Just cancelled our trip-Could not get any of the restaurants we wanted.UPDATE ON PG 4

[Jasminetigger]

I'm so sad. At the last minute DH and I decided to take a trip for our 16th anniversary. Without the kids! I got a great rate at BWI for 9/21/2006 - 9/23/2006. I was so excited, having never stayed there before. But then it hit me. We are only about two months out and it's during the free dining period. I knew I would have some trouble getting some ADR's, but I had some backups ready. I even had backups to my backups. I got a nice CM on the phone and she really tried to help me. She tried everything. The only things available were real late at night. I just can't eat late at night. The whole purpose of this trip was for the restaurants and the nightlife without the kids. Now we just got back last month, so I have to be thankful for that. So I cancelled our reservation at BWI this morning. I was so depressed. DH was so nice about it. He said why don't you start planning that Disney Christmas trip we've always wanted to take. He said get on the phone and start making those ADR's as soon as you can. So at least I have that to look forward to. An anniversary trip would have been so nice though. Don't get me wrong, I am very thankful for the trips we get to take. It just helps when you write down your thoughts and you vent a little. Thanks for listening.

 

[va32h]

I'm sorry you had to cancel your trip. I really don't like the way the dining plan has now made it all but impossible to eat table service unless you plan your entire trip and meals six months out.

Disney has undergone many changes, but this one is, I think, my least favorite. Our trip is in November, and we've pretty much had to accept that we'll be eating counter service the whole time. It's just ridiculous to me. I wish they'd go back to the 60 days policy.

 

[BillSears]

I'm sorry you had to cancel your trip. I really don't like the way the dining plan has now made it all but impossible to eat table service unless you plan your entire trip and meals six months out.

Disney has undergone many changes, but this one is, I think, my least favorite. Our trip is in November, and we've pretty much had to accept that we'll be eating counter service the whole time. It's just ridiculous to me. I wish they'd go back to the 60 days policy.

I agree 100%. I really wish it was like it was in the past. I often walked right up to LeCellier and was seated in 10 minutes with no ADR. The table service restaurants have gotten out of hand during some periods.

I'm sorry about your trip but I understand why your cancelling. Go ahead and plan that December trip it should be great!

 

[bluejasmine]

Oh Im so sorry! The DP does seem to make it harder to get into TS places but maybe you could try some new places? Maybe some signature places since its just you and hubby. Well if all else fails you have a Christmas trip! Im so jealous! Let us know how the decisions go..

 

[littleladykaty]

sounds like your husband is a real sweetie!!! Gotta love that!!!

Disney at Christmas sounds FANTASTIC!!!

 

[Jasminetigger]

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

va32h and BillSears, yeah the dining plan really changed things. Those last minute trips are very hard to plan now.

bluejasmine, we tried everything. New places, old favorites, switching days,
lunch instead of dinner, nothing was working out.

littleladykaty, yeah DH is real great. I am sure Christmas will be great. I can't wait to start planning. He sure does put up with a lot from me and my disney obsession.

 

[AJKMOM]

Plan your trip so you come home the Friday before Christmas, and the crowds won't be so bad. It's a great time to go.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I'm sorry you had to cancel. I haven't had trouble making some ADR's for the week after Thanksgiving, so you should be ok for your Christmas trip (assuming you aren't going the week of Christmas). Good Luck!

 

[BCV23]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear your story. Did you try some of the resort restaurants? Many of them are easier to get and most are so good. Better than most park restaurants I think.

I would keep trying if I were you. I've always had the impression that reservation spots are opened up as time goes by.

 

[Jasminetigger]

AJKMOM, I am going to do some research and plan to go the best time BEFORE Christmas so we hopefully miss the crowds.

DisneyGirl4188, No, we are not going Christmas week. I don't think I would ever attempt that. So hopefully I won't have much trouble with the ADR's if I start planning soon.

BCV23, We were trying to get resort restaurants. That's what was so frustrating. The only park we were trying to eat at was Epcot. But the rest were resorts and DTD. But to no avail.

 

[bostondis]

6 days for dinner for 2 - Liberty Tree, Coral Reef, Kona, Wolfgang Puck, Boma, and Chefs de France

I don't know what you mean by late - but most of these are on or about 7:00. There was a tiny issue where the phone rep tried to tell me that Coral Reef was booked solid - until I explained that 7:20 is, in fact, close enough to 7:00 to be acceptable.

