Lama pa'ipa'i on the Lanai – an Aulani TR -Aloha and Mahalo Aulani! Link to PTR 11/5

[eandesmom]

Wow...amazing...you a brave woman to even attempt to coordinate all of this, and over Christmas, too! I am duly impressed.

And that's all anyone gets for Christmas!

I have to say that with what folks are saying about NextGen or whatever we're going to call it this week, it seems like advance planning is becoming even more critical. Of course, that will give me an excuse to make some decisions early and book sooner rather than later!

Which does kill the spontaneity a bit huh! Not that you could be all that spontaneous over NYE but....

I'm not loving what I hear about the FP stuff but will wait till I see it in action. Frankly I'm expecting it to be a bit of a mess for a while but we will see.

Good luck with everything you're trying to figure out. I have faith that if anyone can pull this off, it will be you!

If all else fails, we will eat in the villa! Although, we may end up doing the DDP after all, which would mean less groceries and I'm ok with that part.

That sounds like total nuts. In so glad we rarely travel with more thsn two. I hope this works out for you!

If all else fails, we will eat in the villa, that is the one truly lovely thing about DVC.

Wow!! After all that you may need another one of those Aulani massages!! That's exhausting with all the planning. I'm coordinating for a party of 10 in early December and awaiting the CP packages to be released. I'm glad you said something about the packages next Tuesday.

I have to decide if it is worth it for the surcharge. I'd like to do it but oh the difference does add up!

I'd love a massage...and one of my yummy rum/juice drinks!

You scored some great ADRs! I'm sure the payoff will be huge to have your dinging plans in place during the busiest time of the year. Great job!

I made one switch today (just flopped nights) but overall, I am pretty pleased with the options and how well they fit our mix of people. It would be a different line up if it were just my gang but most of the places I'm happy enough to go to. I am rethinking doing the DDP though.

I can't even fathom what you have had to book in regard to dining, what you still have to book, and the various whatnot. You are super organized! I feel organized, but I'm only dealing with a party of 6 at most on our family trips...maybe 7.

Selectively organized, I totally mucked up my schedule for next weekend and need to straighten that out. Honestly doing it for 6, or 16, it really isn't all that different.

Just like 4 kids really isn't all that different than 2.

Going from 1 to 2 now, that's an entirely different story!

I'm glad your spa treatment turned out to be everything you'd hoped. Interesting relaxation area outside - looks great!

It was magical!

Wow! That is big group to plan for. I'm finding in even trying to plan for my own kids it is hard - definitely different opinions about some things. I'm glad your ADRs are coming together. I wonder if I should call and check on mine - I didn't bother to do the My Experience because I couldn't retrieve any of them anyway, but they had the BBB and Pirate's League numbers when I called back so I was confident in the ADR numbers.

In a lot of ways this group is easier than when we went with Jeff's mom and her DH. She had definite opinions that she waited until the 11th hour to share! That does remind me though, it would be lovely to book a girls tea...hmmn. Need to think about where that might fit in.

Besides, I am rebelling against the FP+ or anything connected with it for as long as I can.

You go! Me too.

 

[KatMark]

Loved BOG both times and going again in 44 days. We are not fans of 50's Prime Time or WCC.

 

[eandesmom]

Wow. Your update pretty much just outlined everything I HATE about having to make ADR's 180 days before I'm even going to be there.

it's just a bit much, really a bit much isn't it.

I would also be very nervous about not having the e-mails. I print them, put them in a folder and carry them in the park bag. I've never had to use them, but if I ever had an issue with an ADR, I'd be handing it to the CM and kindly ask them to find me a table or bring me a manager.

I've never printed them out but I import them all into TripIt, save them in my inbox and really REALLY am unhappy about not having a single one. Even more unhappy about being told today by a Guest Relations person that "I've been here for 10 years and we've NEVER sent email confirmations". Uh, yeah. Wow. So scary and so pathetic. So very very far below industry standard! They could simply subscribe to Open Table for any non CC hold reservations and it would be SO much better.

All in all, I think you did well with what you had to work with. That whole thing about e-mailing BoG seems a little bit weird. I've heard of having to call a restaurant directly to book a larger party, but e-mail just seems too slow as quickly as that restaurant gets booked up. And 8 isn't all that large of a party.

