Does this Itinerary looks too ambitious?

[rickq]

To fellow disboard members:

Looking for input on my ADRs for my upcoming trip

Here is so far my Itinerary for my 5 night trip in starting sept 29.

Sept 29 MK
Breakfast : OOP still in airport
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: CRT

Sept 30 DHS
Breakfast: Chef Mickey
Lunch : OOP
Dinner: Ohana

Oct 1 Epcot

Breakfast: Akershus
Lunch: Le Cellier
Dinner: Coral Reef

Oct 2: AK

Breakfast: Tusker house
Lunch: Boma
Dinner: GF 1900 Fare

Oct 3 MK

Breakfast: Crystal Palace
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: WCC

Oct 4
Breakfast: Ohana
Lunch : OOP leave for Airport

We are signed up with the Deluxe Dining Plan so I have 15 Credits for the 5 nights. 14 ADRs since CRT uses 2 credits.

My family will consists of myself, DW, DD (4) and DS (18 months)
Both children do well at restaurants when we eat out.

I figured we may skip MK for Oct 1st since that is 40th anniversary. I am torn about this because it may be crowded but then again there maybe events planned for that day that is out of the norm.

I will go ahead and thank fellow members that will post their input..

 

[CathieArms]

To fellow disboard members:

Looking for input on my ADRs for my upcoming trip

Here is so far my Itinerary for my 5 night trip in starting sept 29.

Sept 29 MK
Breakfast : OOP still in airport
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: CRT

Sept 30 DHS
Breakfast: Chef Mickey
Lunch : OOP
Dinner: Ohana

Oct 1 Epcot

Breakfast: Akershus
Lunch: Le Cellier
Dinner: Coral Reef

Oct 2: AK

Breakfast: Tusker house
Lunch: Boma
Dinner: GF 1900 Fare

Oct 3 MK

Breakfast: Crystal Palace
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: WCC

Oct 4
Breakfast: Ohana
Lunch : OOP leave for Airport

We are signed up with the Deluxe Dining Plan so I have 15 Credits for the 5 nights. 14 ADRs since CRT uses 2 credits.

My family will consists of myself, DW, DD (4) and DS (18 months)
Both children do well at restaurants when we eat out.

I figured we may skip MK for Oct 1st since that is 40th anniversary. I am torn about this because it may be crowded but then again there maybe events planned for that day that is out of the norm.

I will go ahead and thank fellow members that will post their input..

I would say that it's good so long as you have enough time between meals. I figure 90 minutes per meal from the time of my adr to my meal and then a minimum of 4 hours beginning at that end time until the start of the next.

Also, Boma doesn't have lunch.

 

[rickq]

Thanks for letting me know about BOMA not having lunch.

May have to change that to SANAA the DInner at BOMA instead of GF 1900 Fare

 

[~Tonga Wingo~]

You could also consider Yak and Yeti for lunch. I've had a couple decent meals there and you wouldn't have to leave the park. I would trade Boma for 1900 Park Fare unless you really want to see the characters.

 

[Katti Michele]

You didn't list any times, but in my opinion, you're going to be traveling to and from the eateries and eating more than actually being in the parks. If that's what you're going for, great, but otherwise, it seems kind of overload (especially with two little ones). You say they're good when you eat out, but how many times have you eaten at 3 sit-down meals with them in one day? Just some things to consider.

Good picks as far as choices though!

 

[MistressMerryweather]

You didn't list any times, but in my opinion, you're going to be traveling to and from the eateries and eating more than actually being in the parks. If that's what you're going for, great, but otherwise, it seems kind of overload (especially with two little ones). You say they're good when you eat out, but how many times have you eaten at 3 sit-down meals with them in one day? Just some things to consider.

Good picks as far as choices though!

