Booking 180-day ADRs w/o TA calendar :(

[MickeyMinnieMom]

How are you all doing this now that TA calendars don't appear to be available (I'm looking for August)? Disney's calendar is currently only going 176 days out as of today, which is useless, truly.

For years, I've depended on the Travel Agent Calendars as an initial guide for my ADRs. We book around EMH to a great extent.

Doesn't seem reliable to assume EMH on certain parks on certain days of the week based on the previous several weeks -- those things shift from week to week at times (highlighted below)...

 

[10CJ]

I just had to guess based on the weeks before. I found it rather annoying. I am still annoyed because I am now getting ready to book fastpasses and park hours are likely to change still.

 

[Shellyb84]

How are you all doing this now that TA calendars don't appear to be available (I'm looking for August)? Disney's calendar is currently only going 176 days out as of today, which is useless, truly.

For years, I've depended on the Travel Agent Calendars as an initial guide for my ADRs. We book around EMH to a great extent.

Doesn't seem reliable to assume EMH on certain parks on certain days of the week based on the previous several weeks -- those things shift from week to week at times (highlighted below)...

View attachment 297278

It's pretty safe to assume EMH are going to be on the same days each week - the week of July 4th is an exception. The other two weeks above are what EMH have been for quite a while.

Also with TSL opening hopefully there's a possibility of PM EMH at HS again.

 

[Colleen27]

The TA calendars haven't been going up until all/most of the month's hours are available on the website, instead of ahead of the public release the way they used to. The hours have been added to the Disney site on a day-by-day basis at 180 out, but if you're signed in with a valid reservation you should be able to see 180+10. It is inconvenient as hell, IMO, but it is how they've been doing things for a while because I ran into the same problems when planning my March trip.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The TA calendars haven't been going up until all/most of the month's hours are available on the website, instead of ahead of the public release the way they used to. The hours have been added to the Disney site on a day-by-day basis at 180 out, but if you're signed in with a valid reservation you should be able to see 180+10. It is inconvenient as hell, IMO, but it is how they've been doing things for a while because I ran into the same problems when planning my March trip.

Agreed. But that issue with TA calendars is still newish. Last trip I planned was Nov17, and I still had the TA calendar then.

180+10 isn't very useful. I need to book at 180 -- I need time before that to come up with a plan for a 10-day trip. This is really obnoxious. Tell people to book 180 days out and then don't give them the tools they really need to plan properly. This has always been Disney's approach, but at least we had a workaround before.

 

[10CJ]

The TA calendars haven't been going up until all/most of the month's hours are available on the website, instead of ahead of the public release the way they used to. The hours have been added to the Disney site on a day-by-day basis at 180 out, but if you're signed in with a valid reservation you should be able to see 180+10. It is inconvenient as hell, IMO, but it is how they've been doing things for a while because I ran into the same problems when planning my March trip.

I have heard others say this as well, but I could not see 180+10. Either that or I was looking in the wrong place.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I have heard others say this as well, but I could not see 180+10. Either that or I was looking in the wrong place.

Eesh.

 

[Colleen27]

I have heard others say this as well, but I could not see 180+10. Either that or I was looking in the wrong place.

It was hit-or-miss for me. Sometimes I could, sometimes I couldn't. It was like the system couldn't always "see" that I really was signed in. Keep trying, maybe you'll get lucky.

They really need a better system.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thanks all.

This does make me feel a tad better, but with my luck, I'll come up with a lovely plan and then they'll change these for the week(s) I'm going!!

 

[10CJ]

Good luck!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Good luck!

Thanks!!

 

[Bella Paige]

If you have an iPhone ask Siri - I just tried and she was right!

 

[monorailsilver]

I am In The same boat as you! We are going in August and February 2nd is adr day. Luckily I am only making WCC for dinner one night but I think I will make 2 reservations and cancel one once I know park hours and which day will be the non park day, aka WCC day.

Then either Sci Fi or 50s prime time but I will do the same for that, possibly make 3, is thAt bad? Then I will cancel! That one is still questionable.

Not sure if Trex is an adr one but if so that will be on arrival night.

And then via Napoli but I need to decide if I want that for lunch or dinner and again what day!

We are going for 11 days, 5 park days and 6 non park days but one of those will be a water park.

 

[hmcater]

How are you all doing this now that TA calendars don't appear to be available (I'm looking for August)? Disney's calendar is currently only going 176 days out as of today, which is useless, truly.

For years, I've depended on the Travel Agent Calendars as an initial guide for my ADRs. We book around EMH to a great extent.

Doesn't seem reliable to assume EMH on certain parks on certain days of the week based on the previous several weeks -- those things shift from week to week at times (highlighted below)...

View attachment 297278

It's not set in stone, but Kenny the pirate has August hours. It's better than nothing
http://www.characterlocator.com/?p=cal_index&tdate=08/01/2018

 

[SanderMC]

I always use Kenny the Pirate's crowd calendars. He puts them out 6.5 months ahead so it gives me about 2 weeks to figure out ADRs prior to having to make them. His calendars have always been spot on with what Disney originally releases. Granted it doesn't mean that Disney might not change the hours down the road but it does give a real good starting point.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

It's not set in stone, but Kenny the pirate has August hours. It's better than nothing
http://www.characterlocator.com/?p=cal_index&tdate=08/01/2018

I always use Kenny the Pirate's crowd calendars. He puts them out 6.5 months ahead so it gives me about 2 weeks to figure out ADRs prior to having to make them. His calendars have always been spot on with what Disney originally releases. Granted it doesn't mean that Disney might not change the hours down the road but it does give a real good starting point.

Thanks! I'll take a look!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Just thought I'd share that my 180+10 window opened today, and while I could make ADRs as planned, I was NOT able to see park hours / EMH days for anything but day 180.

Incredibly useless, Disney.

 

[JakeandAdamsmom]

How are you all doing this now that TA calendars don't appear to be available (I'm looking for August)? Disney's calendar is currently only going 176.

For years, I've depended on the Travel Agent Calendars as an initial guide for my ADRs. We book around EMH to a great extent.

Doesn't seem reliable to assume EMH on certain parks on certain days of the week based on the previous several weeks -- those things shift from week to week at times (highlighted below)...

For my July planning, I used the "unofficial calendar on WDWMagic and Undercover Tourist's Crowd Calendar. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

 

[JakeandAdamsmom]

I don't know what happened to my reply and how it got in the quote, lol? For my July planning, I used the "unofficial calendar" on WDWMagic and Undercover Tourist's Crowd Calendar. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

 

[Minnesota!]

I don't book ADR's until we are a few weeks out from the trip, and even then it is only 1 or 2. I do the rest on-the-fly when we are there... hasn't failed me yet.

No stress waiting for "the perfect time" or calendars to be released, etc...

It took me 25+ trips to realize it works, but...it works!