Going Deluxe in January and Having Trouble Deciding

[sophie832]

We're doing the DxDDP in January, and I'm still tweaking our ADRs. I'm having trouble deciding what to do on our last day.

We're leaving MCO at 7:35pm, which means ME pick-up won't be until 4:35pm. That means we can do either breakfast or lunch on our last day.

Here's our current list of restaurants:

Breakfast
Chef Mickey's
Kona Cafe
1900 PF
Boma
O'hana

Lunch
Le Cellier
Brown Derby

Dinner
California Grill
Citrico's
Narcoosee's
Jiko
Yachtsman's Steakhouse
CRT
Rose & Crown

O'hana for breakfast is what I have scheduled on our last day. Not too sure I want to do that breakfast, though, since I've heard it's more about the character experience there, and we met Lilo & Stitch on our Dec. trip. Then I started looking at the options, and we could do an early lunch at CRT on our last day. That would open up the CRT night for a 1 TS dinner restaurant. Or, alternatively, we could just switch O'hana to something else.

We are staying at WL, so on the last day, we plan on checking out and stowing our bags while we go the parks (or lunch, etc.).

So, should we try O'hana for dinner instead of breakfast? I've heard mixed things about the food there. Or, we could do Via Napoli for lunch, or dinner at one of our favs from our last trip like Coral Reef or Tutto Italia? The choices are killing me!

There's also value to consider, though. Dinner at CRT does cost more than lunch, and I noticed that the menu for lunch is different than dinner (no appetizer choice, but Major Domo's Pie is offered). So, maybe we shouldn't switch CRT, and should just change what we do on our last day.

 

[sophie832]

Replying to my own post here, but now I'm wondering if we should even do CRT, or change it to Flying Fish?

We are just 2 adults, and I thought eating inside the castle would be amazing. We're not really going for the character/princess interaction, although that's fine too. We did Akershus on our last trip, so we saw some Princesses there. The reviews seem to say CRT is great for atmosphere (inside the Castle), great for being with the Princesses, and so-so on food. Is it worth the 2 TS credits pp for adults-only?

DH is not a huge fish fan, though. We originally had an ADR for FF, but I changed it to YS because he loves steak. I know FF has other items on the menu, though.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

I've never been to CRT, so I'm not of much help there, but we did have an absolutely fantastic time at Jiko - I would definitely recommend keeping that reservation! Narcoosees has a beautiful view of MK and the castle (I hadn't even considered that when making the reservation there, but when we sat down instantly realized how special it is to dine and see the castle in the distance).

 

[sophie832]

I've never been to CRT, so I'm not of much help there, but we did have an absolutely fantastic time at Jiko - I would definitely recommend keeping that reservation! Narcoosees has a beautiful view of MK and the castle (I hadn't even considered that when making the reservation there, but when we sat down instantly realized how special it is to dine and see the castle in the distance).

Well at least you are making me feel better about some of our signature ressies. I just keep thinking about the restaurants that made us happiest on our recent trip, and none of those involved characters.

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Well at least you are making me feel better about some of our signature ressies. I just keep thinking about the restaurants that made us happiest on our recent trip, and none of those involved characters.

Personally, I'm not too big on the character meals (but I'm also not travelling with children, and don't have a big interest in meeting the characters anyways). I prefer the quieter atmosphere of the character-free meals (not just signature places, although those were very enjoyable!)

Ultimately, it's where you think you'd be happiest and most comfortable at. I can't even begin to imagine how many times I made and cancelled dining reservations before this trip! I'm sure you're going to have some great meals, especially on the DDXP!

 

[rogattdm]

Hilarious that as I was reading thru your reservations - I noticed we have almost the same ones! We're going to Disney in January as well, and I think you've picked great ones! We leave MCO at 8:30pm and haven chosen to do a late lunch at Tony's Town Square at 2:35pm. I have heard Via Napoli is incredible. Maybe we'll see you there!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would not change you CRT. Doubt you could get anything else there at this late a date and it really is neat dinning there. Do you want to repeat any favorite park that last day??

I really do not think I would do another Character breakfast that last am. You have several. I would either look to a nice early lunch at the park you want to visit or a MK resort TS to avoid being rushed for time. Maybe Grand Floridan Cafe??

 

[sophie832]

Hilarious that as I was reading thru your reservations - I noticed we have almost the same ones! We're going to Disney in January as well, and I think you've picked great ones! We leave MCO at 8:30pm and haven chosen to do a late lunch at Tony's Town Square at 2:35pm. I have heard Via Napoli is incredible. Maybe we'll see you there!

