Dining Plan Sucks!

[fire1998]

My wife was on the phone yesterday for 2 hours trying to make reservations for dinner during our stay Oct 4-11. Guess what every restaurant is booked for dinner!! She was able to get 2 dinner reservations for 8 days. Are we screwed? Can we walk up to a restaurant and get in?
Thanks

 

[ReneeA]

You probably won't have a ton of luck with walk ups, but there are other things you can do.

What about breakfasts or late lunches? There are normally "off times" available to book this close to your trip.

Off the beaten path restaurants - try resorts (non monorail resorts) - there are normally always ADR's to be had. We've had some fabulous meals doing just that.

IF you want to attept a walk up, you'll have more luck during 2 times - when the restaurant 1st opens up (like 11 am for lunch, 4pm for dinner, etc), late lunches or really late dinners (think after 8pm).


Keep calling - you never know when someone will cancel an ADR. Things pop up for people everyday.

Call or visit your conceirge desk when you arrive. Let them know you are willing to try new things and see what they can come up with - we've had good luck the day-of with this when we just change our mind about where to eat. Since we change our minds while there and cancel, I'm sure others do, too opeing up previously booked ADR's.

Don't be too disappointed about missing out on the super popular restaurants. Many are overrated and overhyped...you can find nice hidden gem type places all over WDW.

 

[notaclue]

Well first off your title is a bit harsh. Step back, take a deep breath and make a Plan B. I doubt every restaurant is booked; did you try some of the resort restaurants? We've found they have excellent food and service. Part of the problem you are having is that you are trying to book ADRs only 2 or 3 weeks away. The ADR window opened up 90 days prior to your first day so alot of people have been making ressies for 75 days or so. Just keep trying and also try the online ADR system. You may have to be flexible with your times and dates, and where you choose to eat. Good luck and here's hoping you get some pixie dust!

 

[Tricia1972]

Welcome to the Dis!!

I would suggest that you guys try online. You can make pretty short work of checking your first choices online. If all of your first choices are booked, the system will offer alternatives for you.

For example, I just tried to book CRT for a 5pm dinner, 2 adults on October 8th. The system told me, not surprisingly, that I am out of luck. However they suggest that I try Liberty Tree Tavern at 4pm or Trails End at 4:55.

I'd like to eat at 5 or later, so I'll try a workaround to get the system to suggest a later time. I re-request CRT for 6:30 pm. That Pops up a 7:50 at LTT. Hmm, a little late for our group, how about a 6pm dinner at CRT? Still showing the same LTT.

That's still too late, so trying for Grand Floridian Cafe at 5pm, SUCCESS! 5:10 at Grand Floridian Cafe, with backups suggested for Kouzzina and Citricos.

So while it is frustrating, with a few minutes of playing around online, you should be able to find somewhere to eat for your vacation. Here is the link for online reservations.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/restaurants/

 

[baloo's girl]

You might try online too-the system will offer suggestions of what is available if the restaurant you pick is booked. Good luck.

 

[TDC Nala]

You're trying rather late in the game. The popular restaurants were snapped up long ago, and at this stage it's going to be difficult to find alternatives inside the theme parks. I agree with trying the resorts - some resort restaurants are better than anything inside the parks, and are very close to parks as well.

If you are not on a dining plan, you can try walking up. You would almost certainly be turned away from the ultra-popular places: Le Cellier, Cinderella's Royal Table, Chef Mickey's, Ohana dinner, California Grill. Long waits are likely at park restaurants, character meals, and a bit less than ultra-popular places like Boma. I also agree with trying online and seeing what types of alternatives come up. Or try restaurants that don't accept the dining plan (mostly at Swan/Dolphin and Downtown Disney)

 

[fire1998]

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?

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

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!!!

I agree that it can be quite frustrating, if you're dead set on trying to get into character meals and things like that, you'll have to try to get a last minute reservation when you're there (keep trying every day in the meantime) or just cross your fingers and do walk up, but you'll need to be prepared to wait.

People can book their ADRs 90 days in advance and they do.

Enjoy the restaurants that you do try and keep an open mind. Just because Mickey isn't joining you for your meal doesn't mean it won't be awesome! *fingers crossed* for you and your wife.

 

[Tricia1972]

You can use the link I provided above, which will take you to a list of all WDW restaurants.

 

[TDC Nala]

Same way you would make reservations inside the parks. At this late time, you are going to have trouble booking any character breakfasts. Are you not on the dining plan? There is a character breakfast buffet on Saturdays and Sundays at the Swan resort (Garden Grove) that does not accept the plan and is not usually booked up. The same restaurant also has a character dinner buffet nightly - Lion King characters on Monday and Friday, Goofy and Pluto all other nights.

