First week of December

[CJK]

Is something big going on that week?? I just looked up Akershus (breakfast/lunch/dinner) for every day that week, 1900 Park Fare for every dinner that week and I've even checked a few Tusker House breakfast or lunch dates..........ZERO availability. Is this normal? I was even starting to think there was something glitchy with the website. I know reservations can be made 180 days in advance, but I'm surprised there's absolutely nothing available. Thoughts? I've already joined the Dec. cancellation thread. I'm planning a last minute trip for a friend, so booking at this late date wasn't avoidable.

 

[Mommymarie]

I am not sure what is going on that week this year either.....I made my dining reservation 180 days from check in on Dec. 4 and even at 6am I couldn't get everything I wanted! I have went before during this week without a problem. I just keep stalking the ressie sight and cancellation thread hoping to pick up what's left on my wish list. Good luck finding what you want!

 

[purpleknightjc]

Is something big going on that week?? I just looked up Akershus (breakfast/lunch/dinner) for every day that week, 1900 Park Fare for every dinner that week and I've even checked a few Tusker House breakfast or lunch dates..........ZERO availability. Is this normal? I was even starting to think there was something glitchy with the website. I know reservations can be made 180 days in advance, but I'm surprised there's absolutely nothing available. Thoughts? I've already joined the Dec. cancellation thread. I'm planning a last minute trip for a friend, so booking at this late date wasn't avoidable.

i am having the same problems. cannot get ANY ressies anywhere. i chose this week thinking it wont be that crowded & i cannot believe the problems that i am having! and i bought the deluxe dining plan too!

 

[cbj1979]

My theory is is that at the 180 day mark, a lot of folks made ADRs in the hopes that Free Dining would be available. However, this week was not included in free dining to the general public. There was however a PIN offer that did include that week. I think some that were hoping for free dining have not yet canceled their ADRs and may not until they have to. I would keep checking, and expect some to free up around the 45 day mark.

 

[Dreamsdocometrue9112]

I'm having the same issue. We have been many times of year (including April, which I would think is WAY busier…with 12 of us), and had no where near this much difficulty getting reservations. This time it's just 2 of us. I started to get so frustrated when I wanted to move things around these past 2-3 weeks. Checking for a Crystal Palace breakfast res was nearly my full-time job next to my actual full time job.

I'm really praying this means it's not going to be ridiculously busy. I've also heard that often times during "slow" weeks, they understaff since they don't expect as many people, so they allot less reservation slots based on staffing? I'm not sure this is true, but it would make sense.

 

[kellyg403]

We got the pin code for that week, and even at 180 days out it was difficult to find reservations. A few opened up when the public offer came out and it did not include that week for FD.

I am hoping, as another pointed out, that around the 45 day mark when people have to cancel or change weeks, that more will open up. We typically go the 2nd week of Dec so this is new territory for me!

I am also hoping it is not crazy busy. We have barely ever used fast pass or anything during the 2nd week because it was nowhere near busy enough to worry about it. Now I am wondering if I should plan to get up early to hit the parks instead of meandering to the parks.

The only thing I can think of is the Christmas Parade taping that Friday. Do people come and stay the whole week just for that? POP Warner is the next week also.

Keeping my fingers crossed it just is people not sure if they are going to try and do it without free dining and at the 45 day mark we will see some ADR openings. Definitely nothing popular open with availability. However, CP has several opening still for nights with popular narrators which last year was not the case. So...

Kelly

 

[AmyB2006]

The first week of December is the most popular traveled week for Vacation Club members, I believe. Plus, Thanksgiving is late this year (on the 28th) and is only allowing roughly 2 weeks from Thanksgiving till it starts to get "busy" with crowds for Christmas travel and Seasonal pass holder blackout dates.

That could be why... I don't know. Just throwing it out there. But I had trouble even getting my reservations for the 1st week of December this year with DVC, and had to move it to the second week.

Plus all the restaurants you mentioned are character meals... and at 3 months out, yes, that would be normal anyway. Character meals go quick.

 

[TDC Nala]

DVC, late Thanksgiving, thown in Pop Warner and Christmas parade taping...that's a busy week. And yes, it would be probably typical that character meals would book up sooner.

 

[tinkrbell1437]

DVC, late Thanksgiving, thown in Pop Warner and Christmas parade taping...that's a busy week. And yes, it would be probably typical that character meals would book up sooner.

With all of the above factors, is that first week of December going to be heinously busy (like summer) or just moderately busy (like an off-peak holiday weekend like MLK)? I am guessing it's not going to be off-peak less crowded

I have only been once before and it wasn't that bad. This time we arrive on 11/30 and leave 12/7 - are we going to be battling crowds every step of the way?

 

[mousehunter3]

Last time we went, we arrived the day after Thanksgiving and stayed until the following weekend. I booked my resi's the day I could- I called on the dot when they opened up- and got everything I wanted. My friend went that same week, but called mid-morning and she only got about half of the ones she wanted.

This time, I called the day after I could have and I got all but one that I wanted (Beauty and the Beast). This time, we are going in October.

 

[carmelhp]

Is something big going on that week?? I just looked up Akershus (breakfast/lunch/dinner) for every day that week, 1900 Park Fare for every dinner that week and I've even checked a few Tusker House breakfast or lunch dates..........ZERO availability. Is this normal? I was even starting to think there was something glitchy with the website. I know reservations can be made 180 days in advance, but I'm surprised there's absolutely nothing available. Thoughts? I've already joined the Dec. cancellation thread. I'm planning a last minute trip for a friend, so booking at this late date wasn't avoidable.

We went early Dec last year and didn't decide to go until mid-Oct and got all the reservations we wanted, so, no, not normal.

 

[tinkrbell1437]

I am getting ready to post a couple of popular reservations that I have to cancel during the first week of December. I will be putting them on the December ADR Cancellations post -- Hopefully they will help people that are looking for ADRs in that first week!

 

[cbj1979]

I don't think it will be that busy in the parks that week. Most of the planning calendars I have seen say the early part of the week will be low crowds, then moderate levels as it gets closer to the weekend. Ranking on a level of 1- 10 with 10 being the highest crowd level, the Monday ranks a 2, Tuesday and Wednesday a 3, Thursday and Friday a 4 and Saturday/Sunday are a 6. I think the calendar I am referencing was from the easywdw website.

 

[TDC Nala]

The park crowd rating calendars can't be correlated to restaurant reservations though.

 

[cbj1979]

The park crowd rating calendars can't be correlated to restaurant reservations though.

No I totally agree. I was responding more to someone concerned that the week would have heavy crowds because it has been so hard to get reservations.

 

[TDC Nala]

Which is true. There might be reasons for the restaurants to be busier that don't have anything to do with the level of crowds in the parks. The restaurants have far less capacity than the parks do. And if you're just looking for popular restaurants, it's possibly you are already too late.

 

[mobish]

This is our 5th trip in early Dec; arriving Sat 12/7 leaving Wed 12/11. We got every reservation we wanted except BOG, which has become s full time job along with the one I already have! Even got CG the day it opened up and was able to make a few changes the day after. Still hoping to complete the wish list.

 

[Katelly]

We've always gone the first week of December (except for 2004 when we went during Presidents Week) and I've never had this much trouble making reservations for dining. Managed to get Boma and Garden Grill. Still trying for dinner at O'Hana. Fingers crossed!