180+ ADR is Sunday & I'm so worried...

[fiversmama]

My immediate family (DS8, DS14, DH & I) has/have been to WDW several times - usually in March/April/May.

I really, really wanted to take my nephews, who have never been, and I finally convinced their non-rider mama that we would make it a wonderful two-family trip in mid-December. After all, I told her, I know the ins and outs (thank you, DIS), the best spots, the BEST ADRs to get!

Well, here we are, a day from our ADR booking date and all I'm reading is that ADRs are impossible to get because of FD. I took a look around last night at the opens days just prior to our visit, and I wasn't reassured at all. Being totally flexible, I looked at very early or very late times, and divided our party every possible way to split up. Nada. Zilch. Nothing. Is the DDP even worth considering?

I feel terrible. My kids have been to BOG, CM, Ohana, HDDMR, TH...the list goes on. But my nephews obviously haven't and I want them to experience ALL WDW has to offer, including those awesome character meals and special dining experiences. I feel like I made a huge mistake booking when I did.

Can anyone suggest good alternatives for TS ADRs that might actually be possible to get??? - we are only there 5 nights, so we only have 5 included in S-DDP and I want them to be memorable. There will be 9 of us total (Adultsx4 + DSX5: 14, 11, 8, 8, 8).

Our plan HAD been to get ADRs for:
BOG
CM
TH
Tutto Italia (placeholder for hopeful CP package)
WCC

Thanks in advance!

 

[soniam]

Tusker House shouldn't be difficult. What's WCC? Maybe try Skipper Canteen or Crystal Palace instead of BOG. If CM is Chef Mickey's, have you thought of 1900 Park Fare (any meal) or Ohana breakfast? I don't think Tutto Italia will be hard, but you could substitute Via Napoli or Il Mulino. If the CP package is all you care about, then you could get any of the restaurants on it. I can't remember what's usually on it, maybe Biergarten or Marrakesh.

EDIT: The most difficult is obviously the pre-park opening breakfast pretty much anywhere, so avoid those and maybe go for a late breakfast or lunch or dinner instead.

 

[fiversmama]

Tusker House shouldn't be difficult. What's WCC? Maybe try Skipper Canteen or Crystal Palace instead of BOG. If CM is Chef Mickey's, have you thought of 1900 Park Fare (any meal) or Ohana breakfast? I don't think Tutto Italia will be hard, but you could substitute Via Napoli or Il Mulino. If the CP package is all you care about, then you could get any of the restaurants on it. I can't remember what's usually on it, maybe Biergarten or Marrakesh.

EDIT: The most difficult is obviously the pre-park opening breakfast pretty much anywhere, so avoid those and maybe go for a late breakfast or lunch or dinner instead.

Thanks - yes, CM is Chef Mickey's and WCC is Whispering Canyon. I was completely shocked when I was searching and coming up short, too. Have never had any issue whatsoever getting ADRs by being reasonably flexible. The Very Merry Christmas Party is closing MK at 6pm at least 3x when we're there, so that makes BOG pretty much impossible. And, from reading the boards, it seems like Disney is holding back a good number of time slots in Epcot at one of the 7-9 CP package restaurants. Planning has always been effortless and fun in the past- I guess that's what I'm missing most in this. Fingers crossed.

 

[RipperSB]

I'm sure you'll be fine. Just finished making ressies for our Dec trip (5-19) and were able to get our preferences for CP, CM, 50's PT. The only quirk was Biergarten being unavailable for any lunch but I think the times were just not released as a few days later they all suddenly available. Keep that in mind and keep checking if there is a particular one you want.

 

[soniam]

Thanks - yes, CM is Chef Mickey's and WCC is Whispering Canyon. I was completely shocked when I was searching and coming up short, too. Have never had any issue whatsoever getting ADRs by being reasonably flexible. The Very Merry Christmas Party is closing MK at 6pm at least 3x when we're there, so that makes BOG pretty much impossible. And, from reading the boards, it seems like Disney is holding back a good number of time slots in Epcot at one of the 7-9 CP package restaurants. Planning has always been effortless and fun in the past- I guess that's what I'm missing most in this. Fingers crossed.

