Please help a first-timer with planning questions

[1osfan]

Hope I'm not be nosey w/ my advice!

Not at all! I greatly appreciate the advice. You have been a big help. I think we have our basic plan, but I have one question for you. You seemed to suggest doing UG's best park each day, but then said MK should not be done on Monday. UG has MK as a best park on Monday. Is their information wrong?

 

[WDWAtLast]

You will still need ADR's for character meals - whether you have the DDP or not. When your 90 window opens up, go ahead and schedule the meals you really want, then based on what you get, you can check out the menus (with prices) at allears.net and see if the DDP is worth it or not. CRT is two table service credits - and without the DDP, your credit card will be charged the day you make your ADR's (for CRT only) You can then cancel the ADR's you do not want but know that you have the ones that are most important to you.

Prices for 4 Character meals (including CRT) for 2 adults and one child is about $200 (could be slighter more depending on your selections)

 

[ToddyLu]

I have been to Disney yearly since 2002. We have done DDP a couple of times and will do so again in Oct. We are 4 adults...DH and I do not have children and have never traveled with nieces and nephews. The only reason I can realy plan our trip is because I have been several times and we know where we want to eat. So we just go to the park or meet up for our dinners. We don't necessarily fill tied to our ADR's it is more of not wanting to miss our fav places. I don't stress about it too much because we always have Park Hoppers. I agree with PP about early diners or early lunch. Rope drop is terrific, too.

You will have plenty to do in each of the parks, so being tied to one each day for your first trip is smart IMO. Meal portions are large and you can split them if paying OOP.

Plan your character meals around the parks and wing the rest. Disney is huge, having to rush every where is very stressful. So I suggest making ADRs for the character meal, only. I am sure with the little ones you are spending most of your time in MK. Concentrate on that.

I have a spreadsheet that I will share if you are interested. It really helps me keep up with confirmation # park ours and EMH. Just PM me if you are interested. Have a terrific trip. I am sorry I have repeated what most have already said. I guess I just wanted to fill like I was part of you trip....yep, I am addicted.

 

[We_love_WDW]

I would get the DDP. We have two little ones and did not get our first year, but got it last year and for this year. You will definitely spend more $$ with out it - believe me CS can easily become a $50 or more lunch. If you also do not want to eat a TS every day you can do CRT which takes 2 credits or one of the dinner shows which takes 2 credits. Also if you do not book everything tommorrow, you can continue to call and most likely get a reservation when you decide what days you are going to which park. I get to make my ADRs Thursday and I am having a hard time deciding b/c I do not know the August hours! Good luck and have magical trip!

 

[srwarden1928]

You seemed to suggest doing UG's best park each day, but then said MK should not be done on Monday. UG has MK as a best park on Monday. Is their information wrong?

Conventional wisdom says that MK should not be done on Monday. UG, which uses computer analysis, recommends MK on Monday often. IMO computer analysis beats CW. Maybe the reason the crowds are better in MK on Monday is that many people outside the know have heard the CW and avoid MK on Monday. We are doing MK on a Monday (and on a Saturday) on this trip, following the UG recommendations.

 

[mill4023]

Personally, I'd skip the hoppers and avoid EMH parks. I know some people love doing EMH, but the fact is that the parks with EMH on a particular day are going to be more crowded than the one's without it. We've gone during spring break and by choosing a non-EMH park and arriving before opening time, we were able to get a ton of stuff done in the first two hours of each day. Then you have the advantage of lower crowds in that park for the rest of the day. To me, the extra hour you get in the morning isn't worth dealing with the higher crowds all day.

 

[mousescrapper]

Not at all! I greatly appreciate the advice. You have been a big help. I think we have our basic plan, but I have one question for you. You seemed to suggest doing UG's best park each day, but then said MK should not be done on Monday. UG has MK as a best park on Monday. Is their information wrong?

Conventional wisdom says that MK should not be done on Monday. UG, which uses computer analysis, recommends MK on Monday often. IMO computer analysis beats CW. Maybe the reason the crowds are better in MK on Monday is that many people outside the know have heard the CW and avoid MK on Monday. We are doing MK on a Monday (and on a Saturday) on this trip, following the UG recommendations.

Yes I completely agree w/ srwarden.....

Our 2 last trips...I wnet against the CW thinking in June of 08 TGM said a Sat would be one of our best days for MK...I was wary, but went w/ it and it turned out to be a great day....but I have had 2 previous experiences that Sat was not a good choice at all....but I also think my touring mind has improved. Just this past March, UG siad go MK on a Mon and we did. We arrived late in the day and stayed till 10 pm ( a pre decision) it was a littler more crowded, but the nightime was great!

If UG says for a Mon then I'd say do it, but if not I wouldn't.

good?

 

[clutter]

I would probably call at 90 days and book CRT, LeCellier and Chef Mickeys. Then book the rest once park hours are out. You're still close to 90 days, and most of these (that I know of) don't fill up the first day. Or you can book the rest based on your best guess, but can probably change them.

Are you sure you want to do morning EMH? I think I'd make my plan based on the no-emh park. That way, if you add them on, then you can do the am emh and change parks. Also, adding days to your tickets is way less expensive than hoppers, so you can add a day for a little bit, then on your 'rest' day, go to Fantasmic. That way you won't be in the crowded park all day, and you can do DHS another non-fantasmic day.