Zero Forky's Given - An August 2019 Dining Report - Completed 8/18

[MyGoofy26]

Real Life Update

I have a confession to make. I did something I'm not proud of. I've gone against every fiber of my Disney-being. But they say admittance is the first step to recovery so here I go.....

I made a dining reservation.

There I said it. But still not feeling better. Let me try that again.

I MADE A DINING RESERVATION!!!!!!

Not for tomorrow. Not for next week. Not for next month even. I made a dining reservation for 180 days from yesterday.

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Oh Joey it gets worse!

I didn't just make one reservation like I'd intended. I made 7! S-E-V-E-N! Advanced Dining Reservations. At Disney World. For October and November. I mean Halloween is bad enough when it isn't even Memorial Day yet but November???? There is a Thanksgiving Turkey that hasn't even been born yet and I'm thinking about what I want to eat for dinner six months from now. Who am I even?

I'm not proud. I feel a little dirty even. I am a card carrying member of the non-planning, just gonna go with the Disney flow, figure out what to eat 5 minutes before I eat it club!
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Yet I woke up yesterday morning to make dining reservations.

But there is a back story. There is always a back story.

Now in my defense I know we are going to want to eat California Grill brunch which is getting hard to find. It will be three years since Jason has gone and a year and a half for me and well that is just plain wrong. So I set my alarm for 7am yesterday so I could get a reservation on our 180+2 day. Are you impressed I learned fancy new language too? Now those of you planners are likely saying this...
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Because I woke up at 7 cause I did not know that reservations opened at 6. Oops. I know you are shocked. But I did get a brunch reservation, albeit a little later than I wanted.

But I didn't stop there.

A little later, under the influence of absolutely no alcohol (wink, wink), it may have sounded like a good idea to make a dinner reservation for every night of our trip. Yep all seven of them!!!! And I'm not even talking about ensuring I got the "hard" to find reservations (though booking Be Our Guest and Ohana just because I could may have crossed my evil mind). Nope not me.

I was all over the hard to get Jiko. And of course Toledo whose name I could't remember and contrary to pubic opinion is not just a city in Ohio. Oh and I cannot forget Flying Fish where 7 of my nearest and dearest DIS friends dined in January with 0.2 seconds notice. But of course I needed to ensure I had a reservation for November 3rd. Or Casey's request of Hoop Dee Doo because post global pandemic who doesn't want strangers singing all up in your grill and sitting on your lap. But I digress.

Yes admitting you have a problem is the first step so I feel better just getting that off my chest.

In all seriousness clearly none of us has any idea what Disney will look like a month from now, let alone in 180+7 days (still using that fancy new math). But thinking that restaurants may be at some diminished capacity I thought having ADR's may be a good idea. I clearly know absolutely nothing about Disney's plans but what I do know is that a growing girl has gotta eat n drink and I ain't missing some signature dinners.
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And as abnormal as making dining reservations that far out felt, just making dining reservations restored some normal in this Disney girls heart.

So there you have it. Thank you for listening to my confession.
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Now I'm off to douse myself in holy water and exercise these planning demons. ​

I did the same thing. I prefer making a couple must dos, but I like leaving the options open to see what we're feeling that day.

Since we're doing the Plus plan as an upgrade to the free dining for affected reservations, I didn't want to risk having to use those on counter service and went in and filled out the trip just so I'd have something booked in case getting a reservation with diminished capacity turns into the wild west.

I feel so dirty.

 

[Tink2Day]

Well, I've thought about it for a while and as long as Casey is still making/eating Guacamole then I suppose all is forgiven.
I'm interested to see how the reservations turn out. I know you'll be starving for whatever restaurant you signed up for now....6 months from now....uh

 

[lvcourtneyy]

Now $12 for four rolls does seem pretty exorbitant but these were sporking awesome.

The price seemed crazy to me too but then when we ate them, I didn't care anymore lol.

These were so good we ordered two more rolls to share. At $2.50 a pop they were a bit pricy but worth it.