I agree with this. It sounds like a lot because it is. You may want to consider more 2 credit dining options. Maybe a Hoop-dee-doo show, ect. Also, with the amount of snacks you get...2 a day...you feel like you are constantly trying to eat something when you are not hungry. Dh and I did Deluxe for 5 days and felt we were running from reservation to reservation. Plus, you get appetizer and dessert with every meal. Granted, you don't have to eat it, but sometimes you do and don't feel like eating the next meal. With two littles along, it seems like a bit much.

 

[purple figment]

You didn't list any times, but in my opinion, you're going to be traveling to and from the eateries and eating more than actually being in the parks.

On the theme park board you posted that this is your family's first trip. I agree that I think you'll want to spend your time in the parks rather than traveling between restaurants and eating.

You have a character buffet scheduled for every morning. Those take longer since you'll have to wait to see all the characters.

For lunch, I think it would be better to stay in whichever park you've chosen for the day rather than travel to a resort because even the nearby resorts will involve 45 minutes of travel time. Every park has TS restaurants or if you choose some CS they will take less time.

Or you can do another 2 credit dinner show (Hoop de Doo, luau or Mickey's Backyard Barbecue).

 

[Tiger926]

We are a family who used to eat 2-3 TS meals each day in Disney's restaurants, and I'm going to say your itinerary is too ambitious, since you are a first timer, with two small children. You will spend all of your time in restaurants - will you have a car? Using Disney transportation to get to resort restaurants is going to eat up even more time.

We have done this as well, but we are DVC members, and my kids have been to Disney many, many times since they were 10 months old, so missing park stuff wasn't an issue. You, on the other hand, are first timers, and you will spend all of your time in restaurants. We have since cut this pattern of eating out, as not only is it too expensive, but it takes up too much time in the day, as Disney restaurants are much too busy nowadays due to the dining plans.

We used to be able to get in and out of a character meal within 1 hour, even with 2 babes - characters were not rushed, food was refilled, and service was fine. Not anymore though, thanks to massively busy restaurants - although you are going at end of Sept., but is there free dining during that time? Character meals are also very chaotic and the food/service has really gone downhill, so they will take up precious time in your day, waiting on characters and for things like the check. Doing 2 of them per day, is really going to be a lot, IMHO.

You really have no choice as you are doing DxDP for 5 days - 5 days for a first trip is not a lot of time at all, so by the time you take out all of your meals, you have more like 3 or 3.5 days, as your kids can't stay up too late, as they are very young, plus, at that time of year, Disney does not stay open very late at all. We also don't feel that Signatures are worth it, but you may have to consider a 2 credit Signature as well, just so you don't lose your credits.

So, you need to consider the following when making your decision:

- nap schedules of your kids
- transportation to and from the restaurants
- eating schedules
- park schedules

I wish you luck in figuring out your itinerary. May you have a magical trip, Tiger

 

[telephoneman66]

For all the reasons cited above. Disney should be a fun experience, not a Navy SEAL assault on the restaurants, especially with two kids in tow.

Scale back your plans and see some shows or Character Meals that use up more credits. Eat in the same park you're in for Lunch and Breakfast or Dinner depending on if you get up early or late. Then schedule character meals and resort dining for the meal which you will be arriving to the park later in the day or leaving earlier in the day for supper.

You really don't want to feel like you have to quit having fun to run off to have "another" meal.

 

[bellenbuzz]

I believe your 2 little ones could care less about the Disney Dining Experience at such young ages....
They would be happy with a hot dog while watching a parade

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Dining at WDW !! Awesome restaurants

How about getting the regular Dining Plan instead of the Deluxe Dining Plan

As all previous posters stated, travel time for meal and the actual meal will turn into a 3 or 4 hour meal.....

Too much Other terrific magical things to see and do.

Your kids will enjoy with Dining Adventures when they are older

Plus, you don't want to feel so full all day long, whew.....

Whatever you decide, it will be a fabulous vacation to WDW !!

But, I'd scale it down a little bit

 

[Cafeen]

Honestly, as much of a fan that I am for DxDDP, it doesn't fit well on short trips for first timers with little ones. Granted, it's not a busy time when you're going, so that helps, but you will be spending a lot of time eating and traveling.

