Okay, finally an update! I took my own personal snow day yesterday and actually got pretty much all caught up with my school work...this is why I am able to update
Enjoy it!!
Chapter 4: Disney Dining Meets DBF...
Since we had the house all reserved we now waited for the day (180 days prior) we could make ADRs. (We had already planned on what restaurants we wanted to eat at: CRT, Crystal Palace, Chef Mickeys, Alfredos, Hollywood & Vine, and Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show) We had all the dates set and even had a good idea of what times we wanted to eat so DBF FINALLY called Disney to make the ADRs. (DBF does all the phone calls because he knows how to get what he wants, and I am such a pushover that I will just say Thank You, and hang up if they tell me something cannot be done
something I really need to work on). I will now flashback to 2005 when we tried to make ADRs for CRT
Oh the nightmare that is Disney Dining ADRs, well priority seating back then, but you get the idea
2005:
DBF kept calling each week thinking maybe he could get lucky and get the ADRs early instead of 90 days prior, (doesnt hurt to try, right?
) well he had no luck with that, but you gotta love the persistence
. He knew I wanted to eat in the castle more than anything else and was disappointed after the 2004 trip because we couldnt get the reservations on time. So after like thousands of phone calls they kept telling him to call 90 days prior...and he listened. Finally 90 days prior finally came and DBF called first thing in the morning, Disney proceeded to tell him that they were booked to capacity, could not accommodate his request, and could not make his ADR. ..The conversation went something like this I believe
Disney: Thank you for calling Disney Dining, how can I help you
DBF: I would like to make reservations for CRT on July (whatever the date was)
Disney: Sure I can help you with that, what resort are you staying at?
DBF: We are not staying on a Disney resort this time.
Disney: May I ask what your lodging plans are for your vacation?
DBF: We rented a house for a large group
may I make a reservation for CRT please?
Disney: I am sorry sir, but it looks like there is no availability for CRT for the date you requested.
And at this point DBF is very angry (and he doesnt get angry often). He felt that because we stayed off property they told him that there were no seats available. I think he also felt that they were trying to sell him into staying at a resort, which we are not against, but when you have such a big group it is such a great money saver to rent a house. DBF explained, as calmly as he could, that he has called everyday to make these reservations and kept being told to call 90 days in advance, which he did, and now they were telling him there are absolutely no seats available
at this point he asked to speak to a manager. After telling the manager the situation, he/she kindly made our ADRs for the date we wanted
turned out they werent booked to capacity after all,
and all 9 of us got to sit at one table too. We never did get an answer as to why the first Cast Member said they were booked...
See, we got in, they werent booked to capacity!
2007~~
Back to this trip
After that situation, DBF fully knew what to expect when calling, and he was not going to back down. Of course, he ran into another issue with Disney Dining. Bare with me now, because this can be kind of confusing
.DBF called for our ADRs 180 days before our first ADR but was told he could only make the one that was 180 days away because we werent staying at a Disney Resort. They told DBF he would have to call again each day which is 180 days away from an ADR (and DBF knew he would have to call from work which is not easy to do when they keep you on hold for many minutes!) Now of course, we knew that he could have called 180 days away from our last ADR, but seeing how things fill up quickly and because of 2005s experience, we wanted to make them all at once and be done with them. Feeling cheated once again by the Disney Dining folks, good ol DBF asked to speak to a manager right away because he said he was sick and tired of being told he cannot make a certain reservation simply because he is not staying on property and even mentioned that this was the year of a million dreams, but they sure werent acting like it.
He talked to a manager who was very friendly and kindly made all of our ADRs at once, if they are going to accommodate us anyways, why do they make such a big ordeal when you first call?? I dont get it. It took a good 45 minutes to an hour to get it all straightened out, but after the nightmare that is Disney Dining we had our ADRs ! Next time DBF calls Disney Dining he said he will just ask to speak to a manager since he always has to go through one to get what he wants. I cannot wait for the day that we stay on property so that we can book or ADRs with ease. Until then, we have DBF to do the dirty work.
So, the house is reserved, the ADRs are made (thank goodness), our tickets are bought, and our itinerary is made. There are a lot of things that we have never done/tried on this vacation, so it makes it even more exciting
.
