Explain dining reservations to me, please.

[Californiacicle]

We are wanting to make a reservation for Surf's Up and Big Thunder BBQ for my son't birthday. The time for dinner isn't important but I want to have the earliest breakfast seating so we can get to the park at a decent time (it's our first day).

Last night I decided to see what the earliest seating would be so I checked the furthest date out, one month before our trip. There were only a three times available and the earliest was 8:40 if I remember correctly. That seems a little nuts for a day that just became available to book earlier in the day.

So when exactly do reservations open up? I was under the impression they open 60 days ahead of time, correct? Is there a certain time I need to be camped out in front of my computer to reserve an early seating?

Thanks, all.

 

[tanyaegangibson]

We are wanting to make a reservation for Surf's Up and Big Thunder BBQ for my son't birthday. The time for dinner isn't important but I want to have the earliest breakfast seating so we can get to the park at a decent time (it's our first day). Last night I decided to see what the earliest seating would be so I checked the furthest date out, one month before our trip. There were only a three times available and the earliest was 8:40 if I remember correctly. That seems a little nuts for a day that just became available to book earlier in the day. So when exactly do reservations open up? I was under the impression they open 60 days ahead of time, correct? Is there a certain time I need to be camped out in front of my computer to reserve an early seating? Thanks, all.

I'd just call Disney Dining and ask. I find them incredibly helpful on the phone and I always call (60 days ahead) instead of doing it online.

 

[lyra2007]

Try putting in the time you want, rather than just"breakfast," if you haven't already done that. I think the computer will offer up less popular slots unless prompted to do otherwise.

 

[Andray]

did you select Breakfast in the drop down menu or the earliest time available. i noticed it brings up totally different times if you select a specific time in the drop down menu compared to a meal type like breakfast, lunch, dinner. I was able to reserve my meals at the 60 day mark, even though the park schedule was not up yet. And then once the schedule came up, I was able to change my reservation (new one and cancel old one) for a different time with no problem at all. I actually just changed our reservation at Goofy's Kitchen and it's 4 weeks before our trip. So you should have a lot more choices but it will always show 3 times only at the second step. So if you chose 8am, it may suggest 7:50, 8:10 and 8:30 for example. But if you leave it up to Breakfast, it will show up anything between randomly I think. At least that it was it was doing for me.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

Try putting in the time you want, rather than just"breakfast," if you haven't already done that. I think the computer will offer up less popular slots unless prompted to do otherwise.

This!!!!!

If you just put in Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner, you get a very limited amount of time choices.

When you type in a specific time, you will(usually) find lots of times around whatever slot you typed in, available!

I'd also keep in mind what tanyaegangibson suggested about calling---if you don't find what you want online, call, and see if they can help--we've done this before and gotten exactly what we desired.

 

[Girimama33]

Just want to point out that reservations are made at a 2 month mark. If you want to dine on July 7th for example, the earliest day you can make a reservation is May 7th. At 60 days, sometimes the reservation is not available because it hasn't met the 2 month threshold.
PCH Grill opens at 7am each morning, so you should be able to get something during that hour.

 

[Californiacicle]

Awesome! Thank you so much everyone.

 

[nannyz]

I tried to make reservations at BBB today for June 4, but was told I could not do it until tomorrow, April 5.
So the April 4 to June 4 thing did not work because that would have been 59 days.

 

[Girimama33]

I tried to make reservations at BBB today for June 4, but was told I could not do it until tomorrow, April 5.
So the April 4 to June 4 thing did not work because that would have been 59 days.

Interesting... Last year I tried to reserve BB 60 days out, but it had not reached the 2 months out, and they told me I had to wait until the 2 month mark. Same thing happened with F! Dessert at the 30 day mark...had to wait for the 1 month date. Maybe they updated it with the online dining reservations system that went into effect in October.

 

[Andray]

I tried to make reservations at BBB today for June 4, but was told I could not do it until tomorrow, April 5.
So the April 4 to June 4 thing did not work because that would have been 59 days.

You mean it would be 61 days, which is due to May having 31 days.

 

[Nicolette11785]

I called April 1st for a June 1st reservation and they said I had to call back on the 2nd.

 

[sandysue]

I made my 6/3 reservations today, which was the first day available. I did on line for plaza hotel Minnie and me breakfast. Last time showing was 9:40a. Since we wanted later I called. CM said that was the latest time available, but that it was probably a glitch. She's going to check further with the PI but told me to keep checking.
We can live with the time but would rather another hour of lower crowds after our EMH so I will keep checking.

 

[Georgieut]

I tried to make reservations at BBB today for June 4, but was told I could not do it until tomorrow, April 5. So the April 4 to June 4 thing did not work because that would have been 59 days.

We wanted reservations for June 2nd and June 3rd. Did online Thursday the third for June 2nd and for the 3rd I called yesterday. I did change my mind about the time for the first one. I did another reservation and then cancelled the first one.
Good luck!

Georgie

 

[Californiacicle]

I realized I was using the site wrong, thanks for the tips on that. I did have it set to breakfast, didn't realize the drop down menu had times also. So I think we'll be ok next month when we make our reservations