Dining at WDW in October 2014

[thebadger]

Hello to all you wonderful dis members! Another question from your truly. I have had a search in the forum and could not see this answered anywhere else so decided to fire up an individual question.

We are staying at CBR for 2 weeks arriving 10th October and leaving 24th October. We are on the DDP 3 adults 1 child. Now during this time will the 180 ADR rule still apply to key/ popular restaurant's?

We booked through a travel agent who said that while WDW is generally busy all year round October is no where near busy as summer and that booking places to eat should be slightly easier.

For example my wife and daughter are really wanting to have dinner at BoG, I have worked out my 180 days ( by my math my first booking date would be Monday 14th April) whats my chances slim and none

This is a first in a series of questions if I cant find my answer in the search function.

in advance

Badger

 

[ColonelHathi]

Hello to all you wonderful dis members! Another question from your truly. I have had a search in the forum and could not see this answered anywhere else so decided to fire up an individual question.

We are staying at CBR for 2 weeks arriving 10th October and leaving 24th October. We are on the DDP 3 adults 1 child. Now during this time will the 180 ADR rule still apply to key/ popular restaurant's?

We booked through a travel agent who said that while WDW is generally busy all year round October is no where near busy as summer and that booking places to eat should be slightly easier.

For example my wife and daughter are really wanting to have dinner at BoG, I have worked out my 180 days ( by my math my first booking date would be Monday 14th April) whats my chances slim and none

This is a first in a series of questions if I cant find my answer in the search function.

in advance

Badger

We went October 18-27 this year. Plan to book your ADRs, especially the more popular ones, right at your 180 window. Booking for Be Our Guest, Cinderella's Royal Table, Pirate's League, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, etc. booked up rather quickly. BOG was not available for the first few nights of our stay when our 180 window opened up, but we got it for our +9 day (it was probably available for like +6 day or later, but we weren't planning MK day for the earlier part of our trip). October is still a very popular time to go, but crowdwise not as bad as summer - but then they also staff the parks/restaurants accordingly.

Columbus Day is very popular, so I would plan for/around that.

That being said, we were able to book them all at once rather easily online, then followed up for PL and BBB by phone an hour later. I just had a large cup of coffee to get me through it all.

You will have to call separately a day or two after your window opens up for you later dates though, since it's only +10 from your 180 day window, and not +14.

 

[thebadger]

thanks ColonelHathi A few follow ups...

Is Columbus day a national holiday day ( i.e parks could be fuller?) the weekend leading up to Columbus day and the day itself.

The places we have decided to eat at thus far are

BoG which we hope to get for the 18th October as its our wedding anniversary

Others are Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose, Akershus & Tuskers ( both for breakfast) Crystal palace, Ohana, Rainforest cafe & Paradiso 37.

What's PL & BBB

You will have to call separately a day or two after your window opens up for you later dates though, since it's only +10 from your 180 day window, and not +14.

I thought I would have to call every day to book a place to eat for example if I wanted to book Ohana on day 11 of our trip that works out 180 days exactly as Wed 23rd April. As I thought that was the case.

Thanks again

badger

 

[ColonelHathi]

thanks ColonelHathi A few follow ups...

Is Columbus day a national holiday day ( i.e parks could be fuller?) the weekend leading up to Columbus day and the day itself.

The places we have decided to eat at thus far are

BoG which we hope to get for the 18th October as its our wedding anniversary

Others are Hollywood & Vine, Mama Melrose, Akershus & Tuskers ( both for breakfast) Crystal palace, Ohana, Rainforest cafe & Paradiso 37.

What's PL & BBB

You will have to call separately a day or two after your window opens up for you later dates though, since it's only +10 from your 180 day window, and not +14.

I thought I would have to call every day to book a place to eat for example if I wanted to book Ohana on day 11 of our trip that works out 180 days exactly as Wed 23rd April. As I thought that was the case.

Thanks again

badger

The Columbus day weekend is a bit busier due to locals mainly, and I think Columbus day itself can be busy as well. The weekend we left followed Columbus day (10/18) and is a common weekend for discounts to be released and school breaks (MN and Indiana both statewide). Parks were not too bad for us though.

Since youare staying on property you can start booking at your 180 day and also make reservations for the next 10 days (or through 10/20). So on 4/23 plan for that. On 4/24 your window will include/open up for 10/21 (if that's your day 11, book 'Ohana then), etc., etc.

We did Mama Melrose's Fantasmic! Dining package for lunch - it took a while to find online but well worth the special seating area. We also did Akershus breakfast (popular) and Crystal Palace pre-park (also very popular) right when the window opened up. Tusker House is popular as well (next trip must-do for us).

We also did BOG to celebrate our anniversary too (not actual day though), but hopefully for you the service improves. It gets mixed reviews. The atmosphere and surroundings are pretty cool though.

We booked TRex directly with the restaurant, which you could probably do with RainForest Cafe as well - just gave them our last name. We did this at 6 months and they were like "OK?" about it, but hey, it worked fine, no worries. Not sure if Paradiso 37 is AS popular as others, but you might as well book it when you do the others.

for your daughter:
PL = Pirate's League
BBB = Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

 

[ColonelHathi]

Oh, and I worked at WDW in the spring and summer months and October is NO WHERE near the same insane crowd levels as July. It had it's moments though with Epcot Food & Wine Festival, and Magic Kingdom on a non-Halloween party day. Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios weren't nearly so bad.