Looking for opinions on dining ADRs for our Honeymoon.

[NVieira]

Hey! This is my first time posting on one of these boards, but I've been reading posts for a few weeks leading up to my 180 day booking window for ADRs. We are heading down to WDW to celebrate our Honeymoon in early Sept, and I'm trying to create a "magical" experience for my soon-to-be wife (and myself). I figured I'd post what I was thinking about for ADRs and then open it up for any advice. Thanks!!!

Arrival Day: Raglan Road 7:30PM
Day 1 : Visiting DHS
- 8:00AM 1900 Park Fare Breakfast
- 1:00PM 50's Primetime Cafe
- 7:45PM California Grill (Wishes @ 9PM)
Day 2 : Visiting MK
- 8:00AM Cindy's Royal Table Breakfast
- 5:30PM Dining w/ Imagineer @ Flying Fish Cafe
Day 3 : Visiting Epcot
- 1:30PM Coral Reef
- 7:45PM Rose and Crown Pub (Illuminations @ 9PM)
Day 4 : Visiting MK
- 8:00AM Crystal Palace Breakfast
- 1:00PM Liberty Tree Taver
- 8:00PM Yachtsman Steakhouse
Day 5 : Visiting AK
- 7:00AM Chef Mickeys
- 12:30PM Rainforest Cafe
- 7:15PM Hoop Dee Doo
Day 6 : Visiting Epcot
- 7:30AM 'Ohana Breakfast
- 12:30PM Via Napoli
- 7:30PM Le Cellier
Day 7 : Visiting Typhoon Lagoon
- 7:30PM Victoria and Alberts

I'd really really appreciate ANY advice on anything including anything I may have not thought of or special tips that can make our honeymoon even more special. Thanks so much in advance! I appreciate any help.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Congratulations!! The restaurants all look very good but are you sure about all those early mornings following late nights? It is your honeymoon afterall! Make sure that you enjoy some time and sleep some!

As far as specifically there is no way I would do a 7:30 am breakfast after a 7:15 HDDR that late in the trip. I'd probably want at least 1 day (even when not on honeymoon) to sleep in a bit and have a lazy day. Just food for thought! Also, make sure that none of your "must do" meals are at lunch. When we have 3 meals a day we end up skipping lunch about 50% of the time just because we are too full.

Where are you staying? Sounds like this is going to be a magical trip!

 

[LaurenMic]

Your plans look awesome! Where are you going to be staying? We honeymooned at Disney in June and had a fabulous time. I noticed you are doing a breakfast on your AK day...we ate breakfast at Tusker house and loved it, the food was so good and they had great character interactions! Also, if you like Mexican, we ate at San Angel Inn one night for dinner. The atmosphere there was really romantic, we requested a table by the water and the food was awesome. Just a couple other suggestions! Cali Grill was probably the highlight of our trip, you will love it! Have an amazing trip

 

[mousemere]

We'll be honeymooning Sept. 11-17 and staying at the Boardwalk Inn. I'm looking for ADR recs too - keep the advice coming!!

 

[NVieira]

Thanks!! We are staying at the Grand Floridian Sept. 5-13. We booked a club level room in the main building. It IS a once in a lifetime honeymoon after all! As for the early breakfasts, my big concern was making sure that we could have all of the awesome breakfast experiences that I've read about, but still get to the parks as close to opening as possible. We are flying down on labor day, so our park touring will be at a pretty slow time of the year, so I don't even know if that's something I should be so preoccupied with. Maybe bumping those meals a little later would be a good idea? I forgot to add that after the Dining with an Imagineer on day 2, I had planned on adding the 9PM Cirque show. So that's why there's no breakfast on day 3, I figured that would be a good sleep in day. I keep telling myself we are early risers, but I'm sure we are going to be wishing we had more sleep...decisions, decisions...

The thought was that the best time to rest would be a midday nap if needed. That would cut out those lunch reservations. I figured they would be good to have just in case...

 

[danielle782001]

First, I have to say you are so cute for wanting to make your honeymoon special. We went on out honeymoon and I did all the planning. My DH just said to tell him where to be and when....

You picked great places to eat for sure....But I too noticed the times are early and late...Which I think is fine IF you guys are planning to go back to the resort each day for a nap/shower....

We did that and it really worked great...We eat and then came back to resort for sleep...Sad to say we were in bed by 9:00-9:30 most nights on our honeymoon...But just remember it is really difficult to go straight for all those hours day after day...

