It's all about the FD!

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I've only been posting on DIS now for a couple of months, so this obviously my first PTR! Hope I know what I'm doing...please bear with me if I don't. First, some of the basic facts:

Who: Me, DH, DS13, DS11 (I'll do more introductions next time around!)

When: 8/25-8/31

Where: POFQ (First time at anything other than a value)

Why: Why not?????

Our first family trip to WDW was in 2007. And that was my first trip EVER at the ripe old age of 42! I did a lot of research, reading up on websites, guide books, asking people I knew...wherever I could find the information. I kept hearing about all these crazy people who were obsessed with Disney. They actually went every year! Or even several times a year! They belonged to discussion forums just about WDW! They knew every detail of every park! They talked in this strange language that included things like ADR, PH, FP, and DDP were (among many other acronyms I would learn)! They opened the park and closed the park each day! They were crazy!!!!!

Now I have to admit I'm one of them....

After our first trip, I was hooked. We went back in 2010 and 2011 and have just over two months to go until our next trip. I could easily go every year and be perfectly happy. But I don't think the rest of my family is quite as obsessed as I am. So we make everyone happy by alternating with some other spots along the way (New Hampshire, DC, Pennsylvania, local trips). But I've still been able to get my Disney fix a few times in the last few years.

I probably fall somewhere in the middle as far as super-planning or playing it by ear. We don't do PH (see, I now know what that means!) so it's basically one park a day. I plan out my ADRs accordingly and we have a schedule for each day before we arrive in WDW. But as far as exactly what order we do what once we get to the park, I like to have a little more flexibility. We're still not rope drop people and don't stay until closing most nights. We try to balance park time and seeing everything we want with spending some down time relaxing in the pool. That's what works for us!

I'm so excited about our upcoming trip that I thought this would be a great way to journal what I'm thinking about, as well as maybe getting some feedback from all you crazy Disney people! Maybe a few of you will want to follow along....or maybe not. But either way, I'm going to have fun posting and it will be something to do while I wait for August 25th!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Occurred to me that the title doesn't really make any sense on its own. So let me explain....

Our first trip was the last week in August, 2007. Free Dining was alive and kicking! At that time, you got the app, entree, dessert, and tip all included. Walk into a restaurant, order whatever you wanted, and walk out paying nothing. Those were the days!

And it's become a tradition with us ever since. We've always gone the last week in August, always gotten the free dining. Although the deal isn't nearly as good as it used to be. In 2011, even though we stayed at a value, we upgraded to the regular DP. It was a bit easier since my youngest was still a Disney "kid".

So fast forward to earlier this year. We decided it was time for another Disney trip. Great--we'll go end of August again since there's always free dining at that time. Now we'll have to upgrade all four of us, so once we add that to the price of a Value, we're basically at the price of a Mod. So after much research, we decide on POFQ. I go ahead and book our room, knowing once the FD offer comes out, I should be able to call and just add it.

Then the watching and waiting begins....and goes on....and on....and on. Then I start seeing the rumors. What do you mean FD doesn't start until 9/2????? They've got to be wrong! It's ALWAYS the end of August.

Sadly, no, the rumors are true. I can admit to you here that almost had me in tears when I realized we were going to have to rethink our plans. Can't really change dates because don't want to pull kids from school and DH's vacation is already approved at work. More planning, adding up dining costs, pricing out different options. Finally decided we'd stay at POP instead and just pay for food OOP, maybe a couple less TS meals than we had thought. But we're still going to Disney!!!!

Then more rumors. People are getting PINs. And they're good for the last week of AUGUST!!!

Now I'm checking e-mail every 5 minutes, waiting for the coveted Disney Destinations e-mail. Nothing. Nope. Nada. Okay, okay, I'll call and there will be one attached to my name. Nope. Stay up until wee hours of the morning checking e-mail, thinking something will come. Nope. After a couple days of obsessively checking and rechecking, I get desperate and decide to call again. AND IT'S THERE!!! I'm almost in tears again because now we can have the vacation we were really hoping for---not the scaled back version.

I know a lot of people say FD isn't really free. And I totally get that. But here's how I look at it. With all my figuring and planning where we would eat OOP and so forth, I came up with a total cost for our family. This included staying at POP, a few less TS meals, watching what we spent on meals, and it would be fine. But instead, for basically the same total, we're staying at POFQ and ordering the most expensive things on the menu if we want and having at least one nice TS every day.

BTW--Never did get that e-mail about the FD PIN. Wouldn't have known if I didn't call and ask. Then just about a week ago I get a postcard in the mail with a PIN #. Just what were they waiting for?????

So, for us, it really is all about the Free Dining!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Okay, just to share our plans:

Sun 8/25 -- 7:00 a.m. flight, arrive at MCO around 10:00. DME to hotel and hopefully room will be ready! Quick lunch at resort and off to MK for the afternoon. ADR at Tony's for now. Still thinking about Trail's End buffet instead. Really hoping for Ohana but nothing open right now. Want to keep it close and simple, since it's going to be a long day!

