Chit Chat Thread - November ADRs...

[ldauksch]

This is impossible isn't it? You can't have a meal booked at a different place for the same time slot (I think it's a 2 hour window?).

The only way I could see doing this is booking a dinner at 3pm, 5pm 7pm and 9pm, for each park, for each night. If that's the case, then yes, that's insane.

Oh, it's most definitely not impossible. There are a lot of ways to go around the system. The system only makes you cancel if you have another ADR within a little over an hour of the one you are trying to book. As someone else said if they had another MDE account or someone else in their party did they could get around it that way. Also, I've had to book an ADR over the phone with the automated system and it doesn't add the ADR into your MDE automatically that way. When I linked the one I booked over the phone it forced me to cancel but if I had never linked it I would have had two reservations at the same time.

 

[loveshak22]

Well, since I got us all on the topic of hoarding now I have a question for you lovely people. So I know there have been multiple threads with people asking about what they do if they have an pre-park opening ADR. I never paid much attention to them because I knew they let you in early and I wasn't worried about. However, the one time I paid attention one person's answer made it sound like they let everyone with pre-park opening ADRs in at the same time. Is that true? I have an 8:20 CRT on a day MK opens at 9 but I was thinking if I could (big if) I wanted to try and get an 8:05 to get in earlier but if it's true we all go in at the same time then I think I want to keep my 8:20 because that would give me more time for nearly empty park photos. I had assumed they would let me in at 8 not 7:45.

I read that too, but don't have any personal knowledge to answer! We have an 8:05 CRT and as I understand it we can get in the park at 7:45 right?

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Well, since I got us all on the topic of hoarding now I have a question for you lovely people. So I know there have been multiple threads with people asking about what they do if they have an pre-park opening ADR. I never paid much attention to them because I knew they let you in early and I wasn't worried about. However, the one time I paid attention one person's answer made it sound like they let everyone with pre-park opening ADRs in at the same time. Is that true? I have an 8:20 CRT on a day MK opens at 9 but I was thinking if I could (big if) I wanted to try and get an 8:05 to get in earlier but if it's true we all go in at the same time then I think I want to keep my 8:20 because that would give me more time for nearly empty park photos. I had assumed they would let me in at 8 not 7:45.

Yes I'm pretty sure they will let you in at 7:45 with everyone else. Last year I had a pre park H&V for 8:20, we showed up about 7:30 and they had staff with IPads checking you in. I'm pretty sure DHS didn't let anyone in until exactly 8am but they let everyone in the line that checked in and we were one of the first groups sat. They probably want to fill the empty restaurant to keep the flow going for the day. So you should be good!! Also another good tip is ask for your check right when you sit down. That way you can head out right at 9am and not miss any of that golden rope drop park time!!

 

[LinaNate]

I "liked" this, but not because you can't get ADRs but because I am getting worried that the week before Thanksgiving won't have as "low" crowds as predicted! I looked at extending my stay by a night and the entire resort is booked solid - not one room is available! And ADRs were ridiculous even at the 180 day mark...that's "low" crowds??!! It's just my DH and myself and so we have lots of flexibility in our travel time and I try to pick times that are slow but every year that seems impossible! Good for Disney I guess, not so fun for us. I'm nervous but hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised

I'll be there that same week, we thought it would be quiet too :/

 

[dpswift]

I hope this is true! We booked 5 days past the 180 day mark and there were no available character breakfasts. I have my fingers crossed for Ohana, Chef Mickey, and Crystal Palace.

I keep hoping more will open up. I honestly believe that with Free dining there has been tons of hoarding going on. Lets face it most of the world does not live their ADRs 24/7. I think a good number of people will not even think of what their reservations are until time for FP and then there will be lots of openings.

I also cannot help but wonder if Disney held back a few so that people who booked without FD would be able to get some.

Our daughter is going the middle of December and DH and I are also going over new years to pick up our older daughter from the CP. Every morning I try to get a character breakfast for myself and my boys during Nov. FD and nothing. I got alerts from scout for a couple of Chef Mickeys dinners. When I search for the Dec. trips I can get almost anything as long as I am somewhat flexable.

I honestly believe about 2 months before things will open up. I am not that worried. For our May trip there I found multiple ADRs for the special SW meals.

 

[dpswift]

Also, can I ask another silly newbie question? I feel like here on the chit-chat thread it is okay to ask?

How exactly does "coordinating" work?
Do you just PM someone about wanting their reservation and then you both set a time to cancel and then the other person just tries booking the cancellation at that time? How do you best go about that with the disney booking site always being down and whatnot? Is there a certain time that is less busy (2am?!).

What has worked for me is I like to be in a private chat with the other person so I know they are actually available. Then I tell them to start searching at a set time, when that time comes up I wait about 15 seconds or so and then drop.

Couple of things I have learned Special events like Star Wars meals and most likely Minnie meals need to be picked up on the computer not on phone apps. Also lately I have been doing a trial search to see how the website is working.

 

[loveshak22]

I'll be there that same week, we thought it would be quiet too :/

Hopefully (hopefully, hopefully) we'll be pleasantly surprised!!!

 

[dpswift]

I read that too, but don't have any personal knowledge to answer! We have an 8:05 CRT and as I understand it we can get in the park at 7:45 right?

When we went in May everyone who had an ADR before 9am was allowed in at 8am. It seemed terribly unfair to a few of us. I stalked the website to get 8am BOG and then there were hoards of people with 9am before us. With BOG it was not a big problem and we were still out well before ropedrop.

