September 2011 - The Planning Continues! (2nd Thread)

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Jumping in, finally nailed down our dates!
September 24 - October 2!!

I feel like I have one too. Mine was more of the "Make an ADR for every single meal" variety. I made reservations then went to plan the days around them. I realized "DUH.... when are we supposed to enjoy our time and have fun!!!" , instead of running from food reservation to food reservation and "allowing for at least 1.5 hours to get to your destination," at least according to the WDW website when you make the ADR's.

I then had the bright idea to cancel all breakfast reservations and all but one lunch ADR. That way we can do whatever we want without time restrictions. The lunch ADR is for Coral Reef and Dbf really want to go there. The only ADR's left are for dinner and I know those are necessary especially for my bday dinner at Tokyo Dining. I had so much fun planning that I forgot I was actually supposed to have fun while at the parks.... dersh....

Hope you have a good trip!

OK so someone who understands me... I feel the need to keep stalking the ADR's in hopes of something even better. So I went on and got CP for 12 of us the morning we do MK--at 8:05--we have lunch that day for CP and my group will probably wanna keep lunch instead as they won't wanna miss the special opening at the rope drop. But at least I have it for now for a discussion about either rope drop or a special pic in front of cinderella's castle in an almost empty park...Hmmmm

 

[BorkBorkBork]

for paying off your trip! Such a great feeling!

Like Kelly said, you may get extra pixie dust and your room may be ready early! Every time but once, our room has been ready when we checked in, all before 3pm. In any case, we always buy length of stay tickets and get an early morning flight on arrival day and a later flight on departure day so that we can get all the park time we can get! We have been doing it this way since youngest DD was 15 months old on our first trip and we love it. We love beginning and ending the trip at MK Besides, we're all too excited not to go to a park on arrival day, lol
I think it will be a great way for you to ease into your vacation! BTW, the Plaza has great food! The Plaza doesn't get a lot a lot of Dis attention like some other restaurants but we really like it!

Thanks! I'm excited about doing this. I've looked up the Plaza menus on allears.net and some pictures on the food threads here and it looks great! I have wanted to start the trip at MK since starting planning but got scared away from trying it until now. Hopefully we'll be able to get into our room early too though!

 

[peachydreamyxx]

OK so someone who understands me... I feel the need to keep stalking the ADR's in hopes of something even better. So I went on and got CP for 12 of us the morning we do MK--at 8:05--we have lunch that day for CP and my group will probably wanna keep lunch instead as they won't wanna miss the special opening at the rope drop. But at least I have it for now for a discussion about either rope drop or a special pic in front of cinderella's castle in an almost empty park...Hmmmm

I am the same way! I managed to not touch my ADRs for 3 whole weeks after making them because I thought they were perfect.. than I had an 'idea' that would make them better... and now here I am 3 months after my initial 180 mark changing almost everything! Although I am quite happy with everything we have changed to.. just really hoping to move my Le Cellier and Chef Mickeys and I will be set.. I think anyways..

 

[Disney Brat]

Hi everyone! I have been pretty much MIA since I joined this group, our computer caught a virus, so we just got it back! The trip is no longer a surprse for DD, I just couldn't keep it quiet anymore! We gave our final payment this week! We we are very excited!! It seems so real after you do that! Now we are just patiently waiting to see if/when they open up the dates for the dessert party! Also trying to figure out about BBB and PL. DD seems to want to do both, but we will see!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

 

[sillylily]

For those traveling the week of 9/24, it seems that a bunch of Crystal Palace breakfasts have open up. I was able to grab one any day that whole following week for 7 people at 8:05 and 8:25. Hope others can grab them too!

I finally managed to snag my 8:05 am ADR! I've been watching and hoping they would, and I snapped one up as quickly as I could. Doing my happy dance!

 

[sillylily]

OK so someone who understands me... I feel the need to keep stalking the ADR's in hopes of something even better. So I went on and got CP for 12 of us the morning we do MK--at 8:05--we have lunch that day for CP and my group will probably wanna keep lunch instead as they won't wanna miss the special opening at the rope drop. But at least I have it for now for a discussion about either rope drop or a special pic in front of cinderella's castle in an almost empty park...Hmmmm

I'm all about the picture; we'll be wearing our family Tshirts for our ADR that day, because that's the only souvenir I have in mind for myself! I have to admit, though, that I hope everybody snarfs their food down and we're finished right at rope drop, so I can have my cake and eat it too!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

I'm all about the picture; we'll be wearing our family Tshirts for our ADR that day, because that's the only souvenir I have in mind for myself! I have to admit, though, that I hope everybody smarts their good down and we're finished right at rope drop, so I can have my cake and eat it too!