However, if you must have DxDDP, you can make it work by trimming out a few of the TS meals (and still coming out ahead).

(Red are comments using DxDDP. Green are comments on dropping DxDDP in favor of either DDP or OOP, note that the focus here is on park "uptime" rather than cost as well)

Sept 29 MK
Breakfast : OOP still in airport
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: CRT
What time does your flight land? And which resort are you staying at? Figure at least 90 minutes from the time you land until you are checked into your resort. If you're not staying at the Poly, getting here will take additional time. Other than that, I think this day looks fine.

If dropping down a plan, I would cut Kona from here. While it's typically a much better meal foodwise, there's nothing like eating in the Castle, at least once, alternatively, you can still do both here as it's not that bad and doesn't take up much touring time. In place of Kona, I'd just grab CS at Magic Kingdom.

Sept 30 DHS
Breakfast: Chef Mickey
Lunch : OOP
Dinner: Ohana
This day also looks fine

Cutting from here I would suggest Chef Mickey. I know, I know, breakfast with the fab 5 is hard to pass up, but you're going to want to hit DHS early to get in line/FPs for Toy Story Mania.

Oct 1 Epcot
Breakfast: Akershus
Lunch: Le Cellier
Dinner: Coral Reef
This may be a little ambitous, especially with little ones, since both Le Cellier and Coral Reef are heavier meals. May want to go a bit light at Le Cellier (although I hear their prime rib sandwich is not so great) or at least push Coral Reef off until a later time than normal.

To increase park time here, I'd certianly suggest dropping BOTH Le Cellier and Coral Reef. Akershus breakfast is pretty amazing (and the food is quite good). Keeping a dinner won't hurt too much with park time, so if that's needed, then CR will be fine.

Oct 2: AK
Breakfast: Tusker house
Lunch: Boma
Dinner: GF 1900 Fare
Well, you know that Boma doesn't do lunch, so switch Yak and Yeti in and Boma over to Dinner (or Tusker House lunch, but 3 buffets in a day may be a bit much). Since AK closes the earliest (usually around 5pm this time of year), jumping out of the park for lunch won't be ideal.

If it were me, I'd do Tusker at around 10-10:30 am for a "brunch" and then head to Boma around 5:30ish, picking up snacks for early and lunch time if needed. (In fact, I am doing just that on my first AK day )

Oct 3 MK
Breakfast: Crystal Palace
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: WCC
I feel there's too much travel here. If you're staying at the poly, then CP breakfast and Kona lunch will work just fine. I'd trade WCC for either an MK or Monorail resort meal though (Hint: 1900 PF would work )

Assuming you're staying at the Poly, this day looks just fine with switching WCC with 1900 PF. I certainly wouldn't drop CP breakfast, maybe staying in the park for a CS lunch, but if you're taking a resort break here anyway, then it doesn't matter so much. (Though, CS at the Poly may also be an idea if you do drop down to DDP)

Oct 4
Breakfast: Ohana
Lunch : OOP leave for Airport

Now, I don't know your little ones' schedules either, so take my "cutback" suggestions with that in mind. I just get concerned with first time short trips and a lot of restaurants. However, if you're planning to travel more often in the future, or you're ok with quite a bit of downtime while travelling and eating, then by all means have at it. Just be sure to take at least 60-90 minutes per meal from the time you sit until the time you leave as well as accounting for waiting time (Ohana, 1900PF, LeCellier, all seem to typically run behind)

 

[Mamu]

You didn't list any times, but in my opinion, you're going to be traveling to and from the eateries and eating more than actually being in the parks. If that's what you're going for, great, but otherwise, it seems kind of overload (especially with two little ones). You say they're good when you eat out, but how many times have you eaten at 3 sit-down meals with them in one day? Just some things to consider.

Good picks as far as choices though!

