ADR opinions

[sahm2two]

We have some time before our Oct. trip, but our ADR window opens in April, and I'm SOOOOO indecisive. So, help me out and tell me what you think.

Helpful info-
Going on the trip is me, my husband, and our 3 girls. They will be 8, 7, and 6 at the time of the trip. They are SOOOOO excited about going, but have no idea that we're actually going LOL. They ask all the time when we can go again (the oldest 2 went when they were younger), and we just tell them it costs a lot, so maybe in a year or two if we can save our money. One is super girly and loves everything stereotypically girly. One isn't very girly and like Star Wars as much as Princesses (but she does still like Princesses), the youngest goes with the flow and likes everything.
We want this trip to be as relaxing as a Disney trip can be and not be too stressed about it.
We plan on being on the dining plan, and are currently crossing all fingers/toes that it will be free when we go. We're staying in a moderate. We will be there for 8 days/9 nights. We will get in late the first night and leave after breakfast the last day.
My husband and I looooooove to eat and like to try new things and often times enjoy those new things. My kids are pretty picky and run the gambit on how picky. However they would eat mac and cheese, pizza or chicken nuggets every day if that were an option... which it may just be at Disney!

I'm not super concerned with "making the most" out of the DDP, especially if it's free. We will probably pay OOP if we don't get it for free, but I would have to run the numbers (and I'll do that in a couple months if/when FD is announced)


So, now that I've gotten the background info out of the way, here's what we've got so far-

*First night- we will be getting in very late, and only plan on doing this bc of free dining. This will change based on FD. However, if they do it exactly like last year.... this is the plan.
*1st Full Day- Animal Kingdom day.
Breakfast- Tusker House breakfast around 11am, this is a planned late breakfast. We will eat in the room when we wake up (like a granola bar to tide us over) and take our time getting to the parks the first day as we are getting in late the night before.
No lunch (just late breakfast).
Dinner-Boma-this is a toss up depending on the new river of lights show at AK and the timing on that. I don't know how long it takes to travel to/from AK/Boma, so I don't know if we would want an ADR for after we're done with everything, or to try to eat earlier and come back for RoL?

*2nd Full Day- MK/EP
Breakfast- BOG prepark opening- I actually plan on reserving this for every morning we are doing MK. I've heard they like to change the hours around at the last minute and add EMH to the morning, which makes your hard booked ADR for a ppo breakfast obsolete, so I'll have 4 to make sure that doesn't happen. I'm SURE this isn't proper etiquette, but it's the only way to work the system....?!?? (be nice!)
Lunch- BOG-this will be on a day that we don't have BOG for breakfast, otherwise just a different CS. Any suggestions for MK CS?
Dinner- 1900 Park Fare- this is most likely going to be a MNSSHP night, so we will leave the park around 7 and head to dinner. This isn't one I'm set on, but I'd love to meet the step sisters. I understand they aren't guaranteed though, which is why I'm not set on it.
Head to Epcot (maybe) after dinner to see IllumiNations, or maybe some other park that has EMH that night? Not sure the logistics of getting for 1900PF to another park?

3rd Full Day- Hollywood Studios
breakfast in room (granola bar, etc)
lunch- CS...suggestions?
Dinner-Scifi drive in

4th Full Day- pool/DS/MNSSHP
breakfast- in room
Lunch- CS @ DS- WPE or Earl of Sandwich? I don't know which my kids would like better. We've been to EoS once before and thought it was all it was made out to be (which was awesome), but my kids were basically babies at the time, so ???
Dinner- No dinner planned. Will gorge on ToT candy and maybe get a snack like a pretzel or something to soak up the sugar.

5th Full Day- Epcot
Breakfast- Akershus- late breakfast again. We will sleep in after a late MNSSHP night (as late as the girls will let us) and then hit up another 11am breakfast. This is also because Akershus food sounds weird even to me (who will try anything once), and breakfast sounds better!
Lunch- Food and Wine baby!!! we plan to blow some snack credits on the food and wine festival
Dinner- CS--- any suggestions?

