Timing ADRs for Toddler

[DisneyStorm93]

Hello! We are going to WDW for 9 days this fall. DS will be turning 3 during the trip. There is a 1 hour time difference (we live in central time zone). His schedule is fairly consistent so I'm trying to figure out how best to time the ADRs since 180 is coming up in a few weeks. Should I start out early in the week with the time change in mind (so plan his breakfast, for instance, at 9:30EST for a normally 8:30CST time) then as he adjusts to the time zone change, go ahead and make 8:30EST ADR's (which would be 7:30CST)? Anyone have any tips? We've done vacations, but not any involving time zone changes (or dining reservations!) FWIW: We plan on having 4 breakfast ADRs and 4 "sleep in" days and just eat QS at the resort.

 

[jennab]

We also live in CST and I usually just try to eat at the same time as at home. So we eat dinner at 5:30 at home so schedule around 6-6:30 for ADR. Worst case if he gets hungry in the afternoon we pack snacks so he will make it until dinner. This way he stays up a bit later too and can watch the fireworks

 

[ktlm]

DD was just a couple of months younger than your son on her first trip. We are also in central time. DD is not a morning person by nature. We discovered that with just the one hour time change, pre park opening breakfasts were NOT for us. We tried it once and she just got cranky about getting up early and then was tired and cranky through breakfast and didn't get her energy until we hit the park. We were able to get her there right around rope drop everyday, but what we did was have breakfast in the room as we were getting ready. DH would go get CS and bring it to the room-- she was also picky at that age, so we ordered from garden grocer and had it delivered to the resort so we had things we knew she would eat in the room, so mostly she just ate that for breakfast. I would not waste your morning park hours at breakfast ADRs after opening. The lines are the shortest in the mornings, and with a preschooler it is best to be in the shortest lines possible.


As far as other meals, we typically did a TS lunch around 12:30 (11:30 at home) which was when she typically would want lunch at home. That first trip, I think I booked one for 11:30 and realized that was too early for her internal clock with the time change. We did parks pretty much open to close and discovered that lunch was best. It was a good chance to wind her down from going strong in the morning, and get her to nap in the stroller after lunch. If we did dinner, she usually would be antsy at the table because she was tired- if we kept going in the parks she was fine in the evenings- but it was the sitting down at the dinner table that would do her in.

It is really hard to predict how your child will react at WDW until you have that first trip. We learned to be flexible while we were figuring it out. It is hard now with cancellation penalties-we were lucky enough to be before that. But since you are on a 9 day trip, if you find that something you thought would work definitely will not work, you should have a chance to at least change things around for the later days in your trip. Have a great trip!

 

[DisneyStorm93]

Thank you both for the replies, they helped tremendously!

I hadn't even thought about not doing morning park hours breakfast ADRs - and I've been to Disney multiple times (and we were rope drop to close people!) In-laws are joining us for a few days of the trip, but luckily they're incredibly flexible so we can focus on what little man needs. The timing for lunch is helpful, although I had considered dinner ADRs and lunch QS. I hadn't thought about the antsy in the evenings - good point. Our last vaca was a mess - lots of driving and in/out of the car and two hotel/major city changes all in a week's time. By the time we got home, DS was DONE. I'm hoping this will be a lot more low key and easier. We're at the same resort the whole time, not doing a split stay, and chose a resort with lots of on-site amenities (AKL/V) so we can have down time frequently. He's also getting more verbal (speech delay) which will help a lot more.

I tweaked my plans a little more last night and this morning. I have breakfast ADRs planned in between days that are "sleep in" - and QS dinners the last few days just in case DS becomes tired of the dinner ADRs. We have 3 breakfast ADR's (took one out) and four dinner ADR's in 9 days' time - so not a lot of sitting and waiting and it's fairly scattered. I tried not to do a breakfast ADR the morning we have a dinner ADR. Two character breakfasts, but not until mid-trip and at the end. In case he's not into the character thing, there's plenty of time to cancel...or warm up to the idea. We can only hope for the best! DH and I have been a lot, as I said, and I'm going back in the spring with my mom, so this trip is 100% about DS.

 

[Jenna319]

I am trying to plan out our ADRs too, we arrive on Halloween and our daughter will have just turned 1. I just heard from my sister-in-law the lovely "I can't believe you're going to Disney with her that young. What a waste" comment. I wanted to punch her in the face. Some people just don't get Disney!

 

[DisneyStorm93]

I would have killed to go to Disney with DS when he was that young. But we moved states when he was 9 months old, so that was a no go and things just fell out of place for us to go last year. I told DH we're taking him for his birthday and that's that. It's 100% paid for all the way down to plane tickets purchased and I couldn't be more excited! Take your DD and have a blast!!

 

[Jenna319]

I know it will have to be at a different pace than we're used to but we have been so many times, that it is no longer about riding every ride. It's about making those magical memories!! Taking pictures, and family time at the pool. Stroller rides around the beautiful grounds.... You have a great trip as well! Wish mine was already paid for!! Still waiting on Southwest to open up their flight schedule.