Gah, where do I even start?

[JenniK1135]

I have a general list of the restaurants I think I want, but trying to balance that with the best days for various parks, EMH, and other things is overwhelming. We have the dining plan but are not park hopping and we have 3 kids ages 2 and under. Help!

 

[JenniK1135]

Posted too soon, sorry.

Wanted to ask, does time make ADRs easier to get? My kids are used to eating between 5 and 6, so I am hoping that means reservations might be more readily available at those times?

Also, we're going from weds. oct 21 to weds. oct 28. The restaurants I think I want are

The luau at the Polynesian
Chef Mickey's
Hollywood & Vine (bc of the characters for the kids - do we need ADRs here?)
Le Cellier (our kids will eat anything - will they be okay here atmosphere wise?)
Cinderella's Royal Table (hoping to do lunch here on the day DD does BBB)

I also would like to add in a hibachi grill type place and an italian place.

Help?

 

[ajleone]

I always book ADR's without worrying about anything else. I don't plan park days so I use my ADR's kinda as a guide for the week. Also not sure if you know or not but you have a couple of 2 TS meals listed. In my experience most of the earlier meals are the first to go. So you'll probably want to make your ADR's first thing on your 90 day mark to try to get the best times for you. The one thing that is going to help you is that Oct. is definitely a slower month( at least usually- although who knows with how things are going this year)

 

[ilandrazdsw]

When we booked I made up a calendar with what parks what days (9 park days/10 nights), where we wanted to go when (had DxDP). I called at 7:30 am (when it was still 180 days out) and just went day by day. I was rather flexible on times and had back-ups if needed for the park we would be in. For the most part we were able to get everything we wanted. You may want to start with what you have your heart set on when talking to the CM.

You will need ADRs for H&V and the characters are there for only B & L. We had ADRs for 11 am. It was the first lunch seating so all the food was hot and it was not very crowded (as people came in) so we got to see the characters several times as they made rounds.

Chef Mickeys was good for both B & D.

CRT was good for lunch (preferred B) and DD loved eating at the castle with the princesses.

We ate lunch at Tony's Town Square. It was good (has some mixed reviews). The kids enjoyed their meals and our CM was fantastic!

If you can't get into CRT, Crystal Palace is also good...if you are looking for a princess meal remember Akershaus in Epcot (our lunch was YUMMY!).

 

[catne]

not sure the luau at the Polynesian would be a good match for 3 kids age 2 & under...that's a long dinner show, not really aimed at little kids. And it's two table service per person - would be a real bummer if you had to leave early because it was too much for the kids. Maybe 'Ohana at the Poly would be a better fit with the little ones -- activities aimed at kids during the meal there, and doesn't usually take that long to eat there.

Ditto with CRT - not that great of a meal for 2 TS, and with kids that young, would think it would be a waste of TS credits - child under three isn't going to notice a big difference between princesses here or princesses elsewhere, so why not go for the 1 TS meal instead? If you're looking for a princess meal, head over to Epcot/Akershus Princess meals...that's only 1 TS per person and still get lots of princesses - plus there's a bit of a cold buffet so better chance your little ones will have something they like to eat there..

With little ones, I would think they'd enjoy the Winnie the Pooh characters at Crystal Palace buffet in the Magic Kingdom.

Don't think I'd take three little ones to Le Cellier -- it's dark & intimate in there, not much for kids to see or do. The little ones I've seen there were not enjoying themselves (and generally letting the rest of the people in the restaurant know about it, too.) I'd save that one for when they're older and stick with the places that are more likely to provide some "entertainment" value with the meal (like Coral Reef -- has the aquariums, or Garden Grill -- has characters & the revolving view of Living With the Land ride.)

You do need ADRs at the buffets - they are all very popular (especially the character ones.)

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Wanted to ask, does time make ADRs easier to get? My kids are used to eating between 5 and 6, so I am hoping that means reservations might be more readily available at those times?

'Off' times are much easier to get. They don't have more ressies available for peak times, sadly. Getting times between 5 and 6 for the high demand ADRs (CRT, Le Cellier) might be near impossible unless you have amazing luck when you call. Be VERY flexible when you guys eat. Sometimes we had dinner at 4:30/4:45...sometimes we had dinner at 8:30. All depends on the park times and chaos. Enjoy!

 

[ajleone]

not sure the luau at the Polynesian would be a good match for 3 kids age 2 & under...that's a long dinner show, not really aimed at little kids. And it's two table service per person - would be a real bummer if you had to leave early because it was too much for the kids. Maybe 'Ohana at the Poly would be a better fit with the little ones -- activities aimed at kids during the meal there, and doesn't usually take that long to eat there.

Ditto with CRT - not that great of a meal for 2 TS, and with kids that young, would think it would be a waste of TS credits - child under three isn't going to notice a big difference between princesses here or princesses elsewhere, so why not go for the 1 TS meal instead? If you're looking for a princess meal, head over to Epcot/Akershus Princess meals...that's only 1 TS per person and still get lots of princesses - plus there's a bit of a cold buffet so better chance your little ones will have something they like to eat there..

With little ones, I would think they'd enjoy the Winnie the Pooh characters at Crystal Palace buffet in the Magic Kingdom.

I second this!

 

[lacy1101]

I have a general list of the restaurants I think I want, but trying to balance that with the best days for various parks, EMH, and other things is overwhelming. We have the dining plan but are not park hopping and we have 3 kids ages 2 and under. Help!

I feel your pain! We are not park hopping either, which makes it more difficult, but in looking at my itinerary, we are actually only eating 1 TS meal in a park so that makes mine a bit easier to work out. I am trying to make sure the restaurants are in close proximity to whatever park we happen to be in that day and it seems to be working out pretty good so far:

Arrival day - Epcot PM EMH; visiting the different booths during F&W
Day 2 - AK; dinner at WCC
Day 3 - MK; dinner at O'hana
Day 4 - DHS; lunch at ESPN Cafe on Boardwalk (taking boat from DHS)
Day 5 - Universal; dinner at California Grille
Day 6 - Universal and AK PM EMH; no TS this day
Day 7 - Epcot and MNSSHP; late lunch/early dinner at Kona Cafe or Chef Mickey's
Day 8 - DHS; late lunch/early dinner at 50s PT Cafe
Day 9 (last day) - Kids pick park; dinner at Narcoossee's.

This, of course, is subject to change (as I've already changed it several times and am still 4 months out!

 

[sherylcin]

I agree with the posters who say that the food at CRT is nothing to write home about. However, I have to say that my three granddaughters were thrilled to go there for lunch after their BBB appointments. I think I might be tempted to pay cash there and use the extra TS meal elsewhere. For what it's worth I think their breakfast is better than lunch.

We do an every other year trip with our whole family (5 - almost 6 - grandkids) and they always LOVE the buffet at both Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace. The characters at both places are recognizable even for very young kids.

Hope you have a wonderful trip --- planning is half the fun!!