Need help with overall plan

[tylerandalexsmom]

I have to make our dining reservations soon (yes, WDW vet, so I've got that "call promptly at 6:59 a.m. exactly 180 days out" mentality! ), and since this is our first DLR trip, I'm still trying to learn as much as I can and be prepared! We are going at Christmas (just the kids and I), so I know we need a good plan! Please give me feedback/advice so I can finalized and make my dining reservations!

(I should mention, we are early entry - closing kind of people, and have been at WDW at Christmas before, so we know to take advantage of early morning touring, using FPs, and just kind of enjoying the atmosphere and less priority attactions and eating, etc when the crowds build)

Thurs - Flying in and staying the night in Hollywood for some sightseeing

Fri - arrive DLR around around mid-day (1:30 ish), staying at DLH
eat lunch at DLH (Tangaroa Terrace), check out hotel and DTD, and eat dinner at Rainforest Cafe

Those two days I actually kind of have under control (well, at least I think so, that's the plan, but you know how plans go....)

Now for the part I need help with:

Sat - DL - bkfst at Minnie & Friends (originally I was thinking of 10 a.m. bkfst to take advantage of touring early, but am leaning towards reservations for first seating before park opening -- I know, don't want to waste prime touring time, but we have had pre-park opening bkfst at WDW, and the kids loved the opportunity to take pictures on Main St, and in front of the castle when it is virtually empty! so I am willing to sacrifice a little time that morning, because we would still be there early, and that will be our best day to do it, since we will still be on Eastern time! and we will have another opportunity for EE on another day, although it is Christmas Day, and will have to do Santa first! ) Tour, and eat lunch/dinner with counter service (suggestions?) when ready, and do F! dessert package for show that night (probably first show)

Sun - DCA, AG for lunch (time suggestion?), counter service or maybe Flos for dinner, Mad Tparty that evening (what time do we need to get there?)

Mon (Christmas Eve) - DCA, CCT (lunch or dinner?) WOC dining package

Tues (Christmas Day) - DL, BB (first seating for waterside ), doing the HolidayTime Tour/reserved seating for second (night?) parade; watch fireworks that night (suggested location?)

Wed - open day really, although, there are some dining locations I still want to work in - Surf's Up for bkfst, Big Thunder BBQ for lunch, and Goofy's Kitchen for dinner. I know that's a lot of table service for one day, but was really just planning on a free day to explore the hotel and DTD again, and have a 5th day park hopper for any rides we missed or want to re-ride.

Thurs - Bkfst at DLH and then to the airport

Any suggestions for tweaking I need to do before I start making the dining reservations? Any specific time suggestions for meals, or specific dining locations (counter service like Hungry Bear, Red Rockets, Taste of Pilots) that we should be sure to work in for our "non reservation" meals? Or tips on switching anything up for days or anything like that? I can plan WDW in my sleep, but for DLR I feel like a fish out of water! I was kind of enjoying not having to plan so far ahead like WDW, but now it's kind of snuck up on me, and I'm starting to get in to semi-panic planning mode and afraid I will get there and not have a good plan!

Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate all the input from you DLR vets! (Sorry so long winded I just keep feeling like I've forgotten something! )

 

[pfeifferdcat]

I'm only going to comment on Wed, but that seems like alot of food. I might do Goofy's kitchen for early lunch or brunch & then the BBQ late afternoon/early dinner.

We like to eat at Taste Pilots in DCA. We also used to like HUngry Bear, but they changed the menu to more healthy & it's not personally my cup of tea.

 

[mellers]

I have to make our dining reservations soon (yes, WDW vet, so I've got that "call promptly at 6:59 a.m. exactly 180 days out" mentality! ), and since this is our first DLR trip, I'm still trying to learn as much as I can and be prepared! We are going at Christmas (just the kids and I), so I know we need a good plan! Please give me feedback/advice so I can finalized and make my dining reservations!

(I should mention, we are early entry - closing kind of people, and have been at WDW at Christmas before, so we know to take advantage of early morning touring, using FPs, and just kind of enjoying the atmosphere and less priority attactions and eating, etc when the crowds build)

Thurs - Flying in and staying the night in Hollywood for some sightseeing

Fri - arrive DLR around around mid-day (1:30 ish), staying at DLH
eat lunch at DLH (Tangaroa Terrace), check out hotel and DTD, and eat dinner at Rainforest Cafe

Those two days I actually kind of have under control (well, at least I think so, that's the plan, but you know how plans go....)

