Can you help with abreviations on here?? Advice as well!

[Nebraskamom]

For what CS, etc stands for??!! I'm new at this, we are going to WDW in 16 days and counting, and there are 14 of us! Soooo...I need ALL of the advice I can get on what is the best to suggest as well as the easiest way to use our dining options. Thanks sooooo very much, this will be my 3rd trip, but our first using the dining options.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

CS = Counter service
TS = Table service
16 days and 14 of you? I hope to heaven you have already made all your ADRs or you are not going to have any place to eat Table service meals at all.
ADR = advance dining reservations.

 

[Disney Fool]

Welcome to the DIS! check out this page for all the abbreviations (some of which you may never have heard of before!)

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

 

[Nebraskamom]

We have made ZERO reservations. I have a bbaaaaddd feeling about this, huh? What would be the one character meal you would recommend? There are 8 children ages 16 to our son that is 3. Ideas??? Gosh, now I am worried!

 

[kimsuenew]

Have a wonderful trip! My, that is a big group! Did you call in and reserve (ADR's) for your TS meals? Are you on the DDP? I know that ADR's are important, for instance we were only a group of three and had an ADR at 50's Prime Time Cafe. We still had an over 30 minute wait! If you do not have ADR's and plan to eat at the WDW parks or resorts, please call ASAP and get whatever is left. I think walk-ins would be hard to get with a group that large. These boards are awesome for answering questions or finding out information (use the search feature)! If you need any help you can pm me, I am no expert but have been there and am currently planning a September trip. I hope your trip is magical!

 

[Nebraskamom]

I'm soooo nervous about taking this many people and being the only one that has been there out of this group of adults, is also a tad scary! We never did the dining plan, so I'm still trying to figure it all out!

 

[kimsuenew]

We have made ZERO reservations. I have a bbaaaaddd feeling about this, huh? What would be the one character meal you would recommend? There are 8 children ages 16 to our son that is 3. Ideas??? Gosh, now I am worried!

I see that you replied while I was posting!

It is OK, just get really busy planning where you will be on what day and then make your ADR's ASAP! Will you all always eat together? Some choices might be booked solid so have a second and third choice ready!

Our three favorite characters restaurants are:
BREAKFAST - Lilo and Stitch at the Polynesian Resort.
DINNER - First choice is Crystal Palace (it is awesome and a buffet with a lot of choices) and second choice is Liberty Tree Tavern (all you can eat but served family style, limited choices). Both are really good but we absolutely LOVE Crystal Palace.

FYI - 50's Prime Time Cafe is not a character dinner so to say, but your waitress/waiter is in character. It is so much fun... young and old alike will love it!

Good luck, just take a deep breath and get busy making choices based upon where you will be per day. Ask questions... everyone on here is helpful! The main WDW website has a description of all restaurants (TS & CS) at its parks. You can even get descriptions of resort places as well on there (listed by the resort).

 

[kimsuenew]

I'm soooo nervous about taking this many people and being the only one that has been there out of this group of adults, is also a tad scary! We never did the dining plan, so I'm still trying to figure it all out!

Did you go to the main WDW and printout the DDP (dining plan) brochure (2008 is there, make sure you choose the 2007)? It will tell you where the DDP is accepted (for both CS & TS) and how many credits will be used per visit. It also explains it in detail.

 

[Mickiethepooh]

You will do best if you can break up those groups for dining it will be almost impossible to get seating for 14 especially this late. For the counter service meals you should be ok but must get some for the Table service meals.
WDW Dining. 1-800-828-0228 is the toll free #.
Be sure to write down and bring the ADR confirmation numbers they give you when you call.
Most TS meals only use one TS per person but some special ones use Two so be aware of that in your planning.
Use this site for your planning it lists menus so you know what is where and what they have to eat.
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm
Good luck and let us know how you make out with the reservations.
I am hoping you have a plan at least of what parks you are doing what days. Do you have park hoppers I hope? that will help some. and be sure to consider resort restaraunts not just the in park ones.

 

[firechick139]

I'm right there with you Nebraskamom! I was at Disney 1 time in 1986 when I was in High School. I am now planning for 8 people (did you know a group of 8 or more is considered a Grand Gathering? You get some special perks for booking as a GG) and only 2 of them have ever been to Disney. Also, I have NO CLUE on planning anything since this is my first time. Luckily, I found these boards early enough to learn. There is so much info here! I'm sending you Good Luck, because you might need it if you want to go to any character meals or table service meals. People can reserve them 6 months in advance! But, there are always cancellations, and my advice is to call the reservation line NOW! If there is nothing available where you want to eat, keep calling all the way up to your trip. There just may be some last minute cancellations. I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TRIP!! Please come back and post how you liked it when you come back!