If you want princesses and can't get CRT, try Akershus for lunch or dinner at off-times, or 1900 Park Faire.

 

[vicki_c]

People can book their ADRs 90 days in advance and they do. There are some cardholders that get an extra 10 days to book, so they are on the phone the morning of their 100th day out to book.

This is not true or correct.

It's on-site visitors that get 90+10, nothing to do with "cardholders."

Second, you don't get to call at 100 days out from your trip. Like everyone else (on site or off site) you call 90 days out. The difference is on-site guests can book multiple days of reservations (that's the "+10" part) on that one phone call. Anyone who's not on site has to call every day, 90 days out from their ADR date to get all their reservations.

And to the OP - sorry for your frustration, but as the others have said, you are really really late in the game to be booking meals, especially popular ones. I'd definitely try the online system and see what alternatives it offers you if what you want isn't available. And keep checking while you're there, too.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Keep checking online and calling the reservations number. I know it is a pain, but eventually you will time it right and get a reservation. I did this while we were at disney and got a reservation for dinner at Crystal Palace -- hard to get.

The other posters are right, I think some of the monorail resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Contemporary) have great restaurants that might be easier to get than the restaurants in the parks. and it doesnt' take long to get there on the monorail. Sometimes, I found taking a boat to one of the resorts was fun too. You can take a boat from magic kingdom to Ft. Wilderness and some other places too.

Good Luck.

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

This is not true or correct.

It's on-site visitors that get 90+10, nothing to do with "cardholders."

Second, you don't get to call at 100 days out from your trip. Like everyone else (on site or off site) you call 90 days out. The difference is on-site guests can book multiple days of reservations (that's the "+10" part) on that one phone call. Anyone who's not on site has to call every day, 90 days out from their ADR date to get all their reservations.

Pardon me, I must have misread something about that. No need to be quite so snippy or snarky about it.

 

[Tricia1972]

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

 

[dizzknee3]

You must be reading something into that post. That is what is difficult on these boards, there really is no way to tell the tone of the post. It didnt seem snippy to me at all. It just seems like a correction on some incorrect information.

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

You must be reading something into that post. That is what is difficult on these boards, there really is no way to tell the tone of the post. It didnt seem snippy to me at all. It just seems like a correction on some incorrect information.

Perhaps I have fallen victim to TMU..."text misunderstanding." Then again, different strokes for different folks. I re-read several times and still found it snippy as ever.

And with regard to correct information, I agree, hence I changed my post promptly.

 

[vicki_c]

Thanks all for sticking up for me. Just stating the facts in a direct way, that was all.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

fire1998,

Keep trying. Unfortunately you will probably need to set aside some time every night or every other day for logging into the WDW dining system and looking for ressies. People will cancel and things will open up. Just keep trying! The good thing about the online system is that it will suggest alternatives that have availability.

Good luck! And don't worry, I'm confident you'll find something that might even be better than what you wanted to begin with. The Wave is usually easier to get, Kona can be easier, I obtained a Liberty Tree Tavern ressie just a few weeks ago for this weekend. So, maybe not your first choices but you'll find something decent I'm sure.

Have a great trip!

 

[handyl03]

Hi - Not sure how big your party is but I just looked online really quickly for a party of 4 and found that Liberty Tree Tavern has some availability for lunch and dinner your week of travel, as does Tony's. One character meal I saw was the Play N Dine for October 5th 1015 or 1115. The Wave, Kona Cafe, and Grand Floridian Cafe also popped up a lot for breakfasts and dinners. Saw Citricos and Narcosees a few times after 8pm, did see a Crystal Place character at 925pm! Definetly try the online system, try different times of the day and check out their suggestions too. I have found that checking day by day rather than using the date range may give you more availability. Good luck! You can always see the characters in the parks if you can't get the character meals. I found this whole dining system pretty frustrating too - it's crazy to me that I needed to decide 90 days before my vacation where my family would be eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday while were there! I am thankful that I found this website or I may not have know about the 90 + 10 day booking window - I was up at 230am Pacific time to be ready to book my reservations at 3am on my 90 day - it's crazy but we did get every restaurant that we wanted at the times we wanted to dine. Just keep checking up until the day before you leave, people double book and cancel reservations all the time!

 

[djp0630]

Sorry you are having trouble, but a lot of people booked their reservations at 90 days out. Especially character meals and with free dining, it's making it harder. Definitely check out online and be flexible. Unfortunately, the way the dining plan is forces everybody to book 90 days (and soon 180 days) out from their vacation for the more popular meals. Good luck and remember any day at WDW is a good day!