4.33 years is WAY too long between visits!

[Disneychix]

So....




What else on my list for the meals we want should I put as a priority? How would you do it?

And how do my last five days work? DO I have to wait until day #11 to book day #11 thru #15 or on day #2 can I book day #11, day #3 book day #12, day #4 book day #13, day #5 book day #14, and on day #6 book day #15? I know I have had to do this before but I don't remember what I had to do and it was never at such a busy time of year!

You can book each subsequent day as they become available. So, good and bad! Good you get 1st pick but bad that you have to keep calling/logging in a million times!

I would start with the holiday meals and then Chef Mickey's/CRT/Cali grill meals. I can't remember all you had but meals like GFC and lunches probably won't fill up too quickly.

Is it possible to have someone else create a MDE account and link up with the same reservation so they can try and make dining too on another device?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So really? You thing the venues I have picked for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day would be before Cinderella's? Hhhmm...I would not have thought that...I would have thought CRT then Christmas Day and then Christmas Eve. And my Eve and Day choices never used to be super popular places...except for maybe Akershus for breakfast...am I that out of the loop? LOL

 

[HizMinnie2015]

When I booked ours I looked for Bog, CRT and any early morning in park meals before anything else. I'm a newbie to WDW... but I was hoping to get at least some of what I wanted. We did very well and got everything and then some. Good luck to you!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Well, I believe I am happy with my anticipated dining choices. I did a complete analysis...apparently I have too much time on my hands...of what we would each be likely to eat at each place. Skyler will be ordering off of the kid's menu and paying out of pocket at anyplace that is not a "pay one price" deal as obviously she has to pay as an adult. And ironically, she will probably eat more like an adult at those places...

We will pay about $3450.00 to upgrade from free regular dining plan to the Deluxe Dining plan. We will have approximately $1450.00 in out of pocket expense (Skye's meals and tips). For a total cost for dining for 15 days of about $4900.00. And that sounds like A LOT of money for food right? BUT we are all "adults" (no matter how much some of us don't act like it!) and we will be there for 14 nights. AND we will be eating almost $9500.00 worth of food (and mugs...well, we wont eat those but they are included in our value)!!!! Crazy, right?!?!?!?

See, that is my "is it worth it" answer. For us, that will make this a perfect vacation. We would never eat like that at home. We couldn't afford to. Frankly, I would not want to spend that much money everyday, but I would love to "eat" that way everyday! I'd be 3 million pounds but that's a whole different issue! But in addition to being able to eat A LOT of GOOD food we normally wouldn't, I don't have to tell anyone "NO"...and that, my friends, makes a vacation an extremely happy treat for all of us!

And remember, it's not like we just got back...it will have been 4.33 years for three of us (who were used to going for long trips at least once a year) and a first time for two of us. Plus, this might be our last big family trip for a while. I mean Ty is 16 had his last day of sophomore year this morning...a job is on the immediate horizon and college is coming up quickly. Dylan graduated from eighth grade yesterday and will turn 16 just before we leave so a job is in his near future. So it will be getting increasingly more difficult to get us all in one place for any span of time (not that Skyler has a problem with the idea of going to The World without the boys at all). I'm gonna take advantage of it while I can and give us all a great memory to look back on.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

When I booked ours I looked for Bog, CRT and any early morning in park meals before anything else. I'm a newbie to WDW... but I was hoping to get at least some of what I wanted. We did very well and got everything and then some. Good luck to you!

My BOG is after my first 10 days so I can't make it on my first go-round.

My main concern is that we are going at the most crowded time of the year...usually, signatures I have had no trouble getting but I am afraid since everyone will be celebrating, they may be more difficult. Usually the places at a hotel were easier but from what it sounds like, nothing is really "easy" anymore! So I guess it's just a wait and see what I get kind of thing and if I don't get what I want work on it until I do...LOL

 

[HizMinnie2015]

I totally understand... we splurged and did the upgrade to Deluxe Dining. I don't want to have to worry about the prices or saving the money to eat. We get 3 meals a day, 2 snacks and the mugs... I'm fine with working it all back off when I get home too LMAO

 

[Disneychix]

One thing to remember is CRT will charge you upfront and then you will get reimbursed when you go to pay with dining plans. I'm not sure if it's just a deposit or for the whole meal. It's probably a deposit per person.
Also, you have to cancel ADRs 24hrs (or the night before) or you will get charged $10/person for the missed meal! That's just something to keep in mind in case you have to make changes when you get there.

