Millie12591
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2007
Not knowing that your ADR's an estimated time and not an actual set in stone reservation. So if your late, it's okay, if your early it's okay. They may take you early if they aren't to packed, but they will for sure take you late within reason (provided your not trying to get in at closing). We were soooo late getting to our ressie (45 mins.) for Ohana's due to bad judgment on time and a delay on the Monorail. 
I thought for sure we wouldn't get to eat there, but as the guy at check in told me we were still fine, and were still at the top of the list for when a table came open. He also explained it's not a for sure set time, it's a time set for about and hour and half before and after the time they give us, that's why some times you'll end up waiting on a table.
Now I would never try to be late because I have respect for those ahead of us getting their time as close as possible, but I'm also not going to panic if I am, makes for a more relaxed time on vaca. Those Disney people sure are smart!!
I for got to add, take very comfy shoes that are broken in. Also...LOTS OF MOLE SKIN! This stuff saved my feet the whole time I was there, they were practically covered in them.
I will never go without several packages of this stuff!!
Also, this isn't a contest to see who can be the cutest person in the park, dress for comfort!!! If it turns out cute....then great!
Do your homework!! Find out what the weather is going to be like and dress accordingly, if it's going to be rainy be sure to have your ponchos on hand and shoes that won't be ruined in the rain.
In case of rain or wet rides....make sure you carry with you some zip loc bags!! Anything you don't want to get wet in your backpack (camera, autograph book etc.) you should have in a zip loc bags. I also pack anything in my makeup bag that can leak into a zip loc that doesn't do the zip thing across the top of the bag, the zip across the top one's leak. But I will use them for my back pack items because they are easy to get into and close up fast, this has been key a few times when I'm on a wet ride and suddenly want to take a pick or suddenly need to put a camera into the bag before a big splash is about to happen.
Make your advance dining reservations, don't be the fool who tries to walk up and then finds out you can't eat there because it's been booked for six months out and if you think I'm joking, I'm not.
Read the boards and know what your getting yourself into, know who's going to be touring at the same time (Smidgy knows about this) and where they will be staying.
Don't be afraid to ask questions on here, the more you know, the better the trip will be.
Don't over plan! Have I confused you yet? If your overly planned and your family ends up hating you because your barking orders about where to be next no one has a good time. Ask me how I know.
Also last but certainly not least, walk, walk, walk a couple of months before going! Be prepared to walk while there, and if you have a child who you think will wear out quickly and they are border line needing a stroller, get one! You won't be sorry. Were talking about walking any where from 6-10 miles a day in a park, and no I'm not making this up.
This is not a trip you can wing and get out of it the money you put into it, this isn't DisneyLand or Busch Gardens.
Read the boards, look up AllEars.net (this place saved us) for reviews on dining and just about anything else concerning WDW, buy the books for touring (or at least look at them at the store), and I might add Tourguide Mikes isn't a half bad idea. I love TGM's personally but don't expect TGM's to plan out your inten., you have to do the work. He has sample tours and they have been wonderful for us, his site is a little confusing at first, but follow the directions and you'll get exactly what you need. Also, don't wait until the last minute to get his site, there's to much info. to gloss over to expect to get something out of it.
There is no such thing as doing to much homework to learn all you can before you go, all of these things combined you'll plan an amazing trip!
Have a Magical Time!
I thought for sure we wouldn't get to eat there, but as the guy at check in told me we were still fine, and were still at the top of the list for when a table came open. He also explained it's not a for sure set time, it's a time set for about and hour and half before and after the time they give us, that's why some times you'll end up waiting on a table.
Now I would never try to be late because I have respect for those ahead of us getting their time as close as possible, but I'm also not going to panic if I am, makes for a more relaxed time on vaca. Those Disney people sure are smart!!
I for got to add, take very comfy shoes that are broken in. Also...LOTS OF MOLE SKIN! This stuff saved my feet the whole time I was there, they were practically covered in them.
I will never go without several packages of this stuff!! Also, this isn't a contest to see who can be the cutest person in the park, dress for comfort!!! If it turns out cute....then great!
Do your homework!! Find out what the weather is going to be like and dress accordingly, if it's going to be rainy be sure to have your ponchos on hand and shoes that won't be ruined in the rain.
In case of rain or wet rides....make sure you carry with you some zip loc bags!! Anything you don't want to get wet in your backpack (camera, autograph book etc.) you should have in a zip loc bags. I also pack anything in my makeup bag that can leak into a zip loc that doesn't do the zip thing across the top of the bag, the zip across the top one's leak. But I will use them for my back pack items because they are easy to get into and close up fast, this has been key a few times when I'm on a wet ride and suddenly want to take a pick or suddenly need to put a camera into the bag before a big splash is about to happen.
Make your advance dining reservations, don't be the fool who tries to walk up and then finds out you can't eat there because it's been booked for six months out and if you think I'm joking, I'm not.
Read the boards and know what your getting yourself into, know who's going to be touring at the same time (Smidgy knows about this
) and where they will be staying. Don't be afraid to ask questions on here, the more you know, the better the trip will be.
Don't over plan!
Have I confused you yet? If your overly planned and your family ends up hating you because your barking orders about where to be next no one has a good time. Ask me how I know. Also last but certainly not least, walk, walk, walk a couple of months before going! Be prepared to walk while there, and if you have a child who you think will wear out quickly and they are border line needing a stroller, get one! You won't be sorry.
Were talking about walking any where from 6-10 miles a day in a park, and no I'm not making this up. This is not a trip you can wing and get out of it the money you put into it, this isn't DisneyLand or Busch Gardens.
Read the boards, look up AllEars.net (this place saved us) for reviews on dining and just about anything else concerning WDW, buy the books for touring (or at least look at them at the store), and I might add Tourguide Mikes isn't a half bad idea. I love TGM's personally but don't expect TGM's to plan out your inten., you have to do the work. He has sample tours and they have been wonderful for us, his site is a little confusing at first, but follow the directions and you'll get exactly what you need. Also, don't wait until the last minute to get his site, there's to much info. to gloss over to expect to get something out of it.
There is no such thing as doing to much homework to learn all you can before you go, all of these things combined you'll plan an amazing trip!
Have a Magical Time!
Unfortunately, had to go commando. 
Got out to the beach as the blackest clouds I'd ever seen came rolling in. I don't know if I was more afraid that I'd get struck by lightening or that the rain would come. 
The wind was blowing at about 25-30 mph, we were windswept, sweaty and trying to get a decent picture or two before the storms hit. What a disaster. Pictures came out horrible but at least I made it back indoors before the rains came and outed me. 
