I said I wasn't going to do this but.. I want to make some plans.. HELP PLEASE!

[loganpaulsmom]

HI all.. So I have been around for like 4 years now.. On and off.. Most recently off for 5 months after coming back from last May's trip.. I was so depressed I couldn't get myself back here.. Until now.. when.. we booked again.. This time for April vacation (April 15th thru April 22nd)..

Now last time I was scheduled.. umm maybe a bit overscheduled.. this time.. we are staying at the Beach Club.. and I want to go with the flow.. Problem.. with it being spring break I know it is going to be PACKED.. So, obviously I have to make ressies.. But, here are a couple of my thoughts.. (Please chime in and give me opinons and or help)..
I don't want to overshedule.
If I get a discount (morre than 30%) I am thinking of upgrading to CL
I am thinking of only booking dinner ressies..
Only booking the ressies at either Epcot / or the beachclub area.
Not planning on going to a park every day..
Want to spend as much time at Storm a long bay as possible..

I have been to Disney a lot.. This will be my 12th time.. but.. Most recently 2008 and 2011 and those were the first times I really planned.. Both times on DDXP.. (dont want to do that this time) too much food..
So.. if anyone has anything to say.. HELP please.. LOL

 

[ddluvsdisney]

HI all.. So I have been around for like 4 years now.. On and off.. Most recently off for 5 months after coming back from last May's trip.. I was so depressed I couldn't get myself back here.. Until now.. when.. we booked again.. This time for April vacation (April 15th thru April 22nd)..

Now last time I was scheduled.. umm maybe a bit overscheduled.. this time.. we are staying at the Beach Club.. and I want to go with the flow.. Problem.. with it being spring break I know it is going to be PACKED.. So, obviously I have to make ressies.. But, here are a couple of my thoughts.. (Please chime in and give me opinons and or help)..
I don't want to overshedule.
If I get a discount (morre than 30%) I am thinking of upgrading to CL
I am thinking of only booking dinner ressies..
Only booking the ressies at either Epcot / or the beachclub area.
Not planning on going to a park every day..
Want to spend as much time at Storm a long bay as possible..

I have been to Disney a lot.. This will be my 12th time.. but.. Most recently 2008 and 2011 and those were the first times I really planned.. Both times on DDXP.. (dont want to do that this time) too much food..
So.. if anyone has anything to say.. HELP please.. LOL

We'll be there the exact same week .
If you've never been for spring break before don't worry too much. We've been a few times and not as bad as everyone thinks. If you know what you're doing which sounds like you do- you'll do all you want.
We did all major rides in MK in about 3 hrs. one year!!
We stayed at the BC last summer- it is so FUN!! Love the walk to Epcot!
Try The Flying Fish cafe at the BW. It was excellent!!!!
Have a great trip

 

[loganpaulsmom]

We'll be there the exact same week .
If you've never been for spring break before don't worry too much. We've been a few times and not as bad as everyone thinks. If you know what you're doing which sounds like you do- you'll do all you want.
We did all major rides in MK in about 3 hrs. one year!!
We stayed at the BC last summer- it is so FUN!! Love the walk to Epcot!
Try The Flying Fish cafe at the BW. It was excellent!!!!
Have a great trip

Thanks.. the problem is I really don't know what I am doing.. I don't have a plan for our parks.. and last time.. there were times when I was making my hubby and my son get out of the pool to run and make it to a reservation.. I want to try and avoid that as much as possible.. But, I always think I am missing something if I don't overbook.. argghh.. lol

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We did CL last year. I'm still not sure that it's worth all that $$$ but it was def. worth it for b-fast every morning. We never had to wonder where we would eat in the morning and were able to get an early start when needed. The beer/wine at night with apps. was nice too. The kids loved the snacks. DH is hooked now, we tried to get CL for our trip this year but they didn't have any rooms left for our discount

 

[loganpaulsmom]

We did CL last year. I'm still not sure that it's worth all that $$$ but it was def. worth it for b-fast every morning. We never had to wonder where we would eat in the morning and were able to get an early start when needed. The beer/wine at night with apps. was nice too. The kids loved the snacks. DH is hooked now, we tried to get CL for our trip this year but they didn't have any rooms left for our discount

What I was thinking of doing was CL and keeping my package ressie.. and then cancel the ressie once I make my dining ressies.. 180 is next week but in torder to make them you have to have a package booked.. I was thinking only if I got a discount I would upgrade to CL.. hmm decisions decisions..

