Everyone has great plans!
I'm hungry after reading them all.
Still debating on a couple of days. Getting a BOG dinner on 12/4 has put a wrench in my plans. That was originally supposed to be our F! night. Now there are no more available packages on alternate nights.
I had this happen to me on my May trip! BoG was also the culprit! I only had a really late 9pm reservation one night, and finally found a 6pm. I would suggest not cancelling everything, just adding reservations for your new plan in the event a better time opens on your original night! This far out, it is very likely it may happen, especially around the 60 day FP+ time (this is when I finally got what I needed).
Number crunching was a huge eye opener, that's for sure! So the only "AP" lingo I know is annual pass holder but I'm not sure that is correct in this context--is it? I keep seeing "Tables in Wonderland" or TiW referenced all over these boards. I'm sure there's somewhere that explains it in depth, but would mind sharing just a nutshell version? The number of desserts on these plans is pretty extraordinary! Personally, we would never eat that many either. I believe I read they are changing things up on that front for the 2017 plans; I think it's fewer desserts but more snacks? That seems more appealing, I think.
The AP cost me a total of just under $300 to upgrade with tax on top of my Magic Your Way ticket. The Platinum AP then gave me PhotoPass+ which is essentially memory maker, only for 365 days instead of 30 days. It also allowed me to view and download photos for my entire travel group, even though the CMs on the phone insisted it would only work for me. I always used my band just to be safe, but everyones rides photos came up! Then, I saved $30 per person at Club Villain. This made my total savings day of upgrade $270.
Tables in Wonderland is only available to Florida Residents, DVC, and AP as
@Candycane83 mentioned. AP gets it for $150 and it provides 20% off almost all Table Service meals including adult beverages and even some Lounges (there is a full list on the website). If you spend $750 at TIW eligible places, you break even. It does however add 18% gratuity when you use it automatically. The discount and tip are basically a wash, and you pay the price on the menu plus tax.
The AP also gives you 10% off all merchandise in the shops. This was very nice compared to my Disney Visa which requires a minimum of $50 and for me to use the Visa.
It also gave me 10% off some restaurants such as Teppan Edo which does not take TIW.
The whole AP upgrade required some more number crunching, but I knew I wanted to return to Disney World with my friends in the Fall so it was more than worth it for me. Now adding a December trips just makes me even happier I did it!
I have been going regularly to wdw since 1998 with a long break in there for divorce (4 years) with my first trip solo with kid in 2014. so I am kind of very experienced but not if that makes sense. on my 2014 trip I booked very few adrs (4 maybe) and added one more of the fly and qs was major stress for me. since I go so infrequently I decided to just go for it with dining and do the
ddp... but I has so many restaurants cut I was sad. I love all of my choices and if I had more time would add a few more but not many. I am so excited about my dining plan and excited about every choice on it!
I think that is a great plan! Some of my friends who go all the time told me I was booking too many or I would feel obligated to plan around them, but we were so happy we booked what we did and we planned our ADRs around our day!
I see you mention you will be renting a car too. I am seriously considering this for December especially since parks are closing earlier and transportation will shut down earlier than peak seasons. Some nights we may want to stay out at different locations and I think a car would be very helpful!
My friend is leaving this week for a split stay at Beach Club Villas and Villas at Grand Floridian. I told her she has to go and tell me what it is like!
Is there a limit on the number of questions we can ask here? lol I certainly seem to have a steady supply.
On a 1-10 scale, 10 being top notch, how would you rate breakfast at 'Ohana? And what score would you give Kona Cafe's breakfast?
I did 'Ohana breakfast my last day right before checking out of Poly. I was the first ADR time, 7:30am. We were seated, ate, took pictures, and in and out in hour. Food was traditional Disney breakfast (Eggs, Mickey waffles, Bacon) with the addition of guava juice (same as Kona), fried potatoes (same as Kona), assorted fruit with pineapple, pork sausage with a Polynesian twist, and Hawaiian bread. OH and Stitch waffles! The food was good and we had a very nice server. If characters are important to you, this breakfast was great. Stitch even has a PhotoPass photographer follow him around unlike some other character meals. Plus if you have children, they can participate in the conga line!
If I had to pick between just food, I would probably pick Kona. Tonga toast was very good, and they have a great selection on the menu between traditional breakfast and Hawaiian treats. The press pot coffee was amazing, and we bought some beans to take home with us! We had to book Kona again for our next trip.
I would do 'Ohana again, but mostly to interact with Stitch and friends. Kona breakfast was probably 1/2 the price of 'Ohana, and delicious.
I have been to Ohana breakfast 4 years ago and thought it was ok. DH was not too impressed though so I'm going for dinner this time around. I would rate it a 7 maybe? They were also running behind so we waited for a bit to get in so maybe less another point to a 6. (Sorry I know lots of people love this) I had Kona on my plans too that year but decided to skip and opted for sleep.
