Need advices: trip from Jan. 19th to 25th

[FredQc]

For the first time, a friend (43 years old) and me (31) will spend a week at Disney World from January 19 to 25. Our travel agency booked a package (plane tickets and a package with stay at POR) for us. Now, we want to upgrade it with a DxDDP. I would like to get answers and advices about the following questions.

1. Do we have to pay any fee to upgrade our package?

2. I don't really like the perspective that we would have to manage our schedule during our stay on the basis of our reservations (i.e.: to have to go to EPCOT on a given day because we have a reservation there). How important is it to make advanced reservations for a weekday trip in January? Is it already too late to get some decent table service restaurants? I think about Italian and French restaurants at EPCOT, and California Grill, for instance.

3. What happen if we do not go to a restaurant where we have reserved a table? Do we have to pay some charges?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Fred

[sah95]

1. I'm pretty sure you don't have to pay a fee to pay Disney more $$ (Thank Heavens!!)

2. You may want to pick several TS you want to eat at and then call Disney Dining and see if anything is available before you upgrade. I did this before I added the Basic Dining Plan. I personally wouldn't go w/o ADRs. I want to know where I'm eating and what time to be there.

3. Please, please, please cancell any ADRs you will not keep. This will free up a slot for another family. I have the Disney Dining # in my phone so I can call them if we change our minds about an ADR. I believe there is a charge for no shows if you have to put a CC down for the resi. (I could be wrong about that.)

I hope you all have a wonderful trip! We will be there Jan 21-28 :cool1:

[FredQc]

One more question:

When we have a DDP, can we pay gratuities with the 200$ Disney Gift Card given with the current deal "pay 4 nights and get 3 nights free"?

[hmkenn0]

We got a gift card for a promotion from a few years ago for FL Res in DVC resorts before Christmas 2007. If it is anything like that then absolutely! The gift card is the same as any other disney gift card and can be used ALMOST anywhere on property. The only time that I think you may have a problem is at the non-Disney owned restuarants (like Teppen Edo) that participate. I would guess if they take the DDP then they would be set up to take that too. I only say that b/c I remember specifically not being able to use it at Wolfgang Puck's b/c they are not Disney owned, but they also don't take the DDP, so it probably won't matter.

[catne]

Actually, just looked at your dates again - we're there in the middle of your dates...we upgraded from DDP to DxDDP, no fee (was less than 45 days...but the CM said no fee unless your changes are a downgrade.) I second the suggestion that you go for the additional meal reservations before upgrading...though I suspect you'll be able to get what you want. We had our choice of times at the places we wanted.

[kkyle60]

2. I'm going during the same week and you can probably get away with not having any reservations. As an example I was able to get a reservation for Chef Mickey's (one of the most popular Character meals) with a choice of times when I called on Tuesday this week. This has been my experience with almost all of the reservations I have made for our trip. My suggestion would be to program the ADR phone number (407-WDW-DINE) into your cell phone and call them from the park to ask which restaurants are available. This way you have some flexibility and can minimize some waiting .

4. I have been informed by several sources, including some CMs, that the gift card can be used for anything, except paying for your current trip. We are planning to use ours for tips at table service meals.

[krolyat]

2. I'm going during the same week and you can probably get away with not having any reservations. As an example I was able to get a reservation for Chef Mickey's (one of the most popular Character meals) with a choice of times when I called on Tuesday this week. This has been my experience with almost all of the reservations I have made for our trip. My suggestion would be to program the ADR phone number (407-WDW-DINE) into your cell phone and call them from the park to ask which restaurants are available. This way you have some flexibility and can minimize some waiting .

4. I have been informed by several sources, including some CMs, that the gift card can be used for anything, except paying for your current trip. We are planning to use ours for tips at table service meals.


I will be there the same time as you all but I would still go for ADR's I called and made reservations for Le Cellier, California grill and some of the other popular places and they were running tight on space and this was weeks ago.

[FredQc]

Thank you for these info and advices! Any other point of view is welcomed!

Fred

[Pumbaa_]

I would not upgrade to DXDP without reservations. it is alot of money if you can't eat where you want

Are you planning on signature dining? CG will probably be the hardest to get, since it is very popular. But jiko, flying fish, yachtsman may have availabilty. Friend just booked yachtsman for that time period last week.

so call, see what is out there and if the upgrade makes sense

sounds like a fun trip! :cool1: