Is it normal to freak out?

[LilTinks]

I'm making all of my character meal and dining reservations tomorrow AM and I can't stop worrying that I won't get CRT reservations! We're going in November during the latter half of Jersey week and during the Food & Wine at Epcot and Soap Star Weekend at MGM. My girls are the perfect ages to really appreciate a good princessy meal and we probably won't be back for 3 or 4 years, at which point they'll be too big (sniff). I haven't been to Disney since 1980-something and I certainly didn't plan it back then...of course I'm imagining the worst-case scenario for tomorrow morning...

Can someone tell me that everything will be alright so I can sleep tonight? This is so unlike me...

Breathe....breathe...breathe...

 

[Cowboysfan]

Relax. everything will be alright. you'll not only get the ressies you want, but will have a magical trip. good luck.

 

[audisight]

Calm down it will all work out . Even IF you don't get it on the first try you can keep calling to see if anyone backs out, and it does happen. I'm sure you will get everything you want. Let us know how it goes! Here's a little extra pixie dust!!!!

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

You probably haven't slept at all, but jst wonderiing if you got in?
When i was booking I had two phones going and had DH on his cell phone too. I was first to get in and had my choice of whatever time i wanted.

 

[newholidayx2]

This will be me tonight!

I HAVE to get the Princess Norway brkfst for my solo birthday vacation in November! want the first seating, etc. Will look at the itinerary again today to hopefully find an alternative to the day I really want

Then I NEED to get LeCellier lunch for my 50th birthday!

(already booked Dolphins on my bday morning and segway tour the day after)

 

[Treacle44]

We got CRt for lunch as well as everything else we wanted at the 180 day window.

Good luck!

 

[Sydney 13]

Good luck tomorrow. We are checking in Nov. 11th and I was able to make all my ressies last Wed. 5/9. You should try calling and see if you can make them today, who knows, maybe there will be some magic!!

 

[Ishy]

Don't freak - my brother did that 2 years ago. I just called every night on my long commute home (the 800 number) and finally got one for his party of 4, just made him promise not to tell his daughter -- then we did the entire little magical invitation making and other little things to add on and give her from 'Aunt Suzy' -- It was a magical experience for girls.

Also, make backup ressies at the princess breakfast/lunch/dinner in Norway. We did this with our entire party last year and ALL the princesses were there including Ariel and Cinderella! Again, we did the arrival thing with a special invitation to lunch, little disney trinkets and mickey tiedyes for her and her parents. She actually had a better time because Ariel is her FAVORITE and from what I have read here, this is the only place she shows up to eat - she has a fin problem...

my oldest DD 21 sulks that we didnt do this when she was little.
I DIDNT KNOW!
Thanks to Disboards I know now...

 

[LilTinks]

The long story is more of a comedy...here's how it went down...

• woke up at 4:54 AM with visiions of Cinderella chasing me around the castle...no returniing to sleep at this point
• logged onto www.time.gov to ensure that I called at exactly 7 AM
• reviewed my restaurant plans and committed them to memory haha
• waited not-so-patiently for 2 1/2 hours
• 6:30 AM made coffee to ensure that I wouldn't go back to sleep
• brought all charged household phones into bedroom along with my cell phone
• brought laptop into bedroom
• grabbed coffee, pen and paper
• put now-awake 4-year-old in front of television with instructions not to disturb Mommy
• dialed WDW Dine phone number onto 3 house phones and cell phone so I could simply hit redial at 7

Here's where thngs go south...

• 6:58 AM...pick 2 phones up with thumbs on redial
• realize that the 2 phones did not charge properly overnight and are now dead
• 6:59 AM...scramble for 3rd phone and cell phone...look at atomic clock website and realize that I've lost my wireless internet connection (aahhh!)wireless internet connection fails and cannot reconnect (oh no!)
• look at alarm clock, which says 7:01 (@#$%&!)
• stare at the phones in my hands and forget what to do or how to use them (?)
• breathe...breathe...breathe...I'm only 1 minute late and the fate of my daughters' future psychological well-being for having gone to a CRT character meal as children rests in my hands...MUST THINK!
• hit redial on one phone...look at my cheat sheet so that I can immediately respond to phone prompts
• 14 seconds pass...I envision my grown-up daughters tearfully explaining to their psychotherapist about how their mommy never brought them to a character meal at the castle
  Wait! An angel ascends from Disney Heaven (okay, probably not an angel but a really nice customer service specialist) gets on the line and asks what she can do for me...
• 7:10 I get my second choice CRT reservation and all the rest of my TS meals are booked...the really really nice woman even gave me some confirmation numbers to prove it!
• I hang up the phone, big smile on my face as I envision my daughters, now assured of a well-adjusted upbringing because I successfully booked the castle

So that's my story...thankfully over so that I can get a good night's rest for Mother's Day! Thanks for the well wishes and extra pixie dust and hope everyone else gets their reservations with little to no mental trauma!

