DDP 1st timer

[trizzie]

I would love some feedback on our ADR's. This is the first time we have done the dining plan (and our first time to take DS! We have been several times just the two of us). DS is 3 1/2. Here is our plan:

Arrival day:
HS in the afternoon.
Mama Melrose for dinner

Day 2:
MK day
Crystal Palace for breakfast (8:20 res)

Day 3:
Epcot
Ohana for breakfast or Teppan for lunch??? I have reservations at both and I am not sure which one to cancel.

Day 4:
HS
Hollywood and Vine for lunch (I also have a breakfast reservation there - again not sure which one to cancel)

Day 5 (Last day):
MK again
Cape May breakfast

I was trying for Chef Mickey's on arrival day, but have been unable to secure anything. Thank you for your feedback!!!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Mama Melrose...never eaten there.

CP bkfst...super fun. Bkfst is kind of your typical fare, but its good. Great character interaction!

Ohana bkfst...never done the char bkfst, only dinner. I know the char bkfst is very popular.

Teppan Edo...fun Hibachi type place. If you have something similar at home I might pass on this one, but I know lots of people really like this place.

H&V...I like bkfst here better. Typical bkfst food. Characters have changed some since I ate there last...used to be JoJo's Circus/Little Einsteins char.

Cape May bkfst...love this place. Food is the typical bkfst menu, but the characters are great...AND I love the Beach Club!

The character meals you have picked are great choices for your DS. Have a magical trip!!

 

[mwmom]

Mama Melrose for dinner- never tried it but read great reviews

Crystal Palace for breakfast (8:20 res)- Have done lunch buffet and it was good...character interaction was great

Day 3:
Epcot
Ohana for breakfast or Teppan for lunch- Never eaten at Teppan....loved Ohana breakfast (food and character interaction)

Day 4:
HS
Hollywood and Vine for lunch (I also have a breakfast reservation there - again not sure which one to cancel)- Did dinner here one time and thought it was just so-so....don't plan on returning. I liked 50's diner food better at HS.

Cape May breakfast- haven't done it but want to try it

Chef Mickey's - have reservations for November and really questioning this decision based on the many reviews of the restaurant being filthy. I just find this inexcusable for a restaurant, much less an expensive Disney meal. The only reason I haven't canceled is bc I want DD to interact with those characters at a meal since we have never done that.

 

[neodymm]

Welcome to the DDP...once you go DDP, you may never go back! LOL

Mama Melrose for dinner - never eaten there, too many mixed reviews. if we have to do TS at HS, we opt for 50s PT.

Crystal Palace for breakfast (8:20 res) -- this is a great pic if your DS loves Pooh & Co.

Ohana for breakfast or Teppan for lunch??? I have reservations at both and I am not sure which one to cancel. -- does he like Lilo & Stitch? If so, Ohana is good. If he really likes Pooh, then maybe try 1900 Park Fare for breakfast? Teppan Edo is fairly typical hibachi. You could try Garden grill in Epcot for dinner instead.

Day 4:
HS
Hollywood and Vine for lunch (I also have a breakfast reservation there - again not sure which one to cancel) - Playhouse Disney characters, if he likes loud music and dancing around with other kids (and CMs), then he will like this.

Day 5 (Last day):
MK again
Cape May breakfast -- nice interaction with the characters. typical food choices.

I say keep trying for a Chef Mickey's ADR. Spots always open, its just a matter of getting them. You can even try standby if you can be there right when they open.

Not to interject on your itinerary...but where is your Animal Kingdom day? Highly recommend Tusker House for Donald's Breakfast. Plus, our DD has always loved AK and seeing all the animals and the affection section at Rafiki's Planet Watch. Plus the parade is really cute!

Have a great time with your little one!

