Can't get beloved ADRs... WAIT!!! GOT ONE!!! Thank you DIS!!

[apirateslife4us!]

Hi, thanks for reading my thread I just made my ADRs and I have to come up with alternates for two restaurants I reeeeeally wanted, Ohana's and Chef Mickey's. We went three years ago and we loved those, and I'm not giving up!

In case I can't get in to Ohana's and Chef Mickey's, I want to make ADRs for those two days. Suggestions? Here are our ADRs so far:

Wednesday, Epcot: Park Faire Breakfast (new to us!)
Thursday, MK: Crystal Palace Breakfast
Friday, AK: Boma Dinner (also new to us!)
Saturday, DHS: Sci-Fi Drive-In Dinner
Sunday, MK: Cinderella's Royal Table Lunch (another new one!)
Monday, ??: Our Ohana's dinner day, no luck getting the ADR.
Tuesday, Kids' Choice!: Our Chef Mickey's Breakfast day, and then we fly back home

Has anyone had luck with trying (several times a day!) to get into Ohana's or Chef Mickey's? Am I wasting my time?

Thanks again for reading my dilemma!

 

[Lizboo]

One question..what meal?? And yes, I did get Ohana's by being persistent. but never tried for Chef Mickeys. We went there once for breakfast and DH really wasn't impressed, so we won't be going back..or maybe I can get him to give it another try in a couple of years.

 

[apirateslife4us!]

Hi Lizboo, thank you!! To answer your question, I'm looking for a dinner for Monday, and a breakfast for Tuesday.

Wow, you got in at Ohana's! You give me so much hope Thanks for sharing that... I won't give up either!!

 

[wdwobsessed]

You may want to try the Ohana breakfast in Lieu of Chef Mickey's. It's our fav breakfast now!

Don't give up though. I haven't been able to get a decent ADR time for Prime Time for two weeks and today it popped up!

WDWO

 

[kamikazecat]

We really loved The Wave at the contemporary last summer. Even my 3yo was happy there. Good luck getting your ADRs.

 

[apirateslife4us!]

Hi WDWobsessed, thank you for that great tip! We loved the atmosphere at Ohana's and visiting Poly, I would rather have breakfast there than miss it altogether! Oh you gave me so much hope with your Prime Time story, thank you!

Hi Kamikazecat, I've never even heard of The Wave, thank you! I'm off to read some reviews on it now

 

[chocovrdmicears]

You are not wasting your time. If you really want them, keep trying.
I tried for 3 months to get a dinner reservation at Chef Mickey's for our trip this past Dec and finally got one 1 week before we left.
We did have dinner at Chef Mickey's and we were underwhelmed. If you can't get breakfast there, maybe try for 1900 Park Fare @ GF, Ohana for breakfast with Lilo and Stitch or Crystal Palace (just some other options).
We also had dinner at Ohana in Dec. and it was honestly the worst meal of our trip. Maybe consider Kona instead, or WCC @ Wilderness Lodge? Again, just some other ideas.
Hope it all works out for you!

 

[AFETA]

Hey we just booked ours for a September trip. I would like to suggest the Donald Safari Breakfast at the Animal Kingdom, awesome!!! We went for the first time this past year and fell in love with the food and the atmosphere. This is a character meal. The Whispering Canyon at Fort Wilderness is really good too. It is not a character meal, but the servers interact with the kids a lot and play games with them. Best of luck getting into the ones you really want

 

[squirrel]

What time is your CP breakfast?

Just asking as it's on a Thursday, which should be an EMH morning. If you were planning on being there before the park opens than that might not work. Hopefully, you know that and have a later breakfast.

Is Chef Mickey available on the day you have 1900 Park Fare? If so, try switching them.

'Ohana breakfast is also good, but my favorite breakfast is Tusker House in AK.

 

[apirateslife4us!]

Hi Choco! Thanks for the support, I feel CRAZY checking the ressie webpage every few hours!!

Hi Afeta, I was thinking about the Donald Safari breakfast!! The only thing is being tied to AK... I liked the idea of leaving the last two days of our trip open since we don't have hoppers.

Hi Squirrel! Our ADR for CP is 10:15am, I TRIED to get a park opening day for a non-EMH morning in MK but it didn't happen for me this go around! That's okay, we have the same ADR time for CP as we did on first trip to MK! (It was also a EMH morning... maybe it's meant to be!)

 

[ktlm]

Hi Choco! Thanks for the support, I feel CRAZY checking the ressie webpage every few hours!!

You won't feel crazy if that ADR you want magically pops up!!! I did that for almost a two full months before our last trip and about a week and a half before the trip-- boom- there was exactly what I had been looking for at the time I wanted too. Don't give up!

Looks like you have some good ones! We love CRT lunch.
Since you aren't doing Boma until dinner, maybe if you can't get Chef Mickeys you could do Tusker house for breakfast that same morning? The Tusker house breakfast is great and that way you wouldn't tie yourself down to using up your ticket on AK for a 2nd day, but you would still get a Mickey meal! The only thing is that Daisy is there instead of Minnie. We love Daisy too, but I wish they had both as DD is a huge Minnie fan!

