Yearning for old times :)

[pampat]

I totally agree with the OP. I hate with a passion this silly nonsense of booking meals. How the hell do I know what I want to eat 3,4,5, months in advance??? I don't know what I want today!

Ive just booked a FP for the 7 Dwarves Mine Train. I don't want to FP anything else, but it insisted on giving me two other rides. Oh well, I'll just hand them out to strangers in the park.

Pam

 

[irenep]

I don't really mind the advance planning but I always look at as a guide rather than being set in stone.

As long as I can get the rides I want at some point in the holiday I am happy and there are very few restaurants that I would regard as HAVE to eat at so if I am on free dining I will book restaurants for every day but I usually end up changing them a couple of days out.

I suppose it helps that we have been loads of times and know we will probably be going back again at some point - if it is someone's first/only trip then I can see how it could be really stressful.

Even in the 'old times' we planned - our first trip in '94 we bought the UG - used their touring plans and booked character meals. The biggest difference now is the FP+ but it has good/bad points and I think I can live with it.

 

[scoobydooby]

Ive just booked a FP for the 7 Dwarves Mine Train. I don't want to FP anything else, but it insisted on giving me two other rides. Oh well, I'll just hand them out to strangers in the park. Pam

Only if you want to give them your magic bands as well!! You can't gift FPP like you could legacy FP even if you don't have a magic band.

 

[disneyholic family]

Disneyholic keep trying for BoG. I got it about a month before we travelled. Party of two. This did involve checking availability about six times a day for about 8 weeks but it worked for this and Cindy's. I have checked the dates you have and there are still plenty of places I consider nice available, although not the three places you list.

we'll keep trying...
i told DD that maybe now that there is the credit card guarantee, people actually cancel reservations once they realise they can't make it there..

there isn't any availability at any restaurant that matches the park they'll be in on the day they'll be there..
and sci fi and BOG aren't available at all any of the days they're there...

well, on the bright side, if they have a bad time, they'll be able to save money in the future....it's not exactly cheap going to WDW

 

[stba2006]

we'll keep trying...
i told DD that maybe now that there is the credit card guarantee, people actually cancel reservations once they realise they can't make it there..

there isn't any availability at any restaurant that matches the park they'll be in on the day they'll be there..
and sci fi and BOG aren't available at all any of the days they're there...

well, on the bright side, if they have a bad time, they'll be able to save money in the future....it's not exactly cheap going to WDW

Another thumbs up here for keep trying. I thought I had reserved Bog but turned out I hadn't confirmed so was gutted, but kept trying and we have got a good reservation now.

I was told about a thread up in the planning section, which I subscribed to for cancelled ADR's, so people post on there before they cancel to give you a heads up. Worth doing I think.

What I have noticed is that the closer we are getting to going people, going at the same time seem to be cancelling more reservations (they sometimes give a whole list of the ones they are cancelling). It looks like they booked 2 or 3 times more reservations than they would use (so no wonder all adrs are taken ), so that when they had a better idea of what/where etc they would be on certain days they had good reservations to suit.

 

[igk]

I totally agree with the OP. I hate with a passion this silly nonsense of booking meals. How the hell do I know what I want to eat 3,4,5, months in advance??? I don't know what I want today!

Ive just booked a FP for the 7 Dwarves Mine Train. I don't want to FP anything else, but it insisted on giving me two other rides. Oh well, I'll just hand them out to strangers in the park.

Pam

Wait until the added extra awesomeness of choosing every item off each menu months in advance as well. This was mentioned as an actual upcoming enhancement. I have made a BOG lunch FP+, but I just chose the 'expedited arrival' option (or whatever it's called) rather than decide what I'm going to fancy for lunch in 4 weeks time...

I guess FP+/MDE/Magicbands have SOME advantages, but for me the disadvantages outweigh.
The real advantage of it all is to help Disney - if they know where you will be and what you'll be eating then it saves them a lot of money.