Lily ---what day are you going to MK? We are going the 27th! I am planning to hit rope drop on Oct 1st for the anniversary anyhow, then taking monorail to Ohana's for a 9:20 breakfast!

 

[sillylily]

Lily ---what day are you going to MK? We are going the 27th! I am planning to hit rope drop on Oct 1st for the anniversary anyhow, then taking monorail to Ohana's for a 9:20 breakfast!

We're doing MK on the 26th; your group is still planning on MNSSHP on the 27th, right? I really want to be sure to meet up with you if possible, at the party or at Petals either way! How's everything going this summer at Cedar Point, by the way?

 

[mousegear]

OK so someone who understands me... I feel the need to keep stalking the ADR's in hopes of something even better. So I went on and got CP for 12 of us the morning we do MK--at 8:05--we have lunch that day for CP and my group will probably wanna keep lunch instead as they won't wanna miss the special opening at the rope drop. But at least I have it for now for a discussion about either rope drop or a special pic in front of cinderella's castle in an almost empty park...Hmmmm

I am the same way. I got up 5:45AM on our 180 mark and managed to get every ADR within desired time (+/- 15 min). But ever since then, I've been tweeking our schedule. Also, Disney keeps on changing things too. Just beginning of this week, they've released F! of everyday so now I am debating if I should go to DHS on different date. I originally booked F! Pk at MM but was worried that DHS would be crowded. So on and on.... our ADRs change. I still need to book Wishes Dessert Party. If I don't get it on our desired date, than other ADRs need to be changed.

But planning is half the fun, isn't it?

 

[haven_alise1997]

Is it weird we are almost in July and they don't have August or September dates for the Dessert Party yet? argh, it's the last thing I need to schedule and it's driving me crazzy. Course that's not that far for me to go...crazy I mean..

 

[MikellaCinderella]

Hi ladies! I'm still here!!! I went MIA again for a few weeks.....thought things would slow down for me after my classes ended, but nope....then I had to prepare for our big trip to the beach in SC. Just got home this week, so now it's back to 24/7 Disney prep!! Hope all of you have been doing well! I'm getting so excited for this trip now! Making my final payment on our cruise portion tomorrow!

 

[MamaJessie]

I'm all about the picture; we'll be wearing our family Tshirts for our ADR that day, because that's the only souvenir I have in mind for myself! I have to admit, though, that I hope everybody smarts their good down and we're finished right at rope drop, so I can have my cake and eat it too!

That line almost defeated me. I kept rereading it trying to make it make sense and it couldn't be done. My brain is fried today.

I now have two different reservations. And I cancelled my room only at POR for the one day and that has turned into a mega nightmare. WDW says the rewards company will get the money and figure out how to refund me and the reward company says my money will either keep getting returned to disney or get returned to the company but never given back to me.

 

[Smile4Me]

Paid off the trip balance today!! I wanted to make sure those Disney Rewards points would be available before we left. I was going to change our 8 day tickets to a 7 day but the CM said it would only be a difference of $3 (in hindsight maybe he meant per person? still, $6) so I kept the 8th day. We weren't planning on going anywhere our arrival day but I really want to now. Gotta take advantage of that day!

OK: We arrive at MCO around 11am. We wouldn't be able to get into our room for my DD to take a nap until the rooms are available around 3 pm, right? So we might as well head to the MK! We will have plenty of time there later in the week so it'll be a no pressure, relaxed visit. I've made an ADR for 4:20 for the Plaza which is all I could get. We previously were going to eat at Boatrights at our resort. I'd like to still have an early night so we can start Monday am at Epcot.

So tell me, is this crazy? If we don't expect to ride any rides it should be enjoyable, yes? Hey, maybe this would be the perfect time to meet Mickey at the Main Street Theater!

Anyone else go to a park their first day when they have an early morning flight and small kids?

We always take the early flight out of Milwaukee or Madison...which is an hour drive to Madison or three to Milwaukee for us...add in having to be there an hour early = EARLY MORNING! lol. We depart around 7 a.m. and get to Orlando by 11am-12 p.m. Love it. We've only had our room ready immediately once, but we are so jazzed up we couldn't rest. We usually eat at the resort quickservice and then head to a park from there. Usually do a couple rides before dinner, sometimes the room is ready and we'll head back for a bit before dinner other times we just do a little people watching,,,knowing we have a full week of fun ahead of us and just take in being there!! Good luck with the small kids, I know it can really wipe out us big kids too! Just pace yourself and stay well hydrated!

