Chit Chat Thread - November ADRs...

[Rinda]

How likely do you think it is they will open up BOG reservations during MVMCP? I am really hoping to be able to change my dinner date. If I can, my ADRs will be set!

 

[Rumpletinker]

That is the day that MK is open until 12:00am. We planned on going there in the evening, so maybe it won't be too bad with locals or people that are just there for the holiday if they are working the next day. I'm trying to stay positive

EMH?!! Sweet!! We're trying to get a BOG dinner for that night since we'll just be doing Animal Kingdom during the day. Now I'm even more determined to get that ADR!

 

[marchingstar]

Another attempted ADR coordination that was a total bust!

I know my group is really lucky this trip--we have all the meals we want booked, now it's just a matter of tweaking the schedule (we have Minnie's Holiday Dine booked for one night and MM with F! booked for lunch another day, and ideally we would just have Minnie's with F! on our HS day). But I tried to coordinate with someone for Minnie's with F! just now and it didn't even show up for a brief moment. I've had such awful luck, both dropping and picking up ADR's for this November trip.

 

[loveshak22]

How likely do you think it is they will open up BOG reservations during MVMCP? I am really hoping to be able to change my dinner date. If I can, my ADRs will be set!

I would think that if the ADRs went quickly for dinner during MNSSHP then they'd open it up for MVMCP. And I am guessing they had no problem booking the newly opened ADRs. So...my guess is they'd open dinner for MVMCP. Totally just a guess. But it is a win-win option. It gives more people the option to get a BOG dinner and it thins out some of the crowd from the party while people are eating. And, it may even encourage some people who were on the fence to buy party tickets if they really, really want a BOG dinner.

 

[LinaNate]

Is there an extra fee for the minnie mouse H&V meals?

 

[Kwatts126]

Is there an extra fee for the minnie mouse H&V meals?

No same price

 

[ieshapaige]

How is Mickey's Backyard BBQ? Good food or should we pass?

 

[heath92681]

We were there Veteran's Day week last year, and we are going back the same week this year. Fingers crossed the crowds aren't as bad. Specifically not doing MVMCP because it was so packed last year!

 

[msforsythe]

We were there Veteran's Day week last year, and we are going back the same week this year. Fingers crossed the crowds aren't as bad. Specifically not doing MVMCP because it was so packed last year!

Was it busy all week? We are there from the 11th to the 21st. Hoping for low crowd levels.

We were there Veteran's Day week last year, and we are going back the same week this year. Fingers crossed the crowds aren't as bad. Specifically not doing MVMCP because it was so packed last year!

 

[heath92681]

We were there the weekend before and after and did a cruise in between. The Friday after is when we did the party. It was crowded both weekends, but worse after. I'm hoping the weekdays in between will be better!

 

[Maineiak]

We've been fortunate to get all of the ADRs we want I think. I'm still looking for a CRT ...if only so we can use our TiW card! Currently our CRT is on a different, non-discounted day (I'm cheap!)

 

[MouseLovingMom]

On the fence about the the party :/ 1st trip its going to be about $300 extra for all of us to go to the party just want to be sure it's worth it. We already have a reservation for H&V Minnie Christmas Dinner..... oh the choices... advice/experiences welcome! Still waiting hoping for Ohana and BOG dinner Nov11-19

 

[loveshak22]

We've been fortunate to get all of the ADRs we want I think. I'm still looking for a CRT for lunch on if only so we can use our TiW card! Currently our CRT is for the morning of 11/22.

On the fence about the the party :/ 1st trip its going to be about $300 extra for all of us to go to the party just want to be sure it's worth it. We already have a reservation for H&V Minnie Christmas Dinner..... oh the choices... advice/experiences welcome! Still waiting hoping for Ohana and BOG dinner

Hi - good luck with your ADRs! However, this thread follows the same rules as the cancellation thread. I'm not a moderator but the moderator from that thread checks in here as well and the same rules apply - no want or trade posts.

If you could edit your posts to remove dates that'd be great.

Thanks.

 

[BBDisgirl]

Thoughts on Candlelight Processional with kids? Kids range from 1-7 years old.

 

[quakechicago]

How likely do you think it is they will open up BOG reservations during MVMCP? I am really hoping to be able to change my dinner date. If I can, my ADRs will be set!

They did not last year even on sold out nights.

