Cinderella's Royal Table

[zendisney]

I am not sure how this works... but when we checked in this morning at CRT at 8:15 am we saw a family of three walk up and get seated. I thought that was pretty amazing considering we have tried for almost 10 years to get in.
We got our ressies online.
I am thinking taking a chance to walk up... if you think you can't get ressies online or by phone may be an option.
Pretty interesting.

 

[chelsie*]

Funny you should mention that. As luck would have it we could not get any ressies online nor over the phone *but* once there, while walking past their reception area I jokingly asked if there was a chance that someone cancelled for the day. My jaw practically dropped to the floor when they told me that they could seat us now. She didn't have to ask me twice and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Dreams do come true.

 

[DebbyLof428]

Thanks for the info. Good to know.

 

[shuteye]

My 5 yo son asked while we were at MK last week if we could have lunch with Cinderella in the Castle. I called Disney Res and of course they had nothing. So I check online and yep we got a reservation for 2 days later. We were shocked! So I say give it a try!

 

[PoohsFan1]

Is it just me or does it seem easier to get CRT than say a couple of years ago. I remember when we first went to Disney with my 2 kids back in 2005 and the one thing that we wanted to do was eat in Cinderella's Castle. Well before I was able to make my ADRs, I had heard many many horror stories about how I had to wake up exactly at 6am (Disney Dining opened at 7am) and if I got a recording to hang up and immediately hit redial, and keep doing this until I finally got someone. When I did finally get someone, there was of course no availability but when my DH came home from work, he tried calling himself and of course he got us in PLUS my sister's family (as long as we were willing to split up). NOW, I have been checking some of my harder ADRs that I have for our September trip (CRT dinner being one of them) and I am always finding availability right around the time that I already have booked. I don't know if it is because it is dinner and breakfast is harder to get, or because it is in September when we are arriving . Just find it strange.

 

[ktlm]

We haven't found it easier to get into CRT. We went to WDW twice last year, both times I was up at the crack of dawn on the first possible day to get my ADR. The 1st time, there was only one time available for breakfast or lunch the entire week we were there. The second time, we had a little more of a choice of times, but the first available day was 6 days into our trip. On that trip however, we did watch a guy walk up and ask if there were any openings. The hostess said "Actually, we can seat your party right now". He said "No, we aren't quite hungry for lunch yet, I was thinking in an hour or so" (this was at 12:15). She said no we are booked the rest of the day. The guy seemed irritated and walked off. I about had to pick my mouth up off the floor and I felt like popping him upside the head as he walked by! I would have been running inside jumping for joy!

 

[clairemolly]

This is our 3rd time having lunch at CRT. In 2006 we went in late May (arrived on Memorial Day) and I was able to get a lunch reservation in Jan when I planned my trip (and looked pretty much like this on the phone when I was able to get it). This was for a party of 3.

In 2008 and this year I booked at exactly 180 days out and had no problem getting the exact time I wanted...both ADRs were for parties of 5.

In 2008 we went in Oct and are going this year in Nov. Not sure if time of year makes a difference though.

 

[zhazhazsu]

On May 7th I saw a family of 10 get a walk up right at 8:00am:

It was AMAZING!

 

[OakvilleMom]

Well, it sure gives me some glimmer of hope. We were hoping our Concierge could pull some strings, but sounds like we should do get there first thing and ask.

 

[02AggieGirl]

When we were there in Feb of this year, as we walked through the Castle to Fantasyland, the ladies at the podium were calling out that they had openings for the day. We thought about it but decided to just keep the ADRs we already had, but I was very surprised!

 

[stitchlovestink]

hmmmm....interesting....
I have been contemplating eating at the castle this trip, but have not attempted to get ressies...
now I am thinking that maybe we will take our chances when we get there...
I was thinking of dinner this time as we have not eaten dinner in the castle since 1998. We have alwayshad bfast all the other times.
how is the dinner menu? Anyone eaten dinner there lately??

 

[mom2rtk]

Back in 2004 we ate there for the first time. You had to synchronize your clocks to the one at the naval observatory to even have a shot at scoring a CRT reservation. But back then the princesses were only there at breakfast. Some time after that they added lunch, so the availability doubled. In February of this year, they added the princesses to dinner, so princess dining capacity has tripled. Throw in a bad economy, and I'm not surprised. Regardless, if you want to eat there, scoring a walk-up is not something I would plan on.

 

[jldunbar]

If you wake up and it is raining it is worth trying to walk up and be seated. It happened to us, a group of 3, in 2004. Strange enough I read about this on Dis boards before leaving

 

[turningleaf]

To those who see people walk up and get seated at 8am or 8.30am, was it EMH? I thought you cannot enter the park before 9am unless you already have a reservation? So how would you go in if you wanted to chance it?

 

[mom2rtk]

To those who see people walk up and get seated at 8am or 8.30am, was it EMH? I thought you cannot enter the park before 9am unless you already have a reservation? So how would you go in if you wanted to chance it?

Go to the gate they use for early entry for people with ADR's. They will know if there are openings. They won't let you back unless there is a chance for an opening.

 

[hookedonears]

I may be wrong, but I believe it works like this, each "group" (1) Disney reservations, (2) Online Reservations and (3) the restaurant it self for walk ups are given allotments of reservations that are totally unrelated and independent. One can sell out, but the other 2 still have reservations to give. Also I believe that each group allocates their reservations over a period of time. They don't give them all away at once 180 days in advance. they only give a percentage away, so you can call 175 days in advance and they’re sold out, but then call again 90 days in advance and they have additional reservations available.

 

[mom2rtk]

I may be wrong, but I believe it works like this, each "group" (1) Disney reservations, (2) Online Reservations and (3) the restaurant it self for walk ups are given allotments of reservations that are totally unrelated and independent. One can sell out, but the other 2 still have reservations to give. Also I believe that each group allocates their reservations over a period of time. They don't give them all away at once 180 days in advance. they only give a percentage away, so you can call 175 days in advance and they’re sold out, but then call again 90 days in advance and they have additional reservations available.

I'm sure someone who knows for sure will chime in.. but I'm quite sure they don't hold any back for walk-ups.

 

[duranasaur]

To those who see people walk up and get seated at 8am or 8.30am, was it EMH? I thought you cannot enter the park before 9am unless you already have a reservation? So how would you go in if you wanted to chance it?

We just had breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table on 05/05/10 (8:15 reservation). When we arrived at the park, they just asked us if we had a reservation and didn't check anything. It seemed like anyone could show up early, say they have a reservation, and enter the park early.

 

[mom2rtk]

We just had breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table on 05/05/10 (8:15 reservation). When we arrived at the park, they just asked us if we had a reservation and didn't check anything. It seemed like anyone could show up early, say they have a reservation, and enter the park early.

That's not a plan I would count on. Most days they have a clipboard with names and check you against the list. Like most policies at Disney, you can find variance on how they enforce them on any given day. But I'm not sure I'd drag myself to the park that early without KNOWING you have an ADR to get in.

 

[duranasaur]

That's not a plan I would count on. Most days they have a clipboard with names and check you against the list. Like most policies at Disney, you can find variance on how they enforce them on any given day. But I'm not sure I'd drag myself to the park that early without KNOWING you have an ADR to get in.

I was wondering about that! I was so surprised that they were just asking people if they had a reservation and didn't ask for a confirmation number or name or anything.