Character Dining Booked - what to do

[bainer20]

I am a frustrated parent (at myself) who didn't book our character dining soon enough and now every thing is booked. We are going to Disney for the first time October 1 through 4 and I really want to have at least one experience. Will I be able to get up early and wait in line or something like that each day? What are my chances?

Same thing with dining shows - they are all booked as well. Lesson learned for next time - book WAY in advance.

Thanks for all the thoughts!

Brian

 

[addiln]

well nothing can be done about the shows but i would say to keep on calling the disney dining res. line and see if they can fit you in. we were able to change a few reservations while we were there as well. i would just keep on trying and now just be more flexible with your times. i am sure you can find something even if it is just crystals so the kids can meet pooh and friends

 

[TAKitty]

I wanted Chef Mickey's and everything is booked for then too. One thing you can do is check the restaurant at an off time and see if they can accommodate you. I wouldn't try this for breakfast, but dinner might work.

 

[MishyMouse]

Keep trying. I wanted a Chef Mickey's breakfast for my last trip in May. I checked online once an hour for three weeks and finally got a ressie just two days before our trip. Something will open up.

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

Keeping checking online daily. ..people cancel.

I notice Hollywood & Vine and also Cape May have breakfast openings during this time frame. I've never eaten at either so I don't know if they are good but are character meals.

Right now Crystal Palace has a 2:30 p.m. on Oct 2nd. Also on the 3rd at 1:15 p.m. Could be a late lunchtime.

Good luck finding something.

 

[dixonsontour]

Keep trying - online is so easy to check and try seeing what guest services or conceirge can find you when you are there.

Not a character meal but chip and dale appear at a campfire singalong every night at Ft Wilderness. Free, no reservations needed and you don't need to be staying there to attend.

 

[pmaurer74]

Check the board here for cancellations during your week. It took me 3 weeks to get O'Hana's before. Also people cancel 24 hour ahead of time too. As far as seeing the characters I thought that dining was the best way to do it but we saw them all over the parks too. If you want to see princesses you can see them at MK in Toon Town and every park has Mickey, Minnie and some of the main characters so you can still see them. Good luck!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Keep checking, something will probably open up somewhere.

 

[bellefromboston]

Did you try Cape May? That one usually has availability. Good luck!

 

[TillyMarigold]

I searched for any character meal for 4 guests and found:

10/1 Hollywood & Vine breakfast
10/2 Hollywood & Vine breakfast, Crystal Palace dinner
10/3 Cape May Cafe breakfast
10/4 Hollywood & Vine breakfast, Crystal Palace lunch

I'd go with Cape May, personally, or else the Crystal Palace lunch. Be careful not to book a non-character meal at a restaurant that has some character and some non-character meals (e.g. 'Ohana, Cape May, Tusker House, and H&V only have characters for breakfast).

 

[VeganCupcake]

I went DEC 2010, and got ADR's for Crystal Palace lunch, Ohana Breakfast, & Chef Mickey Dinner 5 days before our trip, if you are flexible with your times you'll be able to get something! I would just check 1st thing every morning and then once more before I went to bed. I could not get any 3 weeks before our trip(which is when we booked it) but as soon as we were a week away it seemed much easier. Maybe once people are really getting ready to go/looking at budgets they decide to cancel? I don't know but Good luck and keep trying!

 

[MommyRobin]

Keep checking online, esp. first thing in the morning. I went the first week of free dining and wanted to do some tweaking of my ressies. Every couple of days, they would open up a LOT of spots for my week, always focusing on one particular restaurant. This happened with Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare, and Le Cellier. They might have had more, but I was happy and stopped looking.
This may very well happen for you, too. Also keep an eye on the October cancellation thread. I bet something will happen for you.

 

[MartDM]

Just keep trying, hopefully something will open up.

We stay at BCV so the character breakfast at Cape May is always on our list of meals; I'd recommend that. Also, Garden Grill at Epcot has the most relaxed atmosphere & best character interactions we've found; if you can only get one meal - try for that one. It will be a great experience!

 

[snowy76]

Just keep trying, hopefully something will open up.

We stay at BCV so the character breakfast at Cape May is always on our list of meals; I'd recommend that. Also, Garden Grill at Epcot has the most relaxed atmosphere & best character interactions we've found; if you can only get one meal - try for that one. It will be a great experience!

Agree about Cape May - plus you get some of the major characters (Minnie, Goofy, etc.) If I could only get one character meal I'd want it to be with part or all of the "fab five."

 

[nyz2004]

I tried a month and grabbed chef mickey's one fine morning. esp close to October, you'll see more cancellations. where are you staying? contact your hotel see if they can help you.

 

[ChelleMouse]

Brian,

Keep checking the dining reservation site - like 2-3 times every day.

I've been doing this for our upcoming trip and was able to make the reservations I wanted - and this included CRT.

Good Luck & Keep Trying!!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I strongly suggest you not wait until you're there and try to walk up. because they will turn you away and its worse than not even trying.
you should bombard the dining line or the online system as much as possible from now until the moment you leave to look for something....because you probably will find someting.

but don't walk up...and try places that might have more wiggle...hollywood and vine and cape may cafe being the first two i would think of.

don't waste time on Chef mickeys or the "castle"...because the food isn't even that great and you feel like you're in a sweatshop

crystal palace has been a favorite as of late....donald's breakfast was not bad as well...always like 1900 park fare

(did i mention that the dining plan ruined everything? i try to do that at least twice a day)

 

[RMulieri]

With the advent of the dining plan ( free or otherwise) dining adrs are booked 180 days in advance by many many many people, and I think even longer for the dinner shows.I agree with pp, keep checking disney dining between now and departure , something MAY open up.I would NOT attempt to walk up unless you try this first, and I would not attempt it if not getting in would greatly upset your kids.Walk ups during free dining periods for popular places and character meals are possible but not probable.