September 2011 - The Planning Has Started!!!

[BorkBorkBork]

Just made my ADRs online!!!

Boatrights 9/18 5:25pm
Akershus 9/19 5:25pm
Coral Reef 9/21 6:50pm
Liberty Tree 9/22 5:30pm
Crystal Palace 9/23 8:15am
'Ohana 9/23 6:50pm
Chef Mickey's 9/25 11am

There was less available than I thought there would be but I got everything I wanted within a 30 minute window. I had a different time selected for Coral Reef but it said "Please note your party may be seated at different tables"--this is for a party of 3! So I changed that. I also had to give my credit card # for Akershus which I don't remember having to do when I called over the phone in 2009.

Whew! That peace of mind is worth getting up at 4:45am!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

180 days tomorrow! Going to be e-mailing my ressie list to our TA today!



I'm pretty sure I have read the buses start an hour before restaurants open. Which makes sense as people need a way to get to their early ADRs before the park opens.

I remember having no trouble catching a bus for an 8am Tusker House ressie.

Good luck with your ADR's!!

I sure hope the busses run an hour before restaurants open! That would make thing sooo much easier for me!

 

[BorkBorkBork]

Oh, and MissLiz, one of our fellow September thread posters here, told me she's originally from Davenport!

Look at all us Iowa girls! I'm from Cedar Falls originally and still have family in Waterloo as well as Bettendorf. I like the Quad Cities, you guys have a lot of stuff for families! The farmers market by the river is really nice too!

Good Luck. Hope you get everything you want

Thank you! I did! But a hazard of doing it so early is making a reservation for the wrong date, which I thankfully just caught and changed. That was a close one!

OK...going back to bed now.

 

[sjs314]

Ok, I just booked another early ADR for our trip. Reminding you that I am NOT an early morning person and usually sleep in before heading to the parks, lol. But, I wanted to try out the idea of getting to the parks before RD, taking photos along the walk to our ADR in an empty park, and then rushing to do the "important" things before the rest of the crowd gets in. I will probably regret this early morning idea at some point.

Now then, since I'm not usually at the parks early, I've never experienced this challenge: I've read that busses usually start running from the resorts 1 hour prior to the park opening time. Therefore, this presents a problem for those of us with early ADR's! Hmm......my only option might be a taxi on those mornings?! Grrr....

The one I just added is an 8am ADR at Hollywood & Vine. HS doesn't technically open until 9am that morning. So.....the busses probably won't start running until 8am.

Last few years we've just eaten breakfast most mornings in the food court at POP (and ASMo before that) around 9am and then slowly make our way to the parks around 10am. (A few times we've done late ADR breakfasts at 1900 Park Fare, Ohana, and Tusker House, but never early ones! lol)

Good luck with your ADR's!!

I sure hope the busses run an hour before restaurants open! That would make thing sooo much easier for me!

The buses start running at 6:30 am according to the Transportation Boards and most report if you are at the bus stop by 7 you will be picked up and on your way in plenty of time for early am ADR's at the parks.

Just something I happened to research last week

 

[peachydreamyxx]

Just made my ADRs online!!!

Boatrights 9/18 5:25pm
Akershus 9/19 5:25pm
Coral Reef 9/21 6:50pm
Liberty Tree 9/22 5:30pm
Crystal Palace 9/23 8:15am
'Ohana 9/23 6:50pm
Chef Mickey's 9/25 11am

There was less available than I thought there would be but I got everything I wanted within a 30 minute window. I had a different time selected for Coral Reef but it said "Please note your party may be seated at different tables"--this is for a party of 3! So I changed that. I also had to give my credit card # for Akershus which I don't remember having to do when I called over the phone in 2009.
Whew! That peace of mind is worth getting up at 4:45am!

Congrats on the ADR's! I bet it feels awesome to have that done! Youre making me nervous now, I still have 6 days to go before I can make mine so I hope it wont be too bad!

 

[MissLiz]

Holy Majolies! Check out all the Iowa/Illinois folk!!! That is awesome!!!

All of my family still lives in Davenport so we try to get up there as much as possible.

I went to UNI for 3 years before I transferred to another school that had better class availability in my major. Of course, that was almost 20 years ago. Oooh, forget I said that. I'm not that old. Not possible.




My next step in planning will be trying to learn how to use my sewing machine so I can make the girls some matching clothes. I'll also keep a look out at Gymboree and Crazy 8 for coordinating outfits for the trip. I try to buy a little at a time and use Gymbucks and Crazy Cash to get more for my money. 6 months should be enough to get some good stuff....I hope.

 

[MamaJessie]

There are roughly one hundred million replies to this post, so I skipped a few and am announcing my arrival to the world!

I'll be there SOLO the last week of September (still negotiating the dates) and will run the Wine/Dine 1/2 marathon October 1st!

First solo vaca (though baby bro will join the last few days) and first 1/2 marathon!

A solo vacation sounds fun! Welcome to the thread!

There was less available than I thought there would be but I got everything I wanted within a 30 minute window. I had a different time selected for Coral Reef but it said "Please note your party may be seated at different tables"--this is for a party of 3! So I changed that. I also had to give my credit card # for Akershus which I don't remember having to do when I called over the phone in 2009.

I am used to getting that message with a party of 6 but with three? Wow!


I am making a list of all the restaurants you guys mention in case they offer free dining next trip

 

[MikellaCinderella]

The buses start running at 6:30 am according to the Transportation Boards and most report if you are at the bus stop by 7 you will be picked up and on your way in plenty of time for early am ADR's at the parks.

Just something I happened to research last week

Thanks for the info!! Although I should still be in bed at those crazy hours!!