I also agree. Sounds like you will be going from one restaurant to another. Don't know if you have a car or your using Disney Transportation, either way figure, an hour traveling from one restaurant to another, then a hour in the restaurant. Thats if your seated right away.

 

[Rohais]

I'd say its definately far too much, especially if its your first trip

Oh, and I would stay away from Epcot on the 1st October, as its the first weekend of the Food and Wine Festival, and I think the marathon (half) is also run that weekend. Its historically super crowded...as MK will be

I second eating in the parks that you're going to be in. WDW is *huge*...it takes a long time to get from being in a park to eating at the restaurant of your choice, especially if you don't have a car.

Maybe you could eat at a couple of signatures, or go to Hoop Dee Doo Revue or Mickey's Backyard BBQ to eat up 2 credits at a time?

Seriously, you're gonna be spending all of your time either travelling or eating...and I wouldn't like to be the ones tearing your kids away from Cinderella's Castle or Mickey

Maybe cut back to the DDP? We're going for 18 nights in September and thats enough credits! I dread to think what we'd do if we did the DxDDP! 54 table services!

Hope you have a magical trip!

 

[Cherinva]

I think it's a bit much since it's your first visit and you have little ones...it seems that you will be doing a lot of traveling to meals. I agree with others that suggest you drop to the DDP, and eat your meals in the park that you are in.

Have a great time.

 

[Niki in NJ]

To fellow disboard members:

Looking for input on my ADRs for my upcoming trip

Here is so far my Itinerary for my 5 night trip in starting sept 29.

Sept 29 MK
Breakfast : OOP still in airport
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: CRT

Sept 30 DHS
Breakfast: Chef Mickey
Lunch : OOP
Dinner: Ohana

Oct 1 Epcot

Breakfast: Akershus
Lunch: Le Cellier
Dinner: Coral Reef

Oct 2: AK

Breakfast: Tusker house
Lunch: Boma
Dinner: GF 1900 Fare

Oct 3 MK

Breakfast: Crystal Palace
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: WCC

Oct 4
Breakfast: Ohana
Lunch : OOP leave for Airport

We are signed up with the Deluxe Dining Plan so I have 15 Credits for the 5 nights. 14 ADRs since CRT uses 2 credits.

My family will consists of myself, DW, DD (4) and DS (18 months)
Both children do well at restaurants when we eat out.

I figured we may skip MK for Oct 1st since that is 40th anniversary. I am torn about this because it may be crowded but then again there maybe events planned for that day that is out of the norm.

I will go ahead and thank fellow members that will post their input..

I don't have kids, however, I would not do a character breakfast every morning. It is way too much time sitting for breakfast, especially on your first trip. I wouldn't do more than 2 .. 3 tops. As some others have already said, they take up tons of time and the food really is only okay. My cousins go every couple of years with their kids, and the first time they went they had ADR's for 3 character breakfasts, and only went to 2 because they had had enough.

This June will be the first time we are using the DxDP, but we have been to Disney a few times before, and are just looking for a laid back Disney vacation and we are okay if we don't get to go on every ride or see every attraction. We have scheduled ADR's for only lunch and dinner's, we figured breakfast we will either eat around resort area (TS) or use a quick service in one of the parks we go to (remember you don't have to use all TS, you can also use a QS meal).

What resort are you staying in? If you are staying at Poly (or another monorail resort), your ADR's look as if they will be easier to get to and you definitely will have an easier time with transportation. Depending on how far apart your ADR's are, you might be fine with your schedule. If not, you could always cancel one of your ADR's that you have that day and do a QS.

 

[keith-atl]

To fellow disboard members:

Looking for input on my ADRs for my upcoming trip

Here is so far my Itinerary for my 5 night trip in starting sept 29.

