Just booked (and new here!)

[PharmerJan]

Hi! Im new to this forum. Looking to share my excitment and learn a few things!

I am a WDW alum- been 5 times plus twice more as a young child- not many memories of those trips. I am 29 years old and married to a wonderful Disney novice. We have a son who is 2 1/2 and we just booked our first family Disney trip for March 19 - 26. Im excited and anxious as I know my son is still a bit young. My last visit was in 2003, so I know so much has changed!

The details:
We are staying at ASMovies. I have never stayed at the value resorts- always at CBR. Hope they can live up to my expectation??!!
Meeting up with ILs and SIL (and niece and nephew), which is why we are at the ASMovies.
Only one ADR so far- Chef Mickeys for a character breakfast.
No dining plan option, we are an al la cart sort of bunch. Also, DS is too young to be included on the dining plan so it just didnt seem worth it to us.

Hoping to learn a few things, figure out just how many ADR I should make with all these kids (thinking not many- they wont be up for a sit down dinner after parks all day), and how to convince my MIL that Typhoon Lagoon is a necessary park to visit (or how to tell her "okay, see you later then").

 

[Metro West]

 

[Disn3y]

Enjoy your upcoming trip!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Hi! Im new to this forum. Looking to share my excitment and learn a few things!

I am a WDW alum- been 5 times plus twice more as a young child- not many memories of those trips. I am 29 years old and married to a wonderful Disney novice. We have a son who is 2 1/2 and we just booked our first family Disney trip for March 19 - 26. Im excited and anxious as I know my son is still a bit young. My last visit was in 2003, so I know so much has changed!

The details:
We are staying at ASMovies. I have never stayed at the value resorts- always at CBR. Hope they can live up to my expectation??!!
Meeting up with ILs and SIL (and niece and nephew), which is why we are at the ASMovies.
Only one ADR so far- Chef Mickeys for a character breakfast.
No dining plan option, we are an al la cart sort of bunch. Also, DS is too young to be included on the dining plan so it just didnt seem worth it to us.

Hoping to learn a few things, figure out just how many ADR I should make with all these kids (thinking not many- they wont be up for a sit down dinner after parks all day), and how to convince my MIL that Typhoon Lagoon is a necessary park to visit (or how to tell her "okay, see you later then").

We've been going to Disney yearly with our kids since they were 2, 3, 4 and 7 (they are now 8, 9, 10 and 14) and the dining plan is one of the best things that Disney has come up with in a long time and with it's immense popularity now, it's pretty much a necessity to have Advance Dining Reservations for almost all table service/sit down meals. You will be at WDW during the start of the very busy Spring Break season and it's highly unlikely that you will be able to get walk-ups at any of the popular places, especially within the parks. Even if you are not planning on doing a table service meal every day, you definitely need to make reservations for the must do restaurants on your list.

Also, All-Star Movies is our family's favorite resort. Our kid's even pick it over The Polynesian.

 

[pkondz]

We moved from a moderate (POR) to a value (ASMu) and the only difference we noticed was 1. Change of themeing (value being more Disneyesque... if there is such a word, and if there isn't... I'm making it up! ) and 2. No slide at the pool. The kids might be more likely to sit for dinner if there's something else to do. You mentioned a character meal, just off the top of my head there's Biergarten in EPCOT for the show or Sci-Fi in DHS for the movies. Also, have you checked to see if there's free dining while you're there? Check here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts.html
Good Luck!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

The OP is going during the Spring Break season and there isn't a free dining offer for then.

The 2011 free dining dates are :

1/1 - 1/5
1/9 - 1/13
1/21 - 2/3
2/11 - 2/17
2/25 - 3/3
5/27 - 6/2
8/19 - 9/29

 

[magicaldisney]

 

[pkondz]

The OP is going during the Spring Break season and there isn't a free dining offer for then.

The 2011 free dining dates are :

1/1 - 1/5
1/9 - 1/13
1/21 - 2/3
2/11 - 2/17
2/25 - 3/3
5/27 - 6/2
8/19 - 9/29

Whoops! Didn't even see the date posted. But check the posted link periodically anyway as discounts do pop up.

 

[PharmerJan]

Yeah, no free dining our week. My original choice week (week of 2/25-3/2) did have free dining but my SIL could not get time off work then- so plans changed. I would prefer a non-peak season week, but we wanted to meet up with family there (for the kids) so, you know.

I got a little anxious this weekend and booked a lunch at Plaza at MK and dinner... somewhere. Darn it all if I could remember it now!! Anyways, I wanted to try the Backyard BBQ, but it was all full. Still tickets to the Hoop-de-do- still thinking on that. My 2.5 year old isnt the best at a sit down dinner, but a nice show might keep him occupied enough. I am looking into kid friendly places, not necessarily the best foodie places, but somewhere my child can be loud and not get nasty looks! Its my vacation, too!!

If it was just DH, DS and I we would book some more, but SIL has a more limited budget and I just wouldnt feel right going without them. Im imagining a lot of CS meals, which honestly Im okay with. During my past trips with my family I only remember 2 sit down meals- Liberty Tree and somewhere in Italy. When DS is older and appreciates food like I do we will to Disney dining the RIGHT way!!

 

[jpmandan]

Welcome, and have fun.

 

[pkondz]

Sounds like you've got a good handle on things!
BTW is there a wrong way to do Disney? Maybe not doing it at all?