please help me drop an ADR

[constantstar]

I'm at it again. With H&V adding the Minnie dinner - I picked up an ADR with F!. Now, once again, I have more TS reservations that I have DDP credits. Boo!

I'd really appreciate your input on which meal we should drop. I'll put reasons I want to keep the ADR with each one.

Tusker House 10:45a (AK day)
- I'm hoping for Mickey waffles with my lunch.
- My kids love the classic characters
- DH wants to try the more unusual foods

Garden Grill 11:00a (EP day - same day ask Akershus)
- Even though I've read mixed reviews, the food sounds awesome to me.
- DD4 insists that she must dine with Pluto during our trip.

Akershus 6:45p (EP day - same day as GG)
- I <3 princesses
- I'm thinking DH would enjoy the non-traditional foods

Hollywood & Vine 4:45p (HS day - If we don't go here, we'll do 2 CS in HS)
- I've never done Fantasmic so I like that it's a package.
- classic characters, again...

1900 Park Fare 4:00p (MK day - If we don't go here, we'll do 2 CS in MK)
- I really want this to be a fabulous character experience.
- I've never visited GF

Cape May 9:00a (travel day)
- This is our traditional "send off" meal the morning we leave WDW.
- again, favorite characters
- I <3 a breakfast buffet.

Favorite characters:
DD2 - Mickey & no one else will do
DD4 - Elsa, Anna, Mickey, Minnie, & Pluto
DH - Mickey
Me - Overall Belle but I <3 all of them! I love any chance to meet a character.

Ideally I'd like to just pay OOP for Cape May and keep them all! But, DH doesn't want to spend any more that we've already committed with the dining plan.

 

[cuteduck223]

I prefer Garden Grill over Akershus any day. While its nice to meet princesses and try a few new foods, i have never been impressed. Although---if tusker is still technically breakfast, it would be cheaper than OOP for any of the others.

 

[constantstar]

I prefer Garden Grill over Akershus any day. While its nice to meet princesses and try a few new foods, i have never been impressed. Although---if tusker is still technically breakfast, it would be cheaper than OOP for any of the others.

Good point! I keep considering it a lunch but I forgot about the way they charge. Thanks!

 

[minnie mum]

Either Tusker House or Cape May.

Tusker House- you would still get Mickey at Garden Grill and Donald at Cape May. Hoping for lunch when you have a breakfast ADR might make for a very long meal. I've seen recent reports where the lunch dishes weren't put out until! 11:30.

Cape May- you will still see Minnie at H&V.

 

[supersnoop]

I'm at it again. With H&V adding the Minnie dinner - I picked up an ADR with F!. Now, once again, I have more TS reservations that I have DDP credits. Boo!

I'd really appreciate your input on which meal we should drop. I'll put reasons I want to keep the ADR with each one.

Tusker House 10:45a (AK day)
- I'm hoping for Mickey waffles with my lunch.
- My kids love the classic characters
- DH wants to try the more unusual foods

Garden Grill 11:00a (EP day - same day ask Akershus)
- Even though I've read mixed reviews, the food sounds awesome to me.
- DD4 insists that she must dine with Pluto during our trip.

Akershus 6:45p (EP day - same day as GG)
- I <3 princesses
- I'm thinking DH would enjoy the non-traditional foods

Hollywood & Vine 4:45p (HS day - If we don't go here, we'll do 2 CS in HS)
- I've never done Fantasmic so I like that it's a package.
- classic characters, again...

1900 Park Fare 4:00p (MK day - If we don't go here, we'll do 2 CS in MK)
- I really want this to be a fabulous character experience.
- I've never visited GF

Cape May 9:00a (travel day)
- This is our traditional "send off" meal the morning we leave WDW.
- again, favorite characters
- I <3 a breakfast buffet.

Favorite characters:
DD2 - Mickey & no one else will do
DD4 - Elsa, Anna, Mickey, Minnie, & Pluto
DH - Mickey
Me - Overall Belle but I <3 all of them! I love any chance to meet a character.

Ideally I'd like to just pay OOP for Cape May and keep them all! But, DH doesn't want to spend any more that we've already committed with the dining plan.

I don't like the time of many of your meals, but perhaps it will depend on what time you're planning to arrive and depart the parks.

1. I wouldn't do Tusker House at 10:45. You're still in prime touring time. I don't think "brunch" is worth missing a prime hour in the park. I'd try to move it, either to pre-park opening, or a later lunch around 12:30-1:30

2. No way would I do Garden Grill and Akershus on the same day, especially that close together. If you're set on two TS that day, I'd try to move Akershus to much later, but would consider the IllumiNations schedule if that's important to you.

