how hard was is to get adrs for free dining?

[tinkfan05]

Thinking of going to WDW next Sept (09) and hoping for free dining if we do! My question is...how hard was it to get the ADR's you wanted during free dining this year? I don't want to go in Sept just to get the free dining, and then be bummed because I wasn't able to get any of the ADR's I wanted. (really want to try Lecellier!) Thanks!

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

I booked my vacation in January (we are going 8/23 to 9/1). I immediately booked my ADR's. When the free dining promo rolled out in April, I changed my ressie and already had my ADR's lined up!!!!

[DanaAustinChelsea]

I booked my vacation in January (we are going 8/23 to 9/1). I immediately booked my ADR's. When the free dining promo rolled out in April, I changed my ressie and already had my ADR's lined up!!!!
That's exactly what I plan on doing if we go during free dining next year! I booked our package the day free dining became available to the public & made ADR's weeks later. I got everything I wanted, not necessarily the best times I wanted though. Le Cellier I ended up booking for lunch as dinner was not available. About a month ago I was able to reschedule many of the late 6:30-7:00'ish ADR to earlier times. I even added Ohana just two weeks ago, but it is too early & I might try to find a later time or cancel.

[hockey mom]

It was hard for me. Half of the ones I wanted I got but had to compromise on times and the other half like Chef Mickey's and Le Cellier I could not get at all for 8 straight days.

[DISNEYNY]

I got everything I wanted at the times I wanted. I booked the ADR's at the same time I booked the FDP package. I got through about 8:30am on the first day the plan was opened up for Disney Visa cardholders. April 7th I believe.:dance3:

[beroh2253]

I booked my vacation in January (we are going 8/23 to 9/1). I immediately booked my ADR's. When the free dining promo rolled out in April, I changed my ressie and already had my ADR's lined up!!!!

We booked our trip last Sept. for the bounce back (going Sept. 21-28 to POP) and booked @ 180 days out and got everything we wanted, but we had to work around Le Cellier, ask for that first and plan around it. But you have to call as early as possible then there would be no problem. I think people are still getting ADR's but not the favorite restaurants or times but what the heck its Free.

[ROEDISNEY]

Book your vacation as soon as they announce the free dinning get that done. Then (if they are doing 90 days ress) call at 7:00 am on the 90 day and have all your ress ready to go.
You should be fine.

[KatMark]

I called at my 180 day mark and I got everything I wanted at the times I wanted for eight nights, including LeCellier for dinner.

[chocovrdmicears]

We booked the bounceback last Sept. We called first thing in the morning on the 180th day and we got everything we wanted (including LeCellier for dinner and an 8:10 am breakfast in Cindy's Castle) at the times we wanted.
:goodvibes

[madzach]

I called on the last day the offer was for card holders only and got everything I was looking for. Only problem is after reading the boards I have changed my mind about a few and haven't had any success changing them.

[ShaneH]

Maybe its easier for a party of 3 cause I booked my ADR's a few weeks after I booked the free dining and got everything we wanted.
Crt breakfast
LTT diner
Ohana diner
Le Cellier diner
Tutto Italia diner
Princess Storybook for breakfast

[BeckWhy]

In 2006 I booked our ADRs 3 months before. We had dinner at: Le Cellier, Boma, Ohana, Sci-Fi, WCC, and Chef Mickeys. They were all between 6 and 7 pm, which is what we wanted. And when we arrived, all those were taking walk ups... I'm not sure abut Le Cellier because we didn't hang around after we checked in.

[iluvpluto27]

We booked ours in May for the end of the free dining period and got everything we wanted (except Le Cellier), and as we're doing the DXDDP we have 28 ADRS!! In fact I just called a few days ago to add a Yak and Yeti lunch reservation and got in no problem. However we're a party of two so that may make a difference.

[JoePa4Ever]

We booked the bounceback offer last Sept & got our ADR's at exactly 180 days out. We got all the places we wanted & at the times we wanted, which included the ever elusive Le Cellier & Cinderella's Royal Table ADR's.

[jessily]

I made ADRS about 3 days after free dining opened and had no trouble at all. I wasn't trying to get the most popular restaurants though. I'll be eating at Kona, O'hana, Biergarten and Jiko.

