For all of you going at Thanksgiving time.....

[mimmiepnp]

Are you worried about being able to get dining ressies for Thanksgiving Day and the weekend ( or atleast what you hoped to have); especially if you are not arriving to WDW until Thanksgiving day or the day before or after........???

I am a little concerned that since I can't book until next thursday and then next saturday (split stay) it will be a little tough and that I better have alot of alternate dining plans for the Thanksgiving weekend.

And I am especially sure that I will not be able to secure out favorite Thanksgiving dining ressie at CRT. But maybe a little pixie dust will help.

So good luck to all....

Mimmiepnp

 

[princessmom29]

Absolutely!!! We arrive 11/25 and I can also make ressies thurs. We would like to get Ohana for thanksgiving dinner. I am holding my breath!! I will defineitly be on the computer at 5 am!!

ETA: We arrived on thanksgiving day last year and I didn't have a problem getting anything I wanted. I got Park Fare for th'giving night. Plus CRT, Princess storybook, Coral reef, over the course of our stay at my first choice times. The only thing I couldn't get was, of all things, Mama Melrose. I am scared that FD will change that this year!!

 

[TivoQueen]

I am very worried too. We are going to Disney on Nov. 20th thru Dec. 2nd but only staying on property starting Nov. 27th. I can't make any reservations for the weekend after Thanksgiving until next Saturday. With the Thanksgiving Holiday and Free Dining Promo I am stressing over the fact that I may not get the restaurants that I want. We want to eat at the Tusker House and Chef Mickey's for breakfast and also want to eat at Le Cellier and Liberty Tree Tavern for dinners the weekend after thanksgiving. Dining is a big part of our trip, we love to eat. Last year when we did the same thing, I was able to make reservations for the 10 days out even though I was not on property. I guess I liked out. I have a little over a week of stressing to go and then I can make the ADR's.

 

[Smiling Cheshire Cat]

Are you worried about being able to get dining ressies for Thanksgiving Day and the weekend ( or atleast what you hoped to have); especially if you are not arriving to WDW until Thanksgiving day or the day before or after........???

I am a little concerned that since I can't book until next thursday and then next saturday (split stay) it will be a little tough and that I better have alot of alternate dining plans for the Thanksgiving weekend.

And I am especially sure that I will not be able to secure out favorite Thanksgiving dining ressie at CRT. But maybe a little pixie dust will help.

So good luck to all....

Mimmiepnp

Yep, I'm worried too especially with all the free diners like myself. We are doing a split stay as well. Like you we are making the first group on Thursday and cannot make the next group until the next Wednesday. I wish there was someway we could make them all at one time. I hope you get the CRT ressie. Send us some pixie dust for a Princess Storybook Breakfast.

 

[DizBelle]

I'm not so sure that the problem is that there is free dining so much as the 90 + 10 ADR rule. You're check in date is 11/25 so the date on which you can first make your reservations on 8/27. But the folks that check in on 11/16, 11/17, 11/18, 11/19, 11/20, 11/21, 11/22, 11/23, and 11/24 will have been able to make ADRs for Thansgiving Day on 8/18, 8/19, 8/20, 8/21, 8/22, 8/23, 8/24, 8/25, and 8/26 respectively.

By the time you are able to make an ADR for 11/26, folks will have been making ADRs for 11/26 for 9 days. I'm wondering how many ADRs are going to be left after 9 days of people making ADRs.

 

[tsmack78]

What time should I get on the online system and start calling to get my ADR's for 11/25. I can starting booking on Thursday 8/27. Thanks for the help.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We come in the day after Tgiving for 11 days, so YUP! I am worried. My birthday is the second day and I have my heart set on Narcoosees. Besides that ressie, we want Le Cellier (non CP package) so we are having IPO try for the end of the trip so we don't get bumped my the +10 rule Otherwise, I am not stressing too much about the rest of them (WARNING! Last statement is subject to change multiple times between now and 8/29 when the ADR's can be made! )

 

[DizBelle]

What time should I get on the online system and start calling to get my ADR's for 11/25. I can starting booking on Thursday 8/27. Thanks for the help.

That's an interesting question. Does the online system have "operating hours" or is it available 24/7? It's online. There are no people (other than usual IT support staff for the rest of the site) that have to be there. Do I have to get my lazy butt up really early one morning or can I just wait until midnight eastern time to start making my ADRs?

 

[3boys4me]

You can start making reservation online at 6 a.m. eastern time. 7a.m. if you are calling.

 

[happygirlagain]

from what i have read on the boards - online is 6:01 am - calling is 7:00 am both Florida time - adjust to match your time. I'll update after i make mine Saturday morning.

 

[princessmom29]

I'm not so sure that the problem is that there is free dining so much as the 90 + 10 ADR rule. You're check in date is 11/25 so the date on which you can first make your reservations on 8/27. But the folks that check in on 11/16, 11/17, 11/18, 11/19, 11/20, 11/21, 11/22, 11/23, and 11/24 will have been able to make ADRs for Thansgiving Day on 8/18, 8/19, 8/20, 8/21, 8/22, 8/23, 8/24, 8/25, and 8/26 respectively.

By the time you are able to make an ADR for 11/26, folks will have been making ADRs for 11/26 for 9 days. I'm wondering how many ADRs are going to be left after 9 days of people making ADRs.

We were in this situation last year nad had no problems getting ADR's. The fear is that with FD there will be more poeple making more ressies on each day that they are allowed to book, leaving little to nothing by the time we are able to. I am trying to put all my"big ticket" ressies toward the end of my trip when crowds are likely to be thinner and I will have a better chance b/c less people have been allowed to book.

