Potential ADRs, what do you think?

[xCourxCorex]

Just a couple of weeks away from our ADR window, and I'm trying to figure out which places we'd like to get nailed down. We are staying at the Beach Club Villas for our Disney honeymoon and have purchased the "regular" dining plan (1 QS/1 TS/1 snack) What are your thoughts on our tentative plans?

Flying in Sunday 10/30 mid-afternoon (arriving at MCO around 4:30, renting a car so probably to Beach Club by 5:30-6:00?)
-Cape May buffet dinner Sunday night (since we're arriving late, no park, just get settled in and stick around the Beach Club/Boardwalk area)

Monday 10/31
no real plans here, for parks we're thinking DHS and Epcot, so doing a QS lunch and then exploring the Food & Wine carts around WS.

Tuesday 11/1
Magic Kingdom day! We love Columbia Harbor House, so probably there for lunch,
and Be Our Guest for Dinner. (We have been on our last trip and LOVED it, hoping we can get in again!)

Wednesday 11/2
Another combination DHS/Epcot for parks- probably more F&W offerings/grazing around the world showcase!
Raglan Road for a later dinner (again, have been here before and had a great time!)
Then that leaves us time after dinner to stroll around the new parts of Disney Springs

Thursday 11/3
Our no-park day Hoping to make some spa reservations, hang out at the amazing pool, and just relax on this day. Since we're taking it easy, possibly a room service breakfast, or maybe head down to Cape May for their buffet breakfast since we're right there. Dinner at the Spirit of Aloha show!

Friday 11/4
Some combination of AK/MK for parks this day.
Considering Trattoria al Forno at the Boardwalk for dinner.

We are running the runDisney Wine and Dine 10k race Saturday morning, so dinner would be probably on the earlier side so we can get some sleep. And, Italian type fare seems to agree with our bellies before a race

Saturday 11/5
Running the 10k this morning. Unsure of which park we'll be heading to afterwards. Technically we'll be out of official TS meals but may just pay OOP for one last sit down.. but it may be a last-minute decision, so not part of our ADR plans. (But open to suggestions if you have a place you think would be great for a last-day meal that won't take too long - still want to enjoy some park time!)
Saturday night we're driving over to Universal and will be doing the parks there Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and flying home on Wednesday.

Overall, we have been to several of these places already, but LOVED them, that's why we want to go back. I have done Spirit of Aloha, my fiancé has not. Neither of us have tried Trattoria al Forno yet.



Other TS restaurants we have not tried but may be interested in:

AK: Yak & Yeti (I've been there, he has not)

Epcot: Rose and Crown, La Hacienda

[Have done Coral Reef, Tepan Edo, San Angel Inn, Le Cellier and Chefs de France]

Contemporary: the Wave (I've been, he has not)

 

[pa. dad]

Dining choices can be a very personal thing depending on what you 2 normally like to eat. Most guys like a steakhouse every now and again. Most wouldn't mind a good seafood meal during the week or an Italian place (sounds like you got that one covered) or some Asian food.
I try to balance the meals from day to day to get a little variety. And also to have a few things that are not very common at home.
Hope that helps a little- congrats on your wedding.

 

[dachsie]

I would NOT make the Cape May ADR on arrival nite if you are supposed to get in at 4:30. You wont make it to your room until closer to 7 and that is only IF your plane isn't delayed. You are taking a chance of not making it.

 

[Parker Clan]

I can tell you me and DF loved Trattoria. We were very impressed with the food and service! I highly recommend it!

 

[xCourxCorex]

I would NOT make the Cape May ADR on arrival nite if you are supposed to get in at 4:30. You wont make it to your room until closer to 7 and that is only IF your plane isn't delayed. You are taking a chance of not making it.

Really, what makes you say not to the hotel until 7pm? I figured flight lands around 4:30, grab luggage (one of us) while the other is checking out the car, then an hour to get there puts us around 6pm? The room should be ready to just throw the bags into.. or we can just leave the luggage in the car while we eat if it came down to it? Of course I don't plan on making the dinner reservation for 6 on the dot, but I was thinking 7, I guess 7:30 to plan for heavier traffic, barring any major airline delay?
Maybe I'm missing something. We usually do magical express, and I always leave longer because you never know how soon you'll get on the bus, how long you wait to leave MCO, which resort will be the first stop etc, but if we're renting our own car, we can just scoot out and head straight there as soon as we're ready?

 

[xCourxCorex]

I can tell you me and DF loved Trattoria. We were very impressed with the food and service! I highly recommend it!

Awesome, thank you!! Looking forward to trying it

 

[xCourxCorex]

Dining choices can be a very personal thing depending on what you 2 normally like to eat. Most guys like a steakhouse every now and again. Most wouldn't mind a good seafood meal during the week or an Italian place (sounds like you got that one covered) or some Asian food.
I try to balance the meals from day to day to get a little variety. And also to have a few things that are not very common at home.
Hope that helps a little- congrats on your wedding.