Mon 8/26 - AK day. Hoping to make EMH at 8:00 and then Tusker House breakfast at 10:15. Leaving park in time to get to AKL for restaurant tour at 4:00 and then 5:00 ADR at Boma.

Tues 8/27 - EP day. Dinner at Teppan Edo. Kids want to try the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream, so that may be lunch that day!

Wed 8/28 - Leaving WDW for a day DS11 is a Lego fanatic----I mean FANATIC!!!!! So we promised one full day at Legoland. Not necessarily top on my list, but just watching him is going to be worth it! We keep saying this is like visiting the Holy Land for him.

Thurs 8/29 - HS day. Fantasmic package with Mama Melrose. Try to be there early to get TSM in a couple times.

Fri 8/30 - Back to MK for the whole day. Booked a 1900 PF breakfast, but then was able to snag BOG reservations for 4:30 dinner!!!!! Thank you to the DISer who posted on the cancelled thread! We also have the Tomorrowland Wishes Dessert Party booked for 8:00. Never done that before and really looking forward to it. Will probably end up skipping the breakfast, since sons were only going along with that for my sake anyway! But thought BOG and dessert party were a great way to spend our last night at WDW.

Sat 8/31 - Last day . Pack up and store luggage. Then off to Summer/Winterland for a round of mini golf, followed by lunch at DTD. Will have one last TS at this point, so going back and forth between Wolfgand Puck and T-Rex. Not sure where we'll end up. Then the final boat ride back from DTD to POFQ to catch ME to the airport. Plane leaves around 5:30.

Should mention that we don't have a single ADR at any place we've eaten before. This was a challenge from my DS13. We're always on him to not be afraid to try new things. So he has insisted that we not eat at any of our "regular" spots. He wants all brand new. And I think it's a great idea. We're moving out of the box and trying some new things. Can't wait!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Okay, so here we are...

Me - Cheryl, 48 scared1. Work-at-home mom and avid coupon clipper/bargain hunter. I've worked from my home since my oldest was born. Always felt it was the best of both worlds! My first trip to Disney was with the family in 2007. I had no idea what I'd been missing!!!!! Now I'm hooked! I'm the family planner/organizer. The boys all look at what I've planned and nod, "Yep, looks good!" So I also bear the pressure to make sure everything goes perfectly! I'm definitely not a seat-of-my-pants person, but don't want things planned to the minute.

DH - Paul, 51. Works very hard all year so wants to relax during vacation--but goes to Disney anyway!!! Doesn't understand all my obsessive planning, but appreciates it once we are somewhere and we actually have an idea of what we're doing!

DS - 13. Typical teenager! Very quiet, reserved. Enjoys the parks, but not big on interacting with characters or being the center of attention.

DS - Almost 11. The drama king! Wants to be center stage, silly, goofy. My Lego nut--the reason we're going to Legoland. Just finished elementary school and head off to middle school in the fall.

So I guess just a typical family heading to Disney!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Today's goal???? Getting all the "boys" to sit down, go through ADRs, look at menus, and make final decisions! Right now, I've got a couple more than I actually need, but really up in the air about what to cancel or change. And it's usually all left up to me. This time, I'm making them turn off the TV, put down the electronics (except the computer!), and really focus and offer some input. How do you think that will go?

Things that are up for debate....

First night at MK--Tony's, Trail's End, Ohana (if I can get it), or 1900 Park Fair?

AK Day -- Add in Tusker House breakfast or skip it and just do Boma for dinner? Kind of graze through the park and not do a sit down until after it closes.

HS Day -- It's Mama Melrose Fantasmic package either way, but lunch at 12:00 or a later meal around 3:00?

Last day -- T-Rex, Wolfgang Puck, or use the TS credit earlier in the week and just do a QS at DTD?

This is the kind of stuff that wakes me up at night! I don't know what I want to eat tonight, let alone in a couple months! And we never book far enough out to book at the 180 days so I'm always scrambling and checking to see what opens up. Dining reservations should never take this much energy!

 

[Disneylover99]

I've only been posting on DIS now for a couple of months, so this obviously my first PTR! Hope I know what I'm doing...please bear with me if I don't. First, some of the basic facts:

Who: Me, DH, DS13, DS11 (I'll do more introductions next time around!)

When: 8/25-8/31

Where: POFQ (First time at anything other than a value)



I'm so excited about our upcoming trip that I thought this would be a great way to journal what I'm thinking about, as well as maybe getting some feedback from all you crazy Disney people! Maybe a few of you will want to follow along....or maybe not. But either way, I'm going to have fun posting and it will be something to do while I wait for August 25th!

Hi

You will love POFQ! We went there last August after only staying at Values. It is so beautiful and relaxing.

 

[Disneylover99]

So, for us, it really is all about the Free Dining.

It's all about the free dining for us too. We will be heading down for our fourth August trip because of free dining. Congratulations on your free dining pin!

