Narrowing Down ADR's - Opinions Please!

[OasterP]

Hello! We are planning on visiting WDW in September for an 11 (!!!) night stay - so excited. We got the "free" dining plan for staying at Pop and upgraded it to the regular in order to get character meals. I have changed our reservations so many times so far, and right now I am trying to narrow it down, b/c we have one extra I believe. I realize we could pay cash but really - I'll probably just cut one. Just when I think I know which one to cut I can't decide, so I figured I'll enlist the help of experts

Back story. I'm going with my husband and son. My husband is incredibly ridiculously picky and my son is pretty good, but will be just turning four. I am not picky, though I typically stay away from buffets because I don't enjoy them, but obviously this will not be the case for this trip. We moved to the dining plan (and on site) because we realized that though we certainly didn't NEED to do a bunch of character meals, we thought this would be such a fun age to do them with our son.

My (oh so picky) husband pretty much likes the food a toddler would like, plus he loves Italian. Well I should say he loves spaghetti. I tried to plan meals that would make everyone happy.


We will also be meeting up with two different sets of friends while we are there (awesome since we are all from PA). We won't be doing all things together but do have a few dinners together planned.

Ok I've listed what we have at this point and any details as to why we chose it, etc. Please share your thoughts and opinions on my choices, and help me decide which one to cut! Thanks!

21st: Arrive. Dinner at T. Rex (with friends so probably have to keep).

22nd: Garden Grill dinner (This is one I'm not as sure about. I just think it looks fun, but I'm not even sure my hubster will like the food).

23rd:Tusker House Brunch (This was the one we were going to pay out of pocket for before we moved onsite)

24th: Chef Mickey breakfast (Just plain fun)

25th: Tutto Italia Dinner(See above about husband liking Italian)

26th: Via Napoli (Again Italian plus I so want to try the pizza)

27th: Mama Melrose (this is a group dinner - prob need to keep)

28th: Ohana (I just thought this sounded fun. Not near my hotel I don't think - not sure husband will love the food, though if he can get mickey waffles he'll be happy).

29th: Boma Dinner (This is selfishly for me. I truly am not picky but I do not like typical buffet food and we are eating a lot of it).

30th: Hollywood and Vine - I think my son will like the characters but I'm not sure. He is mostly a Mickey fan, but really does love Disney Jr. too.

1st: Crystal Palace breakfast - Before MK open

2nd: Cape May Café - Breakfast before we leave the parks (sad), and I thought it might be a calm(ish) end to our trip.

Ok - take it away!!

 

[MightyGitis]

Hello! We are planning on visiting WDW in September for an 11 (!!!) night stay - so excited. We got the "free" dining plan for staying at Pop and upgraded it to the regular in order to get character meals. I have changed our reservations so many times so far, and right now I am trying to narrow it down, b/c we have one extra I believe. I realize we could pay cash but really - I'll probably just cut one. Just when I think I know which one to cut I can't decide, so I figured I'll enlist the help of experts Back story. I'm going with my husband and son. My husband is incredibly ridiculously picky and my son is pretty good, but will be just turning four. I am not picky, though I typically stay away from buffets because I don't enjoy them, but obviously this will not be the case for this trip. We moved to the dining plan (and on site) because we realized that though we certainly didn't NEED to do a bunch of character meals, we thought this would be such a fun age to do them with our son. My (oh so picky) husband pretty much likes the food a toddler would like, plus he loves Italian. Well I should say he loves spaghetti. I tried to plan meals that would make everyone happy. We will also be meeting up with two different sets of friends while we are there (awesome since we are all from PA). We won't be doing all things together but do have a few dinners together planned. Ok I've listed what we have at this point and any details as to why we chose it, etc. Please share your thoughts and opinions on my choices, and help me decide which one to cut! Thanks! 21st: Arrive. Dinner at T. Rex (with friends so probably have to keep). 22nd: Garden Grill dinner (This is one I'm not as sure about. I just think it looks fun, but I'm not even sure my hubster will like the food). 23rd:Tusker House Brunch (This was the one we were going to pay out of pocket for before we moved onsite) 24th: Chef Mickey breakfast (Just plain fun) 25th: Tutto Italia Dinner(See above about husband liking Italian) 26th: Via Napoli (Again Italian plus I so want to try the pizza) 27th: Mama Melrose (this is a group dinner - prob need to keep) 28th: Ohana (I just thought this sounded fun. Not near my hotel I don't think - not sure husband will love the food, though if he can get mickey waffles he'll be happy). 29th: Boma Dinner (This is selfishly for me. I truly am not picky but I do not like typical buffet food and we are eating a lot of it). 30th: Hollywood and Vine - I think my son will like the characters but I'm not sure. He is mostly a Mickey fan, but really does love Disney Jr. too. 1st: Crystal Palace breakfast - Before MK open 2nd: Cape May Café - Breakfast before we leave the parks (sad), and I thought it might be a calm(ish) end to our trip. Ok - take it away!!

I LOVE the Garden Grill but it is family dining style so look at what they are serving and run it by your husband. The restaurant is the only character dining we do almost every time. The characters are great there. Mickey is dressed as a farmer and once sat down at the table and tried to take the youngest ones food.

You've also got theee restaurants that are my favorite food wise. Tutto Italia is DELISH I greatly enjoyed everything I had. And Crystal Palace breakfast is also amazing all the Mickey waffles your husband can eat. As Boma is probably the best buffet ever.

You really have a list of amazing restaurants here. I'm getting hungry reading it.

 

[mom2cinderella]

Personally I'd dump the Garden Grill and keep the Tusker Brunch.

The menu at GG would only appeal to dh, and we have always had good food/service at Tusker House.

At Disney I manage to just block out the ick factor of buffets and enjoy the food and characters.

