Review My ADRs for 1st trip with grandchildren

[Antonia]

We are staying at Wilderness Lodge in a 2BR villa. Two grandparents, two parents and an almost 3yo boy and a 7mo baby.

!st night WCC at 6:35 at our resort. Then watch EWP on Bay Lake at bedtime.
2nd night - 'Ohana at 5:30 and then over to MK for MSEP and Wishes.
3rd night - Grand Floridian Cafe at 5:05 and then over to MNSSHP.
4th night - The grandparents eat at Cali Grill at 9:20 p.m. and the parents and kiddos are on their own.
5th night - Cape May Cafe at 7:00 p.m. and on to Epcot to watch Illuminations.
6th night - The two parents eat at Tokyo Dining at 8:00 p.m. and the kiddos and grandparents are on their own!

Most of our dinner ADRs are at resorts in the Bay Lake/MK area. Thought this might be easiest with the kids. All the ADRs including the kids are at louder type restaurants with the exception of GF Cafe. We don't want to ruin others dinners (or our own) at restaurants that are more elegant or quiet.

We are doing two character breakfasts:
1st morning Chef Mickey's at 7:40 a.m. and then on to MK afterwards.
3rd morning Crystal Palace 8:15 pre-park opening so that we can wander down Main Street while it is least crowded.

We'll do the other 4 breakfasts in the villa and probably at least a couple of lunches, too.

Does this sound doable with our group??? I've never planned a trip with SMALL children before!!!!!!!! And now I am the Nana and the planner of all family trips!!!!

 

[KELLY]

It looks great. The only thing that would worry me is some of the late adr's around 7pm. My girls eat usually around 530-600 so I try to keep there dinner times around that during our vacation also. Some kids it don't matter what time they eat. But mine would start to be cranky around 7pm without eating.

You are very smart to book the louder resturants. That seems to work well.

 

[charissemp]

I think all of those look doable, except I can't really tell where your breakfasts fall.
My only word of caution is to make sure you don't have an early morning breakfast the day after a late night (wishes, etc.)
Have fun! The Wilderness Lodge is my favorite!

 

[billfatora]

I'm very curious to see where this goes, because I'll be trying to do, pretty much, the same thing, next December.
It will be me, my wife (Nana), her son and his wife and two children, by then 11 and 3.
My problem isn't going to be Kayla (the 3yo), it's going to be Briley (the 11yo) ! We went out to a "brunch" with them, about a year ago, and Briley's idea of a meal was (and I'm being very honest about this !) a strawberry, 6 to 8 blueberries, 5 green beans, a half of a bagel and 2 pieces of bacon... and a glass of milk ! She "announced" that she was "stuffed", and then sat there, very quietly and well-behaved, as we all finished....
Don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining... she's very good - I just don't want her to be bored while we are eating....

 

[tzeitel]

That looks like a great schedule. As long as the kids get naps and snacks I don't think it would be a problem to have dinner a little later than normal

 

[minnie mum]

I think your ADRs look very good. A nice selection for the kiddos, and adult time for the adults.

However I'm slightly concerned about your 7:00pm dinner at Cape May. You might be hard pressed to get seated on time, eat without rushing, then get to Epcot in time to find a really good viewing spot. If you could change to a slightly earlier time, you wouldn't be rushed.

 

[peanut520]

I have to agree with the other posters on the 7 pm res. As a mom of a 2yo that will be 2.5 when we go; I don't have anything later than 5:50pm because I have been warned that just because that the ADR time you got doesn't mean you will be seated at that time. I just figured a 15 min wait to be seated and another 20 minutes before apps come out if your waitress/waiter is quick with the ordered and the kitchen is on top of orders ... So ADR plus 30 mins to get food would put you around 7:30pm and that is a bedtime for my kiddo.

 

[Antonia]

Thanks for all the replies. I will work on that 7:00 pm ADR!!! Good advice!

 

[Hopefully]

I think your plans look great!!! You have a lucky family.
As far as the 7 PM ADR goes, I personally wouldn't worry too much.
When I went with my then 3 and 5 year old grandchildren what happened was we would make a park at rope drop. We would stay through lunch and then head back to the resort for a nap and rest. Most days they slept 2 - 3 hours. Then they would head out to the pool for a swim - which is a joy for little ones. By the time we cleaned up and headed out for dinner, 7 would not have been too late.
Enjoy

 

[hannahdrewmom]

As a mother of a 2 year old I'd be worried about the number of late nights that you have planned. EWP, Wishes, MNSSHP, and Iluminations That would cause major meltdowns for us because my kids would be up at the same time no matter what. I'd try and limit the number of late nights personally....

I also agree with the 7 pm dinner.... also MNSSHP night GF Cafe night you will be able to enter at 4pm for the party. The earlier you arrive the more rides and lower crowds. I'd think about a brunch/lunch this day and then do CS dinner here. That way you don't have to worry about eating in your costumes either!