Doubting the ADRs I left out...

[ShesAPirate]

uggggh, I'm trying SO hard to keep the majority of our ADRs at places we've never been... but as the trip gets closer, I'm having a hard time imagining not going to Chef Mickey's. I think I've gone every trip and never had a bad experience and I love getting to meet Mickey and Pluto etc. without waiting in any meet & greet lines. I don't know what to do! I don't want to cancel anything else, but I feel like I'll be sad if we don't do Chef Mickey's.

Anyone ever experience these kind of ADR doubts who had some words of wisdom for me?

 

[pumba]

just go with what you have and then PLAN ANOTHER TRIP....that is what we had to do one year...
To many good choices to pick from...
have a good time on our trip

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I drove myself crazy last trip.. I booked everything at 180 days out.. and then I changed so many times that by the time I got to the trip, I didn't know if I was coming or going..

Chef Mickey's is a staple of ours as well.. Not for the food, but for the interaction with the characters. Our son is 6 and this april, i was going to do NO character meals.. My hubby said to me " we only have a couple of more years where he is really going to want to do this".. he had a point.. I would book..

I did add so many new places last time.. Some that I would add again and some I am glad that i tried but I wouldn't do again..

 

[lovin'fl]

I do that too. We're going in Dec and I really wanted to try mostly new places. I compiled a list of all the places we haven't been to and wanted to hit quite a few of them. But then when you're selecting, you go back to the good ol' favorites. Plus, we are going with DH's entire family (15 of us) and each of the 4 households picked a place and so we all chose our faves. Currently there are 2 new places for my family (out of 6). That's ok...we'll just have to go back.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I know how you feel. The girls and i have been there 3 times in the past year and I find it really hard to skip their favorites to try new things. I the past 2 trips I started the trip with all new restaurants and then last minutes change my plans and book Ohana again. I find that for our family, Ohana is our must and I will never try to skip it again LOL the girls love Stitch too much to not go see it at his restaurant. It's always the first hing they ask about when they find out about Disney.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We try to only do 2-3 new restaurants on every trip (we're doing 5 new ones on our next trip, but only because we're going to be there so long). Each family member gets their TS restaurant "pick", we have a few traditional TS places, and then we usually pick new ones around that. That way we still get to enjoy our true favorites and maybe try to find some new favorites, as well. We always go to Tony's for lunch on our first day, I would be pretty sad if we ever had to go without that tradition! Sorry, I'm no help. I would definitely try to work in Chef Mickey's somehow, if it means that much to you.

 

[auprincess]

I also understand how you feel ~ I make ADRs in 2 days, in this will be the first trip (3 previous) that I am not planning on Chef Mickey's. I just want to try something new ~ I was completely fine with it and then the other day my 6 year old said she wanted to eat at Chef Mickey's again. I told her we would see Mickey at another restaurant and she was okay with it. Who knows, I wouldn't be surprised if I end up changing my mind!

 

[Coconuts]

uggggh, I'm trying SO hard to keep the majority of our ADRs at places we've never been... but as the trip gets closer, I'm having a hard time imagining not going to Chef Mickey's. I think I've gone every trip and never had a bad experience and I love getting to meet Mickey and Pluto etc. without waiting in any meet & greet lines. I don't know what to do! I don't want to cancel anything else, but I feel like I'll be sad if we don't do Chef Mickey's.

Anyone ever experience these kind of ADR doubts who had some words of wisdom for me?

I drove myself crazy last trip.. I booked everything at 180 days out.. and then I changed so many times that by the time I got to the trip, I didn't know if I was coming or going....

This is soooo me. I can't even think straight because I've changed our park days/ADR's so many times. I can so relate to your buyers' remorse with your ADR's.

This is what I'd do: try to get a CM ressie for your trip over the next few weeks, but if you can't get it then it wasn't meant to be. On our last trip, we tried some new places and found some new favorites. You never know, the same may happen to you.

But bottom line, if you don't get that CM ADR, you are still in WDW and can plan it for your next trip.

 

[budafam]

I've been losing sleep over our ADR's... lol... it's driving me crazy but just sit back and think to yourself: "I'll be happy to eat ANYWHERE in Disney!" It helps! I was going to repeat my favorite breakfast (1900 Park Fare) from our last trip but it looks like I'm going to have to cancel that after getting a CRT for that day... oh well! It'll just have to wait till the next trip. I'm sure I'll find some new favorites this time around with trying all the new restaurants.

 

[laine&connorsmom]

Oh I do this everytime! Literally, I feel so obsessed over our dining plans! I have a hard time trying new places because I love all my favorites so much! But, last trip we tried Via Napoli and Ragland Road...and so glad we did, they are now 2 of my new favorites! We always do O'hana for both breakfast and dinner each trip, wouldn't be the same for us if we didn't. If you love CM and it means a lot to you, then you should add it in somehow. Good luck, I know its tough!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Seriously, if you go to CM's every trip, dont break the tradition now! I think its nice to have a mix of new and old fave restaurants. I do that all the time. Each trip i have a couple of must-do's/faves....then i book new restaurants for the rest of them. Old faves gives you something to look forward to. I say go for CM's!!

 

[JDUB]

Just think of crossing off all your ADRs off your bucket list We loved Chef Mickey too. I also can't wait until our kids like ADRs other than character meals. If you really want a great pics with both Mickey AND Pluto together, sign up for the Disney Visa card and go to the free photo with them at Epcot Innovations. We did this three years ago without any wait but this year the Chase Visa booth at MK are giving away $50 gift cards and you still get the free pics. The line was about 20 min but it's inside the air cond building and it only runs 1:30-4:30pm. Both times they had Mickey and Pluto!!
Enjoy your other ADRs and let us know what you booked so we can get you excited about your decision!!!!

 

[ShesAPirate]

WOW, thank you all for the replies!

As of right now, there is no availability at CM for (what I believe is) the only open spot in our schedule. So perhaps it's not meant to be this trip. I love using it an excuse to book another trip, though

Just for kicks, here's the ADRs we have set. We will have DDP the first 4 nights, DxDDP the last 2 (split stay at AK Jambo and AK Kidani).

Day 1 -- Garden View Tea Room lunch (OOP, because it's not on the dining plan)

Day 2 -- This is where I would've put CM breakfast, but no dice!
Chefs de France dinner

Day 3 -- Sci-Fi lunch or snacks (OOP, added this just for the atmosphere. Will probably just get apps and drinks)
Jiko dinner

Day 4 -- Le Cellier lunch

Day 5 -- Via Napoli lunch
Crystal Palace dinner (non-negotiable - I must have my Eeyore time )

Day 6 -- Boma breakfast
California Grill dinner

Day 7 -- Coral Reef lunch

What do y'all think? Keep in mind, we are a couple in our 30s, no kids (though we are both very kid-like sometimes ). This will be my BF's first time at Disney World, and my 11th. If you want more details, feel free to read my PTR, linked in my signature (shameless plug ).

I just read last night that Rainforest Cafe does breakfast, which I somehow never knew. Has anyone done it? I've had lunch there a million times, and love the atmosphere. Plus it seems reasonable priced and Day 2 (where I have the open breakfast slot) is planned for AK. Any opinions would be appreciated!

Thanks all so much for your help!