August ADRs

[annmarie_mcdonald]

I called for ADRs for August 5-15th on Friday. We will be staying at Pop for 10 nights on the dining plan.

They let me book all of our meals even though some were a little more than 180 days out since I called on Feb. 9th

However, I had a difficult time getting a ADR for Le Cellier on the day I wanted. I was offered either 4:20p.m. or 8:20p.m. All other times were unavailable! So I scheduled that ADR for a week later in our vacation and was able to get a time that worked better. Is this restaurant really filling up this fast?!?

The other one that was sort of a problem was Wolfgang Puck Cafe in Downtown Disney. The cast member assisting me said it was often hard to get a 6-8:30p.m. ADR due to people eating there prior to Cirque de Soliel.

I did book the following ADRs:
Spoodles - dinner
Ohana - dinner
Kona Cafe - breakfast (OOP)
Hoop Dee Doo - dinner
50's Primetime - dinner
Coral Reef - dinner
Le Cellier - dinner
Concourse Steakhouse - dinner
Wolfgang Puck Cafe - dinner
Planet Hollywood - dinner

Can't wait until August gets here!!

 

[Faerie]

LeCellier is getting to be one of the tougher ADRs to get.

 

[firedancer1974]

I was suprised in October when I called 180 days out for our April reservations (Le Cellier being one of them). I thought I'd have to call back each day that week to make the next reservation on my list but she was able to do them ALL that day- even the Princess breakfast at Asherkus on Easter Sunday! I was so happy and it was so easy. I thought I was the only person who obsessively planned out every detail. I'm glad now that I did!

 

[toocooltobeMom]

Hey, Annmarie/SD
we'll be at the Pop 8/5 -15 w/DDP too. We still did't ADR's yet. I better get my rear-end going {we want to eat at Le Cellier for one night too}

 

[JimMIA]

I called for ADRs for August 5-15th on Friday. We will be staying at Pop for 10 nights on the dining plan.

They let me book all of our meals even though some were a little more than 180 days out since I called on Feb. 9th

If you're staying onsite, you can book "180+10."

However, I had a difficult time getting a ADR for Le Cellier on the day I wanted. I was offered either 4:20p.m. or 8:20p.m. All other times were unavailable! So I scheduled that ADR for a week later in our vacation and was able to get a time that worked better. Is this restaurant really filling up this fast?!?

I feel your pain...but, yes. We "were Le Cellier, when Le Cellier wasn't cool!" I remember when you could walk up to LC and be seated immediately! In those days, we used to tell all of the wonderful Canadian CM's that LC was "...Disney's best kept secret."

Well, the secret is out, and LC is definitely a tough ADR. I think it is mostly a day, date, and time issue, but it can be a real challenge. I recently made an ADR for May -- at the perfect time for us -- but it was for a Thursday night at 810 PM. That truly is perfect for us, but it would not be for many people.

ADR's are also likely to be gruesome during free dining, and I'd encourage anyone going then to make your ADRs as early as you possibly can...whether or not you have lodging arrangements.

 

[NHBelle]

My family will also be there August 5-19. I am still waiting to see if free dining will be offered though. I know last year I had a hard time booking for all the dates and times I wanted. I had to call and change things around a bunch of different times. I haven't even begun to plan where I want to eat for this trip so IMO you are way ahead of the game LOL

 

[kty1]

I just made reservations at Le Cellier for dinner on a Friday in July and they seemed to have alot open. Just a question- is Le Cellier 1 or 2 TS on the DDP? Thanks.

 

[daisyduck123]

I just made reservations at Le Cellier for dinner on a Friday in July and they seemed to have alot open. Just a question- is Le Cellier 1 or 2 TS on the DDP? Thanks.

One credit (unless it has changed)...we ate there last May.

 

[kty1]

Thanks Daisyduck123 for the quick answer-that really is a great value!

 

[srgibbs]

Question, we are planning to go August5-12 but are holding out to make our package Ressies to see if free dining or some sort of discount will be offered. I don't want to book and then go thru the hassle of trying to get the free dining or whatever discount may be offered. Can I make my ADR's without having a resort reservation yet? Thanks for the help in advance. I already know what days we want to eat where just don't have a Reservation.

 

[WI_DisneyFan]

Question, we are planning to go August5-12 but are holding out to make our package Ressies to see if free dining or some sort of discount will be offered. I don't want to book and then go thru the hassle of trying to get the free dining or whatever discount may be offered. Can I make my ADR's without having a resort reservation yet? Thanks for the help in advance. I already know what days we want to eat where just don't have a Reservation.

I'm not sure about making ADR's with out reservations, but I just wanted to make a side note here. I don't think you'd have a big problem adding the dining plan to your package later on down the line. I had originally booked my 2005 trip in late 2004 without the dining plan. Then when free dining was announced, I called and within 3 minutes it was on my reservation. That is what I'm planning on doing again this year. (Although, even if it isn't free I'll probably just end up paying for it anyway.)

