Cannot get ADRs for dinners in Sept. Worry?

[Queenscoroots]

Hi there. I'm on my way to WDW in a few weeks with DH and two DDs. We have been there before, but this is the first time on the DDP.

We cannot seem to get dinner ADRs (except one) anywhere for our stay. Have called Disney Dining several times, with several restaurants (both hotels and parks) on our list - but nothing. Do I need to worry about this - or is it possible we will still be able to eat at these places if we just walk in when we're there? Do I need to have ADRs for each dinner during our stay? We really do not want to be on a rigid schedule.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Thanks very much.

 

[Halbleib1]

With it being free dining you are going to have a hard time getting adrs. Did you try to get any adrs for the lunch hour. I know they are opening up some restaurants for lunch that normally would not serve lunch. Keep calling back someone may cancel you never know. Also be sure to call on the day of as well because a lot of people dont cancel till last min. The best advice anyone can give u at this point is to keep calling and be flexible with your dining times. Also when you call you may want to ask them what restaurants if any do have openings on the days of your stay. I have read also that they are letting you trade in your tableservice credits for counterservice and giving you a bonus snack or gift.

Good luck.

 

[Shooby doo]

Ive heard of people still being able to get "walk-ups",although this hasn't been during Free Dining.I think that you should still be ok but will need to be fairly flexible on where & when,the reason you probably haven't been lucky with your ADRs is that you are up against the Free Dining crowd (myself included) that began making ADRs at the 180 day mark!
SD

 

[catne]

sorry...you're going to WDW during the Free Dining promotion. You can keep trying to get ADR's, but it will be next to impossible to get dinner ADR's at this point (unless you are extremely lucky & happen to have your request go in right when someone cancels. Problem is the usual # won't cancel because they're eating for free.)

Last year, all of the restaurants put out signs "no tables available." People reported would-be diners having screaming fits at check-in counters when they found out they were not taking walk-ins at all.

So...they are allowing people to trade Table Service for 1 Counter service & 2 snacks or 1 counter service & a mesh bag (don't know what the bag looks like...no one has posted a picture yet!)

Also, someone posted an article about a couple of "special buffets" being opened for Free Dining times in the Magic Kingdom...I think they're located in the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon & Tomorrowland Noodle Station? You might ask if they are taking reservations for those places?

 

[thunderbird1]

If Chef Mickey's was on your list, they're going to be open for lunch part of September. And last year several restaurants opened an hour earlier for dinner (4 instead of 5) to accomodate all the extra business.

If I were you, I wouldn't wait until you got there--I'd book something you could live with (like lunches), then see if anything else opens up while you're there.

Good luck!

 

[DisneyWisher]

3 restaurants that do not take ADRs Planet Hollywood (DTD), Beaches and Cream (BC) and Espn Club (Broadwalk). Even when you get there keep trying. You never know. Last year when we found out that we could sit on the ground level at HDDR we cancelled Ohana and Concourse Steakhouse.

 

[Halbleib1]

Planet Hollywood does take adrs. I made adrs for our Sept. trip there.

 

[Kristineamb]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1802373

 

[GatorLady]

sorry...you're going to WDW during the Free Dining promotion. You can keep trying to get ADR's, but it will be next to impossible to get dinner ADR's at this point (unless you are extremely lucky & happen to have your request go in right when someone cancels. Problem is the usual # won't cancel because they're eating for free.)

I have to agree with this poster. Normally I would say drop the DDP, (if you missed out on free dining), but it looks like you are too close to leaving to make adjustments now.

Trading for CS or doing lunch instead of a dinner isn't the best use of the DDP value wise. Keep trying and hope for some cancellations! For future trips, if you don't like planning and keeping to a schedule maybe DDP isn't for you. That's o.k., it doesn't make sense for everyone.

Hope it all works out, have a great trip!

 

[aubriee]

This will be the fourth year in a row that we have gone during the free dining period. Every trip we have seen walkups turned away at most restaurants. There have been signs out front in the parks, saying all TS restaurants are fully booked and will not be taking walkups. Your best bet will be to call WDW Dine, hope you get a knowledgeable, helpful CM, and put yourself on his mercy and see what he can come up with for you. Any ADRs this late will probably be in resorts or maybe DTD though. Have the CM try for TS lunches, then use your CS for dinners. You may want to try some hidden gems: Olivias at Old Key West, Turf Club at Saratoga Springs, Grand Floridian Cafe, maybe Maya Grill at CSR, Marrakesh, or the Wave at the Contemporary? You can also keep trying once you are down there, just have the WDW number programmed into your phone and call first thing every morning (or else use the room phone). During the free dining promotion the parks won't be that busy, but because people that normally do just CS will have the free DDP, TS reastuarants will be packed. Another option might be to get there as soon as a restuarant opens and see if they can get you in. Good luck!

 

[septbaby]

Hi there. I'm on my way to WDW in a few weeks with DH and two DDs. We have been there before, but this is the first time on the DDP.

We cannot seem to get dinner ADRs (except one) anywhere for our stay. Have called Disney Dining several times, with several restaurants (both hotels and parks) on our list - but nothing. Do I need to worry about this - or is it possible we will still be able to eat at these places if we just walk in when we're there? Do I need to have ADRs for each dinner during our stay? We really do not want to be on a rigid schedule.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Thanks very much.

It is your list that is the likely issue, change your list as per the poster above. Not sure of your list or your child's ages so I can't give more specific strategies.

