4.33 years is WAY too long between visits!

[Disneychix]

At this point I would not pre-pay unless you found the exact price you are willing to pay and will not be looking for anything cheaper. I always book a car in advance far out (like you did). I will check on that price about once per week. Usually if you try to price things in the evening you can sometimes get a better deal (I don't know why this is) so try after 6pm.

In my past experience I always find something cheaper along the way, usually about 1 month out. That is why I wouldn't rec the pre-pay.

Will you be picking up your van from a local place or from a local airport? You can look at the transportation board and there is usually a car rental thread for the month you are renting and people will post different coupon codes and such that they are using for good deals.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

At this point I would not pre-pay unless you found the exact price you are willing to pay and will not be looking for anything cheaper. I always book a car in advance far out (like you did). I will check on that price about once per week. Usually if you try to price things in the evening you can sometimes get a better deal (I don't know why this is) so try after 6pm.

In my past experience I always find something cheaper along the way, usually about 1 month out. That is why I wouldn't rec the pre-pay.

Will you be picking up your van from a local place or from a local airport? You can look at the transportation board and there is usually a car rental thread for the month you are renting and people will post different coupon codes and such that they are using for good deals.

That's great info...just what I wanted to know!

The Budget (which seems to be the cheapest overall) is at a Sears Store at a near-by mall. We are not that close to an airport so I am trying to avoid that...however, if the price were good enough, we'd drive a bit to get the car and drop it off. Is there any difference, pricewise, between locations? Any benefits to one over the other?

 

[tyandskyesmom]

More on dining...

SO for the past three days I have checked what I would be able to book that day on the furthest out day and I intend to keep doing this. I think I am gaining a better understanding of what is a more difficult ADR to get and I may just have to do some re-arranging prior to my ADR date for maximum ease of booking.

So far, I have given you my findings on the first round.

When I checked yesterday for December 1st availability was a tad better. Of my 39 anticipated ADRs I was able to get 19 at the exact time I wanted them, 15 at similar workable times close to what I wanted, and nothing at Hollywood & Vine for breakfast, dinner at Cinderella's, dinner at Be Our Guest, dinner at LeCellier, and Ohana for dinner.

Today when I checked for December 2nd, it was even better. Of my 39 wishes 25 were able to be booked at the exact time I wanted, 5 I could get near the time I wanted, Ohana dinner on our last night was only available at 9:10pm, and I was not able to get California Grill, 50s Prime Time, Hollywood & Vine (is there something going on there at that time that I don't know about? I haven't been able to book breakfast there at all yet and it's not usually a hard one to get), Sci-Fi, Akershus, Cinderella's, Be Our Guest, or LeCellier.

SO I am thinking I need to move Be Our Guest and Le Cellier into the first 10 days because I have consistently not been able to get them. Dinner at Ohana I may need to move into the first ten also because I was planning to start the drive north that evening so a dinner that starts after 9pm isn't gonna cut it. I may have to change around my Sci-fi and 50s plans also because I was hoping to get a late seating (like 9:30pm) after Fantasmic. So far, early in December they are not offering anything that late. I am hoping over Christmas with the longer hours and more crowds, they will be. I would not be heart broken about losing Sci-Fi if I had to but the kids really want to go to 50's. And then I'm still left with the quandary of what to go for dinner...probably would have to put in one of the signatures at a hotel that seats later. We are huge Fantasmic fans so would like to see it both nights...one with a fantasmic package at Mama Melrose and one without...maybe a Fast Pass Plus but I really don't want to do that if I don't have to.

So I intend to keep doing this most days and then in about two weeks, two days before my ADR date, review my findings and rearrange my schedule to make the best laid plan for scoring everything I want!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok, so today's dining expert ended in 20 ADRs I could get when and where I want, 10 that I'd have to change my times a bit for, and Hollywood & Vine, Brown Derby, Akershus, Teppan Edo, Cinderella's, Be Our Guest, and Le Cellier are all no go's.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So for today's ADRs we are able to get 22 at the exact times I want, 9 ADRs I can get but not necessarily at the times want, and nothing at Tony's, Hollywood & Vine, Brown Derby, Sci-Fi, Akershus, Cinderella's, Be Our Guest, and LeCellier.

