***1st Week of December Thread ADR Plans, Park Hours, and dealing with Pop Warner***

[PolyRob]

I'm a little apprehensive about everything because I have no idea how my 2 year old will be... Normally he wakes up before 7 and is good with late nights (usually sleeps 9 or later) as long as he naps in between... At this point, I do not know if he would nap in the stroller or just lose it.. LOL! My plans are all over the place- no break, early-ish nights, break and late nights... I have 2 TS dining per day mostly- I have 1 day with 3 TS meals. I know we need to eat and I know we're not normally fans of QS... But the more I look at my plans, the more confused I get... LOL!

The most I did in my last trip was 3 ADRs in one day and I have to say, my family gladly ate at all three! It really is hard to juggle all of that on top of the changing schedules and releases and strict FP+ times and line up at this time for this show, etc.

I worry I might but I don't think wiht breakfast (we both LOVE breakfast) and dinner it is too much. If it was lunch and dinner every day that might be too much. I have spaced my meals at least 6 hours apart with few exceptions. I like the break of sitting down to eat and I hate QS. There i said it out loud. It is very difficult as a single mom with an ADHD kid to navigate all that. I feel really good about my dining plan and how it works iwth the flow of our vacation, which is why I am very hesitant to throw one more thing in. I have posted it before but can post again at some point when it is finalized. I think my flow is good with enough flexibility in between meals.

I agree. The only QS (aside from snacks) that my family will do is BoG and something at the resort upon arrival since the availability at 3pm at GF is only afternoon tea. Gasparilla's it is! The TS honestly does not take that much (more) time (IMO) than a QS meal after waiting in long lines and the price can sometimes be the same depending on where and what you order! We like this time to relax and unwind. The 6 hour span is also very smart!

LOL! My DH and I aren't big breakfasts people but for this trip, I'm doing quite a bit of breakfasts... which is why I'm trying to cut down... I wonder now whether I should cut some out... I do hate QS too but it seems easier to pick up breakfast from QS than lunch or dinner.

My family traditionally is not either, but we have 2 booked in total. Kona since we really enjoyed it, Garden Grill CP package, and GF Cafe on departure day. The one thing with QS breakfast is you could get something like a pastry or snack item rather than a whole meal. I will probably do that that in France at Epcot and Starring Rolls Cafe in HS.

 

[Candycane83]

The most I did in my last trip was 3 ADRs in one day and I have to say, my family gladly ate at all three! It really is hard to juggle all of that on top of the changing schedules and releases and strict FP+ times and line up at this time for this show, etc.



I agree. The only QS (aside from snacks) that my family will do is BoG and something at the resort upon arrival since the availability at 3pm at GF is only afternoon tea. Gasparilla's it is! The TS honestly does not take that much (more) time (IMO) than a QS meal after waiting in long lines and the price can sometimes be the same depending on where and what you order! We like this time to relax and unwind. The 6 hour span is also very smart!



My family traditionally is not either, but we have 2 booked in total. Kona since we really enjoyed it, Garden Grill CP package, and GF Cafe on departure day. The one thing with QS breakfast is you could get something like a pastry or snack item rather than a whole meal. I will probably do that that in France at Epcot and Starring Rolls Cafe in HS.

Unfortunately, we have 5 breakfasts right now... 4 of which are character breakfasts... The only one I have as a regular TS is the Wave. I have Kona right now but thinking I may need to ditch this. I feel like breakfast is basically to experience characters for DS2 and we would probably not eat too much. I'm thinking of dropping one more breakfast and replace it with lunch (besides Kona) but not really sure which one. Have Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, Cape May and Akershus. I'm also hoping walking a lot would help us be hungry for the next meal.

The juggling part with dining and FP seems really difficult. This will be my first time doing this and I'm getting nervous. I think it's good I started looking at this now and I'd probably need to start really looking at how my son would react for long days.

 

[Candycane83]

I prefer buffet/family style for breakfast and regular table service for dinner so for the most part we are using the breakfasts for the character meals. I am only doing one character dinner (H&V seasonal dine) and the rest are all breakfast... Tusker House, Garden Grill, Crystal palace, Boma, Ohana. I only don't have breakfast planned for two days and both of those I have very early lunches - 11:15 at Sci Fi and 11:35 at Coral Reef with CP package. Both of those days we will use snack credits - starring rolls one day and Boardwalk Bakery one day (maybe even obtained the day before and eaten in the room).

I seriously eat breakfast for dinner a lot when I am tired (eggs and whatever meat I have with some toast or sometimes without). I am really looking forward to all of my breakfasts, lol. Except for Cape May as my backup but I think that is just because I like my other choices BETTER, not that Cape May is bad. I just don't want to give up la hacienda and an opening time ADR at Coral Reef (better chance of getting table near the tank) for it).

