Please Please help with my ADR's - not sure what's logistically possible

[cbellasmomma]

I am taking DD 10 for the first time. Originally I was only planning two sit down character/show type meals, but grandmas said she wanted to give her one as a gift (woo hoo!) Thanks to people on this board I feel like I have a small clue how to make my reservations but I am not sure what is logistically possible (I haven't been in 20 years - eep). I have to make my ADR's tomorrow and I feel like I'm getting ready for a test!

Here is my plan, please tell me if it is a mess. We are staying at the Poly, have 5 day tickets (no hopper) plus 1 Waterpark pass. We are paying 100% OOP.

Monday - Arrival Day (arrive at Poly around 11) - Possible late day at MK
I planned to grab something quick to eat, walk around the resort and then go to MK if she wanted. My original plan was to just do a resort day but I moved that to our departure day. I am wondering if that is wrong too. My flight doesn't leave until 8:00pm on Sat!

Dinner 1900 Park
What time do I schedule this for or do you think this is too much for arrival day? I was planning on getting her hair done at the GF and then going but if she wants to go to MK this might be too much. Would it be better to just plan to go to MK and do something else for dinner? Thoughts? Or do the Dessert Party?

Tuesday - MK
Early Crystal Palace Breakfast (any reason why Tues or Wed might be easier to book an early before park open ADR?)

Wednesday - MK
Early Crystal Palace Breakfast (if I can't get Tuesday)

Thursday - My husband arrives!
Waterpark in the AM
Epcot at Night

Should I make an ADR for something here?

Friday - AK (going to use this as a regroup and relax kind of a day) Downtown Disney at night?
Tusker Early AM - Might scrap this one
Ohana Dinner (we were going to do HDDR but we will not be 100% sure that my husband can take off worr until July so I don't want to lose this money)

Saturday - 8:00 pm flight

Is this too long of a day to spend at the resort?

Ohana Breakfast
Ohana Dinner? (should I make this a resort departure day dinner? Early like at 4? Then what do I do Friday?)


HELP! Any insight would be so appreciated! I want to get 100 on this test.

 

[BuzzyBelle]

We love pre-opening breakfasts! I don't think Tuesday or Wednesday should make a difference since neither is an EMH day for MK. I think we are going the same week as you since I made our ADRs this morning I don't know if you are using Magical Express for transportation from the airport, but it usually picks you up 3 hours before your flight so around 5 on your departure day. Take that in to account when planning that last day. I haven't stayed at the Poly in a long time so I don't know if they have any facilities, but most resorts don't have a place to shower or anything after spending the day at the pool on check-out day. Don't know if that would bother you. You could hit the pool on arrival day, go to the salon and dinner at 1900 then watch fireworks and electric water pageant from the beach. You could still book HDDR and cancel in July if you have to. You will have to pay in full upfront, but I believe the cancellation policy is 48 hours to get a full refund so you should know in plenty of time to get your money back if you have to. I would call and double check the cancellation policy though If you want a TS meal for EP I would make an ADR. EP has a lot of great CS options, but the TS ones are a lot of fun! I hope you have a wonderful time

 

[livinginthecornfield]

Maybe scrap 1900 or Ohana and try for BOG????

 

[CarrieR]

I travel in parties of all adults, so my viewpoint is a bit skewed, but to be honest - at ten your DD is more likely to tour like an adult than like a child.

With an early arrival on Monday and a late departure on Saturday, I would go ahead and add a day to your tickets. At about $10/person, I personally feel it's a very small investment for what looks to be eight or so hours in a park on your plan. (I have added an extra park day for as few as three or four hours - often times we arrive at dinnertime on Day One and head to the MK for the evening, and though I usually have an AP, I've paid to add an extra day to friends' tickets to enable us to do this.)

I would imagine your DD will be quite anxious to get to the parks upon arrival, so I would plan to settle in at the Poly and head to MK, arriving at probably 1PM. (Your flight arrives at 9AM or so? That should put you at Poly by 11, definitely. Your room may or may not be ready... what we do is check our suitcases with DME, but bring a backpack on the plane that contains a change of park clothes and our purses pre-packed as park bags. The backpack can be checked with bell services if your room is not ready.) You could grab lunch at Captain Cook's *or* eat inside the MK. Book a few late afternoon FPs and then you could do a late dinner at 1900PF. You also might consider asking DD - would she rather spend arrival day checking out MK, or get her hair done and eat at PF?

