Early December princess meal ADR strategy

[uncleozzy]

Tomorrow is my ADR day and I'm trying to figure out how to approach it, given a relatively-short trip (5 nights) and what seems to be limited availability for lots of stuff lately. We have a tentative plan, which mostly involves mornings at parks (and mostly MK) since we're traveling with a 4- and a 5-year-old who will probably need mid-day breaks.

Given that I strongly prefer lunch or dinner to breakfast (limp bacon is the worst!), that we "need" to do a princess meal, and that we're a party of 7, what's our best bet?

We're at MK on 180+1, +2 and +4, and Epcot on 180+3. I'd really, really like to coordinate BBB on +2 or +4 with CRT, if possible, but it seems sort of like stars aligning, so I'm trying to come up with alternate plans.

What does Akershus lunch availability usually look like at 180+3? Any other ideas on how we can manage a princess meal for a big group in a season with so many Christmas parties (our +2 and +4 days are party nights)?

Thanks!

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I've never done Akerhus but we've done other CM and have really enjoyed them all. We did 1900 PF dinner at Grand Floridian and that has Cinderella, Prince Charming, the stepsisters and step mother. Very fun and entertaining. Buffet style, pricy and will take you more time than other non-character meals. You could easily do a lunch and hop the Monorail to go for the party. And at this far out, just gotta be diligent on the ADRs. You can try Touring plans and Mouse dining to help search. Both services are free.

CRT is always a tough one to get and usually not many ADRs will open up but you never know. For BBB you should be good, we have never had a hard time getting a booking at BBB even a few weeks in advance, there are always cancellations. Good luck!!

 

[mom2rtk]

If you are still 180 days out you will be fine as long as you book when it opens. These are popular but not BOG popular.

 

[uncleozzy]

Thanks for the encouragement, but ... looking at threads here for people whose ADR window has already opened and overlaps ours, it seems like CRT is pretty much fully-booked (until people start canceling, anyway). Just trying to work out alternatives.

But, I didn't realize that 1900 PF offered a Cinderella dinner. That's a great option, thanks!

 

[epcotobsessed]

I have always been able to get ADRs wherever I've wanted, well under 180 days, even well under 60 days, just by checking a few times a day. I got an 8am Akershus (and fortunately Epcot hours held at 9am) at about 40 days out for my upcoming trip. I know Christmas is a super busy time but we're going the 4th of July week and crowd calendars are 10 at most parks, most days we're there, so just keep trying for your ADRs.

 

[uncleozzy]

That's good to hear, and congrats! I'll temper expectations, but hope for the best, I guess!

 

[BMAEC]

Just to give you some hope, I wasn’t able to get CRT for breakfast lunch or dinner any day at 180 days for our 5 day stay. Then last week CRT dinner for party nights opened for when we are going so at like 160 days I was able to get a 6pm CRT dinner on a party night and don’t need party tickets since it’s the last time slot for regular park goers that day! We weren’t planning to be at MK that day so had to shuffle around our Hollywood studios day and thankfully still could get Hollywood & vine with Fantasmic. I think being flexible and open minded is the key. Also know that if dinners haven’t opened at your 180 days they may soon. BBB is completely booked the day we got CRT though. Like you said, stars have to align to time that perfectly. Im not giving up - I will call every so often and try to get BBB to coordinate right before CRT. We do have BBB the day before so not a huge deal. We’re also doing the 1900 park fare Cinderella dinner. It’s a little late for my kids (8:10pm) but we got for arrival day! Supposedly the step sisters are hilarious! My 4 y/o loves the step sisters from the movie. We were able to get a great dinner time for Akershus on 180+4. So I think you have some good chances at scoring these!! We’re doing as much princess meals as we could fit- my girls are 2, 4, and 6

 

[Tksolomom]

I just checked because my booking window opened today. Akershus is available for lunch now, but CRT is not. You could always use the Touring Plans reservations finder. It will text you when a reservation opens up, but you have to reserve it as soon as you get the text or it will be gone. Unfortunately sometimes they come up in the middle of the night so you might have to re-enter them. I love 1900 Park Fare as well, as do my husband and kids (DS 18 and DD 14). The stepsisters especially are very funny.

 

[hawaiilife]

CRT opened up tons of ADR's for September yesterday when I was looking. There's no way there were that many cancellations occurred, so anything is possible. I noticed this has happened with BOG in the past. Keep checking, anything is possible.

 

[BMAEC]

CRT opened up tons of ADR's for September yesterday when I was looking. There's no way there were that many cancellations occurred, so anything is possible. I noticed this has happened with BOG in the past. Keep checking, anything is possible.

That’s very interesting! I’m still hoping for a BOG lunch. Those were completely gone by the time my window opened. I’ve got the TP finder set

 

[dachsie]

Thanks for the encouragement, but ... looking at threads here for people whose ADR window has already opened and overlaps ours, it seems like CRT is pretty much fully-booked (until people start canceling, anyway). Just trying to work out alternatives.

But, I didn't realize that 1900 PF offered a Cinderella dinner. That's a great option, thanks!

I dont know if they still do it but around 4pm Cinderella and Prince Charming lead kids down the staircase at GF and then they dance in the lobby before heading to 1900 PF.

 

[uncleozzy]

Just to update, we managed to get Akershus for 180+3 this morning, which will be just fine. I was thinking to coordinate BBB and the princess meal, but I don't think an 8am BBB reservation and then a monorail ride would be particularly fun for the kids (get on a bus at 7am! Get on a monorail at 9am! Make your 10am Fastpass slot for FEA! Make your 12pm lunch! It's a lot of marching orders).

The one bummer today was that we couldn't get 50s or Sci-Fi on arrival evening. They're booked solid, it seems.