ADR Sold Out 9/9-18

[auntie]

I have read these boards for years and a lot of people always say to make advance dining reservations. I never do and have always been able to eat pretty much where ever and when ever we want. We usually go during either May or September. This year is our first year with the Disney Dining Plan and we are going 9/9-18. However, this year we have seen everyone "panicking" about not being able to get the ADR's they wanted because places were sold out.

I just thought you were all drinking weird Kool-aid again because we never have a problem dining at WDW. However, all that changed yesterday when I called just for the heck of it to see for myself. You were right! While we were able to get most of what we wanted, we were told that during our ENTIRE stay, there was not a single table available for dinner at either Le Cellier or The Coral Reef. Two of our favorites.

We have been to WDW in September many times and never encountered any problem. Obviously the free DDP is working for Disney getting people in the parks. I just hope they are not too busy. September is our favorite time because of the light crowds. I Just wanted to say I am sorry I doubted the wisdom of the almighty DIS boards and also to say THANK YOU for convincing me to book our ADR now!

I was booked during the free dining for the first week of October last year. I also never made but one or two ADR's and never had a problem in the past. However, I never went during a free dining promo. I did call in June...thinking that I had plenty of time...and I couldn't get ANYTHING...ANYWHERE we wanted to eat. We are not picky about time either. We don't have little ones..so that wasn't an issue either. Wasn't looking for character dinners or breakfasts either. We were called by Disney a couple of times indicating that they were keeping the restaurants open later, that we would be able to get ADR's for some spots at 10:30 pm! Now..I usually eat late..but that's just too late. We actually wound up cancelling the trip..and rescheduling for: THIS SATURDAY! Going to the WL. Have all our ADR's and didn't have a bit of trouble getting one of them. We had a pin code mailer back in March..and were able to get a room only discount, and then added the dining and park passes. So we got a pretty good deal. Not having to pay full rack rate for so called "free dining"...not so free when you stay at a Deluxe resort. A much better value for sure if you stay at a moderate or value. Only honestly, I'm not sure I'd want to deal with the crowds in the restaurants.

 

[mom2mykids]

A friend of mine went last year Mid-September, on a whim and got all the ressies they wanted including CRT. PLus once at WDW they moved things around no problem. She also said the park wasn't that crowded. I think like others have said, its not that the parks are more crowded but that the people who are there are just eating more! LOL

 

[auntie]

I also think that a good many people book ADR's at several different restaurants...at different parks various times. Just to make sure they have a spot to eat, depending on where they might be that particular day. I think during free dining Disney was catching on to this..but it was still an easy thing to do. As much as I hate to admit it..if you travel during the free dining you really do have to make your ADR's early. I wasn't able to secure reservations except for VERY late. I called back almost every day..and as I said..Disney also called me with various openings..but again..they were always after 10:00 pm. Not for us. I had no problem with putting the trip off. Didn't want to take the chance of over crowded restaurants. Of course..I also didn't want to deal with 5 annoyed family members either. I think if it's just the two of you it's easier to go with the flow..where as I knew if we'd be waiting for a long time or eating very late..I'd be the one hearing all the complaining...and it wasn't worth it to me.

 

[THERESA522]

Just got back from Disney and let me tell you something about crowds. Our Magical Express bus driver told us that on a normal day, they pick up about 8,000 people from the airport and on a busy day, about 10,000. He said that during the first day of free dining last year, they picked up 18,000!!!!!

I think that September will no longer be much less crowded during the times that the free dining is offered.

 

[auntie]

We used to visit during the last week of August..because it "used" to be less crowded, as the Florida schools had already started. It was hot..but not as crowded as say July. I also think with the free dining promotions running during that time, it will no longer be a slower time. I guess that's pretty much the idea, to fill the rooms using the promotion. I also don't think "free dining" is so free unless you stay at at value or moderate resort. If you are paying full rack rate for a Deluxe resort...it isn't as a great a deal, and not worth dealing with incovenient dining times or possibility of crowds, as far as I was concerned. We've always been lucky enough to secure either a discount code, or a mailer..and before that the long forgotten "share holders discount"..now that was good deal...nearly 40 percent at certain times of the year. (that last week of August!).

 

[wilde_oscar]

I went in mid September last year, and though the restaurants were packed, the rides were practically walk-on.

Ditto the tuesday after labor day last year, it was as if someone flipped a switch and the crowds were gone, resturants were still full though. Much as someone else mentioned, I started making ADRs at the 180 day mark in anticipation of the free dinning, we got pretty much everything we wanted, have called back to make some slight adjustments, everything is gone. Guess we are sticking to our original plans.

 

[wilde_oscar]

We used to visit during the last week of August..because it "used" to be less crowded, as the Florida schools had already started. It was hot..but not as crowded as say July. I also think with the free dining promotions running during that time, it will no longer be a slower time. I guess that's pretty much the idea, to fill the rooms using the promotion. I also don't think "free dining" is so free unless you stay at at value or moderate resort. If you are paying full rack rate for a Deluxe resort...it isn't as a great a deal, and not worth dealing with incovenient dining times or possibility of crowds, as far as I was concerned. We've always been lucky enough to secure either a discount code, or a mailer..and before that the long forgotten "share holders discount"..now that was good deal...nearly 40 percent at certain times of the year. (that last week of August!).

Amen, I was sorry to see the share holder discount go as well.