***1st Week of December Thread ADR Plans, Park Hours, and dealing with Pop Warner***

[SilSprBea]

I was surprised at how hard it was to get an early fp for FEA for our October trip. I signed on about 7:25am on my 60 day mark, and the only fp I could get for arrival day was at night. I think I got 8:30pm. We will be staying at the BC in October and we plan to go to Epcot a lot during our October trip, so I booked a couple more FEA's later in the week, all of them late afternoon or evening. I think the earliest fp I saw was for 1pm on day 5 or our trip. I've heard that the earliest fp time available starts at 11am, so that could explain some of the lack of early fp times.

An evening FEA FP would be a dream for me! I think we are the weird family who is hoping for the early evening/evening FP. We're planning on doing future world in the am, leaving for our hotel for naps, and then back to Epcot late afternoon/early evening for our dinner at Akershus, some Frozen stuff and Illuminations (we're not going to explore World Showcase much, except perhaps Mexico) because I don't think my 3 & 5 year olds will care much about them and my DH and I were there a few years back during Food & Wine. So maybe I'll luck out to be able to get later afternoon or evening times because anything earlier in the day would mess with my plans. LOL!

 

[Lisa F]

Well it looks like opportunity is presenting itself for me to have more time to Disney plan. I'm in the hospital right now staying overnight for observation under suspicion of appendicitis. Been having stomach pains off and on for 5 days now and figured it was time to go get it checked out, but the surgeon seems pretty unconvinced that the appendix is the culprit. And go figure the pain stopped when I drove to the ER.

So I have a private room, a tiny tv, and my laptop with all my Disney stuff on it. Might as well make some use of it I guess! Poor husband has to take care of all the farm chores himself. I guess I should say poor animals! haha.

Yesterday I finally nailed down which park per day and I made my Wild Africa Trek reservation, purchased my MVMCP tickets, and purchased Magic Maker. Time to think of some ADRs to track down. I still don't even have 1 yet.

oh my gosh, I hope they figure out what is causing it and that whatever it is does NOT require surgery.

For your ADRs a trick I learned about here is go to MDE and hover over the "things to do" tab and then click on "make reservations" under dining. Then you can sort by park and by day and by time (or meal) and see everything that is available in the parks you're going to be in for the times you want at a glance. It is much easier than checking one restaurant at a time. Good luck! there seems to be a lot of stuff left if not the most popular stuff, that doesn't mean it's not good!

 

[Lisa F]

An evening FEA FP would be a dream for me! I think we are the weird family who is hoping for the early evening/evening FP. We're planning on doing future world in the am, leaving for our hotel for naps, and then back to Epcot late afternoon/early evening for our dinner at Akershus, some Frozen stuff and Illuminations (we're not going to explore World Showcase much, except perhaps Mexico) because I don't think my 3 & 5 year olds will care much about them and my DH and I were there a few years back during Food & Wine. So maybe I'll luck out to be able to get later afternoon or evening times because anything earlier in the day would mess with my plans. LOL!

when I was figuring out my tentative plans I moved FEA to evening figuring that it would be much easier to get a FP+ for then

 

[Lisa F]

You guys are so funny! I love being part of this group; wish I'd joined sooner!

So glad you got it!

we wish you had too! but glad you are here now.

I think hands down the best group on the DIS. did you notice our thread is more than twice the next biggest? lol

 

[Lisa F]

@BDFmom LOOK...LOOK...LOOK..LOOK WHAT I GOT!!

Minnie's Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine Dinner Fantasmic!
Date: Monday, November 28, 2016
Time: 3:35 PM
Guests: 3 Adults Update Guests Opens a page to modify guests for Minnie's Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine Dinner Fantasmic!
Location: Hollywood & Vine - Echo Lake - Disney's Hollywood Studios

I was just checking for my H&V F! day, thought I'd check your date just for kicks...and LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!! lol I couldn't help myself, I just grabbed it! Oh my gosh!! WooHoo! Do you want this?