When on Thursday does your husband arrive? I would consider using this day as your resort day - especially if he arrives mid-day - you guys could do either EPCOT or DTD at night. Was he doing the waterpark with you? If you're in MK Monday, you could easily swap either Monday or Tuesday's MK for the waterpark. I might go MK-MK-waterpark-resort/EPCOT-AK/DTD-park of choosing. You could even add DHS on in the evening after your waterpark day; with FPs at TSMM and ToT the lines would be minimal. Friday being your "regroup" day, you could get mostly packed up, leaving out just a change of park clothes for Saturday and travel clothes, which would get packed into backpacks. Saturday, then, you'd have from rope drop until 3 or 4PM at park of your choosing - six to eight hours in a park is LOTS of time, especially if you tour wisely. You could book FP+s at MK, but allow DD to make the choice to return to the park that was her favorite?

Bear in mind these are just suggestions - you'll need to figure out what works best for your family but here's an idea of a plan -

Monday - 11AM arrival at Poly - check in, change to park clothes, lunch at Captain Cook's. MK from 1P-5P; FPs at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30. 1900PF dinner at 6PM (hair reservation scrapped - you could reinstate this at 5 in lieu of the 4:30FP and schedule it after dinner.) Return to MK around 8PM; enjoy evening ambiance and filler attractions or use 4:30FP. Wishes at 10; boat back to Poly. Alternate, do 1900PF dinner at 7, then go straight back to Poly; into PJs and watch Wishes from the Poly beach.

Tuesday - MK, CP breakfast. (It's possible that an 8AM breakfast won't work with your DD if you've stayed at MK until Wishes the prior night.) Tour, with mid-day break as applicable (a must for us, especially in August.) Nap or swim - if you stayed at MK through Wishes the prior night and arrived for a pre-opening CP ADR then you might want that nap!! Finish out day at MK at your leisure.

Wednesday - waterpark day - no ADR, or Ohana dinner (waterpark day will be a short one?) if you are okay doing it without DH.

Thursday - resort day, relaxation, DH arrives. Counter service lunch - you could buzz over to Contempo Cafe if you are "over" Captain Cook's at this point. Either early dinner at Ohana (first seating) or snack around the world for dinner.

Friday - Animal Kingdom for rope drop. Tusker House breakfast if you want. AK in August is HOT, for us it zaps us and we would be done by early afternoon. Return to resort for shower and regroup, packing, then to DTD for dinner (you could do an ADR somewhere if you wanted) and evening.

Saturday - Park of DD's choice.

Like I said, just some thoughts. I know I always want to squeeze every bit I can out of the start and end of vacation, and if I arrive and don't go straight to a park I can just "feel" it sitting there beckoning. Likewise, on the last day, I HATE the feeling of hanging out at the hotel knowing the parks are *right there* and I'm not in them. Mid-week, that feeling is much easier to stomach. But I think that's highly personal; I'm not the most patient person in the world!!

I hope that helps!!

 

[cbellasmomma]

OMG I literally heard an angel's choir when I read this. This is EXACTLY the info I need. See my responses in bold below. Thank you!!!!

I travel in parties of all adults, so my viewpoint is a bit skewed, but to be honest - at ten your DD is more likely to tour like an adult than like a child. She is kind of scared of most rides so as far as that is concerned, she will probably not tour like and adult. I should have included that in my info. But, she has a great palette so dining wise she will. She also LOVES parades, fireworks, light shows.

I was thinking of doing this. You convinced me - sending my TA a not now.
With an early arrival on Monday and a late departure on Saturday, I would go ahead and add a day to your tickets. At about $10/person, I personally feel it's a very small investment for what looks to be eight or so hours in a park on your plan. (I have added an extra park day for as few as three or four hours - often times we arrive at dinnertime on Day One and head to the MK for the evening, and though I usually have an AP, I've paid to add an extra day to friends' tickets to enable us to do this.)