I thought it was weird too. It was a BoG special event email address, that didn't even work. I can't see how that would get you anywhere but honestly it wasn't even worth calling back and trying. If I can get another table at 180 days, or 180+10 on our 2nd room reservation then great, if not, whatever.

I just really wish Disney would get their IT stuff straightened out. The old reservation system was awful, and it seems like the new one isn't much better. I know I always had ADR's disappear from my online profile with their old system and I'd have to re-enter confirmation numbers to get them to show back up. You'd think the new system would fix and improve things.

I swear the new one is worse, much more limiting. To not be able to log into the MDE program and email yourself your itinerary in any fashion? That's archaic and myopic. Lets force everyone to use our app that doesn't work half the time anyway. Lets not integrate with any other apps so that people are held captive and hey, you folks without smart phones...we don't want you anwya.

Who do they think they are?

Apple?

Holy Cow! Thank goodness (as of now) i'll never have to plan for a party this big. Who knows what will happen in the future, but geez, this totally makes me never want to do this! I hope everything works out for you.

Sometimes there is a lot to be said for the "fend for yourself" approach but I know that would bite me in the you know what in this situation and I'd end up cancelling those ressies and then we would literally have nothing. I don't mind eating in the villa. I do mind cooking on vacation! Or at least cooking much.

I think if any of us have to plan and book for a big party, we should just hire Cynthia to do it for us! I would PAY good money to avoid that hassle myself!

yeah but don't let me me plan your normal personal schedule, I can't keep track of mine on a daily basis!

You think I'm bad...you should see my mom. At least I won't provide folks with spreadsheets that schedule out every half hour...

 

[eandesmom]

Loved BOG both times and going again in 44 days. We are not fans of 50's Prime Time or WCC.

Ah. We've only been to PTC once and really loved it. It may live up to our memories, it may not. Then again, as it is a lunch ressie, it could get cancelled. We have not done WCC for dinner before, we did enjoy breakfast. Given the mix of the group it seems like a good one to try. Might not be my personal first choice but a lot of the group adores that kind of food. We will see!

 

[englishrose47]

As usual Cynthia you have my head swimmimg !!It is a nice change to have Linda booking my December ressies !!!We are far from finished but then we haven;'t even really decided on who all is arriving when , except for me I have my ticket booked !!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I think if any of us have to plan and book for a big party, we should just hire Cynthia to do it for us! I would PAY good money to avoid that hassle myself!

There are a couple of DIS friends who are Disney travel agents and do that for you as a courtesy.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

There are a couple of DIS friends who are Disney travel agents and do that for you as a courtesy.

Of course, duh. I knew that.
I must have been so impressed by the organizational abilities, my own memory and senses were temporarily on vacation.
Sorry Cynthia - I gotta go where it's cheap!

 

[eandesmom]

As usual Cynthia you have my head swimmimg !!It is a nice change to have Linda booking my December ressies !!!We are far from finished but then we haven;'t even really decided on who all is arriving when , except for me I have my ticket booked !!!

I try Rosie, I try!

Ticket booked is huge! We don't have that yet, nor will we for some time.

There are a couple of DIS friends who are Disney travel agents and do that for you as a courtesy.

That they will, especially if you have booked through them! I wouldn't be good at giving up the control I actually have my folks and sister using one of them...if they ever get their act together (my folks and sister that is, not our DIS friend!). I have to admit though for me, and I've used TA's on a few Disney trips over the years, and one DCL, it's hard for me to give up that control and access to my own ressie. Plus now with DVC...

Of course, duh. I knew that.
I must have been so impressed by the organizational abilities, my own memory and senses were temporarily on vacation.
Sorry Cynthia - I gotta go where it's cheap!

I am ALL about cheap

 

[annmarieda]

I cant believe just how far behind I am here! It has been a busy month... and I haven't had time for much of anything Disney related... other than keeping an eye out for my DVC membership. I think this process has put my patience to the test.

I looked at your fathers day pics and can't believe the difference in how warm it is now to what it was then.

I am sorry to not have been around while you were figuring out your NYE trip ADR plans... I can definitely see how it was frustrating to come with a plan due to people neglecting to commit AND it being over such a busy time!!! If I had come on... I would have mentioned that we had do a cc guarantee for Ohana...

