January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part I !!!

[Kazooie01]

We are also staying at ASMo that week! It'll be our first time there and our first time at a value. We plan to get 2 connecting rooms! What sections have you stayed in there? I plan to request the Herbie section, it seems to be a quieter section, yet not too far away from everything.

We have stayed in Toy Story Building 10 every time we have been there (on the side facing away from Andy's Room, it's quieter there). If you go down the stairs in the Bucket of Army Men, there is a path through trees and brush that takes you to the Bus Stops/Food Court in literally 30 seconds. We sure like that when we come back from the parks with two extremely tired kids. We had two connecting rooms in 2007 when the Grandparents came down for a few days when we were there. It worked out really well.

 

[Kazooie01]

Sounds like a good decision all around. It's not often you can make the kids happy AND save money at the same time! We'll be at AKV, renting points for a studio. We were originally staying at CSR, but I had concerns. I'm super happy with our choice now. 27 weeks from tomorrow, we'll be there!

Yes, it will work out good. Problem of saving money staying at the Value is that my Husband and I are as bad as the kids and we'll just spend the money we saved somewhere else on site.

 

[sixisenough]

I had the same problem the other day. I had a whole cart full and had the 40% off code and the site would not work. I almost called to see if I could still could get discount. That site is very frustrating!!!

Yes, I was pretty bummed that when Disney Shopping had an additional 40% off sale, the site wasn't working! Yesterday when I checked, it was working fine, but the sales weren't as good.

 

[sixisenough]

NEW DINING RESERVATION SYSTEM IN THE WORKS

Disney will begin implementing a new reservation system that combines dining, recreation and tour bookings.

The conversion will start on July 21, 2008 and is expected to be functioning on October 24. While this is taking place, the latest dining reservation date which can be booked in advance is January 25, 2009. Once the new system is operating, it will revert to the 180 day Advance Dining Reservation window.

The exceptions to the shortened ADR booking window are Cinderella's Royal Table, Chef Mickey's and Victoria & Albert's.

It looks like this has finally been announced officially by Disney. My call in date for ADR's is 1/21, what do you think that means from this, can I call in or do you think I have to wait until 10/24??? I check in 1/17-1/25 Shelly- I looked at my ressie and I was actually staying one day longer than I thought!!!
Let me know what you all think or if CM's have told you different!! Thank you. Have a magical day!!

 

[meggybear17]

NEW DINING RESERVATION SYSTEM IN THE WORKS

It looks like this has finally been announced officially by Disney. My call in date for ADR's is 1/21, what do you think that means from this, can I call in or do you think I have to wait until 10/24??? I check in 1/17-1/25 Shelly- I looked at my ressie and I was actually staying one day longer than I thought!!!
Let me know what you all think or if CM's have told you different!! Thank you. Have a magical day!!

I think you will be fine, since you are making ressies for prior to 1/25, although you may have to wait if you are making any ADRs for the 25th. Stinks for me, we check in on 1/27! I can't make my adr's until October

Oh well, I guess that just extends my planning and gives me a few more months to over analyze everything!

 

[2disneygirls]

Just celebrating again.......

Woke up at 6am to make ADR for CRT.........mission accomplished!!

Tomrrow's mission.....Tusker House in AK! Unless I change my mind before then.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

Wow....shutting down adr's for 3 months??
I'm hoping, hoping, hoping that this news will not have any affect on our adr's. They said booking thru Jan 25, we check out on 24! I emailed our adr's and other special requests to WL concierge early yesterday afternoon, WL IPO emailed back and said they would send a confirmation of our adr's and requests w/i 24 hours....but I haven't heard anything as of yet.

I am beginning to become VERY thankful that DH chose to stay club level, hopefully this will allow us to avoid some of all this adr craziness

BTW Shelly, we went with the basic dp, figured that w/ the continental breakfasts and snacks w/ cl that we would be fine

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Can I join in the fun and games??

We'll be at the Poly January 12-18/19. I think I'm going to tack on an extra day.

I'm going to start making my ADRs this week . . . tomorrow, in fact

You sure can!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Okay, you guys have me confused about the ADR's again!

The dates I need ADR's for are Jan 21, 22, 23, 25, & 26. . . . . Do you suppose I will be able to make them???

I guess I probably won't know until I call (July 25).

