Re-thinking everything...critique my plans for me?

[sahmoffour]

Some back story so you can understand more about our family and help me with what might work for us:

We're heading to the world in September, we'll arrive late on 21 (7ish) and leave mid-morning on Oct.1, so 9 full days, staying at SSR. It will be our first trip to Disney World, and is a surprise for our four kids who will be ages: Just turned 3, 4, 7 and 9. Our kids do okay with waiting, but the youngest is honestly the most hyper little boy I've ever come across! (and I used to work at a daycare as well as have run a dayhome). He's very hard to manage even when he's in a good well-rested mood, and he doesn't do well with a lot of stimulation. It makes him kinda' crazy!! We don't go out to a lot of restaurants because the kids are hard to manage and it's crazy expensive with four of them, but the last time we went (about a month ago), I was ready to have a nervous breakdown by the time we got out of there because of the youngest. He just can't sit still, and is very loud and has a lot of outbursts. Our kids are early risers, so I booked a lot of park opening character breakfasts with early dinners so they can get to bed early. It doesn't seem to matter how early or late they go to bed, they always wake up right around 6-6:30. As of now I`m not planning on going back to take afternoon breaks for naps, I just figured the younger two might catch quick catnaps in afternoons in the stroller and hopefully we`ll be done our dinner ressies early enough to go back to the resort for a quick swim and early bedtime. From what I`ve heard park transportation can take around an hour to and from, so I just don`t want to waste the 2 extra hours travelling to and from the resort for naps.

I`m re-thinking everything now because I`m wondering if it`ll be too much food, and too much time wasted in restaurants. I was thinking the lunch ADR`s might me a nice break from the heat though, especially since I`m not planning on travelling back to the resort for a nap in the afternoons. I`m also wondering if I should cancel some of the ADR`s that are in other resorts, as the travel time to and from them might just not be worth it, especially if I can`t get my kids to sit at the restaurant so we can enjoy the meal. Or maybe try to change some of the table services to buffet table service meals so we don`t waste as much time at the restaurant? DH and I LOVE food, we don`t want to cook at all on our holiday. We love breakfasts, and we always order an appie when we go out to restaurants.

So, with all that said, let me know what you think of my ressies:

Arrival Day:
CS at resort when we get in

1st day: AK
Tusker House: 8:10 am
CS lunch
Boma: 5:05 pm

2nd day: DHS
Hollywood and Vine: 8:00 am
50`s Primetime: 12:50 pm
Figured we`d maybe catch the boat over from SSR to downtown disney to go to Earl of Sandwich for supper.

3rd day: MK
Crystal Palace: 8:05 am
CS lunch
CRT: 5:35 pm
*this will be a late night as we`ll hopefully stay for Electrical Parade and Wishes

4th day: Epcot
Akershus: 8:05 am
Teppan Edo: 1:00 pm
Biergarten: 6:25 pm
*this will also be a later night as we`ll stay for Illuminations. Thinking about cancelling Teppan Edo to go back for nap to make up for the two late nights in a row?

5th day: DTD
Sleep in!
Breakfast at CS at resort
T-Rex: 11:30 am
Hoop de Doo: 5:00 pm

6th day: MK
Crystal Palace: 8:05 am
CS lunch
Ohana: 5:00 pm

7th day: Blizzard beach
Kona: 7:50 am (think I`m gonna cancel this and just do CS at resort)
CS at BB
Whispering Canyon: 5:00 pm

8th day: Epcot
Sleep in!
Breakfast at CS
Via Napoli: 11:30 am
Le Cellier: 4:40 pm

9th day:MK
Chef Mickey`s: 7:45 am
Plaza: 12:50 pm
Narcoossee`s: 5:40 pm (this one worries me, thinking about cancelling or looking for ressie for maybe Crystal Palace or 1900 Park Fare.)

Home day:
Ohana: 8:30 am (thinking about cancelling this as well to sleep in and pack up, just do CS at resort instead).

What do you think?

 

[csmommy]

Personally I would not do 3 sit down meals in 1 day, I think it would be WAY too much food! As it is 2 might be a lot. We normally take breakfast into the parks with us - bagged cereal, breakfast bars, last nights leftover dessert - do a counter service for lunch & then do a sit down meal for dinner.

I understand you really like breakfast out so perhaps a breakfast CS, snacks for lunch (or leftovers) & then a TS dinner. You could also do a buffet breakfast that could hold you over until an early CS lunch.

Are you doing a dining plan?

