I have a leading reservation for our 9/30-10/1 trip. I booked it before we added the 30th so I can start making ADRs on 7/23 for 10/1. It will just be dd (20yo) and I traveling. We are staying at the Poly for 3 nights and switching to AoA for the last two nights.
This trip is all about firsts. As many times as I have visited, there are TONS of things I have never experienced so every ADR is for a new to us restaurant. So general thoughts on dining choices, and I do have a few things (bolded) that I would love input on.
Thursday, 9/30 - We will not be arriving/checking in at the Polynesian until 3:30-4:00pm. After check in we need to return our rental car to the Car Care Center before they close at 5:30pm. I don’t want to wait until the following day as it will interfere w/ rope dropping at AK.
Looking for Feedback on the four different scenarios I camp up with to spend our first evening.
- Entire time at MK with a quick CS meal on the go, watch last HEA fireworks from somewhere in the park
- A quick (<1.5 hours) visit to MK, dinner at 'Ohana, watch last HEA from the beach at the Poly
- An early dinner at 'Ohana, then visit MK and watch last HEA from somewhere inside the park
- Spend entire evening at the Poly including dinner at 'Ohana and watching last HEA from the beach
(All of the above HEA viewing options will be superceded by a fireworks cruise if available!!)
Friday, 10/1 - Rope dropping AK. While breakfast is TBD, I am looking at Yak & Yeti for lunch and, the entire reason for the leading reservation…California Grill for dinner.
Question…What would be the best window of time to make the CG ADR?
This is the first night for the Enchantment fireworks and since we opted to not deal w/ MK or EPCOT crowds, I thought this might be the perfect way to spend the first evening of the anniversary events.
Saturday, 10/2 - Rope dropping MK. All day in park. Plans are for Sleepy Hollow, Skipper’s Canteen, and Liberty Tree Tavern.
Sunday, 10/3 - Dropping our bags off at Bell Services to be delivered to AoA and then rope dropping DHS (dd’s favorite park). Dining Plans include Docking Bay 7 for lunch and Olga’s Canteen at some point.
Recommendations? Ideas?
I am unsure of dinner for this evening. We could stay in the park for Sci Fi (have pretty much opted for 50’s PTC EVERY other trip), explore one of the many dining options somewhere between DHS and AoA (the only previous TS that we have done in the area are B&C and Cape May), or if Hoop-Dee-Doo is back, carve out some time to experience this for the first time. (HDD is one of my bucket list items)
Monday, 10/4 - Rope dropping EPCOT. All day in park. Plans are for breakfast at AoA and to graze at F&W booths for both lunch and dinner.
Tuesday, 10/5 - DHS for second chance at RotR. Dining plans flexible. Could switch to MK if cannot get boarding group at 7am.
Need to leave park by 3/3:30. DME that afternoon (guessing 5pm) for 8pm flight.