 

[jlk806]

Mama Melrose - great, though my least favorite of the Disney Italian restaurants

Crystal Palace is great, love the Winnie the pooh characters, ive never done breakfast though

I would keep the lunch ressie but thats just me, the dining plan has better value for lunch over breakfast

Hollywood & Vine lunch - i like to do it as an early lunch (would have a snack for breakfast, then the early lunch and then just a CS dinner later)

Cape May Breakfast is great! Fun characters in beach attire

 

[trizzie]

Welcome to the DDP...once you go DDP, you may never go back! LOL

Mama Melrose for dinner - never eaten there, too many mixed reviews. if we have to do TS at HS, we opt for 50s PT.

Crystal Palace for breakfast (8:20 res) -- this is a great pic if your DS loves Pooh & Co.

Ohana for breakfast or Teppan for lunch??? I have reservations at both and I am not sure which one to cancel. -- does he like Lilo & Stitch? If so, Ohana is good. If he really likes Pooh, then maybe try 1900 Park Fare for breakfast? Teppan Edo is fairly typical hibachi. You could try Garden grill in Epcot for dinner instead.

Day 4:
HS
Hollywood and Vine for lunch (I also have a breakfast reservation there - again not sure which one to cancel) - Playhouse Disney characters, if he likes loud music and dancing around with other kids (and CMs), then he will like this.

Day 5 (Last day):
MK again
Cape May breakfast -- nice interaction with the characters. typical food choices.

I say keep trying for a Chef Mickey's ADR. Spots always open, its just a matter of getting them. You can even try standby if you can be there right when they open.

Not to interject on your itinerary...but where is your Animal Kingdom day? Highly recommend Tusker House for Donald's Breakfast. Plus, our DD has always loved AK and seeing all the animals and the affection section at Rafiki's Planet Watch. Plus the parade is really cute!
Have a great time with your little one!

Thank you so much (all of you!) for the feedback!

I have been trying for Tusker House and haven't been able to get a res yet. I will keep trying for that and Chef Mickey's! Thank you so much!

 

[nkereina]

Since you are already doing a couple breakfasts, I would keep H&V lunch.
Same goes for Ohana breakfast - I'd stick with Teppan lunch here, unless your DS is a big Lilo & Stitch fan. You'll already be in Epcot for Teppan and in my experience, Ohana breakfast can be time consuming and you don't want to tie up a morning when you want to be at Epcot. I'd also only do Chef Mickey's OR Tusker House, whichever you can get. TH gets better reviews, but same food for the most part and same characters mostly too. Too many character breakfasts starts to get repetitive and time consuming, IMO.

 

[neodymm]

Thank you so much (all of you!) for the feedback!

I have been trying for Tusker House and haven't been able to get a res yet. I will keep trying for that and Chef Mickey's! Thank you so much!

Persistence can pay off...don't give up. I've gotten ADRs for character meals just days before on the drive down via phone calls and via the mobile reservations page on my iPhone! I will say, we've had a harder time getting into Tusker House for breakfast than any of the other character breakfasts. But, it does usually get great reviews. Good Luck!

 

[LSK]

I think your plan looks awesome! My only suggestion would be to swap the Cape May breakfast and Ohana - Ohana is so close to MK it makes sense to do that on a MK day. Cape May is closer to Epcot and you could ride the boat over after breakfast (if memory serves).

We have done both breakfasts and they are both fantastic. Cape May is neat because you see the characters in their beach wear. Ohana is also really fun and you get Lilo and Stitch whom you really don't see many other places. We had one of my favorite character interactions with Pluto at this breakfast where DH mentioned our female dog, Daisy, back home and Pluto kept getting more and more excited about her until DH mentioned that she'd been spayed and Pluto dropped his head and shoulders and walked away. DD was 4 at the time and did not get the joke but I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[trizzie]

Thanks again everyone!! I was able to get chef mickey's!!! 8:00, but I will take it. Persistance does pay off.

One more question - CRT...I am thinking that is something we wait on until DD is old enough to enjoy it (she is 9 months) because DS doesn't care about princesses (I ask because all of a sudden I am finding tons of res for breakfast there). Thanks!!!