ADRs getting harder to come by?

[Masonmj84]

When Disney went to the credit card guarantee for popular restaurants last fall, the consensus seemed to be that such would make getting certain ADRs easier. However, I'm not convinced this is the case (at least at 180 day out).

I'm about to hit my 180 day mark for a mid-December trip and, over the past few months, I've been noodling around a bit with the dining reservation site. In doing so, I've noticed that the most popular restaurants (e.g., 'Ohana, CRT, Le Cellier, etc.) are already pretty solidly booked 180 days out, even for mid-week days in fall non-holiday weeks (while you can often still get a seating, it's often at a less than optimal time).

In contrast, last August I booked a trip for mid-February of this year. At 180 days out, the most popular restauants still had tons of availabity. I was able to get the exact times I wanted at 'Ohana, CRT, and LeCellier, no problem. These were for days that, at least accoring to Touring Plans, were no less crowded as most of the fall dates I've been looking at.

So my question is this:

It it just seasonally harder to get ADRs for fall than for winter or has there been some sort of recent sea change that's making ADRs harder to get generally?

 

[dvcmom72]

If this helps, my 180 day mark was this past Monday...we are staying 11/24-11/30. I was able to get everything I wanted, for the days AND times that I wanted. I had a ton of options for times too! I did not try for Ohana and Le Cellier but I was able to get CRT which is one of the toughest to get. I also got Chef Mickeys and Tusker House (character lunch) which I also was worried about not getting.

P.S. I also got an 8:05 Crystal Palace breakfast. And FWIW, yesterday I played around on the site to see if the places I booked were still available and they all were, except for the CP breakfast.

 

[AlixaLock]

I NEVER have luck with O'Hana ... but I just booked CRT and Crystal Palace (both before park opening breakfasts) about 80 days-ish out for the end of August, which I'm pretty sure is a free dining period. That being said, I can get nothing at Sci-fi or LeCellier for decent times. I "massaged" things for about three days and finally got a slate of ressie's I really am happy with. For our upcoming June trip (not during a free dining period) we booked about 120 days in advance and I got everything I wanted including Le Cell, CRT, and Tusker House (but NO OHANA, again! LOL!) There seem to be so many factors that go into ADR availability that it's almost just luck what you get!

 

[jenfur]

They are definitely harder to come by. I have been making ADRs for the last 11 years and I have never had the problems I am having this year. I always have a big group and only a few times have we already had room reservations in order to make use of 180+10. We still don't have resort reservations and I am convinced that without them, you cannot get any of the more difficult ADRs. I have been up everyday and everything I have searched for is usually booked exactly at 7:00am.

On the bright side, we'll have more park time if all we eat is counter service.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have not found them difficult to get. I usually call to book my ADR's but I always have my room reservation so I can utilize the +10.

 

[Cafeen]

The ultra-popular ADRs are getting more difficult. Things like Le Cellier lunch, Ohana dinner, etc (CRT has slipped down in recent years, due to the inclusion of the princesses at all meals). Many of those that are less popular are not having as many issues and seem easier to book than in the past.

For example, I booked my initial ADRs at ~130 days out (booked the trip around 120) and got everything I wanted, within about 30 minutes for most of them. A couple are a little off, but the majority are very close to the ideal time. This doesn't include the two I mentioned earlier, but an 8:40am CP, a MM F! lunch, several 7pm Signatures, and a 7pm Garden Grill (which was a difficult one in the past) are all in the mix (among others).

 

[davedmaine]

They are easier to get. I think it's a myth that you have to make your reservations right at the 180 mark. I've never had a problem with setting up mine at a couple of months out. Sure, I may have to settle for a 5:35 instead of a 5:05, but that's not a problem. And the credit card reservations have really opened things up -- especially for short ADRs. People have to cancel now (or get hit for the $10 pp), so a lot of last minute reservations pop up. We went on a short notice trip last April and we were able to get every restaurant we wanted while we were there, including Chef Mickey's, lunch at Le Cellier, Ohana, etc

 

[maxiesmom]

I found they were easier to get. We went over spring break, and I did not book any ADRs at 180 days out. I even got lunch at Le Ceiller.

