Anxiety about getting ADRs

[a1tinkfans]

I'm worried about the ADRs as well since this is my first trip to WDW since the mid-1980s and the first time to make ADRs.

I just get the impression that there is absolutely NOTHING left, i.e. lots of posts here about "tragedies" and "disappointments" about not getting the right date or time. so I don't know if I should be worried about not even being able to get all the credits in the DDP or what. Also, and at this point I don't know what the whole ADR process is like.

My call-in date is May 28th, but how do I go about starting with ADRs? Can I ask for a specific restaurant for a specific meal, and if it's not available on the date I want, will the CM check a few days around that date to check availability, or are they just checking for the specific dates/times I give them?

Or should I say that I want to have the Princess Breakfast around 8:30 a.m. - and which of the dates in my stay has that availability? I hope that makes sense - do I go with date/time or restaurant? Thanks!

The CM's have to plug in the restaurant and then a TIME, I said... I'd like XYZ restaurant for DINNER and would take ANY time from 5pm to 7pm and then they'd check.....again, my biggest "hint" if you'd call it that is to have your back up AND even more important, go for earlier or later, if you are set on 6pm, you may be more disappointed, but THERE are GREAT choices, so don't stress!!!!!!

 

[MelanieC]

I am not sure how accurate it is that a CM indicates that 1/2 tables are left open for the exact 90 day mark, it is not a good business decision and especially now, more than ever, I do not see that as likely, but one never knows.

Putting that aside though. I had a VERY VERY difficult time yesterday, with ADR's, very long waits, then disconnected not once but twice, loss of our reservations because of a computer glitch, then being told I could not make reservations on a split reservation, then being told people WERE getting the reservations, goodness, frustration is putting it mildly.
BUT
I did not give up and you should not either!

So late in the afternoon, another call was made, another wait, but shorter and guess what, we got amazing restaurants and amazing times for our group, we had anywhere from 4 to 10 for our reservations, so that in itself was an "issue" that turned out to be a NON issue!
I am not sure if many people lost their reservations in the glitches but we got the following restaurants, all for dinner and all from 5:05 to 6:35pm, we are THRILLED and I want to wish every single person out there PIXIE DUST.....I was given BETTER times after I had to change some OUT because we figured we'd try, 2!! ....
so CALL and CALL AGAIN, each day and TRY and do not give up!!
DISNEY MAGIC to all...
oh, here are the picks we got: Ohanas, Kona, LTT, LeCellier 2 times, Whispering, Teppan Edo, Sci FI, Trails. I actually have to call again tomorrow for a final pick, so again, my fingers will be crossed...but feeling VERY good about it.................
So again everyone, DON'T stress...pick your favorites, THEN have a back up restaurant, earlier and later always seem to work best (for us that works as we follow our regular family eating time)
GOOD LUCK and let us know how you did...in the meantime, there is already an AUGUST trade thread, so that is also another option!!!:YUMMY free dine cheer2:

I was thinking about you last night. I am glad you got what you wanted!

Pixie dust to all Try not to stress too much!!

 

[Kayka]

This is the second time we have DDP but the first time I made the reservations myself.

I had a two-part strategy... there is room for improvement, but it worked (for me)

First I had a calendar page and penciled in a tentative schedule, sort of the dream-scheme. Had an identical calendar NOT filled in.

Second I had a list of all the restaurants we wanted in the order of importance. I knew going in what time/date compromises I was willing to make (like for CP we wanted early, before MK opened seating, for Tuskar breakfast any day/time except CP day was acceptable.)

I made the reservations from the List, most important to least important. Got lucky that everything we wanted was available within 30 minutes on either side of the time requested. As the reservations were made I wrote them in on the blank calendar, drew a line threw them on the list. My CM did five at a time. I wrote in the confirmation numbers on the calendar.

The only thing that would have made it easier (for me) was to have times and dates written on the LIST because even though I knew our tentative schedule by heart... I forgot it all while on the phone

 

[dvcdisney]

My call-in date is May 28th, but how do I go about starting with ADRs? Can I ask for a specific restaurant for a specific meal, and if it's not available on the date I want, will the CM check a few days around that date to check availability, or are they just checking for the specific dates/times I give them?

Or should I say that I want to have the Princess Breakfast around 8:30 a.m. - and which of the dates in my stay has that availability? I hope that makes sense - do I go with date/time or restaurant? Thanks!

