Critique My Reservations?

[choirbird]

My partner Eric and I (age 30 and 31) went to Disney for the first time last August, but I've quickly become addicted to the planning aspects. This April will be our second visit, and I've just made the first draft of our dining reservations. Trying for a mix of crowd-avoidance/strategy and new experiences. We didn't get to see Illuminations or Pandora at night, so trying for those.

Here's what I currently have booked:

Monday 4/22: Arrival Day - we'll either do QS at the resort or MK, or see what's available at Disney Springs.

7:45pm HEA Fireworks Party

Tuesday 4/23:
8:10am Be Our Guest PPO, for crowd-avoidance (we liked the theming last time but it's $$)
7:30pm 'Ohana dinner**

Wednesday 4/24:
8:55am Garden Grill PPO, for crowd-avoidance and proximity to Soarin' (will keep trying for an earlier time, but I've heard they will seat you earlier than your official time?)
2:45pm Sanaa lunch (we haven't been here, and really want to do lunch here, although I'm concerned it may eat into our Epcot time)
5:30pm Tiffins - ROL viewing (probably will cancel this, as I've heard it isn't necessary to do the dining package)

We want to go to AK at night - does it make the most logistical sense to pair this with Sanaa, or are they not that close together?

Thursday 4/25:
8:30-1:30 Keys to the Kingdom Tour
7:30pm 'Ohana dinner**

Friday 4/26:
8:10am Tusker House PPO
7:30pm The Edison (or should we do Morimoto?)

Saturday 4/27:

HS AM - do QS, maybe go to Epcot midday
7:30pm Il Mulino

Sunday 4/28:
11:30am California Grill Brunch

** We only intend to keep one of these, and substitute the other with Frozen dessert party + an Epcot TS, or La Hacienda during the fireworks. I don't know whether Frozen will be offered during the week after Easter.

Thoughts? Do the logistics make sense? We've not yet been to Cali Grill, La Hacienda, The Edison, Morimoto, Il Mulino, or Sanaa. Last trip we went to Garden Grill, Tusker House, 'Ohana, and Be Our Guest and liked them. Thanks in advance!

 

[CraigInPA]

Wednesday is entirely too much running around. I'd change Garden Grill to Saturday lunch, and on Wednesday I'd move Sanaa up to noon and skip breakfast.

 

[choirbird]

Wednesday is entirely too much running around. I'd change Garden Grill to Saturday lunch, and on Wednesday I'd move Sanaa up to noon and skip breakfast.

Thanks for your thoughts! We're specifically doing Garden Grill in the morning for the logistical benefits (and we enjoyed it last time), and we're breakfast people for sure. I'm probably going to skip Tiffins so we can do Epcot from 9-1:30 and AK from 4:30-8:30.

 

[starousse]

You made some nices choices, however I agree w the previous poster. Definitely cancel Garden Grill breakfast and move up lunch at Sanaa to noon. I would also get rid of the Edison and do Morimoto, Homecoming or Boathouse instead. Absolute worst meal of our trip.

 

[MomOTwins]

Wednesday 4/24:
8:55am Garden Grill PPO, for crowd-avoidance and proximity to Soarin' (will keep trying for an earlier time, but I've heard they will seat you earlier than your official time?)
2:45pm Sanaa lunch (we haven't been here, and really want to do lunch here, although I'm concerned it may eat into our Epcot time)
5:30pm Tiffins - ROL viewing (probably will cancel this, as I've heard it isn't necessary to do the dining package)

I would drop Sanaa if I were you. Tiffins is amazing, and I would much rather keep that than Sanaa, but you don't need the ROL package, so I would just do the regular Tiffins dinner. And no, I'm not a fan of going from Epcot to AKL resort to AK -- too much hopping around for one day. You'd save much more time by going from Epcot to AK directly and eating dinner in AK. And, that gives you more flexibility on when you leave Epcot since you are not racing to a late lunch reservation.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I personally will never book a non refundable anything on arrival day. If you are flying you are at the mercy of the airline. My morning arrival has turned into evening arrival more than once due to many factors. My fb and his family was once diverted after circling for an hour. They landed in Orlando 5 hours after planned due to thunderstorms. Just something to consider. Arrival day may be a good time to go to DS w an adr through Open Table. Ymmv

Any mk ppo May very well turn into after po. A lot of mk hours change to open at 8 during April. They may make this change very late in the planning stage too. Great for everyone but ppo strategy folks

When using disney transportation you need to allow at least 60-90 minutes. Resort to resort 90 minutes minimum since you need to transfer somewhere. Uber/lyft will reduce that time, but still need to allow more time than you think, especially during high crowd times like April. Your 3 meal plan on Wednesday will take much travel time and little time between meals

I would try to avoid Epcot on the weekend. With f&g, which I adore, weekends will be more crowded w locals than mid week

You don’t mention a dining plan. While I have not been a fan for the value, with the latest significant Dining hike, the plans deserve a math check. If you plan on having a drink w your meals, a ts daily, look into a plan. The value of BoG is pretty sweet w a qs credit.

