Came across this article from an average guest

[Ava]

That's assuming the ADRs are being made for the kids. Generally speaking, if we make ADRs it's not specifically for DD, it's some place DH and I want to experience ourselves (even a character meal).

True, some of our ADRs were definitely made more with the adults in mind than the kids. I was mainly commenting on the article, which to me read like the author was stressing out over securing special experiences for his daughter.

 

[Paigesmom2013]

I got up Monday at 5am CST to book our ADR's. My husband was bewildered by what I was doing. I made a bad joke about checking my Ashley Madison account...
But seriously folks, I love planning vacations. However, deciding on a restaurant 6 months out is a bit much. But I guess I'm willing to do it, if that's what you gotta do. You can't eat an 8 pm dinner wit a toddler or "grab a drink at the bar" and wait with a 5 year old.

 

[maxiesmom]

I got up Monday at 5am CST to book our ADR's. My husband was bewildered by what I was doing. I made a bad joke about checking my Ashley Madison account...
But seriously folks, I love planning vacations. However, deciding on a restaurant 6 months out is a bit much. But I guess I'm willing to do it, if that's what you gotta do. You can't eat an 8 pm dinner wit a toddler or "grab a drink at the bar" and wait with a 5 year old.

Just so long as you are aware that even with an ADR you have have a bit of a wait. An ADR does not guarantee you will be sat at that exact time, but that you will get the next table that opens up for your party size.

 

[mellyf]

We've never used the dining plan but we have friends who always buy the dining plan (never Free Dining). I asked them why and they said they like having everything paid for, including food, ahead of the trip so they know there will be no bills when they return. And they also like not having to think about the price of food when they are there. Makes it more of an all-inclusive experience for them. They also said they have fun using up their snack credits to bring snacks home which really seemed silly to me since if you don't use the snack credits you obviously didn't need them! but apparently that is something they think is fun.

Same here...we've always stayed on site and never used the DP, but I have a friend who started using it a year or two ago (she's also gone for quite a few years w/out it). She hasn't done Free Dining, I don't think, but really likes the regular dining plan because of having all her food paid for before the trip.

 

[Robo]

Why not just buy X dollars in Disney gift cards?
Pay for the meals with the cards.
(You can even make the funds from the cards accessible to be paid by using your MagicBands or RFID park tickets.)

No bills afterwards, but if you have any MONEY left afterwards, you get to KEEP it.

 

[Jfsag123]

Why not just buy X dollars in Disney gift cards?
Pay for the meals with the cards.
(You can even make the funds from the cards accessible to be paid by using your MagicBands or RFID park tickets.)

No bills afterwards, but if you have any MONEY left afterwards, you get to KEEP it.

This is our plan. I've already got a couple hundred in cards and plan to just buy them in small amounts whenever I'm in Target between now and our trip. Still allows it to be "pre-paid", but feels like we have more control over what we eat and how much we spend.

 

[Turn the Page]

Isn't that going to take up a TON of time getting back to the room and then back to wherever you want to be?

We will bring snacks with us to munch on but taking a break back in the room works best anyway. If we decide not to one day we will bring PBandJ sandwiches or something with us.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

I agree with this too, and the length of the vacation is a good point. 2 out of our 3 destinations this summer were long weekend trips. Including travel to/from, one trip was Fri-Mon, the other was Thurs-Mon. It wasn't short travel either - one was an 8hr drive each way, the other was a cross country flight each way. Having a lot of pre-planned reservations on such short trips would be too much for us, so in that respect there is definitely a different mindset (for us) with a short trip than a longer trip.

OK, so I think I understand your positions a little better now - - research, planning things that must be (per timed admissions etc), and leave the rest open--you don't have to nail everything down, every trip. Use the Internet to find what's around you and go for it. I can relate to all of that. Thanks for explaining more, and thanks for the tips.

 

[jsrj21]

You know....this is a great topic and I'm glad to read that I'm not alone in my sentiment from this last trip. We went on August 14-20 and I have to tell you, I was exhausted after those 6 days. We had no time for spontaneity and we seemed to be rushing from place to place because of the FP's. I love Disney and this will not hamper my passion but I must say, even my 19 year old commented that he didn't like the hustle and bustle as if we were in New York City. He told me on the plane trip back that he'd like to be able to relax a bit more and just wing it on some days without feeling the pressure of missing a fastpass. I have to tell you, I have to agree with him. With the money they invested in this, we're going to just have to get used to it.

One way of "trying" to solve this [and to Disney's delight I'm sure] is to plan a few extra days where we just hang out by the pool and not worry so much about making a FP. Great article!

 

[savvy?71]

Agreed. I can walk from our room at the Candy Cane Inn to the front gate at DL in 10 minutes. It took us longer staying at the Poly to get to Magic Kingdom.