Oo smart! I didn't realize that was an option.

For a non-signature steak he was pretty dang impressed by this. The steak was a perfect medium rare and the chimichurri added a great flavor and wasn’t trying to mask cheap beef which he finds Disney does a lot.

Mike had this and felt the same.

Yep I'm a cute little goat eater. I see the disgust creeping up on many of your faces but don’t knock it until you tried it. This was ah-maz-ing!!!!

Oh man. I don't think I could bring myself to eat goat but you certainly make it sound delicious! Maybe I can bribe them to lie to me and tell me it's beef lol.

Jason captured it best when he said the curry sauce was so good he could have eaten a dirty sock in it. Now that’s good.

Wow! Definitely high praise!

Wow, what a welcomed surprise Sebastian’s was.

That's how we felt too! We'd go out of our way to go back to CBR to eat there again.

But thinking that restaurants may be at some diminished capacity I thought having ADR's may be a good idea.

Smart thinking!

 

[suse66]

I didn't just make one reservation like I'd intended. I made 7! S-E-V-E-N! Advanced Dining Reservations. At Disney World. For October and November. I mean Halloween is bad enough when it isn't even Memorial Day yet but November???? There is a Thanksgiving Turkey that hasn't even been born yet and I'm thinking about what I want to eat for dinner six months from now. Who am I even?

I'm not proud. I feel a little dirty even. I am a card carrying member of the non-planning, just gonna go with the Disney flow, figure out what to eat 5 minutes before I eat it club!

Umm, I don't even know what to say....who are you?????

In all seriousness clearly none of us has any idea what Disney will look like a month from now, let alone in 180+7 days (still using that fancy new math). But thinking that restaurants may be at some diminished capacity I thought having ADR's may be a good idea. I clearly know absolutely nothing about Disney's plans but what I do know is that a growing girl has gotta eat n drink and I ain't missing some signature dinners.

In all seriousness, I agree with you. IF our December trip happens you bet I will have ADRs locked down like crazy. Like you, I am going for a Cali Grill brunch ressie. I am dreaming of brunch there, followed by a relaxing afternoon at WL and MVMCP at night. Sigh......

 

[Jenny Sanders]

I MADE A DINING RESERVATION!!!!!!

WHAT!!!!!!!! I am so proud of you. I never thought I'd see the day sister wife.

Oh and I cannot forget Flying Fish where 7 of my nearest and dearest DIS friends dined in January with 0.2 seconds notice.

2 of those peeps would be me and Joe. LOL!

 

[kastoney]

I did the same thing. I prefer making a couple must dos, but I like leaving the options open to see what we're feeling that day.

I'm hopeful we won't need them and we can go back to our usual style but who in the heck knows

Since we're doing the Plus plan as an upgrade to the free dining for affected reservations, I didn't want to risk having to use those on counter service and went in and filled out the trip just so I'd have something booked in case getting a reservation with diminished capacity turns into the wild west.

That makes complete sense. I had no idea they were upgrading dining plans for people. Score!

Well, I've thought about it for a while and as long as Casey is still making/eating Guacamole then I suppose all is forgiven.
I'm interested to see how the reservations turn out. I know you'll be starving for whatever restaurant you signed up for now....6 months from now....uh

Oh thank goodness. I was over here sweating while craving some Sanaa bread service

Oo smart! I didn't realize that was an option.

We've done it Sanaa before (they only charge .99 for the record) so figured we would ask. We had to make sure we used up all those delicious sauces after all

Oh man. I don't think I could bring myself to eat goat but you certainly make it sound delicious! Maybe I can bribe them to lie to me and tell me it's beef lol.

If you ate it you would never know! It's really really good

Umm, I don't even know what to say....who are you?????

I look in the mirror and see myself and know its me, but something is still awry

n all seriousness, I agree with you. IF our December trip happens you bet I will have ADRs locked down like crazy. Like you, I am going for a Cali Grill brunch ressie. I am dreaming of brunch there, followed by a relaxing afternoon at WL and MVMCP at night. Sigh......