Your allergy sounds like quite the pain! Dd is allergic to latex... it can be a bit of a challenge.. Between cross protein reactions to plants... and then the clothing that can contain it in waist bands and such... we just never know quite when she is going to have a reaction.

What a bummer that your sunset was behind the Marriott!!!

I am not sure I would like the sweet potato lau lau. Looks interesting. I am glad you tried it... that way I know now not to.

I am impressed with how much stuff you fit into your fridge! It must be larger than your standard "fridge" at the resorts in WDW, yes?

Coffee mug you picked is certainly pretty.

I love your spa update. I have NEVER been to a spa. I guess I am just a tad shy. It is fun to see what it is all about...especially since it is unlikely that I would be adventurous enough to go there. Recently I won a one hour long massage... I can't let it go to waste, but I sure am apprehensive about using it.

Your ADR's sound quite complicated... and your my disney experience even more so! I am not liking that new system! As much as I had wanted dh to get a job to work at a certain co. I am actually glad that he didn't now cause that system... THAT would have been what he worked on. What a nightmare for him!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Holy cats, indeed. What an ADR experience! Kudos to you for navigating your way through it all! Your plans sound great!!

So weird on the BoG that you have to email for large groups? And in retrospect, that the email bounced. Although I am quite sure I would not have been laughing in the moment.

Seems like there are a lot of bugs with My Disney Experience. The DIS podcast did a series recently where they stayed at seven different resorts and for the majority they said their online check-in was botched due to MDE. For a company so big and so dedicated to excellence... I just don't get it. How hard can it be?

 

[eandesmom]

I cant believe just how far behind I am here! It has been a busy month... and I haven't had time for much of anything Disney related... other than keeping an eye out for my DVC membership. I think this process has put my patience to the test.

Not here yet??? Oh how frustrating!

Granted, I'm still on my waiting list but I'm ok with that.

I looked at your fathers day pics and can't believe the difference in how warm it is now to what it was then.

Seriously. Although today was cooler for sure, we were worried for a bit that the sun wouldn't come out but oh it did make for a nicer morning run! Boys are kayaking as I write, hopefully the sun stays out from behind the clouds.

I am sorry to not have been around while you were figuring out your NYE trip ADR plans... I can definitely see how it was frustrating to come with a plan due to people neglecting to commit AND it being over such a busy time!!! If I had come on... I would have mentioned that we had do a cc guarantee for Ohana...

That one surprised me but I'm ok with it, just need to make sure I really firm up the number ahead of time. NYE is stressing me a bit.

Your allergy sounds like quite the pain! Dd is allergic to latex... it can be a bit of a challenge.. Between cross protein reactions to plants... and then the clothing that can contain it in waist bands and such... we just never know quite when she is going to have a reaction.

Which DD? It is a pain, a huge one. Very tired of buying new things and am really missing a certain pair of flip flops today. It has been a fascinating exercise in customer service with a number of companies getting to the bottom of "real" fabric content and overall I've been impressed..,I thought customer service was dead an have been pleasantly surprised.

What a bummer that your sunset was behind the Marriott!!!

I am not sure I would like the sweet potato lau lau. Looks interesting. I am glad you tried it... that way I know now not to.

Lol! It was ok, I'm still glad we tried it but you'd likely get a different answer from Jeff.

I am impressed with how much stuff you fit into your fridge! It must be larger than your standard "fridge" at the resorts in WDW, yes?

Coffee mug you picked is certainly pretty.

Yes. It was a bit bigger! Which was very very nicer.

I love my mug

I love your spa update. I have NEVER been to a spa. I guess I am just a tad shy. It is fun to see what it is all about...especially since it is unlikely that I would be adventurous enough to go there. Recently I won a one hour long massage... I can't let it go to waste, but I sure am apprehensive about using it.

Oh you should do it!!!! You deserve it and it is so wonderful. Do not let it go to waste. They are typically very good about respecting any requests and understanding comfort levels.

Your ADR's sound quite complicated... and your my disney experience even more so! I am not liking that new system! As much as I had wanted dh to get a job to work at a certain co. I am actually glad that he didn't now cause that system... THAT would have been what he worked on. What a nightmare for him!!!

Except maybe he would FIX it! Lol

Yeah, a total pita.