 

[ddluvsdisney]

What I was thinking of doing was CL and keeping my package ressie.. and then cancel the ressie once I make my dining ressies.. 180 is next week but in torder to make them you have to have a package booked.. I was thinking only if I got a discount I would upgrade to CL.. hmm decisions decisions..

You don't have to have a package booked. I'm not staying on property but I still make ADRs.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

that is what i thought too.. but, when i called and booked my "room only" the Cm told me " are you sure you don't want to book a package, next week is 180 and you will only be able to make reservations with the dining plan package"..

 

[ddluvsdisney]

that is what i thought too.. but, when i called and booked my "room only" the Cm told me " are you sure you don't want to book a package, next week is 180 and you will only be able to make reservations with the dining plan package"..

That CM didn't know what they were talking about. You could check with someone on the DDP board, but I don't always stay on property and still make ADRs.
Last year we stayed at the BC/CL with room only discount no dining plan and made ressies with no problem

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I am thinking now I may not do the dining plan.. I am thinking of doing this.. and only if I get a discount..

CL.. and then only booking 1 meal a day.. Now.. those meals however.. i am thinking.. Shulas, Bluezoo, Flying Fish, Espn Zone, La Hacienda, Via Napoli, Beirgarten and maybe either crystal palace or chef mickeys...I am thinking out of pocket at least half of those will be over $150.. But, in the end will it be worth it? I just don't know..

 

[janabananas]

I am doing something similar for my sept 2012 at BWV trip. The only ADR's we are making are for later dinners after 8pm, at BW/YC/BC/EPCOT restaurants., with the exception of LC lunch, and that will be made for our EPCOT day, with a very light lunch, probably Tokyo Dining (tempura/sushi).

We are planning our days so we have a "do nothing but sit at the pool" day. We may add 2? We are thinking about doing DxDP so we can hit mostly Signature restaurants like YM, FF, Citricos, & Jiko. We figured that as long as our Sig ADR app/entree/dessert total to be $60, or non-sig ADR totals $30, it will work out instead of paying OOP. We are big steak/seafood people too.

I wish you luck with the price break!

I believe for ADR making at 180+10 days, you have to have a room booked. (not sure about DDP though). To book at 180, you do not.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I am thinking now I may not do the dining plan.. I am thinking of doing this.. and only if I get a discount..

CL.. and then only booking 1 meal a day.. Now.. those meals however.. i am thinking.. Shulas, Bluezoo, Flying Fish, Espn Zone, La Hacienda, Via Napoli, Beirgarten and maybe either crystal palace or chef mickeys...I am thinking out of pocket at least half of those will be over $150.. But, in the end will it be worth it? I just don't know..

When we did CL we didn't do dining plan b/c we already had b-fast. We usually had a snack or shared a meal for lunch. Then had a big dinner. Worked well for us. We usually choose 2 signatures each trip.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I am doing something similar for my sept 2012 at BWV trip. The only ADR's we are making are for later dinners after 8pm, at BW/YC/BC/EPCOT restaurants., with the exception of LC lunch, and that will be made for our EPCOT day, with a very light lunch, probably Tokyo Dining (tempura/sushi).

We are planning our days so we have a "do nothing but sit at the pool" day. We may add 2? We are thinking about doing DxDP so we can hit mostly Signature restaurants like YM, FF, Citricos, & Jiko. We figured that as long as our Sig ADR app/entree/dessert total to be $60, or non-sig ADR totals $30, it will work out instead of paying OOP. We are big steak/seafood people too.

I wish you luck with the price break!

I believe for ADR making at 180+10 days, you have to have a room booked. (not sure about DDP though). To book at 180, you do not.

last time I did a split stay did DDP for the first part and DDXP the second part.. The second part i did so many signatures and literally one day.. Ate over $350 worth of food between the 3 of us.. Totally worth it.. However, I gained 7 lbs and Don't want to do it again.. LOL

When we did CL we didn't do dining plan b/c we already had b-fast. We usually had a snack or shared a meal for lunch. Then had a big dinner. Worked well for us. We usually choose 2 signatures each trip.

