ADR's for 1 day at Epcot

[bcwife76]

So my ADR window is in one week. We are first timers to WDW and only doing 1 full day at Epcot in January.

ADR's I have chosen are Garden Grill for breakfast (thinking maybe 10 or 10:30 so as to be at rope drop and make breakfast more like brunch), nothing for lunch (just using snack carts) and then a 6:30 or 7pm at Chef de France.

Should I make back ups? I think my dh wanted to try one of the Mexican restaurants so that could be our back up dinner ADR. I don't know if we should also try for the Illusions dessert party or not; the day we are there is a Friday and I read they have them Wed/Fri/Sat.

 

[Nancyg56]

If you are happy with your ADR's I see no reason for a back up. If you want Chefs and your DH does not....then make one he wants, and when you come to an agreement drop the one you do not need.

With one day in Epcot, I would skip the dessert party. You can see Illuminations nicely without booking it, and you can make your own dessert party by purchasing a beverage and dessert to enjoy while waiting for the show to begin.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

I agree with the PP and not do the dessert party. You can see illuminations wonderfully and not too crowded from any of the countries. We love Garden Grill. As for dinner - as much as we enjoyed eating in France - the menu was not diverse enough for our family. We prefer Mexico much better - the San Angel Inn is so lovely inside. It is our favorite country. Enjoy!

 

[Hopefully]

So my ADR window is in one week. We are first timers to WDW and only doing 1 full day at Epcot in January.

ADR's I have chosen are Garden Grill for breakfast (thinking maybe 10 or 10:30 so as to be at rope drop and make breakfast more like brunch), nothing for lunch (just using snack carts) and then a 6:30 or 7pm at Chef de France.

Should I make back ups? I think my dh wanted to try one of the Mexican restaurants so that could be our back up dinner ADR. I don't know if we should also try for the Illusions dessert party or not; the day we are there is a Friday and I read they have them Wed/Fri/Sat.

Why would you think of making a "backup" ADR? That is known as hoarding and is considered selfish, rude, and unacceptable. While you hold a "just in case" ADR another family is very likely unable to book one of those ADR's. Make your decision and book where you will eat.
Illuminations is wonderful and can easily be seen from all around the lagoon. I would not spend the time or money on the dessert.
Enjoy!

 

[Nancyg56]

Why would you think of making a "backup" ADR? That is known as hoarding and is considered selfish, rude, and unacceptable. While you hold a "just in case" ADR another family is very likely unable to book one of those ADR's. Make your decision and book where you will eat.
Illuminations is wonderful and can easily be seen from all around the lagoon. I would not spend the time or money on the dessert.
Enjoy!

If the family is still working out their dining plan, I see no reason not to book her DH choice. As soon as the plan is decided, she can release the one they do not want. Booking back ups becuase they want to hedge their bets right up to the last minute is due, IMO, but holding a hard to get ADR during the planning process is somewhat necessary.

I often book a breakfast in each park. (1 meal in 1 park, not a meal in every park per day) because we know that we like one in park beakfast, but hours are never ready when we need to make our ADR's. I know I can't go back and get the ADR I want later, so for better or for worse, I need to hold them and then release the unwanted. I don't like it any more than you do becuase that spreadsheet gives me a headache until it is finalized.

 

[Hopefully]

If the family is still working out their dining plan, I see no reason not to book her DH choice. As soon as the plan is decided, she can release the one they do not want. Booking back ups becuase they want to hedge their bets right up to the last minute is due, IMO, but holding a hard to get ADR during the planning process is somewhat necessary.

I often book a breakfast in each park. (1 meal in 1 park, not a meal in every park per day) because we know that we like one in park beakfast, but hours are never ready when we need to make our ADR's. I know I can't go back and get the ADR I want later, so for better or for worse, I need to hold them and then release the unwanted. I don't like it any more than you do becuase that spreadsheet gives me a headache until it is finalized.

We can agree to disagree. I feel strongly that holding multiple ADR's in the same park for the same meal is hoarding and is unacceptable. Plans should be decided prior to booking ADR's. Park hours are usually released more than 180 days in advance. Like it or not, it is the system, for everyone. To be fair, everyone should play by the same rules. Not doing so is not fair, IMO.