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

BTW Shelly, we went with the basic dp, figured that w/ the continental breakfasts and snacks w/ cl that we would be fine

I think you will be happy with that! No one could possibly go hungry on the DDP!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We have stayed in Toy Story Building 10 every time we have been there (on the side facing away from Andy's Room, it's quieter there). If you go down the stairs in the Bucket of Army Men, there is a path through trees and brush that takes you to the Bus Stops/Food Court in literally 30 seconds. We sure like that when we come back from the parks with two extremely tired kids. We had two connecting rooms in 2007 when the Grandparents came down for a few days when we were there. It worked out really well.

Yeah, the only thing we really worry about with the values is the noise. We like to sleep at night! And I hope we are granted the request of connecting rooms!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Okay, here's some pics for all you DHS (MGM) lovers out there!

DH was chosen for the Backlot Tour!

Backlot Tour

Streets of America

DS9 battling Darth Vador at the Jedi Traning Academy

Tower of Terror

Rock N Roller Coaster

 

[Laumau]

Those pictures are great! What do you mean by your DS being chosen for the Backlot tour?

The Studios look amazing.

 

[amreli]

Thanks for sharing the pics! I wish January were almost here (except the fact that I wouldn't be ready for the half marathon yet, but that's beside the point).

In general, do you think it's harder to get dinner ADRs than lunch ADRs?

I would say lunch. However, if you're doing the DDP, it's a much better deal to do TS dinners.

 

[trixiequilts]

NEW DINING RESERVATION SYSTEM IN THE WORKS

Disney will begin implementing a new reservation system that combines dining, recreation and tour bookings.

The conversion will start on July 21, 2008 and is expected to be functioning on October 24. While this is taking place, the latest dining reservation date which can be booked in advance is January 25, 2009. Once the new system is operating, it will revert to the 180 day Advance Dining Reservation window.

The exceptions to the shortened ADR booking window are Cinderella's Royal Table, Chef Mickey's and Victoria & Albert's.

It looks like this has finally been announced officially by Disney. My call in date for ADR's is 1/21, what do you think that means from this, can I call in or do you think I have to wait until 10/24??? I check in 1/17-1/25 Shelly- I looked at my ressie and I was actually staying one day longer than I thought!!!
Let me know what you all think or if CM's have told you different!! Thank you. Have a magical day!!

Have you found any official announcement or just stuff here? I checked the Disney site and found NOTHING to this effect. I find it hard to believe they would just spring this on everyone with no warning!

 

[jenkh]

Have you all heard the new addon to this rumour? Now there saying when they come back online for 180 day reservation in Oct, they will also be launching booking ADR's and tours online.

I for one like the idea, but considering disney's track record with booking online (anyone who has done a disney cruise, and booked excursions knows what I'm talking about..) am a bit leary. If it works I'm thrilled, but I guess my pessimistic attitude just thinks it's more stuff to go wrong the week I need to book half of my ADR's LOL

I have yet to find anything "official" from Disney regarding any of this (just stuff of the rumour board here) And as far as the going to 90 day ADR's next week, again I've seen nothing official either. But ALL the disney sites I go to are now reporting it as fact, and I can't remember something like that happening and being wrong.

I bet Disney isn't saying anything official just to avoid confusion. It's prolly easier just to tell the un-educated when they call to call back on such and such date, then confuse the mass public with the reasoning behind it. I follow all this stuff and even I'm a little confused by it. Can you imagine a Non Dis'r, planning say there first vacation trying to decifer what that means off disney's site?

BTW - love our name!

 

[MissMagnolia]

Well, today I tacked on Chef Mickey's breakfast to our 1/9 MK day. We got ADRs for 7:20 a.m. A bit early, but then we will be ready to go at park opening. Now I have my 8 TSs. I didn't want to do Le Cellier since we did that in the past and it was just okay for me (not a big steak eater). Plus, we will have a group of 9 (3 five year olds, 1 eight year old, and 1 ten year old). I can see the waitstaff at Le Cellier cringing already.

Since we have so many, I didn't think that SciFi was a good choice. Plus, it is our friends first visit to WDW, so how can I not add Chef Mickey's!

I think we are leaning toward All Star Movies or Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Trissy]

We went Jan 07. We had 60 degree days, we had 80 degree days. It was crazy. Check weather.com before you go and pack accordingly. I must say, I would rather have it cooler than warmer. My girls would complain all day if they were hot. No problems with ADRs or waits. It was great.

What time do the parks usually close in Jan?

 

[Laumau]

Just celebrating again.......

Woke up at 6am to make ADR for CRT.........mission accomplished!!

Tomrrow's mission.....Tusker House in AK! Unless I change my mind before then.

Woot!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Good morning Snowbirds!