Official September 2012 planning thread! List on page 30!

[Marblies]

This morning I received an alert from Build a Better Mouse Trip (.com) that as of August 2012, ALL value resorts will have FREE fridges. That would be awesome! The info from that site is pretty reliable. I know this will be great for those with small kids and babies, but personally, I love this. I would never pay for the convenience, but now I will have a cold spot for my leftovers. Then we can have them for breakfast to make up for the snack credit we lost on the updated plan. Gee, how cheap do I sound?

 

[KELLY]

This morning I received an alert from Build a Better Mouse Trip (.com) that as of August 2012, ALL value resorts will have FREE fridges. That would be awesome! The info from that site is pretty reliable. I know this will be great for those with small kids and babies, but personally, I love this. I would never pay for the convenience, but now I will have a cold spot for my leftovers. Then we can have them for breakfast to make up for the snack credit we lost on the updated plan. Gee, how cheap do I sound?

They have already started to install them.

 

[PlasticRedTopHat]

My family plans are finally finalized! Got time off from work and everything. Going Sept 17-24th, and staying at POP! WOOHHHooooOO

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

This morning I received an alert from Build a Better Mouse Trip (.com) that as of August 2012, ALL value resorts will have FREE fridges. That would be awesome! The info from that site is pretty reliable. I know this will be great for those with small kids and babies, but personally, I love this. I would never pay for the convenience, but now I will have a cold spot for my leftovers. Then we can have them for breakfast to make up for the snack credit we lost on the updated plan. Gee, how cheap do I sound?

Sounds like a pending price increase to me! I bet the cost of what guests would have paid for a fridge upgrade will eventually be built into the price. Even so, it is good news and I'd be happy to have one!

 

[Love Pooh Bear]

I also heard about the fridges in the value rooms. I've gotten them in the past when staying at value resorts but I need them for medical reasons. I need to take some meds that have to stay cold. So glad I don't have to worry about requesting it now!

I think we finally got our meals all set too. We wanted to try a couple of new places this year and are doing all Character meals.
As of right now we are going to do:

Sunday 9-16 Donald's Dining Safari @ AK for Breakfast
Monday 9-17 Disney Junior Play n' Dine @ HS for Breakfast
Tuesday 9-18 Cinderlla's Royal Table @ MK for Breakfast (new for us)
Wednesday 9-19 Cape May Cafe' Breakfast Buffet @ Beach Club (new for us)
Thursday 9-20 Crystal Palace @ MK for Dinner
Friday 9-21 Supercalifragilistic Breakfast @ 1900 Park Fare @ GF (new for us)

I have 1 week until I can make my ADR's so we'll see if I can get the one's that I want. We figured that since we got free dinnig we would do just Character meals for the kids. Besides that is the only way we can do CRT. Just too expensive on our own!

 

[chimilady]

I have 1 week until I can make my ADR's so we'll see if I can get the one's that I want. We figured that since we got free dinnig we would do just Character meals for the kids. Besides that is the only way we can do CRT. Just too expensive on our own!

Ok, after reading this, I have some questions, so is it often you can't get what you want? Which restaurants are frequently "sold out"? I also have to wait a week to make my ADRs and was curious. As for CRT, I couldn't justify the two Table Service credits, so we're just going to do dinner at Akershus instead. I hear the food is better, though I'm sure at some point, I would want to do CRT as well.

 

[Love Pooh Bear]

Ok, after reading this, I have some questions, so is it often you can't get what you want? Which restaurants are frequently "sold out"? I also have to wait a week to make my ADRs and was curious. As for CRT, I couldn't justify the two Table Service credits, so we're just going to do dinner at Akershus instead. I hear the food is better, though I'm sure at some point, I would want to do CRT as well.

