Help Me Make Some ADR Choices

[adamreisinger]

I posted this over in my pre-trip report, but I figured I'd enlist the expertise of the restaurants sub-forum as well, as I approach my 180-day mark and need to narrow down some choices for my trip in December.

I'm trying to try all new places this trip (with one exception), so here's a list of restaurants I'd like to avoid: 1900 PF, BOG, B&C, Chef Mickey's, Coral Reef, Crystal Palace, GF Cafe, Hollywood & Vine, Kona, Le Cellier, Mama Melrose's, O'hana, Rainforest Cafe, Rose & Crown Pub, Splitsville, Tony's, Trattoria al Forno, Tusker House, Via Napoli, The Wave, Whispering Canyon Cafe. Anything else, I'm pretty much game for.

December 29 (arrival day)
Lunch/Dinner - Hollywood Brown Derby

Assuming I stick with the plan to stay with my parents the night before, I'll probably drive up at some point in the morning, grab some beignets when I drop my stuff off at Port Orleans - Riverside, then do as my one ADR for the day a late lunch/early dinner Fantasmic Dining Package at Hollywood Brown Derby. I was going to do this package last December, but changed it to Hollywood & Vine when I found out my sister would be joining me, since that was a little less expensive (and I was paying for both of us).

December 30 (Magic Kingdom day)
Breakfast - ???
Lunch - Liberty Tree Tavern
Dinner - Jungle Navigation or Diamond Horseshoe

Since my plan is to be in the park at midnight for fireworks (hopefully with some kind of paid dessert party to reserve a good spot), I'm thinking of having breakfast somewhere outside the Magic Kingdom. Since there's nowhere at Port Orleans that does breakfast reservations, I'm thinking of hopping over to one of the other resorts. Right now I'm leaning toward Boma, since I missed out on it when I stayed at AKL in May, but I'm open to other suggestions. To avoid some of the obvious ones, I've already done O'hana, Kona Cafe, and 1900 Park Fare, so I'm good on those.

December 31 (Epcot day)
Breakfast - Akershus
Lunch - Rose & Crown
Dinner - Chefs de France

The only one I'm dead-set on here is Akershus. I love my Princesses so much, and though I've done CRT a bunch, I've never been able to land reservations for this one. I could also be persuaded to leave Epcot via the International Gateway for lunch at the Boardwalk or Yacht Club or Beach Club (though I've already done Beaches & Cream). I wouldn't necessarily mind spending all day in the park, especially since I can grab some chill time in the DVC Member Lounge, but getting out for lunch and some Boardwalk time might not be the worst thing either.

January 1 (Park-hopper day)
Breakfast - Cinderella's Royal Table (MK)
Lunch - Sci-Fi Dine-In (DHS)
App/drink - Somewhere on World Showcase (Epcot)
Dinner - Tiffins or Yak & Yeti (AK)

Again, breakfast is non-negotiable here -- though I could be convinced to flip it to dinner and do an AK breakfast instead. Otherwise I'm open to suggestion for anything else. The key for the Epcot stop is to get a place where I can get a good app and drink or dessert and drink, since I won't be having a full meal. So probably none of the signature places. I'm leaning toward Restaurant Marrakesh or San Angel Inn right now.

January 2 (Departure day)
Taking any and all suggestions! What are some of your favorites and why should I try them out? Originally when I first made my plans, this was going to be a QSR-only day, since I would've been hopping on a flight at some point, but now that it'll basically be a full day before I go to my parents' house, I might try to sneak in some more park time and another ADR or two. Or I could make it a Disney Springs day, do a restaurant there and a movie. Who knows? Either way, I want your input!

So between myself and the collective genius of everyone on this board, we've got 11 days to knock out a 100% solid plan that I can no doubt see blown to crap when I actually wake up and try to make all these ADRs on July 2. Let's have fun and get it done!

 

[JerseyJanice]

Do you really want three sit down meals per day? That's a lot of time to spend in restaurants.

 

[Shanti]

Do you really want three sit down meals per day? That's a lot of time to spend in restaurants.

That's just what I was going to say. 2 meals and a snack are all we can eat at WDW each day. Anything else is just too much food.

 

[adamreisinger]

Do you really want three sit down meals per day? That's a lot of time to spend in restaurants.

For the most part, we're talking 14 to 16 hour days, so taking three total hours out of them to sit down isn't a bad thing in my eyes. Plus on the 31st and 1st, the breakfast meal is far more about the experience than the food.

 

[GillianP1301]

We do 3 TS meals most of our days and really enjoy it. Great food and built in breaks, it's perfect for us really. Plus the restaurants are like attractions themselves so I'm always trying to fit in as many as possible. So I totally say go for it for 3 a day, if that's what you want.

As for your question on suggestions, I honestly think you have a fabulous line up. For your Dec 30th day, I was going to suggest a monorail resort, but it looks like you've done all of those restaurants already. Boma is really good, just a bit out of the way, but if the transportation isn't a concern for you then go for it. My only other suggestion is Cape May at Beach Club, it's a fun character meal and the breakfast buffets is one of our favourites. For the dinner, I would definitely go with Skippers's Canteen, we had an exceptional time there on our last trip and I highly recommend it, plus I'm pretty sure Diamond Horseshoe is similar food to Liberty Tree and you already have that for lunch.

