If your heart is in your DREAM a Aug/Sept 2011, NEW - links to dining/trip report

[Minnie&Nana]

Oh, Karin, what a hassle! That is a looong time to be paying for each long distance minute, so happy it was resolved and you have some GREAT ADR's!!

I had a fun (NOT) phone experience with Disney the other day - and was more aggravated by the time I hung up. I feel bad for the CM who gets the call after a guest has been trying to work with the automated system and getting nowhere!

Anyway -your ADR's look and I can't wait to see the changes!!

 

[dizneeat]

Oh, Karin, what a hassle! That is a looong time to be paying for each long distance minute, so happy it was resolved and you have some GREAT ADR's!!

I had a fun (NOT) phone experience with Disney the other day - and was more aggravated by the time I hung up. I feel bad for the CM who gets the call after a guest has been trying to work with the automated system and getting nowhere!

Anyway -your ADR's look and I can't wait to see the changes!!

At least I got what I wanted in the end. But it was quite unnerving not to know if the number would work for ADRs! And it ONLY works for ADRs - it will NOT pull up my reservation otherwise!
But at least I like my ADRs ............... for NOW!!!

Was your experience about the DxDDP for the later part of your vacation? How did it go? Did you find a CM who will let you seperate your booking?

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I haven't recalled WDW yet, but the more I think about it, I may leave things alone. Paying OOP may be a better option. When I added the extra days it was past the deadline to get free dining. CM gave me those days free anyway, so we will just use two credits & pay OOP for CS those days. I was on hold 30 min. when I made my call Sunday. I use my cell & worry that after waiting the call might be dropped. Then it's go through all of the automated answering again!

 

[dizneeat]

I haven't recalled WDW yet, but the more I think about it, I may leave things alone. Paying OOP may be a better option. When I added the extra days it was past the deadline to get free dining. CM gave me those days free anyway, so we will just use two credits & pay OOP for CS those days. I was on hold 30 min. when I made my call Sunday. I use my cell & worry that after waiting the call might be dropped. Then it's go through all of the automated answering again!

As much as I like "having" to call WDW - interacting with the automated system can be horrible! As long as you had to punch in numbers it worked for us, but now the "voice" sometimes has a hard time recognizing my accent! Makes for some fun conversations!

If you need to pay OOP for some meals - check out which one are the least expensive and just pay OOP for those - allears really is a good source if it comes to comparing prices!

 

[jenseib]

What an ordeal! I would be screaming in frustration. But at least you got the ADRs.

 

[dizneeat]

What an ordeal! I would be screaming in frustration. But at least you got the ADRs.

I was really frustrated! Especially after being on hold forever I was given the same number and then told that I could always call!
At least I have my ADRs done and am quite happy I got everything I wanted.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I have been checking menus, etc. on All Ears a lot lately. I need to start getting serious about writing my plans in my notbook. I usually do better getting things done at the last minute.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

TWO more sleeps!!!!

Are you ready to hug Mickey???

Of course, I posted this on the wrong PTR!

(Doing my best to keep track. )

 

[jenseib]

 

[YukiPhnx]

Glad you got all your ADRs in! All this long distance calling is why I work with a TA. I don't have to do any of this work and they do it all for me! For someone not living in the US, I think that would be the best reason for having a TA, even if I want to do everything else by myself.

 

[debsters41]

Hello! Just chiming in to say that I only just now found your pre-trippie! I have only just started reading but I already know one thing, you're my kind of planner! Can't wait to catch up!

 

[englishrose47]

I'm popping in too!!! I know you will be busy with your Feb TR !!!I am at standstill with my Aug. ptr till I get the flights booked and that depends on when the tax money comes in this month!!!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

English Rose, I bought my tickets for Sept. last week as I am afraid of what the fare will be by then. I did save a bit by buying the tickets through Disney. I checked on the fare today & the price is almost $300 dollars more.

 

[dizneeat]

Sorry I haven't updated or answered posts here, but as you all know, Tom and I just spent a week at WDW (President's Week) and once we were back it was BACK to REAL life! And that didn't leave much DIS time!

I have been checking menus, etc. on All Ears a lot lately. I need to start getting serious about writing my plans in my notbook. I usually do better getting things done at the last minute.

Guess what - I have been doing that too, those last two days! I lost track and it was my ADR day (for the second WDW portion of our trip) so I had to come up with something FAST. So Tom and I decided to make an ADR for every day, even though we are not on the DDP, but we can always cancel if we want - last minute thing - got ready yesterday - booked today!

TWO more sleeps!!!!

Are you ready to hug Mickey???

Of course, I posted this on the wrong PTR!

(Doing my best to keep track. )

Thank you Christine! No matter WHERE you posted it, it really helped with all the excitement ....

and then in a flash it was all over!

Thank you!!!

Glad you got all your ADRs in! All this long distance calling is why I work with a TA. I don't have to do any of this work and they do it all for me! For someone not living in the US, I think that would be the best reason for having a TA, even if I want to do everything else by myself.

