Dinner Reservations Questions/Help Needed !

[cindala]

The date for making our ADR's is about 12 days away. We are a party of 5 adults and 1 infant (18 months old at time of trip). We were Disney nuts who vacationed in WDW 12 years in a row plus other years with our girls, and I use to consider myself seasoned at making reservations and planning our trips. But A LOT has changed, even since our last visit 4 years ago. We are returning in November with one DD and her family.
I have a few questions regarding dining reservations that I am hoping some of you experts can answer!

1. Should I book dining online or by phone?
2. In either case, what time would you recommend doing this; at midnight online or 7am on phone?
3. Do I just say a party of 5 since the baby will be in a stroller or high chair or include him?
4. Will a party of 6 be a tougher reservation to secure?
5. How difficult is it to get a dinner reservation at Be Our Guest? We are a little flexible but can't be too late with the baby. (Planning on a Wednesday night)
6. Does Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge still offer the family style all you can eat skillet? I saw it listed as an individual item on the menu now.
7. Like #5, how difficult is it to get a dinner reservation at Chef Mickey? (Planning on a Saturday night)
8. Are reservations at Le Celier still hard to get?
9. We will be arriving late on a Tuesday night and won't need any reservations that night. But can I still book a dining reservation for the rest of the trip starting on 180 days from that check in day?
10. We are renting DVC points, but have a reservation number and a My Disney Experience account. Does that make a difference in how we book our dining reservations?

Thanks in advance! I am sure I will have even more questions coming!

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

I can give my opinion on a few questions:
1 & 2- we like to book online (@ 6:00am) but sometimes it's necessary to call in at 7:00am if you're having MDE issues
3- you need to include the infant in your reservations (and will be 18% tip included as a party of 6), even if child not eating
5 & 7- both fill up quickly, but we've always been successful securing these reservations at 180 days
8- Le Cellier has been easier for us to get since it went to a 2 credit meal
9- yes, if you are staying on property
Good luck

 

[Shanti]

1. Online is faster and easier. Have your My Disney Experience account set up and your credit card ready as all reservations are guaranteed by credit card. In fact, since you'll be trying for Be Our Guest, you should practice at making an online dining ressie before your reservation window opens up (just make a dummy reservation, then immediately cancel it.)
2. Your reservation window will open up 180 days plus 10 days from the first day of your Disney resort stay (ask someone else for the details of how to do the +10 online- I'm already typing too much). Book online beginning at 6am Eastern time that day.
3. You're a party of 6. I think you can request a high chair at booking, but am not sure (again, check by making the dummy reservation).
4. Maybe, but booking at 180+10 will help a lot.
5. Hard. You can try to do this by booking 180+10 at 6am EST, but you're going during Free Dining when ressies are hardest to get, so no guarantees. Book lunch if you can't get dinner.
6. Not sure
7. Shouldn't be too hard at 180+10 at 6amEST
8. Nowhere near as hard as it used to be
9. Yes
10. I can't answer this. You should find out, though.
11. You're welcome.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

10. NO

 

[bigbabyblues]

Whispering Canyon still has the skillet, in addition to the ala carte menu. Each person who orders/eats from the skillet is charged.

 

[busymommy2pink]

1/2. Definitely online. It's so quick and easy and you can see multiple additonal times. I also prefer controlling everything myself lol.

3. Include baby, fire safety reasons. The won't seat you otherwise. While you aren't charged at all for baby they need to count him/her.

4. Not necessarily. The closer to the date you try to book or change, maybe.

5. We have personally have not wanted this, but I've heard it's hard. Your dining window opens up at 180+10. I would prioritize which meals you should book first. This would be the first meal I would try and get. I always hand write a list in the order to book. I write the restaurant, date and approx time I want to get based on our touring plan. Eg:

CRT, may 12, 12:30pm
Ohana may 10, 6:30pm
Tusker house, may 11, 8:00am

6. Yes. Each person can order it. It's still unlimited, but not everyone needs to order it. No sharing is permitted. Skillet is also on the kids menu. It's a great option as my hubby can still get his unlimited skillet but the kids and I can get our lighter fare.

7. Again, prioritize. Chef Mickey does go fast. However, note that it's gone way downhill the last few years. We have had no good experiences in the recent past. Our new and all time fav go to for the fab 5 is Tusker house at animal kingdom. Consider this one for a pre park open breakfast and you can literally walk right on to the safari (located directly across from it) and use your fast passes for something else! Even our kids love this over chef Mickey.

8. Le cellier kept popping up for us closer to the trip. We opted to check for "lunch" and scored a 445. Same menu now for both lunch and dinner. Was long anticipated and we were let down. Honestly the steak at Fultons crab house in ds was 10x better. Another signature more worth the 2 credits is a hop skip and a jump at the yacht club (exit worldshowcase and it's literally a 10 min walk from the Canadian pavilion lol) at yachtsman steakhouse. Wow. Such great food.

9. Absolutely. 180 plus 10! We love this perk of staying on site!

10. It shouldn't matter at all as long as you can link your dining to the same account if you don't have the dining plan, remember certain dining is pay up front! CRT, HDDR and spirit of aloha I believe!

Good luck!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

My answers are bolded.

The date for making our ADR's is about 12 days away. We are a party of 5 adults and 1 infant (18 months old at time of trip). We were Disney nuts who vacationed in WDW 12 years in a row plus other years with our girls, and I use to consider myself seasoned at making reservations and planning our trips. But A LOT has changed, even since our last visit 4 years ago. We are returning in November with one DD and her family.
I have a few questions regarding dining reservations that I am hoping some of you experts can answer!

