Dining reservations in 2 weeks - what to prioritize

[Jacq7414]

So these are what I want:

1) storybook on day 68 (so I’m guessing is this 60+8?)

2) Topolino’s breakfast on day 67 (60+7) I may actually want day 60+6 but thought I’d have better luck on 60+7

3) CRT on day 63 (60+3) although this is Easter so I’m not even sure if I’ll be able to get this

4) H&V on day 64 (60+4)

5) Sanaa on day 65 (60+5)

I was debating about doing boathouse, Kona cafe and chef Mickey’s but wasn’t sure how many sit downs would be good. We have a 5 year old daughter and are staying 9 nights.

 

[XoxoAmy]

I think you have them in the right order for what to book when your window opens (6am EST on day 60 - but I've heard it sometimes opens earlier, not sure how true that is). Then I think you should book Chef Mickey, Boathouse and Kona for other days (in that order) because you can always cancel. Personally I book at least 1 TS per day (it's a nice break and I like having a "grown up" drink!). I'll plan my park days around which res I can get and where. I'm a big fan of booking more than we need and then releasing them as we get closer and I firm up our plans.

 

[Jacq7414]

I think you have them in the right order for what to book when your window opens (6am EST on day 60 - but I've heard it sometimes opens earlier, not sure how true that is). Then I think you should book Chef Mickey, Boathouse and Kona for other days (in that order) because you can always cancel. Personally I book at least 1 TS per day (it's a nice break and I like having a "grown up" drink!). I'll plan my park days around which res I can get and where. I'm a big fan of booking more than we need and then releasing them as we get closer and I firm up our plans.

Thanks. I think I’ll do that then. When we went before we had at least 1 and sometimes 2 table service a day. I just wasn’t sure with such a long trip if we really needed it. But it is nice to get out of the heat and sit down and relax too.

 

[XoxoAmy]

Also with a 5yo - I think you should book Chef Mickey. It's such a great way to get pics with the fab 5. Even if they are more distanced right now. Breakfast is best (better food options - dinner isn't so great), and you can walk to MK from there after breakfast.

 

[Jacq7414]

Also with a 5yo - I think you should book Chef Mickey. It's such a great way to get pics with the fab 5. Even if they are more distanced right now. Breakfast is best (better food options - dinner isn't so great), and you can walk to MK from there after breakfast.

Day 60+2 would be the best day for that reservation. I’m wondering if that would be hard to get though.

 

[XoxoAmy]

One more thought - if you haven't done BOG, it's worth trying to get a res for a dinner in MK one night. The beast walks around, and the ambiance is really cool. You can do breakfast or lunch too, but lunch is the same price as dinner, and I think the beast only walks around at dinner.

 

[XoxoAmy]

Day 60+2 would be the best day for that reservation. I’m wondering if that would be hard to get though.

Probably. Esp. for breakfast. Do you ever use mouse dining? It's my favorite 3rd party service. Subscribe for $9/month and they will text you when a reservation opens up that you want. You have to click on the text link immediately to get the res, but I've gotten TONS of reservations this way. It's amazing really.

 

[Jacq7414]

Probably. Esp. for breakfast. Do you ever use mouse dining? It's my favorite 3rd party service. Subscribe for $9/month and they will text you when a reservation opens up that you want. You have to click on the text link immediately to get the res, but I've gotten TONS of reservations this way. It's amazing really.

Yes. I’ve used it on previous trips. I can always extend it out though too and book it for another day and switch it if I can. Thanks

 

[Jacq7414]

if you haven't done BOG, it's worth trying to get a res for a dinner in MK one night.

We did BOG twice before covid. I wasn’t sure if it would be worth it after. Although the same could be said for CRT. I was debating between the two

 

[Aela]

I know it isn’t listed, but Space 220 is the hot ticket right now. I’d seriously consider picking up a lounge reservation for day 60+8 (or latest Epcot available) because at her age, the magic of it will be real and she will probably be super excited about the “ride to space”. If you do, do it first. Even if you aren’t 100% sold on doing it. If you don’t pick it up.. you won’t get a chance later. Then do Topolino’s breakfast, CRT, and Storybook. Then grab Chef Mickey if you think you’ll want it. You can always cancel later.

 

[Jacq7414]

I know it isn’t listed, but Space 220 is the hot ticket right now. I’d seriously consider picking up a lounge reservation for day 60+8 (or latest Epcot available) because at her age, the magic of it will be real and she will probably be super excited about the “ride to space”. If you do, do it first. Even if you aren’t 100% sold on doing it. If you don’t pick it up.. you won’t get a chance later. Then do Topolino’s breakfast, CRT, and Storybook. Then grab Chef Mickey if you think you’ll want it. You can always cancel later.

