Looking for advice on this ADR plan!

[isabelle315]

I am planning an October Disney "familymoon" for me, my fiance, and my 4.5 year old daughter. It's our second time at Disney, but the first trip was shorter and more last-minute. Our 180 days is coming up, so I want to make sure my plan for ADRs is as good as it can be!! We'll be splurging and staying at the Polynesian.

Here's what I'm thinking:
Sunday (arrive): Hoop-Dee-Doo-Review
Monday (EC): Biergarten dinner
Tuesday (AK): V&A dinner for fiance and me (daughter at Poly kids club)
Wednesday (HS): 50s Prime Time for an early dinner
Thursday (MK): CRT Breakfast, BoG Dinner
Friday (MNSSHP): Chef Mickey's late Breakfast
Saturday (hang out/pool day): 'Ohana dinner
Sunday (leave): ??

My questions would be:
1. We want to enjoy the Food and Wine fest on Monday...since WS doesn't even open til 11, I'm wondering if Biergarten would be too much food going on! But, I've also heard that the show is a blast.
2. I *think* the last "early" seating time at V&As is 6:30 - anyone know for sure? We want to have it as late as we can so we don't have to leave AK super early.
3. Too much to do CRT and BoG on same day? (if I can even get the ADRs?) We'll have more time in MK during MNSSHP to hit rides and characters, but a lot of the "big" rides that my daughter can't go on, we won't even bother with. We could do BoG for an early dinner before MNSSHP officially starts.
4. Do Chef Mickey's on Friday (laid back morning before MNSSHP) or on Sunday before we leave?
5. 'Ohana - I'm torn over the mixed reviews!!! My idea for Saturday night is to hang around the Poly, have dinner, then watch Wishes from the Poly beach. But should we just eat at Kona Cafe instead?

We were able to eat at Crystal Palace and Akershus during our previous trip, so I've left those out.

As for order of reservations based on above, I am thinking:
1. CRT
2. V&A's (time of res. is crucial)
3. Chef Mickey's
4. BoG
5. 'Ohana
6. HDDR
7. Biergarten
8. 50's Prime Time

I really hope the online system is fixed by the time I make ADRs....I would really rather not have to call in!

I would love your input. Thanks so much! These boards are so great!

Julie

 

[Wendy31]

I am planning an October Disney "familymoon" for me, my fiance, and my 4.5 year old daughter. It's our second time at Disney, but the first trip was shorter and more last-minute. Our 180 days is coming up, so I want to make sure my plan for ADRs is as good as it can be!! We'll be splurging and staying at the Polynesian.

Here's what I'm thinking:
Sunday (arrive): Hoop-Dee-Doo-Review
Monday (EC): Biergarten dinner
Tuesday (AK): V&A dinner for fiance and me (daughter at Poly kids club)
Wednesday (HS): 50s Prime Time for an early dinner
Thursday (MK): CRT Breakfast, BoG Dinner
Friday (MNSSHP): Chef Mickey's late Breakfast
Saturday (hang out/pool day): 'Ohana dinner
Sunday (leave): ??

My questions would be:
1. We want to enjoy the Food and Wine fest on Monday...since WS doesn't even open til 11, I'm wondering if Biergarten would be too much food going on! But, I've also heard that the show is a blast.

We've never been to Biergarten, but, from what I've seen, it is a pretty heavy buffet. That said, you could make always make a later ADR. Were you also wanting to stay for Illuminations?

2. I *think* the last "early" seating time at V&As is 6:30 - anyone know for sure? We want to have it as late as we can so we don't have to leave AK super early.

I'm not sure about the seating times for V & A's... However, since you're staying at the Poly, your transportation to V & A's will be relatively quick & easy.

3. Too much to do CRT and BoG on same day? (if I can even get the ADRs?) We'll have more time in MK during MNSSHP to hit rides and characters, but a lot of the "big" rides that my daughter can't go on, we won't even bother with. We could do BoG for an early dinner before MNSSHP officially starts.

Since you're planning breakfast at CRT & dinner at BoG (& not lunch & dinner), I don't think it's too much... it'll be a fun, princess day! And, too, there are no princesses at BoG - just the Beast for pictures after you eat, so the experience is different.

