How to plan

[tinkandonaldfans]

Ok well we have booked our free dining 2009 trip shame its so far away but ti hasn't stopped me thinking about where to eat our meals.

never really had a table service meal as could never get in to one and its our first time on free dining.

from what i have read here on the boards is to book on the 180 day mark but even ringing then it doesn't necessarily mean you get to eat where you want. so how do you plan 14 table service meals? how many back up places do you need? if i am travelling between the 10th -24th September do i need back ups or do you think that i should be able to fit in what i want?

starting to feel overwhelmed i need help

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

You have lots of time, so don't get overwhelmed... it's supposed to be fun!

I would say go on AllEars and read all the enus and decide waht sounds good to you. There are tons of reviews you can read, but remember those are opinions. There have been pleanty of bad reviews for places we love and great reviews for places we didn't love. So go with what sounds good to you and form your own decisions.

Once you have a list of where you want to eat, plan out your days. Like I like MK for our first park day. I also usually like it on the last day but this year it had to be the second to last day so we could see the Candlelite Processional in EPCOT, so EPCOT is our last day and MK the second to last day. Anyway, I figured out our week (we do not get Park Hoppers) and penciled it in to the clander, then 180 before the day we check into the resort, I call at 7am on the dot and start making reservations on order of what I think will be hardest to get.
For me, I started with CRT breakfast--- got a reservation for 7 on the date and time I wanted... no problem
Next I did our Thanksgiving meal at Chef Mickey's, again I got to pick the time I wanted.
Then I started filling in with othr restaurants based on how they usually sell out.

I personally do not plan any extra meals, though you could. I like to have a plan, though I am flexible within the day, I like to know what park we are going to on what day so it works for us. If that doesn't work for you that so ahead and plan some extras, just be sure to cancel them rather than just not showing up so taht others can use them.

We have never had a problem getting what we wnat, but if you do, be flexible and don't stop trying. People cancel all the time. A couple weeks ago m y husband said we should go to Cali Grill to celebrate our 15th annivarsary a bit late). I didn't think we'd get in this close. I called about 4 times over a couple days and sure enough, one day they said they had a table for 2 at 7:30 (with WISHES at 9pm) on a perfevt day for us (a day we have scheduled to be off, no parks that day.) It was as though I had booked it 180 before check in. It is a perfevt time. So, if you run into where you need something and at first can't get it, just keep trying.

Anyway, enjoy the planning... it is a big part of the fun of a Disney vacation.

Enjoy your trip...