We are staying at BC, so we are probably could go to Epcot whenever since it’s close. I’ll look into it. It’s cool?

 

[Jacq7414]

Also you’d do the lounge for space 2020 over the restaurant?

 

[Grankm21]

I second the one TS a day comment. That’s what we did with my 5 and 3 year old recently. It was a great break each day. I can’t provide much advice for priorities, but we did try many TS restaurants and I can tell you that Storybook, Topolinos and H&V were their top three. They also really enjoyed Garden Grill at Epcot. Chef Mickeys was fun, although the food was just ehh. We would have loved to try Space 220, but even using multiple reservation finders we couldn’t get a reservation

 

[Jacq7414]

I second the one TS a day comment. That’s what we did with my 5 and 3 year old recently. It was a great break each day. I can’t provide much advice for priorities, but we did try many TS restaurants and I can tell you that Storybook, Topolinos and H&V were their top three. They also really enjoyed Garden Grill at Epcot. Chef Mickeys was fun, although the food was just ehh. We would have loved to try Space 220, but even using multiple reservation finders we couldn’t get a reservation

Thanks! So I’ll definitely try for space 2020 on 60+8 and move storybook to 60+6 keeping Topolino’s at 60+7. I probably could do Topolino’s our last day since we have a late flight but I wanted to spend that last day in the park

 

[Aela]

Also you’d do the lounge for space 2020 over the restaurant?

Yes. Look over both menus and see what fits your family best. For us, we weren’t sold on the options for the Prix fixe menu at the restaurant. The lounge reservations are gone before the restaurant ones, so if you considering that…. I’d try that first and then do restaurant if you don’t get lounge. Unless the restaurant is a better match for you then do restaurant first. Then do Topolino’s

 

[Jacq7414]

Yes. Look over both menus and see what fits your family best. For us, we weren’t sold on the options for the Prix fixe menu at the restaurant. The lounge reservations are gone before the restaurant ones, so if you considering that…. I’d try that first and then do restaurant if you don’t get lounge. Unless the restaurant is a better match for you then do restaurant first. Then do Topolino’s

Could I book a noon breakfast at Topolino’s. Then I could book that our last day there since our flight leaves at 430.

actually I may just do H&V that day because we have HS park reservations so we don’t feel rushed to get to the Riveria.

 

[Aela]

Could I book a noon breakfast at Topolino’s. Then I could book that our last day there since our flight leaves at 430.

Yes, you can book breakfast at noon, we have a noon breakfast at Topolino’s.
That said, what time will you leave for the airport? The lounge opens at 11:30. I wouldn’t push too late on the lunch reservation on your 4:30 flight time.

 

[Aela]

Based off your edit:
Topolino’s breakfast one of my favorite meals at Disney. Have you been before? We love it.

That said, our best meal on our trip last year was dinner at H&V. It was excellent. The removal of the buffet helped that place a lot.

 

[Jacq7414]

Based off your edit:
Topolino’s breakfast one of my favorite meals at Disney. Have you been before? We love it.

That said, our best meal on our trip last year was dinner at H&V. It was excellent. The removal of the buffet helped that place a lot.

I’ve never been there before. We had it booked in 2020 and then covid.

i have it for another day. I just wanted to make sure we got it and I didn’t want to feel rushed to get there during our last day and felt since we had HS reservations it would be easier to eat in the park that day.

so right now I have:
1) space 2020 first for our 60+8 day
2) Topolino’s for our 60+7 day
3) artist point for our 60+6 day

those are the first three. We do want CRT or BOG just for our daughter since she wants to go but we were kind of meh on them. I’ll try that next and then do H&V. I’m not worried about getting Sanaa. And I scrapped chef Mickey’s for Kona cafe instead since we already have 2 Mickey meals

 

[chicagodisfan]

I think your plan sounds great! I just wanted to chime in that we booked this week and barely got CRT at 60+4, so you may want to put that with your later reservations. I searched and searched and there was nothing, but then an 8:20 pm popped up which was later than we wanted but I grabbed it anyway. BOG on the other hand has had a lot if availability. We got a good dinner time at 60+1 so you should be able to get that one earlier in your trip. We could only book up to 60+5 but we couldn’t get Artist Point, Topollinos or Space so I think that is good to do those first and put them later in your trip.