How hard will it be to get ADRs?

[RysMomma]

We booked free dining today (yay!) at Pop for 8/23-8/31. We are SO excited. Anyway, since I'm new to this Free dining excitement (but definitely not to Disney) I'm wondering how hard it will be to get ADRs for this week. I'm going to be waking up early the very first day I can and calling-is it tougher during the FD period? Just wondering! Thanks!

[n2mm]

It will take patience and persistence to get the ADRs you want during free dining. You will be competing against everyone else coming in the same day as you and up to 10 days prior to you. It will not be a fun nor pleasant experience. I do not look forward to it at all. But, we're all in the same boat. I put myself in for a leave day off from work the day I have to call for my August 16th arrival because there is no way I could stay on the phone for 2 hours in the office and not be interupted. Good luck and have a backup plan as you may have to make split second decisions.

[NJRA]

I have been wondering the same thing this is our first year taking advantage of FD. What are the odds of getting all od our ADR's??? Sept.19-27.....:confused3

[KatMark]

We have gone the last three Septembers during Free Dining (usually from around August 31 - September 10) and have had no problems getting our ADR's, including LeCellier. We may have had to juggle our times a little bit, but we've gotten them all. This year we are going later September (20-29) so not sure about that time frame.

[hrh_disney_queen]

It will take patience and persistence to get the ADRs you want during free dining. You will be competing against everyone else coming in the same day as you and up to 10 days prior to you. It will not be a fun nor pleasant experience. I do not look forward to it at all. But, we're all in the same boat. I put myself in for a leave day off from work the day I have to call for my August 16th arrival because there is no way I could stay on the phone for 2 hours in the office and not be interupted. Good luck and have a backup plan as you may have to make split second decisions.



What does this mean? Can you book ALL of your week's worth of ADRs on the first day of your 90 day window? I thought I would have to call every day that was 90 days out for each day's worth of ADRs.

Thanks for the info.

[1hero2princesses]

It will not be easy. Last year my 180 day mark was on Easter. So I was up and dialing at 6 am on Easter morning. It took about 10 -15 to get someone and the it took about 35 minutes to do. I could not get breakfast at the castle for the days we were planning to be at Magic Kingdom, but I did get a lunch. Got everything else I wanted. Meanwhile my kids got up to see what the Easter Bunny brought and I am telling my husband to keep them upstairs till I am done so I don't miss Easter morning! Luckily my kids were really little (4, 2 and 1 at the time) and they didn't find that particularly strange. I am not looking forward to having to be up at 5:30 with list and alternatives in hand but I will do it. If you don't get what you want the first time, you just have to keep trying. People do cancel. Also, if you are flexible with eating later (I am not because of the age of the kids) it seemed like more was available later. We are also 5 (even though the baby is not on the plan she counts) and I think those are a little harder to get. I am a little disappointed free dining is going so late - I had booked bounceback and was hoping to hit the end of the open offer. Oh well. We will be there for it and I will battle it out. My DD3 ended up being terrified of charcters and I actually spent about 3 hours of my actual vacation trying to make new adr's and canceling things like Chef Mickey. You can always get in somewhere, but it was very time consuming and I would not recommend that!

[serene56]

We booked free dining today (yay!) at Pop for 8/23-8/31. We are SO excited. Anyway, since I'm new to this Free dining excitement (but definitely not to Disney) I'm wondering how hard it will be to get ADRs for this week. I'm going to be waking up early the very first day I can and calling-is it tougher during the FD period? Just wondering! Thanks!

I followed free dining last year and will do the same this year since we are going next year at the same time.
MANY MANY people complained they could not get into a lot of places.
Reservations were so hard to come by that Disney was giving Counter service for the Table service placement.

waking up to make your ressies--- people who are on vacation from Wed - wed already have a head start on you-- especially when you have that 90 +10 thing.

If they took the +10 away I think it would be a lot easier for everyone to have somewhat of a fighting chance to get what they want.

Have a back up plan and a back up plan for that too-- just in case

[disneyfanUSA]

I have had free dinning 4 times and have never had trouble getting ADRs. Sometimes I just got an hour off of my desired time. No biggie.

[catne]

have always had good luck getting choices & times we want. Now if you have a larger party, or are very specific about days & times, maybe it doesn't work so well.

[TDC Nala]

Get the ADRs as soon as you possibly can. If you want Le Cellier or Chef Mickey's it is probably best to be on the phone as soon as the dining line opens on your 90 day mark. Have alternatives in case you dont' get the restaurants you want, and be prepared to accept off-peak dining hours if that's all you can get.

If I were not set on dining in popular places and/or at peak times, I would probably be more comfortable waiting a bit to make reservations, and definitely not calling right when the dining line opens. I would not attempt walk-ups or making very late reservations - at that point you would be reduced to taking whatever was left over.