In the old system, if there were no availability for the restaurant that you want and the time and date that you wanted, they were able to easily look for the next date available (at least that was my experience). With the new system, you have to provide the restaurant, date and time that you wanted and if the time is not available, the system will provide the next closest time available. But if it's not available that day, it will just say not available and the cm has to check another day. I don't think it matters if you ask for a certain time and date for a restaurant or choose a restaurant and ask for any dates available. They will have to search it based on what you want. For instance, if you asked for a breakfast for Akershus at 8:30am for any day between certain dates, they will check each date that you want, one by one. I don't think they have the whole schedule for a week or few days in advance to see what's available. They will search for one time and the system will offer the available time that is closest to your preferred time. Either way, it will take longer than it used to with the old system.

But then again, it seems like the whole system takes longer that it used to. I could usually book 14 days (14 ADRs) worth is less than 20 min. On my last phone call to Dining, it took about 45 minutes to get 10 days (10 dinners). I suppose there is more steps to each reservation, but that seemed excessive. And to be honest, there were not a lot of changes that I had asked. For instance, if I asked for 7pm, it would offer 6:40 pm and I would take it. I didn't really ask for her to check with other times. I was just happy with anything close to what I wanted. So, things should have gone much quicker, but it didn't. The CM I was speaking with did seem to know her way around the system, it just took a long time for the system to search, I suppose.

I hope it will eventually process faster.

 

[dismom2-3]

Dont worry too much. We had to make them yesterday,and, as a pp noted, I also had my call dropped once,then as was about to secure a hard to get ressie w/a cc, the entire system crashed. Initally, I was very upset and flustered, and worried. I called around 4 yesterday, and with minor tweaking, got everything I wanted, and it even worked out better, if you believe it! And it was a few ressies for 20+!!

Good Luck, my advice is to see what you get on the first pass, and tweak it where necessary after you think about and work it out on paper. You may somehow see a silver lining ! Also as a PP said, a trade of dinner/lunch can make all of the difference to getting to eat at a specific restaurant. In our experience, that was a nice deal, we did a park, ate lunch and went to the hotel to rest. We were often still full, and snacked or shared a counter service meal for dinner. We didn't have to "rush' to get ready again for a special meal, and the parks weren't as crowded at dinner time.

let us know your success!

 

[mysticcruiser]

Well today is my 90 day mark, was on the phone at 7am sharp, and could not get the ressies I wanted. Ohana and LeCellier were completely sold out for the week. I am so disappointed......

 

[a1tinkfans]

I was thinking about you last night. I am glad you got what you wanted!

Pixie dust to all Try not to stress too much!!

THANK YOU! Maybe YOU were PART of my MAGICAL LUCK!!!!!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Well today is my 90 day mark, was on the phone at 7am sharp, and could not get the ressies I wanted. Ohana and LeCellier were completely sold out for the week. I am so disappointed......

WHEN are you there and how many, if you're so inclined to say.......

 

[CarolinaBlue]

Either way, it will take longer than it used to with the old system.

But then again, it seems like the whole system takes longer that it used to. I could usually book 14 days (14 ADRs) worth is less than 20 min. On my last phone call to Dining, it took about 45 minutes to get 10 days (10 dinners). I suppose there is more steps to each reservation, but that seemed excessive. And to be honest, there were not a lot of changes that I had asked. For instance, if I asked for 7pm, it would offer 6:40 pm and I would take it. I didn't really ask for her to check with other times. I was just happy with anything close to what I wanted. So, things should have gone much quicker, but it didn't. The CM I was speaking with did seem to know her way around the system, it just took a long time for the system to search, I suppose.

I hope it will eventually process faster.

I only booked 5 ADRs last night and it took 30 minutes! With the old system, 5 ADRs would have only taken about 10-15 minutes at the most. I believe this is the reason behind the long hold times.

 

[1girl1boy]

Well today is my 90 day mark, was on the phone at 7am sharp, and could not get the ressies I wanted. Ohana and LeCellier were completely sold out for the week. I am so disappointed......

Keep calling..... I called yesterday no Ohana's dinner called back today and got 7.10 on 8/18.

I have called 4 times little wait if any and all ressies wanted - most times within 30 mins of what I wanted.

Sending pixie dust your way

 

[mysticcruiser]

WHEN are you there and how many, if you're so inclined to say.......

We arrive on 8/17 for 4 nights, myself and my DD....Ohana was her only request...

