Does WDW hold back some tables?

[PavelB]

Today I tried to make some ADRs for my July trip. We are a party of 10. I could not get anything for any where near the times I wanted. I was not trying any CRT or anything and I was pretty flexible on the restaurant. We can't eat counter service for 5 days. I am ready to cancel the WDW part of the trip.
So, my question is this - does WDW hold back a certain % of the tables for closer to the date?
Thanks in advance.

 

[denecarter]

I think part of the problem is the "party of 10". I had a hard time with a party of 8 Thanksgiving week... and I called the first day I could (then it was the 90+ time frame). I had to call back at 90 days to get CRT.

Sorry, don't know specifics of 180 day time frame.

 

[MinnieGi]

When in July are you going? We are going the third week in July with a large party and I was able to get reservations for us. In fact at a few dinners we have a group of 16 together and at others just 10. Depending on the restaurant we are sometimes at one table or a combination of tables near each other.

Try again and maybe there have been some cancellations. I do not think Disney holds back any tables.

 

[PavelB]

We are going after the 4th. We did end up splitting up at all of the meals, except a 7:20 1900 Park dinner. Usually we don't like to eat dinner so late.

 

[ibouncetoo]

We were told (at LeCellier) that they now do ADRs to 120% of restaurant capacity!!!!!! So there has to be over 20% no-shows/cancellations for a 'walk-in' to get seated. I long for the old days of Priority Seating, where they only booked a portion of the restaurant and the indecisive and walk-ups had a shot (sometimes with a hefty wait though). Can you imagine the poor folks who don't know about the various WDW web-sites? Do they ever get to sit down to eat?

 

[bicker]

Can you imagine the poor folks who don't know about the various WDW web-sites?

Most folks get some information about the vacation they're paying thousands of dollars for, before they arrive. Just about everything Disney puts out says, "Reservations: recommended, please call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463)" next to just about every restaurant. I suspect that the same thing is mentioned in the thousands and thousands of copies of the Birnbaum guide, the Unofficial guide, etc. -- the sources most WDW guests use to prepare for their visit.

 

[Luv2Roam]

More often than not I see walk ups get turned away.
There are some restaurants that with luck guests may be able to walk up and get in, depending on day, time, etc.

We ate at the Maya Grill in CSR a few weekends ago. Not busy at all and a good restaurant. Give them a try if transportation to CSR is not a big issue for you.

Nine Dragons and Biergarten would be good for a larger group too.

Agree the 10 is what is hindering you too.

Good luck!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I think the problem is that you're just now making July reservations for such a large party. We're going in July also but I made our ADRs 180 days out for a party of 7 and we still had to split some tables, although I was able to get all the ADRs at the places I wanted pretty close to the times I wanted.

With the new dining plan I think there are lots more people making ADRs so you really need to call pretty close to the 180 day mark to get everything you wanted. However, lots of people change their ADRs around so I would try to keep calling. Have you tried some of the overlooked (except on these boards) restaurants - Marrakesh, Kona, Grand Floridian Cafe etc.? Good luck!

 

[dmslush]

Why not try calling back and seeing if you can get seeing at two tables for 5?

 

[Mackey Mouse]

These are my thoughts here.....and only from an observation at the Galley at the Yacht Club.

I am not sure how they do their bookings, but I was trying to be a walk-up at the Galley one night for dinner......we were told there was an 1 1/2 hour wait, I saw many empty tables.. I went to concierge of that hotel, long story, but am condensing here. They were able to do a reservation for that restaurant 5 minutes from the time I stood in front of the concierge desk. So that means to me that restaurant sets tables aside for reservations even if there are no reservations.

Do all of Disney's restaurants do that? I have no clue, I can only tell you that we were seated in 10 minutes as opposed to the 1 1/2 hours we were told if we were walk-ups.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Do all of Disney's restaurants do that? I have no clue, I can only tell you that we were seated in 10 minutes as opposed to the 1 1/2 hours we were told if we were walk-ups.

You know this was sometimes the case in the Priority Seating days also. A couple of times we'd walk up and be told an hour wait then we'd step away and make a call to dining and get a PS for ten minutes later!

biker, I've had two different groups of acquaintances who've 'done Disney' with NO research! Were they insane? That's what I told them when they came home tired, cranky and broke. And these people knew I was a Disney nut. Why, oh why, don't people seek my wisdom and guidance?

 

[Amyrlin]

When you go through the booking process did you go through to the right dept, as for more than 8 there is a different secion that makes the bookings.

 

[bicker]

I think that's happening less and less. First, the Internet is really helping spread information around. Second, I think even conventional resources are helping prospective guests to understand that a little leg-work in advance is necessary.