ADR list for young couple... any suggestions/feedback?

[ZeroToHero]

So my DBF (soon to be 19) and I (18) are going to Disney to "celebrate" my not getting into the CP... and we're hoping for Free Dining.

If we get it, here is what our ADRs will hopefully look like for dinner:

Day 1 – 8/25 (Tuesday)
Visiting: Magic Kingdom
Eating: Plaza Restaurant

Day 2 – 8/26 (Wednesday)
Visiting: Studios
Eating: Mama Melrose’s (Fantasmic Dinner Package)

Day 3 – 8/27 (Thursday)
Visiting: Epcot
Eating: Biergarten

Day 4 – 8/28 (Friday)
Epcot Evening EMH
Visiting: Animal Kingdom
Eating: Coral Reef

Day 5 – 8/29 (Saturday)
HS Morning EMH
Visiting: Studios
Eating: 50s Prime Time

Day 6 – 8/30 (Sunday)
MK Evening EMH
Visiting: Magic Kingdom
Eating: 1900 Park Fare

Day 7 – 8/31 (Monday)
Visiting: Epcot
Eating: Chefs De France


Do these look okay? We get in early on the first day, and want a sort of laid-back first night, nothing crazy.... we're saving the better ones for the last few days.

I want to get a mini-cake when we're at 1900 Park Fare too... for our anniversary

Any order in which I should book these? Does 1900 Park Fare sell out faster than Fantasmic, or should I do Fantasmic first, since Park Fare is closer to the end of the 90+10 so not everyone will be able to book it...?

Usually my mom does all these for my family - I don't know how she managed!

Thank you all in advance!

 

[KatMark]

So my DBF (soon to be 19) and I (18) are going to Disney to "celebrate" my not getting into the CP... and we're hoping for Free Dining.

If we get it, here is what our ADRs will hopefully look like for dinner:

Day 1 – 8/25 (Tuesday)
Visiting: Magic Kingdom
Eating: Plaza Restaurant Love! This is always our last meal of our trip

Day 2 – 8/26 (Wednesday)
Visiting: Studios
Eating: Mama Melrose’s (Fantasmic Dinner Package) We always eat here for Fantasmic--good food and good service

Day 3 – 8/27 (Thursday)
Visiting: Epcot
Eating: Biergarten Yes, another favorite!

Day 4 – 8/28 (Friday)
Epcot Evening EMH
Visiting: Animal Kingdom
Eating: Coral Reef haven't done in years--see good/bad reviews

Day 5 – 8/29 (Saturday)
HS Morning EMH
Visiting: Studios
Eating: 50s Prime Timeanother one we haven't done in years--but always good comfort food and good fun

Day 6 – 8/30 (Sunday)
MK Evening EMH
Visiting: Magic Kingdom
Eating: 1900 Park Fare never done

Day 7 – 8/31 (Monday)
Visiting: Epcot
Eating: Chefs De France never done


Do these look okay? We get in early on the first day, and want a sort of laid-back first night, nothing crazy.... we're saving the better ones for the last few days.

I want to get a mini-cake when we're at 1900 Park Fare too... for our anniversary

Any order in which I should book these? Does 1900 Park Fare sell out faster than Fantasmic, or should I do Fantasmic first, since Park Fare is closer to the end of the 90+10 so not everyone will be able to book it...?

Usually my mom does all these for my family - I don't know how she managed!

Thank you all in advance!

I posted our thoughts in red. I would book Fantasmic first--there is limited availability and they go fast!

Good luck.

 

[rudetreehill]

I think you'd walk away really, really happy with these. Now, I might have a few suggestions (of course!) For example, I'm not a big fan of the Coral Reef, and haven't read a lot of really great reviews. One of my favorites -- which is so often overlooked by people -- is the Marakesh restaurant (which also has belly dancers, and often brings people up to join them). 50's primetime is a favorite of mine, and a must-do every single time. For one of your magic kingdom days, you could consider going to one of the resorts on a monorail for dinner. Or even taking a boat over to the Wilderness Lodge for a meal at Artist Point (which is one of my personal favorites). I'm also really big on goofy things like character meals, so I often do one at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom which is pooh, winnie, tigger, etc. Silly, yes, but... geez, it's kinda fun, too. Of course, ask 10 different Disney fans and they'll tell you 10 different great restaurants (my new favorites after my last trip became Boma at the Animal Kingdom lodge and Yak & Yeti at the Animal Kingdom)

As for making the ADR's, make them as soon as you are allowed by the reservation system. I always say better to book early and change them if you decide for whatever reason to than to wait.

 

[ZeroToHero]

I posted our thoughts in red. I would book Fantasmic first--there is limited availability and they go fast!

Good luck.

Thank you very much! I'm taking my chances on Coral Reef because DBF loves aquatic animals, and between the tank and his ability to eat anything, hopefully he'll be too distracted to notice if the food is great or mediocre.

Glad to know that you like the other restaurants though - I haven't been to any of them except for Coral Reef, and I liked it when I went (but maybe I was suffering from the same symptoms DBF will! )

ETA: rudetreehill, thank you for your insight as well! Marakesh I will be skipping out on, as last trip, my father suffered an allergic reaction to the wheat they use... and I don't want possibly have the same reaction (although I will admit even that cannot keep me away from their baklava! It's sooooo good!) As for Crystal Palace, if one of my other reservations doesn't work out, that is the replacement, because I loved it when I went a few years ago - I love character meals too!

 

[rudetreehill]

Oh, the decor of Coral Reef is amazing, as you know! Anyone who likes sea animals is gonna love that place! I could sit and look at the big tank for hours... that's SO my kinda thing. And like your BF, I'm not a particularly picky eater... so yeah, I'd totally go back in a heartbeat!

 

[bluejasmine]

Your choices sound wonderful! Coral Reef was one of the best meals on our honeymoon last Sept! They went out of there way when they learned it was our honeymoon! I had pre ordered the special made menus and diver (not available now) and the whole restaurant applauded when my DH almost cried when he saw the diver and sign. I had the lobster salad and bisque it was soooo good, DH had the steak said it was very good, we had the pina colada, best we've ever had and for dessert the chocolate wave and baileys mousse. To top it off our wonderful server brougt us a champagne toast on the house!! It is DH MUST DO for our suprise trip with the kids in Sept!