However, I also don't think an early dinner at BoG before MNSSHP would be bad either! At the very least, this gives you 2 different days where you could put in BoG & up your chances of getting an ADR.

4. Do Chef Mickey's on Friday (laid back morning before MNSSHP) or on Sunday before we leave?

Breakfast at Chef Mickey's is one of our must-do character meals! We've done Chef Mickey's on the morning we leave before, & it did feel more stressed/hectic - so we prefer it on a different day so that we don't feel rushed. However, if you switch your BoG to your MNSSHP day, then I don't think Chef Mickey's would be bad on your departure morning - it would just be my 2nd choice, if that makes sense.

5. 'Ohana - I'm torn over the mixed reviews!!! My idea for Saturday night is to hang around the Poly, have dinner, then watch Wishes from the Poly beach. But should we just eat at Kona Cafe instead?

I'm kinda "take it or leave it" w/ 'Ohana, but it's one of my DH's & 2 older kids' favorite restaurants, so I keep making the ADR. One of the other reasons I keep making the ADR is because it is a fun, family restaurant w/ an experience/atmosphere we can't get at home. I like Kona too, but, when it comes down to it, Kona is just a "normal" restaurant, &, while the food is good, I can eat at normal restaurants at home. I can't eat at a place like 'Ohana at home. I would like 'Ohana a lot better if you didn't have to wait so long to be seated (even w/ an ADR). The service does sometimes feel a little rushed, but we've also had some really good meals there as well. The dessert is wonderful!

We've traditionally eaten at 'Ohana on our last night, but, for our upcoming trip, I've moved 'Ohana to our arrival night & we're trying BoG on our last night.

I do like your idea of a nice, lazy day at your resort, but you might think about switching Hoop Dee Doo & 'Ohana - this way, on your arrival day, you don't have to leave your resort. And you can still do Hoop Dee Doo after your resort day. Just a thought!

We were able to eat at Crystal Palace and Akershus during our previous trip, so I've left those out.

As for order of reservations based on above, I am thinking:
1. CRT
2. V&A's (time of res. is crucial)
3. Chef Mickey's
4. BoG
5. 'Ohana
6. HDDR
7. Biergarten
8. 50's Prime Time

Hmm... when I booked our ADRs on our arrival night, I did the following order: CRT (time I wanted), BoG (only 2 times available), CP (10 minutes later than I wanted), Chef Mickey's (time I wanted), Garden Grill (time I wanted), Sci-Fi (40 minutes later than I wanted), Mama Melrose Fantasmic Lunch Package (time I wanted), Yak & Yeti (time I wanted), Chefs de France (time I wanted), & Liberty Tree Tavern (time I wanted).

I booked 'Ohana online at 6:00 am, & only had a choice of 2 dinner times (but this was for our arrival night & was exactly 180 days out).

At 7:00 am, I called & booked CRT first (for our 2nd night) & then BoG (for our 10th night). I had no problems getting CRT for the exact time I wanted. I was only given 2 choices for BoG - 4:55 or 8:30, & this was for our 10th night.

I also didn't have any problems getting the exact time I wanted for Chef Mickey's.

I'm not sure how difficult it is to get V & A ADRs, but, if I were you, I'd probably consider switching up your order some -

V & A (if it's hard to get)
BoG
CRT
'Ohana (if you leave 'Ohana as your last night ADR)
Chef Mickey's
Hoop Dee Doo *
Prime Time
Biergarten

* Also, even if the online system is still messed up, you'll be able to book your 1st ADR (for your first night) online at 6:00 am - so you could make Hoop Dee Doo online at 6:00 am & then call at 7:00 am w/ your others.

Additionally, since you're a party of 3, & I'm a party of 5, you might have an easier time. In my recent experience, BoG & 'Ohana were the ADRs w/ the least amount of availability. I got them both, but neither were the times I wanted. (My problem w/ 'Ohana was it's for our arrival night - in the past, when I've had 'Ohana on our last night, I haven't had a problem.)

But, seriously, BoG is very difficult - if you really want it, I might even consider it above V & A.

I really hope the online system is fixed by the time I make ADRs....I would really rather not have to call in!

I would love your input. Thanks so much! These boards are so great!

Julie

My comments are in red! Hope this helps! And congratulations!!