Cindy's Breakfast advice & encouragement

[Princesstimes2]

I had it marked in my favorites. It was a post from gthornson I think. But I went to it and it said invalid thread. So, I don't know what happened to it. If I find the info. I will send it. Good Luck.

 

[Princesstimes2]

Specific Instructions for Getting a Cindy's PS
After reading a bunch of threads and getting some helpful (but occasionally conflicting) advice, I finally got my PS for Cindy's. I wanted to share my strategy with others who are torn about using outside help to get PS. Here is what I would recommend:

1) Determine the date that you can make your Cindy's reservation. Go to the DIS Priority Seating calculator and verify the earliest calling date for the dates that you can attend (60 days prior). Realize that there is a VERY good chance that you will be unsuccessful if you only try once. So plan on getting a PS for early in your trip and if you get it, GREAT. If you don't, you can still try the next morning.

2) You should only make reservations using the (407) 939-3463 number. The (800) numbers used for Disney Club and other services have delays (as much as 12 seconds) that will seriously hinder your ability to get a Cindy's PS.

3) Syncronize your clock. Go to the official U.S. time clock for great results. I have DSL at home, so I leave the official U.S. clock up on my screen while calling.

4) Begin calling at about 6:58 Eastern time. There are two possible greetings:
a) Thank you for calling the Disney Reservation Center. Our office is closed... (hang up immediately as soon as you hear the words "Our office" and hit redial immediately).
or
b) Thank you for calling the Disney reservation center (pause). You're in and on hold! Wait! Do NOT hang up or you will lose any chance of a ressie!

Please note that as of April 4, 2002, there is no option to hit "1" as previously described in some threads. The only responses are in a) and b) above. Simply wait to here whether the recording says, "Our office is closed."

Plan on calling 10-15 times during this two minute period. The range seems to be picking up between 6:58:30 and 6:59:30.

5) Upon speaking to a "live person", interrupt the CRO rep and blurt out "I need Cindy's, for June xx, for x people, any available time". The CRO rep will understand your temporary rudeness, and you'll make up for it later with endless amounts of gratitude... Don't try and pick a specific time. Any delays will seriously hinder your ability to get a PS.

6) Be sure to write down your time and PS #. If your PS is before the park opening, you'll have to present your PS# to get into the park.

Have any editorial suggestion? Please share!

Good luck to you all!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Thanks for all the info!

Oh and btw, my 2yr old is in my lap and she just informed me that your avatar is "my Rella".

That would be HER Cinderella who don't know her "speak".

LOL

 

[Princesstimes2]

Yes, I know that language. I have a two year old too. She also calls her Rella. I hope the info helps. I got a ps in December using these tips. And my girls LOVED seeing Rella. If you don't get it, call when you get there and keep calling. They do get cancellations.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I love that 2yr old language. She can say just about anything, but refuses to say the entire "Cinderella". It's usually just Rella (or the ever popular MY Rella) LOL

I will do my best to get the PS and keep trying even throughout our trip! I never once saw Cinderella on both of my last trips except in the parades. So I hope we can see her SOMEHOW.

 

[AnnaS]

Well I started calling this am at 6:59 with three phone lines. Closed, closed, closed, finally get through at about 7:01 and on hold for 5 minutes. Of course all booked. Many long distance calls and no PS. I might try one more time tomorrow, if no PS, I might just book the 1900 Park Fare (?).

Tried again this am, no luck - I can't wait to see my bill. What really got me frustrated this morning was that I was using 4 different lines (two at home and two cell), they do not answer in order call is received which really stinks. I was told computer randomly selects call. What kind of fairness is that? You have a better chance of hitting lotto.

Well, thanks to someone who send me an e-mail with the 800 number. I decided to try one last time for our last morning. We are in. Now I can't wait as much as my daughter.

 

[Ithastobe]

Well... Day 3 of calling. On hold for about 5 minutes. All sold out already. Asked about the day before and BINGO had table for 4 for 9:50 a.m. Whoo Hoo!

If you can believe it, we waited to make all of our other plans (hotel, plane, rent-a-car based on us getting these ressies!) After I got off the phone with Disney - spent all day confirming up everything else. All set for Cindy on 4/29/03.

I even had hubby up and calling today. I know this is crazy, but my two girls (aged 5 and 3) would have bummed if we missed this.

Never thought I'd see the day that the entire trip is based off these ressies! Thought I'd share my good news to you all, and if you want to get these, it is possible

 

[AnnaS]

Wow, good for you. Now could someone have cancelled that fast after reserving or could they have had an opening which for this week/time is almost impossible. Glad it all worked out for you.

