Stressed about my ADRs!!!!!

[cole4/25]

Our first DWD trip is in 85 sleeps!! It's myself, my wonderful hubby and our 7 year old son. I am stressed out over making the ADR and was wondering if you could take a look at my (tentative) TS schedule and let me know if there are any changes I should make. We are staying for 6 nights/7days and have the DDP.

1/11
get in about noonish
dinner at Crystal Palace

1/12
HS day - Fantasmic dinner package

1/13
AK day
Doanld Duck Safari Breakfast - OOP ?
or
leave AK after parade & go to Whispering Canyon for dinner

1/14
"free day" Downtown Disney, etc...
Teppan Edo for dinner

1/15
MK day
Chef Mickeys for dinner

1/16
Epcot
Coral Reef for dinner

1/17
leave about noonish
Garden Grove Cafe before leaving

Is it a waste of time to leave the parks on some of those days to eat other places? I am open to any & all suggestions!!! Thanks!!

 

[kat3668]

Looks good except for the free day.... You are going to use a days admission to get into Epcot to have dinner? Are you going to stay after?

 

[GatorLady]

First of all welcome to the DIS!

You're plans look just fine. I'm going to assume that you have 7 day tickets.
You would need park hoppers if you want to do one park and eat at another,
but wouldn't need them if you wanted to leave to eat at a resort.

We always have park hopper, so I think nothing of eating at another park for dinner. We tend to have more reservations (ADR's) at Epcot, so I just make it work. You do have to consider travel time, so it just a personal choice.

Have a very magical first time. Be sure to get your 1st time buttons at your resorts front desk!

 

[cole4/25]

Thanks!
We do have 7 day tickets wtih park hopper - but I didn't realize that you didn't need the hopper to eat at another resort?! Hmmm....good to know.
I am finally getting closer to actually making the ADRs - there are just so many places I want to eat and then add in the being at a certain place for a parade etc... it takes alot of planning! I really wanted to start and end the trip with a character meal - I think more for me than DS!!!
Is the Donald Safari worth doing? And would you pay OOP for that so you can still do a TS for dinner? I was sort of hoping to go to The Garden Grill - but I heard that Chip & Dale aren't there anymore. Is that true? I was also hoping to go to Ohana's but can't fit it in and don't want to give up any of my other choices. Any opinions?

 

[a82allison]

Thanks!
We do have 7 day tickets wtih park hopper - but I didn't realize that you didn't need the hopper to eat at another resort?!

Resort as in HOTEL. You do need a hopper to go to a different PARK. Just wanted to make that clear...

Also, I see you have the Garden Grove on your list. That restaurant does not take the DDP, you would have to pay out of pocket for it.

 

[GatorLady]

Garden Grill no longer does lunch. They are still doing the character meal for dinner with Chip and Dale.

I don't want to panic you, but you really should make some ADR's like oh, I don't know....tomorrow! You can always cancel or make changes but I wouldn't want you to wait to get your schedule just perfect before you call. You want to be able to get good time slots for your reservations. Chef Mickey's might be hard to get at all. (Breakfast is a better option for there IMO).

Lots of people make their reservations 180 days out.

Sometimes I pay OOP for a character breakfast. I did last year to do 'Ohana.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[catne]

I would be booking as soon as possible, and have alternate choices you'd like on your list in case your choices are not available. Agree about picking a DDP restaurant for your last meal.

Otherwise, looks like fun for your family.

 

[cole4/25]

Thanks for all your input! I called first thing this morning and all but 1 one of the ADRs I wanted. How does it look? Would have liked to have fit in Garden Grill, but the only thing I'd be willing to get rid of is the Sci-Fi and I don't think we have time or it's worth it to leave after the Block Party & make it back for Fantasmic. Any thoughts? I think I may be focusing to much on the food!!! Does anyone see any conflicting dinner times with parades or other activities??

1/11
get in @ noonish
6:25 dinner Crystal Palace (SOOOO excited!!!)

1/12
wanted Hollywood & Vines Fantasmic dinner package but was booked - which was the only one I didn't really care about, I just wanted the seats for Fantasmic! Ended up with 5:20 at Sci-Fi

1/13
Whispering Canyon at 8:15 - made it late as we will be at AK that day

1/14
Tappen Edo at 7 - made that sort of late cuz we plan on "bumming around" & going downtown. Side note : is Disneyquest worth it???

1/15
Chef Mickey 5:20

1/16
Coral Reef 6:30

1/17
Donalds Safari breakfast 9:05 - leave @ noonish OOP

Thanks so much for all you help! I'm sort of a perfectionist, but always second guess myself so it's nice to have someone just tell me what to do!! LOL!!

 

[GatorLady]

Congrats on getting most everything you wanted! So glad you got Chef Mickey's. That was the one I was most concerned about you not being able to get.


You asked about Disney Quest. This is from allears.net. I copied this particularly because you son is 7. (Here is the actual link to the entire page so you can read for yourself. http://allears.net/btp/dqfaq.htm) My DD is six so we have not made it over there yet. Maybe someone who has been with younger children can comment on how it worked out for them.


"Are there any activities for younger children?

Young kids would probably enjoy the Create Zone the most -- there are plenty of hands-on activities there that appeal to all ages, like Sid's Create-a-Toy (based on the evil child from the original Toy Story film who liked to make toys from the parts of others). However, most of DisneyQuest's other attractions seem to be best for approximately ages 10 and up. Also, please note that strollers are not allowed inside and the environment can be very loud -- toddlers might quickly become overwhelmed.

Is there a height requirement for any attractions?

Yes: Cyberspace Mountain, 51 inches (to ride the simulator - anyone can design a coaster); Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlasters, 51 inches; Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold, 35 inches; and Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam, 48 inches."

 

[cole4/25]

Thanks so much for the info on Disneyquest!

I'm second guessing my Whispering Canyon ADR. Is it really fun or really annoying/obnoxious? I'm considering switching to Boma since that's our AK day anyway. Any thoughts?

 

[a82allison]

Thanks so much for the info on Disneyquest!

I'm second guessing my Whispering Canyon ADR. Is it really fun or really annoying/obnoxious? I'm considering switching to Boma since that's our AK day anyway. Any thoughts?

My family loved Whispering Canyon. It is very loud and boisterous though, so if you don't like that...then you probably wouldn't care for the atmosphere of it too much. I didn't think it was annoying or obnoxious, just fun! The kids loved it. They do silly things. When we sat down the host who gave us the menu's mentioned that their special of the day was "head of lettuce". He said it so nonchalantly and then walked off...LOL. And then our waitress reminded us that the special was "head of lettuce" about 3 times while we were ordering.
I haven't been to Boma yet, but I've heard it is really good too.