 

[RMulieri]

At this point, you may need to forgo your list and take what you can.Disney dining is simply not the same anymore.Since the dining plan is so popular, and currently FREE for some guests, ADRS are neccessary evils.Any other time of year and you would be likely to score a walk up.Not with free dining.People do not ususally cancel or pull no shows because they want to utilize their credits, so walk-ups are not probable.I saw more people with small kids turned away from restaurants with nowhere to go for ts since everything was full.I saw one family just wandering thru WS at Epcot looking for somewhere to find a TS meal.AT this point, call and try and get something.You can always cancel and convert to cs credits.

 

[Katiebell]

I do understand the desire not to be on a rigid schedule, but realistically, people started calling and reserving 180-190 days in advance. The restaurants that were on your family's list were likely on everyone else's lists, too, when they called for ADR's 6 months ago.

There's been some great advice given on this thread -- be flexible with times (think 3 pm lunches or 9 pm dinners), be willing to try lunch instead of dinner, call Disney Dining and say, "ok, what do you have available at ANY TS on (this date) for dinner." You may be lucky enough to get a cancellation, or you may find a place that's not as popular or well known, but still really good.

And FWIW, 1 TS ADR a day really doesn't tie us down that much. When I plan our schedule, I look at all the parks and figure out which one we want to go to each day based on EMH, or special events, shows, or parades we want to see. Then I look at restaurants we would like to try at or near those parks, and make a list in order of priority. Then I call dining and see what's available, and if none of the ones I want are available, then I ask the CM for suggestions. If that much planning sounds like too much of a headache for you and your family is more the "we'll figure out what we are going to do today when we wake up in the morning" style of vacationers, then the DDP may not the best idea for you.

 

[pjew]

what are your dates? I may be cancelling an ADR or Two....my dates are Sept. 18-25.

If you are interested PM me or just respond back here...thanks!

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

Hi you will need to cal 2 U drop,everyday 5 or 6 times a day seriously what dates are you going? also try places that are less popular,like restaurants in some of the hotels,and yes do try for lunch ressies,many people on the plan use their TS for dinner,well here is some sugesstions,Princess Storybook(L) ,Chef De France (L),Teppan Edo(L),Biergertain(L),Grand Flordian Cafe(B,L,D), Kona(L) maybe (D),Spoodles(D) Tutto Italia(L) Mama Melrose(L)Planet Hollywood(anytime)Cape May(L,D),Yak&Yeti(L,D) also many of the signatures may be avail,(MAY. Good Luck and Call 2 U drop it will pay off even when you are at WDW,people cancel all the time and keep your eye on the cancel and trade boards for September!

 

[LisaInNc]

If you can't get places on your list it's time to toss the list and try some new places or some of the out of the way places. Do not kid yourself into thinking that you can walk into one of the parks during free dining and get seating at a restaurant. You are going to be hungry!

It's free dining and the restaurants are going to be slammed.

Your best plan of attack will be to make ADRs for some other places, maybe restaurants that are not as popular but you will have places to eat. Then call every day and see if you can find stuff on your list. You can also try for a walkup but I would not count on that because just think of how many people that are going to be there that don't even know about ADRs that will be doing the same thing, trying to get a table. I don't see that happening unless it's really early or really late. You just won't get a table during normal dining hours.

Good luck and look at it this way you might just find a new favorite restaurant!

 

[Queenscoroots]

Thank you all so much for your great suggestions (and the reality check that walk-ins are unlikely during Free Dining). I will go over our itinerary tonight (I'm actually a detailed planner by nature) and choose restaurants in hotels closer to whatever parks we're visiting on any given day - and call Disney Dining again. The suggestion to have our 'sit down' meal during the lunch period is also a good one! Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Disney_Angel]

Thank you all so much for your great suggestions (and the reality check that walk-ins are unlikely during Free Dining). I will go over our itinerary tonight (I'm actually a detailed planner by nature) and choose restaurants in hotels closer to whatever parks we're visiting on any given day - and call Disney Dining again. The suggestion to have our 'sit down' meal during the lunch period is also a good one! Thanks everyone!!!

Back in 2005 we went the week before Christmas without ADRs
We had NO CLUE! We were only there for four days as a pre-trip before Christmas in Tampa with family. It was a suprise last minute trip from my parents. We had such an awesome time! Even despite the dining. One of our fondest memories was eating at Casey's MK-Main St. watching the show and fireworks having hot dogs and fries with my family. We were on cloud nine LOL. We make sure to do that every trip now. The only ADR we could get while on property was Alfredo's (now Tutto Italia) many folks said it was awful we on the otherhand enjoyed it greatly. Just wanted to give you an example of how you can turn and bad situation into a good one.

When you booked your trip did anyone tell you that most folks begin making ADRs 180s before they arrive? I made mine in March for this September. Or did you just decide on a last minute trip?

Keep calling...several times a day if you have too. Be cancel all the time.

 

[secretpantssam]

Yup, just keep trying. And try for lunch...I had no problem getting some lunch ressies semi recently during free dining.

 

[Mgoblue44]

Hi there. I'm on my way to WDW in a few weeks with DH and two DDs. We have been there before, but this is the first time on the DDP.

We cannot seem to get dinner ADRs (except one) anywhere for our stay. Have called Disney Dining several times, with several restaurants (both hotels and parks) on our list - but nothing. Do I need to worry about this - or is it possible we will still be able to eat at these places if we just walk in when we're there? Do I need to have ADRs for each dinner during our stay? We really do not want to be on a rigid schedule.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Thanks very much.

I will be canceling Princess Breakfast for Sat. Sept. 20th for (around) 9am at Akerhouse in Epcot. PM me if intrested and I'll try to co-ordinate so you can try to get it once I cancel. Good Luck.