ADR Rankings in Terms of Difficulty/Popularity

[TiggerTrigger]

I still have almost 2 months until my 180 day mark, but I'm in planning mode and decided to try and rank my ADRs today in terms of difficulty to book. While things like 'Ohana dinner and Crystal Palace pre-park opening breakfast are at the top of my list and things like Sanaa (even though it's growing in popularity), Kouzzina and The Wave are at the bottom of the booking order...there's a lot in the middle that has me scratching my head. Like 1900PF dinner, 7am Chef Mickeys, Akershus pre-park opening breakfast, and dinner @ Garden Grill ... I keep finding reasons to re-rank my booking order for these...i.e. this one would be more or less popular for this reason.

In light of this...does anyone know if there are any ranking tools or charts out there to help with this dilemma? I know there was something in my 2010 edition of the Unofficial Guide, but it didn't include all restaurants or special booking options and I didn't find it to be all that accurate for what it did include. I mean, I know it's not an exact science or anything, and even if I don't get what I want when first booking I know stalking the site pays off...but it would still be nice if there was some tool or list. Anyone know of anything? (my apologies if this has already been posted and answered, but I didn't come up with anything in my searches)

 

[KittyKat1978]

I tried to get a dinner ressie for 'Ohana for any of my dates (Sept 23-29th) and couldn't get one...for any time. Maybe because of free dining, but I would think 'Ohana is up there for hard to get ressies.

 

[hotcarib]

I think Le Cellier and CRT are probably the 2 most difficult reservations.

I don't know about ranking, but the food blog is helpful
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/the-best-restaurants-series/

 

[River Country]

Levels in order of difficulty

Level I
CRT any meal
Le Cellier Lunch

Level II
Ohana bfast and Dinner
Akershus pre-park open
Tusker House Pre Park open
Crystal Palace Pre Park open
Garden Grill
Coral Reef
Chef Mickey's early bfast

Level III
Everything else

 

[RachaelA]

Levels in order of difficulty

Level I
CRT any meal
Le Cellier Lunch

Level II
Ohana bfast and Dinner
Akershus pre-park open
Tusker House Pre Park open
Crystal Palace Pre Park open
Garden Grill
Coral Reef
Chef Mickey's early bfast

Level III
Everything else

Why Garden Grill? (This is good to know though because I decided today that we are going to eat there this upcoming trip)

 

[Masonmj84]

In my experience the toughest bookings are:

CRT (any meal);
Le Cellier (lunch);
'Ohana (dinner);
and pre-park opening character breakfasts at Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Tusker House, Akershus, and 'Ohana.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

It's funny b/c I've never had troubles getting CRT. Sure, I booked at day 180 at 5am CT for our Dec 2010 trip (although I did nose around online quite a bit after that and it was some time before spots were gone), but we did CRT for dinner back in August and that was also pretty painless and less than a month from our travel dates. It was late July, I booked breakfast at CRT online - no stalking or anything- a couple of days later had a change of heart and wanted dinner- and wouldn't you know it- a couple of dinner slots were open.

Oh well- sounds like everything on our list this time around would be classified as Level II or Everything Else. Thanks for the thoughts!

 

[4butlers]

I think it might depend on what time of year you might be trying to get these ADRs? :

Last year we went in November, we got CRT lunch, 'Ohana breakfast and dinner, Le Cellier lunch, Crystal Palace breakfast (pre park open) and Coral Reef dinner. I didn't even make any of these ADRs at the 180 mark. I don't think I even started making any ADRs for a couple months after.

 

[River Country]

Why Garden Grill? (This is good to know though because I decided today that we are going to eat there this upcoming trip)

Garden Grill is very popular and is only 1 of 2 TS restaurants in Future World and the only Character Dining in Epcot other than Akershus.
The other TS in FW being Coral Reef. Also if it is around the holidays they participate in the CP Dinner package and make it even harder to get an ADR. This has just been my experience though.

 

[donnaf516]

I'm having the hardest time with Ohana Dinner. Thought I had a reservation until Disney called to tell me there was a glitch with they're system and it allowed me to book an ADR that wasn't actually available! Since then I've tried a couple times a day, everyday, to book. I know it's good but can't believe it's that hard to get in!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Garden Grill is very popular and is only 1 of 2 TS restaurants in Future World and the only Character Dining in Epcot other than Akershus.
The other TS in FW being Coral Reef. Also if it is around the holidays they participate in the CP Dinner package and make it even harder to get an ADR. This has just been my experience though.

CP is the same reason why we've found Rose & Crown difficult to book at that time of year. It's already difficult when trying to time it w/Illuminations, but the CP reserved slots makes it practically impossible on some dates.