The only thing I am unsure about is my last day. 9:50 CP breakfast, 1:55 BoG "lunch" where we may just get cupcakes (seems like a lot of effort and I don't even like cupcakes much - I am kind of leaning toward forgoing this and just snacking between meals given how long check in times can be at this place - I don't want to wait longer to get into here than at attractions... but not canceling it just yet) and then 6:15 HDDR. We'll prob have to eat between breakfast and dinner but there are plenty of snacks at MK we can get so not worried about starving or anything.

I actually prefer the same (buffet breakfast) and TS dinner. But I have times I want TS lunch in between too, LOL! I think we will have breakfast but will not really eat that much, especially with the earlier ones. Right now for character meals, I have Tusker House (lunch), Garden Grill (early lunch) and H&V F! (dinner). Then, I have Cape May (can't seem to find any other choice for DHS since H&V is at 4:30), Akershus PPO (thinking about dropping this), Chef Mickeys (or dropping this) and Crystal Palace PPO (departure day). All my other dining is basically geared more for myself and my DH. I have 2 per day except one day where I have 3- my move day.

 

[PolyRob]

Unfortunately, we have 5 breakfasts right now... 4 of which are character breakfasts... The only one I have as a regular TS is the Wave. I have Kona right now but thinking I may need to ditch this. I feel like breakfast is basically to experience characters for DS2 and we would probably not eat too much. I'm thinking of dropping one more breakfast and replace it with lunch (besides Kona) but not really sure which one. Have Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, Cape May and Akershus. I'm also hoping walking a lot would help us be hungry for the next meal.

The juggling part with dining and FP seems really difficult. This will be my first time doing this and I'm getting nervous. I think it's good I started looking at this now and I'd probably need to start really looking at how my son would react for long days.

I totally meant to say 3 breakfasts earlier... Lol

I completely understand the need for character breakfasts, especially with young children! If I were a parent, that would be a great way to alleviate long character lines and save FP+ for other park attractions. If it were me picking between the buffets above, I would probably drop either Chef Mickeys or Cape May Cafe just because some of the characters are similar. If that's the main thing you're trying to accomplish from breakfasts and you're interested in variety, you'll get princesses, Pooh, and some Mickey and friends either way.

I feel I am in a much better place placing FP+ now and have been thinking about it around when I made my ADRs. The rigid hourly slots that are predetermined can sometimes overlap by 5 minutes and make you go insane! My new goal is to try and do two by each other, and use one at the end of a window and the other at the beginning. Then the third will roughly be after a meal or later in the day so I'm not running in circles.

 

[Candycane83]

I totally meant to say 3 breakfasts earlier... Lol

I completely understand the need for character breakfasts, especially with young children! If I were a parent, that would be a great way to alleviate long character lines and save FP+ for other park attractions. If it were me picking between the buffets above, I would probably drop either Chef Mickeys or Cape May Cafe just because some of the characters are similar. If that's the main thing you're trying to accomplish from breakfasts and you're interested in variety, you'll get princesses, Pooh, and some Mickey and friends either way.

I feel I am in a much better place placing FP+ now and have been thinking about it around when I made my ADRs. The rigid hourly slots that are predetermined can sometimes overlap by 5 minutes and make you go insane! My new goal is to try and do two by each other, and use one at the end of a window and the other at the beginning. Then the third will roughly be after a meal or later in the day so I'm not running in circles.

I would totally drop Cape May but I can't seem to find a replacement meal in DHS with H&V at 4:30. Any suggestions? We would probably still do some character meet and greets like Joy and Sadness, Baymax and Olaf.

 

[PolyRob]

I would totally drop Cape May but I can't seem to find a replacement meal in DHS with H&V at 4:30. Any suggestions? We would probably still do some character meet and greets like Joy and Sadness, Baymax and Olaf.

What resort area will you be coming from and what park are you heading towards... Epcot?

 

[Candycane83]

What resort area will you be coming from and what park are you heading towards... Epcot?

We're coming from AKL and just staying at DHS the whole day until F! The plan is to have breakfast at 9-ish at Cape May then head to DHS...

 

[Talby]

Would anyone here happen to have input on Spirit of Aloha? I'm considering this for our last night. I was thinking about the latter show, and then watching Wishes from the beach. Any thoughts or input on this idea?

 

[CynBeth]

I'm doing MVMCP on 12/8 also I'm planning to do the non-party night stuff the night before on 12/7 and the party on 12/8 and then the daytime "day of party under less crowds" stuff on 12/9. Those are my poly nights so focusing MK then.

We loved the Poly when we stayed there last year! I like your plan. We usually do 1 or 2 non Disney attractions during a trip. We space everything out a certain way and hope the ADRs fall into place. We were lucky this time but our last trip during Thanksgiving Week we had to use our park hoppers a lot in order to get to every restaurant we wanted. We would be at 1 park for most of a day and then late afternoon have to go to a different park for dinner and the rest of the evening. Or 1 night in Disney Springs.

