Anxiety about getting ADRs

[otoole]

Travel agents can access the ADR system online and after speaking to a manager today she told me that with TAs now able to use this that Le Cellier and the Castle breakfast is going in about 4 mins each day for all times after 7 am. Not surprised that you got the reservations you wanted using a TA - it seems that unlike before there is a benefit to booking with a TA - doesn't seem right to me.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Don't get too worried, I called this evening to add a couple of ADR's and there were several options available for the times I wanted. Le Cellier and Ohana may be full, but you will find someplace good that fits your schedule.

I prefer to stay with my park plans and choose another restaurant in that area, instead of change my park plans to get a restaurant, but that's just my personal preference. Is that understandable, lol?

There are many openings still during the first week of free dining, keep the faith!

 

[ammeador2]

Great - I guess I better have a back-up plan. I suppose then we will be standing in the line for fantasmic like everyone else. I am not doing Tusker House for breakfast I was going to try for dinner there on Sat. 8/22. This seems to be getting more and more complicated. Now I know why my husband left it all up to me and he and the kids just want to "show up" and have all the fun.

He is either a twin and I married to his brother, or we are married to the same man!

 

[BelleBway]

I'm totally anxious because I'm going during free dining... only I won't even have a dining plan. At least that means I won't be too screwed if I don't get the ADR's I want. I have to keep reminding myself that my nieces won't know from any of the restaurants we don't eat at, and so they will have an awesome time... even if we have to eat pizza for every meal, lol

Still... I'm praying for some pixie dust for doing CRT and Chef Mickey's for niece's bday... And hoping that all the dining decisions I've made won't be totally wasted.

Good luck to everyone else calling this week!!!

 

[PrincessEmily87]

I dont make my ADRs until Friday, but I was wondering how hard it is going to be to get CRT during wishes??? Is that a popular time, or is it usually pretty easy to get . That is the most important one I want

 

[marciemi]

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!

From what I understand on other threads (including posts by dining CM's), they can only search for an hour at a time, on a specific day. I was hoping to say "I want Le Cellier ANY TIME on ANY of these 3 days", but it sounds like it won't work that way. If you ask them to search for the 25th at noon, their computer will search from 11:30 to 12:30 and tell them what's there. It won't tell them that there's one at 12:35. Then you'd need to say, "well, try 1:30" or "try the 26th at 11:30". A good CM may try all these progressively; some may just tell you "nope, not available". For the difficult ones, I hope to try a half hour after opening and before closing (lunch and dinner) as my search times - hoping those are the least popular and that I might beat out a few people at that point. We'll see - I'm stressed about Le Cellier and 'Ohana, apparently for good reason!

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 really, really hope this is true, even if it's not 50 percent. I'm staying onsite (obviously, as is everyone else with free dining!), but have a 6 day trip and I feel like I'm at a huge disadvantage with everyone staying for 10 days. I think some folks won't be motivated to call every day, so if this is the case, I at least have a chance for some of the hard to get ones!

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.

The disconnections really worry me - especially people saying they had them halfway through their booking! We'll have 4 phones going just in case that happens part way through, but I still find it frustrating. Was really hoping for the online by next week!

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!!!!

I'm also calling that morning, but just want Le Cellier any time! We won't be there 8 days, so guess I won't be calling for the same day/time you are!

 

[MinnieTink]

I, too, am suffering from ADR anxiety! I will be making ADRs for my family and a couple for my family PLUS another family of friends who are travelling at the same time. Good luck everyone!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I think the system is really flawed.

1) People get 90+10 days ADR's when staying on site.
2) This is good for you.
3) Sounds great, huh?
4) However, someone else already ate into your days with their 10-days.
5) So, when you call, you are already at a disadvantage for popular meals.
6) During Free Dining, it gets even worse.

NOTE: No good deed goes unrewarded. 90+10 has its own problems. What sounds like a good deal is actually a disadvantage, because other people get a 10-days lead on you for the same coveted ADR's. People just never look at it this way. They assume the +10 will get them anything they want. It was more fair when you had 90-days and had to call each day. At least the fastest dialers got their ressies

 

[Iwant2BAprincess]

I just double checked my res date and , ugh, it is a monday morning-this doesn't bode well for me at all. I am stressed, this is the 4th year on the DDP and it took me until last year to finally snag a ressie for Le Cellier-but it was soooo worth it. I keep cringing everytime I see the tv adds about the free dining thinking oh boy here comes more competition

 

[dancemomnj]

1) People get 90+10 days ADR's when staying on site.
2) This is good for you.
3) Sounds great, huh?
4) However, someone else already ate into your days with their 10-days.
5) So, when you call, you are already at a disadvantage for popular meals.
6) During Free Dining, it gets even worse.