Keep in mind too that the Christmas season is one of the most popular times to be at WDW. It makes sense that ADRs would be harder to come by than they would be in February. The parks will be very busy!

 

[Buckimion]

I'm finding it tougher but I think it's a combination of starting late but not late enough. In the past I've either had mine ready to go in advance of the 180+10 or on a last minute trip, the speculator's had already turned loose of their wish lists and I had picked up everything I wanted anyways. This trip didn't get planed until about the 130 day mark and there is still about 115 to go.

I've put together a complete week of Dx Dining I can live with, but still hoping to grab a couple of elusive first choices or better times.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I've always gotten everything if I book on the date I am allowed (now 180 days but for some time it was 90 days). And now that it is 180 days, I still am able to book the difficult restaurants easily 90 days out. At about 2 months though, it gets tougher.

That's been MY experience.

 

[jenfur]

I have been up at 5:45 am all week for the 180 day mark and cannot get Le Cellier for dinner or the Garden Tea at GF. This is for the week after Thanksgiving which should be a little less crowded. If things are supposed to be easier, I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. The only reservations I could get were Crystal Palace breakfast and Tutto Italia. I never request specific times.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Well, it's a heck of a lot harder than it was during my trips in the 80s and 90s, but beyond that- I think difficulty is a seasonal thing that can be worsened by free dining (or improved by lack there of).

We went last summer during a time when only room discounts were offered and while you still had to stalk a bit if you were trying to get into popular spots and the top times...there were still lots of things with availability shortly before travel...and this was before the credit card guarantee. So, I figured it must have been due to the systems' enhancement to prevent double booking and also the lack of free dining.

When we went in December 2010, things were much harder to come by and booked up quickly...but this was before the double booking change, we went during free dining, and Candlelight Processional was holding up some of the Epcot slots.

So, fast forward to now...we're planning on going in Nov, just before Thanksgiving (ticker is messed up) and I'm nearly 2 weeks past my 180 mark. Obviously no room discounts or free dining yet for this time, but clearly post CC guar requirements and double booking prevention- and the super popular to moderately popular things are going fast. I saw a pp talk about calling, but had I waited just that 1 hour to call- I would have missed out on several of my reservations. Fast forward to what's still available now and it's kind of shocking. Sure, there are still ADRs...even at a number of popular character meals for popular spots, but it's not just 'Ohana, Le Cellier & CRT showing no to limited slots. I mean, I was shocked that even 50s PT barely has any openings left on the night we're going. It was already really picked over at 5am CT...but now there's next to nothing.

The reality- there are ways to get around the double booking constraint (not advocating it- just saying it can be done) and a CC guarantee still means that people can hold onto ADRs until the day before...so not as much of a deterrent for the patron as it is potential cash in Disney's pocket if someone forgets to cancel or fails to show. Plus with the double booking constraint only dealing with 1 hour windows- people can still book several dinners under their profile and info and not be considered double booking. Not advocating or saying don't do it- in fact, I can see reason where all of this can be good or bad things depending on the circumstances...just bringing it up b/c it all impacts availabilty.

So, long story short (yea- already put you through the long story anyway ) I think it still can be very difficult to get dining depending on when you go, what you want and when you want it.

 

[KimberlyE]

We always go in the fall (September or October) and always during free dining. (We stay at a Value and upgrade to Deluxe dining - we treat dining at WDW as part of the experience so we love 3 TS meals a day.) I have actually found it a lot easier to get my ADR's this time than for previous trips and I have a lot of ADR's!

I always call at the 180 day and was able to get everything the first day except Le Cellier, Cape May and LTT (for MNSSHP). Tried once a week for the next two weeks and was able to get those, too.