I have never had any real trouble booking my meals for the times I want in the past. Not sure how it will be now that free dinning is out. I've heard horror stories from others though who can't get any times they want. I know that CRT is usually VERY hard to get (at least that is what I've heard). I went back and forth with using the 2 credits for it myself but never having been there my DD will flip out. We did breakfast at Akershus last Sept and loved it. We figured that we would use the 2 credits to do CRT this trip because we don't know if we will have the dinning plan again on future trips and I can't justify the cost of it if we ever did it on our own. When we've gone in the past and not had the dinning plan we only do a couple of Character meals because of the cost of them. We love going to them so having the plan is great for us this trip! So I will be up early next Monday to hopefully get the places we want!

 

[OatsZoo]

Ok, after reading this, I have some questions, so is it often you can't get what you want? Which restaurants are frequently "sold out"? I also have to wait a week to make my ADRs and was curious. As for CRT, I couldn't justify the two Table Service credits, so we're just going to do dinner at Akershus instead. I hear the food is better, though I'm sure at some point, I would want to do CRT as well.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/ click on Most Popular and there is a list.

I can confirm that it seems about right since I have read elsewhere the same names. I have personally had problems with Ohana, Le Cellier and Chef Mickey (all on the list) I have gotten into all by being flexible with dates and times. You may need to eat dinner at 4:30 or 7:30 but it is worth it sometimes.

I also book the popular ones first and then the others. I also spend 2 days in each park so if it is not available on the 1st day I try the 2nd. Hence, booking them first and then filling in the blanks with the least important.

I have a calendar in hand when booking, having the park written in each date and I fill it in with restaurant and ADR # so I know what days are done and which are not. Good luck!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

My family plans are finally finalized! Got time off from work and everything. Going Sept 17-24th, and staying at POP! WOOHHHooooOO

Welcome!! We will there too!! Happy Planning!

 

[OatsZoo]

Hey basketkat, can I get my dates and resort changed please, just added a day longer but switched resorts to accommodate it. We are now going Sept 12 - 22 and staying at All Stars Music. We have never been to that one yet so hope it is okay. Switching resorts is definitely worth being able to stay an extra day.....woot woot. One more day in the parks too, from 7 days to 8! With 2 off days to swim and go to Downtown...and eat free of course!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Ok, after reading this, I have some questions, so is it often you can't get what you want? Which restaurants are frequently "sold out"? I also have to wait a week to make my ADRs and was curious. As for CRT, I couldn't justify the two Table Service credits, so we're just going to do dinner at Akershus instead. I hear the food is better, though I'm sure at some point, I would want to do CRT as well.

We did free dining in September and had no problem getting all of our reservations that we wanted. We ate at CRT, Chef Mickey's, 'Ohana, Crystal Palace...lots of popular places. We usually opt for late breakfasts around 10:30am so it's more of a brunch (except for Crystal Palace; we love getting a reservation before MK opens). We also eat dinner around 4 or 4:30pm...whenever the restaurant starts their dinner service. That way, there is less waiting around once you check in.

I book my reservations online and I log onto the dining website a little before 6am (when online dining opens up). I do the same thing for all of my clients and I've never had a problem getting what they want (unless they don't have their reservations worked out by the 180 day mark).

 

[Dancegrl624]

Here are the ADR's that we hope to book next Thursday!

Sept 18- Raglan Road dinner
Sept 19- Cape May Cafe late bfast
Sept 20- Chef Mickey's late bfast
Sept 21- T-Rex lunch
Sept 22- 50's Prime Time lunch
Sept 23- Crystal Palace bfast
Sept 24- Garden Grill dinner

The only new place for us is Raglan Road. My family has so many favorites that they just "must" eat at!

 

[MLinDisney]

Ok, after reading this, I have some questions, so is it often you can't get what you want? Which restaurants are frequently "sold out"? I also have to wait a week to make my ADRs and was curious. As for CRT, I couldn't justify the two Table Service credits, so we're just going to do dinner at Akershus instead. I hear the food is better, though I'm sure at some point, I would want to do CRT as well.

I made my ADRs for September a week ago. I got everything I wanted at almost the exact time I wanted it. The only disappointment was CP. Although I did get one at 8:20, I wanted one at 8:05. I don't really understand why though. I went online at 5:45am and got everything set up. The day I chose for CP was my 8th day so 180+8. I made that ADR first at exactly 6:00am. The day I chose September 8th, is a 1 on the crowd calendar. So very puzzling. I will keep checking back.

