first timer questions from a control freak!

[tinkertaylor05]

I've asked a few questions over the past year and you've all given me some really helpful responses. As we're getting into the final stretch I'm finding myself with all sorts of stuff popping into my mind so thought I'd try to keep it together and keep adding them if anyone has the patience to entertain them

Charging to room - can I request this is not allowed or do I have to supply a card when I check in? They have card details stored for ADRs already.

Dining - got all my ADRs booked,do we say when we're seated we're using ddp and then get a bill less ddp at the end?

I have oodles more mundane questions just can't think of them now, I am flitting between drooling over planning how to use my snack credits and panicking about dumb stuff that is out of my control and sheer utter excitement of waking up at WDW everyday!

 

[seenellie81]

I've asked a few questions over the past year and you've all given me some really helpful responses. As we're getting into the final stretch I'm finding myself with all sorts of stuff popping into my mind so thought I'd try to keep it together and keep adding them if anyone has the patience to entertain them

Charging to room - can I request this is not allowed or do I have to supply a card when I check in? They have card details stored for ADRs already.

Dining - got all my ADRs booked,do we say when we're seated we're using ddp and then get a bill less ddp at the end?

I have oodles more mundane questions just can't think of them now, I am flitting between drooling over planning how to use my snack credits and panicking about dumb stuff that is out of my control and sheer utter excitement of waking up at WDW everyday!

You do not have to allow charging to your room, that's up to you. I do believe that you have to have some kind of card on file for incidentals.
They usually ask when you are seated or ordering if it will be on your dining plan, at each restaurant. You will receive a bill at the end of your meal with whatever was not covered under dining.

With snack credits always try to pick things that are closer to the $5 if you want to get the most from your credits. This is what i hear anyways and it makes sense. But when i am on vacation i just get what i am in the mood for, not to worried about getting something that makes a better value. (when it comes to snacks or dining anyways)

 

[2Tiggies]

The previous poster is correct. You do not have to enable charging to your room. I have done a few stays, including our last trip, all onsite and only twice have I ever added a card and only did so as I had to when they still had paid wired internet access (before wifi in the rooms). Otherwise I do not add charging to my room and have never been asked to leave card details. I will not be adding charging to my room this year either, although like you, I had to add a card for my ADR's

If you want to, you can request charging privileges only be assigned to a one or select guests on your reservations; so for example if you had tweens and teens and didn't want to give them free course with the credit card ...... You will also have to choose a pin code when you check in which will be required for all purchases made with your Magic Band for added security.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Thank you both, I feel much better having an understanding about what to expect. Sure I'll drive everyone mad as we get closer.

I've subscribed to touring plans and am going round in circles making plans.

 

[flortlebap]

Thank you both, I feel much better having an understanding about what to expect. Sure I'll drive everyone mad as we get closer.

I've subscribed to touring plans and am going round in circles making plans.

Touringplans is a great resource - did you buy the unofficial guide too?

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Touringplans is a great resource - did you buy the unofficial guide too?

I did but haven't read that much found it quite overwhelming, especially with so much changing at such a fast pace!

I've started using the personalised plans trying to decide what to book as fpp.... So far am intending to do a park early then head out at lunchtime with a view to doing another in the evening.

 

[seenellie81]

It is always a lot of fun to plan. I have been to WDW 6 times in the last 8 years. Each time i still read up on things for months. I enjoy learning everything that i can. It can get so overwhelming at times though. Plan as much as you must, leave some time for spontaneity. You must make ADR's or you wont get into a lot of sit down meals. You must pick FP+ or you may not get the times and rides that you want. Other then that try and leave somethings unplanned. I see where some people like to make plans for what quick services they are going to go to when. That works for them. For me, I read about each place and then when i am there i am able to tell my family about the options. We then choose on the fly. You never know what you or your family will be in the mood for come that day anyways. Go armed with all the info you can about everything, that way you can make more educated decisions when you get there. I hope that makes sense. Don't overwhelm yourself, the place is huge you can never do it all in one two three or four trips. Know your must do's and let disney take care of the rest. It really is magical!

 

[pickers1982]

Just remember if you don't squeeze everything in its just a good excuse to go back

 

[tinkertaylor05]

It is always a lot of fun to plan. I have been to WDW 6 times in the last 8 years. Each time i still read up on things for months. I enjoy learning everything that i can. It can get so overwhelming at times though. Plan as much as you must, leave some time for spontaneity. You must make ADR's or you wont get into a lot of sit down meals. You must pick FP+ or you may not get the times and rides that you want. Other then that try and leave somethings unplanned. I see where some people like to make plans for what quick services they are going to go to when. That works for them. For me, I read about each place and then when i am there i am able to tell my family about the options. We then choose on the fly. You never know what you or your family will be in the mood for come that day anyways. Go armed with all the info you can about everything, that way you can make more educated decisions when you get there. I hope that makes sense. Don't overwhelm yourself, the place is huge you can never do it all in one two three or four trips. Know your must do's and let disney take care of the rest. It really is magical!

