Advice with my ADR's

[imthegoose]

Hi all. I have to make my ADR's on March 29th for my Sept trip. I think I have this all planned out but I would love the advice of the more experienced. My question is based more on the times of the reservations not so much the restaurant choices but I'll take comments/suggestions on anything. Keep in mind the 26th, 28th and 30th are the tentative dates for the Halloween Party that I won't be attending. Oh and I have the Deluxe plan. The meals not listed for a specific day will just be a counter service. Here we go...

9/26 - Crystal Palace 8:00am
Chef Mickey's 7:00pm

9/27 - Hollywood and Vine 8:00am
Sci Fi Diner 12:00pm
50's Prime Time Cafe 6:30pm

9/28 - Donalds Breakfastasourus thing 9:00am
Mickey's Backyard BBQ 6:30pm

9/29 - CRT 12:00pm
Liberty Tree Tavern 6:30pm

9/30 1900 Park Fare 8:00am
Whispering Canyon 7:00pm


Thanks in advance for your advice/comments/criticisms/witty comments/ etc.

 

[Mom2JPL]

Hi...I'm assuming you're taking kids with all of the character meals you've booked (they all look like fun!). So, depending on the ages of your kids, you may want to make your dinner adr's a little earlier (this is only based on my kids, who would be starving by 6:30, at ages 4, 3 and 2 for our next trip, so I'm booking dinner adr's for 5ish, this way they can eat and then do more park time after dinner before they're tired out).

When we were at WDW in Oct, we did Crystal Palace (lunch), Hollywood & Vine (lunch) and Donald's Breakfastasaurus (which has now been changed to something else, but I'm assuming is still breakfast buffet) and my kids loved all of them.

This year we're planning some like you: CRT (breakfast, fingers crossed!), Whispering Canyon (dinner), Crystal Palace (dinner), Hollywood & Vine (lunch), Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner) and 1900 Park Fare (dinner).

Have a great trip!

 

[Wendybird55]

Hi,

The reservation times have alot to do with your normal eating habits and where you're staying and want to go/be before and after meals.

It looks like you plan to spend your days in one park and EPCOT is not a planned park - so I'm guessing you have young children. I'm going with my son in Sept (he will be almost 2 at the time). I made my ADR times based on his eating schedule. Breakfast around 8am and dinner 5:30pm, figuring he will be eating about a half hour or so after the reservation time. For lunch I'll see where we are and do CS.

Are you planning to leave the park during the day for a rest/nap? If so make sure to figure in travel time from hotel back to park for dinner. Also for your breakfast reservations if you have an 8m reservation, depending upon your hotel, you will be leaving around 7:15 am.

The time frame between meals seems fine - enough time to get hungry for next meal. This whole ADR thing is a bit of a pain. I remember in the good 'ol days - back in early to mid 90s - I was on the dining plan, but really didnt have to worry about ADRS unless we wanted to go to a dinner show like Hoop De Doo. I was able to walk up to most restaurants and get in within a half hour. This way we were able to eat based on how we felt each day.
Now with everyone making ADRS you need to decide 180 days out where and when you'll be eating on vacation. That of course leads to alot of 2nd guessing.

Sometimes it's best to go with your first instincts as you have and not over think it. Good Luck!

 

[Redbudlover]

Hi, a couple of thoughts!

I think if I were going to pay for the deluxe plan I would want to eat at least at one signature restaurant while there -either without the kids or with them.... I took my granddaughter at age 2 and her parents last year to both the Brown Derby and the Flying Fish - excellent food. You could eat one counter service dinner to provide the two TS it takes for a signature restaurant. Harbour House in the MK is excellent and quiet if you go upstairs. Or Yak and Yetis counter service also is good. It doesn't sound like you are going to Epcot, but if you were, the fish and chips CS at Great Britain is excellent, too.

My other thought is Park Fare is not a favorite of mine. Too noisy and better breakfast food can be found at lots of other places like Cape May at the Beach Club. Or Chef Mickeys at the Contemporary. I know you have dinner there planned, but I highly recommend the breakfasts!

 

[disneymath]

9/27 - Hollywood and Vine 8:00am
Sci Fi Diner 12:00pm
50's Prime Time Cafe 6:30pm

This seems like a lot of eating - and a lot of eating time - for one day!

The rest of your days look pretty good though. I too noticed that you have a lot of character meals ... are the kids in your group "ok" with characters? The reason I ask is ... if the kids aren't familiar with character interactions and decide after the first character meal or so that they don't like them ... you could be in for some miserable meals. On the other hand ... if the kids like characters ... you should be set.

Edit: Just noticed that your TS credits add up to 13 (MBYBBQ and CRT are each 2 TS credits) - if you're staying for 4 nights you are one credit over, if you are staying for 5 nights, you are 2 credits short.

 

[imthegoose]

Hi all. Thank you so much for your comments. I think I might make the dinner ADR's a little earlier. I didn't take into account that you don't sit and eat at that exact time.

I am going with my son (5). He's great with characters so I am not worried about that. We've visited Sesame Place a few times and had the interaction with the muppet characters.

As for the signature meals. While I would LOVE to try some of them, I think it will be more fun for both of us to hang out with the characters as much as possible. I've been to Disney before, just never on a dining plan. Once I step into the place, I turn into a 5 year old myself. I rather eat with Mickey. Maybe when he's older ,we'll go back and try the more upscale places.

Oh... we're also staying for 6 nights. So, I have plenty of credits. I didn't even put down the counter service meals.

It is kind of mind boggling trying to plan your meals 6 months in advance. I have trouble decided what I want to eat on a nightly basis.

 

[GrammyJudy]

I would suggest trying earlier for a couple of reasons: you do not get seated right on time, you might want to see the evening shows, it is less crowded. We try for 5:30-6. Are you sure you don't want to eat in Epcot? Germany has a buffet and a fun Oomp-pah-pah band, Mexico you sit right next to the boat ride....and Epcot has the best restaurants in WDW...and they all have kid friendly menus.