Fall 2016 planning (continuation of 2016 Free Dining Watch)

[Elsaalltheway]

Ooooh that I could be ok with! Our galactic vacation! Out of this world vacation! Haha

Yeah, Are you ready for your out of this world vacation?

 

[scard192]

we are going mid-November and no booklet, but we booked through a TA. She warned me that we would not get the cute DME tags so maybe the same thing with the booklet. oh well. getting a good deal with FD not an option was the most important thing.

 

[Meeko5]

we are going mid-November and no booklet, but we booked through a TA. She warned me that we would not get the cute DME tags so maybe the same thing with the booklet. oh well. getting a good deal with FD not an option was the most important thing.

The luggage tags are cute, but not practical. Flimsy and cheap, we didn't even use them last trip. And oh still have to use the bright yellow sticker ones for DME, the luggage tags are just decorational. You're definitely not missing much without them

 

[scard192]

The luggage tags are cute, but not practical. Flimsy and cheap, we didn't even use them last trip. And oh still have to use the bright yellow sticker ones for DME, the luggage tags are just decorational. You're definitely not missing much without them

thanks! my luggage still has the one on it from 2009. that one was more sturdy.

 

[margievis]

So, is anyone still looking for free dining rooms or has everyone pretty much settled on what they have and/or accepted what they weren't able to get?

I'm ok with what I got, and it is a significant savings, but I am watching to see if POR opens up for my dates, or I get a code. I'm not obsessing like I was, though. I am still trying to decide if MNSSHP is worth it for my family-6 disney adults.

 

[BrookieM2001]

Whew... I've been busy and haven't had to stalk for FD so I got behind! All caught up now.
Question for those with Elementary aged kids. We have 3 girls. They'll be 6, 7 and 8 on our trip. They've done 6 Flags several times with normal amounts of complaining about walking. Pretty much all day (12 hours). Not unbearable whining. I brought up the possibility of a single stroller to take turns with and my husband thought I was insane. All I know is that if it was an option by the 4th day I would have someone push me around!

How did you kids do at that age? We will only have 1 medium sized backpack so I can carry that while my husband gives shoulder rides here and there. But I don't carry my kids anymore, they're just too heavy. We were kind of looking forward to not having so much luggage this time but I just don't know!
How did your kids that age deal? What about at 11pm closing down a park when there are 3 of them and 2 of us?


Also not a question, but we are doing the memory maker this time and I'm really excited about it! We didn't last time and I spent most of our character meets taking pictures of the intersection with the characters so I feel like I missed experiencing it in the moment.

Do any of the character meals have photographers with them? I think no, but just checking!

I'm late to this discussion, but we have a similar issue. Our girls are 2&6 and we are bringing our good stroller for our little one but I am insisting on the umbrella stroller too for our 6. DH thinks I've lost my mind and we have had several, let's call them "spirited" discussions about this stroller but I am adamant! The nights will be long, and the waiting for busses may be extensive some nights at midnight, and she's only 6! If she wants to get pushed occasionally, I am ok with that, she's growing up so fast anyway, if she wants to be babied once in awhile, I'm good. Even if we don't use it, it takes up literally a foot of space in the room and flies for free, so what's the big deal? If it helps us not miss a cross park FP+ even once, it's earned its keep in my opinion!

 

[damskipi13]

I'm late to this discussion, but we have a similar issue. Our girls are 2&6 and we are bringing our good stroller for our little one but I am insisting on the umbrella stroller too for our 6. DH thinks I've lost my mind and we have had several, let's call them "spirited" discussions about this stroller but I am adamant! The nights will be long, and the waiting for busses may be extensive some nights at midnight, and she's only 6! If she wants to get pushed occasionally, I am ok with that, she's growing up so fast anyway, if she wants to be babied once in awhile, I'm good. Even if we don't use it, it takes up literally a foot of space in the room and flies for free, so what's the big deal? If it helps us not miss a cross park FP+ even once, it's earned its keep in my opinion!

I've taken Disney trips with my niece and nephew when they were 7&9 and 5&7. We didn't bring a stroller either time, but my father had a motorized scooter and let me tell you those kids were on that scooter almost as much as him. Since only one could be sitting down at a time, the one who had to walk would be whining like crazy about how bad their legs hurt. Part of it, yes, was the excitement of being on something motorized. But it was still great to know they could sit down at times and still keep moving. When we had to, the one not riding the scooter would be carried. Little legs get tired at Disney. Big legs get tired at Disney! Much better in my opinion to bring a small stroller you end up not needing than to have family meltdowns and fights over want of a stroller.

 

[Sharongal74]

My dd22 went 2 years ago with a friend that had 2 kids 4 and 6 at the time and the mom refused to take a stroller. DD tried telling her she should really take one. My DD said it was horrible! The kids wanted my DD to carry them and she said no way! We took one when kids were 2 & 7 and sometimes the 7 year old would ride for awhile. I wish I could take one now just for stuff and drinks haha!