Thanks great advice, we only have 9 days at Disney so I'm under no illusions that we'll even scratch the surface!

Luckily I got all the ADR's I'd wanted, pretty character meal heavy as dd is 9 and I fear the years of princesses are slipping away.... I think we'll be exhausted by the end of the trip but then we have a cruise to relax on

Also booked BBB, haven't decided if dd wants to do full package or use one of the outfits we'll be taking with us. Oh and the pirate and pals voyage.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Just remember if you don't squeeze everything in its just a good excuse to go back

Exactly! I'm planning to book for Oct 15 to do Halloween whilst dd is still super excited by it all.

 

[seenellie81]

Thanks great advice, we only have 9 days at Disney so I'm under no illusions that we'll even scratch the surface!

Luckily I got all the ADR's I'd wanted, pretty character meal heavy as dd is 9 and I fear the years of princesses are slipping away.... I think we'll be exhausted by the end of the trip but then we have a cruise to relax on

Also booked BBB, haven't decided if dd wants to do full package or use one of the outfits we'll be taking with us. Oh and the pirate and pals voyage.

Character meals are a great use of dining time. They are so much fun, Plus then you don't have to wait in line to see the characters other places. We did BBB with DD she loved it! I did not bring our own dress and bought the whole package with dress shoes etc. and the photo shoot afterwards. Plus while she was having her hair and makeup done they had a photo pass person taking great photos of her. It was pricey but so worth it! It was one of my favorite memories with her at disney we just loved having mommy and daughter time. We are going back in August this year and DD is now 9 and she says shes not sure that she wants to do it. I have told her that they can just do your hair and makeup if she wants, shes still thinking about it she says. Another one that both my daughter and son loved was pirates league. It is much more affordable then BBB and just as much fun. The pirates do such a great job transforming your little ones into pirates. I have never done the pirate and pales voyage but how much fun would it be to do the pirates league and then do the voyage the same day!!!

 

[tinkertaylor05]

I've booked her the full package for now at BBB so she could have the experience of being completely spoilt. It's my birthday whilst we're there and she's thoroughly disgusted we're not going for hers instead

On arrival day we're due in to MCO approx 2:30pm I've booked ME, am sure park tickets start when we check in? Am contemplating booking some fp+ for the evening even though our plan is to not bother leaving SSR and maybe DTD.

Also intending to use the morning EMH but seeing really conflicting views on this?

 

[2Tiggies]

On arrival day we're due in to MCO approx 2:30pm I've booked ME, am sure park tickets start when we check in? Am contemplating booking some fp+ for the evening even though our plan is to not bother leaving SSR and maybe DTD.

Also intending to use the morning EMH but seeing really conflicting views on this?

Yes, park tickets can be used immediately. Just remember though, if you have 14 day tickets and a 14 day booking and you count both arrival and departure days, that is 15 days. You can use your tickets over 15 days, but only if there is one day somewhere in between where you don't use them. We have done this the last few years because we used to go in the Fall so we would do a few MNSSHP parties and use those tickets to enter on one of our days to 'bank' the 14th day to use on day 15. This year we have 20 days there and no parties so I've just upgraded to the 21 day tickets, which were only marginally different in price.

You will get conflicting views on EMH and you will also have conflicting experiences of them. The parks do tend to be busier on days with EMH. We use both morning and evening EMH most days we are there. We make sure we are there for the start of the morning magic hours and do as much as we can and when it gets busy late morning we hop to the 'recommended park' or another one of our choice. If you can't be there for the start of the EMH though or you want to stick to one park per day, a good rule is to rather get there for park opening at a different park as it will be quieter. How much difference there will be in crowd levels and wait times is hard to predict but if you want to be technically correct, that's a good approach.

With all that said, it doesn't make a massive difference and there are days when we ignore the recommendations because we want to do something else and we've always got by just fine.

 

[seenellie81]

We do EMH both morning and night, but we never stay at that park all day. It tends to be the busy park they say. We park hop to another park when it starts to get busy after the morning hours. Our favorite is the evening hours. We tend to take a nap or break during the day, this way we can stay up late for those hours. The evening hours are much less crowded and we have rarely waited in any lines over 5-10 minutes. This was during peek times like easter and presidents week.

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Thank you both

You've really helped get me more into the excited than stressed out zone!

We're only doing 9 days and have 14 day tickets so should be fine.

I've made our ADR's based on the idea of doing one park early in the morning then returning around lunchtime to nap/swim, thinking about using fp+ mostly in the evening.

I have Tusker House planned for 8am on Sun so hoping this puts us in a good position to beat rope drop guests at 9am. Same for BBB booked an 8am time when park open at 9am. Do you think we'll be ok using disney buses for these?

Star Wars Weekend means we'll be doing more in HS than I probably would have but it's likely something we'd never do again so are going to go for it.

Planning to avoid the parks on Saturday and doing 1900PF breakfast then Pirate and Pals in the evening ..... I can't quite believe we are actually going to WDW

 

[wiigirl]

Touringplans is a great resource - did you buy the unofficial guide too?