Would love some suggestions on ADRs

[Wishing4magic]

Hi , I'm planning our family trip for August, staying at AOA. Will be traveling with 2 teen girls and two little girls, ages 4 and 6. I've made an ADR for each day of our trip except arrival day. We will arrive around 1PM. Was considering HDD or O'hana for arrival day. Will it be too much after traveling? I've also made an ADR for CRT 8:10 AM for second day. However, I'm second guessing it. Not sure if it's really worth 2 credits. We dined at Akershus for dinner on our last trip. Loved princess interaction but not the food. Also booked Hollywood and Vine (L), La Hacienda (D), Chef Mickey's (D), 50's Prime Time (D) and Tusker House (B, on departure day). Would love some input.. thanks

 

[Bluegrrl]

If your kids like Disney Jr. (Jake, Sophia and Dr.), then Hollywood and Vine is great. The server we had was fabulous, the food was pretty good (I'm easy to please food-wise, as long as there is good dessert I'm good), and the mini-dance party really kept my baby boy entertained. If you don't like the characters, then there maybe better places for your kids to eat that are both teen and little one friendly, like your booking at 50's prime time or even Sci-Fi Dine-In.

It's been a while since I've eaten at CRT, but my brother ate there with his wife and their god-niece. They thought the food was good, but they felt rather rushed. So, maybe Park Fare might be better princess-wise. We have always liked the Crystal Palace. However - it is the CASTLE! I mean, it's the freaking CASTLE! That's like the ultimate "old-school" Disney experience! I would say that when we went there it was for the breakfast, and my husband I didn't really enjoy that. The lunch or the dinner might be more worth it credit-wise.

For teen girls and kids, I might also recommend Boma (excellent buffet + you can see the animals on the savannah after dinner), Hoo-Dee-Doo dinner show (family tradition and best dinner show in Orlando), Whispering Canyon (great BBQ, and AMAZING milkshakes) and Cape May Cafe. You also cannot miss the top of the Contemporary Hotel. As long as you are going to Chef Mickey's, take a trip to observation deck of the Contemporary hotel for a breathtaking view of the Magic Kingdom.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I think a special dinner for that first night is a great idea! Arriving at 1pm will give your little ones time for a nap or rest and maybe a swim for the older girls. I would choose Ohana over HDDR. I have done both and enjoyed them both, but HDDR is a toss up for teens as to whether it will be funny or corny and it's not too heavy on the Disney magic. Ohana is right in the middle of everything and you can ride the monorail and get a glimpse of MK and set the excitement for the next day. I would keep the castle ADR. EVERY little girl needs to eat there at least once and with four, you can't go wrong. The food really is pretty good and the experience is something you get at no other restaurant.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

IMO, CRT is not worth two credits, especially at breakfast. CRT princesses appear only for a single lap around the restaurant. They do not continue to circulate like at Akershus. My experience with the lunch menu was that the food was ok, like Applebee's. (I thought the Akershus food was just slightly better than what they serve at my local Ikea.)

Weekend breakfasts at home often include eggs, pancakes, waffles, yogurt, etc., so I don't consider any Disney breakfast buffet to be a good value. However, I love the food variety served for buffet lunches and dinners, especially if they prepare dishes I never make at home. Boma and Tusker House are the best at offering exotic dishes, as well as kid friendly basics. Biergarten isn't too bad either and young kids enjoy the music and dancing.

 

[Wishing4magic]

Thanks for your suggestions! I went ahead and made an ADR for Boma for arrival day. I'm kind of excited to try to food there. Still can't decide on CRT. We ate at 1900 last trip and thought it was so much fun. Being that we will only be doing one princess meal this time I would prefer for the girls to meet several princesses. Again, we loved the princess interaction at Akershus but didn't care for the dinner much. Thinking maybe booking a breakfast there instead might work for us. Honestly the only reason I haven't canceled our ADR for CRT is that its before the park opens. I think it might be cool to get in the park so early. I guess I still have some thinking to do.

 

[Bluegrrl]

You will love Boma, I think it's a neat place.

As far as HDDR, I think it's a fun show, and if your teens aren't "cooler-than-thou", I think they will like it too. Is it corny? Yeah. But the new male actors are pretty cute, and it's fun.

CRT is a really hard call - the food is ok, but ITS THE CASTLE! Maybe leave it up to the kids? "you can eat in the castle, or eat at the Grand Floridian - you guys make the call". Just lay it out for them, and that way everyone feels good about the decision.