I think it looks great. Much like WDW you can't hit all the good stuff in a single trip, but your choices look good. I think in general you'll find that DL takes a lot less pre-planing than WDW does because everything is so close together and most ADRs aren't as big of a deal. You also aren't stuck eating in a particular park because that's where you are, so since you'll have park hoppers you could easily eat in one park than head to the other one. Stuff really is close.
Yes, definitely coming to grips with the fact we won't be able to do everything - or even eat everything we want
I think the think I am realizing is that I need to do a lot of research but not as much planning - which I am still figuring out how to do. Definitely hoping with the park hopers it will make it easier to get on all the main attractions we want at some point during the trip and can adjust if the kids are needing breaks, etc.
Either way for the Steakhouse 55 breakfast sounds good, although the last morning might be nice as long as you aren't in a rush to get anywhere. If you do move it you can have a quicker breakfast on your way to CA Adv to race for Cars Land.
As far as hitting the essentials I think you have it. The Blue Bayou Fantasmic package will be great, and so will getting to see World of Color. We haven't eaten at Carthay Circle yet, but it has to be worth doing. You should be able to hit most of your lunch places, especially since you can treat Bengal BBQ and the Little Red Wagon as snacks. At CA Adventure Pacific Wharf and Paradise Garden Grill are in two different areas with QS options, and we might also add Fidler, Fife, and Practical Cafe (which is the Starbucks Location on the main street) to the potential list, and would consider jumping over to the Grand Californian if the park is busy. You definitely won't go hungry.
I think I will try to make it work for Steakhouse 55 on our leaving day - definitely want the one early morning in CA Adventure (though, if Peter doesn't grow some he won't be tall enough for the Racers so we might want to avoid that area
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Good to know that Pacific Wharf and Paradise Garden Grill aren't in the same area - that is what I still need to do is look at the park maps and get more detailed location information
A possible dinner swap would be to change out Tortilla Joe's for something a little more special, but it isn't bad by any means. You could fit Storytellers in there, but it would be more expensive. For Mexican food we usually prefer Rancho Del Zocalo, but I can see just hanging out in DTD too.
It looks like fun, and you should have a great trip (with less work planning than for WDW).
I had read other really positive things about Tortilla Jo's and thought doing something else at DTD would be nice - but that is probably the one that is least "must do" for me, but we shall see. Thanks for all the other recomendations!
Just for the record Phil... You had me at Ariel's Grotto.
As it is for WDW, I can't offer much help in regards to restaurants (but again.... Ariel's Grotto), but Fantasmic is so worth seeing there. Just enough differences to make it unique.
I figure with Olivia still in Princess mode and Emma getting into it herself doing the princess meal made sense. Plus, the food looks/sounds pretty good to. If they had the characters for dinner I definitely would have done that as our WoC meal, but oh well. I mean, still, Ariel's Grotto
Total bonus points for the gif from The Landlord!!! Lol!
I'm a grown man!
A Ron Swanson gif? You are officially awesome!
Huge fan of The Swanson
(whistle) Quite the spreadsheet! Hey you know who likes spreadsheets?!
@afwdwfan
Love the Will Ferrell - "I'm not doing so good Pearl"
I'd move that breakfast too, if you have a later flight and take advantage of the early entry to DCA.
And you're doing WoC dining package and F! dining too?! Awesome!
To be fair - who doesn't like spreadsheets?
Haven't booked the flights yet but will try to work it so we can do that breakfast at S55 on that last day - definitely would like to have one early morning at DCA
Figure with the 3 kids anything we can do to make seeing Fantasmic! and WoC with less wiating will be for the best