Am I Wasting My Time?

[MagicKingdomDarling]

Fiance and I are going 2/24 for a 21 day wedding/Disneymoon extravaganza. I have planned and planned everything to the max, but there are a couple of our dining reservations that I am now hoping to alter the times of.

• Be Our Guest - we have this for dinner 3/4 at 7:15, and I wanted to move it to an earlier time so we could catch the fireworks that night, maybe around 5-6?
• Ohana - we have it for dinner on 3/12 at 7:00, and I would also like to move this earlier so we could catch the fireworks as well, also moving to maybe in the area of 5?

Obviously if we can't change them it's not the end of the world, we got all the restaurants we wanted so I'm definitely not complaining.
I have been checking the times every day, three times a day, and nothing earlier for either of these is popping up. In your expert opinions, am I just checking for cancellations too early? Or am I wasting my time? If no one thinks I have a chance of finding an earlier time, then I will stop checking.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[SteveH]

Guess it never hurts to try. I kept trying to get Ohana but finally gave up and enjoyed our reservation at Whispering Canyon. I had a few times open up but none were what I wanted. I tried the basic/free option from Touringplans.com but only got one hit and it was the day I really wanted and it didn't last long enough for me to get to it anyway.

 

[unrequited23]

I think you are checking to early, everything started to open up for us about three days before our ADRs that we wanted to swift. I did the majority of my adjusting the night before. There is something slightly addicting about checking for ADRs.

 

[PollyannaMom]

It doesn't hurt to check, but I think you are more likely to find cancellations closer in.

 

[JZCubed]

Fiance and I are going 2/24 for a 21 day wedding/Disneymoon extravaganza. I have planned and planned everything to the max, but there are a couple of our dining reservations that I am now hoping to alter the times of.

• Be Our Guest - we have this for dinner 3/4 at 7:15, and I wanted to move it to an earlier time so we could catch the fireworks that night, maybe around 5-6?
• Ohana - we have it for dinner on 3/12 at 7:00, and I would also like to move this earlier so we could catch the fireworks as well, also moving to maybe in the area of 5?

Obviously if we can't change them it's not the end of the world, we got all the restaurants we wanted so I'm definitely not complaining.
I have been checking the times every day, three times a day, and nothing earlier for either of these is popping up. In your expert opinions, am I just checking for cancellations too early? Or am I wasting my time? If no one thinks I have a chance of finding an earlier time, then I will stop checking.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Congratulations!

No, you're not wasting your time.

I hope that your current reservations include the notation of your celebration.

If you are not successful online, some advice - go to the podium.

If it's not out of your way, go to the podium at Polynesian at your earliest convenience and express your desire to dine earlier than planned. Try the same thing at Be Our Guest.

Polite people showing up early to make requests, particularly ones on their honeymoon, are likely to find Cast Members who are willing to be of assistance.

 

[DisneyAF]

I'd skip both of those places honestly. Overrated.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Just keep checking. Honestly though, I've tried to change 'Ohana ADRs before and have NEVER had any luck finding another open time.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Fiance and I are going 2/24 for a 21 day wedding/Disneymoon extravaganza. I have planned and planned everything to the max, but there are a couple of our dining reservations that I am now hoping to alter the times of.

• Be Our Guest - we have this for dinner 3/4 at 7:15, and I wanted to move it to an earlier time so we could catch the fireworks that night, maybe around 5-6?
• Ohana - we have it for dinner on 3/12 at 7:00, and I would also like to move this earlier so we could catch the fireworks as well, also moving to maybe in the area of 5?

Obviously if we can't change them it's not the end of the world, we got all the restaurants we wanted so I'm definitely not complaining.
I have been checking the times every day, three times a day, and nothing earlier for either of these is popping up. In your expert opinions, am I just checking for cancellations too early? Or am I wasting my time? If no one thinks I have a chance of finding an earlier time, then I will stop checking.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Have you tried the Touring Plans reservation finder? I've had success using that tool to find hard to get reservations. https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/reservation-finder.

On your O'hana night, were you hoping to see the fireworks from MK or the Poly beach? If it's from the beach, you will have plenty of time to eat and see the fireworks from there. Also, if you are there for 21 days, do you plan on seeing the fireworks on other nights?

 

[gharter]

As others have mentioned, keep checking, it doesn't hurt.
Another recommendation for Touring Plans reservation finder. We have had good luck with it finding hard to get reservations.
The other one I found, but have not tried yet is ***********, another one that will notify you if a reservation opens.
Good luck.

 

[Lady Marie]

I don't know if you're checking online or calling, but I have had a lot of success calling for hard to get reservations when online wasn't giving me what I wanted... I don't think they put every opening online. It's worth a shot

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Have you tried mouse dining for reservations? I had really good luck with them on our last trip. Have fun!!

 

[Lesley Wake]

Guess it never hurts to try. I kept trying to get Ohana but finally gave up and enjoyed our reservation at Whispering Canyon. I had a few times open up but none were what I wanted. I tried the basic/free option from Touringplans.com but only got one hit and it was the day I really wanted and it didn't last long enough for me to get to it anyway.

After your got the one hit did you restart the search? If they text you that there is a reservation available, then it automatically stops searching. You have to go back in and restart it to get it to search again! I definitely got a bunch of BOG hits over time, but ended up sticking with my original time.

 

[SteveH]

After your got the one hit did you restart the search? If they text you that there is a reservation available, then it automatically stops searching. You have to go back in and restart it to get it to search again! I definitely got a bunch of BOG hits over time, but ended up sticking with my original time.

I did, only ones that opened up were after 9PM. After third time I gave up and would just check myself.

 

[mrswillson]

Good luck! Both locations are awesome and worth it if you can make it.

If you're going to be eating at BOG around 7:15, provided everything runs smoothly, you shouldn't be eating for more than an hour... I don't see why you need to make any adjustments as you should be able to make your way back out to Main Street for the fireworks.

That being said, Ohana's is VERY hard snag reservations at well in advance (unless they're very late at night, past 9 o clock). I have seen several openings a couple days before due to cancellations, but again, they were very late in the evening. If I were in your shoes, I would leave both reservations alone and attempt to watch the fireworks on your first night, and enjoy Ohana's uninterrupted the second night. I personally don't believe the fireworks are worth potentially missing a dinner for, especially at both of these restaurants. They're a must-do at least once!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Keep trying.

I will say, though, that you can see the fireworks from SOME tables inside 'Ohana and they typically dim the lights and pipe in the music.