Newbie wanting DxDP ADR reassurance :)

[JennyDarling]

Hi! So, after many, many hours reading menus and reviews, I think I have finalized my ADRs. All that's left is to submit them to you masters for review and critique

A little back story. We are a party of 3- Me, DH and DD4. We are staying at the Poly and have deluxe dining. We are early risers naturally (haven't used an alarm or slept passed 6am in years!). We are used to 3 meals a day which is why we chose DxDP but wanted some freedom during the day so we are sacrificing some of the value by planning CS service lunched.

We are restaurant people, no really, we don't just like food, my husband is the general manager with an upscale restaurant chain and I am the off-site accounting manager for the same company! I mention that because I want to reassure you that DD is a "restaurant friendly" kid.

Ugh...I'm babbling. Alright here goes!

Day 1- driving in should arrive around 3pm.
630pm-Cape May

Day 2- MK
810am- Crystal Palace
650pm- Liberty Tree Tavern

Day 3- Epcot
820am- Akershus
505pm-Biergarten

Day 4- AK
730am- Chef Mickeys
700pm- Ohana

Day 5- DHS
730am- GF Cafe
650pm-Brown derby

Day 6- Open park day
905am- 1900 Park Fare
235pm- Coral Reef
MNSSHP!!!

Day 7- MK and/or Epcot
1000am- Ohana
700pm Narcoossee's

Day 8- Drive home, be very sad
900am- Kona

So how did I do? Any major problems that you see?


P.S. We will there at the end of October and hope to use lots of our 454654684 snack credits at F&W.

 

[mjp12831]

I highly recommend sacrificing some of the breakfasts and doing some 2TS meals for dinner. I see you did it with Narcoossees and HBD - did you do HBD on a Fantasmic day and get the F! package so you dont need to stand in line?

We've never eaten at Narcossees - I've seen debates on these boards asking which was better between that and Yachtsman. I did eat at Yachtsman last year and it was one of the best restaurant meals I ever had. You have that day as either a MK or E day - if Epcot, consider changing to Yachtsman as it is walkable or a quick boat ride from Epcot. IF MK, keep N. It's somewhat easy to travel between MK and E with the monorail, so with hoppers you can split parks easily.

Day 4 you have marked as an AK day, but your meals are in the hotel/monorail loop from MK - you wouldnt be able to do AK and keep these

I agree with your theory to sacrifice value by going CS on lunches - making lunch reservations is hard because it ties you down during the day.

 

[Symans3honeybees]

Hi! So, after many, many hours reading menus and reviews, I think I have finalized my ADRs. All that's left is to submit them to you masters for review and critique

A little back story. We are a party of 3- Me, DH and DD4. We are staying at the Poly and have deluxe dining. We are early risers naturally (haven't used an alarm or slept passed 6am in years!). We are used to 3 meals a day which is why we chose DxDP but wanted some freedom during the day so we are sacrificing some of the value by planning CS service lunched.

We are restaurant people, no really, we don't just like food, my husband is the general manager with an upscale restaurant chain and I am the off-site accounting manager for the same company! I mention that because I want to reassure you that DD is a "restaurant friendly" kid.

Ugh...I'm babbling. Alright here goes!

Day 1- driving in should arrive around 3pm.
630pm-Cape May

Day 2- MK
810am- Crystal Palace
650pm- Liberty Tree TavernStrongly suggest you try to see there's CRT available

Day 3- Epcot I recommend one of these meals to be NON-Buffet
820am- Akershus
505pm-Biergarten

Day 4- AK
730am- Chef MickeysTusker House in AK will be our preferred choice. Plus you can get in before AK opens in the morning
700pm- Ohana

Day 5- DHS
730am- GF Cafe
650pm-Brown derby

Day 6- Open park day
905am- 1900 Park Fare
235pm- Coral Reef
MNSSHP!!!

Day 7- MK and/or Epcot
1000am- Ohana
700pm Narcoossee's

Day 8- Drive home, be very sad
900am- Kona

So how did I do? Any major problems that you see?


P.S. We will there at the end of October and hope to use lots of our 454654684 snack credits at F&W.

Since you will have 21 TS credits for each of you, you should reconsider dining at a couple more "Signature" restaurants(just like mjp12831 mentioned)

 

[tinka-belle]

I agree about adding a few more Signature dinners. Buffets really fill you up and you may not even want a complete CS lunch, maybe use some snack credits or split a CS meal at lunchtime. If you're used to nicer dining you'll appreciate the Signatures.

It's hard to do the buffets and eat lightly, you always want to "try a little of this, and oh that looks good too". The characters are the highlight and you shouldn't miss those, but the food is just fair to decent. I never expect buffet food to be great and am often pleasantly surprised at Disney.

People frequently say they want three square meals a day. Takes a lot of time out of your day, and two meals and a snack/quick service is really all most take time for.

