Dining availability vs FP+

[KyGirl]

We have a week long trip planned, starting May 9, 2015. Today was the first day that I could make dining reservations. I only wanted ONE reservation for the whole week, to see Doc McStuffins and Sofia at Hollywood & Vine. I thought this wasn't a very popular restaurant so I wasn't worried. Plus last week, while I was waiting, I played around with the reservations website and there was always tons of availability for the week before we go.

Anyway, I got online first thing this morning and there were NO reservations for breakfast or lunch for either of the two days I wanted, Sunday or Tuesday. For Hollywood & Vine! I even called to make sure there wasn't something wrong with the computer system and they confirmed this. I was finally able to get a spot for lunch on Thursday but I'll have to shuffle some plans. No big deal as we're obviously still six months out.

Anyway, now I'm freaking out about crowds and FP+ availability. I guess my question is, how closely does dining availability predict the availability of FP+, and of crowd levels in general? Should I start worrying now? (That won't be a problem. Freaking out about things I can't control is totally my special skill!) Any thoughts on this?

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Isn't that when they have Star Wars Weekends? Could it be they're not opening up reservations because they're going to have some special Star Wars meals going on? Or something else on those days? Does seem odd that they'd be completely booked right away, so makes me think there's another reason behind it.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Interesting...unless of course it is SWW. My last visit was Oct 26- Oct 31 (during free dining) We did HS on Mon Oct 27 and had ressies for 10:15. A guy checked in before me and didn't have ressies and was even seated before me. There were lots of tables available it seemed.

 

[Bektasmic]

I can't answer your question, but as one fellow freak-out-about-planning nut to another, don't redo all your spreadsheets and planning pages yet. I've been a little ridiculous about tweaking ADRs and for our Feb trip as preferred times have opened up.

I've seen so much different avail for a bunch of different restaurants over the past month. Something could open tomorrow! I think ppl tend to grab whatever they think they might possibly be wanting right at the 180 mark and then tweak and perfect things as time goes by. I noticed from one day to the next there can be major differences. So keep checking back in. Something might open up.

And if you can handle last minute changes, I've learned from this board that 24 hours before the day in question, sometimes a lot opens up b/c ppl make final decisions to avoid the cancellation fees.

I also think the almost unlimited ability to make ADRs (especially using multiple MDX accounts) is different from the 3-a-day limited ability to book fast passes. At least I'm hoping. So it wouldn't necessarily indicate craziness for the FP+ window generally speaking.

 

[KyGirl]

As far as I can tell, Star Wars Weekend is not until the following weekend. So I don't think that would affect the actual days that I was trying to book. But good guess!

 

[MarFV]

I bet anything it is Star Wars related. You can book both Breakfast and Lunch at H&V and Lunch at Sci-Fi on May 3. But starting on May 4th, there is no availability for either. Last year, after they added the special Star Wars meals, they had to adjust people's reservations. Perhaps this is to prevent that again.

 

[jennab113]

In the SWW thread, someone said that the SW meals started on May 4th (Star Wars Day... aka May the forth with you) and continued daily until the SWWs were over.

 

[KyGirl]

In the SWW thread, someone said that the SW meals started on May 4th (Star Wars Day... aka May the forth with you) and continued daily until the SWWs were over.

Wait a second. So even when it is not one of the official days of the Star Wars "Weekend" would there still be Star Wars characters at H&V? I'm pretty sure my Doc McStuffins loving two year old would be sorely disappointed to encounter a scary Star Wars crew instead. If that's the case, I'll need to cancel and give up on this totally.

 

[Missyrose]

Wait a second. So even when it is not one of the official days of the Star Wars "Weekend" would there still be Star Wars characters at H&V? I'm pretty sure my Doc McStuffins loving two year old would be sorely disappointed to encounter a scary Star Wars crew instead. If that's the case, I'll need to cancel and give up on this totally.

Last year the H&V Star Wars character meal was dinner.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Last year the H&V Star Wars character meal was dinner.

Could be changing it up this year. Or adding if there was a lot of demand last year.

 

[Itinkso]

Could be changing it up this year. Or adding if there was a lot of demand last year.

Right now, it's just dinner that can't be booked beginning May 4th at H&V.

That's also happening for lunch at SciFi beginning on May 4th. It appears Disney is preparing for SW Dinner at H&V and Galactic Breakfast at SciFi and they are determining when to begin regular lunch at SciFi because things got backed up last year.

 

[Princess Olivia]

So glad I read this! I have been going crazy trying to figure this out!! My 180 opened today and I was able to get everything including an 8:00 am Crystal Palace and Wishes dessert party but CAN NOT book a lunch at Sci Fi on May 12th. However, Brown Derby and 50's Prime time are available. Star Wars dining would make sense as to why it's not open yet. Thanks for the information!

 

[Cyrano]

Moving to Dining board