HERE IS THE PLAN
Day 1: MGM
Dinner: Hollywood and Vine with Fantasmic Package, of course.
We just love Tower of Terror and Rock n Rollercoaster (I always sing along to the great Aerosmith songs! It helps me get through the ride!)
Day 2: Blizzard Beach (never been there, always max. capacity)
Dinner: Chef Mickeys (never been there either! Bashful and Dopey went earlier this year and they loved it) I have never been in the Contemporary Resort aside from when the monorail goes through it (too cool!) so I am looking forward to seeing another Disney Resort. (I guess I have to see them all before I can stay in one! Haha)
Day 3: Magic Kingdom (Our Anniversary)
Dinner: Cinderellas Royal Table
I am looking forward to this day because MK is my favorite park, Splash Mountain/Pirates of the Caribbean are 2 of my favorite rides, CRT is my favorite restaurant, and DBF is the love of my life! I am looking forward to finding a great & romantic spot to watch Wishes at the end our day!
(any suggestions?)
Day 4: Typhoon Lagoon
Dinner: Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show at the Poly. (this day was supposed to Animal Kingdom but Bashful (DBFs Aunt) doesnt like AK and seeing that it is her and Dopeys anniversary we should accommodate them, after all I took upon myself to do Cindys Royal Table on our anniversary, and they Love the POLY so it all works out fine. I am just not a fan of using our water park days so close together, oh well.
Day 5: Epcot
Dinner: Alfredos (never been there and I am excited to try my favorite pasta ever, fettuccini alfredo) Since I am Italian my family makes some kind of pasta every day for dinner (along with a 3-9 course meal). When I go on vacation with DBFs family, I probably get pasta only 2-3 times, so I go through pasta withdrawls (I swear it is a real condition), Since they get so sick and tired of my complaining that I MUST have pasta, we made sure an Italian restaurant was on our list of ADRs**
Day 6: Animal Kingdom No Set Dinner Plans
I am very excited about riding Expedition Everest! In 2005, we saw it being built and it looked massive. I also love going on Dinosaur but I have yet to see the end of that ride because I always close my eyes and bury my head in DBFs chest.
Everest in 2005, they couldnt hide that one from view, it is too big!
Day 7: Magic Kingdom Dinner: Crystal Palace
We always take a trip to meet Pooh and Friends.
Tigger is harmless!
After this magical part of our vacation we will be heading to Clearwater Beach for some fun in the sun and relaxation! Being from Illinois, the closest thing to a beach is Lake Michigans beaches (but I do not recommend swimming it in, some are closed most summers because of bacteria levels!
) Not that I really swim in the ocean, fish brushing up against my feet freak me out! I like to build sand castles and then swim the hotels pool.
I also want to make time to go to Downtown Disney and shop. I have never been to World of Disney or the Disney scrapbooking store (I cannot think of the name!) There is just so much I want to do on this trip, and I know we could never do it all! Oh well, I will just have to plan another trip!! Something else DBF and I are planning on doing is taking a romantic nighttime walk (after the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show) from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian and Wedding Pavilion. It is my dream to have a Disney Wedding and I want to see the Wedding Pavilion up close and personal and not just from the monorail. If/when DBF and I have a Disney Wedding I will want to stay at the GF for our Disneymoon
.*dreaming*
I have heard that the walk from the Poly. to GF/WP is very romantic, so I am looking forward to this part of our trip! This will be our alone couples time.
So that is the plan!
I am very excited! Thanks for reading everyone!!
DBF tells me I'm not allowed to do any updating unless I get caught up with my homework..he sounds like a teacher himself 
Anyways, hello to the new readers out there, thanks for subscribing, I will have to sneak an update but shhh dont tell DBF! 
Going there during X-mas is crazy!!!
I'm going to Disneyworld for the first time in may and I'm really looking forward to that!
BTW where are you staying when you go to the beach
good luck with the teaching
I cant believe it is already MARCH! The time is flying and I feel we will be in HOT SUNNY BEAUTIFUL FLORIDA in no time! I have not been updating because I have been devoting my entire life to school and the oregon trail, 
and you a Disney 
he he he 