It's interesting that Nick Franklin, who was in charge of developing 'MyMagic+' left Disney last month. I'd love to know the real reason...

 

[wayneg]

Ah but staying onsite and not doing the DDP (or even the parks!) is also very relaxing - you know what I am getting at Wayne, we were in our forties when we bought into DVC - not right for everyone, but you and Karen seem like a 'good fit' for a small OKW resale contract: haven't quite given up on you yet

I would say the chances of me buying into DVC are less than 1%.
This last trip at the Hilton Garden Inn was excellent, inroom quality matched any Disney Deluxe(only more soundproofed, never been in a room where we couldn't hear a thing, even the bathroom door was so solid you couldn't talk thru it), very friendly staff, lobby had 24/7 coffee, tea & iced water. Fresh homemade cookies every afternoon.
Will be looking for a deal there again next summer, if it comes up at £40/nt again I won't be looking anywhere else. Although I might change my mind after staying at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek in a 2 bed villa next month

PS Karen wants to know if you are on commission for selling DVC

 

[queendisney]

We've never been planners. We catch the first bus that comes most days then park hop to another later. We don't like the TS dining option as there is no way I could decide and plan what we want so far out. Some days we might have breakfast and not want to eat again until 6pm and some days we might skip breakfast and want to eat our main meal at lunch time!! who knows!!

For our trip in November I will only be booking 7 dwarfs mine train fastpass and that's it...the rest of the things we want to do, well if there isn't a big line we'll do it and if there is we wont!

We have book BOG and Sanaa at AKL and that's it. The rest of the places we want to eat we'll try walk up for.

I feel sorry for people that have never been before as its a lot to get your head around. At least if you've been a few times, all new snippets of change are easier to digest and understand.

 

[pickers1982]

I loke some parts of planning on not others.

Dont like deciding exactly what park ill be in on any given day especially with weather. But i like knowing ill be able to get on toy story mania etc at a decent time

Dont like deciding what particular restaurant ill eat in but tnleast i know i can get in

Seems by limitingsupply they create a pandomonium of people wanting something jut because its hard to get. E.g seven dwarves or bog! All reviews are that they are ok but its like a badge of honour

I hate they people plan the second things are available rather than waiting a bit.

On the planning side it amazes me how excited people get about being able to select a magicband colour!

Having done fp+ last time it worked very well for us with a toddler and having retaurants confirmed also helped. It it was just my wife and i i think i would be less impressed

 

[Elise79]

there is a detailed schedule (which park on which day), but basically the two weeks in the middle of november.
they can't get a single day at sci fi (their favorite restaurant, believe it or not) or at BOG. I checked every single day they're there for sci fi and BOG - nada. not even one time available for either of them.
And not at Y&Y on the days they're at AK. (i didn't check the other days for Y&Y)

they might be able to walk up at sci fi, since they have those umbrella tables at the back. They're perfectly happy to sit at the umbrella tables, as long as they can sit somewhere.

BOG, i don't know about how possible walk up is (they only want dinner, since what they eat isn't on the lunch menu).

Once we link up her reservation to MDE, we'll go through it all again and see what happens.
Otherwise, they're going to try their luck with walk ups.

i have a feeling this whole visit is going to be stressful for them.
First we don't even know if they'll be able to get the DAS card.
Even with the DAS card, her husband has to take long rest periods where he has to lie flat on his back (on his special bed that they have to carry with them on the plane). He has terrible terrible pain (regardless of whether he sits/stands/or walks)...so all this setting everything in stone is really tough on them as they don't know how he'll be feeling. (he broke his back a few years ago when the vehicle he was on fell over a 50 foot cliff, he went over the 50 foot cliff and the vehicle fell on top of him - it's a miracle he's alive)

They wanted me to come with them so that DD would have someone to be with in the parks, if her husband isn't able to be in the parks. (but i said no)

anyway....it's a bit nerve wracking not knowing how it's going to turn out..

