December 2013: We just booked!

[buckeev]

I am going from the 9-16th and want to get into Bibbidi Bop (at the MK) for Wed the 11th first thing in the morning any suggestions on when I should book? I have 2 princesses that are going to love this!!!

I hope to take my Granddaughter this Christmas.
What kind of money am I gonna need to "set aside"?

 

[Dani4girls]

We just booked our December trip!!! December 4th - December 12th!! Can't wait to make my ADR's Friday morning...crossing my fingers for BoG!

 

[GrammyJudy]

We are staying at POFQ - King Bed from December 4th until the 16th. So far we have tickets for DVMCP on the 10th. In 2 days we can purchase tickets for La Nouba and the Hoop de Doo Review. We are very excited! Any other couples from NH?

I live ibn VT but right by the Ct River, my daughter & family live in Piermont, Nh. We will be at POFQ 11/29-12/7 maybe we'll see ya there

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Got up super early today to be online at 6a.m. to make our ADRs for December!!!! Yay!!! We got everything we wanted at around the times we were looking for. So excited!!!!

 

[CaptainEIEIO]

Just booked our December trip. Thanks to Disney for sending me a pin in the mail for free dining, saved us about 400 bucks a head. Actually arrive on Nov 30th and will be there until Dec 7th. Got a 4 person meeting going on tonight and were going to book all of our restaurants, and some tours. Also going to do Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party on Thursday the 5th.

173 days and counting

 

[pigletto]

My ADR date is Thursday. My plan is to get up and book as soon as I can. Does anyone know what time I can start booking online Eastern Standard Time?
Also, if for some reason the website won't work for me (it wouldn't recognize my 180+10 last time) what time can I begin calling the dining line?

This should be interesting while getting the kids ready for school. Hopefully all goes smoothly!

 

[Wood Nymph]

My ADR date is Thursday. My plan is to get up and book as soon as I can. Does anyone know what time I can start booking online Eastern Standard Time?
Also, if for some reason the website won't work for me (it wouldn't recognize my 180+10 last time) what time can I begin calling the dining line?

This should be interesting while getting the kids ready for school. Hopefully all goes smoothly!

You can book online starting at 6am Eastern time and make phone reservations beginning at 7 am. Good Luck.

 

[pigletto]

You can book online starting at 6am Eastern time and make phone reservations beginning at 7 am. Good Luck.

Thank you very much!!! Now to try and finalize that list!!

 

[CynBeth]

Got up super early today to be online at 6a.m. to make our ADRs for December!!!! Yay!!! We got everything we wanted at around the times we were looking for. So excited!!!!

I booked at the same time and was very lucky with all of our ADRs. I got BOG for 12/12 at 4:50 pm. It is our MVMCP night.

 

[pigletto]

ACK!!!!!! I am having a really hard time planning this trip!!!
First of all Touring Plans and EasyWDW are suggesting different parks on the same days. Secondly, I don't know if we want the DDP. Because of the increased prices at Christmas time I think it will be pretty even going out of pocket or buying the DDP. Not having a definitive answer on that one is making it impossible to decide where to eat. If we don't do the DDP we'll do cheaper restaurants to try to stay in budget, and book a cheaper lunch package for the Candlelight processional. If we do the DDP we'll eat when and where we want and not worry about it because it's paid already. I am planning $200 a day if we go out of pocket. The Candlelight processional alone will eat that entire amount at one of the cheaper lunch places. So there would be a lot more counter service with the DDP.

Are any of you using the Dining Plan? Reasons for or against. I need someone to spark an idea for me here.

The other issue is I like the idea of it being prepaid.

ETA.. Just to add more to the confusion. We like eating at the nicer restaurants with the DDP, however OOP we could eat what we want. If my 9 year old feels like an adult meal one night but a kids meal the next he can do that. If dd (who is a vegetarian) would rather make a meal of appetizers, she can. We don't always want dessert. Maybe the answer is to put the DDP amount on a gift card. Then it's prepaid, then we can order what we want as we feel like it. I think I need to give up on the false sense of *security* it gives me and just try OOP this time.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

ACK!!!!!! I am having a really hard time planning this trip!!!
First of all Touring Plans and EasyWDW are suggesting different parks on the same days. Secondly, I don't know if we want the DDP. Because of the increased prices at Christmas time I think it will be pretty even going out of pocket or buying the DDP. Not having a definitive answer on that one is making it impossible to decide where to eat. If we don't do the DDP we'll do cheaper restaurants to try to stay in budget, and book a cheaper lunch package for the Candlelight processional. If we do the DDP we'll eat when and where we want and not worry about it because it's paid already. I am planning $200 a day if we go out of pocket. The Candlelight processional alone will eat that entire amount at one of the cheaper lunch places. So there would be a lot more counter service with the DDP.

