Basic ADR Strategy

[bwbuddy5]

I looked for a sticky, but couldn't find one, feel free to re-direct. What are the keys to getting the ADR's you want, especially for a larger party (we will have 9). Of course, everyone in my party want's BOG, should I shoot for later in my vacation for that one (to take advantage of 180+10). Do you use the app, online, or telephone?

 

[Disney Bear]

Fo a group that size I would suggest calling and also planning for one of the later days in your vacation. Fingers crossed for you.

 

[SG131]

Be online and logged in waiting for it to turn to 6am EST. watch your cell phone cause it's most accurate. Yes make BOG or any other hard to get adr in the second half of your trip. Don't use the call line unless you run into a problem because the phones open at 7am EST so you lose a whole hour plus wait time. I had both my phone and laptop ready. Initially the computer gave me problems so the app was great then when the phone froze I switched to the computer and was able to finish my reservations there.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Snagging ADRs for a group of 9 is difficult (speaking from experience as I just did this last month). Planning to get the harder ADRs later in your trip is a good strategy. A couple other tips:
-If nothing comes up for 9, try putting in for 10. Sometimes the site is glitchy and will find 10 versus 9.
-If the above doesn't work, try splitting the party into 5/4. This may require a second MDE account (since you aren't allowed to have overlapping reservations)
-Play around with the times. You may have better luck choosing the meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) versus a specific time
-If all else fails and you don't get what you want, sign up for an ADR alert. Mouse Dining and Touring Plans are my favs.

Good luck!

 

[StephenM84]

Online only unless I have to call later in the day for a strange reason.

- Log out and log back in before you can make reservations that morning
- make sure your credit card is on file
- open a tab for each reservation you want and put them in order of importance (You'll have to refresh each tab as you work them)
- start at the end of your trip and work towards day one
- be flexible with which parks you want because you might get Ohana for a Tuesday only when you wanted it on a Wednesday
- Know you can book 10 or more people for an ADR and then drop the number down later or tell them at check in only 9 will be eating when you booked for 10 people


With BOG you could be able to book an ADR for 8 people and then get an ADR for 1 if you can't find anything for 9 or 10 people. Breakfast and lunch you find any open table so you wouldn't have a problem sitting together.

Some locations might not have a table for a party of 9. I would recommend setting up another account with Disney so you could book a table for 6 under your email and then get another table for 4 people under another email address.

 

[bwbuddy5]

Sounds great, and when you guys say online at 6am, I assume you mean through My Disney Experience? And, as a backup, can I book through the app on my phone at 6am?

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Sounds great, and when you guys say online at 6am, I assume you mean through My Disney Experience? And, as a backup, can I book through the app on my phone at 6am?

Yes, website and app will be available at 6am. Phone lines open at 7am.

 

[bwbuddy5]

So, to play around with the ADR system, I've been watching availability for BOG as new days come open at the 180 mark, checking at 6am. I know that's the beginning of some people's booking window, but the end of other's booking window.

As of yet, I have not found an available reservation for a party of 9 for dinner. For that matter, I have not even found availability for a party of 5. But, once I go to a party of 4, I'll find late night availability most every time.

So, when my window opens in a few weeks, should I just try and book two tables of 4? Can I even do that if the times overlap? Or, should I just stick with my party of 9, shoot for later in the week towards the end of my stay, and just use the touring plans ADR finder and hope for the best?

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

So, to play around with the ADR system, I've been watching availability for BOG as new days come open at the 180 mark, checking at 6am. I know that's the beginning of some people's booking window, but the end of other's booking window.

As of yet, I have not found an available reservation for a party of 9 for dinner. For that matter, I have not even found availability for a party of 5. But, once I go to a party of 4, I'll find late night availability most every time.

So, when my window opens in a few weeks, should I just try and book two tables of 4? Can I even do that if the times overlap? Or, should I just stick with my party of 9, shoot for later in the week towards the end of my stay, and just use the touring plans ADR finder and hope for the best?

2 tables of 4 won't work if you need a reservation for 9 total. MDE won't allow you to have overlapping times. The way around it is to create a second MDE account. I have done the second account for a few of my ADRs (4 on one account, 5 on the other). If you can't get anything for 5/4 or 9, I would recommend the ADR finder.

 

[melanielll]

BOG has tables for even numbers. 5 is tougher than 6 (in the same way that 3 is tougher than 4) because of how the algorithm works. Try a 4 and a 6. Or - 3 fours and reduce them all after you book them.

 

[Megan4birdy]

Interesting on the algorithm with the even numbers. Does that mean that if I have 3 in my party I will struggle to find something? Is it possible to book for 4 and then cancel? Apologies, this is all new to me. Thank you!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Interesting on the algorithm with the even numbers. Does that mean that if I have 3 in my party I will struggle to find something? Is it possible to book for 4 and then cancel? Apologies, this is all new to me. Thank you!

You can book for 4 and then try to modify it down to 3. If that doesn't work, just leave the ADR as is and show up with 3 people. You won't be charged a no-show for the 4th.

 

[bwbuddy5]

Am I understanding correctly, that if I don't have a reservation number entered into my MDE, I can still book ADRs at 6am, 180 days out, but only for that one day. But, if I've entered a reservation # on by MDE, I can reserve at the 180 day for not only my first day, but all days, as long as not more than a 10-day reservation.

And, I can make an ADR for any size group, given availability, regardless of the number of total people on my resort reservation.

How'm I doin'?

 

[JennysSeven]

Yes, those assumptions are correct. You can book for numbers greater than what is on your resort reservation, but there is a point where the group is too large to book online and you'll have to call. I think that might be groups over 12. I booked a few meals online for 11 for our upcoming trip with no issues, even though only 9 of us are on the resort reservation.

I have a family of 9 and have done all our reservations online and get pretty much everything I want. On our last trip, we had a BOG reservation for a breakfast, a lunch, and a dinner. If you are looking in advance, you are only seeing that day 180, so you're unlikely to see availability. But when you actually book and have access to days later in your trip, you should be able to get a reservation. I would be on exactly at 6 a.m. and make it one of the first reservations you try for though.