to take my niece to some places that were harder to get reservations for- like CRT. I honestly didn't mind that approach. We're not so detailed about things that we plan our trip around crowd calendars and EMH. As long as I get to the parks I want to and eat at some places I like, I'm a happy camper.

disneybliss2 · 02-19-2013, 09:19 PM

I know which restaurants ahead of time that I know I'll want to return to or try for the first time. I keep that tucked in my head though, and plan my park days first (look into EMH; some days we utilize early entry,some days we don't). Then I map out my park days by how many days I want to spend at each park, plugging them into which day they fit best during the time we're there. Then I
plug the restaurants that I want to eat at into the schedule based on what day they'll fit best according to where I'll be.

sazzifrazz · 02-19-2013, 09:35 PM

After several trips on the dining plan (free) i have decided that I won't be doing the dining plan anymore. I spend more time planning where we will eat. Then once there I stress over ADR times and getting to the location. Its just too much! Last trip we had to wait up to 45 minutes after our ADR times. I was so annoyed by this. I decided never again! We will book a few ADR's but not each day.

MrEVILdrPorkchop2u · 02-19-2013, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSLRuser

#1 look at the park schedule for your trip

#2 decide what park you will go to what day (avoid emh ect ect)

#3 map you park days out for the week

#4 decide on breakfeast, lunch, dinner or all for each day

#5 make the adr based on what is in your location (resort or park) for your day.

i see too many people deciding on what or where they will eat first, then building park days around that.

to mee, the park hours and where you will be is more important.

how do you all do it.

This is EXACTLY how we plan our trips. We always eat at one ofthe restaurants at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and we always eat there when we go to Animal Kingdom. Theme for the day.

autumnpalm · 02-19-2013, 09:56 PM

First I make a list of "must-do" restaurants that get priority.

Then, I consult a crowd calendar (easywdw for me) and decide on park days.

I mix and match the must do restaurants with the corresponding park days and then fill in the rest with regard to convenience.

02-19-2013, 05:16 PM	#7
connie254 Disney fanatic Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 354	I always park hop. Start the day at EMH, have TS dinner at another park. If no EMH, pick a park to start at, and still transfer someplace else for dinner. That way, we can either go back to our room at midday and swim, or go directly to another park. DTD is a wildcard afternoon. __________________

02-19-2013, 07:26 PM	#8
Peachkins Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 361	We were one of those that got our ADRs first and then planned our days at the parks around them. My brother was planning the trip, and one of the reasons we did that was because he wanted to take my niece to some places that were harder to get reservations for- like CRT. I honestly didn't mind that approach. We're not so detailed about things that we plan our trip around crowd calendars and EMH. As long as I get to the parks I want to and eat at some places I like, I'm a happy camper. __________________ Me: DH: The fur babies:

02-19-2013, 09:56 PM	#12
autumnpalm Hates dark rooms, is a big rule follower, & loves repitition When I was a kid, I wanted to be a host on The Shopping Channel I have a secret feeling that butterflies are sinister creatures Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,064	First I make a list of "must-do" restaurants that get priority. Then, I consult a crowd calendar (easywdw for me) and decide on park days. I mix and match the must do restaurants with the corresponding park days and then fill in the rest with regard to convenience. __________________ "Trust the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

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02-19-2013, 12:14 PM	#1
DSLRuser Age is a state of mind Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: midwest Posts: 868	My process for picking adr's #1 look at the park schedule for your trip #2 decide what park you will go to what day (avoid emh ect ect) #3 map you park days out for the week #4 decide on breakfeast, lunch, dinner or all for each day #5 make the adr based on what is in your location (resort or park) for your day. i see too many people deciding on what or where they will eat first, then building park days around that. to mee, the park hours and where you will be is more important. how do you all do it. __________________ ***30+ trips since 1993* Port Orleans x3 Caribbean Beach Club Contemporary Resort Wilderness Lodge x 5 Animal Kingdom Lodge Yacht Club Beach Club x 4 Polynesian Resort <<Disney Wonder>>** Bonnet Creek x 3 Marriot Sable Palms x 4 Marriot Royal Palms x 4 Marriot Cypress Harbor x 2 Marriot Grande Vista

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02-19-2013, 12:41 PM	#4
GillianP1301 Mouseketeer Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 274	I'm the same, park first and then meals. For me, a WDW vacation is about the parks and attractions and the food is very much secondary in my priorities. __________________ _____________________________________________ Contemporary Resort & Offsite - Aug 2013 - Planning underway Caribbean Beach Resort - Aug 2012 - First visit with DS4 Disneyland - 2003 - Solo business trip WDW Offsite - 1997 - 5th Anniversary WDW Offsite - 1992 - Honeymooon WDW Offsite - 1986 - First WDW trip

02-19-2013, 02:57 PM	#5
MinnieLovesMickey12 DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Way down South near the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Posts: 844	I pick my park days based on touring plans crowd calendars then schedule our adr's around our park plans. A lot of times we eat at DTD and resorts and we drive ourselves so picking a place to eat isn't as hard for us. We don't eat TS lunch only TS dinners and we usually leave the parks by 3. __________________ 10/27-11/6/11 All Star Music Family Suite (QSDP) --Family trip 1/26-2/1/12 Quality Suites Lake Buena Vista --Adults Only trip 4/16-4/21/12 Rosen Inn --Adults Only Trip 10/27-11/4/12 All Star Music Family Suite (DDP) --Family Trip 4/14-4/19/13 Quality Suites Lake Buena Vista- Adults Only Trip

02-19-2013, 03:42 PM	#6
omgninjas Earning My Ears Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 30	I do a combination of both - I'll plan out park days and special stuff (BBB, tours, etc) and then decide on where to eat, but if we decide on a late dinner one night I'll move around park days so we're not doing rope drop first thing the next morning.

02-19-2013, 09:19 PM	#9
disneybliss2 DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,536	I know which restaurants ahead of time that I know I'll want to return to or try for the first time. I keep that tucked in my head though, and plan my park days first (look into EMH; some days we utilize early entry,some days we don't). Then I map out my park days by how many days I want to spend at each park, plugging them into which day they fit best during the time we're there. Then I plug the restaurants that I want to eat at into the schedule based on what day they'll fit best according to where I'll be.

02-19-2013, 09:35 PM	#10
sazzifrazz Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 289	After several trips on the dining plan (free) i have decided that I won't be doing the dining plan anymore. I spend more time planning where we will eat. Then once there I stress over ADR times and getting to the location. Its just too much! Last trip we had to wait up to 45 minutes after our ADR times. I was so annoyed by this. I decided never again! We will book a few ADR's but not each day.