Anyone having trouble getting ADR's?

[ginnibobb]

We are booked for POP with bounceback free dining(9/23 - 10/1) and all our ADR's are set. What i was wondering now that free dining has been announced has anyone had any trouble getting their ADR's for any restaurants on the days and times wanted? We called 173 days out and got what we wanted but had to play with dates and times to get them. How did everyone else make out and has anyone not yet made any ADR's for free dining dates?

 

[Huff]

Many of the more popular restaurants are booked solid for dinners during the Free Dining period. Le Cellier and Coral Reef, Luau etc. are very difficult to get an ADR at this point.

 

[Lizboo]

We are booked for POP with bounceback free dining(9/23 - 10/1) and all our ADR's are set. What i was wondering now that free dining has been announced has anyone had any trouble getting their ADR's for any restaurants on the days and times wanted? We called 173 days out and got what we wanted but had to play with dates and times to get them. How did everyone else make out and has anyone not yet made any ADR's for free dining dates?

Umm.what is "bounce back" free dining? I was told by my TA that the free dining ends Sept 20.

 

[beroh2253]

Also got exactly what we wanted, even times and dates, but we did it 180 days out, by being on the bounce back I think we had a few days start. I think if you were booked April 7 or 9th the 180 day mark was already past. 2 years ago 96 we booked free dining mid June and still got good ADR's. The thing is knowing you have to get the ASR's before you get to Disney, many don't get ADR's and you will see walk-ups when you are there being turned away.

 

[mickeynut1]

Umm.what is "bounce back" free dining? I was told by my TA that the free dining ends Sept 20.

Bounceback was for those staying at a WDW resort last year during free dining. You had to be staying at WDW and book your trip for this year on or before your check out day. The dates for the bouceback offer were a little longer than what it is now for free dining. I can't remember when the start date was for bounceback, but the end date (date you had to check in by) was September 27th to be eligible for free dining

 

[Lizboo]

Bounceback was for those staying at a WDW resort last year during free dining. You had to be staying at WDW and book your trip for this year on or before your check out day. The dates for the bouceback offer were a little longer than what it is now for free dining. I can't remember when the start date was for bounceback, but the end date (date you had to check in by) was September 27th to be eligible for free dining

Thanks for you very clear explanation

We WERE there last year during free dining, but I never knew about this until today...go figure.

 

[darlak]

I got everything I asked for and at the times I wanted for trip (9/26-10/5), but I'm not totally happy with them. I was at a loss about one night and so wound up with Le Cellier twice, on 9/29 and on 10/3. I don't want to go there on 9/29, but I still don't know where I do want.

I guess if I just wait a little longer, I'll take whatever is available when I call.

 

[disneymom727]

We had some trouble getting what we wanted so we had to be a little flexible. We mostly got what we wanted and about the time frame we requested as well. We got LeCellier for lunch which is fine. We wanted to go to Chef Mickey's for my daughter's first b-day but it was booked. It was the night we arrived and it will be a Sat. So we chose something else and were able to get it another night during the week. That was a bit of a bummer. We just look at it as an opportunity to try some new places. That's what happened with our resort choice too. We wanted POFQ, which we've stayed at before and they were full. So we will stay at POR. I was bummed at first but now I'm excited. A week at Disney is a week at Disney!! What can be better?!?

 

[mickeynut1]

Thanks for you very clear explanation

We WERE there last year during free dining, but I never knew about this until today...go figure.

You're very welcome There was a brochure in our room last year advertising it. But I have read many posts regarding the bounceback offer and lots of people who were there last year never saw anything in their room nor were they told about it; they found out about it after returning home and reading it on the boards Some said it was advertised on tv in the room on the Disney info channel, but we never saw it there

 

[xdanielleax]

I got Crystal Palace for 6:15pm and Ohana's at 9:20am which is what I basically wanted. But the earliest they had for dinner at Chef Mickey's was 8:45pm That's way too late for us. We have a 2 year old. I also booked at Boma for 7:10pm but I just looked at animal kingdom park hours and didn't realize they closed so early so I think I'll change that to breakfast at tusker house. We are staying 4 nights and I want to get more than 1 TS dinner on the dining plan. But it's looking like we may have 3 breakfasts if I can't get an earlier time for Chef Mickey's.

