No ADRs for upcoming trip - advice?

[Corwin]

We are about six weeks out from our upcoming vacation at WDW. Another family is planning to meet us there over the same time period. It will be their first trip to WDW, and they opted to stay at a different resort than us.

Anyway, they apparently just finalized everything, confirmed that they are going to go, and paid their balance off for their stay. Like us, they got the Free Dining Plan.

Unfortunately, they did not take our advice about ADRs. (We told them repeatedly to make them far in advance, and we, of course, made all of our own ADRs at the 90+10 mark. Unfortunately, at that time, they were still up in the air as to whether they were going or not, so we didn't include them with our ADRs.)

So they're trying to make their ADRs now, and predictably are having great difficulties. Nothing they try for has been available.

So, because the situation is what it is, what are their best options for getting any ADRs at this point?

I've advised them to keep trying up until the trip (online and on the phone); to talk to the concierge at their resort (they're staying at the CBR); and to try walk-ups as a last resort during off-peak hours. Any other advice at this point?

Thanks!

 

[USAswimmer626]

I can't think of any other advice other than what you've given them. I hope everything works out!

Enjoy your trip, and it looks like we'll be overlapping a bit.

 

[MommyGina]

Keep trying on-line. We are like you. We booked and then friends of our decided to book 3 weeks after us. I had made all my ADR's well in advance. She waited. However, I kept going on-line and got ADR's that match the same time and place that we are. I even got Ohana for 7 of us for breakfast. That wasn't available when I first tried. Keep trying several times a day, if you can.

Also, there is a thread on here that you can request ADR's. Many times people cancel and their reservations are up for grabs.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[djp0630]

They could check out the cancellations on the August Cancellation on this board and book. Other than that, your advice is good.

That sucks about your friends, but you did your best to warn them!

 

[Goseethemouse]

I think flexibility will be key. We too are going in about six weeks. We've made our ADRs at the earliest possible time. However, just last week I had to "tweak" our reservations a bit and didn't have any problems. There were quite a number of restaurants available.

I do think your friends might not be able to get the most popular ADRs. But I think if they are a bit flexible with times/dates they should still be able to get a number of decent reservations.

One thing you could maybe do is to give your friends some tips about restaurants that aren't THAT popular but might still be a good choice.

 

[CriminyCrafft]

This may seem like a no-brainer, but I've called Disney Dining mere days before a trip to WDW and just asked, "I'd like to get an ADR for this day and this time at this park, what's available?" It's led to me trying some restaurants I wouldn't normally have tried, and I enjoyed them (i.e., the Plaza, Nine Dragons). So if they can let go of feeling like they have to have certain restaurants, that's what I would do.

 

[rgf207]

Well, i think it will be tough to get the very popular restaurants but I can assure you that there will be some restaurants that will be available. Here are some of my suggestions for resort and park restaurants that aren't as popular and do not fill up.

Cap May Cafe Clambake - Beach Club
The Plaza Restaurant - MK
San Angel Inn - Sometimes can be tough but it has a great atmosphere
Kona Cafe
Grand Floridian Cafe

 

[KatMark]

Our oldest son went from July 2 - 9 (he also stayed at the CBR). He had no dining ADR's until I made them two nights before they left. He couldn't really make them because he was coaching a baseball team at a Disney tournament and they did not get their schedule until the weekend prior to the trip. I was able to get them five adr's and, in fact, once he got there, they only went to two, changed one to a different time and different number of people -- from 3 people to 10 people, and were able to get two different ones than the ones I made. So there is hope. She should just keep trying (I used the online system and my son called the dining line the morning/early afternoon of the day he wanted them).

 

[clanmcculloch]

If there are enough of you between the two parties and you're interested in sharing a few meals, you could try to arrange a few reservations as Grand Gatherings. The GG CMs supposedly can work miracles, or so I hear.

In no way am I suggesting you let go of your existing ADRs because THEY couldn't get their act together and follow your great advice. I'm just suggesting that IF you're interested AND your family would also enjoy this then it's an option at least for a couple of meals.

 

[paintnolish]

Consider lunches and bfasts (where available) and look into dining at resorts. Good luck!

 

[cheshireqt]

If there are enough of you between the two parties and you're interested in sharing a few meals, you could try to arrange a few reservations as Grand Gatherings. The GG CMs supposedly can work miracles, or so I hear.

In no way am I suggesting you let go of your existing ADRs because THEY couldn't get their act together and follow your great advice. I'm just suggesting that IF you're interested AND your family would also enjoy this then it's an option at least for a couple of meals.

Exactly what I was going to say. Otherwise wishes of good luck to your friends, and a reminder that they need to be persistent and they will get ADRs, maybe not everything they want and when they want but at least they will arrive prepared for meals. (which I am sure you have also already advised them).

 

[MHSweb79]

This is prime time to keep trying - you say you are about 6 weeks out. Well, final payments are due at 45 days, so ADRs can open up from people who can't make that final payment or decide not to go for whatever reason.
I also second the tip to try resort dining- it's a lot of fun to visit resorts that you've never seen before, and they often have openings when park restaurants are full.

 

[eliza61]

We are about six weeks out from our upcoming vacation at WDW. Another family is planning to meet us there over the same time period. It will be their first trip to WDW, and they opted to stay at a different resort than us.

Anyway, they apparently just finalized everything, confirmed that they are going to go, and paid their balance off for their stay. Like us, they got the Free Dining Plan.

Unfortunately, they did not take our advice about ADRs. (We told them repeatedly to make them far in advance, and we, of course, made all of our own ADRs at the 90+10 mark. Unfortunately, at that time, they were still up in the air as to whether they were going or not, so we didn't include them with our ADRs.)

So they're trying to make their ADRs now, and predictably are having great difficulties. Nothing they try for has been available.

So, because the situation is what it is, what are their best options for getting any ADRs at this point?

I've advised them to keep trying up until the trip (online and on the phone); to talk to the concierge at their resort (they're staying at the CBR); and to try walk-ups as a last resort during off-peak hours. Any other advice at this point?

Thanks!

Suggest that they broaden their request. Since they are late, instead of asking for "Le Cellier" at 6:00, ask what is available at 6:00 pm. Now I've never been during free dining but I never make adr's and I always get some type of TS but the key is flexiability.
Instead of eating prime time, can they eat at off hours? My family and I love eating a late breakfast then we're usually not hungry at lunch so we eat an early dinner. This leaves lots of time during the evening to have a really, big dessert.
Or some times we skip breakfast have a CS lunch and then a late dinner.

We always manage to get a TS but like I said, we've never gone during Free dining so I'm not sure if these tips would work (one of the reasons we don't do Free dining)

 

[catne]

Try some of the alternatives...if you want to eat somewhere in Epcot...put in Le Cellier for the day/time/party # you want...and then pick one of the alternatives they come up with. Or book one of the Epcot resort restaurants when you're at Epcot. Same thing with Magic Kingdom days -- book one of the non-character monorail resort restaurants. There's lots of choices & a surprising amount of availability if you skip the most popular places...and so many of the resort restaurants are really very good food & service. And often more relaxing than the character buffets...