 

[srgibbs]

Thanks WI DisneyFan for the advise. I'm still in hold out mode b/c if they don't offer a special I was going to book a package thru AAA to get a discount. I think I will just try and call Disney and see if I can make ADR's now or not. We have everything planned just no Package booked.

 

[disw7sept07]

new to this forum...what is "free dining" thanks!!

 

[thunderbird1]

Thanks WI DisneyFan for the advise. I'm still in hold out mode b/c if they don't offer a special I was going to book a package thru AAA to get a discount. I think I will just try and call Disney and see if I can make ADR's now or not. We have everything planned just no Package booked.

If you called yesterday, you probably already figured this out, but you can make ADR's 180 days before your trip whether or not you have a trip booked or are staying on or offsite. I just started making ours this morning, and we haven't booked anything yet, not hotels, packages, flights, nada. The only thing you can't do is book your entire trip's ADR's 180 days from your arrival day (the "180+10" rule). So you either have to wait until 180 days from the last day of your trip or make one ADR per day beginning 180 days from the first day of your trip. Does that make sense?

new to this forum...what is "free dining" thanks!!

This link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1305783 will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Disney dining plan ("DDP") and more. Briefly, the DDP is a prepaid meal plan that gives you one table service meal, one counter service meal and one snack per person per day. It has been offered free as a promotion to guests staying at Disney resorts during part of August and September for the last 2 years (the "free DDP" or "free dining"). It has not yet been offered to the general public for this year, and no one knows whether it will be (though many of us are hopeful). Welcome to the DIS!

 

[thelionqueen]

I'm not sure about making ADR's with out reservations, but I just wanted to make a side note here. I don't think you'd have a big problem adding the dining plan to your package later on down the line. I had originally booked my 2005 trip in late 2004 without the dining plan. Then when free dining was announced, I called and within 3 minutes it was on my reservation. That is what I'm planning on doing again this year. (Although, even if it isn't free I'll probably just end up paying for it anyway.)

One thing I wanted to address from this post was something I read on the DIS last year (BIG thread about it). Was the people who already had reservations during the time frame when free dining was announced had no trouble adding it, but a lot of them had their reservations wiped out. Something had to do with the reservation having to be changed and everything linked to it was changed as well. I also heard that some people did have their reservations intact. Just wanted to pass that tidbit on.


I believe as a PP stated that you can make ADR's one day at a time without your lodging reservations. They ask you where you are staying and your dates when you call, but if you tell them you're still deciding or whatever, they allow you that "loophole" unless it has changed for 2007.

 

[srgibbs]

Thanks Everyone, I made all of our Rest. Ressies for Aug 5-11th today and got within 15 minutes of everytime I asked for without any resort ressie # including princess dinner in Epcot. Now we can sit back and wait to see about Free dining or any specials offered and not worry about not getting into eat at the places we love. I really thought you had to already have a resort booked in order to do that. I learn something new everyday!

 

[disw7sept07]

I have just purchased a vacation package that includes the dining plan. Purchased via AAA. Going in Sept. (5th time to wdw, 1st time staying on site)...can't wait! One thing I just heard about was the "free dining" and how it has been offered the past 2 years, yet still an unknown for this year. If it does go into effect later this year, does anyone know if I could remove the dis din plan that we've paid for, given the announcement of a "free dis din plan"? Thanks!!

 

[srgibbs]

If you booked your package thru AAA you will have to go through them to see if they can change your package to the free dining. There are a limited # of rooms per resort, so you may have to pick a different resort depending on how quick those rooms go. You would also loose the AAA discount on your package. If the free dining is offered, it should be a better deal than your room discount thru AAA. Hope that helps and have a great trip.

 

[MissDisney121]

I called for ADRs for August 5-15th on Friday. We will be staying at Pop for 10 nights on the dining plan.

They let me book all of our meals even though some were a little more than 180 days out since I called on Feb. 9th

However, I had a difficult time getting a ADR for Le Cellier on the day I wanted. I was offered either 4:20p.m. or 8:20p.m. All other times were unavailable! So I scheduled that ADR for a week later in our vacation and was able to get a time that worked better. Is this restaurant really filling up this fast?!?

The other one that was sort of a problem was Wolfgang Puck Cafe in Downtown Disney. The cast member assisting me said it was often hard to get a 6-8:30p.m. ADR due to people eating there prior to Cirque de Soliel.

I did book the following ADRs:
Spoodles - dinner
Ohana - dinner
Kona Cafe - breakfast (OOP)
Hoop Dee Doo - dinner
50's Primetime - dinner
Coral Reef - dinner
Le Cellier - dinner
Concourse Steakhouse - dinner
Wolfgang Puck Cafe - dinner
Planet Hollywood - dinner

Can't wait until August gets here!!

I know what you mean about the ADR's. My trip is in august too and instead of calling 180 days in advance I called 140 and I had trouble getting ADR's at Le Cellier, Planet Hollywood, and Mama Melroses for the fantasmic dinner, for the times i wanted. I ended up getting le cellier at 4:10.