Sept 29 MK
Breakfast : OOP still in airport
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: CRT

Sept 30 DHS
Breakfast: Chef Mickey
Lunch : OOP
Dinner: Ohana

Oct 1 Epcot

Breakfast: Akershus
Lunch: Le Cellier
Dinner: Coral Reef

Oct 2: AK

Breakfast: Tusker house
Lunch: Boma
Dinner: GF 1900 Fare

Oct 3 MK

Breakfast: Crystal Palace
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: WCC

Oct 4
Breakfast: Ohana
Lunch : OOP leave for Airport

We are signed up with the Deluxe Dining Plan so I have 15 Credits for the 5 nights. 14 ADRs since CRT uses 2 credits.

My family will consists of myself, DW, DD (4) and DS (18 months)
Both children do well at restaurants when we eat out.

I figured we may skip MK for Oct 1st since that is 40th anniversary. I am torn about this because it may be crowded but then again there maybe events planned for that day that is out of the norm.

I will go ahead and thank fellow members that will post their input..

I think lunch at Boma would be tough to be honest, even if you are at AK, the buses to AKL aren't that great (well at least the last time we stayed there).

Boma is great though, really enjoyed dinner there, as well as Jinkos.

 

[smiths02]

I don't think I would do deluxe for a 5 day first trip...5 days is hard to see every park as it is
BUT if you have deluxe, you don't have to use TS for every meal and you can still come out ahead


I would also need to know where you are staying, to plan the best...but here are some ideas

Sept 29 MK
Breakfast : OOP still in airport
Lunch: CS either at resort or in MK (1 credit)
Dinner: CRT (2 credits)

Sept 30 DHS
Breakfast: Chef Mickey (1 credit-make this early)
Lunch : Snacks (if you are doing Chef Mickey, then Ohana, you don't really need to eat a big lunch-don't go OOP on DxDP!)
Dinner: Ohana (1 credit)

Oct 1 Epcot

Breakfast: Akershus (1 credit)
Lunch: snack around world showcase
Dinner: Le Cellier (2 credit)

Oct 2: AK

Brunch: Tusker house (1 credit)
Lunch: Snacks
Dinner: Boma/GF 1900 Fare (1 credit) do you want characters or not? and where are you staying?

Oct 3 MK

Breakfast: Crystal Palace (1 credit)-before park opening
Lunch: Counter Service in MK (1 credit)
Dinner: do HDDR or some 2 credit show (2 credit)

Oct 4
Breakfast: Ohana (1 credit)
Lunch : OOP leave for Airport

Also if you are staying at Poly...I would do early Ohana on Sept 30th and Chef Mickey on Oct 4

 

[MSLRAC]

I think if your times are right and your kids can handle it, that it looks great. Our last trip was the first with our kids and we opted for the DxDP with 3 TS meals a day and we do NOT feel as if we are on a "Navy SEAL assault on the restaurants"...although that analogy did give me the funniest visual.

Here is how we did it and it worked great...
We did a character meal before park open (7:30-8 am) everyday. It is a great way to start your day IMO because you get all the pictures and autographs of your favorite characters so you waste very little time in meet and greet lines. We were done with all of ours, except CP, just in time for rope drop so it worked great and we wasted 0 park time on breakfast and go characters to boot.

We found that lunch worked best around 1:30-2. By then we were not really hungry but we were starting to think about something for lunch. We opted for places with lighter lunches (sandwiches, salads, burgers, etc). Most days, lunch took about an hour to 90 minutes so even with a TS lunch, we did not miss that much more park time than we would have with CS lunches.

A side note on lunch...if you kids have to go back to the room for naps then you need to ditch your lunch plans and grab something on the way back to the resort or at the resort. Otherwise, you really will kill a huge part of your afternoon with the two. But if you kids can nap on the fly or don't need naps then a TS lunch really is no big deal.

We did our dinners around 7:30-8. Again, we were not really hungry but we were starting to think about eating by this point. I realize that is late for many for dinner but it worked fine for us. Most nights the parks closed around 8 or 9 so we didn't miss much if any park time with dinner. Plus, DS has Autism so he can not handle being too close to the nightly shows so we had him safely outside the parks on in a restaurant when they started up and he loved watching them from afar so that also worked great.