[canadianmom2three]

I got everything I wanted, I was really happy!
We are eating at

Crystal Palace
Sci-Fi
Tusker House
Coral Reef
Ohana
Hoop De Doo
Storybook Princess Breakfast
Chef Mickey
Liberty Tree Tavern

I am very partial to late breakfasts and late lunches though, so maybe that helped....I'm not picky about times at all, to be honest.

[annie1995]

We made ours at exactly 180 days out, and had no problems getting anything. I even was able to do a little tweaking to our ressies.

[mstew99]

I called about 100 days out with 16 ADRs (coral reef, chef mickeys, park fare, etc.) and got everything i wanted on the days I wanted except Le Cellier. They had no dinner times available, but I was able to get a late lunch. There were lots of lunch times still available then, so likely you can get every restaurant if you're flexible with dining times!

[msgoofy]

We didn't book our trip unil June 19th and I called for my ADR's the same day.

We got everything we wanted except LeCellier.:guilty:, but this way we get to try another new restaurant!

[Claire&TheBoys]

We booked the free dining bounceback last Sept. I called at about 160 days out and got everything we wanted, including Le Cellier at 6:00 on the day we wanted. I had my choice of times usually. I even called maybe a week ago and added another ADR for Prime Time Cafe, on 8/31, and got a good time (for us) at 5:20.

[Tink3Bell]

After 3 years of free dining I finally did it on the 180 mark and got everything I wanted. It was especially good that I got early times since my three kids are young. Last year we dined late every night because I red in the Unofficial Guide it was 90 days not 180. I was so mad.

[MrSplashMountain #1!]

We got everything we wanted including not one but two ADR's for Le Cellier, but we did phone at bang on 7am (2pm UK time :thumbsup2 ) at 180 days out.

Forward planning is the key :teacher:

[skw444]

I booked during bounceback last September and called at my 180 day mark and got everything I wanted at the times I wanted (including Le Cellier and CRT).

[DrDeb]

i too had advanced booking with the Disney card-- couldn't get thru when phone lines opened [1st day of free dining] but called back @ 1pm and got all my ADR's at the times/days i wanted them with Le Cellier & Kona:worship:

[aubriee]

I knew we were going regardless, so got my ADRs at 180 days out. After the free dining promo came out, we decided about three days later to upgrade the DxDDP. I was still able to call and get all the ADRs I wanted. Instead of one TS a day, we are now doing three TS, on all but two days. I didn't have any trouble getting any of them. I just called a two days ago and changed a couple of them, again with no problem. In fact, for The Wave I was given a wide open range for times.

[RMulieri]

I booked the trip in Jan.My 180 days was in March and i called at 0700..Keep in mind free dining was not even announced yet.I only had a HELLISH time getting Le Cellier I had only a 405pm dinner slot or 930pm dinner slot avail. for the whole WEEK.Other than Le Cellier I was unable to get Chef Mickeys at all.I am sure that availb. may have opened up later on, but by that point i did not want to lose what I had or tweak things anymore.

[TDC Nala]

If you want Le Cellier you will need to be on the phone as soon as the booking window opens for your trip dates, especially during free dining. If they are still offering the 180 +10 day bookings and you really want Le Cellier, you may want to book a package for the dates you are looking for and then change it to a free dining package when they are announced, because the free dining packages generally go on sale AFTER the reservation booking window opens.

I am not on the dining plan over Labor Day weekend but I made the reservations I needed long before free dining was announced, but it was past the 180 day thing. I am booked at Jiko and The Wave so I was not trying for anything like Le Cellier or Chef Mickey's. Jiko is a 2 credit restaurant and The Wave is new, and many guests may not know about it yet, so I am not surprised that I was able to get the reservations. (One was for Victoria & Albert's which doesn't take the dining plan anyway.)

[otisandmaggie]

We went ahead and made our ADRs before booking room and such (we wanted to wait to book until after free dining was announced, but the announcement was coming after the 180 day mark for our anticipated travel dates) I know there are changes in the works that might make that more difficult or impossible in the future, but it worked this year.

