ADR's & Prioritization

[Wells Larsen]

Hi folks!
I've seen other threads asking for restaurant prioritization help, and I was hoping maybe I could get some help too.
This is what I "think" my prioritization will be. There will be 2 of us staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge and have access to 60 + 10.
Time will be second week in December 2023 (so, this week, next year).

1. Cinderella's Royal Table (Day 8)
2. Via Napoli (Day 1)
3. Beaches & Cream (Day 1)
4. Boma Flavors (Day 6)
5. Tusker House (Day 2)
6. Sanaa (Day 2)

Also, I've never made ADR's before so I'm a little nervous about logging on seeing no available reservations.
I've planned every other part of the trip so I wouldn't typically need the use of a travel agent, but would it make sense to pay a travel agent to make the ADR's?
Do they get special privileges that the public doesn't get?

I'm guessing (hoping) that the only really difficult to get reservation would be CRT and I've made sure to stick that at the end of the trip.
Those with experience, will it still be a trap shoot wether or not these reservations will show up at 5 AM Central on the day my booking window opens?

Thanks so much for any advice and suggestions. I appreciate it.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

Beaches and Cream on day 1 is your toughest get. It's a smaller restaurant, so not as much availability to go around. I'd put that ahead of CRT.

I'd also bump day 2 Tusker to third slot.

I've planned every other part of the trip so I wouldn't typically need the use of a travel agent, but would it make sense to pay a travel agent to make the ADR's?
Do they get special privileges that the public doesn't get?

You don't pay a travel agent to book for you. If you've used a travel agent to make hotel reservations, they can also book your ADRs. But, you don't pay for either service, Disney pays the agent from your hotel costs. They don't have special booking privileges.

I like to be in control of my dining, especially if something is unavailable and I want to make a change on the fly, so I book my own even if my reservation is with an agent.

 

[Wells Larsen]

Beaches and Cream on day 1 is your toughest get. It's a smaller restaurant, so not as much availability to go around. I'd put that ahead of CRT.

I'd also bump day 2 Tusker to third slot.



You don't pay a travel agent to book for you. If you've used a travel agent to make hotel reservations, they can also book your ADRs. But, you don't pay for either service, Disney pays the agent from your hotel costs. They don't have special booking privileges.

I like to be in control of my dining, especially if something is unavailable and I want to make a change on the fly, so I book my own even if my reservation is with an agent.

Wow! I would have never guessed B&C was more difficult. Thank you for your insights and suggestions!!

Re: Travel Agent - I'm renting DVC points, so I didn't go through a travel agent for that. If I had gone through a travel agent to book a room, they would have covered all of the reservations and such.

I spoke to a couple of travel agents and they said they would do al-a-carte services (dining reservations) for a fee. One of them would provide all info and reservations for a flat $250 and the other one quoted me $50 per reservation.

I didn't know if they had special access or not. My worry is that if they have say 5 clients on any given day, wouldn't it just be better if I made the reservation myself, because I would be guaranteed to be on my computer at 5:45 AM.
Your comments verified that I should indeed do it myself. Thanks!!