beyond frustrated

[Disneyhayes]

I have been changing my adrs and have been able to get decent times for new ones on the website. Good luck!

 

[stargazertechie]

I know you said your family is not highly adventurous, but I would really recommend trying Boma at AKL. The food is "ethnic" but they offer nuggets/fries/mac n cheese as well. And the ethnic offerings aren't that "scary" either- chicken (with a cinnamon spice rub) and some beef (again, with a sweet rub/sauce). I'm a SUPER picky eater (as in I don't eat foods that touch, foods that are mixed, foods that are ethnic, or foods that I can't pronounce) and Boma is honestly one of my favorite restaurants on property!

 

[courtneylauren]

I did a quick search online and found the following available; basing it that you will be at Epcot on 9/22, MK on 9/23, and HS on 9/24. I did a party of 4 as I was not sure.

9/22 Epcot (I know you said no ethnic food, but I picked some of the less ethnic ones. Another option is to eat at a resort near Epcot that night)
Nine Dragons at 6 PM
La Hacienda de San Angel at 5:45 PM and 6:15 PM
San Angel Inn 5 PM and 7:15 PM

9/23 Magic Kingdom
Liberty Tree Tavern 7:10 PM
Tony's Town Square 7:30 PM

9/24 Hollywood Studios
Hollywood and Vine 5:55 PM and 6:30 PM
Mama Melrose's 6:10 PM
Sci-Fi Dine-In 7:45 PM


You mentioned if you didn't find anything by next week you were going to give up. Don't! Many people will be cancelling. Just be patient and you will surely find some reservations!

I hope your family has a fantastic, memorable time both at WDW and the cruise!

 

[minnie mum]

I don't know how many people will be in your party, but I just checked the dining website for your dates , left the locations and type of cuisine as 'no preference", and selected 'dinner' and table size of 4 (just a wild guess). Anyway, I came up with a very long list for each day with openings as early as 4:10 and as late as 9:30. Even Chef Mickey had an early (4:10 ) opening. A lot of these are at resorts, but there are openings inside the parks as well. You may not get your first (or second) choices, but you can at least get something for now, and then keep checking back every week or so until you leave, and hopefully score one of your favourites. Good luck

 

[Leajess99]

You mentioned if you didn't find anything by next week you were going to give up. Don't! Many people will be cancelling. Just be patient and you will surely find some reservations!

I hope your family has a fantastic, memorable time both at WDW and the cruise!

I second this. Please don't give up. We have actually gotten good reservations as last as the day before to the morning of.

 

[thesaurinis]

I did a quick search online and found the following available; basing it that you will be at Epcot on 9/22, MK on 9/23, and HS on 9/24. I did a party of 4 as I was not sure.

9/22 Epcot (I know you said no ethnic food, but I picked some of the less ethnic ones. Another option is to eat at a resort near Epcot that night)
Nine Dragons at 6 PM
La Hacienda de San Angel at 5:45 PM and 6:15 PM
San Angel Inn 5 PM and 7:15 PM

9/23 Magic Kingdom
Liberty Tree Tavern 7:10 PM
Tony's Town Square 7:30 PM

9/24 Hollywood Studios
Hollywood and Vine 5:55 PM and 6:30 PM
Mama Melrose's 6:10 PM
Sci-Fi Dine-In 7:45 PM


You mentioned if you didn't find anything by next week you were going to give up. Don't! Many people will be cancelling. Just be patient and you will surely find some reservations!

I hope your family has a fantastic, memorable time both at WDW and the cruise!

Thanks for those researches. I haven't had a chance yet to check out the site myself but will do so today. I glance at the menu for the Tonys Town Square and their menu looks like something the family would try. I am going to try to book that but not till Saturday as on Friday its the MNSSHP and don't want to be at the park that day. I am gaining some hope some of our choices will open now from all the posts. Thanks so much everyone.

 

[MHSweb79]

I don't know how many are in your party, but we are a party of 3 and one time the CM on the reservation line told me to try for ADR's for a party of 4. We had much better success with that and had no trouble at all showing up one person short. She said it was a "known glitch in the system."

