Your thoughts on our Early December ADR's?

[CarltonFamily5]

Hey guys

My husband and I recently decided that instead of our family trip in December 08 with kids 7, 4 & 2, we wanted to bump it up a year and go this December instead...we are sooo excited!!

Our last two trips we've done Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge & Animal Kingdom Lodge and this time we decided we wanted to stay off property (we've selected the JW Marriott Grande Lakes) and enjoy the ammenities of being away from Disney (24 hour room service, Pay Per View Movies & a suite)! Both of us think it will be a great choice for us and our family.

That said, the Disney parks are the main focus of our trip so we want to make sure we have some great meals planned. Thing is, we're big on nighttime entertainment so I wanted your input on whether or not our tentative plan is realistic (keep in mind we are NOT commando vacationers).

We arrive from Phoenix on Saturday December 1st and plan on just chillin that day.

Sunday we're thinking of doing Animal Kingdom and some sort of counter service during the day, dinner off property that night.

Monday we're doing Magic Kingdom (early afternoon - evening) - we have a seating at BBB at the castle at 2pm and want to see Spectromagic at 8pm and Fireworks. I've made an ADR at Kona Cafe for 5:20 and wanted to know if you think it's realistic to get there and back via monoral in that amount of time.

Tuesday we're planning on doing MVMCP and thought we could go to the park around 4, hang for a couple of hours and then I made an ADR for Whispering Canyon @ WL at 6:50pm. We thought we could take the boat over to WL have dinner and get back in time to see Holiday Wishes @ 9:30 along with the 2nd Parade at 10:45. Is this doable? Will we have any problems as off property guests using the ferry boat to get to WL?

Wednesday I think we're going to do MGM. We want to see Fantasmic and would love a dinner package but the restaurants included in the package dont look overly appealing and since we're way past the 180 booking point, they only have 3:30pm dining times, which we're not that excited about. Ultimately, still thinking about MGM food and I think we may end up eating a late CS lunch and then late dinner after we leave off property. Any other tips or ideas?

Thursday we're planing on Epcot but mostly for Illuminations as it isnt one of our favorite parks. So I'm thinking it will be a relaxed late afternoon type day. I tried to get Le Cellier but of course, no luck Soo I booked Yachtsman Steakhouse @ 6:30pm and wanted to know if you thought we would have any trouble exiting Epcot, dining and getting back in time for Illuminations with that 6:30 ADR at the YC? We may do MK again early that day - so theoretically we could do an ADR somewhere around there and monorail over to Epcot for Illuminations. Any thoughts?

Friday I think we're doing Universal so if any of you have suggestions on where to eat over there, that would be awesome too!

Thanks sooo much for reading my epic post here. I'd really appreciate any thoughts you experts may have

Robin

 

[byoung]

Monday we're doing Magic Kingdom (early afternoon - evening) - we have a seating at BBB at the castle at 2pm and want to see Spectromagic at 8pm and Fireworks. I've made an ADR at Kona Cafe for 5:20 and wanted to know if you think it's realistic to get there and back via monoral in that amount of time.

No problem, Kona's is great

Tuesday we're planning on doing MVMCP and thought we could go to the park around 4, hang for a couple of hours and then I made an ADR for Whispering Canyon @ WL at 6:50pm. We thought we could take the boat over to WL have dinner and get back in time to see Holiday Wishes @ 9:30 along with the 2nd Parade at 10:45. Is this doable? Will we have any problems as off property guests using the ferry boat to get to WL?

Very doable, I would not leave the park though during the party.

Wednesday I think we're going to do MGM. We want to see Fantasmic and would love a dinner package but the restaurants included in the package dont look overly appealing and since we're way past the 180 booking point, they only have 3:30pm dining times, which we're not that excited about. Ultimately, still thinking about MGM food and I think we may end up eating a late CS lunch and then late dinner after we leave off property. Any other tips or ideas?

Mama Melrose is good.

Thursday we're planing on Epcot but mostly for Illuminations as it isnt one of our favorite parks. So I'm thinking it will be a relaxed late afternoon type day. I tried to get Le Cellier but of course, no luck Soo I booked Yachtsman Steakhouse @ 6:30pm and wanted to know if you thought we would have any trouble exiting Epcot, dining and getting back in time for Illuminations with that 6:30 ADR at the YC? We may do MK again early that day - so theoretically we could do an ADR somewhere around there and monorail over to Epcot for Illuminations. Any thoughts?

Should be find.

Friday I think we're doing Universal so if any of you have suggestions on where to eat over there, that would be awesome too!

Can't help here.

 

[erikthewise]

That's exactly the time we'll be there!
But it doesn't look like we'll be having any dinners together.

