Dad is doing the planning ....help

[PinballTrojan]

I've got reservations to stay at Coronado Springs for a week in early Oct. 07, I've got the Park Hoppers, and the Dining Plan.. After lurking in the forum for several days I've scheduled most of my ADR's, but want to make sure I don't miss anything or regret any of the ones I've made. Please review what I have planned for my family and make any recommendations. This is our first Disney Vacation and I'm extremely excited about it and want to make it wonderful for my wife and kids... daughhter 8 and son 4.

arrive 12pm Sat. Coral Reef - dinner (ask for tank table)
Sunday- Rose & Crown 8.00pm (ask for table to see Illumination show)
Monday - Chef Mickey's- bfast 8.30
Tuesday- Ohana- dinner 5.40
Wed. Le'Cellier- dinner 7.00
Thursday - open
Friday - CRT bfast 8.20

Thanks in advance for any recommendations or warnings..
Again this is our first trip.

 

[tinkfan]

First of all have a wonderful time with your family on your first Disney vacation.

Not sure what kind of schedule your 4 yr old is on, but noticed your Rose and Crown adr isn't until 8pm. I realize you are trying to get a view of illuminations, but there are many great views from all around the World Showcase. Will he be able to wait that long to eat dinner? Also will he be able to get up the next morning after a late night at Epcot to make a trip to Contemporary for breakfast? You didn't mention wether you had a rental car or was planning on using resort transportation. This would be my only concern as it seems that sometimes little ones are overwhelmed with the schedules we "think" they might handle under normal circumstances. WDW is not normal for them. You will see MANY exhausted toddlers having meltdowns because of very well meaning parents trying to do it all.

Your other choices look good to me. You will be there during the Epcot Food and Wine festival, so expect crowds there.

Happy Planning!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I must say...excellent ADRs! Have a wonderful trip. If you plan on making ADRs for before WISHES (maybe on Thurs or one of the days that you have breakfast) may I suggest Crystal Palace...we found the food there to be very good. Also, just as a thought...since you have the dining plan and probably had to leave a deposit for CRT anyway...pay for that meal OOP and save your points for something else. CRT breakfast is now worth two meals points IMO. We now pay for it OOP ourselves.

 

[holcomb-mania]

My kids really dig Sci-Fi Dine In at MGM.

 

[PinballTrojan]

thanks, I've been working hard and stressing over making it a great experience. As most people do, we're planning on hitting the parks early and relaxing in the afternoon and back at it in the evenings, so I know they'll be tired but it should be worth it. With our busy schedules sometimes dinner is late anyway so we should be alright.

We are using disney transportation because I really don't want to have to worry about driving and just spending as much time as possible with the family...
thanks for the Sci Fi recommendation, I'll phone in for that one for thursday, great idea.

 

[Hopefully]

Your ADR's look great. One thought only.
The 8 PM ADR at Rose & Crown may be late if you are hoping for a patio table with a view of Illuminations. We have always made 7:20 - 7:40 ADR's. We always check in a little before our ADR, request a patio table and state that we will wait, if possible. We have succeeded about 30% of the time. I am sure you realize that it is a request only, and most everyone makes that request. I think by 8 most people are going to be staying put at their table. Would there be anything earlier?
If you do not secure a seat on the patio, there still is an area they will direct you to to stand and watch Illuminations. You can then return to your table and finish up your meal.
Have a Great 1st Trip.

 

[MeLaNie9]

DH planned our trip in May 2006 and he did a great job - it was so wonderful to not have to worry/stress about anything. Sounds like you are doing an equally great job that your DW is sure to appreciate! One thing that we really liked doing was having lunch all over World Showcase - getting a little of this, a little of that in multiple countries there. Also, we really like Gardern Grill for a character meal, but I think the menu may have changed some since we ate there and it has gotten mixed reviews here lately.
One warning...we really had a horrible time at the Chef Mickey's breakfast. It was just so overwhelmingly crowded with kids running all over the place. The service was really bad and lines to get food were really long. We ended up leaving before all the characters made it to our table. However, I do see that your ADRs are for earlier than ours were - it may be that the earlier you go the better (not as crowded). We did the character breakfast at Cape May in Feb and had the earliest ADR and it was wonderful.
Have a great time!

 

[TDC Nala]

 

[LizinSTL]

I've got reservations to stay at Coronado Springs for a week in early Oct. 07, I've got the Park Hoppers, and the Dining Plan.. After lurking in the forum for several days I've scheduled most of my ADR's, but want to make sure I don't miss anything or regret any of the ones I've made. Please review what I have planned for my family and make any recommendations. This is our first Disney Vacation and I'm extremely excited about it and want to make it wonderful for my wife and kids... daughhter 8 and son 4.

arrive 12pm Sat. Coral Reef - dinner (ask for tank table)
Sunday- Rose & Crown 8.00pm (ask for table to see Illumination show)
Monday - Chef Mickey's- bfast 8.30
Tuesday- Ohana- dinner 5.40
Wed. Le'Cellier- dinner 7.00
Thursday - open
Friday - CRT bfast 8.20

Thanks in advance for any recommendations or warnings..
Again this is our first trip.

I think you secured some terrific ADRs. The only ones I'd caution you about are the Rose and Crown Sunday night (late) and then an early AM @ Chef Mickey- you'd need to leave your resort by 7:30- 7:45 or so to get to the bus stop to get to the MK and then to the Contemporary on time for your breakfast ADR. Since you won't get back to your room until 10 or maybe later the night before, that may be a tough turn around for your kiddos. It was for mine for a similar set of ADRs.
You are also heavy on Epcot restaurants. One regret that I had was that we didn't enjoy any CS options at all in Epcot because we ate so many TS meals there. I'd have liked to spend one day trying different CS meals in various countries.

You have 7TS credits scheduled now. Will you be there 6 nights or 7?

 

[blanq]

Your ADR's look great. One thought only.
The 8 PM ADR at Rose & Crown may be late if you are hoping for a patio table with a view of Illuminations. We have always made 7:20 - 7:40 ADR's. We always check in a little before our ADR, request a patio table and state that we will wait, if possible. We have succeeded about 30% of the time. I am sure you realize that it is a request only, and most everyone makes that request. I think by 8 most people are going to be staying put at their table. Would there be anything earlier?
If you do not secure a seat on the patio, there still is an area they will direct you to to stand and watch Illuminations. You can then return to your table and finish up your meal.
Have a Great 1st Trip.

ITA about the recommendations regarding how to handle Rose & Crown; 8:00 ADR's are likely too late.

I know you are tying really hard plan this out, and make the trip wonderful for your family, but my best advice is not to get your heart set on an outdoor table here. Many have reported that over the past couple years the restaurant has changes it's tune about people asking to wait for an opening at an outdoor table. They may tell you that they are seating you at the next available table despite your request. If that happens, don't fret. If you have a 7:30ish ADR, you can still eat inside (I love eating inside! The atmosphere is great)) and then head to the patio outside, or find another outdoor location near R&C for Illuminations viewing.

BTW, congratulations on your trip! I think it is great that you are doing all of the planning, and working hard to make this trip magical for your family! My DH would never handle any of the trip planning in our household, so I am envious! Have a wonderful trip!