Fall 2016 planning (continuation of 2016 Free Dining Watch)

[DisneyPlanner14]

Hi! I'm looking for opinions for my fall trip. I've been following these threads silently, and you've all seemed so helpful, so I thought I'd ask your two cents I'm originally booked 9/29-10/4 at POFQ, no dining plan or park hoppers. My kids are 5 and 2, so we were aiming for ease of getting around both the resort and using the buses, hence the POFQ choice. We weren't really planning on park hopping, and do already have our ADRs set based on the parks I had planned visiting. This morning when I saw CBR standard rooms were open for FD, I jumped on that and booked it. It'll cost us about $200 more, basically the price of adding the PH, but gives us the FD (which would otherwise be $750 for us). So, my question is, do you think it's worth it to move to CBR? Or will I regret not having the smaller resort with the kids, especially my 2 year old?

I've only stayed at CBR so I can't give any insight on POFQ. However, we stayed at CBR two years ago in a pirate room and absolutely loved the resort. We didn't use the food court a lot because it was a bit of a walk and we brought breakfast food to have in the room (and then spent all day on the parks). My kids were 5 and 3 at the time and it was perfect for them! I loved that each little village or whatever they are called had a bus stop. It made it so quick and easy to get to and from the rooms! After long days in the parks it was nice because our room was just a few steps away when we got off the bus!

 

[sahm2two]

I know my husband will roll his eyes all the way to the back of his head if I mention touring plans... But I'll probably just get one and go by it without really telling him exactly what we are doing! Ha!

Who all will be there during food &wine?? When do menus come out? They haven't come out already have they?

 

[G719]

Just don't go to MK on AM EMH that week. We were there last year the week before Thanksgiving and touring plans originally had the crowds for MK that day at a 5 but their "what they saw" crowd level was a 10! Luckily, this year that Monday isn't included in FD so maybe it won't be as bad.

From what I've read, Mondays are typically the busiest day of the week as people want to go the first day of vacation to MK. Add in the factor of a non party day during party season and EMH then it will be super crowded! We were at typhoon lagoon that day and it was empty.

 

[G719]

I know my husband will roll his eyes all the way to the back of his head if I mention touring plans... But I'll probably just get one and go by it without really telling him exactly what we are doing! Ha!

Who all will be there during food &wine?? When do menus come out? They haven't come out already have they?

Haven't seen them yet. This is the first year we're going to hit the booths for lunch one day.

 

[RocketGirl3]

I'm about to drop a standard room for 11/26-12/3 at CBR! Hope you get it

Must have been too late for what you cancelled. Still nothing showing up in the standard rooms for those dates. but thanks!

 

[ml sumner]

Yes, and the Lines app run by them is awesome. Well worth the price of subscription for access to that as well as custom touring plans. Loved it.

I'm going to give them a try!

 

[Meeko5]

Must have been too late for what you cancelled. Still nothing showing up in the standard rooms for those dates. but thanks!

Supposedly they dont release it back into the FD pool right away, but keep checking - it's been changing a lot in the past few days. Good luck!

 

[CarnesFamily]

Was that the Touring Plans touring plan? Did you use it for all the parks? Somehow in all my excitement I found myself a TP subscriber, lol. We didn't use one on our trip but I'm tempted for the same reason Brookie is. EasyWDW has some too but I don't know if I'm ready for that level of efficiency, lol.

We used it in May 2015 for our first trip (so there is no comparison before TP) but I thought the timing of things went well but the app was off on the current wait times and current FP+ availability. With that said... I re-newed my subscription because I thought the overall plans were worth it. If $8-12 can reduce wait times, then it is worth it to me.

 

[CandiceF]

I know my husband will roll his eyes all the way to the back of his head if I mention touring plans... But I'll probably just get one and go by it without really telling him exactly what we are doing! Ha!

Who all will be there during food &wine?? When do menus come out? They haven't come out already have they?

Last year we had the "Wild mushroom beef filet mignon with truffle butter sauce" from the Canada pavilion and it was SO GOOD! It was also a great use of a snack credit because it costs $7.50 and was a decent size. The "Chilaquiles de pollo" from Mexco were also really good!

 

[RainbowBrite]

We've been trying for Pop since FD came out, finally got it about an hour ago!!

 

[littlelamb70]

Ok, sooo...all this talk about touring plans and FP+ has me nervous. I haven't been since 2011, so although I've used FP's before, I'm new to the FP+ concept. And now reading some of you guys talking about how a touring plan is essential, I'm really nervous. I definitely want to make the most out of our time there and have as little wait times as possible, especially since it will be our kids first time, but we are very laid back and "go with the flow" kind of people, so I don't know if I could make and stick to any kind of touring plan...so my question is, is it REALLY necessary to make one, or would we be ok just making our FP+ reservations (once I figure out how it all works) and then going at our leisure for everything else. We are going 12/10-12/16 if that helps!

 

[VACamm]

Thanks! This is where I got it if anyone is interested http://topusashirts.com/disney-characters1-b?s=bella-8800&c=Dark%20Grey%20Heather&p=FRONT

Yay thank you !!!!

 

[Roxyfire]

Who has made their ADR's for their fall trip already? What did you get? And what are your favorite meals at "the World?"

