Scared...November free dining crowds

[scurvyfreedman]

We went in November 2013. We chose room discount at Poly over Free Dining Plan. Kids were 5 1/2 and 2 1/2 so the young one was already free for many meals.

We booked our meals ~60 days out, but I was a novice and didn't book 60 days in advance of my checkin date for everything. Couldn't get Be Our Guest at all. My little one really wanted to meet the Beast so that was a big disappointment. We did get Crystal Palace for breakfast (was the biggest hit of all), Hollywood and Dine for lunch (although the wait there even with ADR was outrageous) - this was before Doc and Sofia were there. Too bad b/c we waited in line for almost two hours to see Sofia. We also did Tusker House for lunch - that was another big hit. The food wasn't good for my picky eaters, but the characters spent a lot of time with the kids. We also did BF at Cinderella's Royal Table. That was great as well. I made that res exactly on day-60, our middle trip MK day, so we were actually 57 days from the start of the trip. Probably why I missed out on BoG. Most restaurants were crowded, more crowded than the parks themselves. Even with ADR we waited more for tables than we did for many rides. We did use touring plans and other sites to build a plan that fit in the rides and character experiences we wanted to do. So we may have missed a lot of the crowds. We also used FP+ - it was in the testing phase. Worked great for the most part - although Peter Pan's Flight FP+ was cancelled and we never got a chance to get on that ride.

We're going back in November 2016. I will learn from my mistakes and add that to the terrific online advise I used last time.

Good luck with your trip.

 

[mandis77]

As you get closer to your trip you will start to see more availability open up. I wouldn't worry about it yet. Just be diligent about checking for what you want and something will show up! Follow the cancellation threads here too, it might give you a heads up.

 

[jani3]

Scared...November free dining crowds

I am worried that although I picked the lowest predicted crowd week with Chrsitmas decorations, that the free dining crowds will be unbearable. Caribbean Beach is 100% full the week of Nov 15th

Make me feel better please...are you worried? Any strategies?

I picked the Nov week with the lowest crowd, reserved our room, then started researching what to book for ADR. I'm feeling the same as you, feeling like I made a big mistake because of that free DDP.

Last week, I couldn't get any ADRs at all but thanks to the Nov cancel thread, a couple of the people offered their spots and coordinated their cancellation so I could grab them. I also lucked out when I randomly checked wdw's website for Ohana and it was available. So my advise, follow the Nov cancel thread and keep checking wdw's dining reservation.

I'm just worried about the crowd level at the parks now.

 

[disneyseniors]

We always go during free dining in Nov or Dec, and have had no problem with adr's. But this year we are going without the dp. Don't worry about the crowds because they are bearable,at least to us You will have a great time at this time of year!

 

[NJMomto2]

I am letting go of a crystal palace lunch on November 17th

 

[branv]

I am letting go of a crystal palace lunch on November 17th

Oh, I wish I'd seen this in time

 

[NJMomto2]

Oh, I wish I'd seen this in time

Sorry, next time I will coordinate better. I was rushing to get out of the house to go see grandma

 

[honeybunches]

We went November 2013, right before Thanksgiving. Such a great trip!! I worried that free dining would make it overcrowded, but it was actually fine! We booked our reservations about 3 months out, and I was able to get every ADR we wanted by checking the site fairly regularly. We stayed at CSR and never felt like it was too crowded at the buses, hotel area, or pools. The ride lines were not bad at all -- I really loved FP+ because I was by myself with the kids, so didn't have another adult to rush around getting FP for us. Being able to schedule FP in advance meant we could just relax until it was time to ride. The Christmas decorations were amazing, and I hope to go back in November again so my husband can see it! OP, I hope your trip is wonderful, too!

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

Here are the estimated park crowds from Touring Plans:
date crowd level (1 least crowed -10 most crowed)
11/15 4
11/16 4
11/17 4
11/18 3
11/19 3
11/20 4
11/21 5
11/22 7

It looks like a good week for low crowds.

My strategy is I always print out the crowd calendar for the week we are going. I then pick the days we will visit a park by using the calendar to find the least crowded park for that respective day, make our ADR's and FP+ based on that.
(I use a rule of thumb for ADR's and FP+ to make sure we aren't rushed eating or miss a FP. I leave 2 hours between my ADR reservation time and the end of our next FP.) Obviously we use FP+ for the popular rides, in the MK just remember attractions like Stitch, Laugh Floor, People Mover, Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, Tiki Room, Country Bear Jam have low wait times and use them as fillers. We've gone when the parks are packed and we usually fill the day pretty well with rides and shows and have lunch all with minimal wait times. It's all about planning and knowing what to do before you get to the parks.

tip: It's also easier to get FP in the late afternoon and evening.

 

[lahobbs4]

We went last year the week before Thanksgiving and are going again this year! There are always crowds in Fantasyland, so I expected that to be crowded. But everywhere else was super manageable! Agreed, ADR's are hard to get but we are doing QS plan this year and only getting 2 TS reservations so we can skip all of that. You will have a great, relaxed time!

 

[Palaura]

We are booked nov 15-21. Same fears!!!!! Although I think its a shell game with the ADRs based on all the turnover. fingers crossed!

 

[wmjeffer]

Same here - we've booked Nov. 12-18. It is nice to have some reassuring advice from the veterans - the ADR's are just crazy!

 

[buzznina]

Here's how I look at it While all the FD people are in the restaurants for 2 hours, that is less people in line

 

[jani3]

Here's how I look at it While all the FD people are in the restaurants for 2 hours, that is less people in line

good point.