The Jan 1st choice between Tiffins and Yak & Yeti is a tough one. I loved Yak & Yeti and although I thought Tiffins was really good, I was a bit underwhelmed by the overall experience. However, it is New Years Day, so having a bit of an extra special dining experience would probably win out for me and I'd go for the signature and Tiffins.

 

[IrishNYC]

Ditto the "too many sit downs" crowd. One is my limit, maybe two on a day where it's breakfast and dinner. Never three.

 

[JerseyJanice]

That's just what I was going to say. 2 meals and a snack are all we can eat at WDW each day. Anything else is just too much food.

Two meals and a snack is pretty much what we do, but rarely are the two meals at table service. More likely, we have lunch at a quick service for lunch and then do dinner as a sit-down meal.

For the most part, we're talking 14 to 16 hour days, so taking three total hours out of them to sit down isn't a bad thing in my eyes. Plus on the 31st and 1st, the breakfast meal is far more about the experience than the food.

Can you really do each meal in an hour or less? Between waiting to be seated and settling the check, we rarely get out of any place in less than 1 1/2 to 2 hours. You're talking about the busiest time of the year. It doesn't seem likely that you won't be waiting for tables.

 

[Shanti]

Ditto the "too many sit downs" crowd. One is my limit, maybe two on a day where it's breakfast and dinner. Never three.

Yes, table service breakfast and dinner is our usual pattern, with a Mickey bar and/or popcorn in there somewhere in between.

 

[adamreisinger]

Two meals and a snack is pretty much what we do, but rarely are the two meals at table service. More likely, we have lunch at a quick service for lunch and then do dinner as a sit-down meal.



Can you really do each meal in an hour or less? Between waiting to be seated and settling the check, we rarely get out of any place in less than 1 1/2 to 2 hours. You're talking about the busiest time of the year. It doesn't seem likely that you won't be waiting for tables.

I'm a solo diner, so outside of character meals, it's exceedingly rare for a sit-down meal at WDW to take more than an hour for me.

As for the 3 meals in a day thing, let's approach it from this perspective: at the 180-day mark I want to have reservations made at 3 places I haven't tried before per day, giving me some flexibility heading into my actual trip. It's entirely likely based on my past experiences that I'll end up canceling some reservations and changing some others. Even if you think 3 is too many, then feel free to give me a recommendation on which 2 you'd pick per day.

Oh, and this might be blasphemy on this board (though I've said it in another thread): I can't stand the Mickey bars. There's something about them that just doesn't agree at all with my taste buds. So a sit-down meal, even a small one, is better for me than that.

 

[IrishNYC]

I'm a solo diner, so outside of character meals, it's exceedingly rare for a sit-down meal at WDW to take more than an hour for me.

As for the 3 meals in a day thing, let's approach it from this perspective: at the 180-day mark I want to have reservations made at 3 places I haven't tried before per day, giving me some flexibility heading into my actual trip. It's entirely likely based on my past experiences that I'll end up canceling some reservations and changing some others. Even if you think 3 is too many, then feel free to give me a recommendation on which 2 you'd pick per day.

Oh, and this might be blasphemy on this board (though I've said it in another thread): I can't stand the Mickey bars. There's something about them that just doesn't agree at all with my taste buds. So a sit-down meal, even a small one, is better for me than that.

I'm with you on the Mickey Bars - they're not worth it to me when there are other snacks to be had.

As for what I'd pick if I were doing 2 TS:

12/30 - just Skipper Canteen, maybe breakfast at Ohana or Chef Mickey if you want 2 TS and can get one of those. Maybe Kona Cafe.
12/31 - maybe change Rose & Crown to Yorkshire County Fish Shop. What I would do - snack my way around WS.
1/1 - Keep CRT and Tiffins, have a carrot cake cookie in DHS, snacks, apps, drinks, more drinks as needed in Epcot
1/2 - Pick something from above that you didn't do and do it this day

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think that you may want to spend all day at Epcot on 12/31 on the outside chance you can't get back in if the crowds are huge. IDK how likely that is at Epcot, but I would swear I've read that it has closed to additional guests on NYE. The DVC lounge for a break or two is a great idea.

Being that it's a holiday, you may want to consider a meal at the Biergarten or Teppan Edo where tables are shared so that you can interact with other people.

 

[Parker Clan]

How about Homecoming on your departure day? It's quite delicious

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

On Dec 30th - I would do Boma - we absolutely love BOMA. Also for the AK meal I would pick Yak and Yeti - it is so good.

 

[Shanti]

I can't stand the Mickey bars.

Sorry, but I won't be able to give useful advice to someone who doesn't like Mickey bars.

 

[adamreisinger]

Being that it's a holiday, you may want to consider a meal at the Biergarten or Teppan Edo where tables are shared so that you can interact with other people.

Other people? Ugh... (kidding! But as a solo diner, I'm always nervous about the big group settings)

How about Homecoming on your departure day? It's quite delicious

Multiple people have suggested Homecoming. I might have to give it a closer look.

 

[Shanti]

Duplicate post