Booking ADRs before resort/park ressies

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

DD11 and I are planning our second trip for May 27 - June 2, but I can't book until first of year when we get some other things taken care of (i.e. Christmas, recent dr. bills, etc. ) She will be 12 January 26 and this will be her birthday present, even though we aren't going until May.

I decided I would go ahead and book the ADR's now before I made the actual reservations so we could hopefully get the restaurants we wanted and times I have scheduled. I wasn't going to book until I actually booked the trip, but I changed my mind this morning and now I'm sort of glad I did. I have a few things to settle and may have to change some things around after we book, BUT I at least have the restaurants I want booked as of now and maybe not too much would have to change.

A friend and his son are thinking of accompanying us and we'd drive down together and do some things together as well. (He and son have never been and thought I'd be useful in helping them as well as company for our two kids who are roughly same age.) He also won't know until first of year if he can book and when. If we go together, we'll drive. If DD11 and I go by ourselves, we'll fly. 11 hour drive opposed to 2 hour flight. So, I mentioned to CM while making preliminary ressies that I may have to call back and see if some tables for 2 could be changed to tables of 4 once we decide if they are going.

CM was great in trying to work around that, but some of the ressies I may lose if we upgrade to 4 people, at least for the times I have now. No worries however. The only one I couldn't currently book is Spirit of Aloha b/c we are planning on doing DXDP and I would have to prepay for tickets otherwise until I book the dining plan. Soooo... with all that said. LOL.. Here's what I have ended up with:

Tuesday, May 27: Teppan Edo dinner 8:00 p.m. (was confirmed to be on DDP for 2008 )
Wed., May 28: Sci Fi - 11 a.m.
Mama Melrose 6:30 p.m.
Thurs, May 29 - Garden Grill - 11 a.m.
Yachtman Steakhouse - 8 p.m.
Friday, May 30 - Donald's Safari Bfast - 8:05 a.m.
1900 Park Fare - 8:30 p.m.
Sat., May 31 - Coral Reef lunch 2:10 p.m.
Spirit of Aloha (still have to book this and hoping for last show)
Sun., June 1 - Ohana Bfast - 8 a.m.
Crystal Palace lunch - 2p.m.
Narcoosee's - 8:30 p.m.
Mon., June 2 - Chef Mickey's - 8 a.m.

We should be quite full on Sunday after 3 sit down meals!!! But we wanted to try all of these restaurants between myself and DD11. When booking Narcoosees, CM asked if we were celebrating a special occasion, birthday, anniversary, etc. And I explained, well, not exactly. This is birthday trip for DD11 and this is her special birthday dinner (she LOVES lobster) but it's not her "actual" birthday b/c that is January so I didn't think I should get the buttons or anything like that since it's not the actual birthday time. CM said just tell them it's for a belated birthday occasion and you can try and request a window seat at the podium. I said, OK we'll ask, but if not granted, no big deal. She'll be just as happy if not. And I surely didn't want to get her a birthday pin to wear even though someone else suggestd I should do that.

My sister once suggested I should have her a "half" birthday party in the summer time since her birthday always falls dead of winter and we can't have the type of outside/swimming/warm weather type birthday activities that she wants to do, but I thought that was a bit much. And end of January is always the coldest, bleakest weather we have and other than skating rink, bowling alley or local game room bday party, I'm usually at a loss for her parties.

Sorry this post was so long! Once I started typing, it just kept flowing. LOL

 

[DisneyMom5]

Wow, sounds like a great trip!

I did the same with our last trip, called for ADRs before we even had our hotel ressies. I also was glad I did. The ADRs for prime times tend to fill up fast!

Happy planning!

 

[SomDayMyPrnceWillCom]

Thanks! I have soooo much fun planning any event and planning for our 2nd Disney trip is great. Last year, I had not discovered the Dis before we left and even though I called months in advance and set our ADR's, I think I could have done a lot better if I had read these boards first. We had the park hopper option and used it b/c I had booked ressies not counting on EMH and other stuff we wanted to see. But now, I feel we are so prepared for our next trip. We do plan on using evening EMH and I booked our current ADR's according to that. (hope they don't change!)

Now, I just have to get myself healed up (knee surgery last week) and get through the holidays. I hope to have her a small birthday party and make some kind of card with a "We're going to Disney" message or something similar for her. We don't have a Disney store anywhere near us, so I can't tell friends/family to get her Disney Dollars for presents.

She told me last year while I was planning our first trip that I was wayyy more excited than she was about the upcoming trip and I was like, What you aren't excited? She said yes, but nowhere near as excited as you. And of course, she could care less about the planning stages, she said she wanted to "wing it" when we got there and have some surprises. She said you're the planner, not me! (If she didn't look like a mini-me, I swear I'd verify DNA on us b/c we're polar opposites for the most part )

 

[DisneyMom5]

I really rely on this board and on the Unofficial Guide book for planning. I don't use the touring plans, but I do kind of struture our day around their suggestions.

I'm blessed because my almost 14yo dd LOVES to plan. We were reading menus and going over touring plans for months. DH just rolls his eyes at us. LOL

I had to plan my whole trip for our Grand Gathering, because my mom knows NOTHING about WDW and my SIL hates to plan. She said just to let her know what time to be ready and she'd follow me. Works for me!



Of course planning for a big group is SOOOO much different than just for two. My dd and I escaped the rest of the crew for an evening and went to MK just by ourselves. It was really fun to just be together and not have a stroller and diaper bag and all that.

Dh and I have discussed going by ourselves, but we get so much enjoyment from watching the kids that we would spend the whole time going "Wouldn't they LOVE that!" LOL

You guys are going to have a great time!

Have a great day!

ETA: If you haven't checked out my reports you're welcome over there! The more the merrier!

 

[Tissa]

I have booked adr's before the trip has been booked too. Have a great trip!

friends and family could go to www.disneyshopping.com and purchase a Disney gift card that can be used at WDW for her birthday present.