1st timer for ADR's- whaddya think?

[Silly Little Pixie]

Okay, on our previous trips we only made ADRs for 1 character meal per trip. So that doesn't count as planning! I am not the uber-planner, so this is new to me.

We will be me, DH, DD 11, DS 8, and *possibly* my parents joining us for some of our trip, in November (not Thanksgiving week!). If I can't get a confirmation from my folks on what dates they will join us for sure by next week, should I make my ADRs for a party of 6, then change later to a party of 4 as needed? Is that hard to do?

We have a split stay: 3 nights POR on the DDP, 4 nights on the Wonder, and 3 more nights at the DTD Doubletree after the cruise, OOP.

My ADR's (can book next week!!)
Day 1 - arrive MCO about 8 am, lunch at Coral Reef
Day 2 - Tusker House Character Breakfast
Day 3 - Sci Fi Drive In- dinner
Day 4- 7- DCL
Day 8 - return from the cruise, nothing planned- probably CS, or can switch another ADR
Day 9- Ohana's Character Breakfast
Day 10 - Boma-dinner
Day 11- fly home

This all seemed good, especially when I thought Super Soap Weekend was going to be 11/8-9, so planned Sci Fi for that day to hit SSW. Now, maybe it will be the next weekend-? We'll still be at WDW anyway, but would want to make that ADR for when we'll be at SSW.

But then I started thinking- should I swap Boma for Sci Fi when I'm on the DDP? Regardless of SSW?

Thanks for any input!!!!

 

[pta-mom]

This is just my opinion but I would not be doing Tusker House breakfast & Sci-Fi on the DDP if I only had the plan for three nights. I don't think you would really get your monies worth. Neither of these places are that expensive. If those are the places you really want to eat, you might find it cheaper to just pay OOP.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

This is just my opinion but I would not be doing Tusker House breakfast & Sci-Fi on the DDP if I only had the plan for three nights. I don't think you would really get your monies worth. Neither of these places are that expensive. If those are the places you really want to eat, you might find it cheaper to just pay OOP.

I'm not really looking to have to eat fancy meals each day- since we'll do plenty of that on the cruise! I want to do things that are different from what we could do at home, and that the kids will enjoy. I looked over sample menus, and am confident we will eat our DDP cost and then some each day. We're not the sort to let a snack cart or dessert pass us by!

That said, I do think you are right to swap Sci-Fi and Boma, and do Sci-Fi out of pocket the weekend we are not on the DDP.

Any other opinions? What do you think of making my ressies for 6, and later changing some of them to 4? Too hard to do?

 

[themudd4]

Our families must be alot alike as these are many of my families fav's..

I agree with the PP...If you looking to make this a lil less $$$ OOP, then you could switch them around and take full advantage of the DDP with the places you seleced.

 

[septbaby]

Any other opinions? What do you think of making my ressies for 6, and later changing some of them to 4? Too hard to do?

If you need a table for 4, book it for 4. Those ressies are easier to get and are more plentiful. If you book a 6 and don't need it you've blocked another family from that space. If you then try to change it to a 4 close to your trip or on your trip there a good chance you won't get it and if you do get it your time may have to change, even to the point of going from dinner to bfast or vice versa.

As others have indicated, I'd do Boma dinner on the DP. That bill will be close to $100 for your family. If visit Sci Fi after the cruise you'll probably order less (so full from the cruise) and have a lower bill. Boma price is fixed so you'll spend $100 no matter how little you eat.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

If you need a table for 4, book it for 4. Those ressies are easier to get and are more plentiful. If you book a 6 and don't need it you've blocked another family from that space. If you then try to change it to a 4 close to your trip or on your trip there a good chance you won't get it and if you do get it your time may have to change, even to the point of going from dinner to bfast or vice versa.

I wasn't thinking I'd wait until right before to change my reservations. It's just that our 180 day window opens up this week, but my dad won't know for a little while yet what days he can get approved off from work. I'm sure that I can get reservations at 180+ for all 6 of us, but not so sure I can get a table for 6 at 120 days, kwim? Wouldn't it still be easier to get a table for 4 at 120? I'm not booking the really hard to get stuff, I don't think? I'm not picky about times other than what meal it is.

Or is it equally as hard to get a table for 4, as it is for 6? Not being familiar with this, I assumed that there would be lots more tables for 4 rather than 6, but I could be totally wrong!

 

[Luv2Roam]

I would definitely choose Boma over Sci-Fi. I would eat lunch at Sci-Fi, but dinner there only as a last resort. (DDP not even being a factor.)

 

[themudd4]

You mentioned your 180 window...remember that as a resort guess at your 180 day mark it will be 180 + 10...you wont hafta call back for each additional day.