6th Full Day- MK/?
Breakfast- BOG ppo? or in room
Lunch- CS- suggestions?
Dinner- again, a MNSSHP night, so we'll leave around 7, and go to Ohana for dinner. Hoping this will be timed well and we can see Wishes during dinner, or right after go down to the beach to watch. If we're able to watch Wishes from the Poly, that'll be it for the night

7th Full Day- Open day... we aren't involving our kids in any planning as it's a surprise, so by this time they'll have done all the parks, and we can do whatever they want! I'm assuming they'll want to do MK some more. We will probably have Park hoppers for the FD, so we can do more than one park. However bc I'm purposefully not planning this day... no ADRs
Breakfast- in room
Lunch- CS
Dinner- CS

8th (and last) Full Day- MK
Breakfast- in room or BOG ppo
Lunch- CS
Dinner- CRT (I know this gets mixed reviews, and I know it's 2 TS credits), but this is the only trip we're taking while our girls are perfect princess age and I want to soak it all up! Which means 2 princess meals, 1 way overpriced in the castle!

9th (Departure) day- check out
Breakfast- 1900 Park Fare before we start the drive home





Sooooooo.... what do you think? What would you change? There are a few things I'm super set on, but the rest is open for debate. I'm also obviously looking for some CS suggestions! Thanks!!!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I don't think you can overdo Princess meals with little girls.

I am useless at suggesting DHS cs locations. They all seem to equally stink. We used to always go to Backlot Express but I've heard they have reworked the menu since then. I've decided to give up with a CS and just to to Prime Time.

In the MK we like Columbia Harbour House. We used to also like Pecos Bills but they have also changed the menu so now I have no idea. A lot of folks like Cosmic Rays but I refuse to go back since they make you order different things on different lines and of course everyone in my family always wants things from the different stations.

In Epcot I love Yorkshire Fish and Chips. I also like the Japan cs, France cs and Morocco cs. But it's really fish and chips or bust for me. Sunshine Seasons is very popular, I just think it smells funny in the Land Pavilion all the time and don't care to eat there.

In Disney Springs (will always be DTD to me) I really like WPE. I want to try Cookes of Dublin though, it's on the to do list.

I'm not much help otherwise. Your picks look good to me!

 

[AinsleyLM]

The French bakery at EPCOT has great sandwiches! Pretty simple ones too for your picky eaters. They have one that is ham and cheese on a croissant with (I think) bechamel sauce. It is delicious!

 

[DJFan88]

We enjoyed the 1900 Park Fare Breakfast buffet. and the characters were fun!

 

[GrandCalifornian]

It looks good, and makes me hungry. Just a couple of comments: Don't be too scared of Akershus dinner. The buffet has some oddities, but the plated food can be excellent, and there is superb princess interaction. For the DS debate, we'd probably prefer WPE over Earl of Sandwich because WPE is like the best QS ever. If you're in a sandwich mood, their meatloaf sandwich is delicious. Lastly, your Epcot QS dinner could be at Sunshine Seasons, another must visit for us with enough variety for everybody (if you have room after Food & Wine).

 

[ariane37]

Hi there! So CS in MK: definitely CHH or Pinocchio's. If the girls happen to love hot dogs you can do Caseys, but really only if they WANT hot dogs. I second Les Halle's bakery in France for lunch (or dessert!) or the CS in Mexico. My goal is to try Morocco's CS on our next trip so while I can't recommend it from experience, it gets great reviews.

HS CS is hard Starring Rolls has good sandwiches but not a big menu. Otherwise pick anywhere-one place really isn't much better than another lol!

If you want to meet the stepsisters AND Lady Tremaine, book 1900 PF. Lady Tremaone unfortunately is ending her meet in the MK soon and then can only be met at 1900. And even though there are times she and/or the stepsisters aren't at dinner, I do believe much more often than not, they are. As for afterwards I'd stick with going to Epcot since you can just take the monorail. If HS happens to have pm EMH you could do that and take the bus from the GF, too.