[kimsuenew]

Thinking of going to WDW next Sept (09) and hoping for free dining if we do! My question is...how hard was it to get the ADR's you wanted during free dining this year? I don't want to go in Sept just to get the free dining, and then be bummed because I wasn't able to get any of the ADR's I wanted. (really want to try Lecellier!) Thanks!

I knew well in advance we were going (as we had bouncedback with free DDP from our 2007 stay). I did the "180 days + 10" that is allowed, and got everything (including breakfast at CRT, LeCellier dinner, Coral Reef dinner, 1900 PF dinner, Chef Mickey's breakfast, Ohana's late dinner/fireworks viewing ~I am hoping the viewing works out) that we wanted, however, I recently (starting at about 70 days from our upcoming 14 day trip's first day) tried to add some ADR's (planning to add/pay OOP for a couple more, add another couple, and then cancel a couple existing in the "second couples" place).

I could not get any dinner we ask about (Chef Mickey's, Ohana, 1900 PF, Le Cellier, Crystal Palace) nor could I get a Chef Mickey's breakfast and I was quite flexible on dates/times for all. I also called daily (sometimes both AM and afternoon) for over two weeks to check and see about cancellations... it did not help!

Needless to say I am sticking with what we have! I had hoped to add a couple, and change a couple others around, but am staying put! :goodvibes We will keep the planned days (as initially planned).

That is the hard thing about planning ADR's 180-190 in advance during free dining... things come up , or you learn about new things you would like to do/see, but the flexibility to change is just not there (at least for the most popular places).

I would say that if free DDP is offered again in 2009 and you book it... just plan the best that you can, and book the earliest possible day! You can get what places you want then! :)

[OneTreeHillAddict]

We got everything we wanted and we upgraded to deluxe, so that was 22 ADR's! (Two were dinner shows) I've never had a problem w/ any ADR when first booking.

However, if I need to change one it's always trouble! For instance last year I had to plan for 8 people, then 3 backed out. I was advised to leave them be (the ones I could not easily change) and there was never a problem at the rest itself! :goodvibes

[kimbo0569]

I booked the free dining the first day it came out to the general public...made the two adr's the next day that I absolutely knew I wanted and the rest, I took a bit more time on...I still got pretty much what I wanted, just had to adjust the times a bit. The only one that I had a bit of trouble with was Ohana and we got a pretty late seating - I think it's around 9:20pm or so..


here's what we have:
1900 Park Faire - Cinderella's Gala Feast dinner (6:35PM)
50's Prime Time cafe - dinner- (7:40pm)
Garden Grill - late lunch (2:55pm)
Rainforest Cafe - dinner (oop) 5pm
Ohana - late dinner 9:30pm
Play n Dine @ Hollywood & Vine -breakfast (8:30am)

[faindrops27]

I just called today, and was able to get Raglan Rd for 6 with no problem. I was surprised.

[faindrops27]

I just got the wave earlier too!

[englishrose47]

I have a ?? We willprobably be a party of 8 can we split into 2 groups if we want to as I'm thinking 8 might be had to get adrs for !!Also if going in Sept the 180 day would be in March, when do they announce free dining and how do you sign up also how do you get Bounceback !!

[squirrel]

Yes you can try to get two tables. You may or may not still be charged the 18% tip. Depends if you have the same CM serving both tables and if you ask to be seated next to or near the other table, etc.

I booked my Free Dining in May and was able to get everything I wanted except Le Cellier and Chef Mickey for dinner. I did get CM for breakfast and I even got CRT, but I wanted breakfast for that.

[black562]

Well I cheated a little. I anticipated free dining was going to happen as it has the past few years...so I booked my food at 7am on the 180 day mark.

I got the following:

Le Cellier (eating there two nights)
50's Prime Time
Kona Cafe
Whispering Canyon
Artist Point
Boatwright's
Liberty Tree Tavern

[WDisnut]

be flexable and try a luch at le cellier.. we called the day free dining was open and could get a diner there all week so we got a lunch. but all other ressie were easy to get as long as you call quick and early ....

[cymbaldiva]

I don't think we had any trouble - I didn't actually do the calling, but all our ADRs sound okay to me :confused3

[mhconley]

Disney needs to stress the importance of booking ADR's early. :mad: (They also need to put that capability online - I don't understand having to call someone to book your reservations when it's obvious the person you are talking to is using a computer!)