P.S. The abbreviations REALLY confused me at first, too. There is a thread on them,, though. There are alot!

http://www.wdwinfo.com/abbreviations.htm

There is alot of good info on this sticky thread in the WELCOME TO THE DIS forum:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=439040

Hope this helps!

 

[Nebraskamom]

We have the parks figured out, and since it is all family, we don't mind seperating for meals, it all works out. We're pretty easy going. I know I want to take the kids to a character meal one evening and then to the Rainforest Cafe one day, but other than that, we are easy to please. I just registered with gardengrocer and am having water, toothpaste, shampoo and snacks (crackers, gummies, etc) delivered to the room to save on that. Even with the dining plan, it would cost our family a fortune to simply have water through the day. Any other pointers??? I'm so nervous now that we won't get reservations. I think I'm going to call down soon and see what is available for the luau and the Mickey's BBQ for sure. The girls have all been to the Cinderella meal, so we don't have to do that again.

 

[kimsuenew]

We have the parks figured out, and since it is all family, we don't mind seperating for meals, it all works out. We're pretty easy going. I know I want to take the kids to a character meal one evening and then to the Rainforest Cafe one day, but other than that, we are easy to please. I just registered with gardengrocer and am having water, toothpaste, shampoo and snacks (crackers, gummies, etc) delivered to the room to save on that. Even with the dining plan, it would cost our family a fortune to simply have water through the day. Any other pointers??? I'm so nervous now that we won't get reservations. I think I'm going to call down soon and see what is available for the luau and the Mickey's BBQ for sure. The girls have all been to the Cinderella meal, so we don't have to do that again.

Good luck! Have fun! By the way, I am sure you know this already but "just in case" Rainforest Cafe is not on the DDP and the two bold places take 2 TS credits each I believe.

 

[Pumbaa_]

welcome to the DIS! Glad you found us and we can help

You need to make ADR's. With a group that size, it will be hard finding places and times that can take all of you.

What I suggest is to make a grid with day of the week and what park you have planned. Then hit the bathroom, get a beverage of choice and get real comfy!

Call Disney Dining and see what they have available for your party for the days you want.

At this point, I would not get hung up on what is the best place for anything. See what you can get. Try for TS lunches rather than dinner. Above all, be flexible!

Let us know how you make out on the ADR's

 

[Nebraskamom]

The toll free number doesn't work. Is there another number to try?

 

[firechick139]

409-WDW-DINE (939-3463)

That's very strange that the 800 number doesn't work.

 

[Nebraskamom]

GUESS WHAT!! I got reservations for 6:30pm for Mickey's Backyard BBQ!! I'm excited, because it sounds like something that the kids will enjoy!! I also got reservations at a buffet at MGM (tried to do the Crystal Palace and will keep trying) for Thursday evening as well, and am calling the Rainforest Cafe for reservations on Friday evening as that's where Jenna wants to eat dinner!! So I'm not doing toooo bad. :lol: I figure for lunches we'll just do whatever happens.

 

[kimsuenew]

GUESS WHAT!! I got reservations for 6:30pm for Mickey's Backyard BBQ!! I'm excited, because it sounds like something that the kids will enjoy!! I also got reservations at a buffet at MGM (tried to do the Crystal Palace and will keep trying) for Thursday evening as well, and am calling the Rainforest Cafe for reservations on Friday evening as that's where Jenna wants to eat dinner!! So I'm not doing toooo bad. :lol: I figure for lunches we'll just do whatever happens.

Wow ~ you did great! Have a magical trip!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Thats great how many nights did you have total? strange about the number I used it yesterday and it worked fine.

 

[Nebraskamom]

I even asked the lady on the line if they had a toll free number...she said not anymore. You know, any way they can make US pay for something. LOL! Thanks sooooo much for all of your help! I feel a ton more organized now than I did a few hours ago!!

We are staying 6 nights, so I think I'll let SIL's family plan a few meals, and go from there. You guys are AWESOME!!!!

 

[firechick139]

GUESS WHAT!! I got reservations for 6:30pm for Mickey's Backyard BBQ!! I'm excited, because it sounds like something that the kids will enjoy!! I also got reservations at a buffet at MGM (tried to do the Crystal Palace and will keep trying) for Thursday evening as well, and am calling the Rainforest Cafe for reservations on Friday evening as that's where Jenna wants to eat dinner!! So I'm not doing toooo bad. :lol: I figure for lunches we'll just do whatever happens.

WOO HOO! Great job! I'm glad you were able to get Mickey's BBQ. Please come back and post how it was after your trip. That's one of the places we are considering going!