Any special tips on getting V&A Chef's Table?

[jenfur]

DH and I did this last year and we would love to do it again. We were orginally planning a trip for end of Sept/Oct and called for 7 days in a row, and seemed to get through really fast, we skipped a lot of prompts and they answered right away, but we never had any luck with the Chef's table. We have switched our reservations to Nov/Dec. and are hoping there is some special DIS pxie dust tip that increases our odds next time we try.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Yes.
2) Hint: Keep calling.

 

[TDC Nala]

Speed dial. Start calling several minutes before 7 and keep speed dialing until it's picked up.

The only way you will get it is to be the first person through to the V&A line at 7 AM. I got through at 7:01 and it was already gone. It might also help to get a good cast member - mine seemed to take a bunch of time looking it up. There is a wait list, so ask to be put on that.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Thats not always the case. I got my chef table meal for last February when I called at 9:45am that morning (Eastern time) and I asked to see if was available on a whim. Too bad I think I got my husband addicted to it now.

 

[deekayjo]

I am new to this and tomorrow is my day to call. What is Chefs table?

 

[jenfur]

Thats not always the case. I got my chef table meal for last February when I called at 9:45am that morning (Eastern time) and I asked to see if was available on a whim. Too bad I think I got my husband addicted to it now.

That is what happened with us. Each time I called, the offered the regular dining room, which I would do if necessary, and DH sulked like a 3 year old at the thought.

How exactly does the waitlist work? I was only asked if I wanted to be put on the waitlist once so is that limited as well?

 

[cranleys]

From what I am able to understand, alot of the Chef's Table spots are reserved for the Platinum Package people. In that package, V&A's is included.

 

[TDC Nala]

From what I am able to understand, alot of the Chef's Table spots are reserved for the Platinum Package people. In that package, V&A's is included.

If that were so I don't think anyone else would ever get the Chef's Table. There is only one seating for that per evening, and it's not offered every night of the week. They don't even allow 90 + 10 booking for it, to give everyone a shot at it.

Chef's Table is a pumped up experience at Victoria & Albert's where you sit at a table off the kitchen. You can watch the chefs at work, they come to the room where you're sitting and talk to you about the dishes you're eating, and you get several more courses as you are permitted to try many things on the menu instead of selecting one course from each category. There's only one seating per night when it's offered and they usually go fast.

 

[bzelf]

If that were so I don't think anyone else would ever get the Chef's Table. There is only one seating for that per evening, and it's not offered every night of the week. They don't even allow 90 + 10 booking for it, to give everyone a shot at it.

Chef's Table is a pumped up experience at Victoria & Albert's where you sit at a table off the kitchen. You can watch the chefs at work, they come to the room where you're sitting and talk to you about the dishes you're eating, and you get several more courses as you are permitted to try many things on the menu instead of selecting one course from each category. There's only one seating per night when it's offered and they usually go fast.

I think that may have changed. When I called last week trying to book the Chef's Table, the CM asked for my confirmation number so she could look for availability. The Chef's Table had been booked for my entire stay. I was placed on the wait list though. I did go ahead and book a table for the main room.

 

[jenfur]

I think that may have changed. When I called last week trying to book the Chef's Table, the CM asked for my confirmation number so she could look for availability. The Chef's Table had been booked for my entire stay. I was placed on the wait list though. I did go ahead and book a table for the main room.

See, this is why I am asking. Last year this was all simple, now I have no idea whats going on. I was offered the wait list once, but have no idea what that means. One CM checked the following day because she said "sometimes" it opens up early, but she said that it hadn't after she checked. Then we called back later and asked for the next day, just to see and were told you have to call 90 days out exactly. I have heard they only do it certain nights of the week but I called for entire 7 days and no one said "oh, the Chef's table is only held ..." I guess its just another case of Disney's multilayered mysteries.

 

[BriarRosie]

I called before my 90 day window to see if the "90 day only" was still valid, and the cast member told me that. If I wasted my time trying for it on my 90 day window because someone from a few days earlier snagged it, I would have been irked. I would have been able to call a few days earlier if 90+10 was in effect.

I'm not terribly upset in the long run, because I was able to do the Chef's Table in 1996 and 2002. At least now I can get the TiW discount, since it's accepted in the main dining room and not the Chef's Table.

 

[oybolshoi]

They may hold some seats back in the dining room for guests using the Platinum Dining Plan (and I don't know if they do or not) but they don't do that for the Chef's Table.

No discounts or dining credits are accepted at the Chef's Table.

As for getting the single reservation for it on a given day that it's actually offered, it's pretty much pure dumb luck. I actually called two days in a row and got through right at 7AM CST and got it for both days. Since one of the evenings I booked was our actual anniversary I canceled the one for the day before, but what are the odds that I would be able to book it two nights in a row?

And why can't I get those odds when I buy my weekly powerball ticket?

 

[Piecey]

So... how much does it cost?

Or do I even want to know...

 

[oybolshoi]

So... how much does it cost?

Or do I even want to know...

When we dined at the Chef's Table it was $165 per person plus an additional $60 per person for wine pairings ... before tax and gratuity. I'm not sure if the price has increased since then or not. It's worth every penny ... a truly unique, and exceptionally tasty experience.

 

[Piecey]

Oh, wow. That isn't as bad as I anticipated.

Might have to give it a try sometime! In a few dozen years...

 

[momtomatthew]

Take the wait list! We've done the Chef's Table twice, and were on the wait list both times. And call back often to let them know you are still interested.

We'll be trying for early December, too. Let's hope we're not after the same days