 

[sahmoffour]

Yes, we`re on the DxDP, I had booked the regular DDP but then when we kept on finding new restaurants we really wanted to try, we upgraded. Mainly because we love breakfast foods and I thought it would be great to see the characters and get autographs/pics without standing in line and heat in the parks. We love love dinner`s out as well though, and always order appetizers so we figured the DxDP made sense. Our kids are pretty good regular eaters as well, we always have 3 meals a day at home so I figured it wouldn`t be too much food for us, but now I`m wondering if it might be too much wasted time, especially the meals that we have to travel to a different resort to get to. Decisions, decisions...

 

[jjsdad]

I hate to agree with the PP but that is a lot of eating out if your eating out experience is really as you describe it in your first post.

 

[WTP]

Personally that sounds like a lot. I felt tired just reading it!

I say go back to the standard DDP. Determine which restaurants are must-do's. Look up the costs using the menus on the internet. Use your DDP credits for those which make the most financial sense, and then do a few more OOP if that doesn't cover it. Go ahead and pay for any appetizers you really are hungry for OOP as well. Remember, too, that your 18% gratuity in your party of 6 or more is not included in any of this, either. So three sit down meals a day is a lot of gratuity! Use the savings there towards your next trips as well.

Your 3 & 4 year olds will be good and tired by dinner time, especially on that water park day! Is your family really, really into the waterpark? Because I personally would recommend just a day off swimming at your resort on that day. Sometimes a free day can really help everyone to recharge. Some Disney channel, some time on the resort playground, pool, etc, will help everyone recharge...and then you can mosey on over to a really nice restaurant experience in the evening! Or, buy an extra day on everyone's ticket ($8, I believe) and head back to either DHS or AK if there is anything you want to see again.

 

[juliebug1997]

We get the DxDP every time and it's a lot of food but we enjoy taking the time to: have a nice breakfast before going out in the parks for the day; having a nice lunch inside the air conditioning; having a sit down dinner to either rest up for the rest of the evening or have a nice ending for the day. We have been there about the same length of time as you over the past two summers and we still don't get everything done and we don't even have kids. You won't get everything done and it might be good for your young ones to be able to sit down for an hour or so at lunch since you're not planning on going back for naps.

I would cancel one of the Crystal Palace breakfasts. You could do 'Ohana or 1900 Park Fare for breakfast and then take the resort monorail over to MK. 'Ohana is family style with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo and Stitch. 1900 is a buffet but really good with Mary Poppins, Alice, the Mad Hatter, Pooh and Tigger. I would just be afraid of boredom if you did CP twice.

 

[K&D'smom]

My kids are 16 and 19 now but we went to Disney several times when they were the ages of your children. Of course, the sweet memories stand out most but hearing you pose your question I started thinking back to the stresses that occurred our first two trips. What immediately came to mind was how stressed out I became each time my kids had behaviors/attitudes that were not conducive to the plans I had made. I'm ashamed to say I had more than one mommy melt down when my vision of our vacation would get changed.

I think the one thing every parent with small children can count on at WDW is the plans you make are going to get changed by your kids. For this reason you may want to rethink having the deluxe dining plan. I love the DXDP now, but I know that had we purchased it when my kids were young it would have been a huge waste of money. The over stimulation of the parks and the heat exhaustion (especially in September) can be overwhelming for children. I agree with the recommendation of getting the regular dining plan and paying OoP for any additional meals your children will tolerate. This is probably a less stressful option until your children get older. That being said, if you do decide to get the regular dining plan, go ahead and keep your ADR's. If your kids are being cooperative...Go. However, if they are having a bad moment/day you'll have the flexibility of cancelling your ADR and then using your dining credit for another meal.

Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure you will have a great time.

 

[Cafeen]

I'm going to start off, before even looking deeply at the list, to say that you shouldn't change anything! Mainly because I *just* went through that whole September list and if you change stuff, I'd have to change stuff too!

OK, OK, I'm just kidding. Your trip is more important than my mucking about in Excel .

I do notice that you have a lot of CS planned, which is actually good, as it allows you the flexibility. It makes it look like a lot more food planned than you actually have as well, so the perception of "ZOMG so much food" isn't quite the reality of it.

(... snip ...)
So, with all that said, let me know what you think of my ressies:

Arrival Day:
CS at resort when we get in

1st day: AK
Tusker House: 8:10 am
CS lunch
Boma: 5:05 pm

This looks like a good plan. In fact, I have this same plan (except the CS part, and 5:20ish Boma) on the following Monday . With both being buffets, it will help your little ones focus on food a bit more rather than the waiting. Even if dropping down to DDP, I wouldn't cut anything here for myself (I'd just pay OOP @ Tusker for the adults and add an OOP for the kids to an a la carte meal later in the week).