What about resort restaurants? We vary rarely eat at the in park restaurants as the ones at the resorts are generally better. Just pick a resort near the park of choice.

Ah but staying onsite and not doing the DDP (or even the parks!) is also very relaxing - you know what I am getting at Wayne, we were in our forties when we bought into DVC - not right for everyone, but you and Karen seem like a 'good fit' for a small OKW resale contract: haven't quite given up on you yet

I am with you Moria! OKW can feel a million miles from Disney.

I wish I was sitting my balony there now

 

[disneyholic family]

Another thumbs up here for keep trying. I thought I had reserved Bog but turned out I hadn't confirmed so was gutted, but kept trying and we have got a good reservation now.

I was told about a thread up in the planning section, which I subscribed to for cancelled ADR's, so people post on there before they cancel to give you a heads up. Worth doing I think.

What I have noticed is that the closer we are getting to going people, going at the same time seem to be cancelling more reservations (they sometimes give a whole list of the ones they are cancelling). It looks like they booked 2 or 3 times more reservations than they would use (so no wonder all adrs are taken ), so that when they had a better idea of what/where etc they would be on certain days they had good reservations to suit.

people do multiple bookings?????
i thought that with the credit card guarantee they wouldn't do that for fear of forgetting to cancel something and then having to pay..
i really didn't think people would do that..
how annoying...really...
thanks for the heads up about the thread..
i'll go look for it and get on board...
gosh i am so behind the eight ball with all this planning nonsense..
but since i'm the designated family disney planner, whether or not i'm actually traveling, i'd better get with it!

Wait until the added extra awesomeness of choosing every item off each menu months in advance as well. This was mentioned as an actual upcoming enhancement. I have made a BOG lunch FP+, but I just chose the 'expedited arrival' option (or whatever it's called) rather than decide what I'm going to fancy for lunch in 4 weeks time...

I guess FP+/MDE/Magicbands have SOME advantages, but for me the disadvantages outweigh.
The real advantage of it all is to help Disney - if they know where you will be and what you'll be eating then it saves them a lot of money.

It's interesting that Nick Franklin, who was in charge of developing 'MyMagic+' left Disney last month. I'd love to know the real reason...

picking food would be pretty easy for DD - she's a vegetarian (as am i), and disney doesn't have that many options to choose from...
but it's hard to pick from a menu if you can't get an ADR

What about resort restaurants? We vary rarely eat at the in park restaurants as the ones at the resorts are generally better. Just pick a resort near the park of choice.

they don't leave the park all day for the most part...
if you use the buses, going anywhere wastes a lot of time...
it's easy with a car, not so easy with the bus...
in any case, when they go to WDW, they spend all their time in the parks ..... they start in the morning and don't head back until night (when they have CS at the resort)..
unless DSIL has to go back to rest his back..in which case he has to lie flat on his back for half a day or sometimes a whole day...

 

[scoobydooby]

MDE won't let you book two concurrent ADRs any more. If you try it tells you that you already have a reservation at the same time and asks you if you need to cancel it. Nothing to stop people booking spread out multiple ones though. I hate that people used to book lots of things they wouldn't use in the past. I hold them completely responsible for the current bonkers system personally. It's this type of selfish behaviour that required a much tighter system to be put in place.

 

[pampat]

Only if you want to give them your magic bands as well!! You can't gift FPP like you could legacy FP even if you don't have a magic band.

You can tell I've not used the FP+ and bands before, can't you!!! Really hadn't thought of that! Thanks.

