"Reach for the sky!" We're finally getting there in JAN 2012!!!TR LINK PG 69!

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I'm so glad you are still reading Erin! Via Napoli is one of the ADRs we're going to try to get, but NOT the one I'm making tomorrow! Guess again!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I think EPCOT'S ADR will be either Garden Grill or Biedergarten!!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I think EPCOT'S ADR will be either Garden Grill or Biedergarten!!!!

Nope! Neither of those Ann, although Biergarten was so yummy! This ADR was a bizarre request from Rey. That's the only hint you get!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

UUUUGHHHH!!! Rey!!!! Oh, I know....I'll go message him on FB and find out.....oh wait...he's not my friend on FB.

hmmmm.........Coral Reef???? Rose & Crown???

 

[Parla]

My guess was going to the Biergarten too so I will have to pull a different one out of a hat and say Teppan Edo?

 

[Parla]

Shoot, I got caught up in guessing and forgot to say... Of course we're still reading! We're not going to abandon you just 'cause you have to postpone. You WILL get there again.

Also, tell Dallas Happy Birthday! Oh to be 16 again. The things I would do differently. Mainly investment and carrier wise.

 

[-Hope-]

Nope! Neither of those Ann, although Biergarten was so yummy! This ADR was a bizarre request from Rey. That's the only hint you get!

I know!! I know!!

I won't give it away though 'cause that wouldn't really be fair.

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm still reading! Really!!!
I'm guessing Chefs de France because you mentioned that in an earlier post...


Amanda

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Amanda's paying attention! This morning I got up and had no problem at 7:30 FL time getting a 12pm ADR for Chefs de France on our first Epcot day! Rey wants crepes. It's one of our "we'll do this if we have saved enough money" ADRs, if not, we may go back to the house for lunch. I'm really pleased with how easy these ADRs are to get! I'm hoping that is good news for the week I've chosen!

 

[MARsMama]

I'm still reading too I'm just not around as much, in general, as we're having a busy summer as well!

Glad to hear that you're getting the ADRs you want as you decide on them. Sounds like you picked a less crowded time of year to go, that's a plus

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I'm still reading too I'm just not around as much, in general, as we're having a busy summer as well!

Glad to hear that you're getting the ADRs you want as you decide on them. Sounds like you picked a less crowded time of year to go, that's a plus

I'm glad you are still reading! Yep, I'm really enjoying our busy summer!

OMG, the free dining extension into 2012 is KILLING ME!!! I'm not sure what to do, I'm running numbers now and SO tempted to stay onsite!

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm glad you are still reading! Yep, I'm really enjoying our busy summer!

OMG, the free dining extension into 2012 is KILLING ME!!! I'm not sure what to do, I'm running numbers now and SO tempted to stay onsite!

Hooray for getting your ADR at Chefs de France!
In terms of Free Dining... I would think of it this way. Figure out cost of hotel + dining offsite (including the cost of eating meals at the house) and then figure out cost of onsite with Free Dining. For us the room-only discount are better than free dining (especially since we have APs but even without that).

Amanda

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I keep running the numbers and really it's neck and neck. IF (and that's a big IF) I have budgeted correctly for our meals, it will be about 60$ cheaper to stay onsite and we would get two more TS meals!!! BUT...

and it's a big but get it?

we are giving up space, a private pool, AND, the biggest issue is that I would have to come up with the money sooner b/c you have to pay everything off 45 days out. That is what is keeping me from jumping on it. We could get a little privacy if we did a cabin at Ft. Wilderness or a Family suite, but coming up with the money sooner might be a deal breaker. I tried to push the dates out, but b/c of blackouts and prices, it ends up not working. I could technically push it one week more, but that won't help much, I make a big chunk of money during Christmas with my petsitting and the 45 days comes before that.

BUT (I'm just full of buts) IF I didn't come up with the money, at least I would be able to just push my dates out with Disney and keep paying. I'm concerned that I have already given $1000 to the house people and pushed the date off once. I'm going to lose $200 canceling and even more if they decide that I've waited too long to cancel. (yes, I factored that $200 into the comparison)

What would YOU do?!?!?!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hmmm. Well, after talking with Rey about meals and stuff last night, I really think the guys will like staying onsite more. Now, whether I can pull off getting the money together is a whole other thing, but I'm making ADR's as if we were staying onsite with FD. I'm really still totally confused and torn, but what's a girl to do? Not sure if we should get a family suite (more comfort and privacy for Rey & I) OR if we should get two connecting rooms (more comfort for the kids). I'm so selfish!

