Break out the bubbly and warn the waiters...she's coming back!

[MegansMom]

I am still keeping up the hope that you will get the Deen Bros. ressie......don't give up hope yet!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Well, we friendies try to look out for each other.

Ummm, how can the system not be accepting reservations? I did hear that it crashed this morning around 9AM CST ... a purely selfish "thank gawd I'm done" flashed through my brain when I read that post. Disney did manage to bring it back up pretty quickly so keep trying if you have the time - they will be open until 9PM, won't they?

Sending you good luck - I know what it's like to get shut out of something through no fault of your own.

The process of booking these events has definitely been significantly "un-Disney" and less than magical. I've never done any of the special events so not sure if it's always like this (one of the many CMs I talked to in the last 24 hrs said it was) or is it the new reservation system or both? Either way, I think I may send them some feedback. I'm rarely so frustrated that I do that but this was nuts!

Hi, C! I guess I should have wandered over here before I shot you a PM.

I just had a thought -- maybe the Deen Brothers will sign books on Saturday, and we can do that! Maybe?

I would think that they would be signing books at some point. I'll have to check over on the F&W thread to see if anyone has any info. Not sure how that works if like Star Wars Weekends you get a "fast pass" for your autograph time or if it's just a line and first come first serve?

How did I not know you had a PTR?! Don't mind me joining in, even if it is a little bit late!

Welcome - glad to have you here! Your trip is so close you must be really excited!!

I am still keeping up the hope that you will get the Deen Bros. ressie......don't give up hope yet!

Thanks, Jen. I think your well wishes and everyone elses' good vibes did the trick....


I got into the Deen Brothers event!!

I'm working from home today and usually have the tv on softly in the background just for some background noise. What I "watch" varies but today it was food network. And who was on but the Deen Bros. I took it as a sign and called - there is still availability! Unfortunately the new date doesn't work for Jen so I'll be going solo. It's my last day so it will be a nice way to say farewell to the F&W event.

I will say that the booking process went much more smoothly this time - after the system hung up on me the first time I dialed in.

42 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

WOO HOOOOOOOOO!!

Congrats on getting the Deen Brothers!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

WOO HOOOOOOOOO!!

Congrats on getting the Deen Brothers!!

Thanks. I'm excited. My brush with celebrity!

 

[PNO4TE]

I got into the Deen Brothers event!!

 

[ILuvCrush]

yay!! I'm sooo excited for you that u got in!!

P

 

[TarzansKat]

Oh, congratulations! I know how much you really wanted to do that, I'm so happy for you!

 

[oybolshoi]

Congrats! I'm so happy you were able to get in!!

I will say that the first day of F&W booking is always crazy, but I think that the new reservation system really didn't help this year. Too many CMs who are still unfamiliar with how to do their jobs. The sleestack who disconnected me yesterday didn't even know what F&W was.

 

[MomofCKJ]

Yeah! Pixie Dust! So glad you got the ressie you were looking for!

Allyson

 

[whogirl'smom]

I am a bad Friendie; I had to use the links to get all caught up! for getting to Deen Bros. event!!!

 

[Circusgirl]

Yay Christine! I'm so glad you finally scored your event. How frustratingly un-Disney to deal with unprepared CMs, especially about something you were so excited about. With a huge event like this you would think they would spend a few minutes to train the phone folks. Do send feedback!!!!

 

[jenjolt]

YAY I'm so excited for you C!!!! You are going to have the best time!!! What a way to say goodbye to Disney!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

That's great, C!!! It was meant to be!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Congrats on getting into the Deen brothers event!

Those Disney systems are so screwy...and now with the changing back to 180 days in October, I'm sure we'll just hit another weird wall of crazy reservations like we did when they switched. You'd think they would be able to get some of their technology stuff right...!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Thanks! And thanks again for letting me know they were still available!!

yay!! I'm sooo excited for you that u got in!!

P

Me too!

Oh, congratulations! I know how much you really wanted to do that, I'm so happy for you!

Thanks so much! Now I hope it will be worth it!

Congrats! I'm so happy you were able to get in!!

I will say that the first day of F&W booking is always crazy, but I think that the new reservation system really didn't help this year. Too many CMs who are still unfamiliar with how to do their jobs. The sleestack who disconnected me yesterday didn't even know what F&W was.

Sleestacks. I was scared to death of them (sleestacks not CMs) as a kid and convinced they lived in the furnace room in the basement!

Yeah! Pixie Dust! So glad you got the ressie you were looking for!

Allyson

Thanks Allyson! Are you packing today? I just love the DIS. Only here are "strangers" as invested in your dining/special event plans as you are. Love it!

I am a bad Friendie; I had to use the links to get all caught up! for getting to Deen Bros. event!!!

Hi! Welcome! Just obsessive ADR and F&W planning/plotting going on here. Nothing terribly exciting, I'm afraid. But only 41 days til hopefully some live F&W reporting!