2nd day: DHS
Hollywood and Vine: 8:00 am
50`s Primetime: 12:50 pm
Figured we`d maybe catch the boat over from SSR to downtown disney to go to Earl of Sandwich for supper.

This also looks good, though a 1pm lunch after 8am buffet may be pushing it, but you'd not likely eat until 1:30ish, so it should be ok.

If switching to DDP, I hate to say it, but I'd cut '50s PT from here. Lunch here just isn't a very good use of DDP credits (it's fine with Dx) and you'd have to cut anyway.

3rd day: MK
Crystal Palace: 8:05 am
CS lunch
CRT: 5:35 pm
*this will be a late night as we`ll hopefully stay for Electrical Parade and Wishes

With a CS lunch planned here, rather than change up Epcot day, could you change up this day? Pop out after lunch and then return around 5pm for CRT?

If dropping down to DDP, I'd drop CP from here (since you're going later in the week).

4th day: Epcot
Akershus: 8:05 am
Teppan Edo: 1:00 pm
Biergarten: 6:25 pm
*this will also be a later night as we`ll stay for Illuminations. Thinking about cancelling Teppan Edo to go back for nap to make up for the two late nights in a row?

See the above about breaking the day before so it's not two long days in a row. Otherwise, I like this plan.

If dropping down to DDP though, I'd drop Teppan and take a rest back at the resort, and then do CS at Sunshine Seasons or Tangerine Cafe for dinner (well, knowing me, I'd actually do Cantina, but I have a strange obsession with Mexican food. I eat it (both Tex-Mex style and more authentic style) at least 2-3 times a week...)

5th day: DTD
Sleep in!
Breakfast at CS at resort
T-Rex: 11:30 am
Hoop de Doo: 5:00 pm

Sounds like a good restful day after two later nights. I'm sure you're aware that T-Rex does not take any dining plans (they may take the platinum/premium, I don't know, but those aren't dining plans anyway, so I'm still right!).

I'd keep this the same whether you drop to DDP or not. Though if dropping Dx, I'd consider paying OOP for HDDR to allow you for potentially better seats at the 5pm show.

6th day: MK
Crystal Palace: 8:05 am
CS lunch
Ohana: 5:00 pm

Sounds like a good plan as well. Even if dropping to DDP, I'd consider keeping both here.

7th day: Blizzard beach
Kona: 7:50 am (think I`m gonna cancel this and just do CS at resort)
CS at BB
Whispering Canyon: 5:00 pm

I'd agree with dropping Kona here, as it's just out of the way on a non MK morning (not as bad as, say, Cape May, even on an Epcot morning, but still...).

The other options look good. And if doing that Tusker House thing above (paying OOP for adults and DDP for kids), I'd start looking here to pay OOP for kids and DDP for adults (Here, Via Napoli, and The Plaza really, assuming I "keep" both of the others in my recommendations. If I don't, then... um.. something).

8th day: Epcot
Sleep in!
Breakfast at CS
Via Napoli: 11:30 am
Le Cellier: 4:40 pm

"Sleep in!" means what to you? For me, sleeping in (at Disney, we won't get into it at home ) is like 9-10am, I'd certainly not be ready for lunch at 11:30am if that were the case. Otherwise, this day looks pretty good. I'd be a bit concerned about the timing between Via Naploi and Le Cellier though, as both are relatively heavy meals and not sure if 5 hrs will be enough time between them.

Of course, there isn't anything any time later (at least before 8pm, which is too late) so it may just be a "deal with it" type of thing. (BTW, I'll be there that same day, just a bit later at 7pm )

If dropping down to DDP, then cutting Le Cellier would be the best option (I know, I know). This is due to timing and the use of 2 TS credits (I could go into all sorts of math on how 2 credit meals affect DDP vs DxDDP, but I'll spare you that here)

9th day:MK
Chef Mickey`s: 7:45 am
Plaza: 12:50 pm
Narcoossee`s: 5:40 pm (this one worries me, thinking about cancelling or looking for ressie for maybe Crystal Palace or 1900 Park Fare.)

This looks good too, the timing between Plaza and Narcoossee's isn't that big of a deal since Plaza is a lighter meal.

I do understand the concern with Narcoossee's though, and if you think your littlest is going to be an issue, I'd certainly look for something else. However, at this time, that "something else" may be tricky to get. I do notice that GFC has both 5pm and 6:30pm available that day, so that may be an option. It's on the nicer side, but nothing like Nacroossee's or anything, so it may be a good compromise.

If dropping down to DDP, I'd cut both Plaza and Narcoossee's this day. Plaza is a cheaper meal and if you really want to do it (which, it is pretty good), then OOP would work.

Home day:
Ohana: 8:30 am (thinking about cancelling this as well to sleep in and pack up, just do CS at resort instead).