 

[ccgegg]

Thanks for the advice from others to never give up. We just returned from our trip. Only were there 3 mornings, but asked the concierge to check for cancellations every time we got on and off the hotel elevator (I'm sure she got sick of us asking). But on the day before we were leaving, there were actually 3 different openings... yep, we had a CHOICE of times! And it was well worth it. The food is actually quite good and filling. Not to mention the great service... waitress called me "my lord" and my wife "my lady". If anyone is going in the near future, the characters present were Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Alice. Our 2 year DD was completely infatuated! And I, her father, couldn't resist getting my picture taken with Cinderella. Hope my wife doesn't mind the 11x14 enlargement I'm getting. ;-)

 

[Ashley24]

Well, we had only one day to try to get the CRT ressies so dh and I both tried calling and we both got the same time, April 27th at 9:40. If anyone would like one of our ressies, just send me an email.
Ann

 

[AnnaS]

Just curious, would someone else just take your ressie? Reason I am asking is do they enforce the check ID thing? and don't they carge your cc a few dollars? Just curious.

 

[Ashley24]

I would arrange a mutual time to call in to cancel the ressie and then the other person could call immediately afterwards asking for that same morning. They use the cc to hold the ressie but I don't believe they charge it at all.
Ann

 

[wisconsinmousermom]

Originally posted by Princesstimes2
Please note that as of April 4, 2002, there is no option to hit "1" as previously described in some threads. The only responses are in a) and b) above. Simply wait to here whether the recording says, "Our office is closed."

I don't agree with this statement. YOU MUST dial 1 immediatily after the pause, you get through MUCH MUCH faster. My dh and I did it 3 days in a row and only when we dialed 1 did we get through. Otherwise we were on hold till sometimes 5-7 minutes after seven.

My other advice is practice, practice, practice. Use more than 1 phone. Cell phones will work, we used 4, 2 each. Start calling at 6:57 EST. Start trying for PS's on the 1st day you will be at Disney, that way if you don't get through or get a late time one day, you will have the opportunity to try for an earlier time the next day or any following day.

1st day I called was just a practice day. 2nd day I called I got through right at 7:00 am, got a 9:45 PS. 3rd day I called I got through at 6:59 am, quickly punched 1, CM answered right away and I got an 8:30 am PS. I really think it depends on how fast your CM is that answers and the season you're trying to get a PS too.

THANKS TO EVERYONE...who has given advice on this board about getting these PS's. It was a GREAT help!!

 

[jwfla422]

For the record, when we went a few weeks ago, they did NOT check my ID. I remember that they DID however check it last August, so I could have been anyone using my PS this past visit. Don't forget about the deposit though and keepin mind, there is always the possibility of them checking ID.

I still think the whole thing is so ridiculous, getting up early (if you don't have to, etc) and then trying to get the luck of the draw to get a PS. But, I am one of those who continues to do it

 

[Ashley24]

When you make your PS ressie, and they take your CC #, do they actually charge your card at that time or just use it to hold your ressie?
Ann

 

[Princesstimes2]

wisconsonmousermom,

Someone was trying to get to the tips page of this forum, I found it and copied this post and pasted it.

The options have changed NUMEROUS times since April. I know just last October, when I was trying for ressies, that it changed a couple of times within days of each other. So, everyone trying for these priority seatings should do a practice run the morning/night before to see what the present options are. That is what I did and I wrote down the options everytime. So, I would not forget them when I felt like this in the morning.


Ashley24, they charged my credit card the morning that I made the PS.

 

[momto2princesses]

I was able to get reservations last week by pushing 0 not 1. We only pushed 1 the first day of trying and waited on line 7-9 minutes. The second day we had 4 lines going and the ones that we pushed 0 on both got reservations with little or no wait while the lines with 1 pushed remained on hold.

I am going to cancel one of the reservations for 8:30, April 29, party of 4 and keep the earlier one. If anyone is interested in them I would be happy to coordinate it with you.

 

[cinmell]

If 2 people get thru and you use the same cc# to hold the PS, is the dining system smart enough to know that there are 2 reservations for the same person, if so, will it cancel one or both of them? Obviously I would cancel one if we got two, I just thought I read this somewhere

 

[Shells9]

Woo Hoo!!! It was one of the more stressful things I have done in my life, but WE GOT PS FOR CINDY'S!

I got through at about 6:58 or 6:59 atomic time, and got ressies for 8:15 on May 3!!!! I was so happy I was almost crying! I hit 1 as soon as the message started and was on hold for about 5 seconds before a SUPER nice CM picked up and helped me out! I was a little surprised at how long it took to get the info and how slow her computer appeared to be.

Just had to share my joy. I think I have read EVRY guidebook out here, every post here & at other boards and am very grateful for everyone's tips!

 

[tpseller]

I did not get through for Cindy's breakfast. Bummer!

I got up at 3:45 AM!!! I had three lines going - I pressed 1 - I pressed 0 - NOTHING!!!

So if anyone has a reservation that they are not going to use on April 30-May3, please let me know!

I asked the person I talked to if they had any cancellations on those days and she said no without even checking!

Should I continue to call for cancellations, or just wait until one week prior?

I can't beleive I am a grown woman getting up this early to get a breakfast reservation with a teenager dressed up in a costume!

I didn't tell my daughter that I was trying - didn't want her to be dissapointed!

Good luck to the rest of you!