I will definitely need to rearrange some of them and I hope that in my first 10 days things are easier!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

And by-the-way, this message is coming to you via my wonderful new computer from Alicia and Martyne...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU so very much...you have no idea what this means to us!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Today's practice ADRing was very fruitful...I was able to pull up ADRs at the exact time I wanted or very near the time at all except Hollywood & Vine (breakfast), Brown Derby (lunch), Cinderella's (dinner), Be Our Guest (dinner), Le Cellier (dinner), and Ohana (dinner). SO those are most of what I would expect to be a bit harder to get...well, except for H&V and Brown Derby...what's up with those? Is there something going on at DHS in that time frame that they are not offering tomes yet? Is it just me and they really are booking up that quickly? I'm not even looking for before park opens for H&V or a popular lunch time??? Those two confuse me.

And I read a lot of positive things from people getting ADRs this morning when their 180 days opened up...so that's great!

SO I am convinced I will need to re-arrange a bit...I hope it is an easy re-arrange and it yields good results in 13 more days!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

190 days till we leave for Disney...yeah!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok...so this morning's ADR experiment is going not so smoothly! I am getting a lot of responses that they cannot check availability at this time and I have to refresh a few times...I sure hope I do not have that issue in 12 more days! Yesterday was a super easy day for the experiment, not so much today!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

So I am finally done with my ADR experiment for the day and while it was a bigger pain in the butt than usual, I was still able to get 19 at the exact times I wanted, 15 at times close to the times I want (INCLUDING LE CELLIER!!!), and only couldn't get an ADR at Hollywood & Vine, Sci-Fi, Cinderella's, Be Our Guest, Ohana dinner (well, I can get it but not until after 9:00pm and that is our departure day so that is not going to work) and oddly enough Tutto Italia???

I still think there is something up with Hollywood & Vine though because I have been booking there for years and years when they had better, more popular characters than they do now and NEVER, EVER have I had a problem getting an ADR here, even before park opening! But I did hear of someone getting one for later in the week (in her +10 days) so that gives me hope that whatever is going on there early in December is being resolved as we move later into the month. I mean, not that we'd die without it but it is the only buffet with tortillas for breakfast and it would leave me with another 5 meal credits to use and my spots are pretty full as it is!

With Sci-Fi, I wouldn't mind having to change that out...it is an option and it might open up a slot for Cape May Café for dinner...not that's an idea!

Cindy's and Be Our Guest I expect and have both situated towards the end of my first 10 days so that when I log on on the 21st I can try to get them right away!

And Tutto Italia surprised me because I have had zero problem getting exactly what I want there up until today.

I have tentatively moved Ohana dinner to day 7, LeCellier to day 8, and Be Our Guest to day 10. Which caused Jiko to be moved to day 11, Kacienda to day 14, and Sci-Fi to day 15. ANd I am thinking of cancelling the Sci-Fi all together now and putting in Cape May Café...hhhhhmmmmm, I think I like that better than Sci-Fi and that seems like a fitting last meal in The World.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

LOTS OF REFRESHING multiple times today. I sure hope whatever is going on the last few days gets worked out before our ADR day.

And today's turn out was not as good as yesterday.

And I think I heard my computer laugh at me when I entered Cinderella's and Be Our Guest today...

I ended up being able to get 19 when and where I want, 13 near when I want, and nothing at Hollywood & Vine, Brown Derby, La Hacienda (for the first time), Cinderella's, Be Our Guest, Le Cellier, and Ohana (dinner).

So since people (other than me) seem to think the H&V thing is it's sudden popularity, I am hoping that at day #7 of my trip I can get it. Same with Brown Derby...they are on the same day. I suppose if I cannot get Brown Derby I can try to put Sci-Fi in there...and if I can't get H&V I could throw an early Kona or Boma in there but I'd prefer to be the way I planned...I mean I did do that for a reason, right? Plus without Brown Derby, that leaves us 4 or 5 extra credits. Darn, I'd have to plan more!

