And it begins - The anti-ADR trip planner makes ADRs

[Maleficent13]

The cast of players:

Me: ageless

DH: ageless

DD: still free

The Decision:

DH hit a milestone at his company this year, which gives him an extra week of vacation. The catch? This extra week must be taken between Jan 1 and March 31st, or it's lost. (Aside: who has a policy like this??)

So, DH comes home in the middle of an ice storm with his request sheet, looks outside, sighs and says, "What am I going to do with a week off in this weather?"

Hmmm.

So, we're headed off for 5 days to a place sure to be warmer than the -1* it is currently. At least, I hope. Because if it's -1* in FLA, global warming is a big myth and we've got seriously bigger issues. Like revoking Al Gore's Nobel Prize and telling him to invent "Internet, the Sequel".

The Planning:

Well...I'm not so much the planner. At all. Getting the reservations for SSR and obtaining plane tickets is about the usual extent of my planning. But, since I'm wanting some character meals and a few buffets where the kidlet eats free...I'm going to be forced to make some ADRs.

I am anti-ADR. I do not like planning my meals months before I'm going to eat them. I am one of those people who stops at the grocery on the way home to pick up stuff for dinner, because how do I know on Sunday what I'm going to want for dinner on Wednesday?

*sigh* So...next step is deciding where to eat and calling ahead. It's a big departure from my normal SOP. Picking the character meals alone is giving me a headache. Do I want Pooh? Or the Fab 5? And where can I get most of the Fab 5 which must at least include Mickey?

These are the questions that must be answered. Stay tuned, and opinions are, as always, appreciated.

 

[NMAmy]

Woo hoo! I'm first. On your first TR. I'm very special.

DH hit a milestone at his company this year, which gives him an extra week of vacation. The catch? This extra week must be taken between Jan 1 and March 31st, or it's lost. (Aside: who has a policy like this??)

That IS really weird. I mean, it worked out well, but weird time limit.

So, DH comes home in the middle of an ice storm with his request sheet, looks outside, sighs and says, "What am I going to do with a week off in this weather?"

Duh.

So, we're headed off for 5 days to a place sure to be warmer than the -1* it is currently. At least, I hope. Because if it's -1* in FLA, global warming is a big myth and we've got seriously bigger issues.

I have no idea why you think I'm more entertaining. I think you are hilarious, pal.

Picking the character meals alone is giving me a headache. Do I want Pooh? Or the Fab 5? And where can I get most of the Fab 5 which must at least include Mickey?

These are the questions that must be answered. Stay tuned, and opinions are, as always, appreciated.

I like Chef Mickey's. Hepzibah will get to see the Big Cheese PLUS you get the added bonus of making your husband twirl his napkin. Win/win.

I'm so glad you did this.

 

[winkers]

I can't wait to see where you get adr's for! Welcome to the dark side!

 

[becca011906]

Jumpin' on the wagon to hear more!! This was the first time EVER that i've made ADR except for the one time we did CRT (and even then it was only made the day before). But we are doing the DDP this time around so i told DH he didn't have a choice (he's the anti ADR person LOL) we HAD to make the ADR if we wanted to eat anywhere to make it worth being ON the DDP!!! So he said ok i've never let you so i guess this time i'll let you go hog wild and plan our days... LOL I haven't stoped planing since!

 

[carissanboys]

I'm game

I just follow Winkers around all day anyway

 

[winkers]

I'm game

I just follow Winkers around all day anyway

Is it my smell??

 

[carissanboys]

Is it my smell??

It's your irresistible chahm (think Mass. accent ).

 

[Maleficent13]

Well, I called WDW Dining tonight...that did not go as well as I'd thought. Let me start by saying the CM was a total sweetie and very patient with me.

So...I thought I'd try to get Chef Mickey's for a character dinner our first night.

Seating available at 9:50pm. Yeah - not so much.

So I'm thrown by this, and I'm staring at my paper and see I have Cape May down as a character meal...so I say, what about Cape May that night?

Cape May is WIDE open! GREAT! I ask for 6:30pm and get it. She gives me a confirmation # and then says as part of her spiel..."There are no characters at dinner."

D'oh. Except now I'm too embarrassed to tell her I messed up, so I just copy down the ADR # and move on.

So then she asks if there is anything else. Well, YEAH. I've got to redeem this somehow. So I ask if there are any openings at the AK character breakfast. YES! SCORE! 8:30am ADR on the day I want! Feeling flush with victory, I ask about Boma for that evening. SCORE again!

