How to celebrate without Character Meal ADR

[pepperderr]

We were originally planning to go to Disney in the summer and have moved it up to April over DS birthday. So money will be tighter than expected probably. We are not doing the dining plan. We don't have any ADR's (not sure where I would want to go) and no character meals are planned. We still want to do something special for DS 7th birthday.

We will get there sometime on the 21st of April. Might be 8pm or later we don't know cause we are driving (from PA). So the first day we don't expect to be feeling like doing much. We will get to ASMo on the 21st and stay till the 23rd. The 23rd is his actual birthday but we are switching to Shades of Green that day too. We will probably check out of ASMo, drive to the park and then check in at SOG after we go to the park that day.

My mom is going along and will have her own room, hopefully right next to us. She said she could have her room decorated for his birthday and then just ask us to go to her room for a minute. We want to surprise him with a cake but do they deliver to SOG? If they do, who do we order from? I am thinking a Mickey Face cake. Can we have the balloons and other special stuff the show on the website delivered to SOG?

If we don't order a special cake sent to the room, is there a way to make one of our meals special if we don't have reservations somewhere? The last time we just did counter service the whole time and had more than enough for us.

I think the Poly is close to SOG. I am not sure what they have there if you need ADRs but I don't know that we could get any this close to time either. I think the last time we were there we sat in a bakery at MK while we waited for the fireworks. Would they have any kind of cake like that?

I just want to do something special but I am at a loss as to what if we don't get ADRs somewhere. Any suggestions on what to do? I am sure he will be happy even without a cake. He is very, very into Toy Story and dressing up like a cowboy. He considers himself a cowboy and even takes horse riding lessons every week.

Thanks!

pepperderr

 

[irongirlof12]

ah..what to do! make sure you get a birthday button at the park you visit. have you thought about whispering canons at wilderness lodge that has a wild west cowboy theme. You should be able to order a cake on the day at the podium. i think it will be sara lee type treasure chest for boys, but he might even get a cupcake free, but you can't expect that, it all depends on the service that day. most table service places wil try to do something nice for a birthday treat. have a wonderful time.

 

[Trinityloo]

You should try for ADRs if you want them because it is not too late to get them for April. I have been able to book character dining for my trip at the end of Feb just 2 nights ago.

 

[pepperderr]

I will have to look into Whispering Canyons. I wasn't aware of that. It sounds like something he would just LOVE. I will have to see what food they offer. Do All table service require ADRs? Where is Wilderness Lodge in reguards to SOG or ASMo? Thanks!

pepperderr

 

[Trinityloo]

I will have to look into Whispering Canyons. I wasn't aware of that. It sounds like something he would just LOVE. I will have to see what food they offer. Do All table service require ADRs? Where is Wilderness Lodge in reguards to SOG or ASMo? Thanks!

pepperderr

I can`t help you with where the Wilderness Lodge is in regards to those resorts but it is better to be safe than sorry with the ADRs. You can walk up to see if they have tables available, but many, if not most, of the restaurants get booked up ahead if time.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

try cape may cafe character breakfast, it seems reasonably priced compared to the others.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

tusker house breakfast also seems reasonably priced. check the adr cancelled threads and something should come up.

 

[pepperderr]

Thanks. I think my goal for today will be to check into more info about those restaurants you mentioned and see how ADR's work. We are planning to be much more relaxed this time around so it would be kinda nice to have at least one ADR somewhere especially for DS birthday. When I first started here before our last trip I had no idea what FP's were and they made me nervous. I never made ADR's before because I was nervous. Maybe it is time to get past that now too.

pepperderr

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

I can`t help you with where the Wilderness Lodge is in regards to those resorts but it is better to be safe than sorry with the ADRs. You can walk up to see if they have tables available, but many, if not most, of the restaurants get booked up ahead if time.

I don't know about walk up, but you should still be able to get WCC...and you will love it. It is so loud and boisterous, and the food was delicious! Brisket, sausage, pulled pork, potatoes, homestyle veggies, and bottomless milkshakes!

When we went on free dining last time and were late in booking, thus late in making ADRs, we were able to get this and gave it a try...SO fun and we're planning on going back again.

Also, I agree with the PP about the birthday button, everyone, everywhere will wish him a happy birthday and most TS restaurants will give him a free dessert. Every restaurant does different things. For my DD's b-day (granted these are character dining) she got a ginormous cupcake w/ candle, a princess crown, and a card signed by Cinderella from 1900 PF. Then she got a dessert (don't remember what it was) and a special placemate signed by Pooh and friends from CP.

 

[gibsontrio]

The Poly is right across the street from the SOG. You could definitely make ADR at Ohana there now (I booked last week for the week before you get there)The breakfast is a character breakfast. Also , I know there are several grocery store websites that will delivery to SOG (just no frozen foods) Worst case you could always go to the restaurants at the SOG and let them know its your sons Bday, i'm sure they wouldnt mind singing to him

 

[gibsontrio]

I checked for you , there is a 9:15, 9:30, and a 9:45 at Ohana on the 23rd of April. I would book it and if you want to go you are all set, if not no big deal

 

[pepperderr]

Ohana's for breakfast sounds good for us. We all love a cooked breakfast. All ears says it is 25.00 per adult and 14.00 per child. Does that still sound about right? Is there anything extra to pay for beside tip? The dinner doesn't sound like something any of us would like. gibsontrio, I really appreciate you checking for me. Thanks.

But what I was just thinking was for breakfast we will just be checking out of All Star Movies, go to the parks and then check into SOG after we are done at the parks that day. So we would either have to drive to the Poly from ASMo or wait until the morning of the 24th to do the breakast. Where is Poly from ASMo? DH has a GPS so I am sure we will find it.

Donalds Breakfast at Tusker House looks more reasonable price if we are not going to get charged extra for Easter time. Either way, DS 11 loves Goofy and DH loves Donald Duck and with Mickey also being there I think everyone would be happy. So I will look into that eventually too. I have to figure out where you call or where you go to make the reservations. Right now I can't go upstairs or downstairs to use the phone because of the kids being here. I will have to see what day we are planning to already be at AK too. I didn't make any park plans yet.

I think I will talk to my mom, about it, make the reservations if I can get any, then see how much we get back for income tax. DH doens't get his W2 till the 24th. That will let me know if I still want to spend the extra money to go to a character meal. My kids have never been to one so they don't yet know what they are missing but it sure would be nice to do it.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions!

pepperderr

 

[ashg8r]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/

You can do your ADR's online, so you don't even have to talk to anyone on the phone!

 

[pepperderr]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/

You can do your ADR's online, so you don't even have to talk to anyone on the phone!

Thanks! Since I know I can cancle if we don't want to do it, I made reservations for Chef Mickey's on the 23rd and Tuskers House on the 23rd. If we don't go those days I made one for Ohana's on the 24th. They are all for breakfast but we will do only one. Then I made one for Whispering Canyon on the 27th for dinner just because I think DS 7 will love it!

I still have to do my park plans and find out which day we will be there to see if Donald's breakfast works for that day or not and for sure if the dinner will work on the 27th. That will probably be tomorrow's goal.

I can't believe I did that . Thanks again everyone!

pepperderr