Anyway, I think it can work and work great if you time things right and your kids are able to behave through it all.

ETA...One change I would make is do NOT leave AK for lunch even it is just back to AKL...especially if you do not have your own car. Hopping the monorail at the MK to a neighboring resort is no big deal but this one will probably eat away at a lot of time. I would try Yak and Yeti or even get CS at Flaming Tree.

 

[AugustDisney]

To fellow disboard members:

Looking for input on my ADRs for my upcoming trip

Here is so far my Itinerary for my 5 night trip in starting sept 29.

Sept 29 MK
Breakfast : OOP still in airport
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: CRT

Sept 30 DHS
Breakfast: Chef Mickey
Lunch : OOP
Dinner: Ohana

Oct 1 Epcot

Breakfast: Akershus
Lunch: Le Cellier
Dinner: Coral Reef

Oct 2: AK

Breakfast: Tusker house
Lunch: Boma
Dinner: GF 1900 Fare

Oct 3 MK

Breakfast: Crystal Palace
Lunch: Kona
Dinner: WCC

Oct 4
Breakfast: Ohana
Lunch : OOP leave for Airport

We are signed up with the Deluxe Dining Plan so I have 15 Credits for the 5 nights. 14 ADRs since CRT uses 2 credits.

My family will consists of myself, DW, DD (4) and DS (18 months)
Both children do well at restaurants when we eat out.

I figured we may skip MK for Oct 1st since that is 40th anniversary. I am torn about this because it may be crowded but then again there maybe events planned for that day that is out of the norm.

I will go ahead and thank fellow members that will post their input..

You are trying to do too much. I would nix some of the lunch places and add at least one more two credit meal.

I assume you are staying at the Polynesian since you have plans to go to Kona and Ohana each twice. I don't know that I would do that, personally. I think I would pick Kona for breakfast and Ohana for dinner (actually, in my reservations, I did!) and take out those two lunch spots. You are going to be spending your whole trip eating with 3 TS/day. Also, I don't know about your kids, but that is a whole lot of sitting time at a table in a restaurant. I also have deluxe dining and have planned many of the same restaurants as you, but here is what my schedule looks like.

August 19:
Lunch at Rainforest Café (Downtown Disney): 2:00pm

August 20:
Breakfast at Cape May Café (Beach Club): 9:05am

Dinner at Yachtsman (Yacht Club): 7:35pm

August 21:
Luch at Coral Reef (Epcot): 11:50am

Dinner at Tutto Italia (Epcot: World Showcase): 7:05pm

August 22:
Breakfast at Kona Café (Polynesian Resort): 9:35am

Dinner at Ohana (Polynesian Resort): 6:50pm

August 23:
Breakfast at Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge): 9:00am

Dinner At Cape May Café (Beach Club): 7:30pm

August 24:
Breakfast at Tusker House (Animal Kingdom): 9:10am

Dinner at Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge): 7:25pm

August 25:
Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian): 9:20am

Dinner at Citricos (Grand Floridian): 7:45pm

August 26:
Breakfast at Olivia’s Café (Old Key West): 9:15am

Lunch at Les Chefs de France (Epcot): 1:50pm

This schedule accounts for 16 out of 21 of my credits (Citricos, Jiko and Yachtsman are 2 credits and Rainforest isn't on the dining plan). I left the remaining 5 credits open for counter service if we are hungry. I also tried to do late dinners because I feel like we won't be hungry early, especially if we have a breakfast reservation and then grab TS lunch. My schedule is much more scaled back and I still have been told that it is a lot of meals!

 

[princesspeach]

We love the dxdp,but we do a signature dinner every night. We plan an early lunch and a late dinner around 8pm. I think it would be difficult eating all the meals so close together. I also have grade school age kids that never get tired. If your plan works for you than I would go with it. I think dining is as much fun as the parks. Make sure you leave some time for the pool.