Yay Christine! I'm so glad you finally scored your event. How frustratingly un-Disney to deal with unprepared CMs, especially about something you were so excited about. With a huge event like this you would think they would spend a few minutes to train the phone folks. Do send feedback!!!!

Thanks. I'm glad too. It was definitely un-Disney. Not sure what happened.
Maybe they can hire some DISers next year to organize it for them!

YAY I'm so excited for you C!!!! You are going to have the best time!!! What a way to say goodbye to Disney!!!!

Thanks Jen. I'm hoping that afterward I can still come find you and Jackie and whoever else is planning on lunching at Beaches 'n Cream at least to say goodbye (don't hold lunch for me). Not sure when ME picks me up but probably not til 2:30 or so.

That's great, C!!! It was meant to be!!!

Yeah! I think it was (thank goodness!) I hope that you're able to see them too for a book signing!! Or maybe you'll see them just walking around the parks. I wonder where they stay?

Congrats on getting into the Deen brothers event!

Those Disney systems are so screwy...and now with the changing back to 180 days in October, I'm sure we'll just hit another weird wall of crazy reservations like we did when they switched. You'd think they would be able to get some of their technology stuff right...!

Thanks, Brook! I think they need to hire you to fix their systems. Wouldn't those be fun software bugs to fix?!?

I didn't even think about the impact of going back to 180 days. I'm not sure what I think about that. On the one hand as an obsessive planner it's ok but on the other, it is a little crazy to plan meals 6 months in advance. They must have gotten a lot of feedback! And I suppose it means that attendance is getting more predictable such that they can determine park hours 6 mos in advance again. That is good news!

 

[MeMom]

I got into the Deen Brothers event!!

Very cool! That will be a fun addition to the trip.
Look forward to seeing pictures (if they are allowed) of this.

As for your countdown, you know when it hits the thirties it seems to fly by!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Yeah! I think it was (thank goodness!) I hope that you're able to see them too for a book signing!! Or maybe you'll see them just walking around the parks. I wonder where they stay?

It would make sense if they stayed at the Beach Club since it is within walking distance of Epcot and all.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

I'm so glad you kept trying and got in!! It was definitely a sign that the Deen Brothers were on TV!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Very cool! That will be a fun addition to the trip.
Look forward to seeing pictures (if they are allowed) of this.

As for your countdown, you know when it hits the thirties it seems to fly by!

Thanks! I'm pretty sure pictures are allowed. I remember seeing some from other events in previous years! I will be sure to document as much as I can!

It would make sense if they stayed at the Beach Club since it is within walking distance of Epcot and all.

Wouldn't that be cool? I'd love to bump into them filling up our mugs or at Stormalong Bay or at Beaches 'n Cream. I suppose the Beach Club management would frown upon me stalking them...

I'm so glad you kept trying and got in!! It was definitely a sign that the Deen Brothers were on TV!!!

Thanks! I think it was a sign too!

----------------------

I'm in the 30's!!!!!!!!!!!!! So much better than the 40's.

And now I'm realizing there is so much to do. I am a notorious last minute packer (despite all this time spent thinking about the trip - go figure). So I have sworn to have a packing list and be in better shape this year. We'll see how that goes.

Speaking of shape... I need to lose weight to balance the weight I'll gain. 10 lbs in 30 days? May be too ambitious... we'll see. On past trips - knock on wood- I actually haven't gained, maybe due to the walking but we'll see.

I have always wanted to make custom iron on t-shirts but have never gotten around to it. Hopefully this year!

And I need to make a lime green mickey head for my park bag (which is a Vera, of course).

I need to transfer my Disney Visa Reward $$ to my gift card. I think I have ~$175 in "free" money!! New contest: how long will it take Christine to eat/drink $175? Who's guessing day one?

I'm hoping to squeeze in a trip to Mandara Spa so need to book that.

Holy cow I need to add my flight info for Magical Express. Don't want to miss out on mickey mail!

I'm thinking about doing a gardengrocer.com order for some water and some healthy snacks. Have any of you ever used this? Did I hear that the hotels are charging a delivery fee too?

Last but not least... I think I need some new clothes...

Sorry for the rambling... this is serving as my stream of consciousness virtual to-do list.

 

[jenjolt]

Love you virtual must-dos!! I've been working on a lot of my to do lists recently!!!

I think you can totally lose 10lbs in 30 days although I don't think you'll gain 10lbs LOL!!!!! Even during Food and Wine I think that is an ambitious weight gain LOL!!!!

I'll give you 3 days to spend that much...and wow congrats on the free money!! I only have like 12 or so dollars so I'm going to wait to use mine LOL!!!

Can't wait to see your clothes you buy!!!! I'm sure you will be very stylish!!!!

OOOH...and thanks for reminding me about LGMH so need to do that...see your to do list helped me with my to do list