1. Should I book dining online or by phone? I always do mine online with no problems.
2. In either case, what time would you recommend doing this; at midnight online or 7am on phone? You can book them at 6 AM online.
3. Do I just say a party of 5 since the baby will be in a stroller or high chair or include him? You're a party of six.
4. Will a party of 6 be a tougher reservation to secure? I don't think so. Six-tops tend to be used for parties of five and six, so you'll probably have the same availability.
5. How difficult is it to get a dinner reservation at Be Our Guest? We are a little flexible but can't be too late with the baby. (Planning on a Wednesday night) I've found the farther in your trip you book it the easier it is with the 180+10 rule. Or you can keep checking for a cancellation, or try the cancelled ADR threads here on the DIS.
6. Does Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge still offer the family style all you can eat skillet? I saw it listed as an individual item on the menu now. They still have the skillet, but they have a la carte items too.
7. Like #5, how difficult is it to get a dinner reservation at Chef Mickey? (Planning on a Saturday night) On your 180 day mark it shouldn't be too difficult, BOG is the one you really need to worry about.
8. Are reservations at Le Celier still hard to get? I don't think they're as hard to get as they used to be, but it's still a popular restaurant.
9. We will be arriving late on a Tuesday night and won't need any reservations that night. But can I still book a dining reservation for the rest of the trip starting on 180 days from that check in day? Correct.
10. We are renting DVC points, but have a reservation number and a My Disney Experience account. Does that make a difference in how we book our dining reservations?No, it should all be linked in your MDE app.

Thanks in advance! I am sure I will have even more questions coming!

 

[cindala]

)

I've found the farther in your trip you book it the easier it is with the 180+10 rule. Or you can keep checking for a cancellation, or try the cancelled ADR threads here on the DIS.

Does the 180+10 rule mean you can start making ADR from the date of first arrival through the end of your trip? Interesting idea about BOG easier to book further into the trip. I might switch Chef Mickey to push BOG further back into trip and increase chances.

but you're going during Free Dining when ressies are hardest to get, so no guarantees. Book lunch if you can't get dinner.

Our dates are 11/8 to 11/13 so I think Free Dining is excluded those days. Or am I wrong? This is Jersey week.

 

[cindala]

7. Again, prioritize. Chef Mickey does go fast. However, note that it's gone way downhill the last few years. We have had no good experiences in the recent past.

Wow, really sorry to hear this as it has always been a favorite of my DD and this trip is to celebrate her 30th birthday. How has it gone downhill?

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

)

Does the 180+10 rule mean you can start making ADR from the date of first arrival through the end of your trip? Interesting idea about BOG easier to book further into the trip. I might switch Chef Mickey to push BOG further back into trip and increase chances.


Our dates are 11/8 to 11/13 so I think Free Dining is excluded those days. Or am I wrong? This is Jersey week.

The 180+10 rule means that you can start booking ADRs 180 days prior to your arrival date for the first 10 days of your stay.
So for example if you arrive June 1st you can start booking exactly 180 days before June 1st and make ADRs for June 1st through June 10th. They do this so that you don't have to log in and book ADR one day at a time every morning 180 days prior.

I think some people misunderstand the 180+10 rule as meaning you can book at 190 days before arrival.

 

[cindala]

1
Another signature more worth the 2 credits is a hop skip and a jump at the yacht club (exit worldshowcase and it's literally a 10 min walk from the Canadian pavilion lol) at yachtsman steakhouse. Wow. Such great food.

Will check out the Yachtsman Steakhouse. We stayed at the Yacht Club every summer with our girls, but never ate there. Le Celier has always been a favorite, but haven't dined there in 4 years.

 

[emnems34]

1. Should I book dining online or by phone?
2. In either case, what time would you recommend doing this; at midnight online or 7am on phone?
3. Do I just say a party of 5 since the baby will be in a stroller or high chair or include him?
4. Will a party of 6 be a tougher reservation to secure?
5. How difficult is it to get a dinner reservation at Be Our Guest? We are a little flexible but can't be too late with the baby. (Planning on a Wednesday night)
6. Does Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge still offer the family style all you can eat skillet? I saw it listed as an individual item on the menu now.
7. Like #5, how difficult is it to get a dinner reservation at Chef Mickey? (Planning on a Saturday night)
8. Are reservations at Le Celier still hard to get?
9. We will be arriving late on a Tuesday night and won't need any reservations that night. But can I still book a dining reservation for the rest of the trip starting on 180 days from that check in day?
10. We are renting DVC points, but have a reservation number and a My Disney Experience account. Does that make a difference in how we book our dining reservations?

I answered what I could:

1) Book online, but have your phone ready especially for very in demand ones like Be Our Guest and Cinderella's. A lot of times I start calling and try online and just hang up or log off if I get through one way.
2) Usually you can't do it until 6AM online.
3) Always include the baby. They need to know for fire code reasons. Just let them know one person will be an infant in your party.
4) Party of six will be difficult but certainly not impossible. I've done parties of 15 : D Just be sure to be there right at 180 days.
5) Be Our Guest is tough. Use the trick I mentioned above about calling and being online (although I think the phone lines actually open an hour later than MDE, if you're having trouble it may help) Definitely make it the first ADR you book when your window opens. I highly suggest making a list of everywhere you want to eat and then booking them in order from toughest to easiest to get. You could post on here asking people for advice if you're not sure about which ones to prioritize.
7) Chef Mickey's on a Saturday isn't the easiest, but I'd still prioritize BoG over it.
9) Yep!

Have fun!!!!