Oh that sounds like the perfect day!!!!!!! I keep thinking about changing us to WL but it was so much more expensive than AKL this time around. Hoping for some discounts though so we can switch

WHAT!!!!!!!! I am so proud of you. I never thought I'd see the day sister wife.

Proud. Mortified. Fine line

 

[MyGoofy26]

I'm hopeful we won't need them and we can go back to our usual style but who in the heck knows
That makes complete sense. I had no idea they were upgrading dining plans for people. Score!

Well, we paid to upgrade. Hadn’t done a dining plan in a really long time (pushing 10 years?) but the rebooking dining deal was better than a room discount. But my daughter will be 20 months so I want to get some character dining in but hated the idea of tethering so many TS credits to those and not on restaurants for the grown ups.

It was only $20 more per day to upgrade, so we went for it. And now things are still so much in the air that what I thought would free us up with enough credits to make everyone happy turned into “What if I can’t even use my credits?!” and panic ADRing.

Hopefully things shake out in a way that we “I want to pick a restaurant day of” people can go back to our comfort zones.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

ADRs? I didn't see that one coming. Crazy times all around. With the capacity restrictions likely extending into fall, I think making reservations was a good call. I made reservations for my Oct trip as well. I just looked for fun and there seemed to be pretty good availability. Knowing how great Disney IT systems are , I sure hope that they restricted availability on ADRs in anticipation of having to accommodate social distancing. I just hope that all of our planned trips can happen safely -- the food will work itself out. One thing is for sure, I'll never go hungry at Disney!

 

[muffyn]

HI! I rarely read trip reports, but I was searching for something & yours caught my eye. I really loved it, and gave me some great ideas for places we have never been, or thought of going to .
I wanted to ask, you & others mentioned being sick the end of December, anyone think they may have had covid-19? our family was also sick about that time with symptoms too similar to the covid-19 ones, I cant wait till the antibody tests become available to check.
ok, so now to read some of your other reports.

 

[Tracy161]

You got that right. At this point I'm ready to book a reservation at All Star Sports, eat nothing but counter service the entire time, partake in every extra magic hour, and spend the whole trip in Dinoland just to get a little Disney in my life.

Wow. Things really have gotten desperate

 

[TeresaNJ]

I'm so happy for you!!!

 

[KathyM2]

Hey I'm impressed that you made some dining reservations even though it goes against your normal MO!! I am always impressed that anyone even knows they are going to Disney more than 180 days out...I've yet to even think about a trip that far in advance...sigh!!! I think it would be fun to make dining reservations just because you can get whatever you want at that point...though I'm surprised to hear that even at 180 days you didn't get your choice of times!! Gah!!

 

[kastoney]

It was only $20 more per day to upgrade, so we went for it. And now things are still so much in the air that what I thought would free us up with enough credits to make everyone happy turned into “What if I can’t even use my credits?!” and panic ADRing.

Wow, $20 a day! That definitely seems worth it. I totally see why the credit and ADR panicing set in.

We only did the dining plan once, but it was the quick service one when it was "free" before Casey was even born. If I recall a week at Pop Century plus the food and tickets was only something like $1000 for Jason and I. Oh the good old days. We clearly don't eat a lot of quick service so we barely used the plan. On the last day we had something like 12 credits left and just went around Epcot trying a bite or two of one dish in each restaurant then journeying on to the next.

ADRs? I didn't see that one coming. Crazy times all around.

Crazy indeed!!!!

just looked for fun and there seemed to be pretty good availability. Knowing how great Disney IT systems are , I sure hope that they restricted availability on ADRs in anticipation of having to accommodate social distancing.

Yeah availability really didn't seem to be an issue. I just figure if Disney is going to restrict availability no chance they are gonna announce that and instead do it in the dark cover of night. Figured I'd have my bases covered just in case.

