***Official November 2014 thread***

[Grumpy4196]

I received some mail from Disney this week with the Incredibles booklet and magnet with reminder dates. No flash drive though. Hopefully that's something they send closer to time because I REALLY want one!

I would have thought the flash drive would be included, are you sure it wasn't included? It is white and has a a Mickey symbol on it like the photo a couple posts up.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

I would have thought the flash drive would be included, are you sure it wasn't included? It is white and has a a Mickey symbol on it like the photo a couple posts up.

I read somewhere on here in the past week or so that they are only sending the info now with a written link and no more flash drives.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[weswife]

Add us!!!!

We are checking on Oct. 26/14! AKV for 5 nights

Oct. 31/14 BCV for 3 nights

Nov. 3/14 BLT for 4 nights

Yep, we like to hop around! Our bucket list is to stay at all the resorts!
We are adding AKV and BLT to the list! We stayed at BC last year and really wanted to return!

Let the count down begin!

 

[GirlDreamer]

Welcome too all you newcomers

Which airline? We fly JetBlue so I don't think those will open for a while.

The flash drives link to a website about the new my magic plus stuff. We got one a few weeks ago. The best part of the package was a magnet with all my dates of days out 180 for dining, 60 for check-in, etc). Here's a picture of it:



We leave for Disneyland in a week and a half! When we get back I will be ready to get into November planning mode!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I was looking into Virgin Atlantic, but they turned out to be almost £700 more on a saturday return than a weekday. So we decided to go indirect, with Aer Lingus. So we're going from Birmingham (UK) to Dublin to Orlando.

We will probably not get the flashdrives or anything like that, because they don't send anything except the Mickey mail outside of the US.

But does anyone know how the Magic Bands work? Like we're staying at two different resorts, so will we be able to keep using the first bands with the second hotel, or will they be able to transfer the tickets?

 

[rlu929s]

Possibly looking at going to 1st week of November in 2014 pending I can get off and we can take 2nd grader out of school.

I've heard mention that they sometimes offer Free Dining in Nov? When do you know. If you go ahead and book can you go back and add the free dining later?

 

[JillianLeigh]

As long as we're able to sell our old house, we'll be there Nov. 13-18!! Having 2 mortgages is not fun. Tentatively planning for POR. It will be my son's first real WDW vacation (we did one day when he was 5 months) He'll be 26 months old by then.

 

[Nechville]

Ok, put me in here. We booked a BB for November 13-21, at POFQ. Will change that to either CSR or POR if free dining comes out and POFQ is excluded again. Or if no FD, then possibly change to a split stay, at FQ and the Poly.
Free dining has been historically offered this time of year, however most people think that will be a thing of the past soon. If bookings are low, then they might offer it, but it seems they offer less dates and exclude more resorts each year. So the general theory is if you have not booked, wait until free dining is offered, or they might not think they need to. Unless of course you are going regardless. Then book what you want. You cannot "add" free dining to an existing reservation. There has to be availability and then the reservation is changed. For example, free dining was offered at POR last year but the day it opened, lots of people were finding they were sold out of FD availability at POR. But POR still had rooms you could book without FD. Does that make sense? I don't remember exactly when the FD offer came out last year. I'll look around some old threads and post what I find. There are some threads on here about free dining, and our "source" has a blog, disneybyjoe. He has lots of insight about FD.

 

[Nechville]

It looks like last year, free dining was released on August 1st for October - December.

 

[msyjoa]

Hello all! I haven't booked yet, but we are hoping to go November 21-27! No fully formed ideas yet on where to stay, maybe AofA again, maybe POR, maybe Swan (I am a teacher and that room discount is very enticing.) Looking forward to getting to know y'all a bit better as we wait for November!

 

[LucyBC80]

I can't wait till May to buy our party tickets and even more important, ADRs!!

Have you made your list yet?

So far I have Grand Floridian Tea, Via Napoli, Cape May, 1900 Park Fare, California Grill, Flying Fish, Crystal Palace, Raglan Road, Tusker House, Kona Cafe and Mama Melroses.