I think there are probably a lot of different factors that effect ADR openings. I know when I tried for Cape May breakfast at 180 days, it wasn't in the system and I had to all back for 3 straight days to get am ADR there. When I did, I had my choice of times because they were all open.

 

[turkeymama]

We had a much easier time getting ADRs for June than we ever have for Fall. I think maybe free dining and Food and Wine Festival have more to do with difficulty in snagging those Fall ADRs. We usually do have more trouble getting exactly what we want in October as opposed to December trips, but this is the first time we have been since they started requiring credit card numbers to secure ADRs.

 

[BackstoryWorthy]

Our travel agent spoke with Disney reservations reps (she was booking our ADRs for late Nov/early Dec trip) and was told that they are not accepting reservations at the restaurants in Epcot participating with the Candelight Processional package tickets until AFTER the narrator list is announced in July 2012. If you cannot get in to an Epcot restaurant for lunch or dinner, this may be the explanation.
Apparently last year people were locked out of getting the CP dinner package they wanted (based on celebrity narrator) due to already full restaurants . hence this hold.

I am going to try to make a later reservation and see if it allows me - I am thinking that no one in a CP Package is seated for dinner after 6:30pm for the 8pm show.

 

[TDC Nala]

IF you're looking for Epcot restaurants in December, reservations for many of them are currently held from booking while Disney works out the details for the Candlelight Processional meal packages. No indication of when regular reservations for these restaurants will be released. Note that the post above says they will not be released until the Candlelight packages are released. (This comes from Disney reservations and they are not always accurate)

 

[BackstoryWorthy]

Interestingly enough, a later - though still prime - dinner time worked online for the same restaurant/night that we were told was not available (due to CP packages and in fairness to all - see my post earlier). Good luck!

 

[stitch34]

Interestingly enough, a later - though still prime - dinner time worked online for the same restaurant/night that we were told was not available (due to CP packages and in fairness to all - see my post earlier). Good luck!

Where at? still not seeing anything even late for Epcot popping up (for the restaurants that aren't showing at all that is) We've been trying for late from the get-go - like 7:30, 8:00 and nothing for Garden Grill, even Rose & Crown have tried.

We go end of June and have just switched a lot around - TONS of availability.
BUT... every year for our Thanksgiving week/Week after thanksgiving trip - it is impossible! Yeah, I get what I want at 180 days (except what I need in Epcot) - but oh, come let's say by August that's it - character breakfasts are usually all gone and no switching around for anything. I always try to really get it right the first time out when booking for this time of year, as I know that really won't be able to switch stuff around down the road.

 

[tinkerhon]

Our travel agent spoke with Disney reservations reps (she was booking our ADRs for late Nov/early Dec trip) and was told that they are not accepting reservations at the restaurants in Epcot participating with the Candelight Processional package tickets until AFTER the narrator list is announced in July 2012. If you cannot get in to an Epcot restaurant for lunch or dinner, this may be the explanation.
Apparently last year people were locked out of getting the CP dinner package they wanted (based on celebrity narrator) due to already full restaurants . hence this hold.

I am going to try to make a later reservation and see if it allows me - I am thinking that no one in a CP Package is seated for dinner after 6:30pm for the 8pm show.

I was told the same--- I called and spoke with a rep after trying to get Le Cellier and/or Garden Grill (180 +10) and getting shut out for all days from 11/24- 11/30)

 

[debrapagliasotti]

We have a short Oct trip booked during our kids Fall break. I made our ADRs at 180 and was lucky enough to get a prime dinner time ADR for Ohana on arrival night! I almost fell out of my chair when it was avail!!

We also were able to get Chef Mickey bkfst w/o problem.

About a week later I went ahead and added Ohana bkfst w/o problem too.

I dont know if I just got lucky or what, but I need that same pixie dust when booking our ADRs for our Dec trip in a couple weeks.