trip plan/ ADRS for family/ critique

[NEEN09]

I just typed a whole thread that got prematurely erased. Bummer. Anyway, my family's first trip to WDW is next spring, and while that feels like it's a long way away, 180 day mark is coming up next week so I am trying to get a basic plan together so that we can do what we want. Also the next 4 months are crazy for us with other holidays and celebrations and plans, so I'd like to basically be able to call this trip "done" until we're within a month or so of departure.

This is what I was thinking so far; any critiques or suggestions for ADRs would be very welcome. We are a family of 4: myself, DH, DD (4.25 at trip) and DS (22 months at trip). We're staying at Wilderness Lodge.

Day 1: arrive around check-in, no park plans, maybe a dinner ADR at DTD or at the resort? Any suggestions?
Day 2: MK all day, Be Our Guest for dinner
Day 3: AK in morning, Boma lunch, break, Epcot evening and Biergarten dinner
Day 4: HS in morning, Disney Jr. Play&Dine breakfast, break at hotel, MK or break from parks in evening and Ohana for dinner
Day 5: Akershus for breakfast or lunch, Epcot all day
Day 6: open plan day, no ADR, bad idea to be so open?
Day 7: check out, no ADR

We're still debating a dining plan or no but thinking not at this point. Kids can be touch and go with eating meals, so we may be better off bringing lots of snacks/ food to parks and then making quick service decisions as makes sense for most lunches. We're planning on eating non-character breakfasts in the room if not listed as a potential ADR.

Also, debating BBB for DD, or would that be a waste for my 4 year old? She is a princess aficionado and wears her dress up costumes multiple times per week just for fun (Sofia the First, Belle, Cinderella & Elsa are her favorites).

Any other planning suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

 

[msmama]

Boma and Biergarten in one day has the potential to be A LOT of food. Both are buffet. Plus, does Boma even do lunch?

I have a boy so take it with a grain of salt, but I think BBB would eat up a lot of your MK day and since you only have one (maybe one and a half), I'd skip it.

I always like an open day to do whatever we want to to again so I don't think that's bad. But you don't say exactly when you're going, so if it's a busy time, you might want to keep that open for getting FP+'s where you cant get them otherwise.

Otherwise, nothing jumps out at me as problematic or anything. Have fun!

 

[NEEN09]

We're going in April, a week or so after Easter, so we'll miss those crowds I think/ hope. Good point on Boma not being open for lunch, but that can be a brunch since they're open for breakfast. Any other suggestions on food in Epcot? What about Garden Grille instead of Biergarten? I was mostly thinking of DH re: that anyway.

 

[ilovebassets]

Personally, going to AK for an hour and a half and then rushing to AK to make a late breakfast at Boma, and then Epcot and Biergarten in the evening just sounds like a bit much. If you're set on doing all that in one day, do an early breakfast at Boma first and then AK.

On your open day, I'd book one ADR. Maybe lunch at Beaches and Cream and explore the Boardwalk area and do mini golf? Or something at Downtown Disney?

 

[msmama]

We're going in April, a week or so after Easter, so we'll miss those crowds I think/ hope. Good point on Boma not being open for lunch, but that can be a brunch since they're open for breakfast. Any other suggestions on food in Epcot? What about Garden Grille instead of Biergarten? I was mostly thinking of DH re: that anyway.

EPCOT is the BEST park for eating!!

I like Biergarten, it's fun, there's a German band and dancing. And while they do have some exotic german foods, the kids buffet has all the "normal" kid faire.

Garden Grill is my personal favorite character meal. It's served family style and all you can eat. It's farmer Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale.

Personally (again, my planning style) is just one table service meal per day otherwise I'm too full.

Why Boma? Do you want to see AKL? What about breakfast (or another meal) at Tusker House? It's actually IN Animal Kingdom so you don't have to leave and if you're looking for the African flavors, they have many of the same things (plus characters).

 

[jacknsally19]

So I would keep Biergarten with kids that young... My 2 yr old LOVED it!!! They have a polka band and invite all the kids to come up and dance - I swear it was the best time she had during our entire trip.

