1st timer--How are my choices so far?

[megstar1304]

This is the first time staying at Disney and using the meal plan. I'd like to know how I did with my choices. It will be Me, the husband and our 5 year old son.
We are going in 19 days!! So the week of Dec 8th -15th. Hoping it's not too crowded.

8th- Arrive around 1-2
MK
Dinner- Crystal Palace...need to choose between 3:30 or 7:40 to plan around the 9 oclock electrical parade

9th-MK
Lunch-Be Our Guest
Dinner- TBD -Will take suggestions I do have an ADR for Maya Grill but the reviews aren't so great


10th-HS
Breakfast- Hollywood and Vine (to meet Jake)
Lunch/Dinner-Fairfax Fare

11th- Free Day
Lunch-Rainforest Cafe in DD
Dinner- at our resort (Caribbean Beach)

12th- Epcot
Late Breakfast-Chef Mickey's
Lunch-Katsura Japanese Grill
Dinner-Coral Reef 7:20

13th- AK- Lunch-Flame Tree BBQ
Dinner-Sanaa 5:10

14th- Bounce around day only have QS meal left

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Missyrose]

This is the first time staying at Disney and using the meal plan. I'd like to know how I did with my choices. It will be Me, the husband and our 5 year old son.
We are going in 19 days!! So the week of Dec 8th -15th. Hoping it's not too crowded.

8th- Arrive around 1-2
MK
Dinner- Crystal Palace...need to choose between 3:30 or 7:40 to plan around the 9 oclock electrical parade

9th-MK
Lunch-Be Our Guest
Dinner- TBD -Will take suggestions I do have an ADR for Maya Grill but the reviews aren't so great


10th-HS
Breakfast- Hollywood and Vine (to meet Jake)
Lunch/Dinner-Fairfax Fare

11th- Free Day
Lunch-Rainforest Cafe in DD
Dinner- at our resort (Caribbean Beach)

12th- Epcot
Late Breakfast-Chef Mickey's
Lunch-Katsura Japanese Grill
Dinner-Coral Reef 7:20

13th- AK- Lunch-Flame Tree BBQ
Dinner-Sanaa 5:10

14th- Bounce around day only have QS meal left

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Have you made these ADRs or are you still planning?

 

[megstar1304]

I have the ADR's already for the places that take them

 

[SignMeUp]

To avoid some unnecessary and time-consuming travel, I would replace Maya Grill with something close to MK (unless you're staying at the resort where Maya Grill is and you're planning a break before or after dinner?). If you want to stay close to MK, then you could try Kona at the Poly, The Wave at the Contemporary, or the Grand Floridian Cafe. All of those should still have openings and all are on the monorail.

Leaving Epcot for a late breakfast at Chef Mickey's will be time-consuming, but I understand the desire to fit this in w/a 5yo.

Oh, and on the 8th you definitely want the 3:30 Crystal Palace if you want to see all the characters AND the parade. Plan at least an hour and a half for all the characters there. There's no way you'd make the 9pm parade if you take the 7:40 adr... you wouldn't even get out of CP until after 9pm.

 

[SignMeUp]

FYI... try searching the online ADR system for a party of 4 instead of a party of 3. You will get more options for available times. For instance, with Crystal Palace on 12/8 there is a 6:10pm available for a party of 4. There is no penalty for showing up with fewer people than your ADR is for. You are only penalized (on ADRs with CC holds) if no one shows up.

 

[megstar1304]

FYI... try searching the online ADR system for a party of 4 instead of a party of 3. You will get more options for available times. For instance, with Crystal Palace on 12/8 there is a 6:10pm available for a party of 4. There is no penalty for showing up with fewer people than your ADR is for. You are only penalized (on ADRs with CC holds) if no one shows up.

Thank you!! I never even thought of that!
I figured we woukd just take the monorail from epcot to chef mickeys. I got lucky to get adr from someone on here so wanted to fit it in best I could.
I changed the maya grill to T-rex at 6(which is complete opposite of mk) but it was the only free day with ts meal left. Plus I figured a day and a half at mk we should be able to see everything and we have a whole to to bounce around to our favorites. Am I being crazy?

 

[SignMeUp]

T-Rex and Rainforest are so similar that I'd only do one or the other. I think you'll find that a day and a half at MK is not nearly enough, but that's what 2nd (3rd, 4th, etc...) trips are for.