 

[HizMinnie2015]

One thing to remember is CRT will charge you upfront and then you will get reimbursed when you go to pay with dining plans.

I didn't when I made our reservation for CRT. Our ressie is for 10/29 at 9:30pm. Because I had the dining plan I had to list my credit card, but they used the Dining Plan as my payment. If I don't cancel in time or am a no-show, then they will charge my CC the appropriate fee. I didn't actually have to pay anything out of pocket.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

One thing to remember is CRT will charge you upfront and then you will get reimbursed when you go to pay with dining plans. I'm not sure if it's just a deposit or for the whole meal. It's probably a deposit per person.
Also, you have to cancel ADRs 24hrs (or the night before) or you will get charged $10/person for the missed meal! That's just something to keep in mind in case you have to make changes when you get there.

CRT said that in the past but when we did it before, since we had the dining plan we didn't have to put a deposit or pay for it up front. I have received info from other people that with the dining plan you still do not...so I guess we'll see when I attempt it. If I have to pay up front for five people ($$400) I will choose somewhere else...I love Cinderella's and would love to have Cary and Dylan eat in the Castle and Skyler would love to again, but it's not worth all that...in fact, if it were not for the deluxe dining plan, we would not sweat Cindy's at all.

I certainly do plan to cancel at least 24 hours in advance if I need to...but I don't expect to. Any changes will be done well before we arrive in The World and in the past (out last 4 or 5 trips) were with deluxe dining (I got 17 days last time!!!) and we did not cancel more than maybe twice...so I'm not worried about that.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Oh, good...I was slightly dismayed at having to revamp my pretty little (well, big) Disney plan binder because I had to remove Cinderella's. That is how it was over four years ago too.

 

[Disneychix]

ok, maybe it was because I wasn't on a package but had dining with DVC stay? Anyway, just wanted you to be prepared.

Also, they DO charge the no show fee even if you try to cancel the same day, I know sometimes they say they will but really don't, this one they do.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Jiko...

Oak Grilled Filet Mignon that I ordered last time but Tyler snagged because he ordered the duck dish and it wasn't what he expected...I was prepared for that though and I enjoyed his duck dish.

Kid's Mac & Cheese - Skyler is planning to eat her weight and then some in mac & cheese and according to her this is one of the best!

Wild Boar appetizer that Tyler ordered and allowed me to have a tiny piece of one of the small pieces and all the "stuff" left in the dish...it was really wonderful!

Crystal Palace

Disney oatmeal...my favorite!

Mickey Waffles (another thing Skye will eat her weight in but not chocolate...she does not want her Mickey Waffles messed with...not even syrup tarnishes these guys!) and puffed French toast.

Misc. Bakeries

Skyler has a plan for many snack credits...cake pops!

Kona Cafe

Pineapple Bread and Macadamia Nut Butter!

Sticky Wings (but at the time they were "for 2"...I do not see that on the menu anymore! yeah!)

Teriyaki Steak but he had ordered it with fries instead of the rice it was supposed to come with and got mashed potatoes instead...this was our worst ever time at Kona...we have been there lotz before though so are chalking it up to a bad day.

And I am sure we will have a couple of Kona Kones at our table...however I believe the presentation is not as kool now as it used to be!

Edited...That's weird...I have a preface to this post saying that since dining seems to be all that is consuming my life right now, let's take a look at what we are hoping to be partaking in in a short time (or something like that) and it is not in the top of my post...weird????

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Tony's Town Square

Zucchini Fries ... mmmmm!

Calamari...some of the best we've ever had...and yes, my picky kids eat calamari!

Chicken Parmiagiana...Tyler licked his plate clean!

Shrimp Scampi...I loved this dish!

Popcorn Carts

We always buy a bucket first out of pocket and then just poor our snack credit popcorn into it for ease of carrying...plus the empty bucket is great for carrying around left overs.

Chefs de France

Kid's Pasta and Chicken...

French Onion Soup...my favorite!

Demi Poulet Fermier Roti...half a roasted chicken with potatoes that were like such well made fries...crispy on the outside and soft on the inside...Tyler's go to here...

Coral Reef

Grilled New York Strip Steak with fries instead of potatoes and no veggies...yes, it's the boy's!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

50's Prime Time

Kid's mac & cheese with fries for dipping...this is her favorite kind of mac and cheese when she has fries to dip! She actually had chicken soup for an appetizer and since she likes the stuff in the soup but not the soup she ate her soup with a fork. When our cousin saw her and he delivered her mac & cheese he said " I suppose you want a spoon to eat your mac & cheese with right?" and she agreed...she was totally serious...he had a good laugh about that!