 

[ElizabethG]

You could try flipping Ohana (breakfast) and Chef Mickeys (dinner). I would also suggest 1900 Park Fare for dinner. That is our second favorite character meal. I would try to get something booked and then also keep trying for my first choice.

 

[kellybean]

You could always try to do the luau at the Polynesian, although it's pricier if you're paying out of pocket and 2 credits if you're using the dining plan... but it is all you can eat like Ohanas with similar style food and beverages (including beer and wine) and you get entertainment with your meal I have not experienced any meals at Kona yet for myself, but I have read so many good things that when I go in October I will be

To replace your Chef Mickey's breakfast, I strongly recommend Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom! It was one of my favorites last year! All of the food was so tasty, nice selection, and great character interaction with Donald, Daisy, Mickey, and Goofy in safari outfits! We did this early before AK actually opened so that once we were done eating the park had just opened and we went straight the safari and saw TONS of animals out! (tip i heard from a few people on these boards and from friends)

I also agree with everyone who said to not give up if you really want those ADRs. I did my ADRs at 7am the first morning I was able to last year and Ohana was the only one I couldn't nab! I called at least twice a day in between checking online on the DIS and Disney's online ADRs... I finally got one just a week or two before we were supposed to leave! I couldn't believe it! Good luck!

 

[apirateslife4us!]

Hi ktlm, that is so reassuring Thanks, a lot of people are suggesting the Tusker House breakfast as an alternative. I'm going to try and book breakfast there on our AK day and then keep trying for Chef Mickey's too

Hi Elizabeth, I'm trying that idea too! So far no luck but at least it doubles my chances

Hi Kellybean, wow another vote for the Tusker House breakfast! I'm so glad I started this thread, now I have a definite alternative to Chef Mickey's! The Spirit of Aloha is not going to happen this trip. We're on the Dining Plan and we're already paying OOP for CRT! DH won't go for another OOP meal Thank you so much for the story about how you got your desired ADR after all, I LOVE hearing that right now

Back to the computer vigil... I'll keep everyone posted!

 

[TinkerKell-ey]

Never give up if you really want to go . . . My cousin walked up to CRT during winter break and got in! He tried making an ADR without luck, and walked up to check-in, letting them know he was there and if someone didn't show he would be waiting... it took a while, but they got in. (Note: this was several years ago, and if I didn't see his receipt I wouldn't have believed him. I told him many times how lucky they were and begged him to buy me a lottery ticket!!!) Ya never know...

 

[apirateslife4us!]

Thanks Tinker! To be completely honest, I saw this happen at Crystal Palace (breakfast) and Chef Mickey's (breakfast) three years ago. At Crystal Palace they were not turning away people who asked about a stand-by line, so I don't know how long they had to wait, but it looked like a loooooong time because the place they told them to sit at (just outside) was packed!! But at Chef Mickey's we had an eleven am ressie and when we walked up, there was no one waiting before us. Before we could give the CM our ADR information he asked how many were in our party and told us where to wait for a picture. They never did ask about our ADR time or what our name was or anything. NOT that I would risk that, but it was our experience.

A side-note: I saw people being turned away in droves at Sci-Fi Drive-in. I don't recall noticing whether Ohana or Akershus was turning people away or not. Either way, I would rather just have an ADR and not have to stress at WDW!!

 

[djp0630]

Instead of Chef Mickey's, you could get Cape May Breakfast at the BC, it has Minnie, Donald & Goofy in beach gear. As for 'Ohana dinner, you could do Kona or 1900 Park fare dinner (with Cinderella, Prince Charming, stepsisters, & stepmother), both on the monorail.

 

[apirateslife4us!]

Thanks djp, I've been considering Kona. At least we'd be at the Poly and the kids could still play in the sand We're already planning on doing Park Fare for breakfast (plus we're seing princesses at CRT!) so maybe Cape May would work out better, character-wise.

I'm still hoping for my first-choice ADRs, it feels like I'm playing at the slot machines every time I try... and I never win at slots

So far the closest I've gotten at 'Ohana is a 9:35pm dinner which my DH and I think is WAYYY too late for the two year old. Without him it would lead into a nice view of Wishes, though. And we could get to Poly early and let the kids play in the sand first.... but can I be that mom who drags a two year old to a late dinner, only to have him either throw an epic tantrum or fall asleep without eating? The 'Ohana Wishes dinner will have to happen on another trip.

Thanks for your tips and advice everyone! Dis members are the reason our last trip so amazing, I really appreciate everyone here!

 

[pmaurer74]

I can't get Ohana's either I had a reservation there then it was gone. We are 80 days out too!

 

[apirateslife4us!]

Hi Pmaurer! I've been reading through a lot of these threads (too many!!!) and it seems like a lot of people get into their hoped-for reservation a week before their trip... maybe people finally finalize their plans in that week and cancel some of their unwanted ADRs?? I'm going to keep trying, because I can't help it! I also have an alternate meal planned in case I don't get in after all. Good luck to you, and here's to the magic of pixie dust!!