Help with ADR's

[Wendydagny]

We are planning a last minute trip with our youngest daughter (4) from July 29- August 1. She is disabled and does not eat at all, but she loves Disney and the princesses. We have been before on a MAW trip, but we wanted to bring her back alone (we have five other kids) for the "one more trip" that hopefully won't be just one more trip. Dh and I just want to eat well.

We are staying at the GF and purchased the deluxe dining plan, and we opted to purchase the plan for her as well (not really an option to not though) to cover her two character meals and to eat her snacks. Our general park plan is to spend the mornings in the places where we have more rides/lines to deal with, and hop to see shows or just sightsee in Epcot in the afternoons.

So far this is are plan:

7/29:
Arrive mid-morning, head to AK after check in
Lunch with snack credits and maybe a QS kids meal we steal from our daughter, lol
Current ADR is 7:40 at Narcoosee's, but seriously considering swapping it for Jiko-- is it still an option to sub for the filet and mac and cheese that is no longer on the menu?

7/30: MK in the morning
8:15 CRT
1:00 MK BBB
8:00 California Grill

7/31:MK in the morning
1:00 Les Chefs de France
6:55 Akershus

8/1:HS in the morning
12:00 Brown Derby
Leaving mid afternoon to start a leisurely drive home.

I have a little dilemma-- right now I have us scheduled for 10 credits, and we only get 9. I don't know what to cut though. A friend suggested we just pay for the France meal (which I really want to try) OOP, but it seems like such a waste when we have dd's counter service meals and all those snacks available. I would switch the Brown Derby ressie, as that's our least favorite, but I don't like 50's prime time, and Sci Fi would be difficult with dd. We need to do TS meals because dd needs to be inside if possible.

Any tips or solutions for me??

 

[Nadjalu]

Sorry I can't offer any tips as to which to dump. Maybe pay OOP for 1 and add a lunch somewhere???

I can say that I hope you have a magical trip and I do hope it isn't your last with her. Take care and enjoy every minute of this trip!!

 

[MichiganMomto4]

What about Mama Melrose instead of Brown Derby? We've only been once but really enjoyed it.

I hope your trip is magical

 

[sharonabe]

What about changing California Grill to 1900 Park Fare? You would get to see Cindy and her prince. I know it's not as nice as CG, but your daughter might enjoy it more and it would take care of that extra credit.

 

[happytexasmom]

What about changing California Grill to 1900 Park Fare? You would get to see Cindy and her prince. I know it's not as nice as CG, but your daughter might enjoy it more and it would take care of that extra credit.[/QUOTE


she would get to meet the Prince and the royal step family wich I thought was realy cool

 

[Wendydagny]

Unfortunately dh said no to 1900 park faire-- we really don't enjoy eating at buffets, and we are already doing two princess meals.

Also, our cali grill time should allow us to see the fireworks in a way that would be enjoyable for her.

I think what I have decided to do is swap our plans around a bit and do this:

7/29:
Arrive and check in before noon
AK
6:25 dinner at Jiko
Option to visit the MK at night if we are up for it

7/30:
8:15 am CRT
MK in the morning
1:00 MK BBB
Probably hop to Epcot in the afternoon if we feel like it/have time
8:00 California Grill

7/31:
HS in the morning (the only two things we really want to do are TSM, meet Pixar characters and the new Star Tours....anything else we get in is bonus)
1:00 Les Chefs de France
6:55 Akershus

8/1:
MK in the morning
12:30 Liberty Tree Tavern
Leave when we feel like it in the afternoon

This works out in terms of credits, and probably better with crowds because we are avoiding the morning EMH parks, whereas before we were scheduled in sync with them.

I'm thinking this is a better plan, and now I just need to work on spending those 18 snack credits. Any tips for great lunchtime goodies at AK and breakfast at MK or HS?

 

[DisneySarah80]

You really had to purchase a DDP for her even though she doesn't eat? I've been on the DISabilities forum, and I think I've read that you can get around this. Head over there, and see what they say - its worth a shot! You shouldn't have to pay for food that no one is going to eat.

 

[Wendydagny]

I think we MAYBE could have argued with the booking agent and not got her a dining plan, but I doubt it. I did have this conversation with the booking people last fall (we ended up going on a MAW trip so it ended up not mattering), and the policy was one dining plan per person in your party. If we were taking our other kids, it would have been fine because they would just use her credits.

The issue on this trip is that Disney requires that you pay for the "experience" of the character meal if you are older than 2 even if you are not eating. The guy on the phone felt terrible when I was booking them, especially after he asked his supervisor for a way around the situation. He actually suggested we just lie and say she is two. But that is the policy, and I've seen others complain about it too. Since the price for dd at CRT+Akershus was similar to the cost of the dining plan for our stay, we opted to just do the dining plan for her. We'll eat her snacks. Maybe I'll order her dessert at every meal for kicks.

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

I have a little dilemma-- right now I have us scheduled for 10 credits, and we only get 9. I don't know what to cut though. A friend suggested we just pay for the France meal (which I really want to try) OOP, but it seems like such a waste when we have dd's counter service meals and all those snacks available. I would switch the Brown Derby ressie, as that's our least favorite, but I don't like 50's prime time, and Sci Fi would be difficult with dd. We need to do TS meals because dd needs to be inside if possible.

Any tips or solutions for me??

Just curious about your comment on counter service meals for your daughter.

If you have the deluxe dining plan, and you are required to have the same plan for all 3 of you, then where are you thinking you will have counter service meals for her? Your plan would include 3 credits/meals per day -- regardless if they are table or counter service.

Perhaps you are saying you will be using the credits you HAVE to for the character meals ... understood because like you said you are paying for the character experience ... but then not using any credits at the other restaurants that are only for meals (Jiko, Liberty Tree, etc.)

Then, you will have child credits left to use, but no adult, and you can use them to purchase counter service meals for her ... but you can then eat. That makes sense.

As far as snack options at MK & HS for breakfast items, use them at the bakeries -- Main St. Bakery & Starring Rolls! They have such yummy treats, I would for sure make that my choice. Not sure on AK options for lunch using snack credits ... maybe some egg rolls and they also have a small bakery off of Tusker House. Fresh fruit is also a snack option.

Hope your family has a great time!

 

[Wendydagny]

Just curious about your comment on counter service meals for your daughter.

If you have the deluxe dining plan, and you are required to have the same plan for all 3 of you, then where are you thinking you will have counter service meals for her? Your plan would include 3 credits/meals per day -- regardless if they are table or counter service.

Perhaps you are saying you will be using the credits you HAVE to for the character meals ... understood because like you said you are paying for the character experience ... but then not using any credits at the other restaurants that are only for meals (Jiko, Liberty Tree, etc.)

Then, you will have child credits left to use, but no adult, and you can use them to purchase counter service meals for her ... but you can then eat. That makes sense.

As far as snack options at MK & HS for breakfast items, use them at the bakeries -- Main St. Bakery & Starring Rolls! They have such yummy treats, I would for sure make that my choice. Not sure on AK options for lunch using snack credits ... maybe some egg rolls and they also have a small bakery off of Tusker House. Fresh fruit is also a snack option.

Hope your family has a great time!

Yes, exactly. We will have 6 kids credits, that we can use to get a CS kids meal for her that she can't eat. I don't know what the rules are about this, but it seems like if we are forced to pay for it because of Disney's policies, I'm guessing someone should be able to eat it in our party, right?