 

[CynBeth]

Would anyone here happen to have input on Spirit of Aloha? I'm considering this for our last night. I was thinking about the latter show, and then watching Wishes from the beach. Any thoughts or input on this idea?

We did it our last trip and enjoyed it. We were the first show. A few members of my family have food allergies and they did great job accommodating them.

 

[CynBeth]

We're there on dec 8 for the party as well!

Have you been to it before?

 

[Candycane83]

Have you been to it before?

Yes! In 2012 so quite a few years back. Just DH and I and we went in November (one of the first parties)

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

you probably won't find that many people here with those dates, most of us are the next week. You could try the post thanksgiving group (isn't there one?). it does sound like fun, I might be in if it was a week later

We are getting in on the 26th but I think if we choose one, it would be for Illuminations.

 

[PolyRob]

We're coming from AKL and just staying at DHS the whole day until F! The plan is to have breakfast at 9-ish at Cape May then head to DHS...

I see why you want to stay in that general vicinity, especially if you're going to walk or take the boat to HS.

IDK if you are opposed to a monorail resort, and then taking a bus to HS? I never had a problem with the busses from Poly to HS, but that was my personal opinion. I love Stitch (IDK if the avatar gave it away) so 'Ohana was a must do! I have to say it was very relaxed and my family and I enjoyed that it was family style rather than a traditional buffet. My friend who goes to Disney all the time also really likes 1900 Park Fare. She does it practically every trip! 'Ohana would only give one new character, and 1900 Park Fare has some overlap with Crystal Palace, but if those menus seem more appealing it may be worth it?

Also, Hollywood and Vine would have Disney Junior at breakfast rather than the "Fab Five" in holiday gear like your dinner if you were interested in that.

 

[Candycane83]

I see why you want to stay in that general vicinity, especially if you're going to walk or take the boat to HS.

IDK if you are opposed to a monorail resort, and then taking a bus to HS? I never had a problem with the busses from Poly to HS, but that was my personal opinion. I love Stitch (IDK if the avatar gave it away) so 'Ohana was a must do! I have to say it was very relaxed and my family and I enjoyed that it was family style rather than a traditional buffet. My friend who goes to Disney all the time also really likes 1900 Park Fare. She does it practically every trip! 'Ohana would only give one new character, and 1900 Park Fare has some overlap with Crystal Palace, but if those menus seem more appealing it may be worth it?

Also, Hollywood and Vine would have Disney Junior at breakfast rather than the "Fab Five" in holiday gear like your dinner if you were interested in that.

I thought about it, even considered Kona for breakfast. I could not find any decent times available though! I guess I'll keep looking for that one... cape may seems just more convenient. I looked at Hollywood and vine but a little hesitant to eat there twice in a day"...

 

[PolyRob]

Would anyone here happen to have input on Spirit of Aloha? I'm considering this for our last night. I was thinking about the latter show, and then watching Wishes from the beach. Any thoughts or input on this idea?

I did the Spirit of Aloha, 2nd show, category 1 during my May trip. My family and I wanted the second show since it was TIW discount eligible and was dark the whole time for the fire portion of the show (probably not a concern in the winter). We really enjoyed it! Kept us entertained the whole time, and was a very nice experience. I had read some so-so things about the food, but my family decided we would form our own opinions. The pulled pork was a little salty for my taste, but I enjoyed everything else. I even liked the chicken there better than the chicken at 'Ohana!

The second show cut into Wishes. I could see some of the fireworks in the distance. I do not believe you would be able to see the whole show if you attended the second luau.

The only "strange" thing about the show was the chair you sat in. I know it may sound strange, but they were very low to the ground and very heavy to move. Our waitress warned us and we thought she was joking, but she was 100% serious.

I would definitely do it again!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

Glad I checked this last night. The CM I spoke with last week said FF was to open Aug 14th for reservations. We all know how informed they can be. Secured one of the last ADRs for our trip. Now waiting for ROL packages to come out, well if they do.

 

[Candycane83]

Glad I checked this last night. The CM I spoke with last week said FF was to open Aug 14th for reservations. We all know how informed they can be. Secured one of the last ADRs for our trip. Now waiting for ROL packages to come out, well if they do.

Me too!! Yay! Just ROL if there is one and Star Wars Dessert Party! I really wish they would announce later hours already for DHS and AK!!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

Yay for us! Ditto on the hours and RO discounts!

 

[Iowamomof4]

Glad I checked this last night. The CM I spoke with last week said FF was to open Aug 14th for reservations. We all know how informed they can be. Secured one of the last ADRs for our trip. Now waiting for ROL packages to come out, well if they do.

FF? Can't come up with what that stands for, thanks!

EDIT: As soon as I posted I figured it out! Flying Fish?