could use some advice on my ADRs

[njitgrad]

My family and I have only been to WDW twice in recent history (2009 and 2011) so my experience with ADRs is limited.

Yesterday I booked our Spring Break trip and we are 86 days out.

Below is our tentative ADR plan. Getting ADRs for 6 people is tough at 86 days out.

Do any of the ADRs listed below take two dining credits? I forget how that works.

My plan was to have one sit down dinner reservation each day however the only way to get a CRT ADR was to do a breakfast. So on that day I will have to pay for one of my sit down meals but I'm not sure which....suggestions?

Day 1: EP
Coral Reef 530pm (plane arrives at 235pm so this should be enough time to check-in at CBR and make it to entrance of Epcot, right?)

Day 2: MK
CRT at 1015am and CP at 715pm

Day 3: DHS
Hollywood & Vine at 525pm (with Fantasmic)

Day 4: EP
La Hacienda De San Angel at 630pm

Day 5: AK
Rainforest Cafe at 700pm

Day 6: MK
Tony's Town Square at 555pm

Day 7: MK
The Plaza Restaurant at 620pm (we really wanted Ohana!)

Day 8: ??
Looking for a breakfast or lunch suggestion here since our flight does not depart until 6pm. Our dining plan does cover travel dates, right?

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

1. I would move the Coral Reef to 7pm or 7: 30 if possible. I think 3 hrs is cutting it close to get from the airport to the park but I may be too conservative. See what others say. (I ***thinkif you miss hte ADR, they still take your dining plan credit)

2. Everything you listed is only 1 credit EXCEPT Cinderellas Royal Table is 2 CREDITS....just a comments....we have found we tend to have a few quick service credit left each time we do the dining plan and we tend to be big eaters so this has always surprised me. Since the dining plan is expensive, in stead of paying out of pocket for a meal to compensate for Cinderellas Royal table that takes two credits, just have 2 quick service meals one day. You cn get creative and find a good quick serice place...such as Be Our Guest at lunch, Columbia Harbor House, Wolf Gang Puck at DTD (2 locations and the one beside Earl of Sandwich is best), Earl of Sandwich, Flame Tree BBQ at AK. THere are also several good quick service places in Epcot at World showcase. We like the Japanese one a lot).

3. Yes, you plan cover the arrival and departure date. As for places to eat on deaprture day....For a table service credit, 1900 Park Fare at the GF does a character breakfast, Ohana is a great breakfast place. For quick service, we like the breakfast at Wolf Gang Puck (by Earl of sandwich ) in DTD.

 

[njitgrad]

Since the dining plan is expensive, in stead of paying out of pocket for a meal to compensate for Cinderellas Royal table that takes two credits, just have 2 quick service meals one day

Tell me if this sounds like a good alternative....

Since our arrival time at WDW cannot be guaranteed due to any number of unforeseen circumstances, we will only use a quick serve meal that day when we arrive at EP (and cancel the Coral Reef dinner). That saves us one sit-down credit. On our last day (travel day) we will only have a quick serve breakfast and possibly a quick serve lunch which will save another sit-down credit. These two sit-down credits will be used for the CRT breakfast and then we won't have to worry about paying out of pocket for the CP later that night.

 

[purple figment]

Below is our tentative ADR plan. Getting ADRs for 6 people is tough at 86 days out.

Persistence. Keep checking online multiple times a day for cancellations. Looks like you'll be going around Easter so potentially during a very busy times (esp the week before, but the week after will also be crowded). With the no show penalty people will cancel when their plans change. You can also subscribe to the cancellation thread for your month. Rules and links to each month are in the first post:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1802381

Do any of the ADRs listed below take two dining credits? I forget how that works.

CRT requires 2 credits per person.

Day 1: EP
Coral Reef 530pm (plane arrives at 235pm so this should be enough time to check-in at CBR and make it to entrance of Epcot, right?)

Our rule of thumb is to allow 3 hours from landing to walking into the park, but we would not make a dining reservation for another additional hour. If your flight is delayed and you miss your dining reservation you will be charged a no show fee for 6 so you would be charged $60 if this happens.

Day 3: DHS
Hollywood & Vine at 525pm (with Fantasmic)

You will need to book the Fantasmic Dining Package to get the F! voucher Just a regular dining res at H&V will not work.

Day 5: AK
Rainforest Cafe at 700pm

RFC only releases a small percentage of their reservations to Disney so call the restaurant directly to make your dinner res. Another option is to join the Landry Club for priority seating. It will cost $25, but you'll get a $25 reward certificate that is automatically loaded onto your account to use the first time you go to a Landry restaurant. Here's the RFC website:
http://www.rainforestcafe.com/

Day 8: ??
Looking for a breakfast or lunch suggestion here since our flight does not depart until 6pm. Our dining plan does cover travel dates, right?

