NOVEMBER 2012 Trip Planners Thread~ Everybody is Welcome~Part 3 already!

[Divaofdisney]

DxDP has meal credits and are interchangeable how ever you want as TS or CS

Thank you very much!!

I knew I could count on you all to answer this question. Enjoying our disney evening so far. Have a great night everyone

 

[mom2rtk]

As you guys are mulling over your deluxe dining plans, keep in mind how many of your ADRs are now CC guaranteed. No last minute ditching without a penalty involved.

I have to think that new policy will hurt their sales of the deluxe plan.

 

[cruella23]

So if the free dining rumors are true, I will be changing my resort as well. We are currently booked at AOA-LM, but could switch to CBR for less money with free dining. Or, move to WL for about $500 more than LM with no free dining. I'm so undecided about which to do! Have stayed at CBR the last 2 years, and POR the 2 before that. Was looking forward to trying out AOA, but can't justify a value room for more than a mod! So, do you think WL or CBR?

 

[Smileybug]

As you guys are mulling over your deluxe dining plans, keep in mind how many of your ADRs are now CC guaranteed. No last minute ditching without a penalty involved.

I have to think that new policy will hurt their sales of the deluxe plan.

That is a great reminder. Thanks.

 

[sjs314]

So if the free dining rumors are true, I will be changing my resort as well. We are currently booked at AOA-LM, but could switch to CBR for less money with free dining. Or, move to WL for about $500 more than LM with no free dining. I'm so undecided about which to do! Have stayed at CBR the last 2 years, and POR the 2 before that. Was looking forward to trying out AOA, but can't justify a value room for more than a mod! So, do you think WL or CBR?

I have never stayed at CBR but it is huge compared to WL like 3x the number of rooms.. I would go with WL if it were me

 

[sjs314]

As you guys are mulling over your deluxe dining plans, keep in mind how many of your ADRs are now CC guaranteed. No last minute ditching without a penalty involved.

I have to think that new policy will hurt their sales of the deluxe plan.

Good Point the ones we did not keep in March were made before the CC holds went into effect otherwise we would have got hit with $ 80 in charges

 

[Smileybug]

So if the free dining rumors are true, I will be changing my resort as well. We are currently booked at AOA-LM, but could switch to CBR for less money with free dining. Or, move to WL for about $500 more than LM with no free dining. I'm so undecided about which to do! Have stayed at CBR the last 2 years, and POR the 2 before that. Was looking forward to trying out AOA, but can't justify a value room for more than a mod! So, do you think WL or CBR?

Well, I would go with the WL. DH and I love it there. We will be back this trip.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

3 full, 3-course restaurant-sized meals per day though? Not too common.
Im wondering if ADR cutting will be in my future

I understand what you (they) are saying - but at home I'm not walking for hours on end either, so I don't need all the extra nourishment.

I'm really looking forward to having the sit down time and the varied menus that are offered at all of the ADRs we've chosen - not to mention the character interaction that comes along with most of them. I think the DxDP is more than just the amount of food - it's also the atmosphere.

I don't think I will eat an app, meal and dessert every time but I do appreciate that I have the option!

In the end you have to do what's right for you and your group, but I know we are all psyched about the DxDP!

 

[mommyof3princess27]

Here is what I have now:

Sunday:Epcot
Coral Reef
Whispering Canyon Cafe

MondayHS
H&V
50's Primetime
Sci-Fi

Tuesday:AK/MVMCP
Tusker House
Grand Floridian Cafe

Wednesday: BB/Epcot
'Ohana
Garden Grill

Thursday:MK
CRT
'Ohana

Friday:
1900PF
T-Rex
Crystal Palace

Saturday: Epcot
Akershus
Le Cellier
Cape May Cafe

Sunday:MK
Chef Mickeys

 

[DsnyMama]

Good Afternoon everyone.....my what a busy day you all have had, lol!! I have to agree as well. I would definitely go for the upgrade to POFQ- its my favorite moderate resort and I love the layout- its surroundings are just beautiful and the boat to DTD is a nice way to take a break and relax. I highly recommend it. ALso the FD is so nice to have in way of TS meals. We are upgrading to the DXDP as well so we can try some of the signature dining venues. This is a very special trip for us...we are celebrating my daughter's college graduation, my other DD sweet sixteen and next year is our 25th wedding anniversary so yeah lots to celebrate. We can't wait!!

