Best way to reserve and what do you think?

[AnastasiaF]

Hi

We are going to WDW for our second trip this October. I put myself in charge of the dining reservations - I understand the importance of meals! I am not sure which is the best way to go - online reservations or calling? Any ideas?

Also, this is the list so far - all are dinners except for Chef Mickey:

10/20 Fulton Crab
10/21 Biergarten
10/22 Akurshus
10/23 Ohana
10/24 Crystal Palace
10/25 Chef Mickey breakfast
Teppan Edo
10/26 T-Rex

We wanted different places than last time but my sister requested T-Rex again because she loved the salad. The places that we did last time were Boma, Tusker House, Liberty Plaza, Raglan Road (hands down the worst meal we had in Disney or really anywhere else in a long time). We also did Chef Mickey and Hollywood and Vine for breakfast.

Does anybody have any good backup restaurants in case these are full?

Thanks!

 

[purple figment]

You can make reservations:
Online at 6 AM Eastern Time
Phone at 7AM Eastern Time

So doing them online gives you a hour headstart.

If you're staying onsite at a Disney operated resort you can input your reservation number and book the first 10 days of your vacation starting 180 days from your day of arrival.

If your first choices are already booked up, I would keep trying online since you have 6 months before your vacation. Of the places you chose, 'Ohana is the hardest to get into and to a lesser extent CP and CM. You can call T-Rex and make a reservation through them if you can't get it through the Disney res site.

 

[annieb727]

I would say book online. It's so easy...no waiting on hold. You also get email confirmation of all your reservations. So nice! I love that they finally put it all online.

 

[AnastasiaF]

Thanks for the replies! Online sounds too easy - it made me think that I should call

 

[RachaelA]

I don't think you'll have any problem getting those reservations. I know some people had issues getting 'Ohana for dinner at the middle of October, but I had no issues for the week we are going (3rd week) and I checked a bunch of days.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I also prefer online...it is so much easier, faster, and I really appreciate the emailed confirmation.

HOWEVER, the online site has its days where it just doesn't like to work properly. For that reason...if I'm booking dining where I'm able to do it right at the 180 mark, I call in beforehand just to familiarize myself with all of the current phone prompts. i.e. just in case in the online booking is down and I'm stuck calling at 7am ET.

 

[jeepwreck]

i did all my reservation on line and i had no issues. quick and simple and if you change your mind its easy to cancel and redo

 

[tyzzle]

Why not just wake up and try online, then if it doesn't work you can call, and you don't lose out on anu time because you tried online before the phone is even open.

 

[momof2twinboys]

online is not working this morning - won't let you book past the 1st day

 

[Mad Hattered]

online is not working this morning - won't let you book past the 1st day

Mine worked just fine. I got on right at 5 CST and had all 7 of ours done in 13 minutes.

 

[AnastasiaF]

Online wouldn't work for me either - says there is no dining plan associated with my reservations. We are doing CS first night so I didn't get to book anything. I leave at 7 am to get the kids to school and me to work so I won't be able to even call until at least 7:30