Are ADR's already filling up for Free Dining?

[mommapea]

I have a friend who is going in Sept during free dining...keep in mind they haven't booked, yet. I have warned her that they need to book by the 24th in order to get the free dining. I am also wondering, how easy it will be for them to get ADR's at many popular places...such as Ohana's, Chef Mickey, and Storybook Princess Breakfast, for a party of 10!

Last night she asked me if I would help her plan their trip, which I don't mind, but I just want to have an idea what I'm getting into. Thanks!

 

[Snow_White]

I think it would be nearly impossible to get a party of 10 into those restaurants, this late in the game (except for MAYBE Ohana, but I doubt it). You will have to be very flexible with your restaurants and your times at this point. I made all of my ressies at 180 days out and I still had problems getting good times for Le Cellier and Coral Reef.

 

[REL1203]

I agree, you will have NO luck getting ressies at the big restuarants this late in the game, doubtful to even get ADR for parties of 2, I think i read OHana is already completely booked, as is LeCelliar and Coral Reef

 

[marianleah]

I made my ADR's for our September trip back in April and still had trouble getting everything we wanted. Flexibility is going to be the key, eating lunches instead of dinners or eating really late.

 

[PA Princess]

We made our reservations for free dining near the 160 day area and we had no trouble getting the restaurants and times we wanted...including Chef Mickey, Coral Reef, and LeCellier.

Just yesterday we decided to change things a bit and I was able to get reservations at two places for a party of 7 with little difficulty. We added Mama Melrose and we also booked Donald's Breakfast (I was able to book an
8 am first seating and that surprised me).

So they may need to be flexible and may not get all they want at the exact times, but they will be able to reserve meal times.

With a party that size, can they get help from grand gatherings?

 

[tinaluis]

I'm not sure what her dates are but they've recently changed the dates available for free dining. I think it's down to 9/2 to 9/10 now. Someone posted on the Disney Resorts board about the change of dates. Just an FYI!

 

[Pumbaa_]

Getting into the less popular places would be easier than the 'major attractions'.

Before she books, you might want to have her call (or call yourself) and see what is available during her times. But she does only have a few more days to make those ressies.

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

I was just speaking to a co-worker and he told me that himself, wife and 2 small children are going to WDW in Sept 3rd.... And have not made 1 ADR..... I stressed to him that he should get one the phone in the morning and hope that there are some ressies still available!!!! He said, they were gonna just go as they pleased and make them when they get there!!!

Now I know, everyone is not a fanatic like myself... And if I never met "Disboards" I would I'm sure be in the dark as well..... But I am dying for this guy..... I told him how packed the restuarants are gonna be!!!!

I am horrified by this guy! .....

 

[Barbers2005]

A party of ten is pretty big. Maybe they could split it up into more manageable groups, like 6 and 4, or 4,4 and 2. I bet it would be a lot easier to get ressies this way. I agree with others that some of the more popular places are sure to be booked solid by this point. Heck, I called for my ADR's for December a few weeks ago and some places had only one or two ADR times left- at the 180 day mark!

 

[PrincessMinnie28]

Never mind the ADRs, if they haven't even booked their trip yet they might have a problem. I will not be there during free dining but I have been following the boards relating to it and it seems that people were having trouble even booking their rooms. If they are lucky and they get a room they'd better call dining and take any ADRs they can.

 

[Mom of 3]

 

[JimMIA]

With a party of 10, the key to her success will be flexibility -- in restaurants, meals using TSs (possibly breakfasts instead of dinners), splitting the group into smaller parties, and dining times.

You calling ahead to test the availability is a waste of your time, and can only result in her getting bad info. The only availability that counts is what's available when she is on the phone with Disney Dining making ADRs.

I'd encourage her to get busy right away. It's going to be tough, but not impossible, so the thing to do is to get on the phone.

Hopefully, she doesn't have to conduct a marketing study with all 10 of the guests to get consensus on where they want to eat. If so, she's in for a nightmare!

 

[ruzer28]

Never mind the ADRs, if they haven't even booked their trip yet they might have a problem. I will not be there during free dining but I have been following the boards relating to it and it seems that people were having trouble even booking their rooms. If they are lucky and they get a room they'd better call dining and take any ADRs they can.