You can save your snack credits for the F&W booths, and use a CS credit now and then to make one CS meal into a family snack. For example, we get the cheese plate in the French bakery with a chocolate mousse (sooo good) and a drink for a CS credit and make a snack for two out of it. If you do lots of F&W tastings, you may not even be hungry later on.

 

[Symans3honeybees]

I agree about adding a few more Signature dinners. Buffets really fill you up and you may not even want a complete CS lunch, maybe use some snack credits or split a CS meal at lunchtime. If you're used to nicer dining you'll appreciate the Signatures.

It's hard to do the buffets and eat lightly, you always want to "try a little of this, and oh that looks good too". The characters are the highlight and you shouldn't miss those, but the food is just fair to decent. I never expect buffet food to be great and am often pleasantly surprised at Disney.

People frequently say they want three square meals a day. Takes a lot of time out of your day, and two meals and a snack/quick service is really all most take time for.

You can save your snack credits for the F&W booths, and use a CS credit now and then to make one CS meal into a family snack. For example, we get the cheese plate in the French bakery with a chocolate mousse (sooo good) and a drink for a CS credit and make a snack for two out of it. If you do lots of F&W tastings, you may not even be hungry later on.

Well said I couldn't agree with your analogy more

 

[crabbygal902]

Deluxe Dining Plan? How awesome is that!!!

Day 1- driving in should arrive around 3pm.
630pm-Cape May I would change this one to Kona, Citricos, or The Wave, which will be less traveling on your arrival day than going all the way over to the Beach Club. I have learned from experience that it is best (for us) to take it easy upon arrival. After dinner, you could putter around the monorail resorts and relax.

Day 2- MK
810am- Crystal Palace
650pm- Liberty Tree Tavern

Day 3- Epcot
820am- Akershus
505pm-Biergarten How about Flying Fish? (signature dining on the Boardwalk right outside of the World Showcase)


Day 4- AK
730am- Chef Mickeys The last couple times we've been to CM's have been disappointing. Since you're going to be at AK anyway, how about Tusker House? I've heard great reviews about the character breakfast.
700pm- Ohana Love this place!

Day 5- DHS
730am- GF Cafe
650pm-Brown derby

Day 6- Open park day
905am- 1900 Park Fare
235pm- Coral Reef
MNSSHP!!!

Day 7- MK and/or Epcot
1000am- Ohana
700pm Narcoossee's

Day 8- Drive home, be very sad
900am- Kona

I agree with the other posters about adding more signature dining. You are only a boat ride away from Artist's Point at the Wilderness Lodge. Also--if your little girl is a princess fan, I'd put CRT on the list.

 

[KateB]

Day 1- driving in should arrive around 3pm.
630pm-Cape May----------Maybe you should trade this and Ohana
Day 2- MK
810am- Crystal Palace
650pm- Liberty Tree Tavern----Try for CRT

Day 3- Epcot
820am- Akershus
505pm-Biergarten--Try another signature resturant like Flying FIsh or Cali Grill

Day 4- AK
730am- Chef Mickeys-------Tusker House
700pm- Ohana-----------Trade with Cape May

Day 5- DHS
730am- GF Cafe
650pm-Brown derby------Another good pick

Day 6- Open park day
905am- 1900 Park Fare
235pm- Coral Reef--------GREAT CHOICE!!!!
MNSSHP!!!

Day 7- MK and/or Epcot
1000am- Ohana------Love Lilo & Stitch
700pm Narcoossee's------- LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!

Day 8- Drive home, be very sad
900am- Kona



It's your trip but just a few suggestions included. Try for CRT but remember that the dinner show is only the mice and the fair godmother. If you want the princesses you want to do breakfast.

 

[Disney Geek]

I would trade Chef Mickey for Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House. This is a must do for us. The food is really good and the characters are adorable in their Safari outfit. I would also try and fit BOMA for dinner in there somewhere. The food is absolutely delicious. Your scheduled breakfast at 'Ohana is definetly a keeper! You will love the food and the character interaction is fabulous. Seems like you will have a delicious vacation!

 

[JennyDarling]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I agree that we should probably include another signature meal but the only one that REALLY seems appealling is Jiko and the only dinner we have that I'm kinda eh about is LTT. The only reason I haven't changed it is because I really want to stay in MK as long as possible that day (closes at 7 for MNSSHP) so we would either have to leave MK early or have dinner much later. DD is great in restaurants but an 8pm or later dinner after her 1st big Disney day might be more than she could handle.

As for Tusker House instead of Chef Mickey's...done! Great suggestion and honestly, I've been nervous about that one anyway. Horrible reviews lately but I really wanted to eat at CR. It's just so Disney!!!

 

[Disney Geek]

You will love Tusker House for Breakfast! Great decision. Were you able to get an 8am ADR? If so, the restaurant is located right beside the safari so once you finish breakfast, if you head straight there, you will be one of the first ones on and beat the crowds!