So don't be afraid to stretch your party a bit and see what comes up. Do NOT, however, look for ADR's for a party smaller than yours. It doesn't work both ways.

Also, I don't know if anyone pointed it out, but you generally can't use TS credits for CS meals. They did this back in the old days of the dining plan, but not any more.

If you are staying onsite and still haven't come up with everything you need, please tell your situation to the concierge and see if they can help you. Certain CM's are allowed to override the ADR system if the situation warrants it.

Please don't let this spoil your trip or your anticipation of it. We are all rooting for you and your DS to have a MAGICAL time!

 

[thesaurinis]

I don't know how many are in your party, but we are a party of 3 and one time the CM on the reservation line told me to try for ADR's for a party of 4. We had much better success with that and had no trouble at all showing up one person short. She said it was a "known glitch in the system."

So don't be afraid to stretch your party a bit and see what comes up. Do NOT, however, look for ADR's for a party smaller than yours. It doesn't work both ways.

Also, I don't know if anyone pointed it out, but you generally can't use TS credits for CS meals. They did this back in the old days of the dining plan, but not any more.

If you are staying onsite and still haven't come up with everything you need, please tell your situation to the concierge and see if they can help you. Certain CM's are allowed to override the ADR system if the situation warrants it.

Please don't let this spoil your trip or your anticipation of it. We are all rooting for you and your DS to have a MAGICAL time!

Thanks so much. We are a party of 4 and just tried the website reservation and got 1 for 50's Prime Time on Friday at 5:45. Its kinda stretching his dinner time out but I plan on showing up a little early and hoping that helps. He really wants to eat at Whispering Canyon but I have only found 1 reservation for our day of arrival at 4:15 and our flight gets in at 2:30 so that would be cutting it real short. I got 1 so that makes me feel better. I will keep trying for others. You all are so great and have great tips. I just want this to be as magical as possible for him (as we all want it to be magical when at the House of the Mouse. LOL)

Now to just pray the bussing isn't horrible from Allstar Music where they have us booked to stay. I am conteplating upgrading to a moderate resort. We have gone only 1x years ago and stayed at POR and it was wonderful.

 

[Shagley]

I have an ADR for Crystal Palace at 6pm on Saturday the 24th for 4 people that I need to cancel. If you would like it, let me know and we can coordinate a time for me to cancel so you can get it.

 

[stargazertechie]

The previous poster was incorrect. You certainly can use TS credits at a CS restaurant, but you cannot use multiple CS credits to pay for a TS meal

 

[thesaurinis]

I have an ADR for Crystal Palace at 6pm on Saturday the 24th for 4 people that I need to cancel. If you would like it, let me know and we can coordinate a time for me to cancel so you can get it.

Thanks a bunch for this offer, but I was able to get a 4:15 reservation for whispering Canyon Cafe. He really wants to go there because his friend told him all about it. I figured it would be perfect to go to then take the boat back to MK for the parade that evening. Hopefully I have correct information regarding that. LOL

I am hoping to get to park at rope drop, go back to the hotel for a quick swim/cool down then dinner and back to the park later. He can't do alot of the rides so waiting isn't going to take up to much time. He says he doesn't want to get autographs either. so there won't be much line waiting for that. He has only requested we wait to see Phineas & Ferb since thats his absolute favorite. (He has everything them I swear. LOL) But I believe they are in HS from what I have read from other posters on the board.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

Thanks so much. We are a party of 4 and just tried the website reservation and got 1 for 50's Prime Time on Friday at 5:45. Its kinda stretching his dinner time out but I plan on showing up a little early and hoping that helps. He really wants to eat at Whispering Canyon but I have only found 1 reservation for our day of arrival at 4:15 and our flight gets in at 2:30 so that would be cutting it real short. I got 1 so that makes me feel better. I will keep trying for others. You all are so great and have great tips. I just want this to be as magical as possible for him (as we all want it to be magical when at the House of the Mouse. LOL)

Now to just pray the bussing isn't horrible from Allstar Music where they have us booked to stay. I am conteplating upgrading to a moderate resort. We have gone only 1x years ago and stayed at POR and it was wonderful.

ot sure if it is possible with the MAW trips but you may try and do on-line check-in before you arrive to help speed the process up, and then take a cab from your resort to Wilderness Lodge.

