180 day out coming soon! Advice needed, please:)

[mrstomrice]

This Thursday is my 180 day out date! We have settled on our restaurants and I am prepared to be on the phone at 7:00 am to book my Aug 08 ADR's. IYHO, how many back up plans do I need? We're not too set on times for each meal, as long as they aren't too late at night. I hope to be able to book the following restaurants, trying for CRT first:

CRT, dinner
Crystal Palace, BF
Tusker House, BF
Coral Reef, dinner
50' s prime Time, Lunch
Ohana, Dinner

Any suggestions for being prepared? I have my dates and preferred times. From your experience, do I need a backup restaurant for every meal I want? I don't want to over stress if it isn't too hard to make reservations. This is our first time trying the DDP and worrying about so many ADR'S. Thanks so much for your honest input!

 

[andyjack]

I just called today for our Aug. trip. After waiting for about 10 min I was helped by a really nice lady. I was able to get all of the restaurants that I wanted and we won't be eating any later than 6:45. I did have a backup plan for Le Cellier but we were able to get the ADR. I don't think that you'll need backups for all of them, but maybe for CRT.

 

[mrstomrice]

Thanks...did you call right at 7 am?

 

[andyjack]

No. I didn't call until around 11:30.

 

[Aliceacc]

My sister called the other day at the 170 day mark and was able to get almost all of hers, including CRT. The only one she was unable to get was Le'Cellier, at least not for her family of 5.

I'm leaving for work at 7 am, so she's calling for me this Friday on my 180- day mark. Keep your fingers crossed for me, OK? I'l do the same for you.

 

[mrstomrice]

Thanks...fingers and toes are crossed! I am so excited for your 1st family trip! We got a great discount code too...someone must be looking out for us! Good Luck and have a great trip...sounds like we'll be there the same time. Now we need good weather! We were there the same time last year and we did not have a drop of rain! It was rare, so I guess I am spoiled! Either way, Disney is super rain or shine!

 

[n2mm]

My 180 day is tomorrow and plan to book a few places. Glad I can do the 180 +10, that will help with our party of 7.

 

[NCmomof3]

Our 180 mark was today and I called right at 7:00 am. My first call was disconnected and even with having to call a second time and hold for a few minutes, I had all our our ADR's and was off the phone in about 20 minutes!

I was able to get all of our ADR's with very slight changes in the times we wanted. DH is a GREAT believer, (and all the rest of us too!) in Tour Guide Mike's advise and we follow his park recommendations very closely, so we had our ADR's planned very carefully and to pretty specific times. This most I had to change was 30 minutes for Tutto Italia. We chose the following, all are for dinner:

8/10 - Chef Mickey's
8/11 - Le Cellier
8/12 - Boma
8/13 - Hoop Dee Do - 5:00 show
8/14 - 50's Prime Time
8/15 - Tutto Italia
8/16 - Kona

We are excited! This is our first time on the dining plan. In all our previous trips we have had at least one AP to get the room discount and we have had the DDE card. We got the 40% PIN code for this trip, so we decided to try the DDP!

Good luck with your ADR's!

 

[mrstomrice]

Thanks for that information! I was wondering how long it all took. I guess I won't overplan too much then. We are also trying DDP for the first time due to our hotel savings. Have a great trip!

 

[poohbearrocks]

my 180 is wednesday, my dh thinks I am crazy...guess i am not hope I have as good of luck as you guys!

 

[MomtoGoofyandBelle]

I just called for my ressies for August and I got through with know problem and booked most of my restaurants breakfasts 8:40 at 1900 Fare, and dinners no later then 6:20. I just have to call back because family has heard about Ohana and Chef Mickey

 

[Aliceacc]

today is my 180 day mark. I leave for work at 7, so my sister is calling for me.

Wish me luck!

(PS: this really IS insane, you know??)

 

[Native NYer]

I called on Monday and was able to get all of our ADRs, including CRT, with no problem!!! I agree that this is insane! It was so hard for me to plan meals that we aren't eating until August! I have a feeling our ADRs are going to change a few times, but at least I have what we want (initally that is).

 

[mrstomrice]

It's done! I made all of our ADRS' yesterday at 7am...so glad that is over with! I was also able to get all of the restaurants for all of the time frames I wanted, within 10 minutes or so. No I have 179 days to see if I want to change my mind....My DH will be going crazy listening to me, I am sure!

 

[evedein]

We are planning to go to the Hoop-dee-do. Can I book that at 180 + 10 or do I have to wait until the actual 180 days?

 

[mrstomrice]

You can book and ADR 180 days before your first day of your vacation. Any ADR's in the 1st 10 days of that trip can be booked on that day. If your trip is longer than 10 days, you'll need to wait, as far as I understand. Good luck...you'll love the show!

 

[janjandis]

You can book and ADR 180 days before your first day of your vacation. Any ADR's in the 1st 10 days of that trip can be booked on that day. If your trip is longer than 10 days, you'll need to wait, as far as I understand. Good luck...you'll love the show!

Is this only if you have a trip booked? Can I make ADRs now for 180 days away and book my trip later (when free dining is announced)?

 

[Nicole721]

Is this only if you have a trip booked? Can I make ADRs now for 180 days away and book my trip later (when free dining is announced)?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong-

They ask you for your booking # when you call. If you are not booked (or are not booked at a WDW resort), you cannot do the 180+10.

So, you can make reservations for your first day at 180 days, then the next day you would have to call for reservations for your second day, the day after for reservations for your third day, and so on.

 

[nikjd68]

CRT for Dinner usually isn't a problem. Since it's only the fairy godmothers, it isn't as popular as the princess b-fast and lunch.

 

[mrstomrice]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong-

They ask you for your booking # when you call. If you are not booked (or are not booked at a WDW resort), you cannot do the 180+10.

So, you can make reservations for your first day at 180 days, then the next day you would have to call for reservations for your second day, the day after for reservations for your third day, and so on.

You can book ADR's 180 days before your check in date and for the 10 days following that date. If your trip is longer tha 10 days (lucky you), you have to wait to book the remainder of the ADR's 180 days before that day...not need to make calls daily if your trip is less than 10 days. Hope this helps!