A few ADR questions

[catsinawindow]

We're coming up on our ADR booking day on Friday! We've got a wishlist and a general idea of the order we should try to get them in. A few last minute questions so that I'm prepared! Here's the list of what we're trying to book: Savi's, Droids, Oga's Cantina, Topolinos Breakfast, Skipper Canteen, Yak & Yeti, Boathouse, Sebastian's Bistro.

1) Which of these ADRs/experiences will I need to input a credit card number to book? Can I use a Disney Gift Card to book instead?

2) Booking opens at midnight 60 days out from check-in at the resort for experiences (sabers, droids) and 5:45-6AM for restaurants, correct?

3) We are a family of five. If I can't find reservations for 5, might it be reasonable to search for 6 just in case?

4) Anything else I should know?

It's our family's first Disney trip and I'm so excited/nervous!! This feels more high-stakes than it actually is, lol!

 

[Narcoossee11]

1...ALL adr's
2.... 6:00 eastern.. Some have said 5:45.
3..... yes go up to 6 if need be.

 

[CarolynFH]

You’ll need a CC linked to your MDE in order to guarantee all of your ADRs. None of the restaurants you list will be prepaid, but I’m not sure about Savi’s and droids. So I don’t know whether you can prepay with a GC or will have to use a CC.

 

[catsinawindow]

You’ll need a CC linked to your MDE in order to guarantee all of your ADRs. None of the restaurants you list will be prepaid, but I’m not sure about Savi’s and droids. So I don’t know whether you can prepay with a GC or will have to use a CC.

Ok, so the credit card will be to guarantee the reservation (and charge if we no-show), but I can pay with a gift card once we actually eat the meal there?

 

[unrequited23]

but I can pay with a gift card once we actually eat the meal there?

Correct.

If you can't get your Yak & Yeti, you used to be able to call the restaurant directly to make a reservation, or you can join the Landry program and get priority seating. Also, touring plans has a free reservation finder.

 

[isabellea]

Boathouse can be booked on Open Table. I read multiple reports that enchanting extras like Droid depot and Savi can be booked at midnight, not 6am. Your most difficult ADR is Toppolino breakfast, you want to try for that one first.

 

[3gr8boys]

1) Just confirming, Savi's workshop is not prepay...you pay when you check in (with whatever form of payment you prefer).

2) If you don't see Savi's and the Droid workshop reservations open within a few minutes of midnight, be sure to start checking again by 5:30 a.m. I think the "enchanting extras" are not always consistent with their drop times- some will drop at midnight while others will drop at 5:30 or 5:45.

3) We were a party of 5 (April Spring Break trip) and had a few harder-to-get reservations on our list, I didn't even bother searching for 5 because I didn't want to waste time. I started with 6 for each one.

 

[catsinawindow]

1) Just confirming, Savi's workshop is not prepay...you pay when you check in (with whatever form of payment you prefer).

2) If you don't see Savi's and the Droid workshop reservations open within a few minutes of midnight, be sure to start checking again by 5:30 a.m. I think the "enchanting extras" are not always consistent with their drop times- some will drop at midnight while others will drop at 5:30 or 5:45.

3) We were a party of 5 (April Spring Break trip) and had a few harder-to-get reservations on our list, I didn't even bother searching for 5 because I didn't want to waste time. I started with 6 for each one.

Thank you, this is all really helpful! Is it easy to change the reservations from 6 to 5 after they're booked?

 

[3gr8boys]

Thank you, this is all really helpful! Is it easy to change the reservations from 6 to 5 after they're booked?

I left them at 6. (I vaguely remember trying to modify one or two without success). Aside from Oga's (because groups are combined), as a party of five we had to be at six-top tables anyway. The rule follower in me did not feel guilty about having ADRs for +1 because the only reason for doing it is that the Disney algorithm has long standing issues with 5. When you check in for reservations (either online or in person), you will tell them how many people there actually are.

ETA not to mention I would have been thrilled, and prepared with ADRs for 6, if DS#2 decided last minute to join in the trip

 

[Her Dotness]

Thank you, this is all really helpful! Is it easy to change the reservations from 6 to 5 after they're booked?

Don't bother changing any for 6 to 5. There's no need to worry about showing up with one less person. The restaurants don't care and don't charge you for one fewer.

There's no fee charged for a no-show unless nobody at all shows up. Even one person keeping the ADR saves you a no-show fee, useful if people get sick and only one is well enough to want to eat.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thank you, this is all really helpful! Is it easy to change the reservations from 6 to 5 after they're booked?

I’ll be the third to confirm that you don’t need to change. It’s long been known that Disney’s dining reservation system doesn’t like odd numbers. I’ve read of guests dining solo who have had to book a table for 2 or even 4 because when they tried for 1 the system told them there was no availability! So just book for 6 and go on your merry way, and when you check in for the ADR, whether via MDE or in person, just tell them there are only 5 of you. You won’t have any problems.

 

[catsinawindow]

I’ll be the third to confirm that you don’t need to change. It’s long been known that Disney’s dining reservation system doesn’t like odd numbers. I’ve read of guests dining solo who have had to book a table for 2 or even 4 because when they tried for 1 the system told them there was no availability! So just book for 6 and go on your merry way, and when you check in for the ADR, whether via MDE or in person, just tell them there are only 5 of you. You won’t have any problems.

Thanks for confirming again this this is ok to do! I had vaguely heard about switching to an even number when having trouble making ADRs for an odd number party, but didn't realize the issue was this widespread and recognized! I'll definitely be searching for six on my hard-to-get ADRs!

