Do you make reservations all over the map

[choirfarm]

Ok..if I need to go ahead and make reservations for TS in case they offer free dining do I just make them willy nilly. I mean, you don't know exactly what dates and/or resort you will have open for what dates. It could be anytime. I don't care what the 7 nights are in September. I would like either 2 rooms at a value, 1 music suite (doubt that would happen) or a POR room (last choice). Do I just guess..., but then what if you get different dates??
Do I just make reservations for every day in September...boy, I can't even figure out a week, much less a month.

Christine

 

[GatorLady]

O.k., first of all, take a deep breath. I see you have started several different threads with lots of different dining questions. Questions are good, but I don't see how you can make ADR's without having your resort reservation first?? What if they don't have availability where you need it? It's like putting the cart before the horse. In the other thread's you mention EMH, but how can you know that will be a factor if you don't know when you are going yet?? Try not to stress. 1. Make a decision on which dates you want to go. 2. Make your reservations. 3. Decide which parks you think you want to tour on which days. 4. Make your ADR's.

 

[choirfarm]

Ok..here is the story. We currently have a reservation with 40 percent off Oct 27-Nov 2nd with 2 rooms at All-Star Music. However, IF they offer free dining, I think it will be more cost effective to go in September. I asked a question that the 180 days for reservations for September for Cindy's if we do go would be tomorrow!!! So I have to plan it out now, correct? They told me to go ahead and make the reservations for the TS for free dining. But I really won't know if we are going to change our resie from the Oct that I have booked now to the September dates until free dining comes out April 10th or so it is now rumored. Does that make sense? I'm not going in September unless we have free dining and I won't know that until April, but that is too late for reservations, correct?
Christine

 

[GatorLady]

Do I just make reservations for every day in September...boy, I can't even figure out a week, much less a month.

When you said that, I was just concerned that you were making extra stress for yourself. Yes, I agree that for CRT you do need to be concerned about the 180 day issue. If you have your heart set on CRT you could form your alternate plan around when you are able to get that ADR. That way it wouldn't be so "willy nilly"for you. You could then look at the EMH (since that seems to influence your touring) and then make your other reservations.

 

[twinspluscade]

Ok..here is the story. We currently have a reservation with 40 percent off Oct 27-Nov 2nd with 2 rooms at All-Star Music. However, IF they offer free dining, I think it will be more cost effective to go in September. I asked a question that the 180 days for reservations for September for Cindy's if we do go would be tomorrow!!! So I have to plan it out now, correct? They told me to go ahead and make the reservations for the TS for free dining. But I really won't know if we are going to change our resie from the Oct that I have booked now to the September dates until free dining comes out April 10th or so it is now rumored. Does that make sense? I'm not going in September unless we have free dining and I won't know that until April, but that is too late for reservations, correct?
Christine

First, I would pick the week in Sept you want to switch to in case you decide to do free dining. I would say--based on last years, and the current dates for bounce back--that it's pretty safe to assume that for sure the second week in September will be included in free dining. That's the week I'd personally plan on going (and the week we've gone the past two years ).

Then--for the ADR's. I would for sure make the Cindy's one. I think they charge your credit card in full for that one at the time you book--I'm not sure on that though. So, if/when you get the free dining plan you'd have to call them back so they could credit the amount back to your card, and then you can use your 2TS credits instead.

As for the rest of the ADR's--personally I'd just wait until (if) you book the free dining. The exceptions would be Le Cellier, Akerhaus, and Hoop De Doo. I think the rest you'd be fine with waiting until free dining comes out. Last year during free dining I changed my ADR's around so many times I was still switching things in August. ---and usually still got the restaurants I wanted.

 

[thunderbird1]

We had a similar situation last year--had a trip booked for August based on the previous year's bounceback dates for free dining, but had to switch to September when free dining dates were announced and didn't include our August dates. I already had all our August ADR's booked, so I just took the exact same schedule and re-booked all those ADR's for September. And yes, I did book the ADR's before free dining had "officially" been announced, knowing that if we couldn't get the ADR's we wanted, there was no point in booking a trip with the DDP (even the free DDP).

My recommendation would be to pick your dates, book your ADR's when your 180 day window opens, then wait for the official word on free dining to book your resort. If you don't have a lot of constraints on when you can go, the second and third weeks of September are likely to be the slowest, and easiest to get. The first weekend is Labor Day, and the last week is the F&WF, both of which pull in the crowds.

Good luck!