Christina

 

[want2bamommy]

I am so happy that you got your ADR even with all the problems this morning! Now you can enjoy the next 6 months before the trip!

 

[PlutoLuvr]

I'm making all of my character meal and dining reservations tomorrow AM and I can't stop worrying that I won't get CRT reservations! We're going in November during the latter half of Jersey week and during the Food & Wine at Epcot and Soap Star Weekend at MGM. My girls are the perfect ages to really appreciate a good princessy meal and we probably won't be back for 3 or 4 years, at which point they'll be too big (sniff). I haven't been to Disney since 1980-something and I certainly didn't plan it back then...of course I'm imagining the worst-case scenario for tomorrow morning...

Can someone tell me that everything will be alright so I can sleep tonight? This is so unlike me...

Breathe....breathe...breathe...

First, we're never too old to enjoy a princess meal with our moms. My mom's been taking me to WDW a few times a year since it opened. We had our first dinner together at CRT in 2005, when we could both finally afford it, when the trip was just for us and didn't involve husbands and brothers who weren't into that sort of thing. I was 35 and she was 55. It was one of the most special times I can remember sharing with my mom -- and I'm glad we both got to experience it first as adults.

Second, don't stress! In all the years we've been going and trying new places to eat -- as well as returning to our must-do favorites -- invariably the restaurants we place the most importance on end up being a bit of a disappointment. Conversely, the places we sort of "settle" on (like O'Hana's breakfast for us last week when we couldn't get Chef Mickey's) end up being the highlight of our trip.

You and your girls will have a lovely time whether you're eating in CRT with Cindy or just enjoying a hot dog on Main Street at Casey's looking at your kids' eyes as they're soaking everything in

 

[Rustysmom]

I'm glad you got all the ADRs you wanted!

 

[AJKMOM]

Since that will sort of be me in July, (7:00 am, July 5) thanks for sharing your story.

I hope some day we'll say we knew you when your kids are curing diseases and achieving world peace, only after they meet Cinderella.

You made my morning!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Oh that was a good story! Only one us WDW nutheads can relate to and enjoy to its fullest. So glad you got what you wanted, Happy Mother's Day, you earned a good one!

 

[chia92]

I think it is totally normal to freak out at least I did!! Our trip was originally planned for December but we moved it up to September and lucked into free dining. So I was well past 180 days when I called but still managed to get all the ADRs I wanted and around the time we wanted! CONGRATS - it does feel so good once that is all done!!done! So happy for you!

 

[mickeymouse1017]

Don't feel bad, you are not the only DIS nut that does those types of things. I wanted so badly for my DD2 to go to CRT during our upcoming trip that I was calling several times a day for weeks looking to book any reservations. We planned our trip so last minute that I really felt like we were lucky to get the other two ADRs that we wanted. So one day I am at work (school teacher) and decide that while they were busy working I would quietly dial the number and ask about CRT. Little did I know that one of my little ones had seen me and was waiting to ask what I was doing. Yes, I know that I should not use my cell phone at school but again, only a DIS nut would understand. I get off the phone and she asks so I tell the class the entire sad story about not getting CRT reservations and that I am so disappointed. At which point, this original little girl stands up, puts her hand on her hips and says, "well at your age, you need to realize that it is not all about you!" I thought that I was going to fall out of my chair laughing. A few days later, I got the CRT reservations that I wanted and announced to her that yes, in fact, it was all about me! I must have done something right or gotten a little pixie dust because a few days later, I was able to get two other ADRs that we decided to try for. Disney here we come!

 

[AlwaysEeyore]

Good luck tomorrow. We are checking in Nov. 11th and I was able to make all my ressies last Wed. 5/9. You should try calling and see if you can make them today, who knows, maybe there will be some magic!!

I'm checking in on 11/12. I thought I had to wait till 5/16 to call. Did I screw up. Oh no!!!!

 

[LilTinks]

You can call to book your ADRs exactly 180 prior to your ARRIVAL date. Also, you are allowed to book for up to 9 days following that date for what will probably make up the rest of your vacation.

I booked this AM for my 11/8 arrival, and was able to book thru my departure date 6 days later.

Good luck and don't be a worry wart like I was!