Thanks for your reply! Yes, I was trying to have some options ..we're not SUPER adventurous eaters (I don't think either of us would find more than 1 or maybe 2 options at say Boma or Sanaa) but between seafood, Italian, the polynesian and irish/uk type food I thought that was a decent variety!

 

[StirlingSilver83]

I would NOT make the Cape May ADR on arrival nite if you are supposed to get in at 4:30. You wont make it to your room until closer to 7 and that is only IF your plane isn't delayed. You are taking a chance of not making it.

I also agree with this...if you are planning on coming in later and then thinking of hanging around possibly the boardwalk area then I would suggest you try to eat at the ESPN Club...they don't do ADRs but we ate there last year and my boys LOVED the whole sports themed thing and the food was pretty good as well. This way also you can take your time getting there and won't feel rushed to make it to the ADR.

 

[Lisa F]

consider captain's grill for breakfast instead of cape may. unless you REALLY want the characters, it gets quite good reviews and am assuming it is OOP - less expensive... choice of buffet or made to order menu and right over at the yacht club.

 

[xCourxCorex]

consider captain's grill for breakfast instead of cape may. unless you REALLY want the characters, it gets quite good reviews and am assuming it is OOP - less expensive... choice of buffet or made to order menu and right over at the yacht club.

I always forget about Yacht Club....even though it's right there! Thanks for the suggestion! We don't care about seeing the characters at all.. this is a good alternative! Thanks!

 

[AshleeH]

I would have a plan B for BOG early in the week. Are you staying onsite? Do you get 180+10? If not, chances are very slim of getting that one when the ADR opens up - you might be able to snag one if you check on it constantly, but that's obviously not guaranteed. If you're staying offsite, I can guarantee there will be no availability by the time your window opens for it.

We just booked ours a few weeks ago - I wanted BOG on our third night (we had 180+10) and could not find any availability until our departure day - and that was at 5:00. I went ahead and booked it, since we can leave right after we finish eating, but I didn't expect such limited availability a few minutes after my window for the week opened up.

 

[anna0513]

I think its ridiculous that you can't get a reservation that far out. We are going to be in Disney from October 17th through the 24th. My 180 day window is not here for two more days but I went ahead and checked October 13, 14, 15 and nothing was available for dinner at any time. I think it stinks that you spend so much money to go to Disney now and you can't get to eat where you want to. I'm going on at Midnight on the 20th to try and get a dinner reservation for one of the nights we will be there but I also have to contend with the Not So Scary Party so some nights won't even be available anyway. I'm not getting my hopes up that's for sure.

 

[crabbygal902]

Flying in Sunday 10/30 mid-afternoon (arriving at MCO around 4:30, renting a car so probably to Beach Club by 5:30-6:00?)
-Cape May buffet dinner Sunday night (since we're arriving late, no park, just get settled in and stick around the Beach Club/Boardwalk area)
When you are choosing your ADR time, give yourself plenty of room for transportation delays and perhaps some time to relax in your room before dinner. You are on your honeymoon, after all!

Monday 10/31
no real plans here, for parks we're thinking DHS and Epcot, so doing a QS lunch and then exploring the Food & Wine carts around WS.
We will be doing the same for meals on this day...F&W booths! Yay!! You might want to consider exploring DHS early and going over to Epcot by lunch time. The CS at DHS is not fabulous, IMO.

Tuesday 11/1
Magic Kingdom day! We love Columbia Harbor House, so probably there for lunch,
and Be Our Guest for Dinner. (We have been on our last trip and LOVED it, hoping we can get in again!)
Never been to dinner, but lunch is fantastic!

Wednesday 11/2
Another combination DHS/Epcot for parks- probably more F&W offerings/grazing around the world showcase!
Raglan Road for a later dinner (again, have been here before and had a great time!)
Then that leaves us time after dinner to stroll around the new parts of Disney Springs
Another one I'm looking forward to!

Thursday 11/3
Our no-park day Hoping to make some spa reservations, hang out at the amazing pool, and just relax on this day. Since we're taking it easy, possibly a room service breakfast, or maybe head down to Cape May for their buffet breakfast since we're right there. Dinner at the Spirit of Aloha show!
If you can't get into the Cape May breakfast last minute---it has characters and is popular---another option would be Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club. My in-laws went to breakfast here every day on their last trip and loved it. I'm pretty sure that they have a buffet and you can also order off the menu.

Friday 11/4
Some combination of AK/MK for parks this day.
Considering Trattoria al Forno at the Boardwalk for dinner.
Good choice, not running all over creation just to get to a dinner. Picking a location near your hotel is a great idea. Oh, and you can carb load for that race!

