Anyone having trouble getting ADR's?

[dogodisney]

I booked CRT 180 days out from when I wanted it. I got up early on a Saturday morning and called at 7 a.m. I was ready to be be told nothing was available. But I got a nice surprise instead. At the time I booked it, I did not know about the free dining plan so I paid for it oop.

But that's okay.......

I booked the rest of my ADR's the early morning of the 10th after I booked my free dining plan.
I was able to get everything restaurant I wanted for the days and meals that I wanted....I was flexible with the time. I would tell the CM what restaurant, day and meal I wanted and she'd give me the available times. Since I didn't get a chance to have a set schedule it worked for me.

The first day we get to Disney, it is my DD's 14th birthday and she wanted to go to Narcoosee's and I was able to get it. It works out using the extra meal plan since CRT is already paid for.

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

My only issue was getting anything in the Magic Kingdom on the evening of teh Halloween party... I told the lady on the phone I would do anyplace in the Magic kingdom from 4:00 until close that so I was pretty open but she said there were no openings at all ... she did say she thought that maybe since the Halloween party was not on sale yet they had not opened the places to take reservations yet but I have seen other people with plans those nights so we will just go for a counter service that night (actually we ended up doing at 2:30 at Coral reef then we will go to Magic Kingdom around 4 and maybe not need to eat again if the CS places are swamped too

 

[Momejules]

At first we got all but one of our ADR's for our 8/24 to 9/2 vacation. It was for a party of 10 for Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic Package. We booked our travel and our ADR's on 4/13 and did not get it. Then just this past Saturday we got it. So my advice is to keep trying, you never know when a little pixie dust will come your way!!

 

[HopperFan]

My only issue was getting anything in the Magic Kingdom on the evening of teh Halloween party... I told the lady on the phone I would do anyplace in the Magic kingdom from 4:00 until close that so I was pretty open but she said there were no openings at all ... she did say she thought that maybe since the Halloween party was not on sale yet they had not opened the places to take reservations yet but I have seen other people with plans those nights so we will just go for a counter service that night (actually we ended up doing at 2:30 at Coral reef then we will go to Magic Kingdom around 4 and maybe not need to eat again if the CS places are swamped too

Are you staying on property ? When I went to book Y&Y for the AK EMH they wouldn't go through. CM tried Tusker as well and couldn't believe both were booked. He played around and said he had to input something that noted we were WDW guests (therefore eligible for EMH) and suddenly they both opened up. May be worth the try. I know EMH and party not the same, but maybe there is the same kind of adjustment to make. Since their dates are announced they should have adjusted the ADR schedule.

OH and regarding OP question, we got everything we wanted at all the times we wanted !!

 

[jberry5]

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

We were one of the unlucky ones. We were there during free dining, but not on free dining. We had thought we would be staying with my brother, but then found out too late that he would be moving at that time, and had to book a room, but then it was too late to book free dining.

Anyways, we didn't have a brochure, weren't told about it, nor did we see it on our very limited viewing of the tv. This year when we're there, I'm going to make it a point to ask about it, upon checking in, or at some point during our stay. First I heard about it was on this message board, well after we had returned.

I'm just glad we had made our ADRs well ahead of time, because while I thought the parks weren't very crowded, the sit down restaurants were extremely packed. On numerous occassions, I heard walk-ups being told the first spot they could get would be the following week.

 

[iheartdisney]

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.

It depends on how helpful they want to be! We had 3 parties booked on seperate ADRs, and asked at check in to be seated together. At CP they were very accomadating, but we had to wait about 30-45 minutes for a big enough area to open up (we were 17 all together) But at Prime Time, no suprise they don't go above and beyond. Not only did we not get tables near each other, we were in 3 seperate dining rooms! And this was at 4 pm, so not exactly the dinner rush!

 

[megan722]

I was unable to get Le Cellier at all and we wanted to try it this year. However a few years ago we just showed up at Ohana because we were unable to get a reservation and waited 45 mins. We ended up with the best table in the house and saw the fireworks at MK, so it is possible to just show up at your favorite restaurant. I've heard they'll turn you away, but that hasn't been my experience at all. Good luck!