Anyone else have a situation like this and was able to change later on to an 8:05?

 

[basketkat]

My family plans are finally finalized! Got time off from work and everything. Going Sept 17-24th, and staying at POP! WOOHHHooooOO

Awesome! I will get you added to our list!

Hey basketkat, can I get my dates and resort changed please, just added a day longer but switched resorts to accommodate it. We are now going Sept 12 - 22 and staying at All Stars Music. We have never been to that one yet so hope it is okay. Switching resorts is definitely worth being able to stay an extra day.....woot woot. One more day in the parks too, from 7 days to 8! With 2 off days to swim and go to Downtown...and eat free of course!

Of course! One more day is super exciting!!!!

 

[justakrazymom]

8 more days and we can make our ADR's.. I dont even have our dining plans all planned out..ahhh

 

[somesong2sing]

Awesome! I will get you added to our growing list!!!

can you switch us and add a day.

We are no longer at CBR. We are at CSR Sept 21-29

 

[basketkat]

can you switch us and add a day.

We are no longer at CBR. We are at CSR Sept 21-29

Sure! My kids LOVED the pool at CSR!!!!

 

[chimilady]

I made my ADRs for September a week ago. I got everything I wanted at almost the exact time I wanted it. The only disappointment was CP. Although I did get one at 8:20, I wanted one at 8:05. I don't really understand why though. I went online at 5:45am and got everything set up. The day I chose for CP was my 8th day so 180+8. I made that ADR first at exactly 6:00am. The day I chose September 8th, is a 1 on the crowd calendar. So very puzzling. I will keep checking back.

Anyone else have a situation like this and was able to change later on to an 8:05?

Ok, since I'm a 1st timer, I have more questions, so sorry. I was thinking of doing this over the phone. Do you think it's easier to do online? I have the days and times in a spreadsheet, so I'm a nerd like that. Do you think it's best to logon early and do it that way? Or do you get more options over the phone? This is so frustrating because I just don't know.

Also, the last bit, I know you can't make ressies for the same time on the same day. But what about different times for the same meal? Unlike most of you, I am going on a Cast Member friends and family discount, meaning my room is discounted and we are not buying tickets because the CM is sining us in. So they just started this thing this year where the CM Friend and family can buy dining plans. If they offer that in the fall, I am going to buy it and use my reservations. If they don't offer it, well, counter service and T-Rex and Rainforest for me! (September is both DH's and my birthdays and we'll do the Landry's Card thing) So if I can't get Tusker, I'd want to do breakfast at Rainforest Cafe. KWIM? I won't know until July whether or not I can buy the dining plan. What would you do in my situation?

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Ok, since I'm a 1st timer, I have more questions, so sorry. I was thinking of doing this over the phone. Do you think it's easier to do online? I have the days and times in a spreadsheet, so I'm a nerd like that. Do you think it's best to logon early and do it that way? Or do you get more options over the phone? This is so frustrating because I just don't know.

Do both! Start early with the online system at 6am and then be ready to call at 7am for any ressies you are missing or having problems with.

Also, the last bit, I know you can't make ressies for the same time on the same day. But what about different times for the same meal?

Yes, from what I remember, I booked different times for the same meal last year (even at the same restaurant). I believe we booked an early dinner (5:30pm), as well as a late dinner (7:30pm) because we weren't sure when to dine. The system allowed it, and then we just deleted the extra ressie when we finalized our plans. So I believe it will only lock out additional reservations if they are within 2 hours of each other.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Ouch...in case you haven't heard....

As of March 21st, 2012 the price of Disney’s PhotoCD will be $169.95. If you're planning to order a PhotoCD, take advantage of the current price and order yours before the 21st of this month.

The current price for ordering a CD of photos already in your account is $149.95. No word on whether the Pre-Visit advance order price of $99.95 will be affected (http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitoffer.aspx).