So I am not sure if I am telling DD or leaving this as a surprise up until we arrive at the airport. Still debating. Not telling her means I have to make all the plans without her input. I would imagine your DD will be quite anxious to get to the parks upon arrival, so I would plan to settle in at the Poly and head to MK, arriving at probably 1PM. (Your flight arrives at 9AM or so? That should put you at Poly by 11, definitely. Your room may or may not be ready... what we do is check our suitcases with DME, but bring a backpack on the plane that contains a change of park clothes and our purses pre-packed as park bags. The backpack can be checked with bell services if your room is not ready.) You could grab lunch at Captain Cook's *or* eat inside the MK. Book a few late afternoon FPs and then you could do a late dinner at 1900PF. You also might consider asking DD - would she rather spend arrival day checking out MK, or get her hair done and eat at PF?

We won't know when he arrives until the last minute. It's possible he won't be able to get off work. It's complicated. My plan is to go to the waterpark on the day of or before he arrives because he is not on the same plan as us so we would have to buy him a separate ticket and he hates waterparks. He has an unexpired 4 day park hopper that he will be using if/when he joins us. My dd is also not a fast ride kind of kid so I figure we will do the wave pool, lazy river and be done some time before or after lunch. Break for lunch then go to Epcot with DH (he LOVES Epcot and I think DD will too - she's really into exploring different countries especially France). When on Thursday does your husband arrive? I would consider using this day as your resort day - especially if he arrives mid-day - you guys could do either EPCOT or DTD at night. Was he doing the waterpark with you? If you're in MK Monday, you could easily swap either Monday or Tuesday's MK for the waterpark. I might go MK-MK-waterpark-resort/EPCOT-AK/DTD-park of choosing. You could even add DHS on in the evening after your waterpark day; with FPs at TSMM and ToT the lines would be minimal. Friday being your "regroup" day, you could get mostly packed up, leaving out just a change of park clothes for Saturday and travel clothes, which would get packed into backpacks. Saturday, then, you'd have from rope drop until 3 or 4PM at park of your choosing - six to eight hours in a park is LOTS of time, especially if you tour wisely. You could book FP+s at MK, but allow DD to make the choice to return to the park that was her favorite?

Bear in mind these are just suggestions - you'll need to figure out what works best for your family but here's an idea of a plan -

Monday - 11AM arrival at Poly - check in, change to park clothes, lunch at Captain Cook's. MK from 1P-5P; FPs at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30. 1900PF dinner at 6PM (hair reservation scrapped - you could reinstate this at 5 in lieu of the 4:30FP and schedule it after dinner.) Return to MK around 8PM; enjoy evening ambiance and filler attractions or use 4:30FP. Wishes at 10; boat back to Poly. Alternate, do 1900PF dinner at 7, then go straight back to Poly; into PJs and watch Wishes from the Poly beach. I think this is what we will do that way we can get up early for MK the next day.

Tuesday - MK, CP breakfast. (It's possible that an 8AM breakfast won't work with your DD if you've stayed at MK until Wishes the prior night.) Tour, with mid-day break as applicable (a must for us, especially in August.) Nap or swim - if you stayed at MK through Wishes the prior night and arrived for a pre-opening CP ADR then you might want that nap!! Finish out day at MK at your leisure.

Wednesday - waterpark day - no ADR, or Ohana dinner (waterpark day will be a short one?) if you are okay doing it without DH.

Thursday - resort day, relaxation, DH arrives. Counter service lunch - you could buzz over to Contempo Cafe if you are "over" Captain Cook's at this point. Either early dinner at Ohana (first seating) or snack around the world for dinner.

Friday - Animal Kingdom for rope drop. Tusker House breakfast if you want. AK in August is HOT, for us it zaps us and we would be done by early afternoon. Return to resort for shower and regroup, packing, then to DTD for dinner (you could do an ADR somewhere if you wanted) and evening.

Saturday - Park of DD's choice. This I will do for sure. I think by then she will know what she wants to see again. And then we will be off.

Like I said, just some thoughts. I know I always want to squeeze every bit I can out of the start and end of vacation, and if I arrive and don't go straight to a park I can just "feel" it sitting there beckoning. Likewise, on the last day, I HATE the feeling of hanging out at the hotel knowing the parks are *right there* and I'm not in them. Mid-week, that feeling is much easier to stomach. But I think that's highly personal; I'm not the most patient person in the world!!