 

[ElizabethB]

We're 5 months out. Yesterday, I booked Coral Reef for a party of 9 for dinner, and Narcoosee's for a party of 9. Got HDDR 9:30 p.m. show. Earlier shows were not available, nor was Spirit of Aloha. Changed Chef Mickey's time with no problem. Got lunch at CRT.

Couldn't get Le Cellier, but don't really care based on recent reviews. Didn't book Fantasmic dinner package since only times available were around 3:30 p.m. I'm not a Fantasmic fan anyway -- a lot of sound and fury signifying nothing, IMO.

We're happy!

 

[TDC Nala]

My mother has decided she wants Ohana for a May trip. The only times available are 9:30 PM and after.

 

[ICF]

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.

Ain't that that truth....

We just decided to go in Mid September and couldn't get Coral Reef or LE Cellier for any of our 5 days at either lunch or dinner.

We also were only a party of 2, so it wasn't as if we were trying to get a big table or anything!!!

 

[Lehuaann]

I booked an ADR for Le Cellier last year during free dining and the only table I could secure for dinner was a table of 4 (we had 5). The reservationist (acronym? sorry I'm new) told me to take the reservation and cross my fingers. I kept calling to see if an extra table would open and it never did. We crossed our fingers and showed up for our reservation. I let the host know we had 6 in our party and if there was any way they could accomodate the extra person. They did, no problem. We also had been told at another ressie that we would be seated at 2 separate tables however, we were seated together. This was our first time to DW and I found the staff to be especially accommodating and helpful the entire week, they really are trained to handle almost any kind of situation. I love this board...it has been such an incredible help to my planning...Thank you!!

 

[simanifields1981]

I was hoping that the dining plan returned for 2008. I knew that I wanted to go August 24th through 31st so I guessed (based on last year) when it would be in effect. With that said, 180 days prior I called and made all of my ADRs. I was able to get all of the places, times and dates I wanted.

 

[ForeverDance]

Ain't that that truth....

We just decided to go in Mid September and couldn't get Coral Reef or LE Cellier for any of our 5 days at either lunch or dinner.

We also were only a party of 2, so it wasn't as if we were trying to get a big table or anything!!!

I had the same problem. We couldn't get LeCellier for any of the days we were there (lunch or dinner). I just kept calling a couple times a day and finally was able to get lunch on the day we arrive. So just keep trying you never know what might open up.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

We like to have dinner at Chef Mickey's on our first night. We were originally planning to drive down, arriving in WDW by early afternoon so we booked Chef Mickey's for 5:30. However, because we found great airfare, we decided to fly, but our flight will not get in until evening. I canceled the first ADR and the only other thing I could get for dinner for a party of 5 for that entire 6 day period was 8:30 at night, so I took it. I also could not get Le Cellier at all, for lunch or dinner.

 

[5_oclock_here]

I got most of our ADR's but being this is our 1st trip to WDW I wasn't really sure of some of them. I got some good info from TGM's and went with that info. but not sure about some of the times. i.e. early bkfst after late nights.

Here's what we got:
Chef Mickey's bkfst
Whispering Canyon - lunch
Liberty Tree Tavern - dinner

Hoop Dee Do - only could get 9:30pm seating - is this too late for my DD7???

1900 Park Fare - 8:25 am bkfst - too early after 9:30 pm HDD? (going to TL that day)

Artist Point - dinner Anyone have any opinions on this one?? We live in the Pacific NW so not sure if it will be anything "new" for us??

Crystal Palace - bkfst
The Plaza - lunch - opinions anyone??
50's Prime Time - lunch
Hollywood & Vine Fantasmic - wanted Mama Melrose but no luck
Le Cellier - lunch
California Grill - dinner (DD7 birthday) thinking about trying for Coral Reef?
Ohana - dinner

REALLY wanted CRT for DD7 birthday but NOTHING available for bkfst or lunch the entire 8 days we are there!

 

[disneychard]

I made all my ADR but, I would like to have a nice lunch. Do you think I will have a chance to get one we leave 7/23? Can anyone make any suggestions?