ADR strategies???

[amystevekai&bump]

Hi, just wondering what you all do about booking your adrs.

I am onsite so can book 180 + 10, so do I just book them in date order or do I try and get the 'harder to get' ones first, and then if they are available go back and look at my earlier, easier ones afterwards??

Do you write down alternative options and have them ready or is that too confusing??

Last time was our first ever experience of adr bookings and as we wanted quite 'easy' ones, we were lucky enough to get all of our first choices. But this year I want Le Cellier for candlelight and O'hanas for dinner, which I think will be our most difficult to get.

Oh and one more question - we all are going (hoping!) to eat at Le Cellier, but I wanted just one Candlelight package for me (Steve isn't bothered about seeing it and I don't think the boys will sit through it without moaning!!) - can I book a table for 4 and have 1 candlelight package, or is this not allowed??

Many thanks for any advice

 

[2Tiggies]

Do Le Cellier and OHana first. I have mine set out for MOnday in order of priority, with a second and third choice for OHana as that is usually a more difficult one to get and a second option for Chef Mickey as well because I am quite set on the time I want to go. After that, I will revert to date order. Let us know how you get on

 

[RDP]

Are any of the ADR's hard to get at 180+10 unless your going for peak holiday times? Has anyone had trouble? or is it more of a problem for larger groups.

 

[scojos]

we booked LEC for 180 +10 ie the 190th day, we were flexible on time but it had to be that day, no problems even got a decent time
amy, as the boys are young still, go for earlish times (5-30-6-30) then you ll have no problems doing the places you want.
ohanas is not a difficult ressie to get, the bfast is harder
the ones you need to watch for are Lec and CRT, CP CM and pre rope drop are worth getting fast.
FYI we forgot to book our akerhaus bfast at 180+10 (busy days at work) and had no problem getting it a week late...even though this is a "hard" adr aas we were pre RD.
i think alot of people are not going this year due to finances, adrs were alot harder 2 years ago - but there is not FD for US when we are travelling
HTH
Tx

 

[Ware Bears]

can I book a table for 4 and have 1 candlelight package, or is this not allowed??

I don't know ~ have you asked on the Restaurant board?

Le Cellier is notoriously difficult to get for the Candlelight especially so close to Christmas so have a back-up plan ~ I tried in vain last year but hopefully you will get it with your +10, also I think ADRs are easier to get now they are back to 180. We ended up booking our Candlelight at San Angel which turned out to be a fantastic experience and went to Le Cellier for lunch on Boxing Day.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Do Le Cellier and OHana first. I have mine set out for MOnday in order of priority, with a second and third choice for OHana as that is usually a more difficult one to get and a second option for Chef Mickey as well because I am quite set on the time I want to go. After that, I will revert to date order. Let us know how you get on

Good luck on Monday - let me know how you get on - I am not able to book mine until June!!! - I just had a moments panic this morning thinking what I would do if I couldn't get some of my adrs - I have had my 'final' itinerary planned for nearly two years now, and never once questioned what I would do if it didn't work!!! - perhaps I need to look at being a bit flexible!!

we booked LEC for 180 +10 ie the 190th day, we were flexible on time but it had to be that day, no problems even got a decent time
amy, as the boys are young still, go for earlish times (5-30-6-30) then you ll have no problems doing the places you want.
ohanas is not a difficult ressie to get, the bfast is harder
the ones you need to watch for are Lec and CRT, CP CM and pre rope drop are worth getting fast.
FYI we forgot to book our akerhaus bfast at 180+10 (busy days at work) and had no problem getting it a week late...even though this is a "hard" adr aas we were pre RD.
i think alot of people are not going this year due to finances, adrs were alot harder 2 years ago - but there is not FD for US when we are travelling
HTH
Tx

hiya!! I will go with early times, hopefully around 5pm so I am hoping I will be quite lucky. I also want Crystal Palace at rope drop, so I guess I should try that one first too - thanks for the heads up

I'm not sure whether the 180+10 is going to help me much, as I want most of my adrs in the first 7 days while I have the DDP (I planned to get all my character dining and expensive restaurants done then and then go offsite to my old favourites like the outback and red lobster once we are no longer tied to the DDP).

I am just hoping that this year will be better - especially as there isn't any FD for US guests - I hope they don't change that!!

I don't know ~ have you asked on the Restaurant board?

Le Cellier is notoriously difficult to get for the Candlelight especially so close to Christmas so have a back-up plan ~ I tried in vain last year but hopefully you will get it with your +10, also I think ADRs are easier to get now they are back to 180. We ended up booking our Candlelight at San Angel which turned out to be a fantastic experience and went to Le Cellier for lunch on Boxing Day.

I haven't asked on the dining board as yet - last time I mentioned CP packages over there, I sent everyone into a flat panic as they thought the dates had been announced & they had missed them -I then had to explain that I am just a very advanced planner!!


Thanks everyone for your help and good luck to all of us who are after those 'precious' ADRs!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

ohanas is not a difficult ressie to get, the bfast is harder

Oh, I heard it was the other way around. I shall find out soon enough. I think the challenge for those of us booking now is that many people in the US have made ressies in anticipation of free dining so the system will have a certain number of reservations for people possibly not even going. Oh and pin code free dining is out for that time. have received several. I want a very late breakfast so I am hoping it will be easier.

Good luck on Monday - let me know how you get on - I am not able to book mine until June!!!

Thanks everyone for your help and good luck to all of us who are after those 'precious' ADRs!!!

Oh good. I had a panic on your behalf thinking you were in the middle of booking - couldn't reply fast enough! I didn't even look at your ticker.

