I'm feeling overwhelmed! UPDATE! Got ADR's...

[Ty's_mom]

You all are so well organized! I'm really making an effort (as this will be our first time with free dining). How to you plan you ADRs? Do you really know what days you will be at the specific parks?
We have always just bounced around...

Any suggestions or tips?

THANKS!!!

 

[beroh2253]

We did just that last Sept. on the free DDP. Had the hopper pass and just hopped to the park (mostly EPCOT) later in the day to do the TS. Worked out just great, so grrrrreat we are doing it again this year in Sept. have all our ADR's and this year for 9 nights, or should I say 9 TS 9 CS and 9 ( probably Kringla Bakeri snacks). Go to one park , take a break then head to the park with your TS that is how we do it. Love the crazyness you can keep those lazy beaches.

 

[nikky]

i JUST SPENT THE LAST TWO DATS PLANNING WHAT PARK I WILL BE IN AND WHERE TO USE UP MY TS FOR THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT. LOL..i FIGURED IT OUT THAT DISNEY WILL BE PAYING FOR THE 5 OF US ON TS ALONE $540.00.i FEEL LIKE THE LAST 2 DAYS WERE WORTH GOING CRAZY FOR IF IT ENDS UP WITH THAT SAVINGS JUST ON MY TS MEALS.THAT IS FOR 3 TS MEALS.

 

[beroh2253]

We also plan out where we are going to do the CS, Usually the beginning park of the day (before we hop to TS park or resort). So many great CS places also. Check out Deb's Allears menus. Do you know that web site??
Can't wait till Sept. now.

 

[rentayenta]

You all are so well organized! I'm really making an effort (as this will be our first time with free dining). How to you plan you ADRs? Do you really know what days you will be at the specific parks?
We have always just bounced around...

Any suggestions or tips?

THANKS!!!

I made my ADRs and then figured out where we will be. Don't do that. I should have read TGM, then figured out what parks when, and then made my ADRs. It still worked out okay though. Let's review:

1. Figure out what parks you'll be visiting on which days either via TGM or Ridemax Mark or the UG.

2. See which menus fit your fancy.

3. Make ADRs.

Rinse, lather, repeat!

 

[faindrops27]

Listen, I am not so organized, maybe just a little. So, let me just tell you what I do. Then maybe you will find it easier.

1. This is a golden rule for me. I also always buy hoppers, so dinner at any park will not be an issue.

2. I take the dates of my vacation, get a sheet of paper, and write those dates down. Ok, so then I go to disney' web site and look up my dates, on thier calendar. I then from there, figure out, against my dates what shows, parades, I wish to see. Which park will be open late, or early. I write this all down next to each date. So, I then basically work around those facts.

3. I then go to allearsnet.com to research the menu's to see what I want to eat. I also go to the food porn thread, on this resteraunt board, to see what looks good. I usually try and stay within the parks, or the area I will be. But, it is ok. If you can't just leave enough transportation time to get to your dinner.

4. I call 1-800-828-0228, and press #3 for Disney's dining Reservations to make my Adr's.

Ok, so lets say an example would look something like this:

On August 29th. Disney' website states, the Animal Kingdom will be open late for an extra magic night hours. So, that means it will be open until 8:00p.m. So, I made dinner ressies for Boma' at 8:30p.m.

August 30th, I will be in the Magic Kingdom most of the day. So, I chose to eat at Crystal Palace for dinner. At 6:00p.m. So, I will have time to see Spretro, and Wishes.

It is very easy to do if you start out, with researching your dates. I would say just research everything you can tonight. Because, Adr's for dinners are starting to sell out. I hope this helped out a bit. If you need more help. Send me a pm. Oh, and Happy Planning!! You can do it!! .

 

[Pumbaa_]

That's the same process I tend to do Faindrops. It sounds much worse than it is, really


Here is a link the DIS menu's. Has a nice search and sort feature.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

Planning the meals, especially this far out is really hard. Having the DDP does make it important though.

Make sure you have the WDW DIning number in your cell phone. If your plans change, or you feel like doing something different, give dining a call. You never know what may be available.

Check too in the parks at guest services. They can do a search for you too and avoid having to run all over to check at the restaurants themselves.

Have fun planning!

 

[beroh2253]

I just want to mention this also. Last year during the free DDP when I was there every walkup was told there was no space available, and they were turned away. So ME and DW were glad we made ADR for every day we stayed. And last year we didn't decide to go until 2 days left to book the free DDP and that was the extended dates thru June. We were able to book late in June most of what we wanted but not all and some we settled for lunch instead of dinner (like Lecellier) we went for lunch, Coral Reef was booked couldn't get in. This year going for 9 days booked April 9 and book all ADR's we wanted. So get those ADR's now. Most for us are in EPCOT so we get hoppers and go there after lunch do the TS there and watch the fireworks. All this talk is getting me ready but not till end of Sept.

 

[kaybird]

We plan much the same as the above posters. I have a spread sheet with our days and I color code EMH by park, so guess the most likely place we will be. I might also say that while many people say they think TS takes away from park time, we have found by making ADRs it is just the opposite. We often walk in sit down and are in and out in roughly the same ammount of time as standing in the long CS lines and fighting to find a place to sit. We love the DDP, and think that the TS restaurants are beautiful and restful! The little extra time planning makes for a wonderful trip, relaxing and filling!

 

[Ty's_mom]

Oh, you're all so wonderful.

I'm going to make all those ADR's tonight. Although I still don't know where...
I'll be okay. I'm going to research some menus and park hours ( thanks to all the websites you suggested). You have all made me feel much more confident.

I'll let you know what I get.

THANKS!!!