Assuming you are using ME back to MCO, it will pick you up approximately 3 hours before your flight departure time. The exact pick up time will be on paperwork you receive the morning before your check out day. You will need to be back at your resort in time to pick up any carry ons at bell services and to be at the DME bus stop 15 minutes before the pick up time.

Whether you'll have any credits left depends on how you use them during your vacation. The dining plan is based on the number of NIGHTS you are staying. Credits are valid from the moment you check in to your resort to midnight after checking out.

Tell me if this sounds like a good alternative....

Since our arrival time at WDW cannot be guaranteed due to any number of unforeseen circumstances, we will only use a quick serve meal that day when we arrive at EP (and cancel the Coral Reef dinner). That saves us one sit-down credit. On our last day (travel day) we will only have a quick serve breakfast and possibly a quick serve lunch which will save another sit-down credit. These two sit-down credits will be used for the CRT breakfast and then we won't have to worry about paying out of pocket for the CP later that night.

A much better idea. You can have a QS without worrying about the no show penalty so less stress on arrival day. Alternatively, you could check online, on the app or with the resort concierge after you arrive to see what TS restaurants are available which is what we've done since the implementation of the no show fee.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Good Point made above..."DP is based on the number of nights you stay"...but if you have credits left over on the departure day they are valid to be used that day.


I realize you cant do this on a plane, but since we drive, we have often gone to the Earl of Sandwich at DTD on the way home and gotten sandwiches with our left over quick service credit s for the ride home

 

[njitgrad]

Persistence. Keep checking online multiple times a day for cancellations. Looks like you'll be going around Easter so potentially during a very busy times (esp the week before, but the week after will also be crowded). With the no show penalty people will cancel when their plans change. You can also subscribe to the cancellation thread for your month. Rules and links to each month are in the first post:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1802381


CRT requires 2 credits per person.



Our rule of thumb is to allow 3 hours from landing to walking into the park, but we would not make a dining reservation for another additional hour. If your flight is delayed and you miss your dining reservation you will be charged a no show fee for 6 so you would be charged $60 if this happens.



You will need to book the Fantasmic Dining Package to get the F! voucher Just a regular dining res at H&V will not work.



RFC only releases a small percentage of their reservations to Disney so call the restaurant directly to make your dinner res. Another option is to join the Landry Club for priority seating. It will cost $25, but you'll get a $25 reward certificate that is automatically loaded onto your account to use the first time you go to a Landry restaurant. Here's the RFC website:
http://www.rainforestcafe.com/



Assuming you are using ME back to MCO, it will pick you up approximately 3 hours before your flight departure time. The exact pick up time will be on paperwork you receive the morning before your check out day. You will need to be back at your resort in time to pick up any carry ons at bell services and to be at the DME bus stop 15 minutes before the pick up time.

Whether you'll have any credits left depends on how you use them during your vacation. The dining plan is based on the number of NIGHTS you are staying. Credits are valid from the moment you check in to your resort to midnight after checking out.



A much better idea. You can have a QS without worrying about the no show penalty so less stress on arrival day. Alternatively, you could check online, on the app or with the resort concierge after you arrive to see what TS restaurants are available which is what we've done since the implementation of the no show fee.

Thanks for the advice. We booked H&V with the Fantasmic package but did not include that info in the OP. Also just found out that we don't get a table service credit for our last day (departure day) so it looks like we'll have to pay out of pocket for one of the table service meals to account for the CRT (either that or settle for a quick serve).

 

[purple figment]

Also just found out that we don't get a table service credit for our last day (departure day) so it looks like we'll have to pay out of pocket for one of the table service meals to account for the CRT (either that or settle for a quick serve).

Looking at your list of TS restaurants where you order from a menu, The Plaza is probably the least expensive. Alternatively if there are any TS restaurants where someone isn't too hungry and only wants an app you can pay for that OOP, thus saving a credit. Or if 2 people want to share a meal, most restaurants will allow sharing (using 1 credit to feed 2 people), but ask before ordering because there have been occasional posts that it wasn't allowed at some TS restaurants.

 

[Jeankableem]

On our next trip we will be paying out of pocket for one table service meal. I called and spoke with a CM who was able to give me all the pricing for each meal/restaurant we plan to eat at. (The pricing changes depending on season and is hard to find an accurate number online). It only took a few minutes and now we will pay out of pocket for the cheapest meal and use the dining plan for the rest!

Hope this helps!