Now for the part I need help with:

Sat - DL - bkfst at Minnie & Friends (originally I was thinking of 10 a.m. bkfst to take advantage of touring early, but am leaning towards reservations for first seating before park opening -- I know, don't want to waste prime touring time, but we have had pre-park opening bkfst at WDW, and the kids loved the opportunity to take pictures on Main St, and in front of the castle when it is virtually empty! so I am willing to sacrifice a little time that morning, because we would still be there early, and that will be our best day to do it, since we will still be on Eastern time! and we will have another opportunity for EE on another day, although it is Christmas Day, and will have to do Santa first! ) Tour, and eat lunch/dinner with counter service (suggestions?) when ready, and do F! dessert package for show that night (probably first show)

Sun - DCA, AG for lunch (time suggestion?), counter service or maybe Flos for dinner, Mad Tparty that evening (what time do we need to get there?)

Mon (Christmas Eve) - DCA, CCT (lunch or dinner?) WOC dining package

Tues (Christmas Day) - DL, BB (first seating for waterside ), doing the HolidayTime Tour/reserved seating for second (night?) parade; watch fireworks that night (suggested location?)

Wed - open day really, although, there are some dining locations I still want to work in - Surf's Up for bkfst, Big Thunder BBQ for lunch, and Goofy's Kitchen for dinner. I know that's a lot of table service for one day, but was really just planning on a free day to explore the hotel and DTD again, and have a 5th day park hopper for any rides we missed or want to re-ride.

Thurs - Bkfst at DLH and then to the airport

Any suggestions for tweaking I need to do before I start making the dining reservations? Any specific time suggestions for meals, or specific dining locations (counter service like Hungry Bear, Red Rockets, Taste of Pilots) that we should be sure to work in for our "non reservation" meals? Or tips on switching anything up for days or anything like that? I can plan WDW in my sleep, but for DLR I feel like a fish out of water! I was kind of enjoying not having to plan so far ahead like WDW, but now it's kind of snuck up on me, and I'm starting to get in to semi-panic planning mode and afraid I will get there and not have a good plan!

Thanks for all your help! I really appreciate all the input from you DLR vets! (Sorry so long winded I just keep feeling like I've forgotten something! )

If it were me, I would take the earliest available breakfast at the PCH Grill, if you can get in before rope drop and still have time to enjoy the characters instead of Minnie and Friends. It's a much better breakfast than Minnie and Friends, IMHO, and you can often eat early enough to get it out of the way and then be fed and ready for rope drop. It's true, there are a lot fewer people on Main Street but it is never really empty. That said, everything else looks good.

 

[tylerandalexsmom]

I'm only going to comment on Wed, but that seems like alot of food. I might do Goofy's kitchen for early lunch or brunch & then the BBQ late afternoon/early dinner.

We like to eat at Taste Pilots in DCA. We also used to like HUngry Bear, but they changed the menu to more healthy & it's not personally my cup of tea.

Yeah, I really don't want to put 3 table service meals in one day, but couldn't figure out where to fit those in anywhere else without crowding any of the park days. Any suggestions for where to fit one in somewhere else?

If it were me, I would take the earliest available breakfast at the PCH Grill, if you can get in before rope drop and still have time to enjoy the characters instead of Minnie and Friends. It's a much better breakfast than Minnie and Friends, IMHO, and you can often eat early enough to get it out of the way and then be fed and ready for rope drop. It's true, there are a lot fewer people on Main Street but it is never really empty. That said, everything else looks good.

Thanks! I'm actually planning on both (Minnie's @ Plaza Inn and PCH - Surf's Up). I picked Minnies for the day we are in the park, and PCH - Surf's Up for a day that is a "free" day (although we can go to the parks if we want to do something we missed, or want to do something again....) I'm thinking I'll have to stick with touring first on that day at DL, and do Minnies at 10 or so when the crowds start building. But open to suggestions. Any other thoughts?

Thanks!!