I was participating in a thread on the restaurant board trying to tell this woman how to search the whole park more easily for thanksgiving day and in going through the steps to make sure I had them right, a table for 4 at Sci Fi Dine In came up for thanksgiving. She hadn't been able to find anything to accommodate family friends who are joining them at the last minute and who don't necessarily have to eat with them but want a TS. It was such a rush. I grabbed it and was able to drop and have her pick it up HOURS later. Next best thing to getting your own ADRs is helping a fellow DISer!

 

[areno79]

I'm going to try for the harder FP+ rides first...but honestly if I don't get them, I'm okay with it. I'll just plan to hit those popular rides first at rope drop, when the wait should be minimal. I think there are enough things to worry about to plan the "perfect" vacation, that sometimes the stress is just not worth it, KWIM? I love to plan (it's one of my favorite parts of going to Disney!), but some of my best moments on vacation have been the unscripted ones, or the ones that have happened "just because."

I'll never forget the time I was obsessed with getting a F! package at H&V when we took my 2 younger cousins in 2005. I was so excited after FINALLY getting a reservation, that I built it up in my mind as something I just *had* to have to make the trip special. So the day of the res comes, and right before dinner, it starts lightly raining. I started to worry, but we ate, and went to the theater, where it continued to rain. And rain and rain. They kept delaying the show because I guess they thought it was supposed to pass? Luckily I had brought my trusty $1 ponchos for each of us, so we sat in the amphitheater, with the ponchos on when it started POURING, and it did not stop. At one point I looked over, and it was raining so hard the rain was pooling in our laps, getting on our clothes, and dripping down our faces, and all of a sudden we all started laughing hysterically as we looked like drowned rats with the ponchos breaking open because the rain was so hard. They cancelled the show, but we laughed so hard that we couldn't stop, even walking to the bus stop and waiting in the rain with everyone else. All those months of obsessing about the ADR, and it was cancelled, and I didn't even care because none of us will forget the drenching rains and laughing like loons.

 

[areno79]

I was participating in a thread on the restaurant board trying to tell this woman how to search the whole park more easily for thanksgiving day and in going through the steps to make sure I had them right, a table for 4 at Sci Fi Dine In came up for thanksgiving. She hadn't been able to find anything to accommodate family friends who are joining them at the last minute and who don't necessarily have to eat with them but want a TS. It was such a rush. I grabbed it and was able to drop and have her pick it up HOURS later. Next best thing to getting your own ADRs is helping a fellow DISer!

This is so true! I've gotten the majority of my ADR's because of other DIS members, even though I booked my trip past the 180 day mark!

 

[pigletgirl]

One other tip -- often at the 30-45 day mark, many of the more elusive ADR's will become available due to people cancelling their vacation. Also, when you are actually in Disney, check the ADR list in the morning too, as some of the ADR's get opened up then as well.

 

[TiggerManiac]

I think you all have enabled me. I want a Vera Bradley Disney bag for my upcoming trip. DH told me to go ahead and get what I want. I'm leaning towards thevP,ups Up print by could also go with the ble Disney Dreaming.

Now I'm trying to decide between the Hipster or Mini Hipster. We won't have kids, so I won't have to carry much. Just phone, ID, Disney card, Advil, band aids, breath mints, little bit of cash. I may have a water bottle, Bu I could use a carabiner clip for that. I might also have a rain jacket some days.

I think I could stuff the jacket in the regular hipster, but not the mini.

If you have either size, can you tell me what yo're able to fit in it?

 

[TiggerManiac]

@BDFmom LOOK...LOOK...LOOK..LOOK WHAT I GOT!!

Minnie's Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine Dinner Fantasmic!
Date: Monday, November 28, 2016
Time: 3:35 PM
Guests: 3 Adults Update Guests Opens a page to modify guests for Minnie's Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine Dinner Fantasmic!
Location: Hollywood & Vine - Echo Lake - Disney's Hollywood Studios

I was just checking for my H&V F! day, thought I'd check your date just for kicks...and LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!! lol I couldn't help myself, I just grabbed it! Oh my gosh!! WooHoo! Do you want this?

Jealous! Now if I can get one for two for the next day, Nov 29!

