Can I make my ADR before my trip is PIF?

[MrsUqdah]

My family and I are going on a 6 night 7 day trip May 2014 and decided on the deluxe dining plan. I understand that ADR's can be made 180 days in advanced but can those be made if you trip is not fully paid for at that time or do you have to wait until you are PIF? My secondary question would be is the deluxe plan worth it for my family of 5 which consist of 3 "adults" and 1 child ( my 2 year old is "free"). This is what I have mapped out for dining....

Arrival day
{DINNER } Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review ( Wilderness Resort) 2TSM 6:15 p.m

Day 2: May 13th
{BREAKFAST} Tusker House *character meal* (Animal Kingdom) 1TSM 8:00 a.m
{LUNCH} Rainforest Cafe (Animal Kingdom) 1 TSM 2:00 p.m
{DINNER} Whispering Canyon Cafe (Wilderness Lodge) 1 TSM 7:30 p.m

Day 3: May 14th
{BREAKFAST} Crystal Palace *character breakfast* (Magic Kingdom) 1TSM 8:00 p.m
{LUNCH} Liberty Tree Tavern (Magic Kingdom) 1 TSM 2:00 p.m
{DINNER} Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom) 1 TSM 7:30 p.m

Day 4: May 15th
{BREAKFAST} The Garden Grill (Epcot, Future World) 1 TSM 8:00 a.m
{LUNCH} Coral Reef (Epcot) 1TSM 2:00 p.m
{DINNER} Teppan Edo (Epcot) 1TSM late dinner to view IllumiNation 7:30 p.m


Day 5: May 16th
{BREAKFAST} Hollywood and Vine *Disney Jr character breakfast* (Hollywood Studios) 1TSM 8:00 p.m
{LUNCH} Sci-fi Dine In (Hollywood Studios) 1 TSM 2:00 p.m
{Dinner} Mama Melrose's (Hollywood Studios) 1TSM Reserve Fantasmic Dinner 7:30 p

Day 6: May 17th
{BREAKFAST} Chef Mickey *character meal* (Contemporary Resort) 1TSM 9:00 a.m
{LUNCH} Trails End (Ft. Wilderness Resort and Campground)1 TSM 2:00 p.m
{Dinner} Fulton's Crab House (Downtown Disney) 2 TSM 8:00 p.m

Day 7: CHECKOUT
{BRUNCH} House of Blues Brunch (Downtown Disney) PAY OUT OF POCKET

I know it seems like a lot but I figured TSM were the best way to maximize the plan. And because we KNOW Disney is known for large portions, we would utilize our snack credits left over at the end of our trip as take home gifts that travel well like popcorn and cookies and the like Any suggestions or thoughts

 

[Tiggs14]

Yes, you can make your ADR's before your trip is paid in full. If you have already booked your package you can book at 180 days + 10.

Yes, based on the ADR's you have listed you've picked the right plan. As you said in your post it is a lot and a lot of your time will be spent in restaurants rather than the parks. If you okay with that go for it!

Good luck.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Yes, you can definitely make your reservations at 180 days.

When I look at lists like that, I realize why I've never been interested in the Deluxe plan. Honestly, it would feel like all my time is spent getting to restaurants, sitting in restaurants, getting back to parks from restaurants, waiting for tables in restaurants, eating too much. I do like at least one TS every day to take a break, sit down, cool off (we go in August!), and enjoy a good meal. But three a day would drive me crazy! And it's not just the time to eat, it's the time to get there, get back, etc. Seems like the day revolves around meals.

As long as you've really thought about all the time involved and are okay with it, go for it!

 

[jimandami]

Is it your first family trip? If so, I just want to make sure you realize you are going to be spending 5-6 hours of every day at TS meals! We love our sit-down meals but even 2 a day is a stretch for us sometimes.

 

[MrsUqdah]

Yes, this would be the first trip for the little ones. I tried to minimize the amount of travel to TSM by eating at the park will will visit that day. My family is use to be on the go with activities and school right now so being in the park all day isn't a problem for us. I also have OCD when it comes to Disney planning so I even have what area of the park to be in near meal time lol. I know it sounds absurd but it works for us. We also chose a less busy time when most families are still in school. Luckily my children's school have a longer school year than most so Spring break is always a few weeks after everyone else. And who doesn't love going during the end of Epcots Flower and Garden extravaganza lol. Early breakfast..late lunch...and late dinners may minimize wait times as well...at least I hope lol

 

[jimandami]

I see you have Garden Grill listed for breakfast...I thought they only served dinner?

 

[DvF Diva]

Depending on how late you are staying on Day 7, you could also take one or two of the TSMs slated for a lunch(es) earlier in the week and use it for breakfast/lunch/brunch on departure day. Don't forget that credits don't expire until midnight of day you check out.

When we did DxDP in Feb, it was a LOT of food, so we never did a real lunch. Snack credit was enough to tide us over for "lunch", or we paid OOP for something not considered a snack. Given that so many of your breakfasts are character ADR buffets, you can really fill up just to give yourself the ability to get through to dinner (which you could always move earlier).