 

[jessica23]

I got everything except for Ohana The earliest time they had was 8pm, no way the baby would sit through it that late, I will keep trying though

 

[tiggersmom2]

I got Crystal Palace for 6:15pm and Ohana's at 9:20am which is what I basically wanted. But the earliest they had for dinner at Chef Mickey's was 8:45pm That's way too late for us. We have a 2 year old. I also booked at Boma for 7:10pm but I just looked at animal kingdom park hours and didn't realize they closed so early so I think I'll change that to breakfast at tusker house. We are staying 4 nights and I want to get more than 1 TS dinner on the dining plan. But it's looking like we may have 3 breakfasts if I can't get an earlier time for Chef Mickey's.

Take the late reservation. I had an ADR for Chef Mickey's at 9:00 for the trip before last....I showed up at 6:30 and they took me back after about 30 minutes.

 

[iheartdisney]

I've been playing with mine, and still getting what I want! We are going 9/4-9/11, and I still manged to get CRT for lunch. I originally booked dinner, until I read up on what dinner was- a show vs a character meal, so I switched (thank goodness for research! That would have been a shocker to not get any pictures at dinner if we were expecting to!)

 

[srdipert]

I got mostly what I wanted. I tried to get LTT before MNSSHP and could not so we are going to CRT instead which is fine with us. I also could not get the Hoop Dee Doo on the night I wanted so we are going to Narcoosees instead and that is more than okay with me!!

 

[frannn]

I got everything I wanted, just not all at the times I wanted. That's ok, because we only had to adjust a half hour here and there. That's what happens when you book the DXDDP, and you have a kagillion ADR to book...by the time you get to the end, you have to readjust!

 

[septbaby]

I got Crystal Palace for 6:15pm and Ohana's at 9:20am which is what I basically wanted. But the earliest they had for dinner at Chef Mickey's was 8:45pm That's way too late for us. We have a 2 year old. I also booked at Boma for 7:10pm but I just looked at animal kingdom park hours and didn't realize they closed so early so I think I'll change that to breakfast at tusker house. We are staying 4 nights and I want to get more than 1 TS dinner on the dining plan. But it's looking like we may have 3 breakfasts if I can't get an earlier time for Chef Mickey's.

Keep Boma, you won't regret it. Take your time getting on the bus from AK to AKL. Check in right away when you arrive at AKL. They will either tell you they'll seat you soon or ask that you wait until closer to your ADR time. They should give you a pager that will respond around the resort and the pool area. At the back of the pool area there is a very 2yo friendly playground (Mom friendly too as there is NO SAND to clean off a little one) as well as an animal viewing area. Sounds like you were prepared to spend more time at AK then head to dinner; just spend that last hour at AKL instead; you won't reget it. Then there is dinner at Boma, oh my oh my don't pass on that.

 

[kimgof]

The only ADR I had trouble getting was CRT. We are going September 20-28 and the only thing they had all week was putting us into two separate tables. We are a family of 5. I read somewhre else that they can usually put at two tables next to each other. I hope that's true. The whole point to go is for my DD5. Me and my DH want to see her when she is interacting with the princesses. My DS7 only wants the sword and my DS13 is going for the food . It's all about my DD that meal. Anyone else ever make an ADR that had to be for 2 separate tables? I would love to know if every effort is made to put the family next to each other.

 

[GlendaO]

We got everything we wanted -- which completely surprised me; I didn't have to use any of my back-ups!

Hoping for a Bounceback this year too!! DH always says this year is the last for a couple of years, but Bounceback just really keeps him agreeing!!

 

[FogliaFamily]

The only ADR I had trouble getting was CRT. We are going September 20-28 and the only thing they had all week was putting us into two separate tables. We are a family of 5. I read somewhre else that they can usually put at two tables next to each other. I hope that's true. The whole point to go is for my DD5. Me and my DH want to see her when she is interacting with the princesses. My DS7 only wants the sword and my DS13 is going for the food . It's all about my DD that meal. Anyone else ever make an ADR that had to be for 2 separate tables? I would love to know if every effort is made to put the family next to each other.

We didn't book last year until May and had quite a few ressies that were made as "two" tables. Every place we showed up never even mentioned it (neither did we) and we were always seated together. If I were you I wouldn't think twice about it. The CM's really have so many tables slotted for so many, but who really knows what happens day of, with no shows, people eating quicker, etc.

 

[kimgof]

We didn't book last year until May and had quite a few ressies that were made as "two" tables. Every place we showed up never even mentioned it (neither did we) and we were always seated together. If I were you I wouldn't think twice about it. The CM's really have so many tables slotted for so many, but who really knows what happens day

Thanks! That totally makes me feel better.