I would also keep checking-if it does end up with you being late I would have your front desk call over to WCC and se what they can work out for you. I hope you have agreat trip!

 

[thesaurinis]

ot sure if it is possible with the MAW trips but you may try and do on-line check-in before you arrive to help speed the process up, and then take a cab from your resort to Wilderness Lodge.

I would also keep checking-if it does end up with you being late I would have your front desk call over to WCC and se what they can work out for you. I hope you have agreat trip!

I was able to get a reservation for WCC on Friday. Its earlier than what we wanted but I would rather early than later. He is so excited. I guess I have no idea about this place but his little friend just talks about that place like its the best place on earth. LOL Actually Disney is the best place on earth so I am sure it can't be to bad.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

I was able to get a reservation for WCC on Friday. Its earlier than what we wanted but I would rather early than later. He is so excited. I guess I have no idea about this place but his little friend just talks about that place like its the best place on earth. LOL Actually Disney is the best place on earth so I am sure it can't be to bad.

When you check in ask them to give you a fun and playful server-ours was a dud, LOL. Have you heard of the antics there? There are a lot of things they do for fun and ways that you can get them going (like asking for ketchup).

 

[lizzi6692]

The reason you're having this problem is the fact that people can(and do) start making reservations at the 180 day mark, which is the earliest Disney allows. The more popular restaurants(a lot of which you named Chef Mickeys, Le Cellier, 1900 Park Fare) fill up fast. That's why reservations are so important. You may get lucky and one or two may open up, but since your trip is only two months away chances are very slim.

 

[keltic]

Whatever your DS has to drink, make sure to have him ask for it "large".

 

[suemom2kay]

First of all, congratulations to your son on getting his Wish trip. I hope all of you have a magical time and create wonderful memories to cherish.

Have you considered some lunches instead of dinner? This would be earlier in the day, will get all of you out of the sun and may work better if your son tires as the day progresses. You can often get early or late lunch times (before noon or after 2:00 at many restaurants.

FYI, following are the "most popular" restaurants on your list:

O'Hana
Le Cellier
CRT
Chef Mickey's

Try to get other less popular restaurants and then ask the concierge at your hotel for assistance for the ones you can't secure. No matter what restaurants you get, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

 

[Disneyholic]

Have you considered some lunches instead of dinner? This would be earlier in the day, will get all of you out of the sun and may work better if your son tires as the day progresses. You can often get early or late lunch times (before noon or after 2:00 at many restaurants.

I was going to make this suggestion, too. We usually do our main meal at lunch and then do counter service for dinner if we are hungry again. I have found that it is usually easier to get lunch ADRs easier than dinner. Even got LeCellier for lunch when we couldn't get it for dinner for the whole time we were there.

If you do TS lunch you have the whole day to walk it off. If you do dinner you will be going to bed on a full stomach if you only can get a later ADR.

 

[pwdebbie]

It seems that I've read on the DIS before that many reservations actually open up at the 45 day mark. Make whatever "will do" reservations online now so you know that your meals are planned and then keep checking, especially around the 45 day mark (should be soon for you, right?) and see if you can get the places you really want.

I didn't plan our Nov. 2010 trip until the end of August (sort of a surprise trip due to the death of of my mil -- it was her final wish for us -- that we would go to WDW after she died -- she died within an hour after I told her I had bought the tickets). Any way, I was able to get every single reservation I wanted by simply checking the website for available ADRs every few hours.

I also agree with making your TS meal at lunch time and doing CS for dinner. That's what we do sometimes and it works out great for us.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Where are you staying? I would call the concierge at that resort let them know you are excited that your son was granted this wish trip hug and that with everything else you do to care for him and the rest of your family, being on top of this reservation thing is really stressing you out. Let them see if they can work a little Magic for you!