[chocovrdmicears]

This past January we booked the Poly for this Sept with a 40% off code.

Last week DH and I decided to book a *bonus* birthday trip for June (my 40th & Fathers Day).

We made our ADR's last week for June ( had no problems at all) ...I was just going to write our 90 day ADR day for Sept on the calender..It is the same day we leave for Disney in June. :upsidedow
How embarassed would I be to be sitting in the airport at 7:00am waiting for my flight to Disney while on the phone with Disney making ADR's for Sept. People would think I was nuts! :blush:

[disneymath]

I put myself in for a leave day off from work the day I have to call for my August 16th arrival because there is no way I could stay on the phone for 2 hours in the office and not be interrupted.

It crossed my mind to do this too ... but I really don't want to have to resort to this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that online ADRs are here by my 90 day window - and that the system is running fairly smoothly by then. (If I can get a few ADRs done before I leave for work, I may be able to sneak in a few more during lunch etc.)

You know, I love Disney and even look forward to the "challenge" of getting the ADRs I want - but having to take time off work to do so seems a bit extreme! :upsidedow

[abc999]

Last year, I called 2 or 3 weeks after my 180 day mark and still got everything I wanted, included LeCellier for lunch.

[n2mm]

What does this mean? Can you book ALL of your week's worth of ADRs on the first day of your 90 day window? I thought I would have to call every day that was 90 days out for each day's worth of ADRs.

Thanks for the info.

When you call to book your ADRs you are allowed to book the next 10 days worth of ADRs all during that phone call, as long as you are a resort guest. Split stays are a little different which seem to be requiring more than one call.

[n2mm]

It crossed my mind to do this too ... but I really don't want to have to resort to this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that online ADRs are here by my 90 day window - and that the system is running fairly smoothly by then. (If I can get a few ADRs done before I leave for work, I may be able to sneak in a few more during lunch etc.)

You know, I love Disney and even look forward to the "challenge" of getting the ADRs I want - but having to take time off work to do so seems a bit extreme! :upsidedow

I know, I hope I don't have to do this, but those people at work would not leave me alone to get important stuff done. It was easier to put in for the day off, and if I don't need it, I'll cancel it. It is extreme, but I get back from my spring WDW trip on that Saturday, and one more day on vacation is not a big deal after being off 2 weeks.

[Debbie Jean]

This past January we booked the Poly for this Sept with a 40% off code.

Last week DH and I decided to book a *bonus* birthday trip for June (my 40th & Fathers Day).

We made our ADR's last week for June ( had no problems at all) ...I was just going to write our 90 day ADR day for Sept on the calender..It is the same day we leave for Disney in June. :upsidedow
How embarassed would I be to be sitting in the airport at 7:00am waiting for my flight to Disney while on the phone with Disney making ADR's for Sept. People would think I was nuts! :blush:

Actually when I put the date for making my free dining adr's on my calendar I realized it is the day I am flying home from my May trip! :eek:

So I'll probably be sitting in the lounge at OKW calling Disney Dining while I wait for ME! :lmao:

[Colleen27]

I think this might be something that the new 90 out policy makes more difficult... When it was 180 out, a lot of us had ADRs booked before the free dining promo was officially released. Now the FD promo will have been out a couple months before anyone is booking ADRs, so there's going to be a lot more competition to get the highly desireable restaurants/times.

[Ktharee]

We have gone the last three Septembers during Free Dining (usually from around August 31 - September 10) and have had no problems getting our ADR's, including LeCellier. We may have had to juggle our times a little bit, but we've gotten them all. This year we are going later September (20-29) so not sure about that time frame.

This is hopeful news!

[DisneyCrazyKaty]

As far as the 90 days out for ADR's. I asked when we booked our trip if it makes it harder or easier to get where you want to eat. The cast memeber said she thinks it's actually easier to get what you want that way. I don't know. I guess I'll find out when I go to call.

[a1tinkfans]

I followed free dining last year and will do the same this year since we are going next year at the same time.
MANY MANY people complained they could not get into a lot of places.
Reservations were so hard to come by that Disney was giving Counter service for the Table service placement.

waking up to make your ressies--- people who are on vacation from Wed - wed already have a head start on you-- especially when you have that 90 +10 thing.

If they took the +10 away I think it would be a lot easier for everyone to have somewhat of a fighting chance to get what they want.

Have a back up plan and a back up plan for that too-- just in case

????????:confused3:confused3:confused3:confused3?? ?????????

I was told there is NO PLUS 10 from a CM just the other day.
I was told that at 90 days out you can book all your ADR's for the next 10 days of your trip
NOT LIKE IN THE PAST when onsite guests could call at 180+10, meaning 190 days out (giving you an advantage) and get all your ADR's for your entire trip.
DID I get the WRONG info????????????????. I am SO CONFUSED!!!!