We are running the runDisney Wine and Dine 10k race Saturday morning, so dinner would be probably on the earlier side so we can get some sleep. And, Italian type fare seems to agree with our bellies before a race

Saturday 11/5
Running the 10k this morning. Unsure of which park we'll be heading to afterwards. Technically we'll be out of official TS meals but may just pay OOP for one last sit down.. but it may be a last-minute decision, so not part of our ADR plans. (But open to suggestions if you have a place you think would be great for a last-day meal that won't take too long - still want to enjoy some park time!)
Places you may get into fairly easily without and ADR and are a decent value OOP: Flying Fish for drinks and apps (I think they have a bar where you can be seated. Sharing a few apps would cut down on costs instead of ordering entrees. I love doing this! It is a great way to experience an expensive restaurant without the big expense part.) The Plaza (if you are in the MK) Tokyo Dining (at Epcot), or drinks and apps at Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge.

Overall, we have been to several of these places already, but LOVED them, that's why we want to go back. I have done Spirit of Aloha, my fiancé has not. Neither of us have tried Trattoria al Forno yet.

Happy Wedding!



Other TS restaurants we have not tried but may be interested in:

La Hacienda LOVE!!

 

[Nancyg56]

I think its ridiculous that you can't get a reservation that far out. We are going to be in Disney from October 17th through the 24th. My 180 day window is not here for two more days but I went ahead and checked October 13, 14, 15 and nothing was available for dinner at any time. I think it stinks that you spend so much money to go to Disney now and you can't get to eat where you want to. I'm going on at Midnight on the 20th to try and get a dinner reservation for one of the nights we will be there but I also have to contend with the Not So Scary Party so some nights won't even be available anyway. I'm not getting my hopes up that's for sure.

This is the most popular restaurant onsite, I believe. When you book the 180 + 10, you stand a better chance that you will find an opening. I also think it is a shame because the restaurant itself is so large, but does not seem to be able to handle a full house at dinner. We ran into the party nights as a problem last December as well, and for the first time I felt a little frustrated when I could not lock in a restaurant that I wanted.

I would suggest that if you really want a special meal, and are willing to have it at a resort, you book Narcoossees at about 8PM. I always book a meal there on a Party night. The view of Hallowishes is really nice.

 

[kevgraub]

I'm going on at Midnight on the 20th to try and get a dinner reservation for one of the nights we will be there but I also have to contend with the Not So Scary Party so some nights won't even be available anyway. I'm not getting my hopes up that's for sure.

I may not understand your post here, but wanted to make sure you knew that your ADR reservations will not be available until 6:00 am online the day your 180+10 opens up. No need to be online at midnight.

 

[Hopefully]

I would NOT make the Cape May ADR on arrival nite if you are supposed to get in at 4:30. You wont make it to your room until closer to 7 and that is only IF your plane isn't delayed. You are taking a chance of not making it.

I agree with the others. I never book an ADR on arrival day for less than 5 hours after our scheduled landing. Travel delays are frequent, unplanned, and uncontrollable. I travel frequently for work and I have been delayed many hours and even overnight more than I like to think about. I wouldn't want the stress. And are you willing to pay the $10/person no show fee if you do not make your ADR?

I think its ridiculous that you can't get a reservation that far out. We are going to be in Disney from October 17th through the 24th. My 180 day window is not here for two more days but I went ahead and checked October 13, 14, 15 and nothing was available for dinner at any time. I think it stinks that you spend so much money to go to Disney now and you can't get to eat where you want to. I'm going on at Midnight on the 20th to try and get a dinner reservation for one of the nights we will be there but I also have to contend with the Not So Scary Party so some nights won't even be available anyway. I'm not getting my hopes up that's for sure.

Going on line at 12 midnight will not help you. ADR booking opens at 6 AM EST on line and 7 AM EST on the telephone.
BOG ADR's have been this way since the restaurant opened. Keep trying Cancellations do occur

 

[anna0513]

Thanks for letter me know about the 6 am timeframe to make my first ADR. Like I said, I'm not very optimistic about getting a table. I think with the Not So Scary Party, there are only three nights that we can actually go to Magic Kingdom at night without paying for an extra park ticket.

 

[xCourxCorex]

I would have a plan B for BOG early in the week. Are you staying onsite? Do you get 180+10? If not, chances are very slim of getting that one when the ADR opens up - you might be able to snag one if you check on it constantly, but that's obviously not guaranteed. If you're staying offsite, I can guarantee there will be no availability by the time your window opens for it.

We just booked ours a few weeks ago - I wanted BOG on our third night (we had 180+10) and could not find any availability until our departure day - and that was at 5:00. I went ahead and booked it, since we can leave right after we finish eating, but I didn't expect such limited availability a few minutes after my window for the week opened up.