Got the second batch done today.
As for working with a TA. I like to be in charge anyway and if I use a US based TA (done that, didn't like it, and by the way, it was one of those Disney specialists) I had to make the phone calls too - I do NOT send my CC info by email! I never got any booklets or anything like Disney sends me and in the end I had to fight for my final paperwork - no thank you.
Austrian TA you ask? You look at a catalog, pick and that is it. No discounts, no changes no nothing - you just pay a little extra for the services.
Oh, and BTW - you do NOT need to make ADRs (according to an Austrian TA) - if you are on the DDP you are garanteed a table!
TA - NO thanks, not for me!

 

[dizneeat]

Hello! Just chiming in to say that I only just now found your pre-trippie! I have only just started reading but I already know one thing, you're my kind of planner! Can't wait to catch up!

Hi!
You found it soon enough! We still have over 5 months of planning to do!

I'm popping in too!!! I know you will be busy with your Feb TR !!!I am at standstill with my Aug. ptr till I get the flights booked and that depends on when the tax money comes in this month!!!

Hi Rosie!
Today I have reason to update here! It was my ADR day today and I need to post the results!

English Rose, I bought my tickets for Sept. last week as I am afraid of what the fare will be by then. I did save a bit by buying the tickets through Disney. I checked on the fare today & the price is almost $300 dollars more.

Doesn't it feel great once you have your tickets booked? One step closer to that magical time with Mickey!
Going up $300 is scary!!!!!!!

 

[YukiPhnx]

Oh yeah! I forgot about your troubles with an American TA. It's too bad you had such a bad one!

Hooray for getting your 2nd batch of ADRs done!

 

[dizneeat]

Now finally, here it is ........... an update!

It was about time, wasn't it?


Well, here's the news - today was my ADR day for the second portion of WDW stay!
And what happens ........ we have a school meeting on a Saturday! Oh no!!!!!!!

But once I got home I hit the computer and here are the results!

First off, just to remind you, these are the ADRs for the first part of the trip:

Date: Sunday, August 14, 2011
Breakfast at Olivia's Cafe
Disney's Old Key West Resort

Date: Sunday, August 14, 2011
Dinner at The Wave...of American Flavors
Disney's Contemporary Resort

Date: Monday, August 15, 2011
Dinner at Jiko – The Cooking Place
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Dinner at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano, Fantasmic Package
Disney's Hollywood Studios�

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2011
Dinner at Le Cellier Steakhouse
Epcot®

Date: Friday, August 19, 2011
Dinner at Yachtsman Steakhouse
Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Date: Saturday, August 20, 2011
Dinner at California Grill
Disney's Contemporary Resort



And here are the rest of them - made today without any problems!!!

Date: Thursday, September 1, 2011
Dinner at Grand Floridian Café
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Date: Friday, September 2, 2011
Dinner at Le Cellier Steakhouse
Epcot® (this might get changed as I have another ADR for Le Cellier during the first part - Rose and Crown comes to mind, but maybe even Captain's Grill? )

Date: Saturday, September 3, 2011
Dinner at Raglan Road™ Irish Pub and Restaurant
Downtown Disney® Area

Date: Sunday, September 4, 2011
Dinner at The Wave...of American Flavors
Disney's Contemporary Resort (double too ...... maybe I might squeeze in Ohana or Kona - not sure yet!)

Date: Monday, September 5, 2011
Lunch at Sanaa Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village

Date: Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Dinner at Il Mulino New York Trattoria
Walt Disney World Swan Resort

Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tea at the Garden View Room
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort

Dinner at California Grill
Disney's Contemporary Resort

Date: Thursday, September 8, 2011
Dinner at Wolfgang Puck® Café
Downtown Disney® Area

Date: Friday, September 9, 2011
Dinner at Kouzzina by Cat Cora®
Disney's BoardWalk

Got everything I wanted at the times I wanted! Now that's the perfect start to my weekend!

 

[dizneeat]

Oh yeah! I forgot about your troubles with an American TA. It's too bad you had such a bad one!

Hooray for getting your 2nd batch of ADRs done!

Yes, our experience with the TA was not the best - sorry if I have bored you with the story earlier!

I am so happy with my second batch of ADRs! I cannot believe the second part of this year's summer WDW trip is only 180 days away!

 

[YukiPhnx]

Ooooh, great choices! Dinner at the GFC? I've never heard of that! Is it good?

Oooooh, Kouzzina. Can't wait for your review of them.

Wow, only 180 days away. I want SO MUCH to go to Disney with you!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Ooooh, great choices! Dinner at the GFC? I've never heard of that! Is it good?

Wow, only 180 days away. I want SO MUCH to go to Disney with you!!!

Thank you, Yuki!
The GFC is a hidden gem! We have been several times and the food and service just so good.
We had an "unforseen" breakfast there during our most recent trip and it was really good and not your usual stuff! We both loved it!

We are only 161 days away from the start of our summer vacation - that's only 23 weeks!!!!!!!!!!! And only 180 days from the second part!
Oh, and I really WISH you could come too! Maybe I can fit you into my luggage!