Are any of you using the Dining Plan? Reasons for or against. I need someone to spark an idea for me here.

The other issue is I like the idea of it being prepaid.

ETA.. Just to add more to the confusion. We like eating at the nicer restaurants with the DDP, however OOP we could eat what we want. If my 9 year old feels like an adult meal one night but a kids meal the next he can do that. If dd (who is a vegetarian) would rather make a meal of appetizers, she can. We don't always want dessert. Maybe the answer is to put the DDP amount on a gift card. Then it's prepaid, then we can order what we want as we feel like it. I think I need to give up on the false sense of *security* it gives me and just try OOP this time.

We're on the Dining Plan. My sister and I love to eat, and we also like to try new restaurants that we might not if we were paying OOP. For us, the DDP is good value because, as you said, food is paid for in advance so you don't have to worry about anything but the tip. But you also have good reasons against the plan as well. The gift card idea is a good one, I think. Then you get the secure feeling of being on the DDP, with the freedom of *not* being on it, if that makes any sense.

Oh dear. I haven't helped at all, have I?

 

[PrincessAmongPrinces]

The other issue is I like the idea of it being prepaid.

Maybe the answer is to put the DDP amount on a gift card. Then it's prepaid, then we can order what we want as we feel like it. I think I need to give up on the false sense of *security* it gives me and just try OOP this time.

I think this is a wonderful idea! We did something similar when we went last time. I was waffling back and forth about doing the dining plan. I priced out several different scenarios, but just couldn't decide. So in the end, we put our estimated amount on a gift card and used that to pay for our food. It was great because, as you said, it was pre-paid, but we could get what we wanted instead of what the DDP required. Some days DH and I would split a meal and then get snacks later, but I did feel we had more "freedom" with this method. Good luck to you!

 

[pigletto]

We're on the Dining Plan. My sister and I love to eat, and we also like to try new restaurants that we might not if we were paying OOP. For us, the DDP is good value because, as you said, food is paid for in advance so you don't have to worry about anything but the tip. But you also have good reasons against the plan as well. The gift card idea is a good one, I think. Then you get the secure feeling of being on the DDP, with the freedom of *not* being on it, if that makes any sense.

Oh dear. I haven't helped at all, have I?

No you did help! I really think if I am looking for that mix of freedom to eat what we want, but the security of being prepaid that the gift card is the way to go! Thank you

 

[PrincessAmongPrinces]

I was up at 6am today to get my 'Ohana dinner ADR! I was able to get an 8:30pm reservation. Pretty excited about it!

Hopefully I'll be lucky again on Sunday when I have to make my Crystal Palace ADR! That's another strike against styling off property - no 180+10! Haha

 

[Kathymford]

I booked at the same time and was very lucky with all of our ADRs. I got BOG for 12/12 at 4:50 pm. It is our MVMCP night.

We got the 4:05 for 12/12 and will be attending the party!! Although, I haven't bought tickets yet...

 

[rachels]

I am currently planning my dec trip as well! We are a group of 10 (8 adults and 2 kiddos who will be 4 years and 9 months) We are going the crazy week of 12/25 thru 1/3! Staying at POFQ, I figured with the massive crowds a nice small resort will be nice to return to. We are on the ddp so I am in the process of trying to plan my ADRs out!. 196 days to go!

 

[CynBeth]

We got the 4:05 for 12/12 and will be attending the party!! Although, I haven't bought tickets yet...

We got our tickets the day they went on sale. Are you doing the CP? We are doing a split stay between WL and CR. We are hoping to do the CP on 12/11.

 

[ginny_lynn]

I like the gift card idea! We are doing DDP for convience of prepay, I would change to your plan but there is no where around here to get Disney Gift Cards.

 

[pigletto]

I like the gift card idea! We are doing DDP for convience of prepay, I would change to your plan but there is no where around here to get Disney Gift Cards.

There isn't here either really, but... there's a few ways I can do it. One is to cross the border and go to Target (we live close) but I'd want one that I can put the whole amount on and I think they only do them in smaller amounts. The other is Disney will deliver gift cards to Canada (for a $20 fee) now! My mom ordered me one for my birthday from the website. Most likely though we'll bring the cash and load it the night we get there.

 

[Kathymford]

We got our tickets the day they went on sale. Are you doing the CP? We are doing a split stay between WL and CR. We are hoping to do the CP on 12/11.

REALLY! I think you might be my doppelgänger. Lol. We are staying at WL (DVC) and the 11th is our Epcot/CP day!! Talk about crazy!!