The sampler...this was the perfect way to not have to make up your mind!

Flying Fish

The Potato Wrapped Snapper...this was awesome!

Char Crusted New York Strip with fries rather than potatoes...I think he has cooked carrots but he had them put on a separate plate and Skye ate them all...she said they were the best carrots ever!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ole' Port Royale

I think these were "Monkey Cupcakes"...chocolate cake, banana filling, peanut butter frosting with chocolate drizzle...they are goooood!

Whispering Canyon Cafe

Bottomless milk shake!

Pulled Pork Spring Rolls

The Platter!

California Grill

Oak Fired Filet of Beef that I had to share with Tyler...he's getting his own this time!

Kid's Puffed Rice Sushi

Hollywood & Vine

Breakfast Tacos from the buffet...can't beat that!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Mama Melrose

Tomatoes and Mozzarella...one of my favorite appetizers...I will be torn though because Skye loves it too but she does not like the vinaigrette it but I do...so, do I or don't I? I could be a good mommy and take one for the team. But she is eating as an adult so I could make her use her appetizer credit for her own without the vinaigrette...hhhmmm, decisions, decisions!

The pork chop dish at the time...I think it is different now...

Chicken Parmiagiana...are you seeing an Italian pattern for the boy?

Teppan Edo

Wafu Ribs...my favorite appetizer is no longer on the menu so there is no sense in posting a pic...

Citricos

Oak Grilled Filet Mignon....yum!

Lemon Scented Cheesecake

Yak & Yeti

Thai Chili Chicken Wings...we actually like these better than the ones at Kona.

The steak and shrimp dish of the time... I believe it has a different name now...it is presented a bit differently too...I don't know if it is actually different or not. I hope not.

Baby Back Ribs...these were very meaty!

Mango Pie...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

That's as much as I have loaded into my Photobucket account because that's about when we started having major life changes and I never finished that dining review...unfortunately!

This time though, I am going to finish...I should have so many good pictures, how could I not???

I hope for the most part we can all order different appetizers and desserts and share them and we're going to try for different entrees but I fear the boys will both be on a quest to see how much beef they can eat in two weeks and while Cary and I intend to get two different things a share, you just never know if at the time we will be in the mood for two different things or even if the taste for steak will not be on the top of our lists too. Cause you know the boys aren't gonna share!!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

I just reversed our mini-van...I figured as long as I don't even have to put a deposit down, what's the harm in reserving it, right.

It is a bit higher than I'd like right now (I was anticipating about $1400 but it is $1662 right now). I will add this to my just about daily list of things to check for the next six months.

I can't believe that one way they would charge almost as much! I looked at driving there and dropping it off then picking it back up for the ride home. I am not planning on using it AT ALL while we are there so I thought it'd be cheaper...NOPE!

I also signed up for their e-mailed specials so hopefully we can find something in there. I have not rented a car in an extremely long time so I am very inexperienced at it. Do car rental companies discount around the holidays or do tgey not have to?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

I don't know if it is any comparison for my time frame or not but today I tried all my ADRs for November 30 (that is the furthest out it will allow) and most of them I can get either at the exact time I want or very close.

Mama Melsose fantastic Package I would have to take 2 hours early.

Cape May Cafe (breakfast) would have to be 1.5 - 2 hours later.

Tony's would be about 3 hours later.

Akershus would be almost 3 hours later.

Ohana dinner would have to be over 4 hours later.

And there is no availability at Le Cellier, Yak & Yeti, Cinderella's, Scii-Fi, Brown Derby, and Hollywood & Vine.

Some of those are odd so I am wondering if they just haven't been released for some reason....the DHS ones especially and Yak & Yeti, I have never had a Mars time getting.

If nothing else, checking is getting me familiar with how to work the system so I should be a pro on the 21st!

Ah, the joys of ADRing!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Upon snooping on the actual site (not the app on the phone I booked the van on) when I am ready to fully commit, I can pay on-line and at this point in time the rental will be about $1330...which is more what I was willing to pay.

But in my inexperience with car rentals, do they usually run specials closer to the date? And I will have to see if there is a penalty for changing/cancelling (and re-booking) if I do pre-pay and then find a lower price.

Anyone used to booking car rental? Specifically with Budget?