Would you rearrange all your plans for a BOG adr?

[krismanda]

So from what I've read on here, it looks like our only chance (slim as it may be) of getting a BOG reservation is to try for one of the last days of our trip. We currently have 2 days at MK planned but both are fairly early on in the 8 days we will be there. Is it worth jacking up your entire schedule for ? To move MK to one of the two last days we are there would mean going on a day the park is not recommended due to crowds. We were just so bummed to miss it last trip (it opened up like a month after we were last there). My dd and I are huge B&B fans and really want to go. I'm on the fence about bending over backwards to try to make any time we could get work.

 

[MandiC]

Are you staying onsite? I'd try to get a FP+ for lunch. That worked out SO well for us, the food was good and it wasn't a sit-down dinner type atmosphere so we didn't feel rude walking around each dining room to peak at all the theming. I'm not sure how it works at the moment, when we went it was kind of an added bonus/extra surprise. I don't think I booked it until a month before our trip and we used our reservation # to do it.

 

[krismanda]

We are staying on site. I am definitely planning to try for a fp+ if we can't get dinner reservations. I'm just hoping we can somehow get dinner tho. I still have another week before I can make reservations. Fingers crossed.

 

[DisDancerina]

Do it.

 

[amym2]

I waited to really firm up our plans until I knew when I could get BOG. I got it on our last full day (180+6) of our October trip, which is a day we didn't plan to be in MK. Because we'll have park hoppers, we plan to go to a different park that day and then hop to MK for our 4:20pm ADR. If you have other ADRs that you know will be tough to get, I'd go ahead and make those on your 180 day, but be flexible with the others. The day I could book our ADRs I spent some time figuring out different options and talking with family members. Over the next couple of days I worked out the rest of our plans and ADRs. Having the PH makes that so much easier. Since you really want to eat at BOG, I'd get that ADR (and any other tough ones) and then work your plans around that, obviously taking crowd calendars and such into consideration.

 

[ibela]

When are you going? If it's early Dec, I say do it. I did the same thing, I was able to book BOG for our last night only so I did, which made it our MK day. Which I then realized was late night EMH. We're going last week of Aug into Labor Day so even though it's Labor Day weekend (Sun) and probably not recommended for MK that day, I know the overall crowds aren't that bad so in that case I think it's worth it. If it's a not recommended day during Christmas-NYE week I'd say go with the lunch. Otherwise, go with dinner.

We did the lunch before with fp+ and enjoyed it, dinner is a different experience and I figure one worth trying once.

 

[krismanda]

We had not planned to do park hoppers because our kids are young and changing parks is more of a hassle for us than anything. That said, it may be something to consider for this situation. Do you know if they will allow you to do park hooper on just one day of your tickets, or would we have to do for all? If all, this dinner is becoming very expensive lol

 

[krismanda]

We are going December 16th -23rd. I am sure that the crowds will get progressively worse as our trip goes... Probably why the end of the trip does not have MK recommend days ! I think there are like 3 MVMCP days whole we are there, further reducing availability of BOG reservations. BOG dinner is looking like a pie in the sky dream for us lol

 

[epsmith921]

We had not planned to do park hoppers because our kids are young and changing parks is more of a hassle for us than anything. That said, it may be something to consider for this situation. Do you know if they will allow you to do park hooper on just one day of your tickets, or would we have to do for all? If all, this dinner is becoming very expensive lol

I think Park hopper is one price no matter how many days remain on your ticket(s). I may be wrong but I think it is. I know it is if you are buying it up front.

To me, if you add hopper, it would be best to
add it earlier in the trip rather than the last day so you could use it.

 

[ElizabethG]

I didn't have trouble getting my first choice for BOG in August. It is for +5 days into the trip @6:00pm. So, it doesn't hurt to try your planned last day at MK first.

I wouldn't get a park hopper just to go to this meal. I would, however, change my plans to accomodate the ADR. I have changed some plans around a couple of times since making my ADRs (once for the sunrise safari and once for villians unleashed). We have APs, but I don't like to park hop.

 

[kimbe21]

We have done both lunch and dinner and I would probably only go back for lunch. The food was better, we had our choice of seating and with the FP we didn't have to wait in line! I definitely would not do both and would not change my plans around for dinner (lunch maybe). If you don't get it this time it's just a another reason to plan another trip .

The park hopper is one price for the length of your tickets. It is not a per day charge. So if you decide to add it do it on the first day of your trip and take advantage of it.

