2nd guessing ADRs

[Jessica0312]

Hello! My DD6 and I are going to Disney the week after Easter. I know it will be CROWDED! We went last year for Spring Break as well but the week before Easter.

My DD6 doesn't really get the Disney Magic! She is most excited about staying at the resort to swim and relax. I'm not sure she would care if we made it to a park at all. I am trying to balance time in the parks and the resort. We are staying at POR and have the dining plan.

These are our current ADRs:

3/31 Arrive at 9 am
late lunch - BOG

4/1 Easter/MK only for FP and Easter Bunny
late breakfast - 'Ohanas

4/2 HS
early dinner - Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic Package*

*This is where my doubt is starting to creep in. I think she would rather go back to the resort rather than watch Fantasmic but she has never seen it. We will not be back for a few years (APs expiring and not renewing at this time) so I am torn because I want to show her EVERYTHING!).

4/3 AK
breakfast - 1900 Park Fare
early dinner - Tusker House with ROL (same feeling as Fantasmic)

4/4 Break Day
No reservations. Meeting with friends in DS for dinner at D'Luxe possibly.

4/5 MK
breakfast - CRT
HEA dessert party

4/6 Epcot
breakfast - Akershus
FEA dessert party

4/7 HS - We fly out in the evening, need to leave for airport around 4 ish
No reservations but I am thinking maybe a late lunch at a resort before heading to the airport?

Thoughts? Would you cancel Fantasmic and ROL packages?

I know I am partly trying to change her perspective bc the only time she has been to Disney World was last Spring Break and we went with friends that had a vastly different touring style than ours. I think she remembers being exhausted. I know she had fun but she just isn't excited the way a kid normally would be for Disney! My older daughter was the complete opposite (she is 25, lives on her own and plans her own Disney trips now). I realize it may just be her personality.

Also...She loves characters and we are taking a pillowcase for autographs and she is really excited about that.

Thanks!
Jessica

 

[pitpat]

I would probably keep Fantasmic and not worry about Rivers of Light.

 

[KenHutch]

Fantasmic is totally worth it but Hollywood & Vine isn't. If your daughter likes Italian have you looked at the package from Mama Melroses? And I feel your pain on the pool thing. The 1st time I took my god daughter with us she wanted to know if she could just stay at the pool all day. Sigh now at 8 at least she is a park commando like me and my daughter.

 

[Jessica0312]

My daughter is really picky so it's definitely more about the experience, characters, etc than the food.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think you have too many late night plans for a 6 year old.

Hollywood & Vine has the worst reputation of any Disney restaurant except for maybe Tony’s. The Fantasmic stadium was not even full when we went in September. I don’t see a reason to purchase a dining package for it when you’re going. (That could change after the Toy Story and Star Wars areas open.)

I’d get rid of the FEA dessert party too. It’s stupid expensive, and there are literally thousands of places to get a good view of Illuminations without paying anything extra.

 

[fgnghg5821]

I would keep the Fantasmic dining package. If she likes characters then that is a win (regardless of the food quality since you say she is picky). And I have had other experiences with Fantasmic. It has been packed the last two times I’ve gone in late January and late April.

I would also suggest skipping Rivers of Light.

My daughter loved the dessert parties and I think if you take a break in the afternoon on those days then it could potentially be fine.

 

[Jessica0312]

Thanks for the replies. We usually go early and take a mid-day break.

I mostly booked the dessert parties so I wouldn't have to fight for my DD to see...we will be there during Easter and Spring Break crowds. I love Illuminations, she has never seen it and neither of us has seen HEA.

Would you eat at Tusker House if you weren't going to see ROL? I have been for breakfast, never for dinner. DD has never been there.

If we cancel Tusker House and H&V - where would you book instead (if ADRs are even available at this point)? We are on the dining plan so we have credits to use. I think as is we need to book 1 more meal to use them all (7 each).

I would love to go to Le'Cellier and I had it booked but I canceled it. I think it would be wasted on picky DD.

We also had Beaches and Cream booked on our arrival night but I had to cancel it due to a family conflict (long story). I am hoping to get an ADR for maybe our HS night. I was thinking instead of Fantasmic and H&V, maybe we could take the boat to the Boardwalk area, have dinner at Beaches & Cream and enjoy the Boardwalk entertainment for a bit.

I know I am rambling...sorry! I am literally thinking out loud.

Thanks again!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Are you on the dining plan? If so I would keep the F! and ROL packages since they aren't costing you anything extra even if you decide not to see the shows.

 

[3gr8boys]

Someone mentioned that you may want to consider the Mama Melrose Fantasmic package....I am pretty sure you can do a lunch package....this way you could head to the resort for swimming and then return to HS for the show and still have access to the dining package seating.

 

[Jessica0312]

Yes, we are on the dining plan.

I was able to move H&V to an earlier lunch (sticking with the characters) so we'll have a 5-6 hour break to return to the park for Fantasmic. I mostly plan to uber back to the park if needed to extend break times for my daughter.

I am going to try to move Tusker House to a breakfast and skip Rivers of Light so we can return to the resort earlier that day as well.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Spencer Wright]

I’d get rid of the FEA dessert party too. It’s stupid expensive, and there are literally thousands of places to get a good view of Illuminations without paying anything extra.

I totally agree! Even during very crowded times of year, you can pretty much always see Illuminations walking up or waiting shortly beforehand.

HEA is a whole other story!