HI! I rarely read trip reports, but I was searching for something & yours caught my eye. I really loved it, and gave me some great ideas for places we have never been, or thought of going to .

Thanks so much for reading. I love to share our adventures. Keeps the trip and Disney magic alive.

I wanted to ask, you & others mentioned being sick the end of December, anyone think they may have had covid-19? our family was also sick about that time with symptoms too similar to the covid-19 ones, I cant wait till the antibody tests become available to check.
ok, so now to read some of your other reports.

The thought certainly crossed my mind, but I had tested positive for influenza A. Plus my family all had had flu shots (just not silly me) and I think if it was covid they likely would have caught it too.

am always impressed that anyone even knows they are going to Disney more than 180 days out...I've yet to even think about a trip that far in advance...sigh!!!

Usually me too! We usually don't even plan trips that far out but since it had been so long since we'd been I knew we wanted to get back this year. We also book military rates and availability has been getting scarcer and scarcer so more planning for me

I think it would be fun to make dining reservations just because you can get whatever you want at that point...though I'm surprised to hear that even at 180 days you didn't get your choice of times!! Gah!!

The only thing I had trouble with was California Grill brunch. I think if it had been later in our trip I probably wouldn't have had trouble with the time, but its our 3rd day of the trip. I can't believe that many people want to pay $95 for brunch but clearly the "secret" is out.

 

[kastoney]

Happy (day after) Mother's Day Everyone!!!! Hope all you Mama's out there had a great day. Clearly not what we are used to but any day with my girl is a great one.

Thought I'd procrastinate getting another update done and show you all what Casey made for me.

Yup I got my very own Forky and a painting! And in case you can't read the picture Forky is asking "What Is Wine?" Here is a close-up.


10 Forky's were most definitely given on this one as she's got her tipsy, Forky lovin' Mama down.

In other news I'm heading back to work part-time this week. I've been teleworking for almost two months now and have gotten way too used to it. But we are at the point at work where I have to go in to keep some things moving. Should just be a few hours a week for now but it will be so strange to be amongst people that aren't Casey and Jason.

Hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy. ​

 

[Disdreamprincess]

What is Wine hahaha that is hilarious. I want to binge watch that episode.
Kari, how is the sweet dog doing?
Stay healthy (and tipsy) xo

 

[ariane37]

Loving it and glad you guys had a good day! It's gotta be weird to switch back to work but at least you're going into it slowly. My oldest stepson went back 2 weeks ago not quite FT and its been so good for his mental health (and his wife's lol) and Steve started going back to some stores this week.

 

[followthatmouse]

Well done, Casey!

Mama, enjoy your time at work ... with or without Forky and the wine!

Take care!

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Love the Mother's Day gifts from your gorgeous girl Casey has such a great personality and sense of fun-clearly her mother's daughter! From your TR I'm guessing there's a smidgen of Jason in there too but it's mums we're celebrating so he will have to wait until June for dad's day praise
Beautiful photo of you both

Hoping you enjoy your time at work and don't find it too stressful. Stay safe and take care of yourself

 

[missjackiemcg]

Casey did a great job!!!!

I went back to my part-time job at Hallmark for 9 hours on Saturday....trying to run a hallmark store curbside the day before Mother's Day is not ideal. People are like, "i need a card for my Mom," and I had to bring them a stack to look through. It was a lot of running in and out of the store. I wish the governor would let us open for the small number of people who actually come through at a time. It's insane we are still closed when you can go to Home Depot or Target or the garden centers filled with people, for goodness sake!

In any case, I totally get what you mean about being with other people besides Casey and Jason. It was SO weird not to be with Rob and Jimmy all day long! And I realized how nice it's been to not have to go to work on the weekends (not that I even know what day it IS half the time anymore!)

 

[NJlauren]

Go Casey! So amazing!

Congrats on going back part time (i think?) i would like to go back part time too, but not yet maybe june!

Stay safe out there! Don't hug the first person you see!