DDP or reservations first?

[Jen125]

I'm thinking about buying the DDP, but wondering if I can make dinner reservations and then buy the DDP, or if I have to buy the DDP first?

Also - how far out from the visit can dinner reservations be made?

 

[cassie58]

You can make dining reservations w/o the DDP. Many people do not buy it, but still make reservations ahead and just pay OOP, or buy it closer to the trip date. They can be made 180 days in advance, and it is best to do them at that time to be able to get what you want, and you can change/cancel as your trip gets closer. If you have already made a room reservation on property, you can do 180+10, and on your 180 day mark make your ADRs(advanced dining reservations) for your whole trip. You can start online at 6am or by phone at 7am. If you are trying for any really popular ADRs(Cinderella's Royal Table, Be Our Guest, Chef Mickey's, etc.), you should try to reserve those first. Of course this means you need to have a plan for which park you plan to visit each day so you know which places to reserve to coordinate. You have to enter a CC as a guarantee, and a few require paying up front(like the castle), but you may be refunded if you cancel before the deadline. HTH!

 

[Jen125]

Thank you. It's less than 180 days until we go, so some places are already booked up. I'm thinking of figuring out where we want to eat, seeing if we can get reservations, and then deciding whether to get a dining plan or not.

 

[sharonabe]

Thank you. It's less than 180 days until we go, so some places are already booked up. I'm thinking of figuring out where we want to eat, seeing if we can get reservations, and then deciding whether to get a dining plan or not.

That is your wisest course of action.

 

[cassie58]

People change reservations all the time so keep checking, especially as it gets closer and they firm up their plans. There is also a cancellation thread for each month on the dining forum, where people post things they are cancelling and you can try and coordinate to grab it.

 

[Jen125]

Thank you - I've found the cancellation thread now, so I'll keep an eye on it and try to grab things