 

[quakechicago]

I'll elaborate since I received some PMs, about 6-8 weeks before our November trips the last 2 years (and I think our March trip too), the server and kitchen staff schedule for BOG was set and dining opened up for dinners. It happened both times I think at 3am-ish on a random weekday and everyone who didn't see it in the USA missed out or scrambled to snatch up any leftovers by the time they woke up and noticed. They did not expand hours on party nights and those nights closed early. CRT never did the same and also closed early (they are consistently filled but apparently a lot of people schedule BOG and don't realize they need party tickets? That's what a CM said last year.) Many people thought that CRT and/or BOG closing meant a special dessert party was going to happen, but it didn't.

You'll also want to not miss a big chunk of valuable (and expensive!) party time sitting in a restaurant. WDW realizes this maybe even more than guests making their plans do. There's also a ton of times during the parties when you cannot get through main street or past the castle. It's completely not moving except for one thin stream of people who eventually give up. So getting to a dining reservation would be a frustrating nightmare.

Also, don't forget.... There will be a ton of dining that will randomly pop up during your trip. Sometimes the night before because plans change, people change their minds, kids get sick, and life. I needlessly went all crazy scrambling last year when my mom added herself to our trip shortly before we went. Honestly, best bet is to do your best plans with dining and fastpasses. Pick as much as everyone wants to do, know no one can ever do it all, and just have fun.

 

[jani3]

You'll also want to not miss a big chunk of valuable (and expensive!) party time sitting in a restaurant. WDW realizes this maybe even more than guests making their plans do. There's also a ton of times during the parties when you cannot get through main street or past the castle. It's completely not moving except for one thin stream of people who eventually give up. So getting to a dining reservation would be a frustrating nightmare.

Thanks for this info. We're going to our very 1st MVMCP so I don't even know what to expect. I can't decide if I should book an ADR for that night in MK. What do most people do for dinner? Are the lines at the QS restaurants pretty long? Is it hard to find a table at QS? I figured that by the time you stand in line, order, wait for your food tray, find a table, and eat, it'll be about an hour, which would be close to the same time if you had a TS. What is a better use of party time when it comes to dinner?

 

[quakechicago]

Thanks for this info. We're going to our very 1st MVMCP so I don't even know what to expect. I can't decide if I should book an ADR for that night in MK. What do most people do for dinner? Are the lines at the QS restaurants pretty long? Is it hard to find a table at QS? I figured that by the time you stand in line, order, wait for your food tray, find a table, and eat, it'll be about an hour, which would be close to the same time if you had a TS. What is a better use of party time when it comes to dinner?

Kenny the Pirate has a great breakdown for the parties, and I agree if you want to meet the Dwarves you basically want to be in line by 5:30. What to do depends on what your priorities are. We love to eat, but we're there to Christmas Party. For us that means characters, rides, and shows are icing on our cake (& yum! Cake!)

The lines for food can be VERY long depending on when you eat. They get lower as it gets later and around fireworks. There's a ton to do and it is impossible to get it all in one night. We try to do a few parties when we're there because we love them. So we book an early (4:30ish) ADR one night and then try to be in line for important characters relatively early. The next time we go might do an early hotel ADR like 'Ohana or 1900 (we nap in the afternoon before the party) and then hit the rides and any characters we missed (Dumbo during wishes is incredible!). We do the dessert party another night and then some rides and any last characters another night.

My mistake last time couldn't be avoided. We had all our ADRs set except one. Kiddo was desperate to go to Garden Grill to see her beloved Chipmunks and the only time I could get was 6:00 on a party night. Great, I thought, we can just hop right on back to MK after dinner. Getting there and dinner was fine. Getting back was a hot mess. Epcot was super busy with everyone leaving MK and arriving from other parks, the monorail was stuffed and delayed (had I known, we should have cabbed it), and then getting in the gate was a hot mess between what was going on, everyone entering, a sea of people leaving (many not happily), and everyone inside then standing to hold their place once we finally got in. It took us forever to get through. At one point kiddo (then 3) started to get crowd panicked and I brought her to meet Tink just to keep her calm and because we couldn't get through. Eventually we did, but I swear I will keep it as simple as possible from now on! So in the keeping it simple plan, early dinner at the MK and then you're free would be the absolute easiest (LTT if they open, CP, BOG, CRT if you're in a character mind) or as we're in the GF 1900 early. Or mildly complicated is early CM, or 'Ohana.