What do you think?

If staying on DxDDP, I'd keep 'Ohana (hey, I'm doing it backwards! ) here. It's not THAT bad to get to and from the resort without your own transportation (which, I now realize I have no idea if you have or not...) since you just hit up MK and then monorail on over.

Otherwise certainly cancel it, as I've probably steered you to being 15 or so credits over on DDP .

As a note, my "if dropping down to DDP" comments do not take credit count into..um, account. So I'm probably still over even if following all of my own recommendations.

Now, just some other bits of info...

For each meal, you can expect it to take 60-90 minutes from check-in to pay bill. This DOES take time out of the schedule and for first timers, it may make a difference. However, your trip is long enough so that it may not matter nearly as much as someone else. It will also be quite a bit of food, probably more than you expect from normal restaurants, so don't feel that you have to overstuff yourself just because it's on the plate. (Remember those starving kids in Africa? Yeah, they won't get that food either way, that's what other organizations are for, so there's no use hurting yourself just because there's stuff left over).

Remember, first and foremost...

Have a good time .

 

[sahmoffour]

Wow wow wow!!! Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply to me, especially Allan! That is a very informative post and it helps so much! And to answer your question, we are using Disney transportation which is part of my concern about a couple meals taking up too much time with travel as well as the actual meal. I started planning this with the "do all, see all" attitude, as I know it's not something we will be able to do again for quite awhile. Coming from Canada, flights are more expensive and money-wise a few things just fell into place this year, but it's likely not going to happen again anytime soon! I am wondering now if I'm going about it the wrong way... my husband and I LOVE food, and can eat an embarrassing amount so he's adamant about not changing anything. I'm concerned now not about the amount of food, but about trying to push the kids to not take a break in the afternoon from the touring. I really didn't want to waste the travel time to go back to the hotel every day then back to the park again, but it might be worth it in the end. My dinner ADR's are all quite early though, so it would really cut into our park touring time since I don't want to stay out late so we're able to make it to rope-drop most days.

I think I'm going to print out all the menus and actually price out what each meal would be OOP for us. Then try to whittle down a couple to my must-haves/can't miss, and see what it would cost us to instead get the DDP and pay OOP for the cheaper TS meals. Since we're in a 2 bdrm villa at SSR and we have a full kitchen we could eat before we head out, but I really like the idea of getting into the park before it opens and doing the character breakfasts to skip standing in line in the park to see characters.

The one's I think I could stand cutting are 50's Primetime, Teppan Edo, Ohana, for sure Kona, possibly Whispering canyon as I don't know if it's worth a 35 minute bus ride (plus the waiting time for the buses) just to go over for the meal. Plus since we have 9 day passes, we could go over to a park that day after we get back from BB and have a nap, then we could just grab a CS somewhere.

I really want to try Via Napoli's pizza as we're huge pizza lovers, so I guess I would probably drop *gasp* Le Cellier if we downgrade. Or maybe make it the OOP meal since it's worth 2 dining credits. Oh, and Allan, sleeping in for me means getting up at 7-8ish instead of 6 lol. So we'd probably just grab some fruit or breakfast bar that day so we'd be hungry for the Via Napoli ressie.

I'd probably drop the Narcoossee's, but keep my eye out for a ressie at 1900 park fare instead.

If I drop down to DDP though, I'm wondering if I should drop Hoop de Doo? Is it really worth the money?

 

[Cafeen]

More than welcome . I was up early and bored anyway .

I really want to try Via Napoli's pizza as we're huge pizza lovers, so I guess I would probably drop *gasp* Le Cellier if we downgrade. Or maybe make it the OOP meal since it's worth 2 dining credits. Oh, and Allan, sleeping in for me means getting up at 7-8ish instead of 6 lol. So we'd probably just grab some fruit or breakfast bar that day so we'd be hungry for the Via Napoli ressie.

...

If I drop down to DDP though, I'm wondering if I should drop Hoop de Doo? Is it really worth the money?

I'd certainly either pay OOP or cancel Le Cellier if dropping a level, just the menu prices alone don't justify 2 TS credits on DDP. And while Via Napoli is great, double check your expectations on the pizza. It's very very good, but if you're looking for the traditional NY/Chicago/US/whateverequatestocanucks types of pizza, you may not end up liking what's there. Not trying to talk you out of it (as it was very very good last year), just helping to set expectations so you know what you're looking at.

I have done the HDDR once... and I was, maybe 10? So it was awhile ago (more than 20 years). I can only go by the standard math stuff that I do with regards to DDP there (e.g. is it worth 2 TS credits vs paying OOP). Basically, it's my long-winded way of saying... I don't know ><.