DDP 1st Week Of Dec

[AFMom]

OK - so my In-Laws decided today that they do want to add DDP to our trip. Fine with me - but dining plans are not going to be so relaxed anymore!!!! I've only gotten 2 PS's (both Character Meals). We wanted a PS for the night of our Christmas Party - but everything was totally booked.

Just how bad off will we be the 1st week of Dec with basically no PS's to speak of? I'm concerned that there "won't be any room at the Inn" so to speak.

Also - I'm thinking I'll make PS at a restaurant on the Monorail - hit that for a HUGE lunch before we go to the MK for the X-Mas party. Any Suggestions? I was thinking Chef Mickeys....... Probably booked too.....

[KNWVIKING]

How many are in the party ? We are very lucky with walkups, but we are only a party of two and - after all - I am The Viking.

If you plan on being part of the " must get the most expensive dinner to maximize DDP value" than you are probably SOL. In other words, cross Le Cellier off your list.

If you just want a good meal, Nine Dragons, Spoodles, Kona, Cape May Cafe, Yatch Cluy Galley and several other locals will not be a problem.

[Rozzie]

I don't mean to scare you, b/c I love you and everything, but I got freaked out this past trip on ADRs. We had them, because I overplanned everything, but was shocked to see everywhere we went, no one was taking walkups. The most shocking of them all was SciFi was turning people away, saying they were booked up for the entire day!! That's a first for me. Even when Stimpy and I were there during Free Dining, they were taking walkups at various places. Maybe just bad luck? :veryconfu

I'm kinda in the same boat you are in. For our Jan trip, just the Rozzie's, I do not want to do any ADRs. I want a relaxing trip, none of it running around chasing after times. I think I may do 2 for must do's.

[Colorado Belle]

Kristy, why don't you just call and try to set up some ADR's now.
If you get ones that work for you and the DDP, then your set.
You dont' have to have the DDP before you make ressies . And you can cancel the DDP up unitl a week, I think, before you arrive (maybe even same day, tho you much request the DDP a week in advance)

I'd rec'd these restaurants without hesitation for the DDP as I 've eaten in all of them recently and they were all wonderful:

WGP, Le Cellier, Chefs de France, Boma, RosenCrown

2 TS: Jiko, Flying FIsh, CRT dinner.
But remember that if you have the DDE, that it is sometimes better to pay cash for th e2 TS dinners or to share one dinner (2 TS) between 2 people. Or maybe 3 dinners amongst 4 people...and yes, they certainly don't mind if you do this!

[AFMom]

Wow, Roz - I can't believe how bad it was! I hope it was just a freak of luck. I know DVC is busy that week - I'm just hoping the parks aren't crazy.... kinda concinced the in-laws it was a great time to go,,,,,,
OK - so we've got a PS for Kona for a late lunch, a PS for The Plaza for a Character Meal dinner, and one for Garden Grill for another character meal dinner.
Not too worried about getting the most expensive restaurants - I have no intention of keeping reciepts and doing some sort of cost-benefit analysis.... but I do want to make sure we get some good values in there.
I figure just getting a few character meals in will help with making it worth it. My In-Laws are actually pretty easy to please, thankfully - I'm just hoping we can get 1 or 2 decent walk up TS meals (I really want to go to Marakesh again - but don't know about the fam) to make up for only having 3 PS's at them.
We're eating breakfasts in the room - light ones - except for our last morning - going to try Olivia's since it's convinient.
Thanks for the input - hopefully my pitiful attempts at meal planning won't backfire on me too bad!

ETA - thanks for recommending Kona, Viking - I wasn't sure about it! And no - I can't see my FIL at LeCellier...... Nope - just can't picture it......

[mushu]

We book are ADR's at the 180 day.