Sounds so much better, sharing a meal.. We used our snacks like crazy.. mostly on coffee.. my husband is a coffeeaholic.. and we were staying at the poly so Kona coffee for my husband it was.. I have been trying to figure it out and I really think that it won't be worth it for us to NOT do the ddp.. the restaurants that I am looking at are at least 100 if not more like 200..

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Sounds so much better, sharing a meal.. We used our snacks like crazy.. mostly on coffee.. my husband is a coffeeaholic.. and we were staying at the poly so Kona coffee for my husband it was.. I have been trying to figure it out and I really think that it won't be worth it for us to NOT do the ddp.. the restaurants that I am looking at are at least 100 if not more like 200..

Sounds like a good plan. Not sure if you should do CL if doing DDP though. It's a lot of food already and the CL may not be worth it.

 

[loganpaulsmom]

Ok.. so tues. I can make my ressies.. 180 day mark.. here is what I am thinking.. just to let you know.. I haven't decided on parks yet.. We aren't planning on hitting them every day this time, for sure.. So here we go..

April 15th arrival day: pool and ESPN?
April 16th Beirgarten
April 17th Shula's or Blue Zoo
April 18th Via Napoli
April 19th Ohana
April 20th Flying Fish
April 21st Chef Mickeys
April 22nd Cape May

I am doing as of now DDP.. I know that Shula's and Blue Zoo aren't part of the plan.. As I had stated previously, I want to try and stay eating mostly in the area that we are going to be in.. But, last time I cancelled Ohana's and I really think we would enjoy it this time..

As for the rest of the time, we have counter service.. So, depending on where we are I definitely plan on eating at some of the better CS.. Also, can anyone tell me if beaches and cream is CS?
So, what do you all think? Would you add anything? Change anything? etc?

 

[eculmone]

Thanks.. the problem is I really don't know what I am doing.. I don't have a plan for our parks.. and last time.. there were times when I was making my hubby and my son get out of the pool to run and make it to a reservation.. I want to try and avoid that as much as possible.. But, I always think I am missing something if I don't overbook.. argghh.. lol

The one time I stayed at BC and thought no big deal, we will find something... WE FOUND NOTHING. When we were finally hungry around 7pm we had nothing. We ended up so miserable and got into eat around 9:30 pm at Cape May... my suggestion, is to make the reservations for as late as you can possibly make it with your family... for us 7pm is the latest and I would make reservations close by i.e. BW or Swan or Dolphin or Beach or Yact club. If you don't make it, the world won't end, BUT you will have something which is better than nothing when push comes to shove... that was our lesson learned the hard way

 

[eculmone]

I am thinking now I may not do the dining plan.. I am thinking of doing this.. and only if I get a discount..

CL.. and then only booking 1 meal a day.. Now.. those meals however.. i am thinking.. Shulas, Bluezoo, Flying Fish, Espn Zone, La Hacienda, Via Napoli, Beirgarten and maybe either crystal palace or chef mickeys...I am thinking out of pocket at least half of those will be over $150.. But, in the end will it be worth it? I just don't know..

I think it will be worth it. Your son won't eat $50 worth a day will he? I like not being tied down by the dining plan. You feel you have to get your money's worth and then my diet suffers. Dining plan no longer covers appetizer or tip so for us it's a good thing. I cheat once a day rather than 3 times a day hee hee

 

[eculmone]

That CM didn't know what they were talking about. You could check with someone on the DDP board, but I don't always stay on property and still make ADRs.
Last year we stayed at the BC/CL with room only discount no dining plan and made ressies with no problem

Absolutely. We don't have dining plan and we have NEVER had problem booking ADR

 

[loganpaulsmom]

What does everyone think about my choices? should i add? change?? I am so torn!

 

[eculmone]

Did you say your doing CL? I would cancel DDP at $150 a day, I personally don't think it's worth it. Especially when you have CL and the Swan/Dolphin doesn't honour anyway.

I like your choices I'm in

 

[eculmone]

Also I'm pretty sure, Beaches and Cream is a TS no CS close by without going into parks