My wife and I were at the Grand Floridian in August 2002 on a dining plan. We had a concierge room and booked our dining reservations after we arrived with the concierge. We got character dining and ate at every restaurant we wanted including Cinderella's Castle and Victoria & Albert's.

This year I booked a Magic Your Way with Dining package in early April for our stay in late August. I found only by accident through reading on Mousesavers and other sites that we needed to book our ADR's before we went! I called the first week in July and only got into one restaurant we wanted for our entire 7 day stay! No character dining for our 5 year-old son and we're eating most dinners around 4:30 PM. If we had gotten to Disney World without dining reservations and found ourselves unable to get TS anywhere after paying a pretty penny for the DDP I would have gone ballistic.

I have read zero information in all the materials I have received from Disney about the necessity of booking ADR's prior to arrival. Very poor communication and absolutely shameful business practices.

Martin

[tigger_03]

We booked our vacation package back in late January or early February. We made our ADRs at the 180 day mark and had no trouble getting what we wanted. When we decided we wanted to change one of them later (we decided to add the FDP) we weren't able to get our first choice. I've been trying to get lucky but not so far. Hopefully something will open up though. If not, we'll know better the next time. I also figure if we don't like the food (really only one I'm questioning right now) I figure we can always get something else. We'll know that we don't want to eat there again.

We called back after the free dining promotion was announced and changed the reservation to include it (we had the DDP on our original reservation anyway).

When we made our ADRs we had no trouble getting CRT but we didn't want it (we wanted the dinner at 1900 Park Fare but the CM making the reservations accidently booked us at CRT instead). We figure we will save that for another trip when DD is a little older. I couldn't believe that we got it though because I'd heard just how hard it was to get a reservation there.

[ammeador2]

I booked my trip in May and I didn't even know about ADRs at the time. I've gotten everything that I have wanted and even gotten ressies within the last couple of days for the hot spots. ;) I would say make your ADRs as soon as ya can if something is booked...keep on trying! ;)

[Jenvenza]

It was hard getting what we wanted on the days and times we wanted. We booked our ADR's in April for the free dining plan. I didnt get everything I wanted, but came close. We had to get Le Cellier for lunch instead of dinner and no fantasmic! dinner packages at Mama Melrose were left. Other than that, it wasnt too bad. But I had a GREAT CM help me when I called.

[biscuitgirl]

When I heard there might be Free Dining, I went ahead and booked our trip in March. I then went ahead and booked our ADRs (when our trip was only a 7 night trip). I had no problem getting:

- Raglan Road
- Crystal Palace
- Le Chef de France
- Ohana
- Teppen Edo
I had a little bit of problem with Narcoossee's but was able to get one on the night I wanted.

When we bumped our trip up to a 8 night a few weeks after Free dining was announced, I was able to get WCC. About a month ago, I was able to get Boma's when we added a 9th night.

So I am happy with all my ADRs and I don't feel it was too tedious. I decided I wouldn't even bother with Le Cellier since I hear it is overhyped anyway.

However, if you are going to do free dining, definitely make your ADRs as soon as the 180 day mark is out. This is the best way to go about it.

[Tink3Bell]

Call at 180 days and you can pretty much get what you want.

[asmit4]

I don't want to burst bubbles, but before you worry about getting ADRS, let's wait and see what the 2009 DDP brings...

Here is what many are thinking (based on what the UK plans are)- that they will offer a CS meal plan for 28 bucks (2CS, 2 snacks, and a mug), the standard DDP will include the appy and tip again but will be in the $45-50range.

MANY are thinking that the free DDP will only be the CS meal plan and you will have to upgrade by paying the extra 17-20 bucks extra pp/per day depending on what the pricing is of the CS plan vs. the basic (standard) plan.

I am a bit upset over it as we are going for free DDP in Sept. and were going to book bounceback then (provided it's offered) but paying rack rate for the room plus 17-20 per person per day doesn't seem like nearly the deal it was these past few years.

However, we don't really know what is going to happen at this point. I could be completely wrong but given what we've been told via UK material-I think I'm not far off.

[Rootskate]

We went during the free dining promotion last year. I called at 180 days out and got every place we wanted with no problem.