NOTE: No good deed goes unrewarded. 90+10 has its own problems. What sounds like a good deal is actually a disadvantage, because other people get a 10-days lead on you for the same coveted ADR's. People just never look at it this way. They assume the +10 will get them anything they want. It was more fair when you had 90-days and had to call each day. At least the fastest dialers got their ressies

I'm thinking for the hard to get ones it may be better later in my stay then at the start. Anyone think so?

 

[fizz13]

I'm thinking for the hard to get ones it may be better later in my stay then at the start. Anyone think so?

Ooh i see where you are going with this idea, less people have already booked your wanted date! No idea if it would help but not a bad thought at all, definitely worth a shot. well done..and why didnt i think of that first?

 

[caisland]

Ooh i see where you are going with this idea, less people have already booked your wanted date! No idea if it would help but not a bad thought at all, definitely worth a shot. well done..and why didnt i think of that first?

Booked Le Cellier and Mama Melrose (Fantasmic) this afternoon for Aug 26th and 27th.

We are staying 14 nights so I figured I could get something after this first 7 days.

90 days til Disney!!

 

[momfor2kids]

He is either a twin and I married to his brother, or we are married to the same man!

I think we are married to the same man. I get to call tomorrow for my reservations (Thursday) and all my darling husband had to say tonight was "oh I know you are concerned about that...." -Concerned, I think I have an ulcer. I will so be glad when I am done with this. I think making the dining reservations has been the most stressful part of this whole process.

 

[dancemomnj]

Ooh i see where you are going with this idea, less people have already booked your wanted date! No idea if it would help but not a bad thought at all, definitely worth a shot. well done..and why didnt i think of that first?

You said it much bettter then I did! That's what I am thinking.

 

[w-family]

Ooh i see where you are going with this idea, less people have already booked your wanted date! No idea if it would help but not a bad thought at all, definitely worth a shot. well done..and why didnt i think of that first?

I called today, and that is exactly what I did. The ones I wanted the most O'hana & Chef Mickey, I planned for later in the trip and booked those first. I went in order of the ADRs we wanted the most, and skipped all over the dates; but I am happy to say we got everyone we wanted and the times we wanted (w/in 20 minutes!) I am thrilled!

Best of luck to everyone else. Have patience, I was disconnected twice, the first time, while I was making my last ADR and none of them saved. I had to call and re-book everything, but I actually got a better time for two of them! (and I was booking for 13!)

 

[a1tinkfans]

My HINTS for anyone interested...

Have your favorites and then also have a back up.

Go for the most popular ones FIRST.

Choose later or earlier...ie 5-6 was MUCH easier than 6-8, 9+seemed to be more open too....

I stated place, (then said my requests were ALL for dinner) and anything between X time and X time.(I think she just plugged in FIRST time I said and if it did not go thru, checked next time slot...it took longer this year).... we got EVERYTHING we wanted and let me tell you, originally it was an absolute horror, long waits, disconnects twice, lost reservations...you name it but ULTIMATELY we got
Ohana, LeCellier 2X, Trails End, Kona, Whispering, Sci FI, Boatwrights, Captain Jacks, Teppan Edo, LTT, AMAZING and it IS for FREE dine and all great times for our family. I did call back today and changed one and STILL got it, (for a later time)...and we are a GROUP, so I especially feel so so lucky!!!
so,
DON'T STRESS, (I know, I did too!!) CALL AGAIN, if you did NOT get what you want, try and try again, you have NOTHING to lose and people DO cancel.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!

 

[a1tinkfans]

I called today, and that is exactly what I did. The ones I wanted the most O'hana & Chef Mickey, I planned for later in the trip and booked those first. I went in order of the ADRs we wanted the most, and skipped all over the dates; but I am happy to say we got everyone we wanted and the times we wanted (w/in 20 minutes!) I am thrilled!

Best of luck to everyone else. Have patience, I was disconnected twice, the first time, while I was making my last ADR and none of them saved. I had to call and re-book everything, but I actually got a better time for two of them! (and I was booking for 13!)

OH, I am SO GLAD for you....I saw you on another thread!!!
I had a big group too, MORE stress!!!

 

[PJHuntleyCO]

OK, now I am in panic mode - i set the alarm clock for 4:45am so that I can be on the phone 1st thing (we are in Colorado) but frm what I have been reading it looks like the 90 days ahead isn't really true to book ADRs. So, what is the possiblity of getting those restaurants I want. (Le Cellier, Crystal Palace, Chefs De France, Coral Reef, O'Hana- to name a few I think might be in question now) Any suggestions?

 

[Wonderdis]

Today was our 90 day mark for Aug 18-23 stay.

I called right at 7:00 after reading most of your tips. I was on hold for about 15 minutes or so.

I have chosen the parks where we will be on what day (tried to avoid the PM EMH); and based on this, I book my ADR accordingly. I had backup2 and backup 3 for restaurant.