 

[DISNEY1975]

To everyone worrying.....

Last year, I was in your shoes, worrying about the crowds for Thanksgiving week and all my ressies.

Im cant gaurantee it will be the same, but I got there the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and the place was EMPTY! My family walked onto almost everything (except Soarin' and EE) in the parks. I got all my ressies for the times I wanted. Thanksgiving day was especially empty.

Friday I noticed a big difference, but it still was not too too crowded. 10 - 15 minute waits for decent attractions, less than that for the less popular ones. Restaurants were not bursting, but they were filling up. (Advice...the parks are opened last that week. Go to the parks in the morning then take an afternoon break.Go back to the parks at night. Families with small kids are out of the parks by dinner time. You'll have the whole place to yourself!)

By Sunday morning, all the locals were gone and most who had spent the "Thanksgiving Week" left too.

Bottom line, it is not busy that time of year.

Enjoy your vacation

(PS, I booked Ohana's for one of my nights, then swapped hotels and cancelled Ohana's. 30 days before my vacation, I decided I did want OHanas and was still able to get Ohana's for 5:30pm.)

 

[Noelle]

Thank you, DISNEY1975, I feel so much better after your post. We've never been at Thanksgiving. We usually go at Christmas, so I'm used to crowds. I'll cross my fingers for low crowds and easy ADRs.

 

[andijean]

I am right there worrying with you guys. We also have a split stay with a grand gathering of 11. Nov 25th AKL and 6th-2nd at BLT. One of our res's was a purchasing incentive and doesn't come up in the system. So, I will have to wait to call. Also, we are on vacation next and 2 days in a row I will have to get up early, so I can make reservations. Ugh! I also have decided where we want to eat, but do not have a b/up plan. I hope things go well.

 

[BayouMickey]

To everyone worrying.....

Last year, I was in your shoes, worrying about the crowds for Thanksgiving week and all my ressies.

Im cant gaurantee it will be the same, but I got there the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and the place was EMPTY! My family walked onto almost everything (except Soarin' and EE) in the parks. I got all my ressies for the times I wanted. Thanksgiving day was especially empty.

Friday I noticed a big difference, but it still was not too too crowded. 10 - 15 minute waits for decent attractions, less than that for the less popular ones. Restaurants were not bursting, but they were filling up. (Advice...the parks are opened last that week. Go to the parks in the morning then take an afternoon break.Go back to the parks at night. Families with small kids are out of the parks by dinner time. You'll have the whole place to yourself!)

By Sunday morning, all the locals were gone and most who had spent the "Thanksgiving Week" left too.

Bottom line, it is not busy that time of year.

Enjoy your vacation

(PS, I booked Ohana's for one of my nights, then swapped hotels and cancelled Ohana's. 30 days before my vacation, I decided I did want OHanas and was still able to get Ohana's for 5:30pm.)

empty is an exaggeration...
We were there also last year, and though it wasn't unbearable it was moderately crowded. I'll post pics later to show the crowd levels.
Best thing for you to do is book your top ressies later in week and wake up early on your 90 day mark.

Thanksgiving empty?? Sure you were at WDW? TG was our take it easy day, so I decided just to hop around to see what was happening..
MK was toe to heel all the way back to the spur, main street was like a cattle drive
Epcot even SE was backed up all the way towards Club Cool
HS was more like a typical day in MK crowded but not unbearable
and AK was easy goings.
Empty it definately was not.

 

[momof2minnies]

Thanksgiving person here too- can someone walk me through the online ADR reservation process. I am clueless when it comes to this- I would rather call but 6 am is better than 7am.

TIA, Linda

 

[jnfr2424]

Wow I thought I was the only one who is terrified on not being able to get ressies on Thursday for Thanksgiving. Last year it was only 2 of us and this year its 6! We are trying for Thanksgiving Eve @ Narcoosee's, Thanksgiving Breakfast @ Ohana's, Thanksgiving Dinner @ 1900, Ohana's for Dinner, Garden Grill, Sci Fi, 50's Prime Time, Japan, Le Cellier, Crystal Palace and Whispering Cafe
I wish everyone the best of luck and pixie dust and it may a bit early but...
Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 

[momof2minnies]

I have it now! I could not sign in and had to call. Will a confirmation be sent to your email so you can print it out?

Linda

 

[solar]

I decided it isn't worth stressing about, so this is my plan (by the way, this is my 3rd or 4th thanksgiving there) - we noticed crowds pick up Friday

My choices:

1. make a grand ole turkey dinner and celebrate the week before or the week after our trip

2. make a reservation for the day before/ or the day after thanksgiving at somewhere like LT...and have turkey

and if all else fails, grab a turkey sandwich at the CS and smile because I'm at Disney on a vacation...and it is after all...it's a state of mind.

I'm on vacation...I am not stressing about what I eat on a certain day of the week...I'm in DISNEY in November, when it's cooler up north. That works for me.

 

[nydisfan]

We are also doing a split vacation...
Nov. 18th - Nov. 22nd then again Nov. 25th - Dec. 2nd

we were able to call and get reservations for thanksgiving on Aug. 20th and we got the place and time we wanted very easily...we have searched menus for thanksgiving and we chose Chef Mickeys....so hoping that is good, we have been before on non holidays and loved it...

anyways we were able to do all our days except for the last 3 days and we can do those in a few days...and we got everything we wanted and very close to the times we wanted so don't stress folks....

good luck to all and wishing you all wonderful holidays and see you there in Nov.