My boss alerted me to the fact that the vacation I am planning to take falls on labor day weekend, has anyone stayed during this time?

I will be at POP 8/31-9/6, is that a horrible time to be there?!?!?!?!?! I have been there the third week of august and the crowds weren't too bad, but I don't know how this weekend is. Please someone let me know

The weekend itself isn't too bad. Watch the crowd calendar and early morning/evening entrance. The year we were down over labor day weekend, we actually used that opportunity to stay out late one night, sleep in the next morning and hit a waterpark on that Monday,,,and we loved it. Barely a crowd!

That line almost defeated me. I kept rereading it trying to make it make sense and it couldn't be done. My brain is fried today.

I now have two different reservations. And I cancelled my room only at POR for the one day and that has turned into a mega nightmare. WDW says the rewards company will get the money and figure out how to refund me and the reward company says my money will either keep getting returned to disney or get returned to the company but never given back to me.

Good luck figuring that out!
And Congrats to all those who just paid off their trips!


Also gotta ask a question for the weekend for people to think about-
What characters are you and your families on the lookout for during your upcoming trip?

 

[janabananas]

I am new to this, where can I find the crowd counter?

 

[sillylily]

That line almost defeated me. I kept rereading it trying to make it make sense and it couldn't be done. My brain is fried today.

I now have two different reservations. And I cancelled my room only at POR for the one day and that has turned into a mega nightmare. WDW says the rewards company will get the money and figure out how to refund me and the reward company says my money will either keep getting returned to disney or get returned to the company but never given back to me.

I was DISing from my iPhone, and autocorrect kicked in; I
should have double checked it. It was "snarfs their food down." I typed it and still had to do a double take and go, "Where did that come from?"

 

[peachydreamyxx]

These past two days have been so great ADR wise! First I got the 8:05 Crystal Palace I've been searching for, than today Le Cellier opened up a bunch of lunches for the week I will be there as well!! While they didnt have the day I wanted exactly, they had 4 other days and I was able to work with that Now I only need to find my Chef Mickey dinner and reschedule my T-Rex lunch and I am done.. So glad I was up at 5:30 on my 180 mark

 

[sillylily]

These past two days have been so great ADR wise! First I got the 8:05 Crystal Palace I've been searching for, than today Le Cellier opened up a bunch of lunches for the week I will be there as well!! While they didnt have the day I wanted exactly, they had 4 other days and I was able to work with that Now I only need to find my Chef Mickey dinner and reschedule my T-Rex lunch and I am done.. So glad I was up at 5:30 on my 180 mark

And with this one post, I can feel my days shifting!I managed to snag an early ADR for LeCellier when you posted this!I need to sit down with my schedule, and my ADRs, and do some tweaking. I also need to call WDW and upgrade our dining plan from QSDP, as the OOP keeps going up. It seems the sensible thing to do. Now if I could get a CP resize for the 27th, I'll be over the moon!

 

[peachydreamyxx]

And with this one post, I can feel my days shifting!I managed to snag an early ADR for LeCellier when you posted this!I need to sit down with my schedule, and my ADRs, and do some tweaking. I also need to call WDW and upgrade our dining plan from QSDP, as the OOP keeps going up. It seems the sensible thing to do. Now if I could get a CP resize for the 27th, I'll be over the moon!

Tell me about tweaking! I have a ridiculous amount of ADRs that DH and I need to go through! Do you need a CP breakfast on the 27th? Bc I am most likely canceling the one I have for that morning since I got an 805 for another day. Its for 7 people if that helps and at 8:25

 

[3monkeymomma]

We were originally going in October, but Delta changed our flights and we were going to miss our connecting flight so they gave us a full refund and now we're going Sept. 14-21. It's our first trip to WDW and it's a surprise for our kids. I can't wait!

 

[sillylily]

Tell me about tweaking! I have a ridiculous amount of ADRs that DH and I need to go through! Do you need a CP breakfast on the 27th? Bc I am most likely canceling the one I have for that morning since I got an 805 for another day. Its for 7 people if that helps and at 8:25

Awww, thanks! To be specific, I want an 8:05 reservation on that day, so I could make that our MK day, as we're there for the MNSSHP that day already. I have an 8:05 on the 28th right now, so I guess that will stay that way. I'm about tweaked out where food is concerned!