The impression I get was everything is pretty wide open - perhaps you should try calling again and getting a different person.

 

[skuttle]

That's a shame. We LOVE eating during our WDW trips so I can understand your disappointment.

I think they should limit the number of PS's they take and leave room for walkups. Not everyone goes to WDW after researching it for months! It's really not fair to newbies. DH and I, on the other hand, start planning our meals for the next trip during our trip. LOL!

 

[MickeyNicki]

I kinda went through the same thing. We have a trip planned for my birthday in mid Oct with my 2 nieces....DH said to change it to Sept and take advantage of the free dining.....could not get the ressies I wanted and I figured it would be too busy anyways so we are sticking with Oct.

 

[Jasminetigger]

6 days for dinner for 2 - Liberty Tree, Coral Reef, Kona, Wolfgang Puck, Boma, and Chefs de France

I don't know what you mean by late - but most of these are on or about 7:00. There was a tiny issue where the phone rep tried to tell me that Coral Reef was booked solid - until I explained that 7:20 is, in fact, close enough to 7:00 to be acceptable.

The impression I get was everything is pretty wide open - perhaps you should try calling again and getting a different person.

When are you going in September? We were only going for two days so I really did not have much flexibility. I would have been happy with 7:00 or 7:30. But the few places that were available were more like 9:45 and 9:50. And believe me I tried the calling back and getting a different CM thing. I know not all CM's are on the same level when it comes to knowledge. And I tried all day today before I decided to cancel. Consider yourself lucky. I am so glad you were able to get your ADR's.

 

[Mouse-n-Mini]

I agree that the DP people are taking over the disney restaurants. We only had one advance reservation for this last Christmas, and that was the candlelight processional package with Jim Caviezel at the Biergarten. While we were waiting to be seated there was a fella on a bench who was really upset that he couldn't get his family in anywhere to eat since they didn't have any advance reservations. He said he'd asked the CM if it was at all possible for them to eat at Biergarten and they told him no way! He seemed lost and didn't know where he was going to take his kids where they could enjoy a family sit down meal. I think the dining plan is a good thing for those people who are on it, but for everyone else, it seems like they're just simply outta' luck.

 

[bostondis]

When are you going in September? We were only going for two days so I really did not have much flexibility. I would have been happy with 7:00 or 7:30. But the few places that were available were more like 9:45 and 9:50. And believe me I tried the calling back and getting a different CM thing. I know not all CM's are on the same level when it comes to knowledge. And I tried all day today before I decided to cancel. Consider yourself lucky. I am so glad you were able to get your ADR's.

Sept 17-23. Overlapping your dates - for the 21st it is Kona, the 22nd is Chefs de France. Le Cellier was definitely open on the 22nd as well as I was trying to decide between that and Chefs, hoping they would make my decision easy.

Who knows how it really works...

 

[Jasminetigger]

Sept 17-23. Overlapping your dates - for the 21st it is Kona, the 22nd is Chefs de France. Le Cellier was definitely open on the 22nd as well as I was trying to decide between that and Chefs, hoping they would make my decision easy.

Who knows how it really works...

The 22nd is our anniversary. I was trying for Le Cellier for dinner that day. Every time I called, i was told they were booked solid for the entire day. I tried several time the past few days and I called a lot today.

 

[vatmark]

Just call it a belated Anniversary trip. Me and DH are going on a trip alone to WDW in Dec. as well for our belated anniversary. Our anniversary is in Oct. but wanted to be at Disney for the Christmas decorations.

You'll have a great time. Cheer up!

Annie

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

I'm so sorry you had to cancel!

But just so people know, it's not always impossible to get ADRs. In June, we make a ressie at BWV just one week ahead of time and got every restaurant we wanted. and at the times we wanted. The places we ate were Flying Fish, Kona, Spoodles, Boma, LTT(lunch), Chefs de France, Yachtsman Steakhouse and Mama Melrose. So .. I'm not talking about 2nd rate choices!

Don't give up folks!

 

[Jasminetigger]

Just call it a belated Anniversary trip. Me and DH are going on a trip alone to WDW in Dec. as well for our belated anniversary. Our anniversary is in Oct. but wanted to be at Disney for the Christmas decorations.

You'll have a great time. Cheer up!

Annie

Annie,

That's a great idea, works for me. I am already starting to cheer up. You guys are great therapy.