ADR's with toddlers - What time?

[brobrosmom]

Going in January with two toddlers ages 2 and 4. The parks close somewhat early in January so I'm wondering what time I should make my dinner reservations?

Should I make them early and then enjoy the parks after or make them later, closer to closing time?

If you have experience with this, please let me know what worked best for you.

Thanks!

 

[Colleen27]

I'd make them for a little earlier than the kids are used to eating, so that by the time you're seated, order, and get your food, they're eating about on their usual schedule.

When we had a toddler, we liked having a late lunch/early dinner as a break from the heat, but that's not something you should have to worry about in January.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Earlier. My kids definitely do better when we eat earlier we eat. I think that one of the mistakes I made on the last trip. We ate lunch too late and the kids were crabby.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

It is going to depend on your children's normal schedules and eating habits. I do not recommend dratically altering thier schedules even on vacation. At that age it can be a disaster. So are they used to eating at noon, how about a large meal at noon or night? etc. Take these things into account before making your ADR's.

Also you are going to get the most attracfions completed early AM, espically the toddler ones (i.e. Fantasyland at MK), so if you kiddos are normal early risers take advantage and make rope drop. If you can eat a lite breakfast or snack on the go (we do dry cereal in baggies in the car often).

 

[cassandrap83]

mine will be the same ages when we go in Sept.

We've made all of our dinner reservations at our usual eating time: 5pm
And, all of our breakfast reservations at our usual eating time: 8am

lunch will most likely be CS, and happen whenever they get cranky!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Our kids were 3 and 5 at time of travel. We scheduled ADRs around the same time (within an hour) we would normally be having a meal at home. But like PP said make your ADR 15-30 minutes earlier so you have time to be seated if you are used to eating at a very specific time.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

When we travel with our son, we try to schedule are meals the same we would at home or a little earlier. He was 2 at his first Disney trip and this December will be his fifth. This works for us and I got this tip from the disboard...to schedule your meals around the same time at home and your child and the family will have a good time. Hope this helps.

 

[AJA]

It all depends on you kiddo's and how you plan to tour. I would not rely on the normal dinner schedule routine. My DD was just turning four the first time we went to WDW and she 'snacked' all day so she could be hungry for dinner at 4pm or 8pm kwim. Do not let your toddlers get hungry at WDW keep small snacks (we used favorite cereals like Cheerios, Froot Loops, or animal crackers) to keep her comfortable. Disney is overwhelming and sometimes stopping in the shade with an apple juice and a baggie of Cheerios made all the difference in the world.

We did better with later ADR's 6-7pm and taking afternoon naps. No way could my DD go from rope drop to 5pm in a park so we would leave the park around 2-3 pm and return in the evening.

 

[bangzoom6877]

We had a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old with us last July and we ate at their regular meal times. We wanted to make sure they were on their usual schedule that they were used to, so that we would avoid major meltdowns as much as possible and everyone would have a good time! We mostly had breakfast in the room when we got up, or when we did a character breakfast it was early (get up, go to the restaurant and eat). We did lunch before noon because that is when they are used to eating, we did CS for lunches. We scheduled dinners between 5 and 6 (6:15 for one ADR but we got there early and got seated early), and this worked out. We usually eat at home anywhere between 5 and 6:30, depending on the day, or if we go out to eat. So this worked for them.

We did not worry about doing everything in each park. It would not have been feasible with 2 little ones. We did whatever the kids could handle, and we did get to do everything on our "must-do" list, which was mainly attractions geared towards the 2 of them. But we took a break every afternoon by 2:30 PM or so, and then went back for dinner. Happy to report that neither one of them had a meltdown on our trip last summer! Have fun!

 

[ParrotBill]

Early, early, early!

After long, hot days toddlers melt down in restaurants even at their regular meal times but always if they are eating late.

If you do get stuck eating late, stop at any counter service or snack place and give them food before you go to dinner. A few extra $ will save you a lot of frustration from melt downs.

Also, if it's hot and you are not rested and cool, take a washcloth with you. Go to a rest room, and wipe down the kids with a cool washcloth. That will also make them feel much better before dinner.