Help picking ADRs

[CharissaOKC]

We are going on our first trip to WDW and taking our 2.5 year old son. We are going for 5 nights, staying on-site and on the DDP. Here are our current reservations.

Chef Mickey-dinner
BOG (QS)-lunch
Ohana- dinner
Garden Grill- breakfast
Crystal palace- Dinner
Tusker House- breakfast

We are going during Flower and Garden and plan on using lots of snacks credits that day.
Also I am unsure of Chef Mickeys and Crystal Palace? The reviews seem mixed so I have considered canceling one or both of them. Any suggestions??

 

[Hopefully]

First of all Welcome to the DIS

You will find both positive and negative reviews of every restaurant. I think your choices look good for your vacation.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Chef Mickey will have overlap with Tusker House characters, and with Garden Grill. Only character you miss by skipping CM is Minnie.

Crystal Palace is the Pooh gang, which has no dupe with GG or Tusker House, and I think very suitable for a 2.5 year old.

 

[CharissaOKC]

Thank you both for the replies! Chef mickeys is our dinner for our arrival night and I'm open to changing it. We are staying at Wilderness Lodge so we thought taking the boat to Contemporary for dinner would be a fun way to start our trip. We aren't using park tickets that night so any suggestions on places to eat our first night?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you can get it, Ohana is also at a resort. Chef Mickey would be a good opener, though.

Have you had experience with your child and costume characters before? It might also be good if you've not, because you can determine if your kid is terrified of them and start canceling and rearranging if you discover abject fear of large fur heads.

(Some kids do not like them. Quite noticeably.)

 

[CharissaOKC]

I was able to get a reservation for Boma for the same night as CM so I'm really considering canceling it. Boma is somewhere I think my DH and I would really like! What is the best way to get there from WL?

 

[DisneyNB]

You'll have to transfer at a park or Disney Springs... If it was me I would take the boat to MK then hop on the resort bus to AKL...

 

[jimmytammy]

Chef Mickey-dinner
BOG (QS)-lunch
Ohana- dinner
Garden Grill- breakfast
Crystal palace- Dinner
Tusker House- breakfast

Our DS was 5 his first trip. We did one Character meal. He freaked when Goofy cam by our table. He disappeared under the table and refused to come out until we left. I share this since you so many character meals planned. Kids at that age don't remember but I would maybe scale it back in case your 1st meal doesnt go well, you can have some other choices.
So here are my thoughts...keep Chef Mickey since its beginning of trip, that way you can judge how your child will react. If it goes well, keep all you have, otherwise, it may give you enough time to get some other ressies.
Ohana dinner is a keeper. BOG lunch, timing is awesome and worth checking out once for sure, food was just OK. We are trying dinner soon and heard good things.

 

[CharissaOKC]

Our DS was 5 his first trip. We did one Character meal. He freaked when Goofy cam by our table. He disappeared under the table and refused to come out until we left. I share this since you so many character meals planned. Kids at that age don't remember but I would maybe scale it back in case your 1st meal doesnt go well, you can have some other choices.
So here are my thoughts...keep Chef Mickey since its beginning of trip, that way you can judge how your child will react. If it goes well, keep all you have, otherwise, it may give you enough time to get some other ressies.
Ohana dinner is a keeper. BOG lunch, timing is awesome and worth checking out once for sure, food was just OK. We are trying dinner soon and heard good things.

I agree! When I first booked I was trying to get most bang for our buck since we are on DDP but my husband and I just had the convo that maybe we shouldn't do so many character meals! Any restaurant suggestions to replace a couple with?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I agree! When I first booked I was trying to get most bang for our buck since we are on DDP but my husband and I just had the convo that maybe we shouldn't do so many character meals! Any restaurant suggestions to replace a couple with?

It sounds like you are staying at Wilderness Lodge?

You really ought to do Whispering Canyon.

 

[IndianaRRT]

Crystal Palace is one of our absolute favorites! Characters are great, and there are many food choices so even the pickiest eater is happy. The restaurant is so bright and cheery too. It's our traditional breakfast on our last full day.

 

[biondagirl]

I agree since you're starting at WL, you should try Whispering Canyon. We loved in in 2015. I'm not doing it this year because ds and DH ate so much it killed our night.