 

[OasterP]

Thank you both! Right now just on my opinion it's between Garden Grill and Ohana being cut, but I'm totally open to all suggestions b/c I'm 100% basing it on what I've seen and read.

And I agree about the ick factor - I'm just not going to think about it (or try my best not to) I know how excited my son was at the one we took him to at Sesame Place and I barely noticed the food, so I'm sure it will be like that.

 

[LSUfan4444]

If your son is the main reason for Hollywood & Vine, I'd cancel that one.

Jake is a pretty easier character to meet and interact with and usually has little to no wait. Of all the places you mentioned, I think they offer the worst value.

I am also not a fan of character breakfasts usually because of the return for cost, so if it were me, I might choose one instead of two in a row. One of those last two mornings would be a great opportunity to hit a rode drop and do some favorites one last time.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Love Garden Grill. It is served family style and involves turkey with dressing, steak, and fish. I love the steak the most. The rolls with the homemade butter are also fantastic. Here's one thing to note, though. They will give the kiddos a separate meal. When we took my daughter, she got a chicken leg, macaroni and cheese, broccoli, and something else (can't remember what). Our waiter told us that she was allowed to eat anything that was on the table, though, and so were we! We were able to have more macaroni and cheese and more chicken legs for the adults. If your husband is a picky eater, that might help me out. Oh, and my husband and I returned a few months later just the two of us and our waiter brought out the kids stuff without us even asking. He asked if we had been there before, we said we had a few months back, and he said that to keep things fresh, he was bringing out some other stuff. We didn't tell him we had had it just a few months back. Also, the character action here is some of the best as they will visit your table multiple times while you dine. At other restaurants, you usually see each character once and that's the end.

Ohana is very good, too, though. I love the juice and they gave us healthy options such as chicken sausage, turkey bacon, sauteed vegetables, and egg whites as well as all of the delicious not-so-healthy stuff. Loved the character interaction. I wouldn't want this one cancelled.


Personally, Tusker House would be the one I would cancel. Most people disagree, but I was terribly disappointed. I didn't think it lived up to the hype at all. No one in our party of 7 liked it. All said that they had no desire to return. Service was poor, we didn't get some drinks that we ordered, the food was just there, and the character interaction seemed so rushed.

 

[belle912]

My family LOVES Garden Grill - I would totally keep this for the food, characters and relaxed atmosphere. It is pretty quiet here and you get tons of character interaction without it feeling like a crazy character meal. Mickey usually visits and is playful here where you sometimes get to see him twice in the same visit without standing in line!! It is probably the one must do that the entire family (we travel with 10-12 typically) requests time and again. The food is pretty basic (not a lot of sauces or heavy seasoning) but has always been excellent!!

I don't think you will be disappointed with this one!

 

[awalker1015]

Character interaction at GG is great. And the food is a nice change of pace from regular park fare. My kids ate well and got a kick out of the rotation of the restaurant.

 

[robinb]

First of all, you have THREE Italian restaurants in a row. I would split them up with other meals between them to keep the type of food fresh for you.

Secondly, you have a LOT of breakfasts ... 5-6 of them. Even with FP+ breakfast takes up a lot of prime park touring time. Change Chef Mickey for dinner and/or Crystal Palace to lunch or dinner.

Lastly, if I were to cut one, it would be H&V as you have 5 other character meals already.

 

[mcconnellfam96]

You have lots of great ADR selections! The only one that would come off for me ~ Hollywood & Vine. The atmosphere feels like a cafeteria to me and when we have eaten there in the past- the buffet has not been well kept. I also have a Disney only buffet rule (LOL) and Hollywood & Vine is the least impressive. If you must keep it for the characters....I would pay out of pocket for a pizza dinner at Via Napoli (which is delish) and keep them all.

O'hana ~ we are HUGE Lilo & Stich fans at my house so I couldn't cut that one.
Garden Grill ~ a definite keeper!

I would definitely try to split up the three Italian days.....you might get tired of it by the third day!

Your son is at a great age for all these character meals. Another favorite of ours is the Supercalifragilistic breakfast at 1900 Park Fare at GF. Make me smile just thinking about it!

 

[iona]

I'd keep Garden Grill - it's a fun experience and the food is simple enough that your DH should be ok (but do look at the menu). I would swap it with Via Napoli though so that you don't have Italian three days in a row.

Are you looking at Ohanas for breakfast or dinner? If it's dinner I'd drop it as I think your husband would struggle.

 

[OasterP]

You guys are awesome. I agree with you on a lot too. I think we have too many breakfasts for sure - I'd much rather eat breakfast in the room and save them for other meals - cost wise.

And I totally agree on the three Italian meals in a row - I'm looking for a way to break them up. Not that I can't switch my days - I definitely have time.

You are all giving me great ideas! And I think I wouldn't miss H&V, particularly if my son could meet Jake or even Handy Manny somewhere else.

 

[robinb]

The idea to pay out of pocket for Via Napoli is a good one. It doesn't cost all that much for a large pizza (about $30) which should feed all of you.

 

[nagshead]

Ohana is one of our faves, we do it for breakfast and dinner

 

[pinkxray]

I would most likely just pay for one out of pocket. Via Napoli if you are planning on pizza or one of the character breakfast would most likely be cheapest.

If I had to drop one it would most likely be H & V. I have never to be Garden grill because I know that DD would not eat anything offered. Just make sure your Dh likes something on the menu if keeping that one. i have always wanted to go there but always end up dropping it.

We have been to most of the character breakfast. Dh and dd LOVE Ohana breakfast despite being picky eaters. It is their favorite character meal. Dinner at Ohana is a favorite of mine and crystal palace breakfast is my all time favorite meal at disney