dawnhaze
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2012
- Messages
- 1,764
Hey all, I'm new on the boards and I'm planning a solo trip for my 27th birthday to Disney and Universal in January. My plan is to spend a week doing whatever I want and eating a ton of amazing food. 
Since I'm planning 2013 dates, I'm a bit confused as to how ADRs I book will work with booking my resort package (I intend to stay at Pop if that matters at all).
Here's the info I'm aware of: I can't book packages for 2013 until sometime in summer - traditionally August but last year it was June. I can book ADRs 180 days prior to the dates I want to use them, unless I've already booked a resort stay, at which point the 180+10-day-stay window kicks in. Right?
So, my confusion come from this: My "180 Days Before Check-in" date is July 14. Assuming 2013 package bookings aren't available by that date, what's my best option? Book the ADRs day by day without a resort reservation? Make a room-only reservation over the phone for the purpose of booking ADRs in the extended window? (If I do that, I've been told I can convert it to a package later without losing my ADRs, is that true?) Or is there an option I haven't thought of yet?
I do want to visit some of the more popular TS places - a lunch at Le Cellier would be nice, and I'm planning dinners at Chef Mickey's, Boma, Akershus Banquet, 1900 Park Fare, and Biergarten. I also want to do the Fantasmic Dining Experience - probably at Hollywood & Vine, by process of elimination with the 3 options. Am I missing anything that's a not-to-be-missed type of place? Which of these have the highest demand (aside from Le Cellier, I know that place is crazy to try and get an ADR)?
Also, is it harder or easier for solo diners to get ADRs? I don't mind sitting at a bar counter to eat - is there a way for me to indicate that when I make my reservations? (I'd actually prefer it to sitting at a table alone, at least in places that have a bar counter.) Would I have better luck on the phone when I actually go to do it? I hate calling anywhere but Disney CMs are always friendly so I think I could deal with it if I had to. :x
Thanks for reading my wall of text. I know I'm planning early but I think I enjoy planning trips just as much as actually going on them, haha.
Since I'm planning 2013 dates, I'm a bit confused as to how ADRs I book will work with booking my resort package (I intend to stay at Pop if that matters at all).Here's the info I'm aware of: I can't book packages for 2013 until sometime in summer - traditionally August but last year it was June. I can book ADRs 180 days prior to the dates I want to use them, unless I've already booked a resort stay, at which point the 180+10-day-stay window kicks in. Right?
So, my confusion come from this: My "180 Days Before Check-in" date is July 14. Assuming 2013 package bookings aren't available by that date, what's my best option? Book the ADRs day by day without a resort reservation? Make a room-only reservation over the phone for the purpose of booking ADRs in the extended window? (If I do that, I've been told I can convert it to a package later without losing my ADRs, is that true?) Or is there an option I haven't thought of yet?
I do want to visit some of the more popular TS places - a lunch at Le Cellier would be nice, and I'm planning dinners at Chef Mickey's, Boma, Akershus Banquet, 1900 Park Fare, and Biergarten. I also want to do the Fantasmic Dining Experience - probably at Hollywood & Vine, by process of elimination with the 3 options. Am I missing anything that's a not-to-be-missed type of place? Which of these have the highest demand (aside from Le Cellier, I know that place is crazy to try and get an ADR)?
Also, is it harder or easier for solo diners to get ADRs? I don't mind sitting at a bar counter to eat - is there a way for me to indicate that when I make my reservations? (I'd actually prefer it to sitting at a table alone, at least in places that have a bar counter.) Would I have better luck on the phone when I actually go to do it? I hate calling anywhere but Disney CMs are always friendly so I think I could deal with it if I had to. :x
Thanks for reading my wall of text. I know I'm planning early but I think I enjoy planning trips just as much as actually going on them, haha.