I agree with the consensus on no more than 1 table meal per day... It's too much time / effort / food esp with kids

Finally, I suggest whispering canyon for your arrival night. Kids will love it bc they do parades on wooden horses and the last thing you want to do it travel to get somewhere on arrival day (esp with kids!)

 

[leahlefler]

We're eating at DTD our first night there and have made an ADR for the T-Rex cafe. My boys love dinosaurs!

Coral Reef is cool with the aquariums.. I've never been to Biergarten but it sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[happymommy]

I just typed a whole thread that got prematurely erased. Bummer. Anyway, my family's first trip to WDW is next spring, and while that feels like it's a long way away, 180 day mark is coming up next week so I am trying to get a basic plan together so that we can do what we want. Also the next 4 months are crazy for us with other holidays and celebrations and plans, so I'd like to basically be able to call this trip "done" until we're within a month or so of departure.

This is what I was thinking so far; any critiques or suggestions for ADRs would be very welcome. We are a family of 4: myself, DH, DD (4.25 at trip) and DS (22 months at trip). We're staying at Wilderness Lodge.

Day 1: arrive around check-in, no park plans, maybe a dinner ADR at DTD or at the resort? Any suggestions?

I'd play that by ear, maybe enjoy your resort and eat CS


Day 2: MK all day, Be Our Guest for dinner

Sounds fun!


Day 3: AK in morning, Boma lunch, break, Epcot evening and Biergarten dinner

Boma doesn't serve lunch, and it's not at DAK but at AKL. I'd do CS at DAK and probably make that a full day. My kids love spending lots of time exploring the animals. If it's an early day, then hop over to Epcot for dinner but skip TS for lunch too - the others are right it's too much.


Day 4: HS in morning, Disney Jr. Play&Dine breakfast, break at hotel, MK or break from parks in evening and Ohana for dinner

I don't know what Play & Dine is but would stick to just one TS in one day at most for a 2 year old


Day 5: Akershus for breakfast or lunch, Epcot all day

I've heard that's cute with princesses sounds good


Day 6: open plan day, no ADR, bad idea to be so open?

Not bad at all! You can see what you'd like to go do again that day. We didn't find when our kids were very young they liked to do do too many sit down meals (and now we do almost none)!


Day 7: check out, no ADR

We're still debating a dining plan or no but thinking not at this point. Kids can be touch and go with eating meals, so we may be better off bringing lots of snacks/ food to parks and then making quick service decisions as makes sense for most lunches. We're planning on eating non-character breakfasts in the room if not listed as a potential ADR.

Also, debating BBB for DD, or would that be a waste for my 4 year old? She is a princess aficionado and wears her dress up costumes multiple times per week just for fun (Sofia the First, Belle, Cinderella & Elsa are her favorites).

Any other planning suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

Where are you staying?

 

[Mrs Lapo]

If you are staying in Ft Wilderness how about doing the Hoop Dee Doo Revue for dinner your first night there?? That way it's not taking time away from a park day. I've heard it's a great show for kids. We're going to check it out on our arrival day too.

 

[NEEN09]

Where are you staying?

Wilderness Lodge!

 

[NEEN09]

If you are staying in Ft Wilderness how about doing the Hoop Dee Doo Revue for dinner your first night there?? That way it's not taking time away from a park day. I've heard it's a great show for kids. We're going to check it out on our arrival day too.

Is Ft. Wilderness right by Wilderness Lodge? That could be a fun option!

 

[NEEN09]

Why Boma? Do you want to see AKL? What about breakfast (or another meal) at Tusker House? It's actually IN Animal Kingdom so you don't have to leave and if you're looking for the African flavors, they have many of the same things (plus characters).

I actually didn't realize that Boma was AKL. Tusker House may be a better option for us. Thanks for the insight! This is why I need the advice.

 

[happymommy]

Tusker House is great, and it has food very similar to Boma! Only thing is, do you want to do two sit down meals in one day? If so, you could do a late breakfast there, then skip lunch (snacks instead) and dinner later on. It's a buffet.

If you feel up to it, you could always go to MK for a couple hours your first day. Wilderness Lodge, though, is beautiful, so maybe just relax there and enjoy the resort!

