Trip Planning Question for Fam of Five

[ontheuptick]

Hello all!

Family of 5 (7, 4, Inf) traveling in October. Staying in 1-bed Concierge level at AKL. 5 day, 5 night trip. About us: We aren't rope drop til close people. We are okay if we are only in the park for 4 hours in the morning and 3 more hours in the evening. Less is fine too.

My question: I'm trying to decide what restaurants to get ADR's for, knowing that we will be flying and therefore using Disney Buses from AKL, with our young kids - and I need some help!??!

I initially thought we would have a car, so I was planning to do several resort restaurants that we either enjoyed last trip or didn't get to do (Poly, WL, Epcot Resort Area, etc.) But, with having to deal with Disney Transportation from AKL, I don't want to have to spend 45 minutes getting to every meal.

What restaurants or transportation options should I consider?

• I plan to eat at Sanaa, Boma, and obviously Mara - because they will be easy.

• We love the Poly, so we want to find a way to eat at Capt Cooks and Ohana.

• Was hoping to try Whispering Canyon, but don't know if that's going to be to much of a hassle in transportation.

Any thoughts on transportation with Children to Resort restaurants? Or other restaurants I should consider? Or, with young kids, should I stick to AKL and the park restaurants?

Thanks!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Hello all!

Family of 5 (7, 4, Inf) traveling in October. Staying in 1-bed Concierge level at AKL. 5 day, 5 night trip. About us: We aren't rope drop til close people. We are okay if we are only in the park for 4 hours in the morning and 3 more hours in the evening. Less is fine too.

My question: I'm trying to decide what restaurants to get ADR's for, knowing that we will be flying and therefore using Disney Buses from AKL, with our young kids - and I need some help!??!

I initially thought we would have a car, so I was planning to do several resort restaurants that we either enjoyed last trip or didn't get to do (Poly, WL, Epcot Resort Area, etc.) But, with having to deal with Disney Transportation from AKL, I don't want to have to spend 45 minutes getting to every meal.

What restaurants or transportation options should I consider?

• I plan to eat at Sanaa, Boma, and obviously Mara - because they will be easy.

• We love the Poly, so we want to find a way to eat at Capt Cooks and Ohana.

• Was hoping to try Whispering Canyon, but don't know if that's going to be to much of a hassle in transportation.

Any thoughts on transportation with Children to Resort restaurants? Or other restaurants I should consider? Or, with young kids, should I stick to AKL and the park restaurants?

Thanks!

I agree that WDW transportation from resort to resort is a pain. I generally try to plan my ADRs around which park that we will be at in order to minimize transportation issues. We've done Whispering Canyon on MK days. Ohana on either MK or Epcot days. But will you be taking an afternoon break? That could change your strategy.

I've read that Captain Cooks will be closing at some point during the Poly refurb. You might want to check on that.

 

[ajwolfe]

I would try to plan your ADRs around which park you will be in that day. So a MK day would make for an easy trip over to Poly, etc. That way you won't be leaving the park, returning to your resort and then leaving the resort again to go to an ADR.

 

[jlsmith376]

I would try to plan your ADRs around which park you will be in that day. So a MK day would make for an easy trip over to Poly, etc. That way you won't be leaving the park, returning to your resort and then leaving the resort again to go to an ADR.

I agree - this is what we always have done and it seems to work.

 

[wdwgoofydaddy]

Agreed! ADR aligned park visit.