[DisneyCrazyKaty]

????????:confused3:confused3:confused3:confused3?? ?????????

I was told there is NO PLUS 10 from a CM just the other day.
I was told that at 90 days out you can book all your ADR's for the next 10 days of your trip
NOT LIKE IN THE PAST when onsite guests could call at 180+10, meaning 190 days out (giving you an advantage) and get all your ADR's for your entire trip.
DID I get the WRONG info????????????????. I am SO CONFUSED!!!!

I was just told last week that I could make ADR's for my entire trip 90 days from the first day of arrival.

[Colleen27]

????????:confused3:confused3:confused3:confused3?? ?????????

I was told there is NO PLUS 10 from a CM just the other day.
I was told that at 90 days out you can book all your ADR's for the next 10 days of your trip
NOT LIKE IN THE PAST when onsite guests could call at 180+10, meaning 190 days out (giving you an advantage) and get all your ADR's for your entire trip.
DID I get the WRONG info????????????????. I am SO CONFUSED!!!!

On site guests could never book 190 out. The +10 just refers to how many days you can book at 90 (or 180) out - at 90 days before arrival on site guests can make ADRs for the first 10 days of their trip. Off site guests cannot make ADRs until 90 days before the date of the ADR. That's how it has been for several years now, and that hasn't changed.

[mom2rtk]

My understanding is that you can book 90 days out from the day you check in, but for the ENTIRE length of your stay, UP TO 90 plus 10. If you were not staying on site, you would have to book 90 days out for EACH DAY you want adr's. So you don't have MUCH advantage over everyone else for the adr's you want for your first day or two of your trip, but you will have a much greater advantage for the adr's you are making for later in your trip. I hope that makes sense.........

[05MM08MM]

Even with FD it seems odd that a lot of people would not get their request. Perhaps you may not get the exact time you want but what are the chances that every person who got FD will be going to the same place you are on the same day at the same time?

Is there a thread going yet for everyone listing their choices and dates?

I hope I get all the ADR's I want but if not no biggie, I am going to have a fun time celebrating my birthday with my DH at WDW party:

[a1tinkfans]

My understanding is that you can book 90 days out from the day you check in, but for the ENTIRE length of your stay, UP TO 90 plus 10. If you were not staying on site, you would have to book 90 days out for EACH DAY you want adr's. So you don't have MUCH advantage over everyone else for the adr's you want for your first day or two of your trip, but you will have a much greater advantage for the adr's you are making for later in your trip. I hope that makes sense.........

thanks for the clarification, you would think that after all our visits I'd have it down pat, I don't! :lmao:
Meanwhile, we are a GRAND GATHERING and thats a first for us. I am not sure HOW that will work with ADR's....if I should try and book for ALL of us or leave it up to everyone to call???? So far, I think we are 8 confirmed plus an additional 2 and 2 (2 more rooms, totaling 4) and not sure we'd ever be ale to get a table for 12:confused3....thinking that I should probably call Dining or Grand Gathering area to get some clarification as to what they suggest I do....I think we'd like to hook up for SOME together but definitely not ALL, too much togetherness :rotfl2:...

Anyone have experience or suggestions for large groups.......

Last time we were 8, did not "claim" grand gathering and made reservations at differing times separately, but when we got to podium (like LTT at MK) asked for availability and they were very kind twice, HOWEVER I do not think it was free dine then (though WE were all on it from a bounceback...... Hmmmmmmm.........

[KKB]

????????:confused3:confused3:confused3:confused3?? ?????????

I was told there is NO PLUS 10 from a CM just the other day.
I was told that at 90 days out you can book all your ADR's for the next 10 days of your trip
NOT LIKE IN THE PAST when onsite guests could call at 180+10, meaning 190 days out (giving you an advantage) and get all your ADR's for your entire trip.
DID I get the WRONG info????????????????. I am SO CONFUSED!!!!

90 + 10 just meant you can book 90 days out from the first day of your arrival, UP TO 10 days total...so in essence, your 10th day is being booked 90 + 10.
So you are both correct...

[PammyPoppins]

I thought you could make ADR's at the 180 mark now I am reading people post "90 days". I know last year we could at the 180 mark, did they change it back to 90 days.
Thanks,
PammyPoppins

[chocovrdmicears]

I thought you could make ADR's at the 180 mark now I am reading people post "90 days". I know last year we could at the 180 mark, did they change it back to 90 days.
Thanks,
PammyPoppins

Yes. They changed it. It is now 90 days.

[SmallWorld71]

The last 2 years I made my free dining ressies at about 120 days out and had no trouble getting what I wanted. This included CRT, Chef Mickey's, 'Ohana, CP, Sci-Fi etc... All of them were booked solid and turning away people when we were there. However, your average Disney vacationer doesn't make their ADR's 6 months out. Now that the window is down to 90 days it will be interesting to see how it goes. popcorn::

[KarBear]

what time does the phone line open for ADR's, I thought it was 7am. Is it 7am or 6am?