By now I'm totally worn out with all this planning and tell the nice CM I'll have to do some more thinking about other ADRs and call back tomorrow.

I do not add, "And cancel that Cape May reservation I was too embarrassed to tell you I didn't want once you said there were no characters."

So, the score:

3 attempts, 1 screw up, 1 day's worth of ADRs. Only 4 more days to plan. Our cliffhanger for tonight is: Will Mal cancel the Cape May reservation, or will she keep it?

This planning stuff is for the birds! <--- pretend this is a bird. I can't believe there's a smilie, but no bird smilie.

 

[carissanboys]

LOL You get an A for effort!

Personally, I wasn't impressed with Chef Mickey's so I don't see that as a big loss. A big on Boma, though!

 

[MickeysMommy]

 

[winkers]

I'm sure the cm's I talk to always think I'm totally out of my mind when I book adr's and then change them for the 100th time!

 

[becca011906]

yep good first go... sounds about like my first attempt, but calls 2,3, and 4 all went a little better. Just re think what you want in place of the cape may and ask for the other then cancel it... what dates are you guys going??

 

[NMAmy]

So I'm thrown by this, and I'm staring at my paper and see I have Cape May down as a character meal...so I say, what about Cape May that night?

Cape May is WIDE open! GREAT! I ask for 6:30pm and get it. She gives me a confirmation # and then says as part of her spiel..."There are no characters at dinner."

D'oh. Except now I'm too embarrassed to tell her I messed up, so I just copy down the ADR # and move on.

Rats!

Can you do Chef Mickey's for breakfast one day?

So then she asks if there is anything else. Well, YEAH. I've got to redeem this somehow. So I ask if there are any openings at the AK character breakfast. YES! SCORE! 8:30am ADR on the day I want! Feeling flush with victory, I ask about Boma for that evening. SCORE again!

WOO HOO!! Look at you, makin' ADR's, pal. I knew you could do it!

Our cliffhanger for tonight is: Will Mal cancel the Cape May reservation, or will she keep it?

I'm guessing...Mal will cancel the accidental reservation.

This planning stuff is for the birds! <--- pretend this is a bird. I can't believe there's a smilie, but no bird smilie.

I had no idea there was a squirrel smiley. Why the heck would you need to use THAT?

Oh, Mal, only you could have such an ordeal just making ADR's.

 

[Hedy]

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[MickeysMommy]

Still

 

[NMAmy]

Did you get brave enough to call and make any more ADR's?

 

[Maleficent13]

Have been filled with me emailing menus to DH, trying to get him interested in something. He steadfastly refuses. He wants to be an "in the moment" man. He doesn't understand that he CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE!!! (We need a hair pulling smilie.)

BUT...I did get him to say last night that he does want to go to a park on arrival day. He wants to go to MK. YAY! A decision!! So...that means dinner either at MK or a monorail resort. Since we already know Chef Mickey's is out, and I can't imagine that once DD sees the castle she will want to leave, I'm thinking in MK.

So...I love the Plaza restaurant, but Liberty Tree has characters AND food DD will eat. So...plan is, Liberty Tree with the Plaza as a backup. I hope two choices are enough!!

So far, here's how it looks:

Arrival Day: MK
Day2: Epcot/MGM (Beaches and Cream lunch no ADR allowed)
Day3: AK/MK (TH confirmed and Boma confirmed)
Day4: Open
Day5: MK/Open
Departure Day: Olivia's for lunch and off to the airport.

He also said that Whispering Canyon Cafe looks good, and I know he likes Fulton's. So I'm think Fulton's lunch on the open day, and WCC on day 2.

So, my second attempt for ADRS will be: LTT (Plaza backup), WCC, and Fultons. I'll douse myself in and report back!

 

[NMAmy]

Ha! At least you didn't have to hold your DH hostage like I did with my family. Although, it does work--you can totally steal my idea if it becomes necessary, pal.

I like LTT although I've never been there for the character meal. Caitlin would highly recommend the stuffing because it tastes like Stovetop. She's weird.

I'm very fond of Whispering Canyon but I don't think we're doing it this year.

I hope all your dining reservation dreams come true and you don't have to call them anymore, pal.

 

[becca011906]

Good luck with your call, i was over whelmed when i made my first ADR call ... i was surpised i got so many i wanted. it's comine together very well though... my dh refused to read menus on places he wasn't going to eat at for 2-3 months, so i just ended up calling places i figured he'd like something he's pretty much a meat and potatos person so hopefully he'll find something at most of he places that I picked!

 

[Hedy]

Glad you got some ADR's.