P.S. - faindrops, LOVED your examlpes. I'm someone who really needs it spelled out!

 

[LizinSTL]

You all are so well organized! I'm really making an effort (as this will be our first time with free dining). How to you plan you ADRs? Do you really know what days you will be at the specific parks?
We have always just bounced around...

Any suggestions or tips?

THANKS!!!

I agree with several other posters.

We were there during a busy time for our first trip so I subscribed to TourGuideMike. I used his advice to choose which days we'd visit each park and then I selected our TS based on that. We had parkhoppers as a free upgrade at the time and never used them once during the week. It worked perfectly. The TS meals often served as our "break" for the day and I found that many of our TS meals didn't take much longer than a CS meal (after you waited in line, got a table, ate and cleaned up after yourself!).

If you feel like you want to hit a particular day "commando-style" then don't schedule an ADR for that day...instead schedule 2 on another day (breakfast and dinner or early lunch/late dinner) With free dining, you don't need to be overly concerned with value, IMO so lunches and breakfasts can work into your planning, I'd think. We liked having some of each and we paid for our DDP.

 

[Mom of 3]

Talking about planning around EMH. This year we decided to avoid EMH. Last year we could walk on the rides pretty much during the day but during EMH there was long lines and it was the most crowded we saw the rides. So this year in Sept. we planned to avoid the EMH. Last year we did 2 parks each day and DH said I was in commando mode. We're going to have a more relaxed time this year and enjoy the hotel pool more and we're only doing one park per day as the kids were so exhausted.

 

[Ty's_mom]

Have any of you been to Captin Jacks'? I'm thinking this might be good because we will be at POR, we tend to spend a lot of evenings Downtown.

My husband would love that 'Twin Lobster Tail' entree.

 

[Colleen27]

Capt Jacks gets mixed reviews, but we loved it. DH really enjoyed the lobster. I don't remember what I had, but I remember the key lime pie was awesome. The main downside is that the menu is somewhat limited, so look it over on Allears before you decide to make sure there is something that will appeal to everyone.

BTW, we stayed at POR on our last trip and loved that boat ride to/from Downtown Disney. It was the perfect relaxing end to a long, hot day at the parks.

 

[faindrops27]

Oh, you're all so wonderful.

I'm going to make all those ADR's tonight. Although I still don't know where...
I'll be okay. I'm going to research some menus and park hours ( thanks to all the websites you suggested). You have all made me feel much more confident.

I'll let you know what I get.

THANKS!!!

P.S. - faindrops, LOVED your examlpes. I'm someone who really needs it spelled out!

Your so welcome. TysMom. I'm glad I could be of some assistance! I have never been to Captain Jack'. I have heard mixed reviews. About the place. But, my thinking is how bad can a twin lobster meal really be. Maybe if they offer free ddp next year. I will try it!

 

[chimmie219]

I used a calendar and wrote down each reservation and conf# on each day it was for.It made keeping track a lot easier.

 

[nikky]

So annoyed had everything planned perfectly and the disney calls me to say that i can't be double booked.The cm who took the ressie knew i was doublebooked and said it was fine. I am doing the land sea cruise no ddp there. so i booked a nother ressie for the day before i started land part of l/s package he said this was fine. i am so p.o.d now i have redo everything for the after stay of my cruise for the ddp plan. What is it to them if i have 5 rressies at their hotels as long as i am paying for them. Sorry had to rant to someone hubby isn't home yet.lol

 

[chimmie219]

Listen, I am not so organized, maybe just a little. So, let me just tell you what I do. Then maybe you will find it easier.

1. This is a golden rule for me. I also always buy hoppers, so dinner at any park will not be an issue.

2. I take the dates of my vacation, get a sheet of paper, and write those dates down. Ok, so then I go to disney' web site and look up my dates, on thier calendar. I then from there, figure out, against my dates what shows, parades, I wish to see. Which park will be open late, or early. I write this all down next to each date. So, I then basically work around those facts.

3. I then go to allearsnet.com to research the menu's to see what I want to eat. I also go to the food porn thread, on this resteraunt board, to see what looks good. I usually try and stay within the parks, or the area I will be. But, it is ok. If you can't just leave enough transportation time to get to your dinner.

4. I call 1-800-828-0228, and press #3 for Disney's dining Reservations to make my Adr's.

Ok, so lets say an example would look something like this:

On August 29th. Disney' website states, the Animal Kingdom will be open late for an extra magic night hours. So, that means it will be open until 8:00p.m. So, I made dinner ressies for Boma' at 8:30p.m.

August 30th, I will be in the Magic Kingdom most of the day. So, I chose to eat at Crystal Palace for dinner. At 6:00p.m. So, I will have time to see Spretro, and Wishes.

It is very easy to do if you start out, with researching your dates. I would say just research everything you can tonight. Because, Adr's for dinners are starting to sell out. I hope this helped out a bit. If you need more help. Send me a pm. Oh, and Happy Planning!! You can do it!! .

thats pretty much what i did,it was a lot easier

 

[Ms.Grumpy]

It's great to see that I am not the only one who plans her vacations like this. My DH and family think that I am totally obsessed and when it comes to Disney.

 

[Ty's_mom]

I just wanted to thank you all AGAIN!

After all the worrying and reading menus. It was easy! I just got off the phone with a lovely woman at the dinning hotline. Here's what I have so far...
Chef Mickey's
Boma
Sci-Fi
Rose & Crown
Planet Hollywood

I know they may not be the most exciting choices but, it's what will work for us. I really tried to stick to places I think my DS will enjoy. We are saving one day for ESPN and another for Boatwrights (staying at POR).

Now I'm just going to sit back and count the days.