 

[Nancyg56]

We can agree to disagree. I feel strongly that holding multiple ADR's in the same park for the same meal is hoarding and is unacceptable. Plans should be decided prior to booking ADR's. Park hours are usually released more than 180 days in advance. Like it or not, it is the system, for everyone. To be fair, everyone should play by the same rules. Not doing so is not fair, IMO.

I'm okay with this. I am still trying to plan my DHS evening meal, and the one I want does not exist past 6:30 PM. I booked it, but I have a late lunch planned that day as well. It is our arrival day and I knwo we will want to have a meal. I know we cannot eat at both meals, but I am not sure why Disney is not releasing late ADR's. I'll cancel one when I knwo the hours are stable.

DAK has not released their late schedule either. Try planning dinner with that one. Will they? Won't they? I have dinner booked JIC, but I don't want it if we cannot stay in the park fo evening entertainment. I have our backup planned because we won't want to eat that early if we cannot stay in the park. I wish we had the hours but we do not.

DO we book a multitude Just because? No. But if we can have a late night in DAK< I don't want my early Epcot breakfast. If not...I like PPO meals. If I don't secure Akershus now, I won't get it. Again, all Disney needs to do is release the hours to coincide with the 180 ADR system. I never used to have these planning dilemmas, we booked the meals we wanted period. Lately, it has not been that simple.

 

[GillianP1301]

Garden Grill for breakfast is a great choice. There are so many wonderful choices for restaurants in the WS that it's hard to go wrong. We have not done Chefs yet, but we have it booked for our upcoming trip and super excited about it. I would figure out, with your husband, the type of cuisine you want and go from there. I would also definitely go for the dessert party. We love the dessert parties (at all the parks) and take advantage of them a couple times each trip. Although not as necessary at Epcot as far as securing a good viewing area as some of the other parks, it's still really nice to just not have to worry or think about it and I think it makes the whole experience that much more special to be able to enjoy treats and drinks that are there and ready for you (as opposed to going somewhere to buy a snack and then finding a spot to view). It's a bit of an added indulgence to you trip and if you can swing the $ for it, then I always recommend going for it. Have fun!

 

[bcwife76]

Thanks for all the tips!

@Hopefully I wasn't planning on making multiple ADR's for the same meal and then deciding later - I meant should I have a back up restaurant in case I can't get the reservation I wanted for the time I wanted at Chef de France. If I can't get a ressie around 6 or 6:30 then I will move on the San Angel (both of these restaurants are my husbands' choices, I had no preference for dinner). It wouldn't occur to me to make more than one ressie for dinner and then dump one later, though I know that people do this.

 

[Hopefully]

Thanks for all the tips!

@Hopefully I wasn't planning on making multiple ADR's for the same meal and then deciding later - I meant should I have a back up restaurant in case I can't get the reservation I wanted for the time I wanted at Chef de France. If I can't get a ressie around 6 or 6:30 then I will move on the San Angel (both of these restaurants are my husbands' choices, I had no preference for dinner). It wouldn't occur to me to make more than one ressie for dinner and then dump one later, though I know that people do this.

Sorry!!! I misunderstood your use of " backup".

 

[bcwife76]

@Hopefully no worries, it's all good! Thanks for your help!

 

[bcwife76]

Garden Grill for breakfast is a great choice. There are so many wonderful choices for restaurants in the WS that it's hard to go wrong. We have not done Chefs yet, but we have it booked for our upcoming trip and super excited about it. I would figure out, with your husband, the type of cuisine you want and go from there. I would also definitely go for the dessert party. We love the dessert parties (at all the parks) and take advantage of them a couple times each trip. Although not as necessary at Epcot as far as securing a good viewing area as some of the other parks, it's still really nice to just not have to worry or think about it and I think it makes the whole experience that much more special to be able to enjoy treats and drinks that are there and ready for you (as opposed to going somewhere to buy a snack and then finding a spot to view). It's a bit of an added indulgence to you trip and if you can swing the $ for it, then I always recommend going for it. Have fun!

Compared to the World of Color dessert party at California Adventure which is $79 a person (and NO child pricing) Illuminations Dessert party feels like a bargain to me lol So I'm still considering booking it. Is it true it can't be booked 180 days out, though? It must be booked closer to your dates?