I hope that helps!!

 

[cbellasmomma]

We love pre-opening breakfasts! I don't think Tuesday or Wednesday should make a difference since neither is an EMH day for MK. I think we are going the same week as you since I made our ADRs this morning I don't know if you are using Magical Express for transportation from the airport, but it usually picks you up 3 hours before your flight so around 5 on your departure day. Take that in to account when planning that last day. I haven't stayed at the Poly in a long time so I don't know if they have any facilities, but most resorts don't have a place to shower or anything after spending the day at the pool on check-out day. Don't know if that would bother you. You could hit the pool on arrival day, go to the salon and dinner at 1900 then watch fireworks and electric water pageant from the beach. You could still book HDDR and cancel in July if you have to. You will have to pay in full upfront, but I believe the cancellation policy is 48 hours to get a full refund so you should know in plenty of time to get your money back if you have to. I would call and double check the cancellation policy though If you want a TS meal for EP I would make an ADR. EP has a lot of great CS options, but the TS ones are a lot of fun! I hope you have a wonderful time

Thanks for the Magical Express info. If DH comes he will probably rent a car. If I pay upfront and DH can't make it can we still go just dd and I?

 

[BuzzyBelle]

Magical express is free with a disney resort stay. They will send you luggage tags in the mail that you put on your bags so you don't even have to stop at baggage claim when you arrive When you get off the plane you go straight to the ME counter in terminal B and get on the disney motorcoach to the Poly. Really easy. You can check your bags with resort airline check-in at the Poly before 1pm of your departure day and they will get them on the plane for you- double check that your airline is participating. Your husband can use the service, too, just call magical express and tell them his different arrival date. Search The boards for more info on Magical Express in case I got anything wrong

 

[CarrieR]

You are so welcome!

When I referred to your DD touring "like an adult," I was actually thinking less the rides and more the rhythm of her day - she'll walk at pace as an adult (slightly slower, of course, but not a meandering toddler) and you won't be dealing with stroller, naps, diapers, etc. She's most likely able to be flexible with mealtimes - not need to eat at 5:30PM on the nose to avoid meltdown. Of course you know your daugher best and some kids (and adults!!) still require those moments of routine, but most of the kids I know are okay touring more flexibly by the time they hit ages 8-10.

Even if your DD doesn't like fast rides, there's still so much for her to do! Just keep it in mind as you make FastPasses and know that sometimes people are (for whatever reason) bolder at Disney than they would be at a local theme park. Something like Big Thunder is not SO fast, so it might be worth letting her take a peek!

If you pay for three at HDDR you can definitely go just two of you - the only thing I'm not sure of is if you can cancel the third person for refund (outside of 48hrs) or if you're stuck paying for him whether he attends or not. But they won't turn you away if your whole party doesn't show up - they just might still charge you.

One idea for arrival day, if you plan to stay up for Wishes: you could catch the parade right at 9 in the hub, then exit immediately out the front of the park. The boats back to Poly are right there, and even if you have to wait the maximum time for the boat, you'd be back at the Poly in time to catch Wishes from the beach. If everything goes efficiently (there's a boat right there) you could possibly pop back to your room in between, but even if you have a wait for the boat, you'll be right there to head to bed after watching it. (I am figuring 20 minutes for the parade, 20 minute wait for boat, 20 minutes on the boat, which is pretty much max time for everything.)

Regardless of what you choose, you will have a great time! I have lots of friends who plan their first trips to WDW and refuse most of my input - which I am totally okay with, I offer to help but often they turn it down - and still have a great time, even though some of their decisions leave me cringing. The MOST frequent thing I hear, though, is "We had an amazing time! But now I definitely want to go back, there's so much we didn't see/so much I'd do differently this time..." So consider this trip a learning experience, there are definitely things you'll look back and know you could have done differently but in all liklihood you'll have a great time regardless!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

The first thing I noticed is that you aren't going to all four parks. I would switch one of the MK days for a Hollywood Studios day. It really is worth it to see all of the parks. I also really like doing MK first and last - if I can make that happen, I do.