 

[ldauksch]

When we went in May everyone who had an ADR before 9am was allowed in at 8am. It seemed terribly unfair to a few of us. I stalked the website to get 8am BOG and then there were hoards of people with 9am before us. With BOG it was not a big problem and we were still out well before ropedrop.

Okay, so basically everyone who has an ADR before say 9:15 or so gets in at the same time. Our CRT ADR isn't on our first MK day, we have a full day there earlier in the week and MVMCP before that as well so I don't think we will need to rush anywhere that day especially since my daughter will only be 22 months old so certain rides are out for her. I think I will just keep my 8:20 (might not have a choice anyway) that way we can take our time in the nearly empty park. Thanks for the info!

 

[dpswift]

Okay, so basically everyone who has an ADR before say 9:15 or so gets in at the same time. Our CRT ADR isn't on our first MK day, we have a full day there earlier in the week and MVMCP before that as well so I don't think we will need to rush anywhere that day especially since my daughter will only be 22 months old so certain rides are out for her. I think I will just keep my 8:20 (might not have a choice anyway) that way we can take our time in the nearly empty park. Thanks for the info!

That is how it was the day we went. It might be different on other days.

 

[loveshak22]

When we went in May everyone who had an ADR before 9am was allowed in at 8am. It seemed terribly unfair to a few of us. I stalked the website to get 8am BOG and then there were hoards of people with 9am before us. With BOG it was not a big problem and we were still out well before ropedrop.

That would frustrate me as well!

 

[loveshak22]

That would frustrate me as well!

I wouldn't mind if people with later reservations got seated after me if there were tables, but I'd be frustrated if I had a 8:00 a.m reservation and had to wait while people with 9:00 ADRs got seated first.

 

[22Tink]

I wouldn't mind if people with later reservations got seated after me if there were tables, but I'd be frustrated if I had a 8:00 a.m reservation and had to wait while people with 9:00 ADRs got seated first.

That hardly seems fair! They won't seat you an hour early for dinner so I wonder why they do it for breakfast?

 

[jani3]

What has worked for me is I like to be in a private chat with the other person so I know they are actually available. Then I tell them to start searching at a set time, when that time comes up I wait about 15 seconds or so and then drop.

Couple of things I have learned Special events like Star Wars meals and most likely Minnie meals need to be picked up on the computer not on phone apps. Also lately I have been doing a trial search to see how the website is working.

I didn't know there's a private chat. I'll have to try it that way next time I need to coordinate getting an ADR. Thanks for the info.

 

[dpswift]

I wouldn't mind if people with later reservations got seated after me if there were tables, but I'd be frustrated if I had a 8:00 a.m reservation and had to wait while people with 9:00 ADRs got seated first.

What they did was divided everyone into 2 lines those that preordered and those that did not. At 9 am they did a quick opening show and then those that preordered were sent in to sit. After they were settled those that had not order were allowed in to order and then choose seats. This did not bother us but the woman behind us was having fits.

 

[loveshak22]

ErinsMommy - awesome ADR openings that you are posting on the cancellation thread today!! Nice!!

 

[ldauksch]

That hardly seems fair! They won't seat you an hour early for dinner so I wonder why they do it for breakfast?

I definitely agree it doesn't seem fair but at the same time I can see Disney's reasoning behind doing so. Or at least the part of letting the people with 9 AM ADRs going in early. They can't very well make those people wait until the park opens because then they will be late for their ADR and they probably don't want to have to set up multiple times to let people in for each time slot so the just let everyone in at once. As far as BOG letting those people sit ahead of the 8 AM people that isn't right. I'm curious about what happens at CRT and CP so those aren't quick service restaurants.

 

[22Tink]

I definitely agree it doesn't seem fair but at the same time I can see Disney's reasoning behind doing so. Or at least the part of letting the people with 9 AM ADRs going in early. They can't very well make those people wait until the park opens because then they will be late for their ADR and they probably don't want to have to set up multiple times to let people in for each time slot so the just let everyone in at once. As far as BOG letting those people sit ahead of the 8 AM people that isn't right. I'm curious about what happens at CRT and CP so those aren't quick service restaurants.

Yes, letting them in the park early I totally get, but not seating them. I had no idea this would actually happen because any ADRs I've had they've been so strict about not checking in early. That said, I've never had a pre park opening one so maybe they treat those differently?

 

[Funfire240]

Yes I'm pretty sure they will let you in at 7:45 with everyone else. Last year I had a pre park H&V for 8:20, we showed up about 7:30 and they had staff with IPads checking you in. I'm pretty sure DHS didn't let anyone in until exactly 8am but they let everyone in the line that checked in and we were one of the first groups sat. They probably want to fill the empty restaurant to keep the flow going for the day. So you should be good!! Also another good tip is ask for your check right when you sit down. That way you can head out right at 9am and not miss any of that golden rope drop park time!!

For MK they start letting everyone in around 7:45. We usually schedule DD's BBB appt for 8:30/8:40 and we have always been let in when they first start letting people through. Gives us plenty of time to hang out in front of the castle in an empty park and take pictures

 

[marchingstar]

Yes, letting them in the park early I totally get, but not seating them. I had no idea this would actually happen because any ADRs I've had they've been so strict about not checking in early. That said, I've never had a pre park opening one so maybe they treat those differently?

in my experience this is how it worked. I had an 8:20 reservation at CP (park opened at 9:00). we were let in at the same time as all pre-RD ADRs--we took a couple minutes to take some photos but headed right to the restaurant. We were there by maybe 10 after 8, had no problem checking in, and we're seated in a few minutes. I'm not sure if it would be as easy to check in with, say, and 8:50 reservation, but I do know if your meal starts before RD you can enter the park anytime.