Where do I begin planning?!?!?!?!

[sphmaz]

We've booked! That's a start.

We are heading to WDW on Sept. 26th through Oct 1st. I am not even sure where to start planning our trip! I am so excited! I do know that we will be having breakfast with the Princess'. My daughter (3) will just be beside herself there! So - can anyone give me any tips on where to begin my planning? When I make reservations and do I make reservations for dinners OTHER than character meals? I was looking through the dining thread at all the pictures of the food! Oh MY does it all look so good. DH happened to be looking over my shoulder and saw the skillet dinner from Whispering Canyon and said he DEFINITELY wanted to eat there! Do I make reservations way in advance or is that a place I can just show up at? Help! Traveling will be myself, DH, DS(6), and DD(3). This trip is a surprise for the kids and will also be my sons birthday gift.

TIA!
Sue

 

[tmt martins]

If you want to eat at a certian place at a certain time then you HAVE TO BOOK the ADR at around 180 day out as allowed.Popular places and times fill fast and refuse walkups.

Now that doesn't mean that you can't get a seat due to cancels and so forth but Book to be safe.

OH and Welcome to the DIS check the Dining threads for Ideas that might fit you family.

 

[nurseypoo5]

Like the poster above....find out where you want to eat, and do it quickly. We are going the week after you and some places are booked. For instance it will be hard to get into places like Le Cellier.

I also recommend tour guide mikes program. Its awsome.

Maybe we will see ya there, we get there Sept 30th

Edited to say, I doubt seriously you will be able to just walk up to any of the sit down dinner restaurants. Its free dining and since they are already booking up, i wouldnt dare hope for that at all. Even our resort restaurant Boatwrights is booking!

 

[momandseandodisney]

Like the poster above....find out where you want to eat, and do it quickly. We are going the week after you and some places are booked. For instance it will be hard to get into places like Le Cellier.

I also recommend tour guide mikes program. Its awsome.

Maybe we will see ya there, we get there Sept 30th

Edited to say, I doubt seriously you will be able to just walk up to any of the sit down dinner restaurants. Its free dining and since they are already booking up, i wouldnt dare hope for that at all. Even our resort restaurant Boatwrights is booking!

We get there sept 29th - and we have ALL of our dinner res. done, we called 168 days prior.

 

[angelsmom920]

You definately want to get a guide book. It is nice to read up and know what to do! I read the Unofficial Guide and it was a great source of information as was the Disboards and allearsnet.com. You definately want to make all your ADRs before you leave, asap, although we just came back from a trip with 16 people over spring break and were able to get our ADRs 1 month out! Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[nurseypoo5]

We get there sept 29th - and we have ALL of our dinner res. done, we called 168 days prior.

She should still be ok, if she does them in the next day or two.

Right now i would look at Mikes Least crowded days, and pick (quickly) about which ones your going to. Then make reservations (KEEP YOUR CONFIRMATION NUMBERS!) based on where your going to be that day. Do you want to eat in the parks? Then pick them.

If your not all that comfy with the places, Most like these...

MGM- Brown derby (tho its two TS), 50's prime time (both can get fantasmic dinner packages )

EPCOT- LOTS to eat here! Favorites, Le Cellier (highly recommended, but do hurry! and be flexible) Cafe France (heck i cant remember the exact name) Corral Reef

MK- CP, Tony's for one TS, Cinderellas for 2.

AK...no real restaurants that take TS

AKL Boma
Poly-Ohana's, Kona

Heck there are lots, just do a quick look at restaurants that others have picked, get your resies in then do some research. You can have more than 1 resie, but please cancel asap if you dont need something as someone will be waiting for it

 

[sphmaz]

Thanks everyone! I guess I will be figuring all this out tonight and making our ADR's. Man, if someone hadn't pointed me to these boards what would I have done?!?!?!

 

[laura001]

Welcome to the DISboards! You are right when you say you can't imagine what you would have done without these boards.

I always like to make a little calendar and start filling in the early entry and magic hours etc., ADR's and which parks we will visit on certain days. It gives you a real perspective as to what you still need to work on.

Have fun!

 

[mikymouse]

You are going to have a GREAT time! We just came back from our first trip with kids 6&4 and they just loved everything. Here is a list of their favorite things...
1.) Buzz Lightyear Ride at MK
2.) Everything in Fantasyland MK but especially Dumbo
3.) Safari at Animal Kingdom
4.) Princess Breakfast was a complete joy
5.) Spectro Magic Parade (Lights and Mickey, yeah)
6.) Chef Mickeys for a meal just way too much character fun plus get to ride monorail
7.) The Rainforest Cafe in front of Animal Kindom Park was really fun
8.) The Cyrstal Palace (inside MK) was nice for a late breakfast with Pooh and friends after hitting the park first thing

Definatley check out the schedule to plan your day at which park and make at least 1 ADR per day. We always went to park opening (MK and AK) and it was fun. They have a count down to open the Magic Kingdom and there we no lines for several hours. We were glad to have our umbrella strollers and zip lock bags. Have fun!