 

[Disneylover99]

Should mention that we don't have a single ADR at any place we've eaten before. This was a challenge from my DS13. We're always on him to not be afraid to try new things. So he has insisted that we not eat at any of our "regular" spots. He wants all brand new. And I think it's a great idea. We're moving out of the box and trying some new things. Can't wait!

Great idea!

 

[Disneylover99]

Today's goal???? Getting all the "boys" to sit down, go through ADRs, look at menus, and make final decisions! Right now, I've got a couple more than I actually need, but really up in the air about what to cancel or change. And it's usually all left up to me. This time, I'm making them turn off the TV, put down the electronics (except the computer!), and really focus and offer some input. How do you think that will go?

Things that are up for debate....

First night at MK--Tony's, Trail's End, Ohana (if I can get it), or 1900 Park Fair?

AK Day -- Add in Tusker House breakfast or skip it and just do Boma for dinner? Kind of graze through the park and not do a sit down until after it closes.

HS Day -- It's Mama Melrose Fantasmic package either way, but lunch at 12:00 or a later meal around 3:00?

Last day -- T-Rex, Wolfgang Puck, or use the TS credit earlier in the week and just do a QS at DTD?

This is the kind of stuff that wakes me up at night! I don't know what I want to eat tonight, let alone in a couple months! And we never book far enough out to book at the 180 days so I'm always scrambling and checking to see what opens up. Dining reservations should never take this much energy!

We did the MM Fantasmic package last August at noon. It was a perfect way to get out of the heat. HS is our only absolute must get to rope drop park though so we can to TSM, RnR and TofT with minimal waits.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Well...it worked! I actually got all three of them to sit down, turn off the TV, and actually listen to our dining options! Of course, I had it narrowed down pretty much, but they still paid attention and offered feedback. So we've finalized all our ADRs and I don't have to obsess about them any more!

Sun (Arrival Day) - MK, Trail's End dinner

Mon - AK, Tusker House at 10:15, Boma for early dinner

Tues/Wed - This is the only thing up in the air. Not sure if we're doing Legoland on Tues or Wed. Other day will be Epcot. Right now, I have Teppan Edo dinner ADRs for both days, but will cancel one once we decide.

Thurs - HS, Mama Melrose at 12:30

Fri - MK, BOG lunch, Tomorrowland Dessert Party at 8:00

Sat (Departure Day) - Mini golf, DTD, T-Rex for lunch.

How does that look? I'm feeling pretty good about it--they're all new to us, some pretty different offerings, and things I think everyone will enjoy! Another thing checked off the list!

Thanks to all for the feedback already!

 

[Disneylover99]

Well...it worked! I actually got all three of them to sit down, turn off the TV, and actually listen to our dining options! Of course, I had it narrowed down pretty much, but they still paid attention and offered feedback. So we've finalized all our ADRs and I don't have to obsess about them any more!

Sun (Arrival Day) - MK, Trail's End dinner

Mon - AK, Tusker House at 10:15, Boma for early dinner

Tues/Wed - This is the only thing up in the air. Not sure if we're doing Legoland on Tues or Wed. Other day will be Epcot. Right now, I have Teppan Edo dinner ADRs for both days, but will cancel one once we decide.

Thurs - HS, Mama Melrose at 12:30

Fri - MK, BOG lunch, Tomorrowland Dessert Party at 8:00

Sat (Departure Day) - Mini golf, DTD, T-Rex for lunch.

How does that look? I'm feeling pretty good about it--they're all new to us, some pretty different offerings, and things I think everyone will enjoy! Another thing checked off the list!

Thanks to all for the feedback already!

Looks great! A nice variety of restaurants and your restaurant times are varied each day which is cool!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Okay, so now that our ADRs are all set, time to start thinking about CS meals! Again, we're going to try some new places and not rely on the old standards. So definitely BOG is one of our lunches.

I've heard such wonderful things about Columbia Harbor House that I'm thinking on arrival day, we may wait and have lunch there instead of at the resort before heading to MK.

Think I've talked the kids out of trying the Kitchen Sink (which was going to be lunch on EP day!). I really want to check out Sunshine Seasons (is that the right name--the place at The Land). We've had snacks there, but never a meal.

Not quite sure yet where we'll be fitting in our other CS meals! On DHS day we're doing lunch at Mama Melrose and may take a break back at the resort before heading to Fantasmic. Staying at POFQ, but I hear about the make your own salad and make your own pasta at POR so may check that out.

I'm wondering about breakfast CS, other than at the hotel. We'll sometimes get 2-3 meals and split among the four of us--which is plenty of food for us--so we end up with extra CS credits. And especially if we're spending one day offsite!

Just one more thing to obsess about for the next two months....

 

[Disneylover99]

We love Columbia Harbour House, Sunshine Seasons and the make your own pasta at POR!

So many delicious choices! Don't stress too much about your counter services. Just plan to hit the ones you missed on your next trip.

Because you and I both know.....there will be a next trip!