 

[ibela]

We had not planned to do park hoppers because our kids are young and changing parks is more of a hassle for us than anything. That said, it may be something to consider for this situation. Do you know if they will allow you to do park hooper on just one day of your tickets, or would we have to do for all? If all, this dinner is becoming very expensive lol

Adding the price hopper feature @ WDW is ~$60 per ticket regardless of number of days. On the one hand, it may be useful but I wouldn't add it JUST for the dinner.

We are going December 16th -23rd. I am sure that the crowds will get progressively worse as our trip goes... Probably why the end of the trip does not have MK recommend days ! I think there are like 3 MVMCP days whole we are there, further reducing availability of BOG reservations. BOG dinner is looking like a pie in the sky dream for us lol

Yeah, that's right around Christmas crowds. If I were in your shoes and I couldn't get BOG dinner the night I wanted, I'd plan on scheduling the fp+ for lunch to avoid waiting and continue to check online for cancellations on that night. On the Restaurants board, the actual food review at dinner is a mixed bag and many people prefer the lunch. I know my expectations would be raised much higher if I paid an extra $200+ for park hoppers for a dinner and I doubt my expectations would be met. That said, hoppers may not be that much more depending on the ticket you're getting. We normally NEVER get park hoppers but will probably get it for the upcoming Aug trip because I wanted to add the water park option and adding hoppers to that ticket is another $10/adult and $2/kid so might as well. It throws off my whole planning mode because I've NEVER gotten hoppers so always plan on 1 park per day. You should go to Undercover Tourist and price out the different ticket costs.

Anyway, back to BOG. We enjoyed lunch, haven't tried dinner yet. I'm going in August so can give you an honest review when I get back, if you remind/message me!

 

[krismanda]

Thank you ! I will be sure to do that. I've seen so many reviews good and bad that I am dying of curiosity. To be honest, the menu doesn't look that appetizing to me but I've been waiting so long to go I feel like I have to give it a a chance lol

 

[mm1971]

So from what I've read on here, it looks like our only chance (slim as it may be) of getting a BOG reservation is to try for one of the last days of our trip. We currently have 2 days at MK planned but both are fairly early on in the 8 days we will be there. Is it worth jacking up your entire schedule for ? To move MK to one of the two last days we are there would mean going on a day the park is not recommended due to crowds. We were just so bummed to miss it last trip (it opened up like a month after we were last there). My dd and I are huge B&B fans and really want to go. I'm on the fence about bending over backwards to try to make any time we could get work.

Nope. I wouldn't change your park plans for one ADR. If you are staying on property, you can try for a lunch FP+. You don't get to meet Beast like at dinner, but you get to eat in the castle. It's a nice meal and the decor is awesome, but I wouldn't change my vacation just to go. I'm sure others might.

 

[auralia]

We just went. I was overall unimpressed and preferred the lunch food. I got the chicken at dinner and hubby the steak mine was super bland and his was unremarkable and not cooked to order. Yes the grey stuff is delicious but the masters cupcake is way better than the grey stuff bar they have at dinner.

 

[EMode]

Yes, I would rework my plans at 6 months out. To me changing something that far away from the actual trip isn't "jacking" anything up, its just changing some things around. But I'm not a planner so I can't imagine having a set schedule that far in advance anyway.

I think that everyone should see BOG at least once, whether it is for dinner or lunch. The food (dinner) isn't anything spectacular so if you don't get an ADR definitely try a FP for lunch.

 

[MandiC]

On a somewhat unrelated note we likely won't follow the 'recommended' park days as much next trip. I am sure will will somewhat but following the 'recommended park days this last time around is what made us miss the Main Street Electrical parade. Of all of my regrets for this trip that one is probably the biggest. I didn't realize that neither of our MK days had it until we had already made all our ADRs so we were kind of stuck. So, I wouldn't stress too much yet. Have a plan A and plan B ready for the day you make your ADRs, sign on or call as early as possible and have BoG on your planned MK days be the first ADR you check availability on. If there is no availability than have a plan B ready to switch MK days and which day late in the trip might be worth it. I don't think I'd get park hoppers *just* for one dinner, especially BoG. We loved the experience and the food was good for lunch, but I have heard SO many so-so reviews for dinner and with the dramatic price difference and how hard it is to book, I just don't think it is 'worth it' unless you really want to see Beast (and I might be kicking myself next year because my 4 year old would think meeting Beast is awesome)