Newbie to ADR

[Mate]

Hi,
I have resort reservations for Sept. 2009. I know it is long way away, but thought I better plan ahead. I would love to take my gradchild to CRT so of course that would be the first thing I try and book. I hear you basically have to take any opening you can get. So how do you do any day preplanning until you find out which day and time you are there. It sounds very complicated to me. I hear that many have their stays planned ahead, but I do not know how to do this if you have no idea if you will get the dinning to go along with your park selections.

Also does the MNSSHP, Fantasmic, park extra hours, parade and fireworks times and dates come out prior to the 180 days?

We are getting the Deluxe dining plan. I don't know how to avoid having Breakfast at one park and then having to leave for another park for a lunch reservation because you have to take whats ever available. Help!

The last time I was at disney was 1991 and we only made one dining (character breakfast on the boat) reservation and had no trouble eating where we wanted to and that was spring break. I guess a lot has changed.

Thanks -

 

[BriarRosie]

The good news is that you can calculate 180 days before the day you check in and start making ADRs for your entire stay (up to 10 days). So if you can't get into a popular restaurant (like the character/princess meals) for your first day, you'd probably succeed for subsequent days. It's good to be flexible, too.

I would think deluxe dining would be too much food unless you used two of your table service credits towards a signature restaurant. I never could eat three table service meals at WDW. Two would be pushing it, unless it was a breakfast and a dinner.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I know a lot of people plan AROUND their CRT ADR. So I would get the ADR and then for that day plan to go to the Magic Kingdom. If you are worried about having a dinner reservation in another park then get the park hopper option for your ticket.

IMO it's best to sit down and figure out where you want to eat and what requires an ADR. Then plan the rest of your trip around those.

Good luck in your planning.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Make your CRT reservation first, then everything else. We go to CRT for breakfast (so yummy!!!) every visit (it's tradition.) I make it first, then our holiday meal plans (for us it is Thanksgiving), then everything else--- no problem. Just make sure you do it 180 days from check in and get on the phone at 6:59 am and keep hitting redial till they open. We have always gotten the day we want, but if you can't take them and change your schedule--- it is sooooooo worth it!

 

[Mate]

Thanks,
My DH wanted the deluxe. We were originally signed up for the regular then he read more and just wanted to know we could eat wherever we wanted and he did not have to worry about shelling out more or debating. It does sound like a lot of food though, but he said well if we just do counter sometimes that is ok with him. We do want to do Brown Derby with Fantasmic, CRT, and a couple of other two ticket items.

Wish me luck! 180 for me is a work day - so that adds to the problem with ADR.

 

[nicki.momof3]

So I need to undersatnd this - I know I need to call at the 180 day mark. If I start calling at 6:59am How long does it take to get through usually? It is also a work day for me and I am a teacher with student in front of me at 7:15am - so even harder to "stop" everything and keep redialing. I also heard the 180 mark is on hold for a while (my day is OCt. 8th) due to a new ADR system - how will I know when to call???????