We went last year after xmas through new years day. I was really worried that we wouldn't be able to get stuff, but I was pleasantly surprised. Plus, it was only DH and I, no kids, so we could be more flexible. What about Trail's End if you can't get WCC? However, I don't think I have heard any issue with WCC. Chef Mickey's is continual problem. Also, if you were planning on eating dinner at MK on a party night, maybe try something at one of the monorail resorts or Disney Springs. Good luck

 

[Surgie2]

Do you have the touring plans app? Their reservation finder works well

 

[Skylarr29]

I just wanted to point out that CP packages are two credits so you have 6 total credits listed. Just in case you didn't realize that.

 

[bootlord9000]

I always check the day before (usually while riding a bus), since that's when people get charged and people have finalized their plans by that point. Here's some of what I found for dinner tomorrow (6/17) for 9:

• 1900 Park Fare
• Akershus
• Chef Mickey's
• The Crystal Palace
• Garden Grill
• Tusker House
• Tutto Italia
• Whispering Canyon Cafe

Be Our Guest is going to be the most difficult to snag. Especially with 9 people, so I would use a reservation finder for that if you don't get it.
For the rest, get what you can and keep checking as you get closer to your dates.
Good luck!

 

[Angie Ramp]

I made mine this morning and got everything I wanted. Not always the day I wanted but we have park hoppers so I didn't care. I even got back online a few hours later and found some Epcot restaurants were open. Good luck.

 

[CrazzzyforDisney83]

I always check the day before (usually while riding a bus), since that's when people get charged and people have finalized their plans by that point. Here's some of what I found for dinner tomorrow (6/17) for 9:

• 1900 Park Fare
• Akershus
• Chef Mickey's
• The Crystal Palace
• Garden Grill
• Tusker House
• Tutto Italia
• Whispering Canyon Cafe

Be Our Guest is going to be the most difficult to snag. Especially with 9 people, so I would use a reservation finder for that if you don't get it.
For the rest, get what you can and keep checking as you get closer to your dates.
Good luck!

I've been doing this too. Just to see what is available and I've found PPO reservations as well. Even Akershus. That's the only one I want, so I feel better now once I did that!

 

[ears2BWV]

A few tips for getting bog and cm. Put all your restaurants in your favorites in your mde account, log in with at least 2 devices and start with the reservations you want the most, not in the order you need them. By having your choices in your favorites you don't have to search that morning, and while I went through 5 days before I could snag a bog ressie my husband was able to book 3 other reservations. Be prepared to scramble your days. We got every reservation, but I think we were on plan D by the time we were done.

 

[fiversmama]

Yes- we are actually seriously considering loading the "cost" of the DDP onto a debit card (we don't qualify for FD bc we are staying w my DVC uncle at BLT), so we will use what we usually do as a rough guideline for budgeting sake, but have a bit more freedom with our "allotments." Fingers crossed it's not an experiment gone wrong!

 

[fiversmama]

Great news- for all my worrying, we got EVERYTHING we wanted, INCLUDING BOG and a special moms & (younger) sons breakfast at CRT at 8:00am. I honestly couldn't believe it, but getting up and being ready at 5:58am paid off today!

 

[LauraJean]

Glad you got what you wanted! I booked last Sunday (check in Dec. 8th) and got everything we wanted at the times I needed.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Great news- for all my worrying, we got EVERYTHING we wanted, INCLUDING BOG and a special moms & (younger) sons breakfast at CRT at 8:00am. I honestly couldn't believe it, but getting up and being ready at 5:58am paid off today!

Take a break, have a coffee and enjoy the victory. The next hurdle...Fast Pass selection!

 

[Surgie2]

Great news- for all my worrying, we got EVERYTHING we wanted, INCLUDING BOG and a special moms & (younger) sons breakfast at CRT at 8:00am. I honestly couldn't believe it, but getting up and being ready at 5:58am paid off today!

So happy to hear this! I am already stressing out about getting ADRs for May for 10 people. So it's great to hear about successes!