Having read the possible dining plan impact on availability and wait times, we went fearing the worst... this was great because it wasn't nearly as busy and impossible as expected. I'd made four ADR's before we left, and one more once we arrived. It was a good idea that week because of the holiday crowd but don't panic if you don't make any. At each park we went to in the morning there was a billboard at guest services telling what restaurants were taking ADR's for that day, including some that are more popular than the ones I chose. The only impossible day would have been the 4th of July if I hadn't already had one. 
Saturday 7/2 - We arrived later than we'd expected due to a rainstorm we'd encounterd on the drive down from North Carolina and stopped at Downtown Disney for dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. Chicken salad for DBF, chicken sandwich for me - good food but not really memorable.
Sunday 7/3 - Our first taste of Le Chefs de France - we both loved it (and DBF is a meat and potatoes, nothing fancy or unpronouncable, no two foods on the plate touching one another person). We went for his birthday because he could order snails. We had the French menu (I know, not very adventurous but I had to start him off slowly) and the onion soup was as good as what we make at home, the salad and sandwich very good, too. Creme brulee is my favorite dessert so the meal was a total success, and DBF (who received a complimentary chocolate dessert) says next time, I can order for him (this could be fun!). Taking walk ins at the time we were there.
Waiter was very nice but his understanding of English was more limited than others we overheard interacting with their guests.
Monday 7/4 - Mama Melrose, busy (expected because of the holiday and we found out later that both MK and EPCOT were at maximum capacity so had closed the gates for a while) but taking walk-ins with a two hour wait.
I had a very good eggplant dish, DBF had penne with sausage which he really liked. He found an Italian beer to his liking, and I tried the Sangria - very good. This was my birthday dinner (our birthdays are three weeks apart so we celebrated in the middle.) and I received a complimentary Tiramisu for dessert. Waitress was knowledgable, helpful and her suggestions were perfect for us.
Tuesday - We took the Keys to the Kingdom tour (very worthwhile) and had lunch (part of the tour) at Columbia Harbour House - good sandwiches, quiet upstairs dining room, and I'd like to go back and try something else another time. We had dinner scheduled at Boma - this was one that I hoped DBF would like - and he did! Our waitress was so helpful, naming and describing dishes with all the ingredients and degree of spice! We both tried a little of nearly everything and went home with a couple of recipes, too. Also - I did not try the press pot coffee but did purchase some ground coffee in Mara to bring home with us - it's very good. Boma was taking walk ins with a two and a half hour wait.
Wednesday - we had a "rest day" - doing some shopping, ate off site at a seafood buffet - DBF liked it, I didn't.
Thursday - Early lunch at Tangerine Cafe - an every trip ritual for me - I love their counter service food and the mint tea. Late dinner at Rose and Crown - we were seated outside and late enough to stay for Illuminations. We shared the fruit and cheese appetizer, both ordered salads and fish/chips. (If you go, try the hard cider - very refreshing!) Good, fresh food but we could have shared a salad and an entree - the portions are very large. Our waitress was bubbly, friendly and wonderful to talk to. They were taking walk ins with maybe half an hour wait.
Friday - Dinner at Trail's End Buffet at the campground. Food was okay, might be very good but we'd eaten more than we're used to most of the week and that could have affected my opinion. They were taking walk ins.
Saturday - our last night, darn it! We picked up counter service food (turkey leg for DBF, mac & cheese for me - yuck, but I had to try it once) and saw Fantasmic in the rain! Every time the water screens came up, we got really wet
because the breeze was coming right at us.
We had a really good week, tried some new foods, found that a little planning helped a lot (and thanks to all whose comments helped so much!) and that the dining plan has made things busier, yes, but not impossible even at a peak attendance period. All I can say is make some adr's, you don't have to keep them if you want to change your plans (that's how I looked at it but we kept each one) and if you haven't made any, check out what's available first thing in the morning at the park you've picked for the day. I can't wait to go back again!
Saturday 7/2 - We arrived later than we'd expected due to a rainstorm we'd encounterd on the drive down from North Carolina and stopped at Downtown Disney for dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. Chicken salad for DBF, chicken sandwich for me - good food but not really memorable.
Sunday 7/3 - Our first taste of Le Chefs de France - we both loved it (and DBF is a meat and potatoes, nothing fancy or unpronouncable, no two foods on the plate touching one another person). We went for his birthday because he could order snails. We had the French menu (I know, not very adventurous but I had to start him off slowly) and the onion soup was as good as what we make at home, the salad and sandwich very good, too. Creme brulee is my favorite dessert so the meal was a total success, and DBF (who received a complimentary chocolate dessert) says next time, I can order for him (this could be fun!). Taking walk ins at the time we were there.
Waiter was very nice but his understanding of English was more limited than others we overheard interacting with their guests.
Monday 7/4 - Mama Melrose, busy (expected because of the holiday and we found out later that both MK and EPCOT were at maximum capacity so had closed the gates for a while) but taking walk-ins with a two hour wait.
I had a very good eggplant dish, DBF had penne with sausage which he really liked. He found an Italian beer to his liking, and I tried the Sangria - very good. This was my birthday dinner (our birthdays are three weeks apart so we celebrated in the middle.) and I received a complimentary Tiramisu for dessert. Waitress was knowledgable, helpful and her suggestions were perfect for us.
Tuesday - We took the Keys to the Kingdom tour (very worthwhile) and had lunch (part of the tour) at Columbia Harbour House - good sandwiches, quiet upstairs dining room, and I'd like to go back and try something else another time. We had dinner scheduled at Boma - this was one that I hoped DBF would like - and he did! Our waitress was so helpful, naming and describing dishes with all the ingredients and degree of spice! We both tried a little of nearly everything and went home with a couple of recipes, too. Also - I did not try the press pot coffee but did purchase some ground coffee in Mara to bring home with us - it's very good. Boma was taking walk ins with a two and a half hour wait.
Wednesday - we had a "rest day" - doing some shopping, ate off site at a seafood buffet - DBF liked it, I didn't.
Thursday - Early lunch at Tangerine Cafe - an every trip ritual for me - I love their counter service food and the mint tea. Late dinner at Rose and Crown - we were seated outside and late enough to stay for Illuminations. We shared the fruit and cheese appetizer, both ordered salads and fish/chips. (If you go, try the hard cider - very refreshing!) Good, fresh food but we could have shared a salad and an entree - the portions are very large. Our waitress was bubbly, friendly and wonderful to talk to. They were taking walk ins with maybe half an hour wait.
Friday - Dinner at Trail's End Buffet at the campground. Food was okay, might be very good but we'd eaten more than we're used to most of the week and that could have affected my opinion. They were taking walk ins.
Saturday - our last night, darn it! We picked up counter service food (turkey leg for DBF, mac & cheese for me - yuck, but I had to try it once) and saw Fantasmic in the rain! Every time the water screens came up, we got really wet
because the breeze was coming right at us.We had a really good week, tried some new foods, found that a little planning helped a lot (and thanks to all whose comments helped so much!) and that the dining plan has made things busier, yes, but not impossible even at a peak attendance period. All I can say is make some adr's, you don't have to keep them if you want to change your plans (that's how I looked at it but we kept each one) and if you haven't made any, check out what's available first thing in the morning at the park you've picked for the day. I can't wait to go back again!