Pam

 

[Disney Frenhines]

No one is being forced to get any FP+, you can do what you like, do rope drop every day if you want, head straight for that ride you really need to do, try walk up to restaurants, do it all like the old days, there is nothing stopping you, I tried that with Beaches and Cream last trip, no spaces, not because of ADRs, but, because of walk ups, so I've done myself an ADR for this trip, I never do more than one ADR per trip, but, have done two for this one (breakfast at The Wave) if I change my mind I can cancel it 24 hours before as I did in May for a Star Wars Breakfast, dead simple using DME, much easier than calling up to cancel.
I first went in 1989 and have been a regular for the last 10 years, I like the changes, no more racing to Soarin' or Toy Story Mania at rope drop, but, I may give it a whirl on EMH mornings. And moaning about lack of choice for the fourth and after FP, why doesn't anyone ever seem to remember the old way of FP when you got your paper ticket for 4.30pm at 9.15am in the morning for the popular rides and being stuffed because you couldn't get another one anywhere until 4.30pm or whatever the time was. Get to the park at 10am and forget about a FP for Soarin' or TSM.
As for planning, several times last trip I decided to have a resort day, but, being me, at 10am I would decide to hit a park, perhaps because I'm not so entitled I would be happy to go to the park that had the most appealing FPs or get on the first bus and see what I could get, get nothing, no biggie, try another park and then park hop.
I agree though with the issue with tour groups and school parties, but, someone told me that you never see Brazillian tour groups from October to June as they tend to come when it is their winter (our summer) so if you don't like tour groups go then. I'd never do Spring Break after experiencing the first week of it last year.
You pays your money and you takes your choices, don't blame Disney, they are not forcing you to do anything beyond buy a park ticket.

 

[Minniesgal]

MDE won't let you book two concurrent ADRs any more. If you try it tells you that you already have a reservation at the same time and asks you if you need to cancel it. Nothing to stop people booking spread out multiple ones though. I hate that people used to book lots of things they wouldn't use in the past. I hold them completely responsible for the current bonkers system personally. It's this type of selfish behaviour that required a much tighter system to be put in place.

Yeah except people have found many ways around that. We overheard a family on the monorail talking about having 3 MDE accounts to book multiple reservations. No system is foolproof if people really want to get around it they will

 

[scoobydooby]

Yeah except people have found many ways around that. We overheard a family on the monorail talking about having 3 MDE accounts to book multiple reservations. No system is foolproof if people really want to get around it they will

Eugh. Do morons like that really exist? I cannot stand the 'entitled' brigade. May their MDE accounts combine and implode before them.

 

[Elise79]

they don't leave the park all day for the most part...
if you use the buses, going anywhere wastes a lot of time...
it's easy with a car, not so easy with the bus...
in any case, when they go to WDW, they spend all their time in the parks ..... they start in the morning and don't head back until night (when they have CS at the resort)..
unless DSIL has to go back to rest his back..in which case he has to lie flat on his back for half a day or sometimes a whole day...

I was thinking things like Monorail resort on MK day

YC or BW on Epcot/DHS days

There are some nice restaurants in those resorts and they are easy to get too.

 

[disneyholic family]

I was thinking things like Monorail resort on MK day

YC or BW on Epcot/DHS days

There are some nice restaurants in those resorts and they are easy to get too.

i'll suggest it to her....but it's still a trek for him...and adds a lot of time..

actually, i told her yesterday about what i read in this thread - about people making multiple bookings....(we figured it must be with multiple MDE accounts, or separating the times by just enough)

so i said we could probably try again right at 60 days when people probably lock in with FPP..

but she said she just doesn't want to lock in at all now that there's a guarantee....
do you have to cancel 24 hours in advance? more?

she's worried that with her husband's medical issues she might have to last minute cancel or that she'd forget to cancel..

so she's just going to go with walkups.....other than for BOG...i'll keep trying to get her BOG and if i can, she'll book that one...but nothing else..

 

[Minniesgal]

I was thinking things like Monorail resort on MK day YC or BW on Epcot/DHS days There are some nice restaurants in those resorts and they are easy to get too.

Agree we do this all the time we really really don't like park restaurants and find it easy to just go to near park resorts and have much nicer meals

 

[scoobydooby]

What about Mama Melroses or Hollywood Brown at DHS and Liberty tree Tavern at MK. They are all good IMO but easier to get probably.