Table Svc meals at Disney take quite a bit of time. And you'll also be waiting in lines throughout the day, so you might like the flexibility around when/where you have lunch. Just an idea, in case you decide you don't want to keep doing 3 TS meals a day once you're there.

 

[MrsUqdah]

Thanks for pointing that out to me @jimandami...I will change that to Cape May Cafe...and if I wasn't already convinced to get the DxDP I am now that I used the dining plan calculator from see ya reel soon website Or just Google see ya reel soon dining calculator. You input the number of nights staying...# of adults and kids....you approx? tip percentage....what restraints you would like to enjoy and it adds it all up for you. My family will save about $350 on the DxDP so that can go towards souvenirs or other special events or back I the bank!!! I'm so excited for this next trip and hope to update you guys in my on how it went

 

[KelleyK75]

I always reserve my ADR's at the 180 mark and haven't booked our package yet, mainly because my family always takes forever to decide all of the details. I think you have some great choices.

I do agree that booking sit downs for all meals does take up a lot of park time. We booked a lot on our last trip, and it didn't work out well for us. Granted we were 3 adults and 2 kids. But it seemed like we were always rushing to make the reservation because we were in a different part of the park, etc. And we missed out on doing things because we spent so much time with the restaurants. This next trip personally I am only going to book 1 reservation a day, to allow more park time. If 3 works for you that's great.

 

[mrsdrake625]

I had all of our dining reservations set before we even booked a room. everything is linked in MDX so it shouldn't be a problem but you never know. Every time I've called to pay down our balance, ask a question, etc. they ask me if I have made dining reservations yet, haha. I may have jumped the gun...

They also recently changed the cancellation policy for reservations, unless you cancel within 24 hours you get dinged w a credit card fee, $10 per person I think. Might want to look into that just so you know what you're getting into.

Sounds like a fun trip!

 

[MrsUqdah]

Thanks @Drake625... I knew about the cancellations..with this being our first time using the DxDP and ALOT of ppl saying we will spend a lot of time going to and from meals which is putting a damper on my excitement. But I'm not changing our plan! With me spending most of the time with the little ones and my husband and 14 year old riding their rides I think EVERYBODY will be just fine.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I think a lot of people who get the deluxe plan, it's because they do a lot of signature meals that use up 2 TS credits at a time. Then it seems to make sense. But having three sit down, TS meals a day will be a lot! First, it's a TON of food. We do regular DP and always end up splitting some meals and have leftover snacks at the end for take home treats. You don't realize how much you get at each sitting. At home, we never skip meals. At Disney, almost every day one meal becomes only snacks or shared CS meals.

And three TS meals a day will basically mean you squeeze in a few rides/attractions between meals. Even planning it all at the same park, you're cutting WAY back on time available to do anything other than eat!

I know it sounds like fun when making all those ADRs, but the reality is probably going to be very different.

 

[ses1230]

Day 5: May 16th
{BREAKFAST} Hollywood and Vine *Disney Jr character breakfast* (Hollywood Studios) 1TSM 8:00 p.m
{LUNCH} Sci-fi Dine In (Hollywood Studios) 1 TSM 2:00 p.m
{Dinner} Mama Melrose's (Hollywood Studios) 1TSM Reserve Fantasmic Dinner 7:30 p

The F! dinner package is usually on the early side. I think the last package time is around 4:30.

I might rethink this day. May 16 is the first day of SWW and HS will be significantly more crowded and busy because of it. Hours will likely extend, so you may have park opening at 8. I wouldn't waste valuable park time with an ADR at 8.

If you still want to go for the SWW stuff, I would definitely drop one or more of your TS for CS. All the time is the restaurant plus the crowds might really cut in to your time.

 

[MrsUqdah]

The F! dinner package is usually on the early side. I think the last package time is around 4:30. I might rethink this day. May 16 is the first day of SWW and HS will be significantly more crowded and busy because of it. Hours will likely extend, so you may have park opening at 8. I wouldn't waste valuable park time with an ADR at 8. If you still want to go for the SWW stuff, I would definitely drop one or more of your TS for CS. All the time is the restaurant plus the crowds might really cut in to your time.

THANKS A BUNCH @Ses1230!!!! That changes things ALOT. I will change my itinerary around and go on Tuesday and doing Epcot on that day even considering they have EMH on that day in the evening. Maybe everyone will follow the crowd to HS. Luckily we don't have big Star Wars fans in my home. You've helped a lot

 

[MrsUqdah]

The F! dinner package is usually on the early side. I think the last package time is around 4:30. I might rethink this day. May 16 is the first day of SWW and HS will be significantly more crowded and busy because of it. Hours will likely extend, so you may have park opening at 8. I wouldn't waste valuable park time with an ADR at 8. If you still want to go for the SWW stuff, I would definitely drop one or more of your TS for CS. All the time is the restaurant plus the crowds might really cut in to your time.

And I'm starting to rethink the F! Pkg. all together because I've read that the seats are t the best for the show..what are your thoughts?

 

[ses1230]

And I'm starting to rethink the F! Pkg. all together because I've read that the seats are t the best for the show..what are your thoughts?

The seats for the package used to be off to the right side of the theater . However a few months ago the reserved seating was moved to the middle, so they are good seats.