 

[Figmentv]

I just wanted to chime in to say that we made our ADR’s two weeks ago and got everything thing we wanted (including CRT and BOG) as a party of 5.

 

[catsinawindow]

Thank you all for your help, I just booked dining reservations (as well as Savi's and Droids last night at midnight) and got absolutely everything on our wishlist!! The time I got for Topolino's Terrace wasn't preferred (11:55 is a bit late for breakfast), but I'll keep an eye out to see if I'm able to modify in the future to a more preferred time. Otherwise, we're all set for our trip in July, I'm so excited!

Edit: a follow-up question about modifying reservations: I noticed while trying to change the time of an Oga's reservation this morning that it doesn't seem to like you to book a second reservation too close in time to an existing reservation. Logistically, if I set myself up a reservation tracker to see if I can book my preferred time for Topolino's, should I plan to book a new reservation for the preferred time, then cancel the existing reservation or do I modify the existing reservation to the preferred time?

Thanks!

 

[Her Dotness]

A CM once told us never to cancel an ADR unless you don't want to try for another.

Modifying keeps your place within the booking system and gives you an edge over everyone just entering to book. Takes less time for the system to recognize the change and confirm it, we were told. And, seconds definitely count when trying for the super-popular ADRs.

If you cancel and try again, you're dumped back into the pool of those starting out and are fighting for the ADR along with everyone else.

 

[catsinawindow]

A CM once told us never to cancel an ADR unless you don't want to try for another.

Modifying keeps your place within the booking system and gives you an edge over everyone just entering to book. Takes less time for the system to recognize the change and confirm it, we were told. And, seconds definitely count when trying for the super-popular ADRs.

If you cancel and try again, you're dumped back into the pool of those starting out and are fighting for the ADR along with everyone else.

Thanks for the tip, I will definitely modify to try and get the perfect time! Any specific dining alert sites you'd recommend? Are the paid ones any better than the free ones?

 

[Her Dotness]

Any specific dining alert sites you'd recommend? Are the paid ones any better than the free ones?

Can't help you with any of those, I'm afraid. Others like them, but you must be available to book as soon as you get the alert. DH does the rebooking once we've combined efforts initially. He can't use his phone while working, and I'm not about to haul mine around while doing Hilda Housekeeper stuff.

That's why we've never used any of those and honestly haven't felt deprived when we don't get everything we wanted. There's always next time and something left to look forward to getting in future.

Someone else will undoubtedly be able to advise which they find most helpful.

 

[shoegal9]

Thanks for the tip, I will definitely modify to try and get the perfect time! Any specific dining alert sites you'd recommend? Are the paid ones any better than the free ones?

I have only used Touring plans and it has worked well for me many times- but that being said you have to be quick. When you get the text alert that something is available go into the app and book immediately. When you try to book a reservation overlapping another it will ask which one you want to keep if they are close in times. Otherwise, definitely secure the new one before cancelling the other. The in-demand ADRs go so quickly.

Also, Topolino's has been good on the waitlist, so if you arrived early you may be able to be seated early.

 

[Disturbia]

FYI some ADRs open at 5:30 am. Dessert After party and Space220 opened at 5:30 am. You can only get Space220 day 5 onwards (book lounge as the actual 3 course can take 2-3 hours).

If you waitlist Topilinos you don’t get the character interaction (you sit in the lounge area and characters don’t stop by).

I could not modify Space220 to Topilinos (trying to book at noon). By the time I cancelled Space, Topolinos was gone (clicked on it 4 times but MDE kept logging me out). I had booked Space220 at 12:25 pm but 30 days before our dates flight got pushed back and cut park time by 3 hours so we had to be out by 1 pm. Ended up with 17k flights cancelled/delayed that day and we drove 20 hours. Be careful with checkin/check out day ADRs.

Saved Credit card sometimes appears on the app; almost never on the website. If you can save it on apple wallet or safari auto fill on an iPad that would be great as a backup. ADR day was a nightmare with multiple log outs and reservations freezing while booking

Mouse Dining was one that was just a minute too late; Touring plans reservation finder was 15+ mins late. They give you more of a trend (I could never click fast enough even when I did within the min). You can find something when hours get added 2 weeks before a trip (ADRs get released the following Tue-Thur for CRT, BOG - need to search by time 9 pm otherwise the reservations don’t show up under ‘dinner’; someone might give up Story Book Dining for one of these). Story book dining always has a dinner availability the same day if you look earlier in the day.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/updated-park-hours-and-new-adrs.3831833/

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Thank you all for your help, I just booked dining reservations (as well as Savi's and Droids last night at midnight) and got absolutely everything on our wishlist!! The time I got for Topolino's Terrace wasn't preferred (11:55 is a bit late for breakfast), but I'll keep an eye out to see if I'm able to modify in the future to a more preferred time. Otherwise, we're all set for our trip in July, I'm so excited!

Edit: a follow-up question about modifying reservations: I noticed while trying to change the time of an Oga's reservation this morning that it doesn't seem to like you to book a second reservation too close in time to an existing reservation. Logistically, if I set myself up a reservation tracker to see if I can book my preferred time for Topolino's, should I plan to book a new reservation for the preferred time, then cancel the existing reservation or do I modify the existing reservation to the preferred time?

Thanks!

Sorry to bump an old thread, but can you let me know how far into your trip you were trying to book Toppolino's?

Also a family of 5 here, trying to decide how deep into the trip we need to push that ADR to have good choices for times. Thanks!!