Newbie advice

[thatothermouse]

I've been to WDW many times but have never stayed in a resort or dined in the parks beyond a stray funnel cake or bottled water. We are going in November this year and are staying at the Ft. Wilderness Cabins and have purchased the dining plan. I have a few ADR questions, if someone wouldn't mind helping me out.

We are going the week of November 19-26 (Thanksgiving week). Here come the questions:

*We want to get an ADR for breakfast or lunch at the Royal Table for DH and our four year old daughter (we will have a six month old at the time and she and I will be back at our resort while they dine). Will it be easier to get a place on the 20th or 21st, rather than trying to get one for later in the week? I know more people will show up at the parks on Wednesday because of holiday break. Will I have better luck with breakfast or lunch? And is it true that I can make ADR an hour earlier at the 180 day mark if I do it online? Is the Royal table covered under the dining plan?

*DH wants to eat one night (or lunch) at Coral Reef because he loves seafood. Do we need an ADR for that?

*Do we need an ADR for Boma?

*Where is the easiest place to get an ADR for Thanksgiving lunch? I've been reading horror stories online about getting ADR for Thanksgiving meals. Would we have better luck dining outside of the parks?

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me. Like I said, I'm a newbie at this, and dining is overwhelming me at the moment.

 

[laurafergie]

Hello and WELCOME!!! You will have a fabulous time, there is so much to do at The Fort. Make sure you visit the Dis's Camping Board and read about all it's activities.

You need an ADR for any place that is not counter service. So yes, you need a ressie to Boma and Coral Reef.

You can make your ADRS starting 180 days out from the beginning of your reservation. I do not know if you can get into the system earlier if you do the ressie online, I've never tried early.
As far as I know, CRT is still covered under the DP, it takes 2 credits.

Thanksgiving is up to you - but here are my 2 cents FWIW - We ate Christmas dinner (7pm) at 1900 Park Faire, last year and I regret it very much. Now I did pay out of pocket for the dinner, but I felt the food was subpar, VERY expensive and it was very rushed. I wish I had paid the same amount and gone to an offsite hotel for the same dinner, and had a much better experience. JMO

You did not mention if you have ParkHopper tickets or not - but the way I do it is:

I decide where is want to eat and start trying to get ADRs for about WHEN I want. Now that the process is online, it is much easier (You have to call about CRT though) Then once I have all my ADRs in place, then I plan what parks we will do on what days.

I've been to WDW many times but have never stayed in a resort or dined in the parks beyond a stray funnel cake or bottled water. We are going in November this year and are staying at the Ft. Wilderness Cabins and have purchased the dining plan. I have a few ADR questions, if someone wouldn't mind helping me out.

We are going the week of November 19-26 (Thanksgiving week). Here come the questions:

*We want to get an ADR for breakfast or lunch at the Royal Table for DH and our four year old daughter (we will have a six month old at the time and she and I will be back at our resort while they dine). Will it be easier to get a place on the 20th or 21st, rather than trying to get one for later in the week? I know more people will show up at the parks on Wednesday because of holiday break. Will I have better luck with breakfast or lunch? And is it true that I can make ADR an hour earlier at the 180 day mark if I do it online? Is the Royal table covered under the dining plan?

*DH wants to eat one night (or lunch) at Coral Reef because he loves seafood. Do we need an ADR for that? ]

*Do we need an ADR for Boma?

*Where is the easiest place to get an ADR for Thanksgiving lunch? I've been reading horror stories online about getting ADR for Thanksgiving meals. Would we have better luck dining outside of the parks?

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me. Like I said, I'm a newbie at this, and dining is overwhelming me at the moment.

 

[thatothermouse]

Thanks! I figured it would be wise to just go ahead and do the ADRs, but I wasn't sure. I think we'll look offsite for a Thanksgiving meal, or maybe even order a pre-made one from the Publix since the cabin has a full kitchen.

I guess I'll be one of the ones sitting with my phone in my hand at 6:58 on May 24th, hoping we can get in at the royal table.

We aren't doing park hopper. With a four year old and a six month old, we will probably be spending a good part of our days napping at the cabin instead of hopping the parks, so I'll take your advice of choosing where we want to eat and planning our park days according to that. Thanks!

 

[MsPeggySue911]

Thanks! I figured it would be wise to just go ahead and do the ADRs, but I wasn't sure. I think we'll look offsite for a Thanksgiving meal, or maybe even order a pre-made one from the Publix since the cabin has a full kitchen.

I guess I'll be one of the ones sitting with my phone in my hand at 6:58 on May 24th, hoping we can get in at the royal table.

We aren't doing park hopper. With a four year old and a six month old, we will probably be spending a good part of our days napping at the cabin instead of hopping the parks, so I'll take your advice of choosing where we want to eat and planning our park days according to that. Thanks!

Remember you can make your ADR's at 6 AM online or 7 am by phone but that is EASTERN TIME, so if you are in central time zone like me that means 5 am online or 6 am by phone. If you are on the West coast that means 3 am online or 4 am by phone.