Just Keep Swimming- January 2016 PTR (Updated 7/24- ADRs made)

[taythecray]

So, the pressed coin list (which is very organized and extensive) is made by presscoins.com but I found it at WDW Prep School's post on building your binder: http://wdwprepschool.com/a-peek-inside-my-disney-world-binder-100-free-downloads/

Wow thanks for the link! I've always collected pressed pennies and have just a couple from Disney but this would be great to really get my collection going! I've had a Mickey Mouse pressed penny book forever just sitting with a select few. I'm going to steal this and make a list now

Also as an add-in. We loved Be Our Guest for lunch. I feel like it's a great price for the atmosphere and we enjoyed the food.

 

[Opicana]

Only 10 days until I need to make my ADRs!!!!

So, here is what I am currently wrestling with...I have 2 days at Animal Kingdom, and plan to eat 2 meals there (one each day). We aren't big breakfast people, so we prefer the bar/fruit/etc... in the room option. Dinner will be either at DtD or Pop since the park closes at 5pm...so I have TWO lunches to pick.

We don't have a preference over TS vs. CS. We look for both quality and value. We are adventurous eaters with no kiddos to worry about, and don't really care either way on character dining.. We have not eaten at any of places I am considering.

Here is what I am considering:
Harambe Market
Flame Tree
Yak & Yeti
Tusker House

What TWO should I choose?

 

[SarahDisney]

I'm here and excited to follow along with you planning!

I love the Dory binder - it's perfect! And you've got a lot of great stuff in there already!

Your list of goals is great (and I'm happy to see I inspired one of them - it really is a great way to keep track of the order of your day).
I've heard that Pick-a-Pearl is awesome, but can get crowded. Of course, crowded is a relative term (and January's crowded is July's empty...), but realize that you might encounter a line.

I wish I could help you with the AK food question, but ... I don't think I've ever eaten at AK (which is part of why I was so grumpy last time I was there...). But I know Tusker House is characters, so if you think you might like a character meal, you should try that for one day.

I'm looking forward to reading more about your planning!

 

[EpicPrincess]

Hiya! I would definitely recommend Yak and Yeti. It has some amazing food!

 

[Opicana]

So...since we are light eaters who like to share meals, the buffets did not do well for us last time. They were our most expensive meals, and we didn't feel like we go the same value as other meals. So, right now I am leaning a bit towards Yak & Yeti and Harambe Market.

For the same reasoning, I am thinking about taking Crystal Palace off our plan. I was thinking of replacing it with Liberty Tree. We've already done it, but we enjoyed it and MK is so limited in dining options. If I can somehow manage to score an ADR to the new Jungle Cruise restaurant (since it is supposed to be open by then), then that'll knock LTT off the plan.

 

[Opicana]

I'm here and excited to follow along with you planning!

I love the Dory binder - it's perfect! And you've got a lot of great stuff in there already!

Your list of goals is great (and I'm happy to see I inspired one of them - it really is a great way to keep track of the order of your day).
I've heard that Pick-a-Pearl is awesome, but can get crowded. Of course, crowded is a relative term (and January's crowded is July's empty...), but realize that you might encounter a line.

Thanks for joining me over here @SarahDisney! Yeah, the store was pretty crowded when we went last year, but we caught it when it had just started to rain, so everyone had crammed inside. I think I read that you get a ticket/number/etc.., and then and can walk around the store while waiting for your turn.

 

[Opicana]

So, I realized in order to make my ADRs I really need to focus on my touring plans because where we plan to be in the park will impact my dining decisions...

This year I am taking a slightly different approach to my touring, breaking it up by lands/locations in the parks we have multiple days in. I think this will make the themes more immersive and set a particular mood. Since we went last year, have 8 days, and no children, I have a lot of flexibility in what we "have to see".

Day 1: DHS (all) 50's Prime Time
Day 2: Animal Kingdom (Oasis, Discovery Island, Africa, Rafiki's) Harambe Market [also, this is predicted to be the least crowded out of the two AK days we have planned, so I figured I'd save the TS for a more crowded day)
Day 3: Epcot (Future World East + Mexican side of WS) Via Napoli
Day 4: Magic Kingdom (Main Street, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland) Be Our Guest
Day 5: Animal Kingdom (Asia, Dinoland, repeat faves [ie safari]) Yak & Yeti
Day 6: Magic Kingdom (Liberty Square, Adventureland, Frontierland) Liberty Tree Tavern
Day 7: Epcot (Future World West + Canada side of WS) Toyko Dining
Day 8: Magic Kingdom (missed items, repeat our faves, etc...) The Plaza

 

[Opicana]

Today was ADR day! Thanks to low crowds and I was able to get all the ADRs I wanted despite not getting on to the site for 2 hours after it had opened.

Here's what I have:
January 21- 50's Primetime 11:30am
January 22- None (Harambe Market is the plan)
January 23- Via Napoli 11:30am
January 24- Be Our Guest 11:30am
January 25- Yak & Yeti 11:30am
January 26- Liberty Tree Tavern 11:30am
January 27- Tokyo Dining 12:00pm
January 28- The Plaza 12:00pm

 

[SarahDisney]

ADRs look great! It's awesome that you managed to get them all at really normal lunch times - should be a great time for a mid-day break.

 

[Opicana]

Yes, I think this will work out much better for us than the dinner ADRs we had last time. We get to the parks at rope drop, so having a planned midday break at a TS place should be refreshing.

 

[Opicana]

Hmm....I'm interested in trying out the Garden Grille for lunch. now that they have it, since it's been a long time since I've eaten there...but it's hard to pick that over all the wonderful choices in WS!

I've been having a lot of fun playing and tweaking my touring plans...deciding what attractions to go for each day. Listening a lot to the WDW Park Hopper podcast....it makes me happy to hear park attractions while working!

 

[Trixie15]

Love your binder! Your trip is coming up soon!