Dining Plan Sucks!

[JaimJaim76]

We booked our vacation for the week of October 11 and I had a hard time making ADR also, though I made ours online. I was lucky enough to get the two main spots that we wanted but we will have to park hop on one of the days to make it. We only had one time slot available for everything we chose, so we just took what we could get and I booked anything I could find with an opening. There were a couple places we wanted that were completely booked and I was disappointed but Im trying to focus on the whole experience and not let everything revolve around our ADRs. Just make the most of what you can get. Im sure something will come up and you will have luck somewhere, dont get too upset

 

[Cupcake88]

I don't recommend doing this as a rule for all of your ADRs but last January we decided to stay at AKL instead of heading out that night (it was wicked windy and cold) and went to Boma first thing in the AM and asked if they had anything for that evening. They did and at a perfect time!!! Just a little bit of unexpected magic. I'd book what you can and then check the ones you want to see if they have any openings...you never know what or when you might find!!! Just don't forget to pay it forward and cancel the ones you don't use!

Sharon

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't see the correction as snippy or snarky. Though we have some pixie dust on the Restaurant Board, similar to the Transportation Board, it's important that the information posted is correct and accurate. The PP was just correcting you, not bashing you

In any case...to the OP..you aren't the first, and you won't be the last, person to not realize you have to make those dining ADRs as early as possible. If I had a dime for every person I've talked to that thought they could wait until a week or two before their trip to decide where they wanted to eat, I would be a millionaire!!!
There are lots of good alternatives though. As already mentioned, try some of the resorts. They have some really good restaurants. You may not get exactly what you want, but you may be surprised at some of the spots you do get and then find you enjoy.
Try the online booking system as well. As someone mentioned already, if the spot you want isn't available, you will get some recommendations for restaurants that are available for that time frame and area...you may find something really fun.

Nine Dragons in World Showcase is usually easier to get into, as is Marrakesh in Morocco. both have good food. Try the Plaza in MK...love it there. Rather than try something in DHS, head to the Epcot resorts...YC/BC/BW..many good choices there as well.

 

[MouseMomx2]

ElizabethB - Thanks for the great list!

Have you dined at your #5 below (the Wolfgang Puck Cafe)? It's available for one of my dates - trying to figure out if the food would be good. Thanks!

Wolfgang Puck Cafe is fantastic! We had the best meal of our last trip there and I highly recommend it. Try the macadamia-crusted chicken. Trust me!

To the OP...I was just at WDW for a spur-of-the-moment birthday trip over the weekend. I was able to walk into Tony's, Sanaa, and the Grand Floridian Cafe. The Wave had dinner availability, as did Boma.

I think the problem here is not so much the free dining, as it is booking your meals so late. You're only a couple of weeks out from your trip. I think you'd be having the same difficulty, free dining or not, anytime you try to book that close to your stay.

One more piece of advice...spend a day (or two...it usually takes us two) eating your way around the World Showcase Lagoon at the Food & Wine Festival. Try one of everything, stop when you get full and pick up from that spot on your next visit. The food is always fantastic and it's a nice way to spend a day (or, again, two )

 

[TillyMarigold]

All the suggestions here have been great, by the way; and I noticed the OP asked how they'd go about making dining reservations at the resort (on page 1, maybe?). Exactly the same way you did the first time - call 1-407-393-9469.

It's 1-407-939-3469 (WDW-DINE).

 

[kaytieeldr]

THANK YOU for correcting me, TillyMarigold (and I bet everyone who tries to call based on this thread thanks you as well ). My fingers were asleep when I typed that... yeah, that's it... no, wait. The numbers on my keyboard all switched places with each other when I wasn't looking....

 

[LegoMom3]

This won't help for this trip, but I just wanted to pass along that if you book another WDW vacation in the future and will need ADRs, try booking with Dreams Unlimited. They work for Disney and you NOT pay any extra for them, but their services are wonderful! We've used them every time we've booked a package and gotten the DDP. As so many others have said, FLEXIBILITY is KEY!....but I generally just send my Dreams rep a list of where we'd like to eat (specific days in some cases, but not always) and she does ALL the leg work of securing those ADRs!! It's fantastic!

.

 

[NuttyDisneyMom]

To the OP:


10. Try for Cinderella's Royal Table at 3 days and then 2 days before you'd like to dine there. Reservations have to be cancelled 48 hours before or the party incurs a penalty, so sometimes you can nab an ADR due to a cancellation. Try for lunch, which is less popular than breakfast. Dinner is less popular than lunch because you don't have the princesses. It does take 2TS credits.

This is EXCELLENT advice and it worked for us one trip!!! We called the night before from our room and booked for 8am the next morning! It was the best experience out of all our WDW trips too, so don't give up hope!

Good luck!!!

 

[mom of 3G's]

OP Are you there??? Hellllooooo.????.. Any luck with getting some ADRs? There are great ideas posted here and I think we're all curious if you have had any luck.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This won't help for this trip, but I just wanted to pass along that if you book another WDW vacation in the future and will need ADRs, try booking with Dreams Unlimited. They work for Disney

I could be wrong, but as far as I know, while Dreams Unlimited is a Disney-specialist Travel Agency, they don't work FOR Disney. It's an independent company - again, as far as I know.

On the other hand, they DO work for the Client

 

[livie1205]

Everyone there is paying serious cash for their vacations too. The amount of money you spend doesn't make you special. You should have planned a little more ahead.

THAT was very rude...not everyone knows about this site and knows to call so far ahead to EAT!nice way to make someone feel welcome
OP, try old key west resort, olivias is a god place to eat and I have never had trouble getting in.

 

[2 Little Mermaids]

OP Are you there??? Hellllooooo.????.. Any luck with getting some ADRs? There are great ideas posted here and I think we're all curious if you have had any luck.

Ditto. We like to know that others are going to have a fun trip!

 

[brymolmom]

ElizabethB - Thanks for the great list!

Have you dined at your #5 below (the Wolfgang Puck Cafe)? It's available for one of my dates - trying to figure out if the food would be good. Thanks!

I just went there a few weeks ago and it was WONDERFUL! It was dh's favorite food of the trip. I highly recommend it.

 

[momejay]

My friend just canceled a trip in late October. I'm not sure what she had booked or when but keep trying! I do know she had early reservations for a princess breakfast somewhere & dinner at Chef Mickey's. Good Luck!

 

[kevschickee]

Title might be harsh but it is frustrating. My wife was in tears last night. I am paying some serious cash for this vacation. I tried character breakfasts and they are all booked too!!! How do I make reservation at resort restaurants?

You really should have done it at the 90 day mark. I say just keep calling and maybe there will be a cancelation.