Can you critique my planned reservations?

[Sunday]

Any help much appreciated!!

This will be a different style of Disney vacation then we are used to. Normally, I'm a park commando A-type who plans everything to the nano-second. This time around, we have a year old baby and a five year old Princess, as well as a more laid back husband to accommodate...needless to say I've been asked to put in a lot more breaks and down time.

Can you take a look at my planned reservations and let me know if they make sense given our planned park of the day, and if the kids would enjoy it?

We are staying at Riverside, and are on the Dining Plan, but if I go forward with this plan we'll have to pay a couple of meals OOP:

Sunday, arrive, check in, go right to MK for something to eat and a few rides. Early night.

Dinner: Whispering Canyon TS
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Monday, head out to Epcot for rope drop. Enjoy Future World, lunch in World Showcase, back to hotel for late afternoon / evening swim.

Lunch: Le Cellier
Dinner: Boatwrights or boat to DTD and Raglan Road?
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Tuesday, lazy morning or breakfast reservation. Head to Hollywood Studios for mid-late morning rides. Enjoy dinner there or at hotel.

Dinner: Walk to Boardwalk for Dinner (Cape May?)
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Wednesday, break and shopping day. Enjoy lie in, breakfast in or out, swimming etc. Catch lunch and / or dinner at Downtown Disney.

Breakfast: O'Hanas TS

Dinner: DTD Restaurant (?) or O'Hanas for Dinner instead?
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Thursday, head out to MK late morning or even early afternoon. Stay until Parade and Wishes (9pm).

Dinner: Liberty Tree Tavern TS
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Friday, lie in, swim, and late afternoon at Hollywood Studios as crowds are very low.

Dinner: 50's Prime Time TS
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Saturday, AK for rope drop. Stay all day. AK Lodge for early dinner at Boma or Saana.

Dinner: Boma TS
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Sunday, back to Epcot late morning. Toodle around World Showcase, lunch, then dinner in the Boardwalk area. Possible Illuminations at 9pm?

Lunch: Le Cellier TS if we didn't do it already
Dinner: Coral Reef? Mexican Food? Teppan Edo??
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Monday, break and shopping day. Lie in, swim, dinner wherever. Shopping to be finished up in Downtown Disney. Out for dinner where?

Dinner: Hoop de Doo Revue?

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Tuesday (last fullday), MK for as long as we wish. Dinner in park or Chef Mickey or Wilderness Lodge or Poly, or Grand Floridian.

Dinner: 1900 Park Fare TS / Chef Mickey? O'Hana?? Wilderness Lodge??

TIA!!

 

[myboysx3]

Your plans look good. You have a lot of variety to your reservations. Its also good that you have the breaks and a plan B in mind-- DW with small children = flexibility. Things don't always go according to plan I have three boys and when they were younger, they enjoyed the character meals. I will never forget our first trip to Chef Mickeys--the looks on their faces when they met all the characters. Ohana's for breakfast is nice --there are characters and its family style--no buffet line with the kids. We love Le Cellier and 50s Prime time cafe, too. We have stayed at POR 3 times and it is a really nice resort. Hope you have a great time. Keep working on your plans and reservations--that's half the fun!

 

[3pletprincesses]

We stay at POR all the time and love the place. you will like it. It doesn't feel crowded at all considering bacuase of the resort size. My girls call POR hom.e We tried AS Movies for our second trip last year ( girls and I only no dh) and they kept asking about going home (POR).

Your plan looks good to me. The only thing that I would change for my family is the day where you are taing a late afternoon break. Having been to Disney several times now with my 5 yo triplets, I can tell that the sun gets VERY hot and it gets very humid at around noon. we tried to stay until about 2pm one day and the girls felt it was too hot. We usually plan to leave the parks at around 12-1 pm and get back past 5. We find that being there around rope drop every day and leaving for a full afternoon break and returning after 5 is enough rest for all of us that we don't need to sleep in the other day and believe me when I say my girls are big sleepers. They would always crach in the afternoon after our swim giving mommy and daddy some rest time too.

your HS day, I would be there at rope drop or around that time and head back for the afternoon. your 5yo will love toy story mania and by mid morning, there's no longer fast pass available and the waiting was always over 90 last year and we were there in early May and late August.