 

[CandiceF]

I have been checking everyday in the morning to find out what ADR's book up the fastest so I have a plan next Wednesday when I have to book mine. I noticed today that so many things were booked up right away in the morning today when Nov.07 was available to book. No H&V dinner for anytime, No Akershus breakfast for anytime, No BOG lunches for anytime, No Sci-Fi dinner for anytime, only 1 Crystal Palace dinner for 3:40 and even The Plaza only had a 4:05 dinner available! It was making me really nervous about booking next week until I realized that Nov.07 is the first or second day of Jersey week. We went last year during Jersey week because my littlest ones birthday falls that week and ADR's even at 180+10 were a nightmare! The parks were not that bad but I had to stalk the Disney site and Dis cancellation thread to find at least half of my ADR's! Everyone on the DIS who went the week before and after mine did seem to have much of a problem at 180+10. I am hoping that this holds true for me next week because the lack of availability when I checked this morning is making me nervous!

 

[RocketGirl3]

I have been checking everyday in the morning to find out what ADR's book up the fastest so I have a plan next Wednesday when I have to book mine. I noticed today that so many things were booked up right away in the morning today when Nov.07 was available to book. No H&V dinner for anytime, No Akershus breakfast for anytime, No BOG lunches for anytime, No Sci-Fi dinner for anytime, only 1 Crystal Palace dinner for 3:40 and even The Plaza only had a 4:05 dinner available! It was making me really nervous about booking next week until I realized that Nov.07 is the first or second day of Jersey week. We went last year during Jersey week because my littlest ones birthday falls that week and ADR's even at 180+10 were a nightmare! The parks were not that bad but I had to stalk the Disney site and Dis cancellation thread to find at least half of my ADR's! Everyone on the DIS who went the week before and after mine did seem to have much of a problem at 180+10. I am hoping that this holds true for me next week because the lack of availability when I checked this morning is making me nervous!

My TA did our bookings last time and I'm planning to do them this time. Do you start booking at 12am EST?

 

[CandiceF]

My TA did our bookings last time and I'm planning to do them this time. Do you start booking at 12am EST QUOTE ]

 

[CandiceF]

My TA did our bookings last time and I'm planning to do them this time. Do you start booking at 12am EST?

I believe it is 6am EST for ADR's and 12am EST for FP+. Do you book next week too?

 

[RocketGirl3]

I believe it is 6am EST for ADR's and 12am EST for FP+. Do you book next week too?

No, I book in a couple weeks. But I'm a planner so I like to be prepared for when it happens

 

[Funfire240]

I believe it is 6am EST for ADR's and 12am EST for FP+. Do you book next week too?

This is correct. 6 am EST online and the phone lines open at 7 am EST

 

[CandiceF]

No, I book in a couple weeks. But I'm a planner so I like to be prepared for when it happens

I am too! That is why I have been checking every morning how fast the ADR's I want are booking up so I can have a plan in place, LOL!

 

[vanjust14]

I have been checking everyday in the morning to find out what ADR's book up the fastest so I have a plan next Wednesday when I have to book mine. I noticed today that so many things were booked up right away in the morning today when Nov.07 was available to book. No H&V dinner for anytime, No Akershus breakfast for anytime, No BOG lunches for anytime, No Sci-Fi dinner for anytime, only 1 Crystal Palace dinner for 3:40 and even The Plaza only had a 4:05 dinner available! It was making me really nervous about booking next week until I realized that Nov.07 is the first or second day of Jersey week. We went last year during Jersey week because my littlest ones birthday falls that week and ADR's even at 180+10 were a nightmare! The parks were not that bad but I had to stalk the Disney site and Dis cancellation thread to find at least half of my ADR's! Everyone on the DIS who went the week before and after mine did seem to have much of a problem at 180+10. I am hoping that this holds true for me next week because the lack of availability when I checked this morning is making me nervous!

I didn't have the luxury of booking 180+10 since I decided to book a trip when FD dropped spur of the moment! So far I have not been able to get BOG dinner but I was able to get Akershus breakfast and H&V dinner. I also got breakfast at Crystal Palace before park opens. Maybe it's because I'm not going at a busy time.

 

[CandiceF]

I didn't have the luxury of booking 180+10 since I decided to book a trip when FD dropped spur of the moment! So far I have not been able to get BOG dinner but I was able to get Akershus breakfast and H&V dinner. I also got breakfast at Crystal Palace before park opens. Maybe it's because I'm not going at a busy time.

I think you will get BOG if you keep checking! We got BOG dinner last year around 60 days out when people made their FP selections. If I check for Akershus breakfast and H&V dinner for anytime before Nov.7 I can find some availability but today nothing was available! I think it might be because it is the start of Jersey week. I book our ADR's next Wednesday and our vacation starts after Jersey week, so I am hoping we find what we are looking for. The kids don't want CRT or BOG dinner this time so I am hoping this helps make my job easier, LOL.

 

[scard192]

I am too! That is why I have been checking every morning how fast the ADR's I want are booking up so I can have a plan in place, LOL!

I have been checking every morning too and today was the first day there were no Tusker House breakfasts available. Only doing that that Minnie's Holiday Dine. have not seen a BOG lunch. Then I remembered I was looking a Jersey week

Figure on Monday when I make ADRs and can use the 180 +10 I will be able to get those 3. we check in on 11/12 and the black out for FD ends on 11/15 so I have bit of an advantage.

 

[CandiceF]

We really wanted POR this year so no FD for us either. We are checking in on the 11/14 (we might add a RO reservation for 11/13) so we have a bit of an advantage for booking too. I think you will be able to get what you want because you are after Jersey week ends and before FD starts!

 

[DennisandAngel]

Do you have to call for reservations at CRT? I've noticed my app always refers to calling and never shows times.