DDP & Character Breakfast Questions

[ChrisMouse]

Hi all...

TIA for your patience. I am trying to make my ADR's for a May trip and am still confused.

My main question is regarding TS credits. My DH and I will be using two credits each for California Grill, but our kids will be staying with a "Fairy Godmother"...what happens to THEIR TS credits that they don't use since they are not accompanying us on that dinner? Can the kids use those credits at CS locations since they can't do a TS on their own? Or do most people schedule additional TS meals and pay OOP for the adults?

My other question is regarding character breakfasts at the Magic Kingdom. I need recommendations...what is good? Also, I read (somewhere??!!??) that it was possible to schedule a character breakfast before the park opens, which makes it possible to take photos of your kids in front of an empty castle. Is this really true??

Thanks for your expert help! I can't wait until these ADR's are all set so that I can get on to other planning.

Chris

 

[planplan]

i don't know about the first question but on the breakfast... crystal palace was fantastic. i was just going to this breakfast for the kids(tigger poo and crew),not expecting much but i was very impressed. the quantity of food is over the top, but its all of very good quality also. from the greeters to the servers and the food...this place set the tone for our stay at disney!!!

 

[JimMIA]

Can the kids use those credits at CS locations since they can't do a TS on their own?

I wouldn't count on that. TS credits are not normally exchangeable for CS.

My other question is regarding character breakfasts at the Magic Kingdom. I need recommendations...what is good?

At MK, or nearby, we have done two -- both of which we thought were spectacular. One is CP, mentioned above, which would be my personal choice. The other is not actually at MK, but it's at the Contemporary -- Chef Mickey's. Both are wonderful, the food and service are good enough, and the kids love them. CP is probably a little better for little kids, because Pooh and Piglet are not as intimidating as Goofy, Pluto, etc, and there is a little less noise.

People (including myself) will tell you that a character dinner is a better value than a breakfast, but the breakfasts are fine and there is a lot to be said for starting your day at a character meal, rather than fitting your day's activities around a lunch or dinner.

 

[mintyamy]

Don't even bother with breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table, it's 2 table service credits, not worth it really, unless your kids are big princess fans. The food is good, but a waste of another dinner somewhere else with those extra credits.

 

[PictureJumpr]

Crystal Palace!

Okay. Sorry. I just have a thing about starting out every trip at breakfast with Pooh/Eeyore/Tigger...

Actually, it is a very good breakfast, and yes if you make an ADR for 815 but the park doesn't open til 9, you can get in to Main Street before the general public. All you have to do is not book it on an EMH morning if you want to be more 'solo.'

Also a family favorite of ours (actually, my MOM'S favorite character meal - go figure!) is the Ohana Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch (and Mickey) at the Polynesian. It's not a true buffet in the basic sense, but it is all-you-can-eat (they just bring you platters instead of you going to get it) and the selection is smaller, basic eggs-bacon-potatoes stuff with fresh breads and a special formula of juice. High-octane stuff, that.

Actually, if you are just trying to find a TS where you grown-ups will be oop while your kids use up credits, character breakfasts are not a bad idea - they are much cheaper than character lunches/dinners for adults.

 

[ChrisMouse]

Thanks for the input.

I think I've planned out our ADR's for the four of us for our six night trip. Can someone please see if I'm using the DDP credits to the best possible value, since I'm new at this? Please help me with math and best value/best places to pay OOP. This is so confusing!

Day one (arrive on MK extra magic hour night)
Liberty Tree Tavern dinner (4 TS)
Day two
earliest ADR breakfast Crystal Palace (kids credits 2TS, adults OOP)
CS Lunch (4 CS)
Fantasmic Package Mama Melrose (4 TS)
Day three
CS Lunch (4 CS)
California Grill dinner (just 2 adults, but costs 4TS)
Day four
Lunch Sci Fi Dine In Theater (4TS)
CS Dinner at Animal Kingdom (4CS)
Day five
CRT for one adult one child...child on credits (2TS), adult OOP
CS lunch for one adult one child OOP
CS dinner (4CS)
Day six
CS lunch (4 CS)
Dinner San Angel Inn (4 TS)
Day seven (Departure day)
CS Lunch (4 CS)

Thanks so much!

Chris

 

[PictureJumpr]

Day one (arrive on MK extra magic hour night)
Liberty Tree Tavern dinner (4 TS) <-it's okay but i wouldn't do it because while the food it decent, it's mostly stouffer's mac-and-cheese and such, when we have dinners in the MK vicinity we usually do Ohana's, Whispering Canyon, or Crystal Palace (which you already have for breakfast)
Day two
earliest ADR breakfast Crystal Palace (kids credits 2TS, adults OOP)
CS Lunch (4 CS) <- we like pinnochio's haus but many don't. Cosmic Ray's is another family favorite too.
Fantasmic Package Mama Melrose (4 TS)
Day three
CS Lunch (4 CS)
California Grill dinner (just 2 adults, but costs 4TS)
Day four
Lunch Sci Fi Dine In Theater (4TS) <-many people see this as a 'waste' of TS credit since basically the menu consists of standard burgers and milkshakes. it's a cool little place but we usually just visit for oop milkshakes and rarely eat here. If you're successful in getting CRT, you may be better off using the two adult TS from here for that and paying for this one oop, moneywise. Unless you eat much more than we do for lunch, two adult meals with sodas comes in less than the price of the single adult for CRT.
CS Dinner at Animal Kingdom (4CS)
Day five
CRT for one adult one child...child on credits (2TS), adult OOP
CS lunch for one adult one child OOP <-have you considered the Plaza for this one? It is not CS but nothing on the menu is much more expensive than any of the CS places, and the food is good - and the kids meals come with ice cream. Might make the day more appetizing for the non-CRT pair? We eat here regularly when we're oop because it's a neat place but not expensive like other TS. Plus, it's located right out in front of the castle so it might be easier to find each other later on...
CS dinner (4CS)
Day six
CS lunch (4 CS)
Dinner San Angel Inn (4 TS) <- I don't want to tell you not to go here, because it has great atmosphere and such.. but if you like real mexican food, you may be muy disappointed.
Day seven (Departure day)
CS Lunch (4 CS)

I don't know if you plan on doing DTD, but if you are Wolfgang Puck's Express is a great way to spend CS credits.

HTH!

 

[Shmily1]

If you have your heart set on the restaurants you have chosen, then I agree with the PP that I would pay oop for Sci Fi instead of Crystal Palace.

If you wanted to have the character meals but minimize the oop all together, I would suggest your second day breakfast for Cape May Cafe at BC. That place is awesome! Then you could have day five at Crystal Palace, or vice versa. Both of these are one TS each so you would have two awesome character meals with no oop.

I don't know that I will ever be able to go back to Epcot and not eat at Coral Reef. The food was really good and everyone loved the atmosphere with the fish right there at you.

Good luck and have lots of fun!!!

 

[ChrisMouse]

Thanks so much for all of the great advice!

I have "secured" the most important ADR's (Cal. Grill, Mama M fantasmic, and CRT). Now I just need to firm up my plans for the others.

I REALLY appreciate the input.

Thanks!!

Chris