*** The Official July 2014 thread, join us won't you? ***

[DisneyMomFanatic]

I would like to know how you worked the dining plan. We were on it once and I don't think we understood really. I felt we still had to pay...

Tink,

Are you talking about the regular dining plan or deluxe? If regular, you may still have to pay if you like your three meals a day. You will always pay for your tips no matter what plan you are on, so the more expensive places you eat, the more tip/out of your pocket. If you eat on the deluxe, you get up to 3 table service meals a day. On deluxe you get 2 snacks a day as well, so if you eat at 1 signature TS (this includes a non alc bev, app, entrée, and dessert), 1 reg TS(same as before) or 1 CS (entrée, drink and dessert), and use your 2 snacks for a bagel and juice for breakfast, I think you will have plenty of food. If you are buying booze, then yes you will be paying for that and tip everywhere. We only paid for tips and were so full from our 3rd meal on and really wasted so much food, but we love our table service locations too much to make regular dining work for us. That is why we are going planless this time. Buy what we like and as much or little and we will still be saving over $500 because I won't buy what I don't want or won't eat.

 

[lindseyach]

In the deluxe dining plan can you do both quick service and table service during the day?

 

[anjalee6]

In the deluxe dining plan can you do both quick service and table service during the day?

Yes. You can. But monetarily, you don't make out as well if you do a lot of QS. You really need to look at that part to see if it makes sense. The cost of the Disney Deluxe dining plan is $104.94 per night per adult (10 and older), and $29.51 per child (3  9).


On the deluxe you get...
2 snack credits per person per night.
3 TS or QS meals per person per night.
1 refillable mug for the length of your stay per person.

 

[lindseyach]

Okay just curious planning meals gets a bit overwhelming lol

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Okay just curious planning meals gets a bit overwhelming lol

It can get overwhelming. But break it down. Look at each day, then think

1) where will you be when you want to eat? In park, at resort, DTD...

2) are you going to want to sit down for 1 to 1 1/2 hr at a shot for sit down or do you want a more on the go?

3) What kind of food do you want? Italian, Mexican, American, burgers, chicken, hot dogs, etc... Are there things you won't eat like...

4) Do you want signature? Are you willing to try new items?

Go in steps like that. Break it down and you can cross places off your list so you only have 2-3 choices for each meal. Don't let it consume you or you will be so burnt out before your vacation and won't enjoy it. That would be BAD.

 

[wintershawl]

Sometimes I wonder when we get back from a Disney trip how I am going to find the funds to go back the next year.

With Midori get older and her necessities and needs changed, it gets more and more difficult..

Is Linda T a part of the FB group?

Part of our thing is that we like to go see other places as well (yes, hard to understand - I get it! lol) We went last summer to visit my brother in MN, and I kept saying it cost us more than going to Disney - should have gone to Florida. Hehe.... Disney before family.

I do not see Linda T in our group. Sorry.

I will tell you what we normally do, maybe that might guide you in how you can start. We decided if we want to do counter or table service at particular parks. Decide if you are doing partial or full days at the parks. then we pull up the menus and ask the kids if there is anything on the menu they like. My DH and I look at the menus and see what we are interested in. (even though the menus change about 2 times a year, if they have a few things we like, they probably still will if it changes). Once we have our list (way more than we will go to) we offer it to the kids to decide.

Now for you, since you have younger ones, you can see the menus and see what your kids will or won't eat at certain restaurants (if you have picky eaters). If they will eat everything or most things on the kiddy menu, then go with what atmosphere or setting you want to see or try.

Hope that helps and I have eaten at a bunch of places too. We try to do something new each trip, at least one.

Are you doing the dining plan? and if so, which one?

I will say that looking up menus has always been a great way for me to plan where I am going. I am sort of picky, but my husband is even pickier! So, I need to make sure there is something for him to eat where ever we go. We do a lot of character buffets. We love meeting the characters - and not having to wait in line! Plus, with being on the regular meal plan, this helps fill our bellies.

But, as suggested, first figure out what parks you are doing each day - then dive into those restaurants. Ask any of us, I'm sure we all have many opinions on great places to eat!

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

I will say that looking up menus has always been a great way for me to plan where I am going. I am sort of picky, but my husband is even pickier! So, I need to make sure there is something for him to eat where ever we go. We do a lot of character buffets. We love meeting the characters - and not having to wait in line! Plus, with being on the regular meal plan, this helps fill our bellies.

But, as suggested, first figure out what parks you are doing each day - then dive into those restaurants. Ask any of us, I'm sure we all have many opinions on great places to eat!

Seriously, ASK US, we will give you our takes on places!!! It is better to have the pickiest person look first and say yes or no because if you are the easiest to please then you might get attached to a place that others in your party may not want to eat at. That would stink

Wintershawl, where in Pa do you Live? There are about 4 or 5 on here that are from PA going in July.

 

[lindseyach]

I'm from pa too! Up in the poconos.

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

I'm from pa too! Up in the poconos.

That's awesome! PA has a July force going this year. We will keep WDW populated for most of the month.

 

[yce22princess]

Have you stayed there before? It's our favorite resort by far.

No, we haven't. This will be our first time there! . We've stayed at AKL, WL, POR, and the Poly on previous visits. Our 8 and 5 year old daughters have been dying to try the Contemporary. We were originally booked at GF and they were thrilled we switched. Looking forward to it!

 

[wintershawl]

Seriously, ASK US, we will give you our takes on places!!! It is better to have the pickiest person look first and say yes or no because if you are the easiest to please then you might get attached to a place that others in your party may not want to eat at. That would stink

Wintershawl, where in Pa do you Live? There are about 4 or 5 on here that are from PA going in July.

