Can we go to Disney World??????? September '15 PTR Update 4/27/15 - Free Dining is released...

[JoshAndEvsMom]

How fun to do one-on-one trips with each of your girls! That time will be so special for the rest of their lives.

Can't wait to follow along!

 

[Anitsirk24]

Can I just say - I started working on a rough itinerary so I can plan fast pass times, and OH. MY. Gosh. I am terrified.

Maybe I should have started this process sooner. Its got me rethinking everything. What my passes are, when my ADRs are....

I started off with Magic Kingdom, since we have three separate full days there, thinking I could just divide up the park and hit one part, depending on time. I got very overwhelmed, very quickly.

Then I though, maybe I could start with DHS then, because that has the least number of things we will care to see. I go to that map. Okay, only 11 attractions under that category. That's manageable. Yep, not so much. The two things I had down to do stand by times are on opposite sides of the park. Ugh.

Needless to say, still working on my plan of attack for the park. And my Fastpass day is just a couple days away. I can tell I am a noobie at this.

 

[JoshAndEvsMom]

Can I just say - I started working on a rough itinerary so I can plan fast pass times, and OH. MY. Gosh. I am terrified.

Maybe I should have started this process sooner. Its got me rethinking everything. What my passes are, when my ADRs are....

I started off with Magic Kingdom, since we have three separate full days there, thinking I could just divide up the park and hit one part, depending on time. I got very overwhelmed, very quickly.

Then I though, maybe I could start with DHS then, because that has the least number of things we will care to see. I go to that map. Okay, only 11 attractions under that category. That's manageable. Yep, not so much. The two things I had down to do stand by times are on opposite sides of the park. Ugh.

Needless to say, still working on my plan of attack for the park. And my Fastpass day is just a couple days away. I can tell I am a noobie at this.

Have you heard of TouringPlans.com? We used it on our second trip to WDW and it really helped us plan out our days and we got to do TONS more stuff that time than our first. I suppose you wouldn't need it if you're a Disney Vet but it was invaluable to us as newbies

 

[Anitsirk24]

Yes, I have thought about signing up for that. I could probably use it and adjust it as needed. May be worth it, since I am baffled about where to begin.

 

[JoshAndEvsMom]

Yes, I have thought about signing up for that. I could probably use it and adjust it as needed. May be worth it, since I am baffled about where to begin.

They actually have this cool feature where you put in the attractions you want to do and their software will optimize it based on the criteria you put in to create a custom touring plan. For $10, I think its worth it!

 

[Anitsirk24]

Will definitely check it out - that is just what I need. Thank you for the recommendation!

 

[azarine]

Hey we are going in June, your plans look good so far! I'm with you on being overwhelmed - too much to plan!!! Easywdw was great for their cheat sheets.

 

[Anitsirk24]

After the wonderful recommendation to check out touringplans.com, I strolled over to that website and immediately signed my happy tail up for it. And it totally eased my mind on the planning side. I was able to come up with a plan of action for each park, and even figured out I would have plenty of time to spare each day. Which is what I was hoping for. I wanted to be leisurely Mommy on this trip, not drill sergeant Mommy. So I figured up what times I wanted to snag for fast passes, and was ready to make them. Tuesday, I came home and armed myself with my laptop and was ready to go.

Started counting down the minutes until it was officially March 4.

11:58....11:59....12!!!

Got logged on and started to work through the website. Then got confused on how to do it... Luckily that only last about a minute, and once I got it figured out, I went to town.

Then realized that it was not giving me the times I wanted. Then decided I didn't care and I would just make what I had worked. I had snagged Anna and Elsa, and two days for Seven Dwarfs! I had gotten all the passes I wanted. Time to be happy, even if it meant completely reworking my plans. I stayed on long enough to get the passes for each day, then took my tired butt to bed. Gotta get up in the morning for work.

While at work today, I figured I would get on and see if it would let me make some changes to make it a little bit more manageable. And what made it better - I was able to change nearly all of them to the times I wanted!!!!

Okay, so not ALL of them (stupid A&E has to be difficult...couldn't move it at all). But at least I only have one day that I have to re-structure instead of like 4 or 5. I was especially worried about my Epcot day initially because my original plan was to do rides in Future Land in the morning, do lunch at Akershus, then explore the World Showcase afternoon and evening. I thought I was going to really have to figure something out for that, but luckily, my original plan is still intact.

And I am able to let Avery meet Anna and Elsa I do have to move one ADR (Crystal Palace unfortunately is getting no love on this trip...keeps getting bumped). So that is my next task...

All in all, now that I know how the system works, I won't fret during future trip-planning. I just know that I shouldn't have an internal freak out moment if I am not able to get what I want. My plans through touringplans is simply going to be a guide more than anything. I know it won't be a minute by minute thing, but I figured I do need at least some sort of plan going in...otherwise I will definitely founder and miss out.