3. When it comes to 1900 Park Fare, I don't like such an early dinner at a resort on your Magic Kingdom day. I'd try to eat in the park or schedule something much later. If this is supposed to be your "down time" during the day, I think this TS is going to me too much for the kids.

But I like your H&V and Cape May.

 

[Baklava]

Cape May sounds like a sentimental must-do. I'd definitely keep that.

Keeping in mind that I've never eaten at any of them, Garden Grill was least appealing when I was reviewing menus. Both my guys vetoed and I wasn't especially sad.

 

[mgentry210]

My vote was Askerhaus. Your little one sounds like she is more Micky Mouse Clubhouse age than full on princess. Save it for Elsa fastpass!

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Even though I love 1900 Park Fare, I'm voting for dumping it because MK has better CS than Hollywood Studios (in my opinion). That's my official vote. I wouldn't want to be stuck with 2 CS at HS. I couldn't even find one I liked!

I agree with the pp who said to not do Akershus and GG on the same day ... but that's because I think EPCOT has so many grea CS options too. I would keep Garden Grill and dump Akershus if Mickey is any important part of the equation.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Even though I love 1900 Park Fare, I'm voting for dumping it because MK has better CS than Hollywood Studios (in my opinion). That's my official vote. I wouldn't want to be stuck with 2 CS at HS. I couldn't even find one I liked!

I agree with the pp who said to not do Akershus and GG on the same day ... but that's because I think EPCOT has so many grea CS options too. I would keep Garden Grill and dump Akershus if Mickey is any important part of the equation.

Oh man, it's early. Tried to edit my post and quoted myself instead. Sorry!

 

[Nancyg56]

I think you have a whole lot of Buffet and AYCTE meals, so with that in mind, I would ditch Akershus. I also think that while TH is a fun place to eat, you are going to be there a long time at that hour given you ae looking for a brunch. If you choose to keep all of the rest, AK has good alternatives to TS with their CS options.

I also question the timeing of several meals, 1900 PF in particular, unless you are planning to have dinner after the parade. If you keep this meal, yor DD will be able to meet Cindy, and the Tremaine family is a hoot.

GG is really a nice alternative from Buffet in that they bring the food to you and the interaction as well as the atmosphere is a lot more relaxed. It is a break from park touring, IMO.

Cape May seems to be tradition. I would keep this one.

Honestly, given all of your comments, Akershus wuld be the one I would drop. The Princess that apear thee, with teh exception of Belle are all over the place. Sleeping Beauty and Snow appear in MK and Epcot.

 

[jazzyscoob]

I would drop 1900 Park for same reasons as a pp. 2 CS at Hollywood Studios would not work for us. Much easier to do 2 CS at MK.
Although, I would probably get a Plaza ADR and just pay OOP for that. It's a nice break inside the park and CS prices. We all really enjoyed our meals there in August.

 

[constantstar]

Thanks for all the input! I'm leaning toward dropping 1900 or Akershus (both?). We may need to wait until DD is more of a princess fan to check those out.

I also question the timeing of several meals,

I don't like the time of many of your meals, but perhaps it will depend on what time you're planning to arrive and depart the parks.

For timing - here are my thoughts. We normally snack for breakfast in our room and then like an early lunch.
In my mind - I see each day like this (and yes, I realize it won't happen this way because kids are...kids).
Wake up early (my kids wake up with the sun and think this is okay because Anna does), snack breakfast in room, park for rope drop, popular attractions, early lunch, walk around while kids nap in stroller, more rides/characters, early dinner, shop/attractions, night show.

With 1900 I was planning to leave MK, eat dinner, and then go back to MK for Wishes. Perhaps that's the one I should drop since going back and forth with a 2 & 4 year old wouldn't be ideal. If so - I need CS ideas for MK!

Hoping for lunch when you have a breakfast ADR might make for a very long meal. I've seen recent reports where the lunch dishes weren't put out until! 11:30.

Oh goodness, DH would be OVER it if we had to wait that long for lunch foods. Thanks for the heads up! I've changed the ADR to 11:15.

I think you have a whole lot of Buffet and AYCTE meals

I agree! I wish more character meals were served family style or in a format where you order the food yourself. Since we would order our food at Akershus and the only buffet is the taste of Norway - I think this leads me to canceling 1900.

If you're set on two TS that day, I'd try to move Akershus to much later, but would consider the IllumiNations schedule if that's important to you.

I wouldn't mind moving it later if we keep it. I wonder how close we could get it to Illuminations without missing out on a good spot.

I agree with the pp who said to not do Akershus and GG on the same day ... but that's because I think EPCOT has so many grea CS options too. I would keep Garden Grill and dump Akershus if Mickey is any important part of the equation.

I know DH would love the World CS options! But, I'm crazy picky and I can't find a place that would please us both. My plan right now is to save up snack credits so that he can snack around the world as he pleases.