 

[rlu929s]

Ok, put me in here. We booked a BB for November 13-21, at POFQ. Will change that to either CSR or POR if free dining comes out and POFQ is excluded again. Or if no FD, then possibly change to a split stay, at FQ and the Poly.
Free dining has been historically offered this time of year, however most people think that will be a thing of the past soon. If bookings are low, then they might offer it, but it seems they offer less dates and exclude more resorts each year. So the general theory is if you have not booked, wait until free dining is offered, or they might not think they need to. Unless of course you are going regardless. Then book what you want. You cannot "add" free dining to an existing reservation. There has to be availability and then the reservation is changed. For example, free dining was offered at POR last year but the day it opened, lots of people were finding they were sold out of FD availability at POR. But POR still had rooms you could book without FD. Does that make sense? I don't remember exactly when the FD offer came out last year. I'll look around some old threads and post what I find. There are some threads on here about free dining, and our "source" has a blog, disneybyjoe. He has lots of insight about FD.

I see, so if you're planning to go regardless, then you probably want to book to make sure you get the room you want, otherwise if it does come out and there is availability. You can cancel and re-book for the free dining.

 

[Sunnyday3]

It looks like last year, free dining was released on August 1st for October - December.

So what's the best policy-wait until August to book? Seems so far away to commit! Plus with being able to make ADR's May... I'm so conflicted! Lol

I'm worried about not being able to get a room and I like to be able to make payments, but I don't want to miss a chance at FD. thoughts?

 

[98cpTyphoonGuard]

So what's the best policy-wait until August to book? Seems so far away to commit! Plus with being able to make ADR's May... I'm so conflicted! Lol

I'm worried about not being able to get a room and I like to be able to make payments, but I don't want to miss a chance at FD. thoughts?

We always book our reservations early and our TA always takes care of adding discounts to our reservation when they are announced / if they apply. It's always been hassle free for us.

 

[chocolateavocado]

Count us in!!
We had our 1st Disney vacation this past November & we fell in love!
We haven't picked the exact dates, but we're planning during Thanksgiving week, that way we don't have to take ds6 out of school again. Last time we stayed 5 night at the Poly; not sure where we're going to stay this time. We're considering GF, BLT or maybe splitting 1 of them with AKL. Decisions..decisions...But, planning is half the fun!
Thank goodness there's so much time left to plan - and this time we'll actually be able to start our adrs at the 180 mark Now, it's just lots of work, work, work to save, save, save $$$$ for a magical trip!!

 

[Nechville]

We always book our reservations early and our TA always takes care of adding discounts to our reservation when they are announced / if they apply. It's always been hassle free for us.

Yes, if you go through a travel agent, they will handle changing the reservation for you. I did this last year but it wasn't stress free at all. The day the discount was announced was a nightmare. Waits on the phone were HOURS. I didn't hear from my travel agent until the next day that she was successful in getting me free dining. It was stressful so I learned I need to control my own reservation. Also, online booking opened at midnight versus phones opening at 6 AM. You can't change your reservation online so those that didnt have one to begin with and went online got in first.

And remember ADRs can be made without a trip/room reservation!

 

[Sunnyday3]

Yes, if you go through a travel agent, they will handle changing the reservation for you. I did this last year but it wasn't stress free at all. The day the discount was announced was a nightmare. Waits on the phone were HOURS. I didn't hear from my travel agent until the next day that she was successful in getting me free dining. It was stressful so I learned I need to control my own reservation. Also, online booking opened at midnight versus phones opening at 6 AM. You can't change your reservation online so those that didnt have one to begin with and went online got in first. And remember ADRs can be made without a trip/room reservation!

Thanks for sharing this. I'm sure it's a nightmare trying to get through the day it's announced. That is stressful. I wish I knew what hotels would have it. Then Id just book the room now. Wouldn't it be that much easier to add FD if it does happen to come out?

I'm new at the FD. The option hasn't ever been available when we've gone before in summer. Thanks for any tips.

 

[wyonative78]

I can't wait till May to buy our party tickets and even more important, ADRs!!

Have you made your list yet?

So far I have Grand Floridian Tea, Via Napoli, Cape May, 1900 Park Fare, California Grill, Flying Fish, Crystal Palace, Raglan Road, Tusker House, Kona Cafe and Mama Melroses.

