How to plan?

I plan Dates/Resort/ADRs/Parks

You will only be able to get one discount, they don't stack. So, in order to get the free dining, you'll have to pay rack rate for the room and standard ticket price.

When it comes to getting the best deal, the bonus of using a TA is that they will watch the discounts for you and if something better comes along than what you have booked can switch you into it. If you book your discount online, but would still like to hunt for a better one, that's all up to you. Also, some TAs are better than others, it's not one size fits all in finding a good planner.

Well, a GOOD TA will watch the deals for you. I had to call and tell my TA that the 25% off the room discount had been posted on the Disney site and asked her to call and get the credit for us. As far as when to book, if you already know the dates you want I don't think that booking sooner or later will make any difference. If they post a new discount for the dates you are there you can call and ask them to credit your account with the new discount. The only disadvantage to booking farther out would be if you were flexible on your dates and wanted to see which dates specifically will be offered free dining or whichever discount you are hoping for. Then you could wait until the discount is posted and book your dates accordingly.

We do Dates,resort,ADR'S and Parks. Wow I should just go from thread to thread saying I do what Kristen does. As I seem to do it more times then not.

I prefer to do it online myself. You can always call Disney and ask questions. Guest Relations are so great about helping with questions and concerns, they helped me make my first trip great. I tried going through a TA until Disney said they couldn't help me , call your TA for that after the 3rd or 4th time I just cancelled my TA and booked through Disney. Once they have a sale Hardy you will know about it. They put it up on the site before the TA's even learn about it. All you have to do is check the site for specials. I usually see the specials come up on the ads in my email page or web browser. I have seen the special offer for the free dining for weeks, but planning is strictly to what makes you most comfortable.

Great minds think alike!

I personally don't book unless I have a deal that I'm happy with. If something comes out that's better then it's a bonus, but I'm always ok with the deal that I book to begin with. If you want to have free dining, then you need to keep your dates flexible. Other discounts frequently come on room only rates. At the deluxe resorts you can often get a 40% room discount at that time of year, I don't know what the discounts are like at the value or moderates. There may be other package discounts as well, but since I've become DVC I don't pay as close of attention to them. Other people will be able to help you more.

Fantasmic! is open during Christmas time and it's a great show. I think you should be able to see Illuminations and the Candlelight processional in the same night, but it's been about 6 years since I've been at Christmas time.

You can't book your ADR's until you are 6 month out on your ressie. So you have another 8 month before you can make ADR's. If you really think you are going deluxe then make ressie's based on that because it is easier to cancel them then to make them, especially in certain restaurant.

Do keep a little flexible by a day or two if possible. Like you said the first week of December is blacked out this year but because I was able to move my arrival date to Nov 29th I was able to get free dining through the first week of December. It says your arrival must be between certain days not your stay.

I took the best offer I could at the time and watched for better ones to come along. They run specials every few months but your Nov Dec special probably will not be available for booking until next Aug. So you will be waiting a while until you get the dates.