 

[eandesmom]

Holy cats, indeed. What an ADR experience! Kudos to you for navigating your way through it all! Your plans sound great!!

Well it's a work in progress for sure. Made one swap already and getting a 2nd NYE table didn't exactly go as hoped but I will keep trying.

So weird on the BoG that you have to email for large groups? And in retrospect, that the email bounced. Although I am quite sure I would not have been laughing in the moment.

Classic really, email??? The minute she said that I knew we were dead in the water

Seems like there are a lot of bugs with My Disney Experience. The DIS podcast did a series recently where they stayed at seven different resorts and for the majority they said their online check-in was botched due to MDE. For a company so big and so dedicated to excellence... I just don't get it. How hard can it be?

I don't get it either. I listened to the Poly one so far but not the rest. It's such a train wreck, the IT guys agreed with me. I really do not want to do online check in for this trip but am worried that
MDE will force us to. We will see huh!

At least there is almost 6m before our trip for all the kinks to work out.

I hope.

 

[annmarieda]

Not here yet??? Oh how frustrating!

Granted, I'm still on my waiting list but I'm ok with that.

It is.. especially when people who made their initial offers a month or so after me have their points in their membership. It could be as much as another 5 weeks before I get my membership number from Disney in the mail. I so want to book January!!! And even the fall trip... it would be nice if I could peek to see availability. The girls I am going with and I recently tossed around the idea of staying in a studio for a few nights. Availability was there on the day we looked, but I imagine that can change quickly! Would be nice to just check myself and not have to go through a third party.

Seriously. Although today was cooler for sure, we were worried for a bit that the sun wouldn't come out but oh it did make for a nicer morning run! Boys are kayaking as I write, hopefully the sun stays out from behind the clouds.

Weird... here, the sun never really cam out. It has been fairly cold and cloudy all day.

That one surprised me but I'm ok with it, just need to make sure I really firm up the number ahead of time. NYE is stressing me a bit.

I can imagine the stress! Getting just a few of us to agree on plans is a challenge. I can't imagine a group as large as yours.

Which DD? It is a pain, a huge one. Very tired of buying new things and am really missing a certain pair of flip flops today. It has been a fascinating exercise in customer service with a number of companies getting to the bottom of "real" fabric content and overall I've been impressed..,I thought customer service was dead an have been pleasantly surprised.

It is my young one, Zoe. I feel bad because there are times that she really has a reaction and we are like She came to me recently and looked like she had been in a fight. Her face swells and her eyes do very interesting things. But you never quite know... is it the band in the panties or the bush in the park she touched.

Oh you should do it!!!! You deserve it and it is so wonderful. Do not let it go to waste. They are typically very good about respecting any requests and understanding comfort levels.

After I posted, I asked Steve if he would be interested... assuming too much pampering from him. He said he would be totally into it. I guess that makes sense. At his last job, they had an onsite masseuse. I think he went weekly... me.. I have never had a massage.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Holy cow! (or cats!) I was all relaxed from the visit to the spa & then you hit me with all of the ADR drama!

I can't wait to see how it all plays out!

 

[eandesmom]

It is.. especially when people who made their initial offers a month or so after me have their points in their membership. It could be as much as another 5 weeks before I get my membership number from Disney in the mail. I so want to book January!!! And even the fall trip... it would be nice if I could peek to see availability. The girls I am going with and I recently tossed around the idea of staying in a studio for a few nights. Availability was there on the day we looked, but I imagine that can change quickly! Would be nice to just check myself and not have to go through a third party.

What is the hold up? You got your closing papers, why would it be 5 weeks???

For fall SSR should likely be available if nothing else. Very frustrating about Jan though as those dates are going fast I know. You may need to consider a split stay or waitlist. I think you'll end up being ok but very frustrating. I've heard that things do open up as folks decide they aren't running after all. Do you have a cash room booked as a back up placeholder?

Weird... here, the sun never really cam out. It has been fairly cold and cloudy all day.

It came out, off and on, from 2-7 I'd say. Warm enough for kayaking and kids jumping in the lake but not super hot that's for sure. Maybe 72 tops.

I can imagine the stress! Getting just a few of us to agree on plans is a challenge. I can't imagine a group as large as yours.

