ANZACs in November/December 2013... register here!

[DizOz]

As we have only the basic dining plan this trip and we do love our signature restaurants I decided to go over the top and work out which restaurants we have ADR's for provide the best value for our credits and which ones I am better off paying cash and using our TIW discounts.

I measured each restaurant based on a 3 course meal based on the average cost as well as the maximum cost. From that I now have the restaurants we will use our dining plan credits.

A bit OTT but I do love my Disney planning.

 

[Anne_Aus]

I made my reservation for the rock cafe for Christmas day last night. So excited I didn't realise it was open for bookings yet and checked cause I was bored.

 

[Franrose]

Franrose that would work out great. If you are sure you don't need it we would be extremely happy to use it. Not sure how this works I assume I can just link the ADR # to our plans in MDE? If and when you are ready may be the best way is to PM me the reservation number?

Will PM you now

 

[Franrose]

I made my reservation for the rock cafe for Christmas day last night. So excited I didn't realise it was open for bookings yet and checked cause I was bored.

Love it when you get lucky like that!

 

[jacs1234]

Franrose, that is sooooooooo lovely of you. I can't wait till I get to go to Disneyworld, you girls are going to be so helpful. It sounds so complicated.

 

[WickedDreamer]

Can't believe I haven't been on this part of the boards since earlier in the year, where has the time gone? Well it just means that all of our trips are soon Am I the only one who doesn't feel prepared and we leave in 3 and half weeks?

At the moment unfortunately I have sprained my ankle, and so far have been off work for a week already,and doctor thinks it will more than likley be another week off, which means only 2 weeks till DISNEY!!!

Was just reading through this thread, everyone seems to be doing a wonderful job in planning and preparing for their trips!! Thought I would give a quick update on our trip.

We leave on 17th of October flying SYD-LA and than LA to MCO - we have a 3 hour lay over in LA. We arrive in Orlando at about 5:30pm, and will be going to the hotel and checking in before running across to DTD for dinner. We have decided to not go into any of the parks for the first part of our trip 18th-20th Oct, we have chosen to resort hop and do a few other activities around property.

On the 20th we leave WDW and head on our first Disney Cruise!!! , we are sailing on the Dream from the 20th-24th October. We will be going back to WDW from the 24th October- 25th November.

We started a pre trip report a little while ago which is here

Can't wait to read more about everyones trips!!! If you have any questions feel free to send a message either here, a PM or on our pre trip thread.

Shannon

 

[RachelleBeaney]

Hi Everyone

Just wanted to let you all know that I have been able to book Fastpass Plus' for my Walt Disney World Nov trip - I check on the 10 Nov 2013.

I'm unsure if this is another test rollout, but it doesn't appear to be as I wasn't 'invited' via email, I just logged into my My Disney Experience account and clicked on Fastpass + as saw I was able to make some! I've also been able to customise our Magic Bands for the trip..

Anyway, I wanted to let you all know that for those of you travelling in Nov and early Dec, if your booking is now less than 60 days out - to check your My Disney Experience accounts as you may be able to take advantage of the FastPass + features now

Hope this is helpful 36 days now!

 

[DizOz]

Once again I just wanted to thasnk Franrose for her generosity regarding her BOG reservation. Our 2 DD are very excited to dine there.

We also changed our booking this week to remove the DDP. When I did the sums we were better off with just using our TIW card. The average 3 course meal cost per credit was $35 compared to a DDP cost of $55 per night (which includes 1 credit). I couldn't see us making up $20 in counter meals and snacks each day and that excludes the 20% TIW discount.

Also eldest DD is a very fussy eater and she would prefer things on the kids menu than the adults. So we would be paying adult price on DDP and getting kids value.

Making the change was easy just emailed out Dreams Unlimited TA and requested the change. I appologised for mucking her around but she wrote back assuring me it was her job to make our trip as memorable as possible and apologized for having make the change by canceling one reservation and refunding the deposit and making a new one with a new deposit payable.

We also got our visas completed and approved through ETSA and arranged all our airport transfers. So other than making our DL dining reservations everything is ready to go.

 

[Franrose]

DizOz, I've just spotted that BOG reservations are transferring fine so next time you're online we should organise a time to switch

Yay for dropping the DDP (for good reasons). I know that if we were doing it, I would feel I was missing out on appetizers (which, if I'm hungry, I'd rather do than dessert, and if I was not hungry, I might rather do than a main!). Certainly a lot to be said for the flexibility of OOP.

I am going the AP and TiW route too. I've booked DH and I a Victoria & Albert's dinner [10 year anni] and I think the savings from that alone will make the TiW card worthwhile, lol!

Fourish days till FP bookings here, yeah-ha! And I need to get my head around what I want for DL as it will be over the busy Christmas period (ie Christmas day) and I imagine bookings will be fairly important, rocking up might not be so easy at some restaurants.

It's all a bit too soon. I'm worried I'm not ready, lol. Still need to get (first time Australian) passports, and then I can move to ETSAs. Photos tomorrow, all going well. (Hopefully the passport process doesn't take two months, I'm used to ten days in NZ lol!)

