I am finally finalizing my plans for our trip (YAY!!!) and am hoping to make my ADRs this morning. I know it will likely be difficult, due to the time of year, the free dining, and my late planning. We are arriving late at night on 12/13 and will be flying out early on 12/20.

My questions are:
1) Should I even take the time to figure out our park schedule for the week and plan accordingly, or should I just have a list of table-service places I want to eat, and then start hoping for my 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choices?
2) What do you suggest as NOT-TO-BE-MISSED? Then I will just cross my fingers and hope for the best!
3) Is reserved seating for Fantasmic! during these dates necessary? My son is convinced that it is, but I want to be sure that it is and the seats are worth it before I spend that much money.

THANKS so much, you are all so helpful!!!!

I would draft out a very rough park schedule, since some of the evening things (particularly in the Magic Kingdom) don't happen every day (particularly when the Christmas Party is happening) and then get on the phone.

Are you doing the Dining Plan? I didn't think that the Fantasmic Dinner package cost any more than just the meal - and if it's on the plan, then it wouldn't be any different from eating at one of the three restaurants. BUT, I've never done the dining plan OR the Fantasmic Dinner Package so I'm not the best expert on either of those!

But that time of year you shouldn't need to do the dinner package to be able to get into Fantasmic during the week. You also shouldn't be waiting 2 hours to get in, either.

Send me your e-mail address and I'll share with you my Excel spreadsheet that probably goes into more detail than you will need for planning your vacation. Also let me know which version of Excel you have (2007 or an older one)

Going off of what Drince was saying, the Fantasmic dining package, if you are on the DDP, does not cost any extra. So, in that case, it wouldnt hurt doing the package if you are concerned. However, chances are, you would probably be ok without the the F! package during your dates. Its just that as you get closer to Christmas, crowds will slowly build. Even then, getting to the stadium about 45 mins early will most likely yield you a seat.

Sorry, i don't know what this is -how will it affect our planning?

There will be some nights over your trip when the Magic Kingdom will close early for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. This is an event that requires a seperate ticket for admission.
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If you're having trouble getting ADR'd try looking at some of the hotel restaurants as options (for example Breakfast at Cape May Cafe) for other options.

I made all of my ADRs today, and i was surprised what was available! The good thing is that I have older kids, and we don't care about character meals, and we are very flexible about what time we eat. The only thing i want to change is that we couldn't get dinner reservations at Ohana until late (10pm), so I will keep checking for cancellations. The only other problem was lunch at Yak and yetis - couldn't get anything before 2;30, which is actually ok with us.

I am VERY excited, because I didn't think there would be anything available! i will post my ADRs later, but now i am going to take a nap. (i was up all night planning to make my reservation phone call)

Congrats on finalizing your reservations! It's a big job that takes a lot of coordinating and thought to do it justuce. I was way early for this upcoming trip in October, and had everything booked perfectly right at 180 days out. Then a couple weeks ago my work situation changed, and now my vacation is one week later! I still managed to get some pretty fair dining choices, but I'm really going to miss my favorite meal at the California Grill this trip!!!

...and now my vacation is one week later!
Awe, bummer! Maybe I'll leave a note under a bar stool at Rose and Crown for you!

I'll be there at the same time as you!!! I have made ADRs as recently as two days ago and have gotten everything I've wanted so far. I did have to ask for other days on a couple of restaurants because dining times were just too late for us on our first choice nights, but the first alternatives were available for both of them. I was surprised at how easy it was to get everything. My latest dilemma is that I decided I'd like to try Hoop Dee Doo Revue and just booked it last week and the only seats left are in tier 3 (unless we want the 9:30 show, which is just way too late for us). I am calling back to check for cancellations, maybe we'll get lucky when it's time for people's final payments to be due or just before the trip when people with room-only reservations cancel.

Oh man, I had all my reservations made, then did some research as to which parks to go to and when (considering crowds, shows, EMH, etc) and my reservations were ALL WRONG!!! So I called this am and corrected my reservations, and pretty much got everything I was wanting. The only thing I have not gotten yet is Ohana- the only times available for dinner were 9:55! I will keep checking for cancellations, though.

Here is what I have - please give your advice if you see anything that i might not be considering

Sun 12/14 Boma 5:40pm
Mon 12/15 - nothing at this time
Tue 12/16 Coral Reef 1:10 for lunch / San Angel Inn 6:30 for dinner
Wed 12/17 - nothing at this time
Thur 12/18 - Liberty Tree 12:05 Lunch / Sci Fi 4:35pm (going for ambience, not food)
Friday 12/19 nothing at this time

We have seven days free dining total, so we are hoping to go to a Signature restaurant, or Ohana and something else. I have a few holes in my schedule, but my 16-year-old son is a Disney fiend, and I am going to let him plan the rest of our trip and decide on where to TRY and get reservations.

Any thoughts?

My only comment is that your lunch times are awfully close to your dinner times. It sucks to sit down at a nice restaurant for dinner and to not really be hungry at all!

I know, especially on Thursday, but I want to see the Oborne Lights and then get seating at Fantasmic! for the second show. I don't think it will matter that much if we are hungry at Sci-Fi, because if I remember the food wasn't that great anyway :) We can always pack up what we don't eat and eat it while waiting for Fantasmic!