still a bit confused about ADRs and could use some help

[queenofhartz]

Hi everyone! First of all, a GREAT, BIG thank you to all of the Disers that have helped me plan my vacation so far. Now, I need help with ADRs. Ok, so bare with me (grab a drink cause this could get a little long) Unfortunately, this has been the most confusing part for me. I need a remedial ADR class, seriously. I understand this much: I need to be on the phone around 6:55am eastern time to secure my ADRs, and because I am a resort guest, I can book most of my desired restaurants at 180+10. (Please correct me at any point here if I'm incorrect) So, my travel dates are April 26-May 3. On October 29 (that's my magical 180 day date ), I can make my ADRs for the entire week's vacation. I think I have this part under my belt (I hope anyways )

Now, from posting and reading other threads, it looks like some restaurants and events do NOT allow you to make reservations unless you are calling exactly 180 days in advance. V&A Chef's Table and the Fireworks Cruises appear to fall into this category. But, I've searched online, and I haven't been able to find a list of restaurants/events that do allow you to book under the 180 + 10 rule and which ones do not.

So, here's part one of my question: Do any of these restaurants require me to call exactly 180 days in advance (i.e., they will not let me reserve them on October 29 with the rest of my ADRs):

Cinderella's Royal Table (dinner)
Crystal Palace (breakfast)
Coral Reef (lunch)
Rose & Crown (lunch)
Le Cellier (dinner)
Kona Cafe (breakfast)
Jiko (dinner)
Narcoosee's (dinner)
California Grill (dinner)
O'hana (dinner)
50's Prime Time Cafe (lunch)

Ok, now here's the 2nd part of my question. Assuming that all of these can be made at the 180+10 mark, this is my calling plan. I'd like to know if you would change the order in which I request my ADRs (because I really don't know which of these is most popular to least popular):

1. Crystal Palace (breakfast-we really, really want this ADR)
2. Le Cellier (dinner-we really, really want this ADR)
3. Cinderella's Royal Table (dinner)
4. California Grill (dinner)
5. O'hana (dinner)
6. Narcoosee's (dinner)
7. Coral Reef (lunch)
8. Kona Cafe (breakfast-important that we try to get the 7:30am seating here)
9. Jiko
10. Rose & Crown (lunch)
11. 50's Prime Time Cafe (lunch)

Let me know what you think, and sorry for the xtra large post.

 

[lynninpa]

I would definitely book Le Cellier first!
And try for an 8:05 am ADR for CP on a NON EMH day. That way you can get into MK before the official opening for some GREAT photo ops!

 

[queenofhartz]

I would definitely book Le Cellier first!
And try for an 8:05 am ADR for CP on a NON EMH day. That way you can get into MK before the official opening for some GREAT photo ops!

Ok, so Le Cellier first and Crystal Palace 2nd. We are definitely doing MK on non EMH days. Thanks for the advice!!

 

[lynninpa]

By the way-your choices sound great! "A little bit of everything!"

 

[BCV23]

You can book all of those at your 180 mark.

With the exception of CRT and perhaps Le Cellier, I don't think you need to stress about calling right at 180. In fact for CRT, people have posted that some spaces open at the 180+ mark and others at 180. I don't know if that is accurate.

Since Crystal Palace is so important to you I would do that third.

After that, you can finish making reservations if you want or relax and call back at your leisure. Most people don't call at 180 and I've made reservations for all of those spots well after that.

And for Kona breakfast, don't worry of you can't get 7:30. Sometimes the earliest available for my family size is 7:40 but if you're there at 7:30, I bet you'll be seated very quickly.

 

[queenofhartz]

By the way-your choices sound great! "A little bit of everything!"

Thanks so much!! It was really difficult to choose. I'm like you...I want to try everything. Disney should have a restaurant that has a menu full of samples from all of the restaurants in the world. Like a tapas menu, but only little samplings from Disney restaurants.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I can't really help with most of this, but book any dinners for the first time slot and you will be in and out before the crowds. We did this in December and it worked out great. We don't usually eat breakfast or grab a breakfast bar, unless we are at WDW, then we love breakfast more than any other meals as some of the restaurants (picky husband). Some days we would have an ADR for breakfast, eat a CS lunch or a snakc, then have an ADR for an early dinner and it really saved some time waiting. Take lynninpa advice and eat at CP on a non-EMH morning before park opening, it is a great opportunity to take pictures of an empty Main Street and Castle. In June we had a CP ressie at 9:00am, but because we had to stop and rent ECV's, we entered the park at 8:05am, took some great pictures and checked in at the podium and were immediately seated.

CP and 50's PT can be booked at 180+10, haven't eaten at the others. You should have no trouble getting in to CP, especially if you go before park opening, I would definitely ask for CRT first on the day you call for it, because those tables go first thing, but I think since the price went up, it has become less popular. HTH!

Suzanne

 

[lynninpa]

Thanks so much!! It was really difficult to choose. I'm like you...I want to try everything. Disney should have a restaurant that has a menu full of samples from all of the restaurants in the world. Like a tapas menu, but only little samplings from Disney restaurants.

What a fabulous idea!!

 

[queenofhartz]

You can book all of those at your 180 mark.

With the exception of CRT and perhaps Le Cellier, I don't think you need to stress about calling right at 180. In fact for CRT, people have posted that some spaces open at the 180+ mark and others at 180. I don't know if that is accurate.

Since Crystal Palace is so important to you I would do that third.

After that, you can finish making reservations if you want or relax and call back at your leisure. Most people don't call at 180 and I've made reservations for all of those spots well after that.

And for Kona breakfast, don't worry of you can't get 7:30. Sometimes the earliest available for my family size is 7:40 but if you're there at 7:30, I bet you'll be seated very quickly.

Ok, thanks! So, Le Cellier first, then CRT-dinner, and the Crystal Palace third. That sounds easy enough.

 

[queenofhartz]

I can't really help with most of this, but book any dinners for the first time slot and you will be in and out before the crowds. We did this in December and it worked out great. We don't usually eat breakfast or grab a breakfast bar, unless we are at WDW, then we love breakfast more than any other meals as some of the restaurants (picky husband). Some days we would have an ADR for breakfast, eat a CS lunch or a snakc, then have an ADR for an early dinner and it really saved some time waiting. Take lynninpa advice and eat at CP on a non-EMH morning before park opening, it is a great opportunity to take pictures of an empty Main Street and Castle. In June we had a CP ressie at 9:00am, but because we had to stop and rent ECV's, we entered the park at 8:05am, took some great pictures and checked in at the podium and were immediately seated.

CP and 50's PT can be booked at 180+10, haven't eaten at the others. You should have no trouble getting in to CP, especially if you go before park opening, I would definitely ask for CRT first on the day you call for it, because those tables go first thing, but I think since the price went up, it has become less popular. HTH!

Suzanne

Thanks Suzanne princess! I wondered if CRT is still really tough to get for a dinner reservation, and it sounds like it is.