180 Day PS Loophole???

[innoculation]

I just called Disney Dining to make a late attempt at booking CRT for Dec 7 which I didn't think I would get for that day anyway. The CM told me that she could go ahead and make PS's for 10 days out from our day of arrival.
Up front, I wasn't really ready to go ahead and get PS's, but I figured that this would be a great way to beat the rush.
We will be arriving on the 6th of December and leaving the 13th, so I figured that I should go ahead an book as much as I could.

The good news was that I found a place to eat for each day of our stay. The times of our meals aren't ideal for my family, but we will adjust. We have gone to WDW without PS's and will never make that mistale again!

The bad news was that most Restaurants were already booked. Including CRT for the whole week!!

I am not really upset that I didn't get in to CRT - after all this is my 8th year of trying. But I am extremely surprised that CRT isn't available 181-188 days out!!

I had read that the week we are going in December has been historicly one of the best weeks of the year to go to WDW because of crowd levels. Is it normal for Restaurants to be hard to book? I have never had problems getting what we wanted 90 days out. I am just extremely surprised at what I am seeing 180 days out.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

For CRT, they hold back tables for the 180 day mark of the actual day of dining. So while there may not have been tables available today, if you call at 7am tomorrow morning (and the Disney gods smile on you), you might be able to get an ADR for the day after your arrival day. And then try calling the next day, and so on...

 

[maj42169]

Crazy question............but what is PS?

 

[maj42169]

Crazy question............but what is PS?

 

[innoculation]

PS = Priority Seating

Disney's lingo for reservation.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Crazy question............but what is PS?

What used to be called PS (Priority Seating) is now called ADR (Advanced Dining Reservations). The name is the only change.

 

[RMulieri]

Lately, alot of places are fully booked at 180 days out.I couldn't get CRT breakfast and only had 2 time slots to choose from for Le Cellier at 180 days out.BTW, if you are a resort guest you can call at 180 days out and make ressies for up to 10 days of your trip.

 

[mykidsrock76]

Here is a trick for CRT... we did it last year when we went. And was told by the guy at the checkin desk at CRT to do it.

Two days before you want to go, call at 7:00 AM and there should be tables available. They keep tables held just in case they need them for VIPs or disgruntled visitors. If they do not need them, they release them 48 hours in advance. It worked for us and we got a table. Granted it may not be your choice of times... but it is still a table.

We have also been lucky enough to just walk up at park opening and get a table, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[LJD2143]

I just called Disney Dining to make a late attempt at booking CRT for Dec 7 which I didn't think I would get for that day anyway. The CM told me that she could go ahead and make PS's for 10 days out from our day of arrival.
Up front, I wasn't really ready to go ahead and get PS's, but I figured that this would be a great way to beat the rush.
We will be arriving on the 6th of December and leaving the 13th, so I figured that I should go ahead an book as much as I could.

The good news was that I found a place to eat for each day of our stay. The times of our meals aren't ideal for my family, but we will adjust. We have gone to WDW without PS's and will never make that mistale again!

The bad news was that most Restaurants were already booked. Including CRT for the whole week!!

I am not really upset that I didn't get in to CRT - after all this is my 8th year of trying. But I am extremely surprised that CRT isn't available 181-188 days out!!

I had read that the week we are going in December has been historicly one of the best weeks of the year to go to WDW because of crowd levels. Is it normal for Restaurants to be hard to book? I have never had problems getting what we wanted 90 days out. I am just extremely surprised at what I am seeing 180 days out.

I absolutely agree with you.
My 180-day call date was June 3rd and except for one breakfast at Kona, I really had to make concessions with the rest of my dinner ADRs. Granted, I have 8 in my party this year, so I suspect that has alot to do with it. But like you said, I thought early December was supposed to be so slow?
In 2006 and 2007 our trips were during Free Dining and I had NO PROBLEMS getting any ADR I wanted (for our party of 5) at 180 days! That included prime times at LC, O'Hanas, LTT and CM.
Plus, I keep hearing of the lengthy wait times that people have been experiencing when calling Disney Dining! It really makes me wonder "What's going on???"

Now as it turns out, I'm actually thankful for some of the "off" times I had to take. Looks like our 5:30 ADR at Cali Grill (which was 2 hours earlier than I wanted) will get us seated just in time for the 6pm showing of Wishes!
Maybe all it takes is faith, trust and pixie dust!

 

[nhl66pens]

It must be the party of 8 because my 180 days was this past Monday (6/9) and I called and got everything I was looking for (party of 3) including Le Cellier, Coral Reef, Chefs de France and CRT for lunch. I chose lunch instead of breakfast because from all I read, its better to be going to rides early and by lunch time its crowded so it seemed a better use of time. Most of the dinner times I had sought were between 5 and 6 PM and I had to book 4:25 at Le Cellier but other than that it was a smooth process for me.

 

[Crystal_27]

I just called Disney Dining to make a late attempt at booking CRT for Dec 7 which I didn't think I would get for that day anyway. The CM told me that she could go ahead and make PS's for 10 days out from our day of arrival.
Up front, I wasn't really ready to go ahead and get PS's, but I figured that this would be a great way to beat the rush.
We will be arriving on the 6th of December and leaving the 13th, so I figured that I should go ahead an book as much as I could.

The good news was that I found a place to eat for each day of our stay. The times of our meals aren't ideal for my family, but we will adjust. We have gone to WDW without PS's and will never make that mistale again!

The bad news was that most Restaurants were already booked. Including CRT for the whole week!!

I am not really upset that I didn't get in to CRT - after all this is my 8th year of trying. But I am extremely surprised that CRT isn't available 181-188 days out!!

I had read that the week we are going in December has been historicly one of the best weeks of the year to go to WDW because of crowd levels. Is it normal for Restaurants to be hard to book? I have never had problems getting what we wanted 90 days out. I am just extremely surprised at what I am seeing 180 days out.

Are you staying on-site? Just to let you know that one of the "perks" of staying on-site is the ability to make ADRs at 180+10. That policy has been in effect for many years, and it certainly beats having to call Disney Dining for every 180th day of your vacation. As to the general unavailability of restaurants, my best advice is to keep trying. Also, we went last year in early December and found the crowds to be manageable, but they certainly weren't what I would consider "light." Anyway, best of luck!

 

[AuroraBeauty]

What used to be called PS (Priority Seating) is now called ADR (Advanced Dining Reservations). The name is the only change.

It's confusing b/c it's called Priority Seating (PS) at DLR (Disneyland Resort). Weird!