CRT reservations??

[leebee]

The last time we made a breakfast ADR for the Castle was in the year 2000 or 2001. At that time, this was the hottest, hardest reservation to get, after V&A's. We'd start calling about 5 minutes in advance, and there was a known string of numbers to enter, in order after getting through, so you didn't waste time listening to all the "for breakfast reservations, hit "1" kind of thing, so you could get through to the actual CM and get a reservation; they went that quickly. Is it still that way these days? DD wants to take the Little Guy for breakfast at the Castle when we do his first trip in early May. There will be only 2 of them. Do I have to get up at the crack of dawn and keep trying, trying, trying over the intervening months (actually I'll have Touring Plans do this) or are Castle breakfast reservations easier to get these days?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

CRT, especially breakfast, is still a tough get sometimes. I'd recommend being online right as the ADRs open at 6AM ET (maybe a couple minutes early in case they open a couple minutes early). And if you have an onsite reservation, make the CRT day as late in the reservation as you can so you can perhaps benefit from 60 days +3 or +4, etc. Good luck. Hope you can grab a spot!

 

[Mle8308]

Not sure if you were planning on calling, but I think the dining line opens an hour after you can start making reservations for dining online. I would definitely try online and be ready to go even a little before 6am, they often start a few minutes early. Good luck!

 

[Marthasor]

Agree with PP. Be prepared to book online at 6 am, 60 days out from check-in and consider looking at days later in the trip. Also try to be flexible with breakfast times. If that fails, sign up for a dining notification service - especially with a pre-pay ADR, guests will start dropping reservations closer to the date to avoid paying the large no-show fee.

 

[erinch]

We got CRT through a paid dining reservation finder. Multiple ones came through before and during our trip. Well worth the $$ to find hard to get ressies.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

CRT can still go pretty quickly. We haven't been in a while, it's definitely one where I'd use all of my approaches for hard to get dining. I would be ready to go for online booking about 15 minutes early. So, ready to go by 5:45am ET and refreshing periodically. The phones open an hour later, so I wouldn't mess with them at all.

Question- Are you guys staying onsite? The whole 60+length of stay (or 10) is a huge advantage when trying to book high demand dining. I try and push them towards the end of my trip so there's less competition in play for the date.

If for some reason you still miss out, I'm a big fan of stalking the website. I know there are paid services out there but things do really open up as you get closer to travel. CRT may not as much because of the prepayment requirement, but when DD16 and I popped in back in November, availability changed considerably up to the final hours before our intended dining time.

 

[leebee]

OP here. I'd planned on getting an early start, probably at least an hour before the site theoretically opens, and will make our last day at Disney the first day I try for an ADR. One question, though. I know I need a park ticket to get in to eat at the Castle, but do I need to have the ticket in my account to make the reservation? I don't think I do, but it's been forever since I've made an ADR for an in-park restaurant. We mostly dine at the resorts or Disney Springs, or take a chance on a walk-up. No taking a chance on walking up for breakfast at the Castle, though!

 

[CarolynFH]

OP here. I'd planned on getting an early start, probably at least an hour before the site theoretically opens, and will make our last day at Disney the first day I try for an ADR. One question, though. I know I need a park ticket to get in to eat at the Castle, but do I need to have the ticket in my account to make the reservation? I don't think I do, but it's been forever since I've made an ADR for an in-park restaurant. We mostly dine at the resorts or Disney Springs, or take a chance on a walk-up. No taking a chance on walking up for breakfast at the Castle, though!

Nope, no ticket needed to book the ADR, only to enjoy it! Good luck!

 

[MommaKetch]

As a back up, I like to use mousedining.com as you can set a few alerts for free.