I guess we both picked some great reservations then! Not sure yet what we're doing on our last day, but we're still open to changing our O'hana breakfast ADR to an early lunch ADR, so maybe we'll end up at Via Napoli. We'll see!

Personally, I'm not too big on the character meals (but I'm also not travelling with children, and don't have a big interest in meeting the characters anyways). I prefer the quieter atmosphere of the character-free meals (not just signature places, although those were very enjoyable!)

Ultimately, it's where you think you'd be happiest and most comfortable at. I can't even begin to imagine how many times I made and cancelled dining reservations before this trip! I'm sure you're going to have some great meals, especially on the DDXP!

I am a really bad ADR-changer. I tweak them way too often. The hard part with this upcoming trip is that reservations are a lot easier to come by, so I have too many options! I think we will have some great meals. I think I'm looking forward to the food as much as the rest of the vacation!

I would not change you CRT. Doubt you could get anything else there at this late a date and it really is neat dinning there. Do you want to repeat any favorite park that last day??

I really do not think I would do another Character breakfast that last am. You have several. I would either look to a nice early lunch at the park you want to visit or a MK resort TS to avoid being rushed for time. Maybe Grand Floridan Cafe??

Turns out there is a lot more availability in ADRs this time of year (low crowds in Jan/Feb I guess), so there's not much trouble in switching. We decided to go with FF instead, just because of character burn-out and the fact that we vow to go back to WDW with our children someday. I think CRT will be even better then.

I think you're right about doing a character breakfast on the last day. We've been thinking about Grand Floridian Cafe as an option, too. Still not sure where, but I think we're 90% on canceling O'hana.

 

[ccrosner]

I love being at MK our last day and DD14 and I had a 'food orgy' lunch at The Plaza on our last day last week ('boys' had gone over to IOA for the day). Great sandwiches and then an awesomely delicious Brownie Sundae for dessert.

I wouldn't do CRT for dinner as I like to have a glass of wine with my meal and there isn't such a thing in MK. And as much as I'm a kid at heart, I don't think I need to do CRT with a million young excited kids and use 2 TS.

LOVED Jiko!!!! Plan to spend some time there. The resort is gorgeous and the food and service were wonderful!

 

[GailT]

We're doing the DxDDP in January, and I'm still tweaking our ADRs. I'm having trouble deciding what to do on our last day.

We're leaving MCO at 7:35pm, which means ME pick-up won't be until 4:35pm. That means we can do either breakfast or lunch on our last day.

Here's our current list of restaurants:

Breakfast
Chef Mickey's
Kona Cafe
1900 PF
Boma
O'hana

Lunch
Le Cellier
Brown Derby

Dinner
California Grill
Citrico's
Narcoosee's
Jiko
Yachtsman's Steakhouse
CRT
Rose & Crown

O'hana for breakfast is what I have scheduled on our last day. Not too sure I want to do that breakfast, though, since I've heard it's more about the character experience there, and we met Lilo & Stitch on our Dec. trip. Then I started looking at the options, and we could do an early lunch at CRT on our last day. That would open up the CRT night for a 1 TS dinner restaurant. Or, alternatively, we could just switch O'hana to something else.

We are staying at WL, so on the last day, we plan on checking out and stowing our bags while we go the parks (or lunch, etc.).

So, should we try O'hana for dinner instead of breakfast? I've heard mixed things about the food there. Or, we could do Via Napoli for lunch, or dinner at one of our favs from our last trip like Coral Reef or Tutto Italia? The choices are killing me!

There's also value to consider, though. Dinner at CRT does cost more than lunch, and I noticed that the menu for lunch is different than dinner (no appetizer choice, but Major Domo's Pie is offered). So, maybe we shouldn't switch CRT, and should just change what we do on our last day.

on my last day before leaving for the airport to come back home we ate breakfast in Ohanas and loved it, I paln on doing the same thing this year

 

[itradehilton]

I love all of the great dinner choices. I would pick a nice TS place where I can sit back and relax with a great meal before dealing with airport lines. Kind of like a transition back into reality.

 

[TruBlu]

How about Whispering Canyon for breakfast after you check out? I've heard that breakfast there is really good.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

For my trip in May I am ending it with breakfast at Ohana.. I also have a 7:00pm flight home.. I decided to do an early breakfast, but am not doing any parks on my last day.. We will ask for a late check out and then hang at the pool until its time to get ready to leave.. I am also staying at the Poly though and thus the reason for having breakfast at Ohana..

But, if you are up for running around on your last day, then I wouldnt do breakfast, I would do a lunch.. Since you are on the DXDP I would totally do Flying Fish.. but, that's just me..