 

[DizOz]

DizOz, I've just spotted that BOG reservations are transferring fine so next time you're online we should organise a time to switch

Yay for dropping the DDP (for good reasons). I know that if we were doing it, I would feel I was missing out on appetizers (which, if I'm hungry, I'd rather do than dessert, and if I was not hungry, I might rather do than a main!). Certainly a lot to be said for the flexibility of OOP.

I am going the AP and TiW route too. I've booked DH and I a Victoria & Albert's dinner [10 year anni] and I think the savings from that alone will make the TiW card worthwhile, lol!

Fourish days till FP bookings here, yeah-ha! And I need to get my head around what I want for DL as it will be over the busy Christmas period (ie Christmas day) and I imagine bookings will be fairly important, rocking up might not be so easy at some restaurants.

It's all a bit too soon. I'm worried I'm not ready, lol. Still need to get (first time Australian) passports, and then I can move to ETSAs. Photos tomorrow, all going well. (Hopefully the passport process doesn't take two months, I'm used to ten days in NZ lol!)

Hi Franrose,

On BOG just PM me a date and time and we can logon together and time the change over.

I am feeling a lot more comfortable on the dining options now without DDP.

I took my DW to V&A on out last trip in 2010 and was possibly the best meal I ever had. We dined in the Queen Victoria room with a 10 course meal. The food and service was fantastic, I am sure you will have a great time.

Passports are pretty quick. Just remember when everyone is signing including witnesses they stay inside the lines otherwise you get to start over again. Also with the new E-Passports they are very fussy over the photos. No glasses hair pulled back off your face (try getting a teenager to do that).

Biggest issue we will have now is our limited ability to book fastpass+ reservations until we get our Premier Passport at DL. As we only have a 2 day ticket to get free dining not sure how many fastpass+ reservations we will be able to book. I guess I will find out in a few days.

 

[kylieh]

DizOz, I've just spotted that BOG reservations are transferring fine so next time you're online we should organise a time to switch Yay for dropping the DDP (for good reasons). I know that if we were doing it, I would feel I was missing out on appetizers (which, if I'm hungry, I'd rather do than dessert, and if I was not hungry, I might rather do than a main!). Certainly a lot to be said for the flexibility of OOP. I am going the AP and TiW route too. I've booked DH and I a Victoria & Albert's dinner [10 year anni] and I think the savings from that alone will make the TiW card worthwhile, lol! Fourish days till FP bookings here, yeah-ha! And I need to get my head around what I want for DL as it will be over the busy Christmas period (ie Christmas day) and I imagine bookings will be fairly important, rocking up might not be so easy at some restaurants. It's all a bit too soon. I'm worried I'm not ready, lol. Still need to get (first time Australian) passports, and then I can move to ETSAs. Photos tomorrow, all going well. (Hopefully the passport process doesn't take two months, I'm used to ten days in NZ lol!)

DDs passport was just under 3 weeks from post office to receiving via mail. That was about a month or so ago we did hers. You will be fine.

 

[Marlea98]

.

 

[Franrose]

If anyone is interested in the WDW Wishes Dessert Party - it has just opened Dec reservations moments ago! They sell out in a day or two... a great view of the Wishes fireworks

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/tomorrowland-terrace-fireworks-dessert-party/

 

[FireflyFi]

Oh it does feel good to be able to say 'I'm going to Japan next month' although I might be getting a little nervous - I had a dream that I got lost in a subway station last night lol

So over the weekend I wrote a list of things I need to do before going (some of the items listed are actually to write more lists hehe) that does make the departure date feel close!

 

[RachelleBeaney]

Oh it does feel good to be able to say 'I'm going to Japan next month' although I might be getting a little nervous - I had a dream that I got lost in a subway station last night lol

So over the weekend I wrote a list of things I need to do before going (some of the items listed are actually to write more lists hehe) that does make the departure date feel close!

I know what u mean about lists .. I have an awesome spreadsheet with lots and lots of lists and itinerarys and budgets and phrases to learn in Japanese! My dreams always surround being Laughed at for my terrible Japanese pronunciation!! It's a Month today! Am getting so so excited

 

[baf65]

30 days to go for me!!

 

[Marlea98]

If anyone is interested in the WDW Wishes Dessert Party - it has just opened Dec reservations moments ago! They sell out in a day or two... a great view of the Wishes fireworks

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/tomorrowland-terrace-fireworks-dessert-party/

Thanks

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Marlea98]

Oh it does feel good to be able to say 'I'm going to Japan next month' although I might be getting a little nervous - I had a dream that I got lost in a subway station last night lol

So over the weekend I wrote a list of things I need to do before going (some of the items listed are actually to write more lists hehe) that does make the departure date feel close!

I'm excited because yesterday afternoon I realised I could say 'I'm leaving next month'

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[kylieh]

I'm excited because yesterday afternoon I realised I could say 'I'm leaving next month'

I came to post the same thing

OK, it's the end of next month, but it's next month!!!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Getting excited for all you guys!