Aww you have so much to celebrate this trip! How awsesome!

Ok so I just talked to someone named Damian at WDW & he said YES you can pick up your tickets early and use them before your check in date! All you have to do is go pick up your tickets at one of the parks or guest services at DTD and have them add the extra days you want then!! I'm so excited & I just can't hide it!!

Ditto! Talked to a CM a few days ago who confirmed I can in fact pick our "packaged" tickets up 3 days before check in.

So if the free dining rumors are true, I will be changing my resort as well. We are currently booked at AOA-LM, but could switch to CBR for less money with free dining. Or, move to WL for about $500 more than LM with no free dining. I'm so undecided about which to do! Have stayed at CBR the last 2 years, and POR the 2 before that. Was looking forward to trying out AOA, but can't justify a value room for more than a mod! So, do you think WL or CBR?

Hmmm for most I'd saw WL personally though I love the look of CBR. We live in a log cabin, so while it is GORGEOUS - and I mean GORGEOUS - it doesn't appeal to me because the log cabin feel is normal for us. I love the look of WL lodge though and would go for that!

Okay, so I've got changitis along with the rest of you. I was looking at the numbers and it looks like I could upgrade to POFQ from POP for about $230. I was planning to upgrade from QS to reg dining, so that makes the change to FQ a bit less than it would otherwise be. My question to my sisters (and brothers??) in change, do you think it would be worth it? FQ is our all time favorite resort, but POP has it's merits as well. What do you think? stay put or change?

DO IT! We upgraded to a mod too - the difference from POP to CSR was like $260

 

[ireneryan]

I understand what you (they) are saying - but at home I'm not walking for hours on end either, so I don't need all the extra nourishment.

I'm really looking forward to having the sit down time and the varied menus that are offered at all of the ADRs we've chosen - not to mention the character interaction that comes along with most of them. I think the DxDP is more than just the amount of food - it's also the atmosphere.

I don't think I will eat an app, meal and dessert every time but I do appreciate that I have the option!

In the end you have to do what's right for you and your group, but I know we are all psyched about the DxDP!

I could not have said it any better myself. Just to experience all the restaurants and have a rest. I'm all for it!! Also, I am really not someone who needs to order an app meal and dessert to feel like I'm getting my money's worth. I have no problem turning down food and I am so not a clear my plate kind of person. But I do appreciate having the option!!!!!

 

[brandijo5]

I currently have a ressie at AOA -LM. If I switch resorts when FD is announced next week will I lose my adr's? The reason I ask is because my adr's are linked to my current ressie but I think the CM's will likely cancel that ressie and issue me a new one when I book FD. I just want to make sure I can keep my same adr's. If its likely I'll lose my adr's, then I'll call early and switch resorts and try to link the adr's to my new ressie.

TIA for advice

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

:joker

Okay I've pretty much set my 3 ADRs that I want. Got SciFi Cafe and Coral Reef booked but can't get T-Rex. All they have is 9:30pm and that's out of the question. Booked Boatwright's as an alternative for now. Its for our arrival day and we'll be at POR anyways. Should I just keep checking for T-Rex? Booked Rain Forest Cafe at first but cancelled it because we have 2 within an hour of us.

Trying to catch up with the thread, someone may already have told you this, but look up the Trex phone number online and call them for a reservation. They only put a certain percentage online with Disney and hold back some. They also almost always take walkins. . Good luck!!

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I currently have a ressie at AOA -LM. If I switch resorts when FD is announced next week will I lose my adr's? The reason I ask is because my adr's are linked to my current ressie but I think the CM's will likely cancel that ressie and issue me a new one when I book FD. I just want to make sure I can keep my same adr's. If its likely I'll lose my adr's, then I'll call early and switch resorts and try to link the adr's to my new ressie.

TIA for advice

NOPE! They are linked but seperate...they are linked only because of the 1800+10 thing.... you can cancel your ressie and still keep your adrs

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I could not have said it any better myself. Just to experience all the restaurants and have a rest. I'm all for it!! Also, I am really not someone who needs to order an app meal and dessert to feel like I'm getting my money's worth. I have no problem turning down food and I am so not a clear my plate kind of person. But I do appreciate having the option!!!!!