So the lines especially early on are very long, there are not full choices everywhere. Some stations are closed to give out hot chocolate and cookies (hot chocolate is yummy, the cookies were so bland not even my cookie loving (then) toddler would eat it but spit them out, and there's apple slices and juice too as alternatives). There are places to sit but it can be loud (dance parties), and a divide and conquer plan is always best (you get us seats and I'll grab the food). Our first trip we didn't plan enough and we had lovely timing in that we arrived last in line just as EVERY character was leaving and closed for a break or the night. Our (then 2 yo) kiddo was okay with seeing the characters from afar, but she didn't really understand waving is NOT a meet. Some even came over (probably because she was cute and eagerly calling them as they left) and gave her a kind word, a cheek kiss, or a pat on the head. This last time I did way better in planning.

I don't have all our plans fully finalized right now, but I can share them if I ever figure out the gordian knot I've made between deluxe dining ADRs, fastpasses, Xmas Parties, and a 4.5 yo's fondest wishes and dreams list. Or I'm happy to take a look if someone wants to show.

 

[jani3]

I don't have all our plans fully finalized right now, but I can share them if I ever figure out the gordian knot I've made between deluxe dining ADRs, fastpasses, Xmas Parties, and a 4.5 yo's fondest wishes and dreams list. Or I'm happy to take a look if someone wants to show.

Yes please, I would love to see your plan once it's perfected. We're planning on a resort day that day, then head to MK at 4pm. I have 3 FP+ from 3:30-6:30pm then I was thinking of grabbing dinner after that. Other than that, we were just going to wander around and ride whatever has short lines, or watch whatever parade passes by. I have to go read Kenny the Pirate's info on the party.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[loveshak22]

Kenny the Pirate has a great breakdown for the parties, and I agree if you want to meet the Dwarves you basically want to be in line by 5:30. What to do depends on what your priorities are. We love to eat, but we're there to Christmas Party. For us that means characters, rides, and shows are icing on our cake (& yum! Cake!)

The lines for food can be VERY long depending on when you eat. They get lower as it gets later and around fireworks. There's a ton to do and it is impossible to get it all in one night. We try to do a few parties when we're there because we love them. So we book an early (4:30ish) ADR one night and then try to be in line for important characters relatively early. The next time we go might do an early hotel ADR like 'Ohana or 1900 (we nap in the afternoon before the party) and then hit the rides and any characters we missed (Dumbo during wishes is incredible!). We do the dessert party another night and then some rides and any last characters another night.

My mistake last time couldn't be avoided. We had all our ADRs set except one. Kiddo was desperate to go to Garden Grill to see her beloved Chipmunks and the only time I could get was 6:00 on a party night. Great, I thought, we can just hop right on back to MK after dinner. Getting there and dinner was fine. Getting back was a hot mess. Epcot was super busy with everyone leaving MK and arriving from other parks, the monorail was stuffed and delayed (had I known, we should have cabbed it), and then getting in the gate was a hot mess between what was going on, everyone entering, a sea of people leaving (many not happily), and everyone inside then standing to hold their place once we finally got in. It took us forever to get through. At one point kiddo (then 3) started to get crowd panicked and I brought her to meet Tink just to keep her calm and because we couldn't get through. Eventually we did, but I swear I will keep it as simple as possible from now on! So in the keeping it simple plan, early dinner at the MK and then you're free would be the absolute easiest (LTT if they open, CP, BOG, CRT if you're in a character mind) or as we're in the GF 1900 early. Or mildly complicated is early CM, or 'Ohana.

So the lines especially early on are very long, there are not full choices everywhere. Some stations are closed to give out hot chocolate and cookies (hot chocolate is yummy, the cookies were so bland not even my cookie loving (then) toddler would eat it but spit them out, and there's apple slices and juice too as alternatives). There are places to sit but it can be loud (dance parties), and a divide and conquer plan is always best (you get us seats and I'll grab the food). Our first trip we didn't plan enough and we had lovely timing in that we arrived last in line just as EVERY character was leaving and closed for a break or the night. Our (then 2 yo) kiddo was okay with seeing the characters from afar, but she didn't really understand waving is NOT a meet. Some even came over (probably because she was cute and eagerly calling them as they left) and gave her a kind word, a cheek kiss, or a pat on the head. This last time I did way better in planning.

I don't have all our plans fully finalized right now, but I can share them if I ever figure out the gordian knot I've made between deluxe dining ADRs, fastpasses, Xmas Parties, and a 4.5 yo's fondest wishes and dreams list. Or I'm happy to take a look if someone wants to show.

Great info on the party!! Thanks for sharing! When you went did you go in November or December? I've heard Thanksgiving week and December parties are more crowded than early November crowds. I'm on the fence about going to the 11/17 party but my biggest fear is to pay the extra cost for the ticket and fight crowds. For me personally, the party ticket isn't worth the cost if it's as crowded as a crowded park day.