Ohana breakfast is our must do every trip. It's my girls all time favorite over eating with the Princesses. Stitch is a riot!

My girls enjoy Coral Reef( ask to be near the tank when you get there for the ADR ) over Teppan Edo. They thoguht it was taking too long to have their entire meal there.

I would pick 1900 PF for dinner out of those choices. I think it will be priceless for your DD to meet Cinderella, and the the Prince. It was priceless to see the look of my girls when they met the prince and cinderella. The restaurant is very loud tho but the buffet was very good IMO compare to most at Disney. Lots of choice for everyone and the characters spend a lot of time with the guests compare to most places. The Prince even danced with our DD that was dressed as Cinderella and my girls managed to get lady Tremaine to laugh although she was trying very hard to not laugh.

 

[Manders77]

I think your plans look good. I understand having young ones and a laidback DH. Just remember to accept changes and roll with it. It happens with kids.

Currently we live in Orlando and are AP holders. But due to my job, we are moving end of March to VA. Our passes expire in August so we are making a vacation to come back to FL and stay on property at Disney. DH does not want to spend all day at the parks and since we understand FL heat - we have alot of afternoon downtime for the pool and/or naps. I have 2 kids DD4 and DS1.5. This is our plan:

Sunday: arrive at Disney around 8pm (we are driving). Hang out at the hotel and get settled in.

Monday: AM EMH at AK, leave before parade (we've seen it). Hotel time. Dinner at 50's Prime Time (1st time) at HS, then stay for PM EMH at HS till kids are ready to go.

Tuesday: Relax most of the day or due a couple hours at MK, then head to Epcot. Dinner at Akershus (1st time) with the Princesses. Then stay for EMH at Epcot.

Wednesday: Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare (1st time), then go to MK. Head back in the late afternoon for naps. Late Dinner at Cape May(repeat), then maybe walk around Boardwalk???

Thursday: Possibly go to HS or MK, most likely HS to go to Toy Story and DD loves watching the Disney Channel Rocks show. Afternoon at the hotel. Dinner at Chef Mickey's(repeat). Maybe go to MK afterwards for fireworks.

Friday: I'm debating doing breakfast at Ohana or Kona??? which will be 1st time for both. This will be a relaxing day for us, maybe do some park time in the AM. Early dinner at T-Rex (1st time) at DTD. Do some shopping and call it a night.

Saturday: Not sure if we'll do a sit down breakfast or Quick service. Driving back home.

We don't need to be there at rope drop or see parade's or fireworks. The only night time event that I hope to see is Epcot Illuminations. DH never saw it.

Now it's just not us going. My parents are joining us as well as my brother and his two kids. Nephew10 and Niece7.

They live in OH/KY so they will be spending more time at parks etc... Since we've been going to Disney for the past 6 years since we lived here, there is no need to run wild. Now DH is a night person and I am a morning person. So we have debated on the breakfast thing alot. But 1900 Park Fare is set since I really want to do it.

ALso, take into consideration your child's eating habits. I am lucky to find that out now and I actually made my ADR's based somewhat on what we eat. I took my DD to Tusker House in AK last weekend for lunch. My daughter didn't like anything on the buffet. Luckily a chef saw me keep trying all different things and having no luck. He made her some special order chicken fingers and fries. I was soo Thankful. Just remember to have fun.

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

You didn't say what month you're going, but with the new cancelation policy of $10/person at some of the TS, I would suggest doing a counter service meal on your arrival day....just in case there's a delay or you're tired or the baby doesn't have a good flight, etc. etc. etc.

If so, then I'd book the Whispering Canyon TS for a day other than arrival day. It is a fun place to go & especially for your 5yr old.

Do make ADR's for Cape May, Ohana's, Chef Mickey's, etc. as you may not be able to book them if you want until you're there.

HoopDeDoo is getting refurbished starting Aug 5, 2012 - not sure if that's within your vacation dates.

Have a wonderful time! Those afternoon swim breaks & alternating sleep in or relaxed mornings are a good idea