Are you on the Deluxe Dining Plan? I hope so....The Deluxe Plan would work great for you...Save big bucks....A few of the places you selected are 2 credit meals and remember RFC is not on the plan at all...You might want to skip that one if you are looking to delete some ADR...DH and I only go to the RFC because we have kids now....The food is not that good and it is expensive...The other expensive places you selected are really worth the food and experience, not RFC so much.

Best wishes

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Being at GF will help those early mornings since most are on the monorail. We normally go in September and we really try to get to park opening even though it is a slower time. Out of all the parks I'd say MK and HS are the two that I would be most concerned to get there for. (HS is a real must so you might want to look at that 1900 PF) Ak and Epcot are ok a little later in general. Keep in mind that midday in Sept in FL is TERRIBLY hot. So being up early and planning a nap midday is a great idea.

Sounds like this is going to be an awesome trip!

 

[NVieira]

We actually decided against using the dining plan for this trip. While I realize the potential for saving a chunk of money I'm concerned with waste as well. If we actually had lunch every day of the plan, I think it would be worth it, but if we decided to skip lunch and just head back to the hotel and grab a snack in the club lounge at GF, we'd end up with unused credits. 3 credits per day is a lot, especially when dinner at V&A isn't included and I don't believe the Dining with an Imagineer is included either. I just worry that we'll spend the trip worrying about getting our money's worth rather than enjoying the amazing time together.

I actually don't like the RFC at all from what I remember (I haven't been to WDW in about 9 years...I'm 29 now), but I figured since we'd be at AK and we aren't very adventurous with cuisine, it's a place we could eat a sit down meal if we so choose. I just wanted to have the ADR just in case. I was thinking about doing the picnic in the park they offer instead ... anybody try that? I was wondering if you can eat somewhere and see animals around you, or if you basically sit at a picnic table and watch the crowd?

I may have to reorganize some of these breakfast and dinners ... at least it seems like I'm on the right track with my choices! Keep the input coming!

 

[NVieira]

We'll be honeymooning Sept. 11-17 and staying at the Boardwalk Inn. I'm looking for ADR recs too - keep the advice coming!!

2 things I found out for our stay that my be helpful ... I haven't found out which is better, but for what it's worth....

You can get 40% off your room during the time that we're going. You just have to call and mention the 40% off deal and they should be able to give it to you.

OR

I just read that those are "free dining" days. So since we're both at deluxe hotels, that's the regular dining plan for free, or pay $30 per person for the deluxe dining plan. I'm pretty sure to use that, you have to pay the full room rate though. I think with our room at the GF the 40% off saved roughly 300 a night, so that's the better option for us, but I guess it depends on what type of room you have and where.

Either way, I thought that might be helpful to pass along. Congrats!

 

[danielle782001]

We actually decided against using the dining plan for this trip. While I realize the potential for saving a chunk of money I'm concerned with waste as well. If we actually had lunch every day of the plan, I think it would be worth it, but if we decided to skip lunch and just head back to the hotel and grab a snack in the club lounge at GF, we'd end up with unused credits. 3 credits per day is a lot, especially when dinner at V&A isn't included and I don't believe the Dining with an Imagineer is included either. I just worry that we'll spend the trip worrying about getting our money's worth rather than enjoying the amazing time together.

I actually don't like the RFC at all from what I remember (I haven't been to WDW in about 9 years...I'm 29 now), but I figured since we'd be at AK and we aren't very adventurous with cuisine, it's a place we could eat a sit down meal if we so choose. I just wanted to have the ADR just in case. I was thinking about doing the picnic in the park they offer instead ... anybody try that? I was wondering if you can eat somewhere and see animals around you, or if you basically sit at a picnic table and watch the crowd?

I may have to reorganize some of these breakfast and dinners ... at least it seems like I'm on the right track with my choices! Keep the input coming!

We have not done the picnic...Seems like it might be nice....But there are not many places to eat while viewing the animals...There are some monkeys and other smaller animals but they are in high traffic areas and no tables around those areas...

We are not very adventurous eaters...We usually eat at the Pizzafari when we go...The pizza is not too bad...AK is one of those places you may want to go early and get out in the heat of day and come back later on.

 

[DCbride]

Congrats! It sounds like you have a wonderful trip planned. It does seem like a lot of early mornings- if you have to be at the restaurant 15 min ahead and with travel time, you will might have to leave the room by 6:45. Just something to think about...

If you look at the resort forum, there is a whole thread dedicated to CL. There is a decent amount of food in the morning and evening but the snacks are generally pretzels, goldfish, gummies, etc. So don't count on that for lunch- but around 4 (or 5 I forget) the hot dishes come out.

I am not a big fan of 50s PT and that is the only one that doesn't seem like a honeymoon place

But your dinners sound very romantic- I bet you would have a great time!