Don't worry. I am pretty sure you can count on seeing me here on Monday

I am sitting rearranging things again as WCC is one of our must try's but I don't really see much on the menu that me or DD will like. We don't like eggs, neither of us eat bacon or pork, DD is gluten free ...... Oh and did I mention that I am very picky about my carbs - not really a fan of starchy stuff And the prices have gone up quite a lot in the last year so I would do just as well doing a character breakfast. I wonder how they would feel if we ordered orange juice and a fruit plate each as a meal ...... I can book it and cancel, but if I do that I need to scrap one of the others which will be CP lunch that day - and that is DD's number one choice so not really an option. Next challenge: She saw a youtube clip of WCC somewhere last week and it has now moved to second place on her list of priorites. I think next year I should plan last minute - no matter how early you start (like a year ago in my case) there is still the same degree of indecision the day before

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

I just booked in date order as I have planned out every day so just went down the list. I got everything I wanted including Le Cellier, CRT, Chef Mickeys, Ohana and all the signature restaurants. In total I think I have over 40 ADR's as we are on the deluxe plan. Most of my reservations I got within 30 minutes of the time I actually wanted and I got them all on the day I wanted. I took advantage of the 180 + 10 but I called up 5 days after people had already been booking and still got what I wanted.

I have since checked out of curiosity and Le Cellier is the only one I can't seem to get any availabilty for. I managed to get a Le Cellier booking for 7.10pm dinner but I think I was only this lucky because of the 180 + 10.

Good luck, hope you get all the reservations you want.

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks. Well done on your 7.10 Le Cellier! That's a coveted one

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

Hi! You will be fine - the ADR process seems a lot calmer this year. We are now 120 days out and the only ones of mine which are now unavaillable are Le Cellier, Ohana, Coral Reef, and my 2nd Chef Mickey (21st Aug). All my others are still available within about 30 mins including CRT. So I would book any of the above first but you would probably be fine in date order. I did my top five first and then worked my way through the rest having no problems at all. Have fun - I miss doing mine and was too stressed to enjoy it at the time!

 

[2Tiggies]

Hi! You will be fine - the ADR process seems a lot calmer this year. We are now 120 days out and the only ones of mine which are now unavaillable are Le Cellier, Ohana, Coral Reef, and my 2nd Chef Mickey (21st Aug). All my others are still available within about 30 mins including CRT. So I would book any of the above first but you would probably be fine in date order. I did my top five first and then worked my way through the rest having no problems at all. Have fun - I miss doing mine and was too stressed to enjoy it at the time!

Thanks for the encouragement. I am not actually that worried about the actual ADR process. I have had to change my plans so many times in the last few weeks (I had a thread yesterday about the annoying ADR hiccups which wa the latest nuisance). Then today I decided to scrap Chef Mickey in favour of Cape May. It transpired through DD's idle chatter about Disney in general (she talks about it almost on a daily basis so nothing out of the ordinary) that she likes Chef Mickey for one reason: Minnie is there. Now MInnie is also at Cape May and we have never been so I thought it would be a nice change. It also has good reviews and less up and down than CM which although it is fine and I have never had any hassles, is more expensive than the others and is far more rushed than the other places. Last year the bill was on the table before we'd gone up for our hot food! However this meant juggling itinerary a bit because CM is easy to get to for an early ADR whereas Beach Club from POFQ is a bit more challenging so needs to be later .....

Also Whispering Canyon Cafe which we would both love to try - well having had a look at all the menus, it's really not our kind of food aside from fruit plates. I'm not making an ADR and trekking over there for fruit and I think they would appreciate it if I didn't either.

Trouble is I can't actually bounce it off DD for real as it is a surprise trip so discussion is limited to her general Disney conversation. Gee, that was a bit of a vent!! Thanks for listening (reading). I have to fine tune tonight so I can get a good night's sleep tomorrow.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

Thanks for the encouragement. I am not actually that worried about the actual ADR process. I have had to change my plans so many times in the last few weeks (I had a thread yesterday about the annoying ADR hiccups which wa the latest nuisance). Then today I decided to scrap Chef Mickey in favour of Cape May. It transpired through DD's idle chatter about Disney in general (she talks about it almost on a daily basis so nothing out of the ordinary) that she likes Chef Mickey for one reason: Minnie is there. Now MInnie is also at Cape May and we have never been so I thought it would be a nice change. It also has good reviews and less up and down than CM which although it is fine and I have never had any hassles, is more expensive than the others and is far more rushed than the other places. Last year the bill was on the table before we'd gone up for our hot food! However this meant juggling itinerary a bit because CM is easy to get to for an early ADR whereas Beach Club from POFQ is a bit more challenging so needs to be later .....

Also Whispering Canyon Cafe which we would both love to try - well having had a look at all the menus, it's really not our kind of food aside from fruit plates. I'm not making an ADR and trekking over there for fruit and I think they would appreciate it if I didn't either.

Trouble is I can't actually bounce it off DD for real as it is a surprise trip so discussion is limited to her general Disney conversation. Gee, that was a bit of a vent!! Thanks for listening (reading). I have to fine tune tonight so I can get a good night's sleep tomorrow.

Hi again!! Just wanted to say that I think Cape May Cafe is an excellent choice!! We had breakfast there last time and dinner at Chef Mickey's and there was no comparison (CMC was fab and CM was bleh!!!!) - We are staying at BLT this year, so I feel I owe it to myself to at least try the Chef Mickey breakfast before I write it off altogether, but I would definitely do CMC again, it was lovely and very relaxing!!

Oh and for what its worth, I also think it is fine for you to book 3 person adrs in your situation - whether DD's dad arrives or not, I'm sure you are going to have a fantastic time - what a lovely surprise!!

 

[Disneymad]

Booking ADR's at the moment is much easier as there is no Free Dining offer available in the US yet - it makes a HUGE difference to how difficult things are to book.