Mike, this is all your fault!

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Um, have you had your meds adjusted lately? If the answer is "No" or "What meds?" please seek shrink time immediately! Wow! There is something distinctly unmagical about your punishment ideas.

I do agree that the ADR situation is a bit messed up right now. It makes it easier for me to feel good about not going back to WDW during the F&W Fest with Corey though. Between the mess that is the ADR system, no nighttime adult entertainment options that appeal to either of us, and the fact that our oldest cat will need to be boarded in addition to the dogs on all future trips, um, I am feeling pretty good about canceling.

I am hard core about my ADRs. Really, really hard core. I go to WDW in part just so I can eat. I have VERY specific requirements for dates, times, and locations of meals. No exceptions. 90 day ADR window was a SUCKY plan, and whoever is responsible should be punished accordingly.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Note to self: Don't mess with Elizabeth's ADR's!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Note to self: Don't mess with Elizabeth's ADR's!

Precisely!

 

[OrlandoMike]

Note to self: Don't mess with Elizabeth's ADR's!

You know you can pretty much eat anywhere you want, without ADR's, if you know how to play the game........ right?

 

[C&G'sMama]

You know you can pretty much eat anywhere you want, without ADR's, if you know how to play the game........ right?

No ADRS.....Blasphemy!!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We must be far outside the rules of the game, because we can't get reservations at 90 days, or by playing any game.

Seriously giving up on WDW dining (as locals). We have the TIW card, but this will be the last time. Neither of us are too thrilled at paying for something we can't use.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

You know you can pretty much eat anywhere you want, without ADR's, if you know how to play the game........ right?

I have a business card from a manager at one place, and another card from a server at the same place. Will those help me? Other than that, or telling them that I know you, I am out of ideas. UNLESS the game you are referring to is the "counter service" game. I don't like that game.

We must be far outside the rules of the game, because we can't get reservations at 90 days, or by playing any game.

Seriously giving up on WDW dining (as locals). We have the TIW card, but this will be the last time. Neither of us are too thrilled at paying for something we can't use.

I would be LIVID.
We aren't local, but we have TiW, APs, and DVC. For us to be shut out of ADRs would be a very poor business decision for SOMEBODY. And in case some of you haven't noticed, I take my ADRs VERY seriously. I am already stressed out about my ADRs for 2010. I don't know what month we are even going in 2010, but I am worrying about it.

 

[rpmdfw]

We must be far outside the rules of the game, because we can't get reservations at 90 days, or by playing any game.

Seriously giving up on WDW dining (as locals). We have the TIW card, but this will be the last time. Neither of us are too thrilled at paying for something we can't use.

Not to mention that the prices went way up again this year.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Clearly WDW doesn't much need the local business, but it still is a sore point for us.

We used to (nearly weekly, but always several times a month) dine at a WDW full service restaurant. Mostly it was a spur of the moment thing. We'd be in the WS and decide that we wanted to stay for dinner and we'd stop by a given restaurant, or head out to the BC/BW area and find a place there for dinner.

We haven't been able to do that in over a year. We do, once in awhile make ADRs for several weeks out, but that is so not how we live our daily lives that it's more than inconvenient, it's impossible.

So, we've explored our world around us! LOL! Never a bad thing, eh? We've found some pretty decent places to dine outside of WDW and suprise, surprise the cost is often less.

I'm glad you got a chance to try Ceviche, Rob! It's a wicked fun place (although not necessarily a good example of less pricey once all the selections are tallied ).

We too have the TIW, AP and DVC discounts. Doesn't do much good if you can't use them, eh? Plus, with the advent of the DDP we have noticed a decline in service and food preparation (quality). Can't say as I blame the servers, or WDW line cooks, but again, it becomes another reason for us to take our dining dollars elsewhere.

WDW's focus is primarily on the visitors to the area and not the locals. Once we get our heads around that, we'll stop being disappointed. (It's just that the locals have this little concept of having carried WDW through some tough times, so we sort of got used to being able to enjoy WDW "on demand" ).

Whew! Didn't mean to rant!!!

 

[rpmdfw]

I'm glad you got a chance to try Ceviche, Rob! It's a wicked fun place (although not necessarily a good example of less pricey once all the selections are tallied ).

Actually 4 of us had a delicious dinner and a large pitcher of sangria (very good sangria) for $30 each tip included. We didn't think that was bad at all.

We're trying the Ravenous Pig Gastropub in Winter Park on Saturday. I've heard great things.

