I have heard good things, but also my germaphobia about buffets kind of got the better of me and I decided that the style of O'hana might give me less anxiety. At least you're only sharing utensils with people at your own table, right?
Personally, I've never even thought about this until you brought it up on this PTR. I have an even weirder thing about breakfast buffets. I don't like eggs that I can't tell are eggs (fear of powdered eggs) and eggs that have been cooked well before they hit my plate, or that they could have been microwaved. I realize that I'm risking powdered eggs at an omelette bar, but at least in know it's hot and fresh.
My partner has a compromised immune system, and we haven't had a problem with buffets, we eat at them all the time, even at home. But as long as you feel safer, that's what's important.
I know it sounds like we are being quite lazy on this trip...at least that is what it looks like when I look at our plans...
It's your trip, there's no right or wrong. Who says you have to be running around the parks all day? We sometimes just hang out in the room, I use the jacuzzi tub (we get a one bedroom DVC villa) and cook us a leisurely breakfast, or some other meal. If you want to hang out at the pool, that's fine, it's not lazy, it's enjoying yourself, and that's the most important thing about the trip.
Also, with it being at noon, it will serve as lunch. That's my one complaint about tea as it's usually at weird times between meals when I don't want to eat that much, but I think this will be idea.
I thought this was a funny statement, but perhaps you have a structured life and job that conditions you to eating regularly at certain times. To me, I eat when I'm hungry. We are somewhat retired so most days are unscheduled. Breakfast can be anywhere from 9AM to 11:30, and sometimes breakfast is actually lunch at 10:30. Sometimes I only eat two meals a day. If I eat a big meal at 2-3PM, I may have a snack before bed. Then again I'm not sure how I would feel about "Tea". I don't like cucumber sandwiches, or egg salad (see previous comments about precooked eggs), so none of the menu has really appealed to me. I'll look forward to hearing about your experience!
I don't really care that much if we make it to the FP for Nemo - I know DD likes this ride and so do I, but I don't think it always needs FP, but I really didn't
That's the thing about FP+ at Epcot, you end up sort of throwing away one FP to a ride that never has a line.
Then at 7:20pm we have a "new to us" ADR at Rose & Crown. I'm excited about the food, but also..do you guys think at 7:20 ADR would give us a chance at being there for Illuminations? If we are patient and say we want to wait for an outside table? I am not sure how this works...
I think it depends on the CM you get. I used to love Illuminations and we would make R&C our ADR for dinner on our first night. Several times, we lucked out as you are hoping. One time we were seated far in the back where we could only see parts of the lagoon. We asked if we could wait for a better table, and they told us take it or leave it. So we ate our meal quickly and left to find a better spot for viewing. We haven't been back since. So YMMV, I hope that it works out for you!