I'm 10/1 - 10/8 and I've made most of mine. Still deciding on what to do on my actual birthday. I had planned to do either Shutters or Boatwrights but I didn't get CBR/POR. I guess we could still drive over to one right?

 

[Disneylover99]

There's a Gardenview Royal room available at POR Aug. 20 - Sept. 3. It wasn't there earlier today.

 

[VACamm]

Ok, sooo...all this talk about touring plans and FP+ has me nervous. I haven't been since 2011, so although I've used FP's before, I'm new to the FP+ concept. And now reading some of you guys talking about how a touring plan is essential, I'm really nervous. I definitely want to make the most out of our time there and have as little wait times as possible, especially since it will be our kids first time, but we are very laid back and "go with the flow" kind of people, so I don't know if I could make and stick to any kind of touring plan...so my question is, is it REALLY necessary to make one, or would we be ok just making our FP+ reservations (once I figure out how it all works) and then going at our leisure for everything else. We are going 12/10-12/16 if that helps!

The way we do the parks is we get there when the park opens and we ride the crap out of everything with low wait times and short lines until lunchtime. Then we go back to the resort to lay by the pool and read all afternoon to relax with a poolside cocktail (it is vacation after all lol) ... then we head back out for our dinner ADRs.... and use our FP+ rides that we have booked in advance. If we have already used our fp+ rides we will go to shows or anytime attractions

Every family does it differently and this way is just how we like to do Disney. We like to leave room for spontaneous attractions and lots of pool time.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Yesterday there was a Cars suite that kept showing up and then going away for my dates. Today, there has just been a steady stream of nuthin'! With all these reports of new rooms coming available I've been hopeful but I sure haven't seen anything new show up at AoA. Sorry to keep going on and on about it. Just ignore me.

 

[nicynot]

theres a royal guest room garden view @ POR September 5-11th right now

Theres also quite a bit for the 15-19th of november
CBR has a pirate with water
CSR has a jnr king or a 1 bdrm suite with king
All stars Sports has a std room
and quite a few more too

 

[sahm2two]

From what I've read, Mondays are typically the busiest day of the week as people want to go the first day of vacation to MK. Add in the factor of a non party day during party season and EMH then it will be super crowded! We were at typhoon lagoon that day and it was empty.

I'm a little bummed that we aren't going to MK on our first day, but with MNSSHP, I figure (and crowd calendars everywhere agree) that nonparty days are going to be PACKED. Our last trip was almost 1/2 of this one, 5 PACKED days at the parks including the day we arrived and the day we left, and I wanted to do this trip much differently, so we have 9 nights this time and nothing happening the day we arrive and nothing happening the day we leave.... AND we have some time scheduled for breaks/pool... which we didn't last time because we wanted to do everything in 5 days (and only 4 nights). So, my plan is to go to MK on every party day until 7pm and then leave for dinner! I figure 3-4 times will still be plenty of time to see everything we want to see.

Haven't seen them yet. This is the first year we're going to hit the booths for lunch one day.

That's our plan for lunch on our Epcot day! We'll have 3 kids with us, so we aren't doing it a lot, but I do plan on getting to experience it a little, especially with snack credits to use!

We used it in May 2015 for our first trip (so there is no comparison before TP) but I thought the timing of things went well but the app was off on the current wait times and current FP+ availability. With that said... I re-newed my subscription because I thought the overall plans were worth it. If $8-12 can reduce wait times, then it is worth it to me.

That's pretty much just eating out for lunch at work one time, so yeah... definitely worth that!

Ok, sooo...all this talk about touring plans and FP+ has me nervous. I haven't been since 2011, so although I've used FP's before, I'm new to the FP+ concept. And now reading some of you guys talking about how a touring plan is essential, I'm really nervous. I definitely want to make the most out of our time there and have as little wait times as possible, especially since it will be our kids first time, but we are very laid back and "go with the flow" kind of people, so I don't know if I could make and stick to any kind of touring plan...so my question is, is it REALLY necessary to make one, or would we be ok just making our FP+ reservations (once I figure out how it all works) and then going at our leisure for everything else. We are going 12/10-12/16 if that helps!

I think you can make it work without all that. We are disboards people, which means we are planners.... which means we (at least I) aren't scared of a detailed plan. My husband on the other hand would rather just wing it the whole time and not even have FP+! The last time we went was the old FP system which was nice... this one requires a good bit more preplanning!

 

[Meeko5]

Ok, sooo...all this talk about touring plans and FP+ has me nervous. I haven't been since 2011, so although I've used FP's before, I'm new to the FP+ concept. And now reading some of you guys talking about how a touring plan is essential, I'm really nervous. I definitely want to make the most out of our time there and have as little wait times as possible, especially since it will be our kids first time, but we are very laid back and "go with the flow" kind of people, so I don't know if I could make and stick to any kind of touring plan...so my question is, is it REALLY necessary to make one, or would we be ok just making our FP+ reservations (once I figure out how it all works) and then going at our leisure for everything else. We are going 12/10-12/16 if that helps!

I'm sure it will be totally fine! I'm just an obnoxious planner

I'd say research what FP will save you the longest waits, use the morning time to get more done if possible then use your FPs when it starts to get crowded late morning/early afternoon.

 

[VACamm]

Soooooo... on another topic.... when should we expect the schedule to be released for Disney Animal Kingdom night events? This is going to be my main priority for planning as I can hardly wait so see the new shows !