Lots of ADRs and Questions! Opinions Please!

[Jaylin]

Ok, this is the 1st trip with the kiddies! DS 5, DD3. I'm an overplanner, and I've booked way too many ADRs. We're on the DDP and I'm way over my TS limit. I have no problem paying OOP, just as long as it's worth it.

Those with little kids, is it too much, too time consuming to have TS for Breakfasts and Dinners. I basically wanted to do every character meal we could.

Here's what we've got
Thurs-arrival
Chef Mickey Dinner

Friday
Crystal Palace Breakfast

Sat
H&V Breakfast
Melrose/Fantasm pkg Dinner

Sun
Norway Princess Breakfast

Mon
Tusker House Breakfast
1900 Park Dinner

Tues
CRT Dinner

Wed
Hoopty Doo Review Dinner

Thurs
Wispering Canyon Dinner

Friday
Ohana Character Breakfast

I still need to squeeze in Kona for Breakfast and Dinner somewhere. We're staying at the Poly and I HAVE to GO THERE!

Do you think this is too much scheduling for little kids, I don't know what to expect, having to be out the door early in the morning for Breakfast ADRS.

ALSO does anyone know if CRT dinner is any different than the breakfast???? Do they still get the magic wands and swords? When I made the ADR she was saying something about the character interaction is different, I forget what she said though. Is dinner okay or is breakfast better.

Thank you so much for all your help!!!!

 

[nicolemm]

We were there this past oct. my kids were 2 and 3 1/2. I am also an overplanner (former event planner), so I understand! We were there for 7 nights, I had 7 dinners booked as well as a few additional breakfasts and lunches. Anyway, it was not only way to much food, we cancelled a few ADRs, but way too time consuming! It was hard trying to fit in nap, plus sleeping in, from being over tired, plus wait time for ADRs, etc. I would definately keep CRT. We had both breakfast and lunch there and yes they still have the wands, swords and wishing stars (so cute)! Chef Mickeys is a favorite and the Norway lunch had great character interaction.

We are starting to plan for next Jan. I think ADRs will be limited to CRT, Hollywood and Vine, one character breakfast and maybe a dinner show. That seems to be what works for us and the kids!

Hope this helps!

 

[Jaylin]

thank you so much NICOLEMM for your opinion, that's exactly what I need, opinion from people with little kids.

I just don't understand though, everyone keeps saying its way to much food. I don't see how? Figure on a breakfast buffet, picky/snacky stuff during the day and then Dinner.

I guess it's more the time thing that I'm more worried about. Are we going to be losing a lot of park time by having all these TS meals?

Which would you keep, the character breakfasts or the dinners. I don't know what we can "live" without!!1

 

[blana]

We just got back with DS (2), DNiece (6), and DNeice (1). I don't think I'd plan on over 1 big meal a day. While DNs were there, we did an evening meal everyday, with the only character meal being Akershus. After they left, we stayed for a few more days & changed all of our heavy meals to late breakfasts/ early lunches, because that's when DS was more apt to eat. As for your analysis, don't forget with your planning that you end up with a CS meal for every day, too. That's where you'd really start adding up on the too much food. DS was perfectly happy with one of the little "snack packs" of cereal first thing in the morning, which tided all of us over until an early lunch.

As for time, assume each character meal is going to last about an hour, at the least. I'm guessing HDD will take even longer. So, going too much will definately eat into your park time.

If you decide to start weeding through them, I'd look at which ones have similar characters. Ie, CRT & Akershus both have similar sets of princesses. Yes, you might get lucky & have different ones, but you might not. 1900 PF is another princess meal. Maybe knock out one of the 3 at least. Tusker House, Chef Mickey's, & Ohana will have at least some of the same characters, most of which you'll see again in the parks.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I think when people are saying it's so much food, they are talking about DDP last year when you got an appetizer, along with entree and dessert (and tip) at TS. If most people are like my family, we don't normally eat that much out. So, for us, what worked well was my DM and I (and DM, DSis, and I last Sept). sharing the meals. Now with the exclusion of the appetizers, it will be less food. We found that if we didn't share, then we wouldn't have room for our dessert .

As far as the buffet, you'll eat the same amount, whether on DDP, or not.

For us, (DM, DD8, and myself) we kept most of our TS for dinners with the exception of breakfast on our last day. Last Sept. we did 'Ohana (we liked it) and before that we've done 1900 Park Fare (loved that! ). I schedule our last meal for somewhere between 10-11 a.m. which gives us time to check out of our room and then have a leisurely meal. Eating breakfast later has the added benefit of being able to take our time, the rooms are less crowded (and less noisy) and the characters come around many times (except for the Prince and princesses, of course ).

My DM has complained (to me) that having too many ADRs takes some of the enjoyment out of WDW for her. She says it's too much structure. Since we usually go for about 10 nights, we splurge and have one, or two, 2TS meals on our trip.

With 2 small ones, personally, I would keep it to one TS a day-either breakfast or dinner-depending on when yout kids are at their best energy levels.

We also shared many CS meals too. Some of the CS meals are quite large, and easily sharable. Towards the end of our trip, we used our unused CS for a quick breakfast in the food court. Before that, we did breakfast either in our room (cereal, toast, fruit, etc.) or used SC for pastries.


Have a great time!

 

[warriorboy648]

Think about whether your kids are in "better" moods in the am or pm. What will your day be like? If you are running in the parks all day they may be very tired by night time. If you plan on spending most of your time at MK and relaxing then you may be able to do it all.

We scheduled our breakfasts early and our dinners for around 5:00. (We have 5 kids and have been through the same concerns). We then have most of the day to do with as we wish. By the end of dinner we might spend a little time at the park where we ate and then head back for a good nights rest.

If you decided to do all the meals you have scheduled, you might be better off with the Deluxe DDP because a couple of your meals are 2 TS.

Good luck. Looks like a lot of fun.