Christmas and NYE 2013

[Tcsj]

Any experts out there that can offer guidance?

We are going to WDW for Christmas and NYE 2013 Travel dates are

Dec 21-28 - BCV 2 bedroom
Dec 28 -J= Jan 4 - SSR 2 bedroom

This will be our first trip to WDW as DVC members, and our first time there during the holiday season ( 7 years in a row we have gone in November). As of now we have cash reservations (to ensure accomodations), thru MS, and have now waitlisted our stay to use points. We have not yet purchased DDP or park passes. We want to have some reservations for Christmas Eve and day, and something for New Years Eve.

QUESTIONS:
Knowing how fragile the DVC site seems to be are we better off calling MS to book for dining Dec 24-and Dec 25? Or are we better off using on-line system (which has crashed on us in the past). Our are we better off to work both ends, one on website, one on phone?

We intend to buy DDP, do we need to have that in place prior to making ADP's?

Any experts out there that can offer guidance?

 

[RebelSoul]

Congrats on becoming a DVC member. Personally, I always call to do dining reservations because I can do them all at once at the 180 day mark for the whole trip (10 day trip and under, I believe). You do not have to have the DDP added on to book dining reservations and can add it later.

 

[cseca]

Just FYI, the online dining opens at 7am. Phone dining opens at 8am and MS opens at 9am.
If you're looking at the run of the mill restaurants (GF cafe, Kona cafe, Wave, etc.) then calling at 9 would be ok.
But if you're looking for Be Our Guest restaurant, 9am would be too late IMHO.
I would try online as best you can for the popular restaurants.
Good luck.
There was a post on UK dining site which still works to book dining at 180+10 recently.
But there was a trick to it... see this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3120415

Good luck!

 

[vicki_c]

Just FYI, the online dining opens at 7am. Phone dining opens at 8am and MS opens at 9am.
If you're looking at the run of the mill restaurants (GF cafe, Kona cafe, Wave, etc.) then calling at 9 would be ok.
But if you're looking for Be Our Guest restaurant, 9am would be too late IMHO.
I would try online as best you can for the popular restaurants.
Good luck.
There was a post on UK dining site which still works to book dining at 180+10 recently.
But there was a trick to it... see this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3120415

Good luck!

No online dining opens at 6 am Eastern, telephone dining opens at 7 am.

 

[cseca]

No online dining opens at 6 am Eastern, telephone dining opens at 7 am.

Oops there you go... even earlier!
Thanks for the correction.

 

[Tcsj]

Thanks everyone for the insight.

 

[the who #3]

welcome home new members

you are going to love your dvc! and christmas is the most magical of all.

don't miss the new years eve party at the magic kingdom, but you have to be there early in the day or you will not be able to get in the gate due to crowds. plan to be there until the wee hours. even our small children stayed until the wee hours. exclaiming that it was their first nye party and it really was the best one of my life.