 

[Lupeix]

It seems I am going the same dates as you, end of April! Planning my ADRs too. DS will be 4 this time, we went last year when he was 2 1/2.

You definitely want to do your open day a MK day even if it is a short one, that is the park they enjoy the most at that age and consider breakfast or lunch at crystal palace.

I will suggest you don't leave AK for lunch, it will take too much time. I would do Tusker House instead of Boma, the food at lunch is quite good for adults while having the typical kid stuff. It is a good way to get to meet Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy too
DS looved Tusker House and Crystal Palace last year, he loves looking at his pictures with "Winnie" and Mickey. They were the highlight of the trip
We are doing both again next time.

Going to Biergarten that night will be a lot of food though! (and quite expensive) I would do a quick meal at night instead, the french bakery Les Halles is awesome and remember the food stands from the flower and garden festival, I can't wait to try those!

Regarding BBB, I have a boy but I think that your DD is into princesses it will be an amazing experience (I wish I could do it myself LOL). Take advantage of the low queues at rope drop and do it after lunch when the lines for rides are longer and your 22 months old will likely be napping (Make sure you have a good napping stroller!). You may want to look into EMH and see if you can get early the day you go to MK.
good luck!

 

[DisneyParkLover]

Agree that Tusker House is a better choice for AK day. Do breakfast (pre-park opening maybe if you are early risers). Biergarten and Garden Grill would both be good options for your kids - we have both booked for our upcoming trip. I think BBB would be really fun and special for your 4 yo, but if I was going to do that I would plan on making your free day a MK day as I think you are a little short on MK time and BBB will eat up a lot of time. I have 2 full days planned at MK and still don't know if that will be enough!

 

[MandiC]

I just typed a whole thread that got prematurely erased. Bummer. Anyway, my family's first trip to WDW is next spring, and while that feels like it's a long way away, 180 day mark is coming up next week so I am trying to get a basic plan together so that we can do what we want. Also the next 4 months are crazy for us with other holidays and celebrations and plans, so I'd like to basically be able to call this trip "done" until we're within a month or so of departure.

This is what I was thinking so far; any critiques or suggestions for ADRs would be very welcome. We are a family of 4: myself, DH, DD (4.25 at trip) and DS (22 months at trip). We're staying at Wilderness Lodge.

Day 1: arrive around check-in, no park plans, maybe a dinner ADR at DTD or at the resort? Any suggestions?
Our arrival night we ate at Planet Hollywood in DTD, you get a coupon when you check in at a Disney resort for PH so we decided to use it the food was good. Not the best I've ever had but nothing to complain about either.
Day 2: MK all day, Be Our Guest for dinner
Day 3: AK in morning, Boma lunch, break, Epcot evening and Biergarten dinner
Day 4: HS in morning, Disney Jr. Play&Dine breakfast, break at hotel, MK or break from parks in evening and Ohana for dinner
Day 5: Akershus for breakfast or lunch, Epcot all day
Day 6: open plan day, no ADR, bad idea to be so open?
Nope, we did a day without any ADRs and enjoyed it. There are many good Quick Service options depending on the park, actually on our no ADR day we ended up waiting until after the fireworks to go and eat at our resort's QS since we ate a later lunch. I would probably try to decide on a park as you get closer to your trip for the sake of FP+. If it were me it'd be between MK and Epcot.
Day 7: check out, no ADR

We're still debating a dining plan or no but thinking not at this point. Kids can be touch and go with eating meals, so we may be better off bringing lots of snacks/ food to parks and then making quick service decisions as makes sense for most lunches. We're planning on eating non-character breakfasts in the room if not listed as a potential ADR.

Just based on the ADRs you have listed you would use all the TS from the basic dining plan. You'd then have QS and snack credits. We used snack credits for breakfast sometimes but obviously there is more than enough snacks to use them on in Disney we also went to DTD on our last day to get a few snacks with our leftover credits

Also, debating BBB for DD, or would that be a waste for my 4 year old? She is a princess aficionado and wears her dress up costumes multiple times per week just for fun (Sofia the First, Belle, Cinderella & Elsa are her favorites).

Any other planning suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

.

 

[abinormal]

We're going at the end of April too!