I'm with you, there's so little availability even for hotel packages at this point, the dining is the least of her worries. If they can still book something in the way of a room, they're going to have to go with lunches at unpopular places, especially with a crowd that size. Sometimes I cringe hearing about people's plans, knowing what they're in for!

 

[JimMIA]

Sometimes I cringe hearing about people's plans, knowing what they're in for!

 

[Brygida]

I have a friend who is going in Sept during free dining...keep in mind they haven't booked, yet. I have warned her that they need to book by the 24th in order to get the free dining. I am also wondering, how easy it will be for them to get ADR's at many popular places...such as Ohana's, Chef Mickey, and Storybook Princess Breakfast, for a party of 10!

Last night she asked me if I would help her plan their trip, which I don't mind, but I just want to have an idea what I'm getting into. Thanks!

I made my ADR's last night. I was NOT able to get Le Cellier for any day, any time during my stay. Everything else I got, except I had to split up my party of 5 into 2 tables at Boma.

A party of 10 is impossible. They WILL have to break up. They WILL have to stick to opening times or last meal of the day times.

 

[disprincessatheart]

There are definitely still rooms avaialable, just depends on when they're trying to go. I booked 3 rooms yesterday - 2 at WL and 1 at CBR for the week of Sept 9th. I will be calling today to see what's left in ADR's, knowing that we've missed the boat on a lot of things, but we've been to WDW many times and are happy to try new places that we might not have done before, and we'll be happy with what we get since it is free.

BTW - that limit of free dining to sept 2 - 10 is not accurate. They've changed the wording on the WDW website to say that the $455 ppn rate (value resort) for 5 nights is only available certain weeks, but there are rooms available at mods and deluxes weeks that the values are sold out. So, the dates for free dining are the same, just getting more limited on the availability of different resorts.

 

[canwegosoon]

Sorry this is one case where I would not help them and recommend them to a travel agent like DU...your name will be mud when you can't get her anything she wants...nothing like watiting until the last day.

 

[Lewisc]

They should look at less popular restaurant and not look to "max out the plan". Dinner at Chef Mickey's might not be possible but breakfast at Cape May might be.

This year, like last year, Disney is adding a lunch seating to some of the resort restaurants. Many posters want to "max out the plan" and not "waste" credits on lunch. Lunch ADRs might be available.

Large parties, even without free dining, can be a problem. Try to get a lunch ADR when the restaurant opens and get there a few minutes early.

edited to agree with the previous poster. I'd be releuctant to give too much help, and wouldn't book the ADRs for them. They'll come back and ask why you didn't get them ADRs at Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's etc.

 

[mommapea]

Sorry this is one case where I would not help them and recommend them to a travel agent like DU...your name will be mud when you can't get her anything she wants...nothing like watiting until the last day.

Well, that is one of the reasons I'm posting here, first, before I sit down with her. I'm the person who started planning our trip over a year in advance, and booked most ADR's at day 180...had no problems. I shook my head when she called to ask some "Disney questions" and told me that they hadn't reserved the room, yet. She was trying to decide whether to get the airfare first, or book the package first. I told her to call and see what dates are available.

I don't mind helping her...as I know her better than a travel agency, although I might still recommend the TA idea. I am just being very upfront with her...Might or might not be able to get free dining...might or might not get several ADR's where you want and/or party might be split. I guess this is better than her original idea of wanting to get down there and wing it! I told her that based on our recent trip, I wouldn't recommend doing this...but it was up to her. I also explained that during free dining, many people have the dining plan, and all of them are trying to get TS's...figure it out. So, if it were me...I'd have been someone who would have already had the room booked before they announced free dining...but hey, that's just me. DH and I are tossing around the idea of taking our girls to MNSSHP next year, and I'm already looking at resorts/plans. Oh, well...

Thanks for everyone's input. This completely answers my questions...and is exactly what I thought. Thanks!!!!

 

[Nikki_Mouse]

I have a party of 10 traveling Sept 3-9. I originally made ADRs for a party of 9 at the 180 day. Ohana, coral Reef, Chef Mickey's and Hoop-Dee-Doo. Called today to made them a party of 10. I was NOT successful at Coral Reef- and we already had 2 tables (a party of 4 and a party of 5). So, good luck with no ADRs.
BTW- I was in the world last week for DD6 birthday- we had ADR for Princess dinner in Norway (delicious!!!) and saw 5 people walk up and get turned away within 15 minutes while we waited. Do they just not know to plan ahead?