Thank you both! This makes me feel better. I dont want to feel over whelmed and I think I do it to my self but truth be told, I like my schedule!

 

[princesshope1982]

anyone know where i can order personalized disney tshirts

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

Is it wrong to add another dining ressie in case DHS adds another F! showing LOL that way I know I have all ressies and will see Osbourne lights AND F!

Nope, as long as you cancel a few weeks in advance when you know your final plans so someone else can get the

 

[DsnyMama]

I'm in the camp of the DxDDP isn't too much for us! For us, it' part of the Disney experience! We've done Disney once on the regular DDP and it just felt "off"... We LOVE character meals and signatures, and we enjoy the variety of regular TS meals WDW has to offer! We space meals 5-6 hours apart and don't do 3 meals a day every single day and we feel it works great for us!! We make pre-opening ADRs so we get to see each park "empty". We like to have that nice 1-1.5hr break in the middle of the day as a 'rest' which we also like - we feel full, yet energized after lunch! Yes, it's ALOT off food, but we never feel like we have to eat every speck and we do quite a few buffets and only eat what we feel is adequate and don't gorge ourselves! Yep, we are tied down to alot of ADRs, but that's just all part of it for us and we love it! Definitely doesn't work for all, but it does for us!

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

I copied this from another thread I started about if you like the DxDP or not. I was trying to compare how you eat at home to having the DxDP...now mind you we dont HAVE to clean our plate but this spells it our perfectly...we have too much food!
You can't compare it to how you eat at home.
When you eat at 7:30 a.m., do you have a bowl of cereal (equivalent of a snack credit), or do you eat a massive plate of eggs, bacon and pastries?
And then at 11:30-12, do you eat a sandwich, or do you eat a heavy 3-course meal that includes appetizer and a massive dessert?
And if you did eat a big plate of eggs, bacon and pastries for breakfast, and a heavy lunch with a massive dessert, then do you still eat another big dessert-ish snack at 3 (like a big ice cream sundae) or do you just have some fruit or crackers or a couple of little cookies?
And then at 5:30-6, after having a big plate of eggs, bacon, waffles, pastries, fruit for breakfast, and a big 3-course lunch with a heavy dessert, and a big heavy snack at 3 pm, do you then have yet another 3 course dinner with a full portion appetizer, restaurant sized-entree and heavy dessert?

Nothing wrong with eating differently on vacation than you might eat at home. But its pure fiction for most normal people to compare 3 DXDP meals per day, with how they eat at home.

Obviously, all people vary. So this isn't universal. But I think you will find that most Americans most commonly eat something along the lines of:
Snack credit equivalent breakfast -- bowl of cereal, maybe some yogurt and toast.
A sandwich for lunch --- Which is the equivalent of a QS meal or a small TS meal (like at the Plaza) without appetizer and without dessert.
Maybe a snack or 2 thrown into the day.
And a hot larger dinner, which may or may not include appetizer and/or dessert. (Still may be smaller than a restaurant TS portion).

3 full, 3-course restaurant-sized meals per day though? Not too common.
Im wondering if ADR cutting will be in my future

Gonna tell you the painful truth here - we just got back June 3 from 9 days on deluxe dining - I gained 6 Lbs!!! I'm not usually a dessert eater, but, well, when it's free... And why eat a salad when fancy cheese is free....etc. frankly, for me it led to too much eating AND bad choices, so go in with lots of willpower....

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

I know for us we don't eat near that much food. In fact I almost never eat breakfast at all except when I am on vacation. We just wanted to try many of the signature dining venues and the only real way to do this is with the DXDP. We only have 2 TS breakfast planned I think and only a few lunches. Its working out fine for us in way of credits. Depending on how it goes this trip will depend on whether we continue that trend or just go back to the regular dining plan. I do have a question though.....we will be a BB on our water park day- can we use a TS credit to eat there even though its only CS they serve there?? How would that work?? Just curious. thanks in advance.

Yes, you can always use ts credits for cs meals.