Current Availability

[RebeccaB]

If current availability is any indication of crowd levels for the first two weeks of September, color me happy!! I'm playing around with adr's and so far even Le Celier is available every night of my stay between 5:00 and 7:00pm. Fingers crossed for repeat performances of past September crowds.

 

[peachydreamyxx]

I'm hoping so too! However if they re-release the Sept FD promo, it will become much harder to grab an ADR and will definitley increase the crowds a bit.

 

[Aubsmama]

If current availability is any indication of crowd levels for the first two weeks of September, color me happy!! I'm playing around with adr's and so far even Le Celier is available every night of my stay between 5:00 and 7:00pm. Fingers crossed for repeat performances of past September crowds.

I hope so too!! We are going the last week in September and I'm hoping the crowds will be good! I've only been to WDW in the past in July and August, so I am looking forward to smaller crowds!! Fingers crossed!!

 

[jjsdad]

When I booked my ressys for the last week of aug a few weeks ago Le Celier was very available for dinner. Incase you didn't know, they have changed their dinner service to a signature meal (2 TS credits) from a table service. This just happened this month I think. Try booking a late lunch and see what you get, since lunch is still just 1 table service credit. Finding a lunch one was very very hard, although I'm sure sept will be much less busier than the end of aug.

 

[disneychic2]

True about Le Cellier, but DH and I usually go in September and the crowd levels have always been outstanding! Even with free dining. To give you an idea, I got my very first shots of the lobby of TOT when we were there the first week of December last year because we've never had to wait long enough (in Sept.) to take pictures! So we're back to September this year again. It's hot, but so worth it!

 

[RebeccaB]

I love Disney in September! We went the first of Oct last year and I was surprised at the difference just a week made. It was more crowded, but it was also Food & Wine Festival at Epcot.
I also have a pic of ToT sign waittime at 13 mins , and Monster's Inc Laugh Floor at 999 mins...the sign was malfunctioning, it was a walkin.

 

[MrsLS]

That would be good for you but I think since Le Cellier is now 2 credits & raised their prices, I would think less people are going to book dinner there and that might be the case.

 

[focusondisney]

If current availability is any indication of crowd levels for the first two weeks of September, color me happy!! I'm playing around with adr's and so far even Le Celier is available every night of my stay between 5:00 and 7:00pm. Fingers crossed for repeat performances of past September crowds.

I have been thinking the exact same thing! It's not just Le Cellier. I can find adr's for 2 people at all the popular places :Cinderella's Royal Table, California Grill, Chef Mickey's for prime dining times.

Last year, most of those were pretty slim after 180 days. Let's keep it to ourselves!

 

[vinotinto]

That would be good for you but I think since Le Cellier is now 2 credits & raised their prices, I would think less people are going to book dinner there and that might be the case.

I think that's exactly what is going on. LeCellier is not a good indicator anymore or how busy it will be at restaurants. I booked my ADRs for Labor Day recently (approximately 175 days out), and I wanted a 6:00 pm time slot at Yachtsman, and the only availabilities around that time were 5:25 or 6:45 pm. So, 5.5 months out I had to settle for 45 minutes past my prefered ADR time.

And they have not yet announced free dining for September and October, but previous years have had free dining, and if they do it again, restaurants will once again be packed.

 

[jwfla422]

Early September is usually a quiet time around WDW although dining availability and park attendance don't go hand and hand.

From experience Epcot is usually less crowded in early Sept. than most times of the year however it is a popular time of the year for field trips for Florida schools. (and most of those schools won't be lunching at places like Le Cellier)

But all around the slowest times of the year at WDW are mid-late January and early-mid September. Once upon a time early Dec. was a quiet time to go but not anymore, the word got out on that one.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I think most people aren't as big of planners as those of us on these boards. Up until last week I was able to change EVERY meal including LeCellier and CRT for our May trip (so about 60 days out). This week however, everything is booked up and I'm having trouble moving just about everything.

September is when we normally travel and while crowds are low it's hard to get ADR's then... since this year FD hasn't been offered since DEc. it might be fewer people with it.

 

[diamondpixienc]

To the opening poster. I was wondering the same thing as I made all of my ADR's for our early Sept trip w/ No problems. Every thing was wide open and I got all of them with the times I wanted. I am so hoping this will mean lighter crowds.

 

[Aurora in blue]

We made all our adrs and got everything we wanted. So excited to go to Chef Mickeys and Ohana. We went Sept. 09 we could not get adrs for those restaurants. We're eating at Le Cellier for lunch it is my ds favorite.
I am hoping for low crowds and manageable humidity!!!


AKL free dining 9/2-9/10

 

[portobello_rd]

i made my ADRs this morning and due to not feeling well i did not set my alarm. i made them when i woke up online, and that was about 9 am florida time. i booked about 18 places, including le cellier, chef mickeys, narcoossees, california grill, royal table, and i got everything within a half hour of the time i wanted. i was nervous since i slept in but everything worked out OK.

 

[kamikazecat]

I hope for your sake that this is an indicator, however, we are going in late June/early July and have been able to move ADR's around like crazy including Le Cellier for lunch and dinner as well as CRT. We are doing deluxe dining and have not been blocked by any reservation at this point and we are 85 days out.

 

[tina.tina]

I don't think reservation availability this far out is a good indicator of how crowded things will be. We were supposed to go in early February. At about 46 days out, there was availability at many restaurants for ADRs. Two weeks later, none at all for popular places. We wanted to check in at Disney 1 night early. There was availability for Pop Century also at 46 days out. A week later, the only value resort that had availability for that night was AS Sports in the preferred section but that didn't last long.

Further evidence: Due to medical issues, we changed our reservation to April 7th- crowd levels 7&8. (Can't wait!) Even at 80 days out, there were ADRs available for CRT, Chef Mickey's, Le Cellier at lunch, and Ohana. There were even Fantasmic Packages available a few days ago.

That said, my friend went for her first visit in September last year and said the longest she waited was 20 minutes for anything.

 

[candy0730]

I make my ADRs tomorrow so out of curiosity I input Crystal Palace for 09/16/11 and 8:10 is available and then I input Akershus and got 8:05. These are great times for breakfast if you want to get into the park before it opens at 9:00 am. If this is any indication I should be able to get great ADRs.
Just wanted to add that we have gone in September the last couple of years and while the parks aren't as crowded as most other times of the year it has been difficult getting decent ADRs due to free dining.