We are staying onsite - at the Beach Club (rented DVC points).

We had no trouble getting a BOG dinner when we went during the marathon weekend in January 2015. I know F&W is going on, so there's definitely a decent amount of guests, but I was kind of hoping the crowds wouldn't be absurd the day after Halloween (not so scary parties all done, entering into the lull before Thanksgiving?) but maybe I'm being overly optimistic lol.

 

[xCourxCorex]

Flying in Sunday 10/30 mid-afternoon (arriving at MCO around 4:30, renting a car so probably to Beach Club by 5:30-6:00?)
-Cape May buffet dinner Sunday night (since we're arriving late, no park, just get settled in and stick around the Beach Club/Boardwalk area)
When you are choosing your ADR time, give yourself plenty of room for transportation delays and perhaps some time to relax in your room before dinner. You are on your honeymoon, after all!

Monday 10/31
no real plans here, for parks we're thinking DHS and Epcot, so doing a QS lunch and then exploring the Food & Wine carts around WS.
We will be doing the same for meals on this day...F&W booths! Yay!! You might want to consider exploring DHS early and going over to Epcot by lunch time. The CS at DHS is not fabulous, IMO.

Tuesday 11/1
Magic Kingdom day! We love Columbia Harbor House, so probably there for lunch,
and Be Our Guest for Dinner. (We have been on our last trip and LOVED it, hoping we can get in again!)
Never been to dinner, but lunch is fantastic!

Wednesday 11/2
Another combination DHS/Epcot for parks- probably more F&W offerings/grazing around the world showcase!
Raglan Road for a later dinner (again, have been here before and had a great time!)
Then that leaves us time after dinner to stroll around the new parts of Disney Springs
Another one I'm looking forward to!

Thursday 11/3
Our no-park day Hoping to make some spa reservations, hang out at the amazing pool, and just relax on this day. Since we're taking it easy, possibly a room service breakfast, or maybe head down to Cape May for their buffet breakfast since we're right there. Dinner at the Spirit of Aloha show!
If you can't get into the Cape May breakfast last minute---it has characters and is popular---another option would be Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club. My in-laws went to breakfast here every day on their last trip and loved it. I'm pretty sure that they have a buffet and you can also order off the menu.

Friday 11/4
Some combination of AK/MK for parks this day.
Considering Trattoria al Forno at the Boardwalk for dinner.
Good choice, not running all over creation just to get to a dinner. Picking a location near your hotel is a great idea. Oh, and you can carb load for that race!

We are running the runDisney Wine and Dine 10k race Saturday morning, so dinner would be probably on the earlier side so we can get some sleep. And, Italian type fare seems to agree with our bellies before a race

Saturday 11/5
Running the 10k this morning. Unsure of which park we'll be heading to afterwards. Technically we'll be out of official TS meals but may just pay OOP for one last sit down.. but it may be a last-minute decision, so not part of our ADR plans. (But open to suggestions if you have a place you think would be great for a last-day meal that won't take too long - still want to enjoy some park time!)
Places you may get into fairly easily without and ADR and are a decent value OOP: Flying Fish for drinks and apps (I think they have a bar where you can be seated. Sharing a few apps would cut down on costs instead of ordering entrees. I love doing this! It is a great way to experience an expensive restaurant without the big expense part.) The Plaza (if you are in the MK) Tokyo Dining (at Epcot), or drinks and apps at Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge.

Overall, we have been to several of these places already, but LOVED them, that's why we want to go back. I have done Spirit of Aloha, my fiancé has not. Neither of us have tried Trattoria al Forno yet.

Happy Wedding!



Other TS restaurants we have not tried but may be interested in:

La Hacienda LOVE!!

Thanks Yes, we will probably keep our time at DHS to either early morning, do our rides and then head elsewhere for lunch, or go there after a meal ... not really a big fan of any of their offerings. We do enjoy Mama Melrose but have been there every single trip lol. Thanks for the tips about our potential last day meal - great idea to share some apps instead of a full meal!

 

[xCourxCorex]

I agree with the others. I never book an ADR on arrival day for less than 5 hours after our scheduled landing. Travel delays are frequent, unplanned, and uncontrollable. I travel frequently for work and I have been delayed many hours and even overnight more than I like to think about. I wouldn't want the stress. And are you willing to pay the $10/person no show fee if you do not make your ADR?



Going on line at 12 midnight will not help you. ADR booking opens at 6 AM EST on line and 7 AM EST on the telephone.
BOG ADR's have been this way since the restaurant opened. Keep trying Cancellations do occur

Hmm.. lots of advising against an ADR the first night. Maybe we'll just wing it, and if the wait isn't too long we can still go to Cape May, otherwise try ESPN or something else in the Boardwalk area.