Now that fast passes are in place, I will be looking at some dining options for my counter service credits and figuring out if I want to reschedule that Crystal Palace ADR anywhere....

 

[Anitsirk24]

Well, thought I would come back and give some updates on what has happened in the last few days.

Plans have had to take some major changes. Due to some financial issues that have come up, we are having to change my travel dates. So now, instead of going in May, we are going in September.

Obviously, this is a huge disappointment. I had to really take some time to be okay with this. Part of that is for my own selfish reasons. I have been so excited to do to Disney, and take Avery for her first experience there. But it is what is best for the family at this time. And honestly, I do think that it will be better in some ways to go when we are.

First thing is that I am disappointed about missing the Flower and Garden at Epcot. I was really looking forward to seeing Epcot at its finest. So I was originally hoping to go during Food and Wine, but my dates are a little too early. We are going the 12-19. So we'll just miss it.

That said, I am actually really excited to hopefully do the MNSSHP. They start the week we are planning to go.

Its also the week of my birthday (on the 14th).

I am trying to look positively at this change. My ADR date is next week, and I am hoping for some better times. And take some more time to plan out the park days.

So we're back to square 1 with planning. Let's try this again.

 

[Writer325]

I am sorry to hear this, but you may get free dining! Have you heard of wdwprep school.com? She has lots of tips and podcasts while you continue to plan.

 

[Anitsirk24]

That is right! I had forgotten to mention that earlier. when they do announce any deals (which I am sure they will since September is traditionally a "slower" time if there is such a thing) I will have to consider which will be most beneficial. I am getting the regular dining, and if free dining is how it has been, I would be eligible for quick service plan and would have to pay the difference. Or I could change resorts. Will have to weigh out options if that is the case. I will just have to bide my time in the mean time and plan for the price the TA gave me. Which is fine - but of course any discount is better than none.

 

[Writer325]

As far as I know, they announce them in May. If you visit wdwprep school, she has a link about which is the better discount.

 

[JoshAndEvsMom]

Sorry you had to change your travel plans but I've heard September is pretty nice! MNSSHP would be so much fun!! Do they have all the fall decorations up by then? I've always wanted to see those. I think you'll be really happy with your changes.

Yay for touring plans! I'm itching to sign back up so I can play with itineraries but waiting until spring so it will cover both our trips.

 

[Anitsirk24]

I definitely found that touring plans was helpful, and made things a little easier to plan out. It also helped me figure out times I wanted to try for with fast passes. I do think that planning out things for May was beneficial, because I know what to expect when i do them for September.

It was disappointing, but I'm okay with the changes.

 

[Anitsirk24]

So when i last updated, I had just had to change my travel dates, and was getting through the disappointment of doing so. I did manage to get a rough itinerary made, so that I could plan ADRs accordingly. Well, my ADR day was a few days ago, and I woke up extra early to work on my ADRs. Of course in doing so, my phone app didn't want to work and I had to work on the laptop, and did eventually get some things made then and throughout the day.

Sunday - 50's Prime Time 12:45 lunch
Monday - Akershus 8:30 breakfast, 6:50 Coral Reef dinner
Tuesday - Tusker House 12:55 lunch (hopefully will go to MNSSHP this day)
Wednesday - Be Our Guest 12:35 lunch, 6:45 1900 Park Fare dinner
Thursday - Crystal Palace 8:35 breakfast
Friday - 1900 Park Fare 9:40 breakfast, 4:00 Be Our Guest dinner

I currently have one extra table service that will be OOP if we keep it. The Coral Reef is the one I may drop...I am just not sure about it. It looks really neat, but I am still on the fence about it.
I was very happy to get both BOG lunch and dinner. The dinner was a bonus. I was also pleased to be able to get some early breakfasts. I do plan to continue to make some adjustments as I am able to, so I can maybe get some even better times.

Now, to make a BBB appointment as well, and hopefully get tickets for MNSSHP when they become available.

 

[Anitsirk24]

So a quick update!

Free Dining was released today for the fall after weeks of rumors. This morning, I emailed my travel agent to ask her what would be more cost effective: stay where I am and pay the difference for the regular dining, or upgrade to a moderate for the free regular dining. I noticed that on my facebook group, several people were having difficulty adding the free dining. And sure enough, my TA responded that the system was having problems, and showing very limited availability. She couldn't promise me that I would get it, but she would try. Watching the group showed many people sitting on hold for hours. I was just glad I wasn't having to do that.

Throughout the day, several people were saying they weren't able to get it, that all the rooms were gone. I became very disappointed that I probably wouldn't get it.

Luckily, late this afternoon, I got a response from her, stating that she did get it for me. Only downside is that instead of getting a preferred pool room, I had to downgrade my room to a preferred room. But I am definitely okay with that. All in all, I'm saving a ton of money as a result.