Arriving on Christmas Day

by Lara Koenig
(NJ)

Hi Dad! Your sight is truly amazing! You were kind enough to answer one of my questions already. I have visited disboards.com and am less than pleased with the sight!! We are arriving on Christmas Day and with your help plan on hightailing to Epcot once we fly in/check in etc. I have read all about the Candlelight Processional and understand you cannot book this until August. Can I book a participating restaurant at the 180 day mark and convert it over to the Candlelight package using 2 meals? Will my 13 and 7 yo children be bored to tears?

We arrive on Christmas and leave New Year’s Day. At the 180 day mark how do you suggest attacking dining reservations? Should I jump to Christmas then New Year’s Eve and fill everything in between as available? What times do you find best? We would like to Le Cellier for lunch but do we stand a chance? Have you ever done the Cape May Cafe? How is the ‘Ohana? Do you have any suggests for a family who isn’t picky and likes just about everything? When we traveled this past August, our then 6 year old was miserable with the kids meals. Hated it! Wanted steak and seafood just like the rest of it. Are there any restaurants that have a better selection for him? We tried to book him as a an adult but Disney would not allow this because of the airfare and needing accurate age for their records. I truly wished I had found your sight earlier because I would have booked this through you!

Sorry to ask a million different questions but you truly are awesome and I look forward to your response!

Thank you ever so much!

Lara Koenig 8=)

to eat at Le Cellier

Photo by Express Monorail

Dad’s wow that’s a lot of questions Answer

First Lara, thanks for the nice words about the site and welcome back.

Wow, arriving on Christmas Day. Don’t take this wrong, but I’m glad it’s you and not me. You’ll have fun, but there will be people everywhere.

Ok, on to your questions. First, the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package. You could go ahead and make a reservation but it won’t transfer when you want to make a dinner package reservation. You, or Disney will just end up cancelling it. I don’t know how they do it, but they reserve a certain number of tables just for the Dinner Package.

Dad’s Candlelight Processional Dinner Package page

I would make sure to call as soon as the phones open the first morning they take reservations. (They do give a couple of days warning.)

Will your 13 and 7 year old’s be bored to tears at the Candlelight Processional? Maybe. If they like Christmas music then no, they won’t be bored. The music is very traditional but that’s it’s charm. Our kids have always loved the show, but they were band and choir nerds. (Yes, the Man-Child was a choir nerd but he was also an athlete.)

On your 180 day mark call Disney and if you are staying in one of the Disney hotels and have a Disney reservation number, you’ll be able to make all of your reservations at that time. Disney hotel guests can make up to 10 days reservations at the 180 day mark. If you don’t have a Disney hotel reservation (get one from Dad’s partners at Destinations to Travel), then you’ll have to call every day. Yes, I would call each day.

Yes, you can make reservations on the internet and you can even do the 10 extra days. I haven’t done it for any critical reservations yet, so I’d try both. Use the internet (I think you can actually start earlier on the internet.) If that doesn’t work then call 1-407-WDW-DINE. Dad’s Use the Disney World web site page

We would like to Le Cellier for lunch but do we stand a chance? Have you ever done the Cape May Cafe? How is the ‘Ohana?Let me make this breif – Maybe, No, Love it.

Too brief? OK. If you get in very early on the first day you can make Le Cellier reservations and have a range of days you can pick (Christmas Day will be very, very hard) you might get one. I’d have a backup plan.

Cape May? No, I had a reservation there but went to the Hoop Dee Doo Review instead. That was really good.

Dad’s Hoop Dee Doo Review review page

As for ‘Ohana … it’s our favorite restaurant at Walt Disney World. We love ‘Ohana. Yes, the service can be spotty, but what could be better than getting served piles of steak and pork and turkey and shrimp and steak and turkey … We go every time we visit Disney World. (The Princess has a reservation for her honeymoon.)

Dad’s ‘Ohana page

As to the 6 year old, book the buffet meals like Chef Mickey’s or the Crystal Palace. He can get the same food you get. Or even better, don’t get on the Disney Dining Plan and he can order from the adult menu (you just have to pay the adult price).