Right now they are pretty good with the whole "go where you are told" idea. LOL! My bigger challenge is trying to decide how large to make the reservations for. My parents did meet us for fireworks last night which was fun and mom and I chatted quite a bit about what reservations had been made, etc and she's good with it all. Of course based on our chat, I added one more this morning and probably need to call and try to modify another one.

It is my young one, Zoe. I feel bad because there are times that she really has a reaction and we are like She came to me recently and looked like she had been in a fight. Her face swells and her eyes do very interesting things. But you never quite know... is it the band in the panties or the bush in the park she touched.

Oh how frustrating if it's the same reaction but such different causes. Mine is definitely localized to where the bad fabric is touching me though for the longest time I didn't think it was. I get a lot of reaction on my neck and jawline which made no sense to me until the dermatologist pointed out that everything with elastic etc is likely going over my head and so it's in contact with it several times a day. Plus necklines in general often have "bad" stuff in it. same thing with my forehead...I'm always touching it with the ponytail elastic. Arrgh.

Panties are tough to find for me, I can't even imagine how much more difficult it would be in a child's size.

After I posted, I asked Steve if he would be interested... assuming too much pampering from him. He said he would be totally into it. I guess that makes sense. At his last job, they had an onsite masseuse. I think he went weekly... me.. I have never had a massage.

You need to fix that! For you that is.

Holy cow! (or cats!) I was all relaxed from the visit to the spa & then you hit me with all of the ADR drama!

I can't wait to see how it all plays out!

As the ADR's turn



I needed a massage after that, that's for sure! We've made a few edits, probably a couple more still to come.

 

[eandesmom]

Well here is where things stand at the moment. My mom has NOT yet made her reservation (waiting on my sister to respond which means it will be next week at best) so I got to get up at 6am on the 4th of July and attempt another NYE ressie under Jeff's name. Then my phone went off at 7am as I'd forgotten to turn off the alarm and then the garbage showed up at 8 so we had to scramble to put it out (we assumed it would be a day late due to the holiday). Not exactly a restful morning!

When I logged in at 6am there NOTHING available for a party of any size near the 6:50 reservation we have. While a table for 10 may be enough, it really may not and it makes me very very nervous, especially on NYE. I was able to get one for a party of 14 for 4:15. BLEH on the time but..I'm glad we have it even if that isn't ideally big enough for back up. I am resigned to keep looking, all I really need is a table for 4-6 around that 6:50 window. I also flipped our Adult dinner night and WCC, seemed really silly not to do FF while we were AT the BW already. DOH! Last but not least, I added Tea at the GF for the ladies. My parents joined us for fireworks last night so we had some time to chat about plans and this was a must do for mom so I called this am and added it.

Sunday 29-Dec BWV
Kouzzina Breakfast 8:30 am. Party of 8. OR Captains Grille Breakfast 8:00 am Party of 4
Biergarten Dinner 6:30 pm. Party of 14 OR Biergarten Dinner 8:00 pm party of 12
Candlelight Processional

Monday 30-Dec BWV
Garden View Lounge Tea at the Grand Floridian 1:25 pm. Party of 5 NEW
Ohana Dinner 6:20 pm. Party of 16 CC Hold
"Pre" NYE MK fireworks from Poly Beach

Tuesday 31-Dec BWV
R&C Dinner 6:50 pm. Party of 10. OR R&C Dinner 4:15 pm. Party of 14.NEW - back up ressie, still not quite big enough
NYE at Epcot

Wednesday 1-Jan BWV
Trails End Dinner 7:25pm. Party of 16.
Osborne Lights before dinner, Fort decorations after

Thursday 2-Jan BWV
Margaritaville Dinner. Ressie not yet made. Backup plan is dinner in villa or walk in at BRG

Friday 3-Jan BWV
PTC lunch 12:30 pm. Party of 16.
Flying Fish Adult Only Dinner 7:30pm. Party of 7. CC Hold. Date change
Kids eat in the villa.
Osborne Lights (again!)

Saturday 4-Jan Check out BWV/Move to THV
WCC dinner 7:30 pm. Party of 16 Date change

Sunday 5-Jan THV
Raglan Road Brunch 11:00am. Party of 10
Be our Guest Dinner 6:25pm. Party of 7 CC Hold

Monday 6-Jan THV
Olivias Dinner 7:40pm. Party of 10

Tuesday 7-Jan THV Checkout and fly home
Via Napoli lunch 12:45 pm Party of 10

There are a couple of things I could do now.