Who knew ADRs would be so life consuming for a trip over six months away!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

For the daily ADR grind...

Today I was able to get 23 (and a back-up) at the exact time I wanted, 10 at times near what I wanted, and nothing at Hollywood & Vine, Brown Derby, Cinderella's, Be Our Guest, and LeCellier. Also, Ohana dinner is way past my time on the last day but I believe I have it worked in earlier in the trip instead (I just have not re-written my "official ADR form" yet) and at that point I may be looking for a late ADR.

Again, I had a lot of refreshing needed. Maybe it's just something I am doing.

I have read about people having a separate browser open for each ADR at 6am on ADR day...is that thru "My Disney Experience"? When I tried to do that, just as an experiment, it would not allow me to open up more than one...now, I am great at using what I know on a computer but I am not very good at the unknown so maybe I am just showing my compute illiteracy...I donno???

We're down to 10 days until ADR day!!!!

Which incidentally is also Father's Day...and guess who has not heard from their father yet about seeing them for that day???

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Today was a little easier than the past few...and I have no theories why...

I was able to get 22 (plus a sub) at the exact times I wanted, 12 that were at slightly different times than my preferred times, and nothing at 50s Prime Time (that's new!), Hollywood & Vine, Cinderella's (bet you're surprised at that, huh?), and Be Our Guest (that too!)...plus Ohana (dinner) that I can get but it's over 4 hours later than my preferred time on departure night...any other night I think I'd be looking for a 9pmish ADR at Ohana but NOT THAT NIGHT! But, I believe we will be changing that one to Cape May Café. In fact, I have a few slight changes coming up. I think that is the only change in venue...the rest are just changes in days.

Today is 9 more days till ADR day! Things will start to feel a bit more real after that...I mean it's one thing to see a room reservation but once there are multiple dining ADRs to fill up your pages with, something happens and it just seems like MORE!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Well, we skipped yesterday in our ADR quest...but we're back at it today!

Today I was able to get 33 at the times I wanted, 1 at a different time, and nothing at Mama Melrose, Hollywood & Vine, Brown derby, Cinderella's, and Be Our Guest. And I was able to get my "Back Up" when I wanted.

And not much refreashing. So, it's looking better but Skyler and I are stil worried about doing this for real in 7 days!!!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Just found a minivan rental through Hertz and Mousesavers that is about $600.00 cheaper than Budget...booked it! Now it's only $1064.73 instead of over $1660.00...deal!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

WOW...today's ADRs were better...not much refreshing needed.

I could get 32 when and where I wanted...Brown Derby and Whispering Canyon at times slightly off of ideal for me, and nothing at Mama Melrose (which will be a problem but it is on day #2 and this is only the second time I have not been able to get something), Narcoossees (but must just be the day or the system because I have not had any problems there yet), Hollywood & Vine (which I expect at this point and is now on day #7 so I hope that brings better results on Sunday), Cinderella's (Day #9), Be Our Guest (Day #10).

I am getting excited...should ADR day and 5am make me excited??? I can't wait to see what I get and how many, if any I need to rearrange! Hoping to snag those elusive ADRs on Sunday...

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Ok, so, today was weird! A ton of refreshing. A lot of trouble.

I was able to get only 24 at the places and times I wanted,3 where I would have to change quite a bit, and nothing at Kona (dinner), Mama Melrose (as a fantasmic package or not), Hollywood & Vine, Brown Derby, Sci-Fi, Akershus, Chefs de France, Cinderella's, Be Our Guest, Tutto Italia, Le Cellier, or Ohana (dinner)!

So basically nothing at DHS except for 50s Prime Time. And I had more trouble that usual with normally easier to get Epcot venues...I also had to refresh the most for these.

I sure hope they have all the things that are causing issues worked out by Sunday morning...

 

[HizMinnie2015]

Free dining has screwed a lot of things up for people this year... I am a newbie in the way of going to WDW so I'm not sure why; but my guess is that a lot of people are doing longer vacations during nov/dec and getting in on the dates for the F.D. discounts. I know when we booked our ADR's in April we had a simple and easy process.