I also agree about Gaden Grill. It's a Mickey meal, it's your only Chip & Dale meal, and while you've got Coral Reef which appeals to kids...GG is the only Epcot character meal that can work really well for both boys and girls. The dinner food is also better for picky eaters. Over the last two or so years, I've seen more openings at Akershus- much more- than I've ever seen come up at Garden Grill.

I'm having the hardest time with Ohana Dinner. Thought I had a reservation until Disney called to tell me there was a glitch with they're system and it allowed me to book an ADR that wasn't actually available! Since then I've tried a couple times a day, everyday, to book. I know it's good but can't believe it's that hard to get in!

IMO 'Ohana dinner is getting to be like Le Cellier lunch in terms of booking difficulties. We have had very good luck stalking the website for 'Ohana, but still- it would be nice if it weren't so tough. If it makes you feel any better... for our Dec 2010 trip...it didn't hit me to book 'Ohana until mid-Nov. It took a lot of trying, but I got a 5:55p ADR. It wasn't the ideal time, but I was flexible...then a few days before our travel date, I was able to get an 8:55p- which was exactly what I wanted. We had similar luck for our Aug 2011 trip. I think it was March when I first booked and the best I could get was 9:45p, but after MONTHS of trying, I was able to upgrade to an 8:15p adr. So, while I think it's towards the top of the list of difficult ADRS...I think 'Ohana is totally possible if you keep trying. Good luck!!!

 

[KimberlyE]

We always travel during September and I call first thing on the 180th day. We have never been able to get Le Cellier for lunch or dinner. We haven't tried an ADR to O'Hana's for dinner but we have gotten an ADR for breakfast there every trip. Haven't tried for CRT either but have had several friends who lament how difficult that can be.

 

[bedogged]

CG during the fireworks can be difficult as well.

 

[crostorfer]

'Ohana dinner is by far the hardest ADR to book, unless you don't mind eating dinner at 9:30pm.

I have never had a problem booking CRT, but we always go in September. This year, we're hitting the World in August and everything was still pretty much open, with the exception of 'Ohana which was booked out until at least 9:35 pm every night of our trip at 170 days.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We always travel during September and I call first thing on the 180th day. We have never been able to get Le Cellier for lunch or dinner. We haven't tried an ADR to O'Hana's for dinner but we have gotten an ADR for breakfast there every trip. Haven't tried for CRT either but have had several friends who lament how difficult that can be.

Le Cellier is probably the most difficult IMO...even moreso now that dinner has turned signature. I picked it up for dinner for our Aug trip and then dropped it b/c I decided I didn't want to burn 2 credits on it. By some stroke up luck I snagged a lunch ADR around 115 days out. I never saw Le Cellier come up once after that.

CG during the fireworks can be difficult as well.

Definitely! When we went last summer- I started with a 9:30, upgraded to 9:15, then a 7:35, then 7:50, and finally 7:55 after A LOT of stalking! In the end it paid off b/c we were being served dessert as the lights were being dimmed for Wishes.

 

[wdwgirl3]

don't give up hope about ohana's I just finished my ADR and I was able to book 2 nights at ohanas, both @ 5 pm It was impossible to get le cellier for lunch, tried all 14 days we are going. but there were 2 credit dinners available good luck on the ADR's!

oh, I was also able to get per park opening for tusker and CP!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

We always travel during September and I call first thing on the 180th day. We have never been able to get Le Cellier for lunch or dinner. We haven't tried an ADR to O'Hana's for dinner but we have gotten an ADR for breakfast there every trip. Haven't tried for CRT either but have had several friends who lament how difficult that can be.

Are you trying at 180+10 or exactly at the 180 day mark for each ADR? IME, there's more availability on the exact 180 day mark than at 180+10. They seem to hold some back.

 

[KimberlyE]

Are you trying at 180+10 or exactly at the 180 day mark for each ADR? IME, there's more availability on the exact 180 day mark than at 180+10. They seem to hold some back.

We call on the 180 day for the whole trip (is that 180+10?) - not sure about the friends who've lamented about CRT. I did call back Tuesday night (day 179) and was able to book Fanatsmic! and Cape May - still no luck on Le Cellier. The CM told me to keep trying. I bet you are right, they do hold some back! I will keep trying and if we get it great and if not, we'll just add that to our list for the next trip. Just happy to be going and to have gotten 99% of what we wanted this time.

 

[DW2010]

I think I got lucky with 'Ohana dinner. I got a 6:30 but it was the last available time for the day I wanted. Le Cellier is supposedly another difficult one. However, they released lunch times, and I'm able to pull reservation times up and called and got a 12PM time.

 

[KimberlyE]

Yeah! Called tonight and was able to get Le Cellier for lunch on 10/4! Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to keep calling!