1. Call FF and try to increase the adult only dinner party size to 9.
2. Call and try to book Main Street Barber Haircuts for the boys. Does anyone know how far out that books? It would be SO much easier to do this later in the trip but I know they will want to do it first thing. I love the idea of actually having a reservation though, will probably make an appointment for all 5 boys and then cancel as needed.

Then on Monday, the 8th I can do the following
1. Try for a 2nd tables at BoG, Raglan brunch and Via Napoli

Tuesday the 9th...CP bookings.

I am SO undecided here! My folks definitely plan to arrive on the 29th but will not be doing a red eye. So it's really going to depend on flights. It is theoretically possible they take the direct that gets in at 4:25 and are able to meet us at Epcot but it almost seems like the would really only make it in time for either the 8:15 CP showing, or an 8pm dinner ressie. I don't see them being able to make it in time for the 6:20 ADR, followed by the 8:15 show. I would really really like guaranteed seating for CP but am really thinking it just won't work with unknown flights and with what we do know, meaning a low probability anyway, I really don't like the huge surcharge....it adds up with a group this size, that's another issue as well. Unless...Jeff picks them up from the airport and that may be an option. It is the only night we can do it as the following is the last night for it and we will be doing Ohana and the pre-NYE fireworks from the Poly since they are shown twice.

The other major wrinkle here is the Osborne Lights. I really want to see them turn "on" at 6pm. They only run through the 4th (or at least the did last year) and everyone is dying to see them and so I'd love to do it early in the trip. Right now DHS park hours end early starting on the 1st but I really hope that changes, heck they aren't past 10pm on the 29th and 30th so even going there late isn't an option. Looking at the various plans though, earliest I can see that working to see them turn "on" without giving something else up is on the 1st and then it's see them turn on and leave lol!. Give or take 25 min but at least we can just take a bus to dinner from there so that's good.

This was all SO on my brain last night (plus mom and I were chatting about it a lot) that as I was saying goodbye to my parents after the 4th of July fireworks last night I wished my dad a Happy New Year

I did crunch a few numbers, looking at TIW versus DDP now that we have some ressies on the books and DDP may actually make more sense for us this trip. We will see but it comes awfully close to a wash on the DDP and it does make life easy and with 2 of our days being blackouts, TIW doesn't pay off as much as it would otherwise. We could get both, FF would probably make TIW break even as that will be OOP and then we'd get the discount on drinks etc the other non blackout nights but...I will get an AP discount at FF so then again, maybe that's enough.

Oh and on a side note, Disney is NOT able to email you confirmations of anything dining related. If you book over the phone, you will not get an email confirmation. If you book online you "should" get one that is auto generated. In the 16 reservations I've made now (5 online I think)...I have received one. But no one has the ability to re-generate one after the fact. Ridiculous!

 

[dizneeat]

First off Cynthia, I want to say how sorry I am for not posting much lately. School ended today and the last few weeks were CRAZY.
I did read though.

Now all those ADRs make my head spin. You are one BRAVE lady to take on the task!
Hope everything you still need to do works out in your favour.

Forgot ..... brilliant idea to do the GF tea for the ladies!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

yep all that makes sense to me.


im so lost

all i can say is good luck

 

[rentayenta]

Your enthusiasm is inspiring. I'd seriously be drinking while trying to figure this all out. You are one organized chickie!


I can't believe you had to get up so early yesterday, your day off. Hope you had a great day after.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

That they will, especially if you have booked through them! I wouldn't be good at giving up the control I actually have my folks and sister using one of them...if they ever get their act together (my folks and sister that is, not our DIS friend!). I have to admit though for me, and I've used TA's on a few Disney trips over the years, and one DCL, it's hard for me to give up that control and access to my own ressie. Plus now with DVC...

Yep, me too. We used a TA for DCL the first time, and I found it frustrating that I couldn't log in and check on things or reserve things until the TA got all the paperwork to me. It was convenient that she booked our flights, and hotel room at the Hyatt and our transport for us. I believe she got all of that for just $200 each above the posted price on the DCL website, so it was an awesome deal - but I haven't seen it that good since.