On Tuesday I don't understand why you want to leave the party you've paid extra for and spend about half of it eating dinner. I would suggest an early dinner at WCC (if that's where you want to eat), say around 4:30 or 5:00, then take the boat back in time for the party at 7:00.

For your Kona ADR, I'd suggest leaving MK around 4:45. That will give you plenty of time and get you to Kona about 10 minutes early. You may want to consider doing Kona on MVMCP night instead.

 

[CarltonFamily5]

Hey Erik! We'd love an earlier ADR @ WCC, the problem is we REALLY want to eat there and the availability is really limited that week for dinner so the pickings were slim. Truth is that we'll be happy seeing the parade and fireworks as well as doing some shopping and sipping of cocoa @ MVMCP. So since the party "officially" starts at 7 and our ressie is at 6:50 - we're sorta thinking of it as getting there a little late rather than leaving it in the middle

Any more tips or advice welcome and thanks so much for your thoughts so far!

Robin

 

[kimbac3]

Hey Erik! We'd love an earlier ADR @ WCC, the problem is we REALLY want to eat there and the availability is really limited that week for dinner so the pickings were slim. Truth is that we'll be happy seeing the parade and fireworks as well as doing some shopping and sipping of cocoa @ MVMCP. So since the party "officially" starts at 7 and our ressie is at 6:50 - we're sorta thinking of it as getting there a little late rather than leaving it in the middle

Any more tips or advice welcome and thanks so much for your thoughts so far!

Robin

Keep calling for an earlier time. People change their plans all the time. We did lunch here and it was really good and fun! And cheaper then dinner. The party is so much more than the parade and fireworks!! The characters are out decked in their Christmas finest (that includes Mickey and Minnie looking too cute!!) and Mickey's Twas the Night Before Christmas show is adorable!! plus the dance parties are so fun for the kids!!
It really would be a shame to miss so much of it

Have Fun!!
Kimba

PS Welcome to the Dis Boards!!!!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Hey guys

My husband and I recently decided that instead of our family trip in December 08 with kids 7, 4 & 2, we wanted to bump it up a year and go this December instead...we are sooo excited!!

Our last two trips we've done Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge & Animal Kingdom Lodge and this time we decided we wanted to stay off property (we've selected the JW Marriott Grande Lakes) and enjoy the ammenities of being away from Disney (24 hour room service, Pay Per View Movies & a suite)! Both of us think it will be a great choice for us and our family.

That said, the Disney parks are the main focus of our trip so we want to make sure we have some great meals planned. Thing is, we're big on nighttime entertainment so I wanted your input on whether or not our tentative plan is realistic (keep in mind we are NOT commando vacationers).

We arrive from Phoenix on Saturday December 1st and plan on just chillin that day.

Sunday we're thinking of doing Animal Kingdom and some sort of counter service during the day, dinner off property that night.

Monday we're doing Magic Kingdom (early afternoon - evening) - we have a seating at BBB at the castle at 2pm and want to see Spectromagic at 8pm and Fireworks. I've made an ADR at Kona Cafe for 5:20 and wanted to know if you think it's realistic to get there and back via monoral in that amount of time.

Tuesday we're planning on doing MVMCP and thought we could go to the park around 4, hang for a couple of hours and then I made an ADR for Whispering Canyon @ WL at 6:50pm. We thought we could take the boat over to WL have dinner and get back in time to see Holiday Wishes @ 9:30 along with the 2nd Parade at 10:45. Is this doable? Will we have any problems as off property guests using the ferry boat to get to WL?

Wednesday I think we're going to do MGM. We want to see Fantasmic and would love a dinner package but the restaurants included in the package dont look overly appealing and since we're way past the 180 booking point, they only have 3:30pm dining times, which we're not that excited about. Ultimately, still thinking about MGM food and I think we may end up eating a late CS lunch and then late dinner after we leave off property. Any other tips or ideas?

Thursday we're planing on Epcot but mostly for Illuminations as it isnt one of our favorite parks. So I'm thinking it will be a relaxed late afternoon type day. I tried to get Le Cellier but of course, no luck Soo I booked Yachtsman Steakhouse @ 6:30pm and wanted to know if you thought we would have any trouble exiting Epcot, dining and getting back in time for Illuminations with that 6:30 ADR at the YC? We may do MK again early that day - so theoretically we could do an ADR somewhere around there and monorail over to Epcot for Illuminations. Any thoughts?

Friday I think we're doing Universal so if any of you have suggestions on where to eat over there, that would be awesome too!

Thanks sooo much for reading my epic post here. I'd really appreciate any thoughts you experts may have

Robin

I don't have any suggesyions for you. I just wanted to say . We will be there the same time. Actually we will be at the Magic Kingdom on Monday as well. Have a great trip.

 

[CarltonFamily5]

Hi Goofy!! I hope you have a wonderful trip too!! Thanks for saying Hi.