[RysMomma]

I believe it's 7am EST.

[PammyPoppins]

Yes. They changed it. It is now 90 days.

Thank-You,
PammyPoppins

[PinkPrincess4Ever]

The CM when I booked FD on MOnday for my parents said online reservations will be available soon! He said you Better make your adrs 90 in advance this is gona be a mess with all the FD, and with the on-line booking coming available he said he is wondering how it is gona stop people from over booking and making 3 to 4 ressies a day (just cuz they can not decided where to eat) more than they need and this will hurt many families. He said many will be disapointed from other peoples selfishness. He told me you should see what people do with room bookings right now.. some will have 3 in their name he can not imagine what they will do with on-line dining. I really wondered when I got off the phone..why did he say and offer this information to me...his thoughts and opinion made me feel very uneasy and frusterated over this entire 90 day adr with the free dining. I really hope he is just an uninformed CM. We will need to watch the boards for when they release the on-line ressies and learn from their glitches I guess and hope for the best. I guess being flexible on dates times and having multiple back up choices will be the key to our FD ressies, and a little pixie dust. I hope this all works out!

[ReneeA]

I booked at about 100 days out for my trip last year, and had no problems getting what I wanted - or close to it. I did have to give up 'Ohana for dinner because I didn't want a 9pm dinner time.

We were even able to change some things around once we got there and do a couple walk ups with no problems.

I have to say though, that since we've gone for free dining the past 4 years, I've gotten much more flexible with my choices. I figure we've eaten just about everywhere we've really wanted to, so we can stop spur of the moment to try new things, etc while we are there.:thumbsup2

[UK Princess]

I have been following these boards for months re the ADRs and flit from being scared to chilled about it all!

Free dining was offered for UK packages last year so we actually booked our honeymoon last December for September this year.

I am planning to take the day off work to make my ADRs and will have to pay international call rates so people's experiences of being on the phone for 2 hours are very worrying! The only good thing for me is the time difference as 7am EST is noon for me :thumbsup2

I am making a plan A, B and C and just hoping that as it's only 2 of us we will be ok!

Good luck everyone! :goodvibes

[Colleen27]

The CM when I booked FD on MOnday for my parents said online reservations will be available soon! He said you Better make your adrs 90 in advance this is gona be a mess with all the FD, and with the on-line booking coming available he said he is wondering how it is gona stop people from over booking and making 3 to 4 ressies a day (just cuz they can not decided where to eat) more than they need and this will hurt many families. He said many will be disapointed from other peoples selfishness. He told me you should see what people do with room bookings right now.. some will have 3 in their name he can not imagine what they will do with on-line dining. I really wondered when I got off the phone..why did he say and offer this information to me...his thoughts and opinion made me feel very uneasy and frusterated over this entire 90 day adr with the free dining. I really hope he is just an uninformed CM. We will need to watch the boards for when they release the on-line ressies and learn from their glitches I guess and hope for the best. I guess being flexible on dates times and having multiple back up choices will be the key to our FD ressies, and a little pixie dust. I hope this all works out!

I don't think online booking is going to make the multiple ADRs situation worse. Plenty of people are doing that already over the phone. Heck, if people are doing the same thing with room reservations, which require a $200 deposit, do you think the hassle/expense of a phone call is really enough to prevent it?

[kevgraub]

Has anyone thought out how the current 4/3 deal might affect the free dining period this year?

It may be wishful thinking on my part - but I have been wondering about how many people that would normally have gone in September (which for many means taking their kids out of school) to take advantage of the free dining might not have opted to go earlier in the year for the 4/3 deal instead. I know there have been comments on here about how there seems to be a drop in interest in the free dining this year, and I wonder if that might be why.

[Note: this is probably just me trying to convince myself that it won't be as bad as I know it really will be when I call on June 27 in hopes of getting CRT breakfast during our trip]

[mom2rtk]

I booked at about 100 days out for my trip last year, and had no problems getting what I wanted - or close to it. I did have to give up 'Ohana for dinner because I didn't want a 9pm dinner time.

We were even able to change some things around once we got there and do a couple walk ups with no problems.

I have to say though, that since we've gone for free dining the past 4 years, I've gotten much more flexible with my choices. I figure we've eaten just about everywhere we've really wanted to, so we can stop spur of the moment to try new things, etc while we are there.:thumbsup2


It's a whole new ball game this year. I actually think that when people complain about this new system, it's really just a handful of places they are worried about getting into. Getting a 180 day lead for CRT or Chef Mickey's for a special occasion made it doable if you only planned ahead. Now you can make your plans, but then end up sitting around twiddling your thumbs waiting for everyone else to make up their minds only to compete with you for that venue!