Oh, and for anyone wondering why they see me posting at early morning hours, but then talking about how I can't wake up that early on vacation......it's because I work nights! Vacation schedules screw up my sleep routine sooo badly! In fact, I'm on my way to bed right now! Goodnight all! ; )

 

[disneydreamin247]

The buses start running at 6:30 am according to the Transportation Boards and most report if you are at the bus stop by 7 you will be picked up and on your way in plenty of time for early am ADR's at the parks.

Just something I happened to research last week

On our stays at Pop and CBR we were at the bus stop for 6:45 and we were at the park (MK and AK) WAY ahead of time!

 

[MikellaCinderella]

On our stays at Pop and CBR we were at the bus stop for 6:45 and we were at the park (MK and AK) WAY ahead of time!

Good to know! We are staying at POP! Thanks!

 

[meachell13]

Good question! We have budgeted out what we need to save for luggage, parking and gas to the airport, tips, drinks, etc. And have been saving in the change jar for those things!
Weight is a big one (especially for the bf) making sure we're ready for all the walking!
MNSSHP costumes!!
What we're going to pack (clothes wise)
And lots of waiting! lol!

just found out as far as my new grad program I'm going to have to do regular online discussion postings every Sunday and Wednesday....sooo I'm hoping I can do the Sunday and Wednesday I'm gone the Friday before we leave! My admissions manager suggested finding wifi and bringing my laptop...and i was like, but its my vacation!

As far as I have read on all the forums is that there isn't free wifi at WDW anywhere. You may get extremely lucky and find someone that has a wifi signal from there room b/c they are paying for it and brought their own modem. I have also read that some of the DVC villas has some wifi areas but they are hit and miss so not advertised. The only place that I know that has wifi for free is Wolfgang Puck CS (I don't think it was the table service) in DTD. So that is asking a lot to go to DTD whenever you have to get online. I know that you can pay for the internet in your room but it is steep too

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

A solo vacation sounds fun! Welcome to the thread!


I am used to getting that message with a party of 6 but with three? Wow!


I am making a list of all the restaurants you guys mention in case they offer free dining next trip

Wow I am in trouble then cause my ressie's have to be party of 12!!:
We are a "Grand Gathering" as WDW calls it over a certain number.... I pretended to make ressie's yesterday afternoon for the week before mine and the only one I had trouble with was Akershus....really hoping I can get that. I might have to get on the phone for that one if it doesn't give me any times for my day!!

 

[jpaxton1118]

We plan on going to the Halloween Party on the 23. We are so excited. Everyone is going to be pirates and hoping to get the kids into the Pirates league to get all done up!

 

[L-Harper]

There are roughly one hundred million replies to this post, so I skipped a few and am announcing my arrival to the world!

I'll be there SOLO the last week of September (still negotiating the dates) and will run the Wine/Dine 1/2 marathon October 1st!

First solo vaca (though baby bro will join the last few days) and first 1/2 marathon!

Would you like me to add your dates and what resort you'll be staying at? Good luck with your race! I also think a solo vacation would be pretty awesome!

Just made my ADRs online!!!

Boatrights 9/18 5:25pm
Akershus 9/19 5:25pm
Coral Reef 9/21 6:50pm
Liberty Tree 9/22 5:30pm
Crystal Palace 9/23 8:15am
'Ohana 9/23 6:50pm
Chef Mickey's 9/25 11am

There was less available than I thought there would be but I got everything I wanted within a 30 minute window. I had a different time selected for Coral Reef but it said "Please note your party may be seated at different tables"--this is for a party of 3! So I changed that. I also had to give my credit card # for Akershus which I don't remember having to do when I called over the phone in 2009.

Whew! That peace of mind is worth getting up at 4:45am!

Doesn't it feel like a weight lifted off of your shoulders once you have your ADR's booked?! Yay for you! I cannot believe they said that you may be seated at different tables. That is crazy!

 

[KellyWasHere]

Finally, somebody else going to MNSSHP on the 16th!!

I was beginning to think it was just me...everybody seems to be avoiding the 16th like the plague

I said a little "Wahoo!" when I saw that someone else was going on your date.

Thank you very much! I bet you can guess which is my favorite Disney princess!

It didn't even occur to me!



I am also going to try to figure out what we'll be wearing to MNSSHP.

 

[KELLY]

Happy Mid morning everyone!! Well the snow was just about gone and then yesterday it snowd. I'm sick of this already.

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

A big "YAYYYY!!" to all the people who were able to make their ADRs this week!

 

[sjs314]

Happy Mid morning everyone!! Well the snow was just about gone and then yesterday it snowd. I'm sick of this already.

I hear you, it snowed here yesterday but only about an inch, all our previous snow was gone but by afternoon it was all gone yesterday
Bad news is they are predicting more snow for tomorrow and Thursday and more this time the weather man said we might have to shovel

DH said how pretty everything looked yesterday, I told him to shut up

 

[ShhhQ]

I had a different time selected for Coral Reef but it said "Please note your party may be seated at different tables"--this is for a party of 3!

I am used to getting that message with a party of 6 but with three? Wow!

Last year we got that message with a party of 2!!!!

I thought WOW we both may be at different tables!!!! I know they are so full that they will put each of us with a different family that has a spare chair!!!! (I was told it was standard and don't worry about it)

 

[jbmom]

Happy Mid morning everyone!! Well the snow was just about gone and then yesterday it snowd. I'm sick of this already.

Our snow is gone for now, but tonight we're supposed to have freezing rain and snow. Last week we had a high in the 70s. I'm tired of winter, bring on Spring!