 

[fizz13]

Oh I am feeling your anxiety, I am another Sunday caller, could some of you change your dates please? we all seem to be calling on the same day

Seriously though, i am hoping I have two things on my side. Firstly we are a party of 2 so fingers crossed it will be a bit easier. Secondly i actually want some late dinners around 9 as we are doing a few long days. But I am still going for some big ones: want Ohana, want a fantasmic dinner package for 8/25, want 8am tusker house, 8am crystal palace, want Boma, California Grill, Tokyo Dining, Rose and Crown and Raglan Road. But i have some days that can swapped and I have a couple of back ups in place. and if i dont get my fantasmic dinner package then i shall go to 50s prime time, have yummy pot roast and take snackage to fantasmic for my long wait

main thing is I will be at WDW, i am going on my birthday, i am gonna be with the one I love and that is enough magic for me. and yes, i will be chanting that to myself when I am waiting on a phone for 1 hour plus on sunday getting worked up and biting my nails

Good luck and pixiedust to all of you calling soon

 

[LUVDZNY2008]

My ADR date is Tuesday (5/26) and I am a wreck. I am an OCD Disney Planner, and this is driving me crazy. I liked it better when I made my reservations 180 in advance. I want LeCellier for dinner so I'm trying to book it for my last night(8 days into the trip)...I can't take the stress!!!!

 

[Disneyhay]

My stay isn't till middle of Sept. and I am already a mess w/ the adr's which I can't even book till 6/21 because of what I read on here. It almost makes me sorry I am going during FD

 

[Samandmom]

We are 8/17 to 8/24 - I couldn't get fantasmic dinners for any of the three days T/TH/Sun nor could I get any other dinner on Thurs (Brown Derby was available but didn't want to use 2TS for it)

We are there the same exact dates and I tried for the Tuesday and Thursday and nothing available. I did not try for Sunday because we are leaving the next day and I don't want to make it a late night. I did make a regular reservation at Mama Melroses on Tue for 7:40 but I don't know what I was thinking we will never make Fantasmic. I will have to call back and keep trying.

 

[otoole]

I think the system is really flawed. I was told by a CM that they don't hold any for the 90 day mark and Le Cellier was gone. The problem with being fleixble is that you need to have park hopper to be flexible or not take advantage of EMH which are significant especially in the evening. Also many people advise just keep calling - but there is no 1-800 so calling from Canada and waiting on hold for an hour at a time can be quite costly. I can't believe that Disney got rid of their 1-800 number!
I believe that the system is flawed when a person calls at 7 am at the 90 day mark and still can't get many of their reservations - being fleixble in times (5-7 pm) and able to switch some dates! This hasn't happened to me in other years with free dining when they had the 180 day mark!
I know it is in Disney spirit to say everything will work out and don't be stressed - but as I am on the phone with Disney now for the 4th time today - trying to reach a manager that never returned my call after saying she would and now being told they can't reach the manager - be stressed or atleast prepared that your planning may all be for not. It is already kind of ridiculous that we have to plan 3 months in advance but for it all to be for not is very frustrating!

 

[w-family]

Send some pixie dust my way, I will be on the phone at 7:00 tomorrow for 13! I wanted a Norway Princess dinner, O'Hana & Chef Mickey, since my SIL & her 5 kids have never been to Disney before. I am charting out all my back-ups now!

Please note that while I obessing about ADRs my SIL response is I don't care where we eat, we will go whereever you say, but really we might not get to go to the Princess dinner, we really wanted to do that . . . Breathe in & out !!!

 

[PaDisney02]

I think the system is really flawed. I was told by a CM that they don't hold any for the 90 day mark and Le Cellier was gone. The problem with being fleixble is that you need to have park hopper to be flexible or not take advantage of EMH which are significant especially in the evening. Also many people advise just keep calling - but there is no 1-800 so calling from Canada and waiting on hold for an hour at a time can be quite costly. I can't believe that Disney got rid of their 1-800 number!
I believe that the system is flawed when a person calls at 7 am at the 90 day mark and still can't get many of their reservations - being fleixble in times (5-7 pm) and able to switch some dates! This hasn't happened to me in other years with free dining when they had the 180 day mark!
I know it is in Disney spirit to say everything will work out and don't be stressed - but as I am on the phone with Disney now for the 4th time today - trying to reach a manager that never returned my call after saying she would and now being told they can't reach the manager - be stressed or atleast prepared that your planning may all be for not. It is already kind of ridiculous that we have to plan 3 months in advance but for it all to be for not is very frustrating!

This is exaclty how I ran into trouble today...we dont have the park hopper so I had to rearrange my park days around meals! Which is totally crazy to me.

 

[PaDisney02]

I just got off the phone with a cm who said that they have saved 1/2 of the tables at all restaurants to be released on the 90th day. I know it means more than one call but at least there is a chance to get what you want. Coral Reef wasn't available for the 18th but she told me to call back tomorrow because the other half of the tables will be released.

Is this statement true?

 

[MRS_RMM]

I wouldn't stress out too much about ADRs. My TA was able to get me all the ADRs I wanted at the times I wanted. We're on the DxDP 8/16 - 8/23.

I can't wait!!