Jan ADRs yet?

[ktbugsmom]

After reading some of the posts about how the dining plan has made it tough to get ADRs... how far out do you think I should make ADRs for Jan. 6-12, 2007? We plan on trying the dining plan for the first time - so I don't want to be shut out of table service meals.

Last January, without the dining plan, we were able to do walk ups at most sit down places - but didn't try for places like O'Hana, Flying Fish, Le Cellier harder to get places like that or character meals (our kids have done those enough and it takes too long).

Since I am a planning geek, should I book some now and make changes later if I want?

I am hoping to try Coral Reef, Le Cellier, Teppanyaki, Sci Fi (car this time), and Yachtsman Steakhouse for some sit downs. We are staying at BWV - so these are close to us - and we have not tried most of these places yet.

I can't ask my husband, because he thinks I am a freak for planning so early.

Thanks gang!

 

[BCV23]

Well, you know you've asked at a place where we all enjoy planning.

I would check the hours for the parks and plan away. Then call and have it done in one fell swoop. That is what I like to do anyway.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thanks BCV23!

Yes - I come here looking for support for my obsessive Disney planning! Funny, I checked park hours today and found out about extra magic hours too. They post them 6 months in advance... and yes, I realize those can change, but it will give me a starting point.

I think I have decided on Coral Reef for an early dinner the first day we are there. Never tried it and we want to do Epcot that day anyway - plus the kids love watching the fish and we have yet to do Crush's Turtle Talk - so we will be right there. Then I want to try Yachtsman Steakhouse for our "adult dinner" - we can put kids in the kids club at BC.

The only issue I have is that we get tired of "meals" - so I will keep that in mind. I may plan some sit down lunches so we can just have CS for dinners in Epcot - since we like to wander and graze... we can try several different places for dinner that way if we all share along the way.

I can't wait! Thanks for understanding my obsession!

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Well... I just booked ours this morning for our January 10-14 trip. I thought we would have our choice of times, and even at 9 this morning I didn't get the *exact* times I wanted for everything. I was very surprised.

I would imagine you could wait awhile, but I am planning obsessed and since my calendar said "make WDW ADRs" today, I did so!

 

[Stitch1404]

Make them as soon as you can. You may be able to wait, but better safe than sorry.

 

[yearbook50]

I made my ADRs for my Jan 3rd - 9th trip at exactly 180 days out and I didn't get my exact times I wanted on some of my reservations. In fact at my Brown Derby package I had to eat at 4pm!! Oh well its ok.
Make them ASAP

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Our BD Fantasmic Package is not much better at 4:30. I am thinking we will have a big breakfast and just do 2 meals that day (now I have to figure out another ADR). Oh and ice cream after Fantasmic too

 

[emh1129]

I made all of our reservations for Jan.2-12 at 180 days out. Got everything we wanted!
I'm sure it will change somewhat, but the important ones are there, so I'm happy.

 

[simzac]

I also made our ADR's for our Jan 1-8 trip at 180 days out. Got exact times for 4 days, 1 was off 5 minutes, the other only 30 minutes later than I wanted. I would make your ADR's as soon as you have decided where you want to eat.

 

[dixiedizfan]

I got all the exact times I wanted for our January 1-7 trip, and that is a pretty crowded week. The week you're going will be MUCH less crowded, so I sure wouldn't worry too much about the ADRs. In fact I would bet you could be a walk-up for most of your dinners.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I think we are going the 3rd to the 10th and I hadn't even thought about making the ADR's until I read a thread about people not getting what they wanted so DH and I are working on figureing it out and I think I will call on Monday.

Right now we are on a waiting list for BCV, but we are signed up for our home resort at VWL. The thing is where we stay will make a differenc in our ADR's. I guess I will go ahead with VWL and change ADR's if needed.

We are thinking. Ohannas, Cheif Mickey's (never been before) 1900 park fair, LaCelier and lunch at Hollywood and Vine for the new Play house Disney meal. We are also considering Hoop De Do Reveiw.

 

[ktbugsmom]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. While I have not made any ADRs yet - I think I will this week - just because I can and just because I would be frustrated if we buy the dining plan and have a hard time using our TS meals.

DisneyPhD - you might have a hard time gettting BCV then because of the WDW Marathon. I tried to switch from BWV to BCV and could not get Saturday and Sunday nights (Jan 6 and 7) at about 6 months out. So - we are keeping our BWV for those night and then switching to BCV.

Last year, I needed to add a night to the beginning of our reservation and had a hard time at about 8 months out! But, it was the night before the 5K and the half marathon. We ended up in a standard view studio the first night, then switched to our boardwalk view. I was on the waitlist for 8 months, and the boardwalk view never came through.

However, the parks and restaurants were not crowded that week at all really. We love going in January!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. While I have not made any ADRs yet - I think I will this week - just because I can and just because I would be frustrated if we buy the dining plan and have a hard time using our TS meals.

DisneyPhD - you might have a hard time gettting BCV then because of the WDW Marathon. I tried to switch from BWV to BCV and could not get Saturday and Sunday nights (Jan 6 and 7) at about 6 months out. So - we are keeping our BWV for those night and then switching to BCV.

Last year, I needed to add a night to the beginning of our reservation and had a hard time at about 8 months out! But, it was the night before the 5K and the half marathon. We ended up in a standard view studio the first night, then switched to our boardwalk view. I was on the waitlist for 8 months, and the boardwalk view never came through.

However, the parks and restaurants were not crowded that week at all really. We love going in January!

We went last year the same week in Jan and it worked out great. We were in SSR then, I think we didn't plan ahead enough. When I called at 7 months out to change it was the weekend dates we couldn't get at BCV. I think we might just be ok with VWL (our home, but we have only stayed there once.) We just love BCV so much. It is a good week to go though.

 

[dgaston]

I'll be staying at OKW and have already moved some of our ADRs! We're eating at LeCellier, Prime Time 50's, Hoop De Doo (when we can book it), and Donald's Breakfastosaurus. Hoping that the dining plan is offered to DVCers again.

 

[Anjiebaby]

When we went last February we had the Brown Derby Fantasmic Package at 4:30. At the time I thought it was ridiculously early, but after a leisurely dinner including appetizer, main and desert. We let the kids run around for about 20 minutes, picked up popcorn and pop, then strolled slowly to the entrance. My DH dropped some stuff at the car and got jackets. We went in the Fantasmic Package entrance which is right behind the garage at Studio entrance. It is quite a meandering walk back lot then parked the stroller and walked up to get seats. We had our pick of seats, then about a 30 minute wait. We didn't really feel we had time for more rides in between dinner and the show.
The best part was after the show as you get to leave with the Fantasmic Package people ( a much smaller crowd) from that same "entrance" which takes you out right near the front gate, great for DD as she was asleep.

The Brown Derby was delicious and even with two small kids, the best meal I had at WDW.