I need my own Disney thread

[waterchurch]

We're going mid February. I messed up and thought that dining reservations opened the same time FP does (30 days for us, we're staying offsite). So not a lot of options, but I wasn't planning on making a ton of reservations anyway. I was thinking I would make one dining reservation per day, probably for lunch?

We'll be arriving in Orlando Monday, driving up from the wedding we're attending in central Florida. Doing parks Tues-Fri, flying home Saturday.

Would it be worth it to make a dinner reservation Monday evening? I was thinking Sanaa looked cool, both for the view and because we all like Indian food. But I don't know that we're going to want to leave the parks for a meal, since we're driving in each day. Is the view there still a draw at night time? The earliest dinner reservation open is 6:45pm.
Or what other hotel restaurants would be a good dinner?
Update. Got a Sanaa reservation for 5:05. Awesome!

For Tuesday, since everyone seems to like Crystal Palace, I booked a breakfast there for 10:35. 

I was thinking we would do Epcot on Wednesday, HS and AK on Thursday, then see what we want to revisit on Friday. Is that a decent plan? Where should we eat?

EDIT. I made a lunch reservation for the 50's Prime Time on Thursday.

I'm so overwhelmed. I know Disneyland super well, but this is all new territory.

[curbsideprophet]

Have you checked any crowd calendars for suggestions on which parks to visit each day?

I would make a reservation for Monday night. Why not do Sanaa then? I will also suggest the Wave at the Contemporary. We really enjoyed our meal there and I would be surprised if they are fully booked.

[Deleted]

Where are you staying? I loooovee Saana but the view isn't that great after dark.

Have you considered BOMA? The food is great & they often have ressies available.

I really enjoy San Angel Inn in Epcot. Keep looking for Ressies as your trip gets closer. I booked Fantasmic Dinner Package, Luau & Kona all 8 days before this trip. I have heard to check the MDE at 12am the day of is a great strategy as well because lots of people wait until the last second to cancel.

[londoncalling]

I would use the crowd calendar from easywdw to guide your park choices. www.easywdw.com/easy/calendars/february-2016-walt-disney-world-crowd-calendar/

I would also try to get there early for rope drop and follow the plans on the site for first two hours of touring. It's amazing how much of a pay off it gives you vs. having to stand in line once crowds build.

I wouldn't stress over dining if nothing is vital for you to enjoy your trip. Things will open up as people drop reservations. We got some pretty nice reservations for the next day or even same day by just checking the app a few times a day.

[lala]

I would definitley do something Monday night - Sanaa food is great but I don't think the view after dark is that impressive - if you did Boma over in the Jambo House the lobby is more impressive and there is a bit more going on IMO. That said, I'd probably lean towards eating in a monorail resort, disney springs or the boardwalk area b/c I think it would feel more "disney" to me. Over at a monorail resort you might even time it right to catch the fireworks or electrical water pageant.

I would make sure your other 4 days are planned/timed well using a crowd calendar of sorts; we use touringplans dot com for every trip.

Personally, I would not do an in park breakfast reservation that late in the MK on such a short trip. Even on our longer trips, breakfast ressies are at 8am or earlier so that we miss minimal park time. At 10:30 we'd still be on a roll with rides and energy. A later brunch/lunch time I would do. maybe something at 11:30/12?

Do you have a 4 day park hopper?

[ribollita]

Adding on a fifth day to a park ticket is like $10pp. So I would do that and eat in a park your first night.

Otherwise while I LOVE Sanaa I would only go there when it's light. I'd keep checking or do a walk up or arrive early and there's a nice big outside area usually staffed with a naturalist, right at the Sanaa waiting area.

[Brie]

I don't recommend lunch reservations with little kids--at that time of day they're getting tired and haven't had a nap yet and they just never work for us. Breakfast and dinner are safer bets.

[KKD]

Definitely check the easywdw crowd calendar and plan your park visits accordingly, then go from there to choose your dining options.

We typically like to eat a quick breakfast in our room/condo before we leave and pack a lunch or grab something from a nearby quick service restaurant. I feel like stopping what we're doing for a table service late breakfast or lunch cuts into the day too much, and I think breakfasts are best saved for early access or beloved characters, but we do like a good meal for dinner.

They're likely to be booked, but if you could snag a reservation for Hoop-Dee-Doo Review or Mickey's Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness or 'Ohana in the Polynesian, I think those could be a fun option for your first night if you won't be going to the parks.

The "nice" dinners I am excited for are California Grill in the Contemporary and Coral Reef in Epcot; I also considered Narcoossee's in the Grand Floridian. We like 50's Prime Time Café in HS, and Sci-Fi Dine-In is fun too. Our other meals are for characters – Cinderella's Royal Table in MK, Akershus in Epcot, Hollywood & Vine in HS, Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary.

For quick service, in MK we like Columbia Harbor House best but Cosmic Ray's and Pinocchio Village Haus are good too; and in Epcot we like Sunshine Seasons.

I just cancelled three of our dinner reservations including one at BOG after I planned a more specific itinerary in time for our FP booking, so you might have luck finding reservations right before and after your 30-day window and right before you go too. Last time, we managed to get a table for seven at 50's Prime Time with no reservation and minimal wait, so it is possible.

Here's a new ML post on restaurant recs for some other suggestions:

pandce.proboards.com/thread/505537/favorite-disney-restaurants

eta: and now I really feel like a Disney fanatic. lol.

[waterchurch]

It looks like the crowd calendars agree with my park choices, so that's validating.
I'm cursing this wedding being on the weekend it is. One week later and we would have had way less crowds.
I'll focus on dinner reservations then, and drop the lunches. Thanks!