At 10, my DD didn't need a break or a rest day. I do try to space my table service meals. I find that both lunch and dinner is too much food, though an early breakfast and a late dinner is usually do-able.

Don't count on DD not wanting to ride rides after she tries some of the tamer rides. My DD was terrified of practically every ride at age 8 - and then she would try it and her first words were after the ride were always, "LET'S DO THAT AGAIN!!!!" Disney's rides are not rickety like the State Fair or as thrilling as other amusement parks. They are more family friendly, IMO.

I'm a big proponent of taking advantage of what your resort has to offer since it will never be as convenient as when you are staying there, so I would definitely get in an 'Ohana meal, and I would think about a Kona breakfast, if you have an open morning. If you have an extra morning and want counter service breakfast, the one in Poly is decent. I would also consider Spirit of Aloha over HDDR for the same reason.

I always debate between 'Ohana breakfast and dinner. IMO, the breakfast is one of the best character breakfasts on property - instead of a buffet, the food is served family style at your table, and you can ask for more of anything. And the food is GOOD. And the characters are great, especially if you have a Stitch fan. But the dinner is great, too. Sides are served family style, then they bring around meats on skewers.

There is no wrong way to do Disney - we all have our preferences. Have a great trip!

 

[cbellasmomma]

yay! This is all great advice. I called and was told I could book HDDR and cancel one person if needed. How much time do I need to get to FW and is it worth it or should I (as someone posted) do something at my resort? Thanks!

 

[Puffy2]

Personally I think 2 and 1/2 days at MK is a lot. I'd do at least a 1/2 day at Hollywood Studios. There is a lot for a 10 year old to enjoy and the park is more compact making it easy to tour.

1/2 day at a park is more exciting on departure day than hanging around the resort.

If I was arriving at 11am on 1st day, I might consider sticking with your original plan. Arriving, tour the resort, get her hair done, have a great character meal (or do the luau...but I'd probably just do the character meal). You don't say what time of year you are going - if weather is right, swim at the polynesian if that is possible. Maybe watch fireworks from a resort location. Ride the monorail to the contemporary. Get out and walk around, maybe visit the gift shop. (it is cool to see the rail go though a hotel). Go to bed early for your big day the next day. Arrive at rope drop or earlier for a Chrystal Palace breakfast. (Magic Kingdom is always better first thing in the morning. It tends to fill up by late morning )

 

[cbellasmomma]

Ok, I stretched, I meditated, drank a cup of coffee and waited for 6:00 am....ok I only drank a cup of coffee. But I did it! Kind of. I couldn't make more than 180 online. So I called and go right through.

Here are my ADR's please tell me if you think I made a Disney Faux Pas!

Monday at 12: Arrival at noon to Poly
Monday at 6:50 1900 Park Fare (I am planning on taking CarrieR's advice and heading to MK right after we check in, look around)
Monday: Back at Poly for Wishes

Tuesday 8:10 at Crystal Palace
Park opens at 9. Do you think this is enough time to get to the park by 9? This was the earliest I could get.

Wednesday - No ADR
I think I will take Puffy2's advice and try DHS

Thursday - No ADR DH arrives (hopefully!!!)
Waterpark AM / Epcot PM

Friday - AK in the AM and relaxy day for the rest (maybe DTD)
Tusker 8:00 am - might cancel this if we seem to want to sleep in. I want to try and not be overscheduled....we will see
6:25 Ohana for dinner with my two fave people!
Decided to take Justcallmemom's advice and stay around the resort (dh will be happy!)

Saturday - Kids choice park day per CarrieR's suggestion
8:30 Ohana Breakfast
Is this too much Ohana back to back?

Thanks for your suggestions everyone! I wanted you to know I actually read them all

 

[Stacey012345]

Tuesday 8:10 at Crystal Palace
Park opens at 9. Do you think this is enough time to get to the park by 9? This was the earliest I could get.

.

Congrats on getting your ADRs. Just wanted to tell you that Crystal Palace is inside the Magic Kingdom so you are already inside the park when you are eating at 8:10. That is a great pre-opening reservation and you should even be able to get a photo on Main Street without many other people around since the park isn't yet open. Enjoy!