 

[pigletgirl]

The girls and I went to TJ Maxx and I found a hipster baggallini purse for $24.99, down from $65.00! Score! It's plum. I also found some fun Disney shirts too. Getting prepared!

 

[1437disney]

What ADRs is everyone still looking for?

Dec. 6 'ohana breakfast for 7 people.

Dec. 7 CRT for 5 people

 

[SilSprBea]

I think you all have enabled me. I want a Vera Bradley Disney bag for my upcoming trip. DH told me to go ahead and get what I want. I'm leaning towards thevP,ups Up print by could also go with the ble Disney Dreaming.

Now I'm trying to decide between the Hipster or Mini Hipster. We won't have kids, so I won't have to carry much. Just phone, ID, Disney card, Advil, band aids, breath mints, little bit of cash. I may have a water bottle, Bu I could use a carabiner clip for that. I might also have a rain jacket some days.

I think I could stuff the jacket in the regular hipster, but not the mini.

If you have either size, can you tell me what yo're able to fit in it?

Personally, I think the mini hipster is too small. I don't have the mini hipster but I do have a hipster in another Vera bag and it's awesome to wear cross-body and use for travel. I recently went on a two week trip without my kids oversees and took my Vera hipster with me. I always find that even when I don't have my kids I end up carrying a bunch of extra stuff just in case, so I like the size. In the hipster can get my wallet, phone, camera, my kindle, and small umbrella in there when traveling. Plus, room to stick in some other random things. I find the mini more like a wallet on a string personally..

However, this time i'm taking more than the hipster since I know I will have to carry a bunch with the kids, and potentially chilly evenings. I got a Vera Disney backpack in the Mickey blooms pattern and am so excited to use it. It's the backpack in this print:

 

[SilSprBea]

Dec. 6 'ohana breakfast for 7 people.

Dec. 7 CRT for 5 people

Ugh, I need an Ohana breakfast for 6 but on 12/10!

Also a Chef Mickey dinner for 4 earlier on 12/4. My current 8:30pm one is a bit late for my littles.

 

[TiggerManiac]

Personally, I think the mini hipster is too small. I don't have the mini hipster but I do have a hipster in another Vera bag and it's awesome to wear cross-body and use for travel. I recently went on a two week trip without my kids oversees and took my Vera hipster with me. I always find that even when I don't have my kids I end up carrying a bunch of extra stuff just in case, so I like the size.

Thanks for that quick response. I like that print, too. So many decisions! I'll probably go with the regular hipster. If I don't fill it up, it should be plenty light!

 

[1437disney]

Ugh, I need an Ohana breakfast for 6 but on 12/10!

Good luck! When I check mine I will look for you. My schedule is crazy so I can usually only check in the morning and really late at night.

 

[1437disney]

@JamieOak I hope you are doing well. Keep us posted!

 

[CynBeth]

We are at double digits!!!

 

[Talby]

I was participating in a thread on the restaurant board trying to tell this woman how to search the whole park more easily for thanksgiving day and in going through the steps to make sure I had them right, a table for 4 at Sci Fi Dine In came up for thanksgiving. She hadn't been able to find anything to accommodate family friends who are joining them at the last minute and who don't necessarily have to eat with them but want a TS. It was such a rush. I grabbed it and was able to drop and have her pick it up HOURS later. Next best thing to getting your own ADRs is helping a fellow DISer!

Yes!! The BEST! And that could come in the form of snatching up an ADR or, say, assisting in finding the perfect backpack! Great story here Lisa F.

 

[Talby]

Good luck! When I check mine I will look for you. My schedule is crazy so I can usually only check in the morning and really late at night.

Very kind of you @1437disney! This sparks an idea! Talby's Touring Plans! haha Who else is looking for H&V F!? I check roughly hourly when I'm at home, which isn't 24/7 but I work at home so there is that. As long as I'm in there looking, I'd be more than happy to check for someone else. (No strings attached; no need to reciprocate, really!!) I can actually snatch it up too if there is room in my itinerary and we can then coordinate a time. Would anyone like help finding an H&V F!? Just PM me your date(s), meal and/or times, and party number.