I'm from pa too! Up in the poconos.

I live close to Bloomsburg.

 

[think-like-tink]

It's back to work and school for us. Boo I say. My DH will be home in 4 months.


on a Dis. note, we saw Frozen last night and LOVED it

 

[kraftys]

Just remember that everyone has an opinion, but you shouldn't let that stop you from doing what you want and how you want to do it. I always read what they say and then weigh my options about what they said especially when it comes to opinions about the restaurants and whether they like it or not.

That is awesome advice, and perfectly stated! What one family enjoys and what works for them may not be what works for another family. Just take it all in and make your own decisions.

 

[lindseyach]

Back to school here too. It is so gross out today though . I've everywhere now it is raining but the temps are supposed to drop and then freeze everything. Is it July yet?

 

[PopArtGal]

Having been on it 2 times, once in summer and once at the holidays, I am going to make a suggestion. It is only a suggestion. Don't do too many buffets! we found in the heat, we don't eat as much as we normally do. If you aren't trying to save the most money, and will eat 3 meals a day, you will be full and over full from about the second day on. We never went into a meal hungry from our 2nd day on. If you are willing, try the signatures and another meal during the day. Plus with your snack credits, we supplemented our meals like that. Tell me what you are thinking and I will tell you what we did, tried or found did or didn't work. I don't want you to have a bad experience this trip.

Good advice.

We only do max 2 full meals a day.

If we do a buffet, we do a late breakfast that turns into lunch.

 

[PopArtGal]

No, we haven't. This will be our first time there! . We've stayed at AKL, WL, POR, and the Poly on previous visits. Our 8 and 5 year old daughters have been dying to try the Contemporary. We were originally booked at GF and they were thrilled we switched. Looking forward to it!

If you have any questions about the resort don't be shy. I'll be happy to help you

 

[kraftys]

...we are slightly worried with the changes that were made to their GAC's that we have always had and used. We don't know what to expect. Since we aren't sure what will happen, we are just gonna try to go with the flow on this trip and not try to do any form of commando touring.

I feel like we really had "doing Disney" down to a science, and now with the MM and FP+, it's kind of throwing me for a loop. I feel like we're first-timers all over again! It seems like the FP+ system is still constantly changing. I keep looking to find a straight answer to the question of whether we can book FP+ attractions AND also still use the "legacy" FP (FP-). It seems like everywhere you look, there's a different answer. I'm hoping that by the time our 60-day mark comes around, we'll know for sure how it's going to work. At this point, if we can't use FP+ AND FP-, I may just opt out of FP+ and use the old system.

At DTD we found a lovely place we are going back to, Raglan Road. Such yummy goodness and lots to choose from too!

I keep reading great things about Raglan Road, and the menu looks fantastic. Thanks!

We aren't doing the dining plan either. We are taking that money and just ordering what we want. I know I won't eat all that food and can just do appetizers for some meals or share with my DD sometimes.

It seems like the hotter it is, the less we feel like eating those huge meals. Plus, we have the kitchen in the villa and plan to make use of it with some EASY meals.

Thank you very much. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it and others I know I have done things right. But it is not easy at all and wouldn't wish it on anyone. And, I know I have a mild Autistic child, it could be so much worse. I am grateful and blessed and I know it!

I have 3 boys, and my middle son (age 8) was diagnosed 6 months ago as being very low on the autism spectrum. I also feel very fortunate that his condition is a mild one, and since we are now being proactive in addressing the problem (instead of thinking that he was just a difficult child or that he'd grow out of it like we had been doing), it seems that he's made a lot of progress. I learn so much from him, and I feel like he teaches me to be a better mom. It's not easy, and we do have to parent him differently than our other boys, but he's a hoot and really keeps my on my toes. I wouldn't trade it for the world!

 

[bcinohio]

Please add us to the list. Just booked yesterday for July 5-12, 2014. We can not wait to go.

Since the wind chill is going to be 30-40 below zero tonight I'm thinking about July and it being 100 degrees. It sounds really good right now!!

 

[kraftys]

I have never posted but I am in deep planning our first trip! My husband and I are celebrating our birthdays down there and very excited! We are staying July 14th -19th. We are staying in the cabins at fort wilderness. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! We are starting to get a plan to get our ADR by the 15th.

Congrats on your first trip! How exciting!! Since you're reading this panel, you're on the right track. I think the best thing you can do to prepare is to read up and research. Those who don't plan and research are definitely not going to get the most out of their Disney experience. It's amazing that some people think that they can just walk into restaurants without a ressie...or that they have to PAY for fastpasses.

Once piece of advice that I never heard before my first trip...beware of "Stitch" at MK. I thought it would be cute and harmless. Ha! My middle son, who was 4 at the time, screamed bloody murder the entire time. It's funny to laugh about it now, and my oldest child thought it was funny, but that attraction scared the bejeezus out of my young ones.

 

[DisneyMomFanatic]

Please add us to the list. Just booked yesterday for July 5-12, 2014. We can not wait to go.

Since the wind chill is going to be 30-40 below zero tonight I'm thinking about July and it being 100 degrees. It sounds really good right now!!

and I will definitely add you. Where are you staying? I am not a winter or summer girl. I love my fall, can't get enough of it. Leaves turning, cool crisp in the air, sometimes need a light jacket, the smell of people buring fires in their fireplaces. AHHHH! I just can't get down with these extremes. 100 in July when we will be in WDW or below 0 now. But at least when it is 100 I will be in the world and blissfully happy.