I think I am set with our ADRs... thoughts?

[Jessirip]

We are a family of 4 with a 6 year old girl and 3 year old boy on the regular dining plan in 2018. Here's our current plan...

Saturday - arrival day late afternoon. Snacks and dinner at AoA quick service, we're playing at the pool and in the suite that evening, no parks.

Easter Sunday - Lunch at Crystal Palace at 12:15 (back to resort after for a break if crowds are crazay-zy)
Fireworks Plaza Garden Viewing at 7:45 (a splurge for sanity's sake, I know this isn't on the dining plan)

Monday - EP - Later lunch at Teppan Edo at 1:20 (think the kids will find it fun? the 6 year old loves sushi)
Probably a break but back for Garden Grill dinner at 6:40 and may stay for Illuminations if doing OK mood-wise.

Tuesday - AK - Tusker House lunch at 12:55

Wednesday - BOG dinner at 4:30 (My must try for this trip)

Thursday - 9:05 Disney Junior at H&V(this is for the Jake obsessed 3 year old) with Fantasmic Package, longer mid-day break and returning for a 6:45 dinner at 50's Prime Time Café (going to be stalking Sci-Fi a bit though). Do you think the 6:45 is enough time to get to 8:30 Fantasmic if we have the package?

Friday - Not sure of our morning park yet, but ending up at CRT for a 4:15 dinner (this is for the 6 year old who will fall OVER when we tell her we are eating at the castle). Plan to pay for this out of pocket since it is pre-paid anyway.

Saturday - Departure day. No real meal ideas, just going to see what we have left and roll with it at a park yet to be determined. MDE should pick us up around 3.

I primarily plan to do breakfast in the room, our kids are very satisfied with a granola bar and yogurt for breakfast and the husband just mainlines coffee in the morning. So I plan to fill in the gaps with our QS credits. Any thoughts? I know the character meals will be a hit with the kids but am on the fence about Teppan Edo and 50's Prime Time.

This is our first time using the dining plan and I am really looking forward to it. Thanks for any thoughts or advice.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

So some thoughts...you have your sit downs on Monday pretty close together. If your heart is set on both, I would try and pull Teppan Edo more toward noon. Remember ADRs are not guaranteed times so you could be seated at 1:30, with 90 minutes for lunch (3 pm) your talking about dinner 3.5 hours later (and unless you are driving, not really enough time for a mid-day break). Teppan Edo is a good show; not a fan of Garden Grill. Coral Reef had more to offer kids and the food is okay.

Not knowing what time zone you are coming from, you may want to consider doing the fireworks dessert after CRT. If you have a go-go day on Sunday after a later arrival you may have 2 kids in a stroller asleep.

For the Fantasmic, yes you'll have reserved seating but not all seating is equal. If Fantasmic is at 8:30, you want to be at the theater by 7:30-7:45 to get good seats. I wouldn't have dinner later than 5:30-5:45. 50's Prime Time may work for the 6 year old but the schtick will probably go over the younger one's head. If you can get SciFi I would recommend it.

Overall, just remember that meals at sit downs are going to be 90 minutes; ADRs can be 10-15 minutes late; and unless you have a car, bus rides to AoA are 20ish minutes once the bus actually gets there.

Happy planning.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I like all the food choices you have! Fun fun fun!! I do think that the 3 Hobbits to Disney brought up a good point on Sunday. I love that you have breaks already worked in since you know it's never go-go-go all day at the parks with little ones in tow but with a planned break after a late lunch and then early dinner, it may feel like all you've done all day is ride the bus and eat leaving you feeling like you had little time to enjoy epcot.

Tuesday and Wednesday look fabulous, we love BOG!! That was my must do as well and I loved it. Thursday fantasmic is doable that close to dinner but I would allow more time since ADR's can be lengthy. If you can get sci fi around 5:30pm or move up 50's I would, too close for me IMO if you want to get a good spot for fantasmic. For your Saturday departure day, have you thought about the bon voyage breakfast at Trattoria (Boardwalk area) or Ohana...you could squeeze in a few more characters before you leave. We love to do that on our last day. As your ADRs sit right now, you will have a great time, such fun ages!!!

 

[LovesTimone]

Teppan Edo is really fun and everyone will enjoy it, my grandson was 2 his first time there and he loved it.

I would try for SCI-FI... really neat and has great milk shakes...

For a last day, you might want to see if you can get in somewhere for some extra character time, before heading home.

I do agree with a PP that the time frame on Monday is close, I would pull back Teppan Edo, to earlier lunch time, this will give you enough time to take a break.

 

[Jessirip]

Thank you so much for reading through and your wonderful suggestions! I made a few modifications...

Sunday - I left the same for fireworks right now. Reason being is I fully envision us heading back to the room after Crystal Palace for a very long break assuming the parks are going to be really crazy on Easter Sunday. Naps will be encouraged and one of the reasons we got a family suite. Also I don't want to push us late on Friday. I think after Cindy's on Friday we will head back to AoA to pack up and relax that night.

Monday - I actually cancelled both Teppen and Garden Grill and booked a 1:20 lunch at Coral Reef, and that's all for the day. My mouth started watering looking at Coral Reef's menu! And our kids happen to love fish, we are lucky. We'll wing it for dinner at World Showcase and not stress. Also we have hibachi grill places near where we live, maybe we'll save that for a birthday experience.

Tuesday - same, Tusker House character lunch.

Wednesday - same - BOG dinner (can't wait!)

Thursday - I found Sci-Fi lunch reservation, so grabbed that instead of 50's Prime Time. But it was either 2:40 or 3:45. I grabbed the later one, thinking that with waiting we could push this into an early dinner. This timing I am still not sure of. I'm going to keep checking back for a little later at Sci-Fi around 5 so we have more opportunity for a break. But I agree I think the kids would like this one better than 50's (us too actually).

Friday - same, Cindy's! I may be as excited as our 6 year old will be. I haven't eaten there since I was her age and remember the windows and the rolls.

Saturday -

For your Saturday departure day, have you thought about the bon voyage breakfast at Trattoria (Boardwalk area) or Ohana...you could squeeze in a few more characters before you leave. We love to do that on our last day.

This is a great idea thank you! I booked a 10:10 1900 Park Fare Supercalafragilistic Breakfast. With calling it an early night Friday and packing up, I'm hoping to check out by 9:00 and will plan to leave our luggage with Bell Services so we can go enjoy some more magic. It will be a great send off to see Mary Poppins!

Thanks again all, any more suggestions I'm all ears!