We definitely want to do Yachtsman, Cali Grill, Jiko, and the Dessert Party. We'll be there on Thanksgiving, but we're not sure where we want to eat that day. We are toying with the idea of 50's PT or Beaches and Cream and then a trip over to see Osborne afterwards. We also want to do the monorail crawl one evening and grab a drink and bite to eat at each resort (plus a boat ride over to WL). AND, of course, snack around the World...

So much food, so little time!

 

[Nechville]

Thanks for sharing this. I'm sure it's a nightmare trying to get through the day it's announced. That is stressful. I wish I knew what hotels would have it. Then Id just book the room now. Wouldn't it be that much easier to add FD if it does happen to come out?

I'm new at the FD. The option hasn't ever been available when we've gone before in summer. Thanks for any tips.

Honestly, it doesn't matter if you book now somewhere and it doesn't end up having free dining. I was booked at POFQ last time and had to switch to CSR for FD. Again, you aren't just adding free dining to your reservation. In a sense, it is changing the reservation entirely. And just because you are booked somewhere and then they are included in FD, they still have to have availability in the FD category. Lots of people were booked at POR last fall and even though it was included in FD, they sold out of the FD allotment very quickly so they had to change to CSR to get it. They only have so many rooms at each resort with FD. It was confusing to me last year.

The absolute easiest would be just to wait and then book a vacation with free dining when it comes out. However, it coming out at midnight online last year was the first time they have ever done that. And there was no prerelease for Disney Visa holders. And assuming they even offer it at all for fall. But if you are going regardless, I would book now what you want. Since "adding" free dining changes the reservation completely and has to be done over the phone, changing resorts won't be a big deal.

 

[Sunnyday3]

Honestly, it doesn't matter if you book now somewhere and it doesn't end up having free dining. I was booked at POFQ last time and had to switch to CSR for FD. Again, you aren't just adding free dining to your reservation. In a sense, it is changing the reservation entirely. And just because you are booked somewhere and then they are included in FD, they still have to have availability in the FD category. Lots of people were booked at POR last fall and even though it was included in FD, they sold out of the FD allotment very quickly so they had to change to CSR to get it. They only have so many rooms at each resort with FD. It was confusing to me last year.

The absolute easiest would be just to wait and then book a vacation with free dining when it comes out. However, it coming out at midnight online last year was the first time they have ever done that. And there was no prerelease for Disney Visa holders. And assuming they even offer it at all for fall. But if you are going regardless, I would book now what you want. Since "adding" free dining changes the reservation completely and has to be done over the phone, changing resorts won't be a big deal.

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. We are going regardless; I've never been when it's NOT hot and crowded, so I'd really like to experience Disney when we can relax a bit and not sweat so much! So I think I will book it - and plan on NOT getting the FD - and seeing it as a bonus when/if it does come out.

Thanks again!

 

[Nechville]

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. We are going regardless; I've never been when it's NOT hot and crowded, so I'd really like to experience Disney when we can relax a bit and not sweat so much! So I think I will book it - and plan on NOT getting the FD - and seeing it as a bonus when/if it does come out.

Thanks again!

That's the best thing to do! Will be like starting your trip with pixie dust! As much as I'd like FD, it is a relief to be booked with a bounceback offer. I will be trying to change it if FD comes out since it is a bigger savings! I'll have a hard time paying some of the dinner prices out of pocket for my 3 year old who sometimes literally eats two bites, if that.

If this helps, here is what was offered last year: (I copied this from last years FD thread)

All-Star Music Resort
All-Star Sports Resort
Pop Century Resort
Carribean Beach Resort
Coronado Springs Resort
Port Orleans Resort Riverside
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Yacht & Beach Club Resorts
BoardWalk Inn
Contemporary Resort
Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Polynesian Resort
Wilderness Lodge
Bay Lake Tower
Animal Kingdom Villas
Beach Club Villas
BoardWalk Villas
Old Key West Resort
Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
The Villas at Disneys Wilderness Lodge
Fort Wilderness Cabins

Excluded was:
Art of Animation
All Star Movies
Port Orleans French Quarter
Campsites at Ft. Wilderness