Despite my newly discovered love for DL, I will say that resorts are the one thing that fall short (for me) versus WDW. We stayed at DLH, and no doubt the walk to the parks via Downtown Disney was a total plus, but we just felt something lacking in the the three main DL resorts (we checked out Grand Californian and Paradise Pier as well). WDW does their resorts right. But everything has trade-offs. Loved DL/DCA, will probably do another west coast adventure next summer, but we'll be back at the Beach Club eventually

 

[larryz]

Almost everyone who goes to DW is.

Yeah? Not so much, I think...

 

[tmh43]

Interesting article. I have to say, this is my first time going since the magic bands and FP+ and I am so overwhelmed. We never planned trips to Disney as a kid. 60 minute waits were part of the deal. I'm happy to have an opportunity to lessen them, but picking FP+ 60 days out seems like overkill to me. Being able to pick them as you go that day (when it was paper FP) was the perfect compromise IMO.

I will say however that my 2yo is super excited for his Disney "bracelet" though lol

 

[MillauFr]

Despite my newly discovered love for DL, I will say that resorts are the one thing that fall short (for me) versus WDW. We stayed at DLH, and no doubt the walk to the parks via Downtown Disney was a total plus, but we just felt something lacking in the the three main DL resorts (we checked out Grand Californian and Paradise Pier as well). WDW does their resorts right. But everything has trade-offs. Loved DL/DCA, will probably do another west coast adventure next summer, but we'll be back at the Beach Club eventually

Yes one of the big pluses of WDW is the quality and variety of the resort hotels. We loved our stay at the Wilderness Lodge and the Poly. Plus they were both affordable, $169 and $189 per night. The Grand Californian is nice but it seems like it is always $400+ per night.

 

[Turn the Page]

I have to say, I had another thought that makes me like the idea of FP+ a little more.

My stepdaughter is 5 and is borderline special needs but this may be helpful for most families with young kids. She does better if we can tell her what to expect. For example, if I can tell her "We will meet Anna and Elsa tomorrow at 3 o'clock. Today we are going to go on BTMMR, then HM, and then whatever other FP we have" rather than just saying "oh we will see if we can meet A&E later but right now we're going to head this way." It may cut down on the "is it time to see x yet?"

Hopefully anyway.

 

[Robo]

I have to say, I had another thought that makes me like the idea of FP+ a little more.

My stepdaughter is 5 and is borderline special needs but this may be helpful for most families with young kids. She does better if we can tell her what to expect. For example, if I can tell her "We will meet Anna and Elsa tomorrow at 3 o'clock. Today we are going to go on BTMMR, then HM, and then whatever other FP we have" rather than just saying "oh we will see if we can meet A&E later but right now we're going to head this way." It may cut down on the "is it time to see x yet?"

Hopefully anyway.

The safer thing to do is NOT tell her anything specific.
With as many things that I have seen go wrong after spending years reading reports on this board... I am not kidding.

 

[Angel Ariel]

The safer thing to do is NOT tell her anything specific.
With as many things that I have seen go wrong after spending years reading reports on this board... I am not kidding.

I would lean towards agreeing with this. With how glitchy the system can be, and how FP+ can just go "poof" from your profile so easily (didn't someone on the DIS just have that happen to them in the last few days?), I would be worried about being so specific as to guarantee a date and a specific time. I have a daughter with developmental delays, so I do understand the benefit from that point of view, but there are potential pitfalls as well.

 

[Turn the Page]

That's a good point too. Ah well, I'm trying to go into my first FP+ experience with a positive attitude. We shall see how it goes.

 

[sydneymickey]

Interesting article. I have to say, this is my first time going since the magic bands and FP+ and I am so overwhelmed. We never planned trips to Disney as a kid. 60 minute waits were part of the deal. I'm happy to have an opportunity to lessen them, but picking FP+ 60 days out seems like overkill to me. Being able to pick them as you go that day (when it was paper FP) was the perfect compromise IMO.

I will say however that my 2yo is super excited for his Disney "bracelet" though lol

It is definitely a bit overwhelming, but once the vacation comes around, it's all worth it.
(I agree with the FP+ statement, it is overkill.)

 

[tmh43]

It is definitely a bit overwhelming, but once the vacation comes around, it's all worth it.
(I agree with the FP+ statement, it is overkill.)

I have no doubt about that. I could just sit in Disney and have a great time soaking in the atmosphere!

 

[MrInfinity]

We've never used the dining plan but we have friends who always buy the dining plan (never Free Dining). I asked them why and they said they like having everything paid for, including food, ahead of the trip so they know there will be no bills when they return. And they also like not having to think about the price of food when they are there. Makes it more of an all-inclusive experience for them. They also said they have fun using up their snack credits to bring snacks home which really seemed silly to me since if you don't use the snack credits you obviously didn't need them! but apparently that is something they think is fun.

Sounds fun to me! Everything we spend on at Disney World is "silly" and unnecessary. If they enjoy it, that's all that matters.