How many ADR's?

[PrincessParty]

I am coming up on my 180 day window. We will be in WDW during Christmas. We are not doing the dining plan. I am wondering how many ADR's do most people make? 1 TS/Day? My fear is always having to rush to a meal. I know it will be crowded and feel I am prepared for that mentally, but I am concerned about not being able to ride an attraction as we will have to be on our way to a ADR. How do you plan ADR's? Thanks.

 

[wdjk4]

.....we plan what parks we will be attending on what days first (check park hours, determine what parks will be the most hectic, etc)....after that, we determine where we want to eat (example, schedule Crystal Palace for when we're in MK....we like Breakfast there the best)

...we've found Breakfasts are best for us, when in the parks, schedule a breakfast between 7am to 8am and get in early and beat the rush...by the time we're out of the meal, park either hasn't opened or will soon.

with fast pass options, we've never missed an attraction we wanted....if you plan a meal later in the day and haven't done an attraction you "must" do......chances are its a ride everyone wants and the fast pass return times will be after your meal (a few hours later) anyway.

 

[wdjk4]

.....we plan what parks we will be attending on what days first (check park hours, determine what parks will be the most hectic, etc)....after that, we determine where we want to eat (example, schedule Crystal Palace for when we're in MK....we like Breakfast there the best)

...we've found Breakfasts work great, when in the parks, schedule a breakfast between 7am to 8am if possible and get in early and beat the rush...by the time we're out of the meal, park either hasn't opened or will soon.

with fast pass options, we've never missed an attraction we wanted....if you plan a meal later in the day and haven't done an attraction you "must" do......chances are its a ride everyone wants and the fast pass return times will be after your meal (a few hours later) anyway.

our plans this Fall

Saturday - MK, Crystal Palace at 3:30 (will be arriving at around noon that day)
Sunday - MGM, doing Chef Mickey's at 6:45 for dinner (doing fantasmic later in week, park closes at 7:30 so we won't miss much)
Monday - Epcot - 1900 Park Fair at 4:45 (use Monorail to dinner and back to Epcot)
Tuesday - MK, Ohana breakfast at 8:20 (time not great, but others travelling with us love this....that's fine with us)
Wednesday - AK, Donald' Break at 8:00 (see everyone at EE)
Thursday - MGM, Hollywood and Vine at 5:30 as part of the fantasmic package.
Friday - NO TS meal...going to MK for most of day and heading home.

 

[Skylarr29]

We normally plan one TS meal a day. It is usually breakfast or dinner but mostly dinners. We enjoy spending the time together at the end of the day to relax and reflect. Ocassionally we will make 2 ADR's for one day and if we do that it will be for breakfast and dinner, that way we can split our day in half... morning/night activity wise.

 

[PortieOwner]

An alternative, especially for early opening mornings is to have an early breakfast snack in your room then hit the early open and do the attractions until crowds build around 10 or 1030am and then hit a big breakfast buffet. Take your time eating then head back to the hotel for pool time or a nap.

 

[MickeyNicki]

When DH and I go we eat breakfast at the food court in the resort, lunch is counter service or snacks and make a reservation for a nice dinner. This December DH wanted to try all the wonderful places for breakfast in addition to a great dinner so we are having breakfast at Kona Cafe, Whispering Canyon, Boma and 1900 Park Fare. We probably wont want lunch! For dinner we are going to Boma, Le Cellier and Mama Melrose.

Now in October we are going with my sisters 2 girls so we are doing all character breakfasts, Crystal Palace, Princess Storybook and Donald Breakfastsorous and having counter service for lunch and dinner since the girls are picky eaters.

 

[PrincessParty]

Thanks for all the replies. I know that there is no such thing as overplanning, but I just didn't know how many TS to plan in a day as I know with the crowds CS might have longer lines than the attractions. Plus, didn't want to "miss" something to go to too many ADR's. (I am rambling.) Thanks again.