After crunching the numbers, I actually think we'll get way more food, no penny pinching in that area with FD AND the two meals we had planned on having that aren't on the dining plan. RFC we will go to b/c we have the gift cert. and House of Blues as well b/c I have a coupon.

So, this morning I get on to make my AK ADRs and Tusker House doesn't have a single lunch ADR open? So I checked the past couple days and they don't have any open those days either. I think there's just a glitch in the system, but it caused me to look around some more and I think we'll skip TH this time. NEVERMIND. I just looked and I was counting wrong, we still have another ADR, so if they fix the glitch, I'll add TH too. I made our House of Blues ADR for that evening with no problems. I also added BOMA for dinner on our 2nd night and Via Napoli for dinner on our 3rd night! All KINDS of food. I hope I make it home with clothes that fit.

Really though, I feel like everything is all up in the air. It's hard to make ADRs without knowing what we are doing b/c everything changes depending on if we are on or offsite!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Hi Karen!! I love it that you are adventureous with your dining. I don't think I could try Boma with the fussy eaters I have with me. So, where are you staying? I'm guessing ASMu. I am so glad FD came out! Now I'm hoping for FD for next September. Yes, I haven't updated my ptr, but after this trip, I'm planning another one.....this time around with 2 friends from work and their families. We would stay at POP. Should be fun!! And you know me, even if my friends don't come, I'm still planning on going!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hi Karen!! I love it that you are adventureous with your dining. I don't think I could try Boma with the fussy eaters I have with me. So, where are you staying? I'm guessing ASMu. I am so glad FD came out! Now I'm hoping for FD for next September. Yes, I haven't updated my ptr, but after this trip, I'm planning another one.....this time around with 2 friends from work and their families. We would stay at POP. Should be fun!! And you know me, even if my friends don't come, I'm still planning on going!!

Actually, Boma is perfect for picky eaters in my group b/c they still have things like mac-n-cheese on the buffet, so that really helps! Ooooh, I'm getting excited! I've decided that I will book and if I don't have it paid, then that's fine, I'll just extend the dates to next fall and we won't have ANY issues getting it paid off by then. Hopefully they'll still have free dining then as well if we need to do that. For now though, I'm concentrating on pulling this together for Jan/Feb!

I'm not going to tell you where I'm staying until it's all final, I'm getting ready to call and book right now!

 

[MARsMama]

For us a big plus to having the FD is that we don't have to 'worry' about buying groceries, preparing meals, and budgeting for food (other than the tips). Our meals are taken care of and we can work on saving for other aspects of the trip.
Good luck with your planning, I hope everything falls into place for you as it's meant to be

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

For us a big plus to having the FD is that we don't have to 'worry' about buying groceries, preparing meals, and budgeting for food (other than the tips). Our meals are taken care of and we can work on saving for other aspects of the trip.
Good luck with your planning, I hope everything falls into place for you as it's meant to be

Yep, the not having to worry actually overrides the space/relaxing pro of having a house! I was so concerned about food money and just not sure, even after going through menu's and guessing what everyone would want, if I would have enough. Rey has been known to just throw caution to the wind in restaurants and this will really help me relax and feel like the food is taken care of!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

It's official! We just booked Free Dining for the end of January!!!!!!!

We decided on two rooms so that the kids would be more comfortable, it really didn't look like the pullout beds in the Family Suites would be comfy for two teenage boys and none of us really liked the look of the cabins. We live out in the country already, so when we go on vacation, we don't want countryish decor, if that makes sense. So, where are we staying????


POP CENTURY in two adjoining rooms! All of them were refurbed in 2010 as well and we requested 50s section, so it will almost be like a different resort for Savannah & I...and the guys have never stayed onsite!!! I'm so excited, now I just need to save every single dime possible!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

So get this! I checked my reservations when the email arrived and we have free refillable mugs?!?!? Since we are staying in a value, I upgraded us to DDP and I thought we wouldn't get them, but I guess they let you have the mugs since originally we would have had QSP? Whatever, I'm pretty pleased b/c that would have been another $78 for us! I printed it out just in case it's a glitch, I have proof that it says we get them!