We didn't get into Yak & Yetti as it was full, nor did we get into Be Our Guest for dinner as a 4 person group. However we did find a lunch for that group. Martyne and I will be doing dinner the next night, just the 2 of us. Cinderella's castle was not an option until about 4 days after I reserved all of our ADR's. I was looking for something else and VOILA there was an open ADR for CRT the last night we could go to the parks.... I snagged it up and rearranged that day on our itinerary lol. Keep looking even after you make the ADR's. Its seems lately that a lot of people are holding ressies and only let go when its closer to their trip.

So glad the PC is working out for you!!! Its nice to share some of the pixie dust that has traveled this way.

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Free dining has screwed a lot of things up for people this year... I am a newbie in the way of going to WDW so I'm not sure why; but my guess is that a lot of people are doing longer vacations during nov/dec and getting in on the dates for the F.D. discounts. I know when we booked our ADR's in April we had a simple and easy process.

We didn't get into Yak & Yetti as it was full, nor did we get into Be Our Guest for dinner as a 4 person group. However we did find a lunch for that group. Martyne and I will be doing dinner the next night, just the 2 of us. Cinderella's castle was not an option until about 4 days after I reserved all of our ADR's. I was looking for something else and VOILA there was an open ADR for CRT the last night we could go to the parks.... I snagged it up and rearranged that day on our itinerary lol. Keep looking even after you make the ADR's. Its seems lately that a lot of people are holding ressies and only let go when its closer to their trip.

So glad the PC is working out for you!!! Its nice to share some of the pixie dust that has traveled this way.

I don't know if I think it is free dining or just the way Disney is doing things right now. We have always gone during free dining...I have never paid full price for the deluxe dining plan and I have never had this many issues. Heck, I guess I shouldn't say that because I have not actually tried to book for real yet and for all I know I will get everything I want. But I have never heard of this many problems with getting ADRs. I am guessing it's the time of year for me too...it is the most crowded time of travel so I assume that coupled with free dining could be making a difference. I guess we'll wait and see. Most of our most difficult ones are ones we would not absolutely die without (we've been to the castle, BOG sounds great but I have heard mixed reviews on food, H&V is not a top of the list but it is fun, Brown Derby could be left if we had to) but if I have to reschedule on the fly, I might not think it through well enough. In the end, it will all work out because we'll be in Disney...at Christmastime...over New Years...with people we love...the perfect dining is just the cherry on top!

Really??? Yak & Yeti??? That's not somewhere we've ever had a problem getting into...see, there are some weird things not available. That's why I think it has more to do with the system or the way Disney is releasing tables or something rather than a venue being full.

Lunch at BOG does not appeal to me...maybe without the deluxe dining plan but it seems like the price does not justify the food...maybe it's just me...well, obviously it's just me because otherwise it wouldn't be so difficult to get! LOL

The castle is great...good food and a fun place to be...I think I have my plan out for ADRing so I maximize my chances of getting the hard to get venues but we'll see!

 

[tyandskyesmom]

Yeah! It was very easy today...I was able to get 36 (plus my extra) at times I wanted or at least could work with and only could not get Mama Melrose (as a Fantasmic package or not...odd!), Hollywood & Vine (which I refuse to believe is more popular that Cindy's or LeCellier), and Be Our Guest...

YES, I could have gotten Cinderella's at the exact time I wanted it and LeCellier too!

I suppose of I have to I can lose the Mama Melrose (although we do really like it there, with or without the Fantasmic Package). I can always use a fast pass + for Fantasmic but I'd rather not because then that guarantees I cannot use my three and then grab more (that's if I am understanding how that whole thing works) but I will if I have to.

Hollywood and Vine, I guess, could easily changed to an early lunch at Brown Derby (assuming I can get that on that day) and then we could snack a bit and have 5 extra meal credits to use elsewhere.

Be Our Guest would be the one we hated to see go the most...mostly for the experience...but we could find something else to put in there if we had to.

If Brown Derby keeps giving me trouble (which is didn't today) I will sub in Sci-Fi and be left with 4 extra meal credits.

I think I have a plan...I think...