I always suggest creating a grid. I love spreadsheets, they are your friend.
Day of the week along the top, meals on the side. Factor in travel time for each meal, how long to allow for dining too. Can help you plan out your day and can use for fast pass when that planning time comes. Allow 60-90 minutes for each ts meal plus travel time.

Enjoy planning and ask anything you need

 

[DisBuckMan]

Tuesday 4/23:
8:10am Be Our Guest PPO, for crowd-avoidance (we liked the theming last time but it's $$)

Tuesdays are Early Morning Magic days at MK, therefore you will not get any "crowd avoidance" benefits from that PPO reservation.

 

[choirbird]

Tuesdays are Early Morning Magic days at MK, therefore you will not get any "crowd avoidance" benefits from that PPO reservation.

There was EMM on a Monday while we were there in August, and we didn’t notice any issues! I meant more the benefit of being allowed to go through the events line than getting on Mine Train before 9.

 

[rosiebean]

Wednesday is too much food IMO. Keep GG and find a light snack layer when you’re hungry. Go to Tiffins for dinner (and save by trying to get a ROL fast pass rather than the ROL meal package).

 

[Tksolomom]

I would do Morimoto instead of the Edison. You might not need the ROL package, but based on what we are eating, it ended up being cheaper. I would skip Sanaa too.

I would drop Sanaa if I were you. Tiffins is amazing, and I would much rather keep that than Sanaa, but you don't need the ROL package, so I would just do the regular Tiffins dinner. And no, I'm not a fan of going from Epcot to AKL resort to AK -- too much hopping around for one day. You'd save much more time by going from Epcot to AK directly and eating dinner in AK. And, that gives you more flexibility on when you leave Epcot since you are not racing to a late lunch reservation.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks for your thoughts! We're specifically doing Garden Grill in the morning for the logistical benefits (and we enjoyed it last time), and we're breakfast people for sure. I'm probably going to skip Tiffins so we can do Epcot from 9-1:30 and AK from 4:30-8:30.

You may not gain early entry with an 8:55 ADR. If this is the only reason for the meal you may be disappointed.

There was EMM on a Monday while we were there in August, and we didn’t notice any issues! I meant more the benefit of being allowed to go through the events line than getting on Mine Train before 9.

Everyone is allowed in the MK before RD, so while you have early entry, if it is the only reason for the meal, I am not sure how beneficial it really is.

I also would never book anything that is non refundable on an arrival day. I book ADR's but make then at least 5 hours after arrival, and in the event we are delayed more than that, I will address it. A non refundable event will likely not be reimbursable.

 

[Mich123]

I would pick Morimoto over other DS choices, it's really good.

Sanaa is a great option for dinner on 4/24, I think the food there is excellent, it is easy to get there from the park (so long as an AKL bus is available). We were not wowed by Tiffins, but we did love Nomad's Lounge and can't wait to go back. That might be a fun lunch option for you if you're park hopping and want to do Sanaa for dinner. Another option would be Tiffins or Sanaa dinner--depending on how you switch it up--on the night you don't go to 'Ohana.

California Grill Brunch is amazing, so well done. There are so many choices and my stomach was not big enough, I'd recommend studying the menu in advance. They will also let you back in for fireworks at night with your receipt.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Destinyz12]

Why not swap your Tusker house reservation with your Garden Grill reservation? Then you'd be spending that full day in AK (with a break at Sanaa which is right nearby for lunch) and then have the option to spend a longer length of time at Epcot on the other day before you go to Disney Springs (which is closer to Epcot), and will eliminate a lot of traveling back and forth. The rest of it looks good.

 

[Michelle James]

I'd probably drop Sanaa, too. And keep checking re: an earlier time for the PPO Garden Grill. I did this recently and was able to bump up my reservation to 8:20. We we're allowed in early, seated by about 8:05. Easily nabbed Soarin with less than 3-4 minute wait. Take the back stairs!

 

[kappyfamily]

I agree with not booking a lunch on arrival day. We do book a dinner though, our flight lands at 6am so feel safe doing that. But we’ve learned to not book lunches in case of delays.