And sometime in the next two months we're hoping to try the Funky Monkey on Mills Avenue (which is, very gay friendly, if not actually gay-owned --I can't remember which at the moment)

But yeah, I agree with you on all counts about the dining situation. And at $125 for the two of us, there's not much savings for us unless we're there all the time.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

That really isn't bad at all! The sangria is very good (for a sweet wine punch ) and so was the service.

Have you ever been to Choctaw Willie's? We have thought about it, but weren't too sure? It's in Winter Garden...

Let us know how you liked the "monkey" place! It's in the old Conway BBQ building, isn't it?

Oh, if you like Thai food, Sea Thai on east 50 (just past the mall on the LEFT side if east bound) was really good the last time we were there. That was nearly a year ago though, so things can change.

 

[rpmdfw]

That really isn't bad at all! The sangria is very good (for a sweet wine punch ) and so was the service.

Have you ever been to Choctaw Willie's? We have thought about it, but weren't too sure? It's in Winter Garden...

Let us know how you liked the "monkey" place! It's in the old Conway BBQ building, isn't it?

Oh, if you like Thai food, Sea Thai on east 50 (just past the mall on the LEFT side if east bound) was really good the last time we were there. That was nearly a year ago though, so things can change.

I've never heard of Choctaw Willies. Will look into it.

Have you tried Soong Thai on 50 across from West Oaks Mall, it's been consistently very good.

And if you like Vietamese, check out Rice Paper on Turkey Lake Road north of SandLake. It's awesome.

We've just hijacked Lindy's "I can't believe I'm not planning" thread didn't we?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

By my estimates we'll drop close to $3000 on food in August, which is LUDICROUS since there are only 3 of us and DS eats four bites and he is done. We like signature dinners, and for me, those are a HUGE part of the experience. If IPO e-mails that they couldn't secure my ADRs I am going to be white-hot furious. Bob Iger will cower in fear. We NEVER had a problem getting every single ADR at 180 days. Last year I had 23 ADRs in one trip and NEVER had an issue getting the times I wanted. The posts on the Restaurant forum are scaring me. I guess we'll see what happens when we are actually 90 days out.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Other than that, or telling them that I know you, I am out of ideas. UNLESS the game you are referring to is the "counter service" game. I don't like that game.

It's easy, keeping the secret is the hard part!

If you really have your heart set on eating somewhere you dont have a reservation, get there 15 minutes before they open, tell them you are a walk up, and are willing to wait. Honestly, this has worked 99% of the time for me. And I usually only have to wait about 15-20 minutes. This has included Le Cellier and Chef Mickeys! Note, this will not work once they have opened for buisness and are on a wiat.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

We've just hijacked Lindy's "I can't believe I'm not planning" thread didn't we?

Did I expect anything less?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

It's easy, keeping the secret is the hard part!

If you really have your heart set on eating somewhere you dont have a reservation, get there 15 minutes before they open, tell them you are a walk up, and are willing to wait. Honestly, this has worked 99% of the time for me. And I usually only have to wait about 15-20 minutes. This has included Le Cellier and Chef Mickeys! Note, this will not work once they have opened for buisness and are on a wiat.

Don't most of the places open at like 4:30 or 5 PM for dinner? That just doesn't work for us. 6 PM is pushing too early - we really prefer 7 PM if we can get it. And in the past, we COULD get it by calling at the 180 mark. Now, who knows. DH and DS aren't even up from their naps at 4 PM, so getting to dinner by 4:30 would be a nightmare.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I think I found another DIS'er like you! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2122019

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!
I finally get to see something from the Living Character Initiative!
I am going to dine with a rat!!!!!​

No, I am not calling Mickey names. I am going to have lunch at Chefs de France and hopefully be blessed with a chance to see Remy! I missed Lucky and the Muppet Mobile Labs, so to get a chance to see Remy is freakin' awesome!

Check out these photos of the "Little Chef's" recent appearance caught by MouseSteps. http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=270&Itemid=65

I can't freakin' wait.

 

[rpmdfw]

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!
I finally get to see something from the Living Character Initiative!
I am going to dine with a rat!!!!!​

No, I am not calling Mickey names. I am going to have lunch at Chefs de France and hopefully be blessed with a chance to see Remy! I missed Lucky and the Muppet Mobile Labs, so to get a chance to see Remy is freakin' awesome!

Check out these photos of the "Little Chef's" recent appearance caught by MouseSteps. http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=270&Itemid=65

I can't freakin' wait.

Very cool!

The actress in those photos (the one who works with Remy) is a former Adventurer, to boot.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

We've tried the getting there before opening (granted, not too many times) with no success.

I must be the only person on earth who did not care for Ratatouille. The rats running through the kitchen just flat grossed me out.