ADRs for 1/22-1/26 Feedback and Help Please

[west&east]

My family (DH, DD9, DS5, and I) will be arriving on 1/21 at AKL CL. I would love some feedback and suggestions on my plans. We are planning on having breakfast at the concierge club each morning except for the morning of our sunrise safari. We will do CS for lunch. Here is what we have so far:

1/21 Arrive AKL around 7:30. Snack at club if it is still open or grab something at Mara.

1/22 Probably Disney Hollywood Studios in the am. We have an Illuminations Fireworks specialty cruise booked tonight. We also have an ADR for 4:20 at Coral Reef. Not sure if this is the best choice. Any other ideas for a yummy dinner in the Epcot/ Yacht Club area? Or should we eat an early dinner at Boma (after a midday break) then enjoy Epcot for a while before the cruise?

1/23 MK day. ADR at 7:55 California Grill for DH and me while kids go to Simba's Clubhouse!

1/24 Probably Epcot in am, MK in afternoon. 6:30pm ADR for Chef Mickey's (Not confident I want to keep this one but one character meal would be fun for the kids.) I don't want to be out too late because we have to wake up very early the next am for sunrise safari.

1/25 Sunrise Safari in am which concludes with breakfast buffet. Stay at AK then return to AKL for nap. Then 5:10pm ADR at Boma. (I am thinking that it would be fun for us to see Wishes as a family together on our last night, so maybe we should switch this ADR.)

I also don't know if I should try to work Jiko's in (which we would go to with our kids). Not enough days!

So what say you, expert Disney travelers and eaters?

 

[MickeyNicki]

If you can try and work in Jiko, it is incredible!

I will be there the same time as you but at the Poly!

 

[west&east]

Thanks, Nicki! I have been reading all your TRs and food reviews and I am impressed. I guess I have to see what I can work out. I need some sort of spread sheet for all this planning!

 

[jcemom]

1/21 Arrive AKL around 7:30. Snack at club if it is still open or grab something at Mara. -- sounds good

1/22 Probably Disney Hollywood Studios in the am. We have an Illuminations Fireworks specialty cruise booked tonight. We also have an ADR for 4:20 at Coral Reef. Not sure if this is the best choice. Any other ideas for a yummy dinner in the Epcot/ Yacht Club area? Or should we eat an early dinner at Boma (after a midday break) then enjoy Epcot for a while before the cruise? -- if you weren't already planning to be in Epcot then Coral Reef is doable, but not convenient. If you're going in through the front entrance of Epcot anyway, then Coral Reef is fine, since you'll be going right past it, although the time is a little early if you want to fit in a break that day. Boma would be more convenient and make for a more relaxing day, I think. You could even do Garden Grill for dinner if you decide to cancel your Chef Mickey's later in the week. I'd try for an ADR a little later than the one you have though if you opt to eat in Epcot.

1/23 MK day. ADR at 7:55 California Grill for DH and me while kids go to Simba's Clubhouse! -- sounds good!

1/24 Probably Epcot in am, MK in afternoon. 6:30pm ADR for Chef Mickey's (Not confident I want to keep this one but one character meal would be fun for the kids.) I don't want to be out too late because we have to wake up very early the next am for sunrise safari. -- if you decide to cancel Chef Mickey's you might consider Crystal Palace instead... or Garden Grill for dinner on 1/22 before your fireworks cruise.

1/25 Sunrise Safari in am which concludes with breakfast buffet. Stay at AK then return to AKL for nap. Then 5:10pm ADR at Boma. (I am thinking that it would be fun for us to see Wishes as a family together on our last night, so maybe we should switch this ADR.) -- 'Ohana is a good choice for a family, IMO, and you can see Wishes from the Poly beach afterwards. If you want to see the fireworks from inside the park you can do that too, it's just a short monorail ride away. You might also consider Crystal Palace this night, or even Chef Mickey's if you cancel for the 24th.

I also don't know if I should try to work Jiko's in (which we would go to with our kids). Not enough days! -- Jiko is pretty darn good, but it is tough to fit everything in, isn't it? If you choose to put Chef Mickey's on the 25th, or Garden Grill on the 22nd, then you might fit Jiko in on the 24th.

 

[west&east]

Wow, Tracey. Thanks for your detailed feedback.
Why do I not even have Garden Grill on my radar? Never heard of it or didn't pay any attention if I did. I will definitely have to consider that option.

Having concierge service has definitely helped swing some reservations, but the best they could do was 4:20 for Coral Reef that night.

I was thinking of changing gears before the fireworks cruise and just "grazing" our way through epcot rather than sitting down for a meal. I am going to ask dh what he thinks, but I think he'll be ok with this if he gets to sample some beers from around the world.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Glad you liked my reviews, thanks so much for reading them!

Here is the link to the Sunrise Safari breakfast. Make sure you load up your plates right away because they do not replenish the foods!

http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=28246885&postcount=126