Getting frustrated making ADRs!!!

[Pat329]

We've just decided on a Dec trip so I'm already behind in making ressies. Every restaurant I wanted is totally booked when I look online. Would it make a difference if I called instead of doing it myself online? I check everyday hoping that magically one of my choices will appear. And unless I want to have dinner after 9pm, I'm stuck going somewhere I didn't want to go or settling for CS the entire day. Has anyone ever suggested an 'anytime' feature when making online reservations? I'd work my trip around any opening if I had to. Currently I go through all for breakfast, then again for lunch and finally again for dinner. Unless I'm doing something wrong. Suggestions are appreciated!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) If it isn't open on-line, it isn't open.
2) All ressies systems use the same system.
3) You need to hope for a cancellation.
4) Or, find a Lobby Concierge that has a dining Override code (used for VIP's and sales contacts).
5) There are usually only two at any resort.
6) And, they do not say who they are, or admit to it. *

* Overrides are used very sparingly and are not just given out. If they were known, everyone would be asking to get into CRT, Cali Grill at fireworks time, or whatever.Thus, the people who can do overrides are few, and guard their codes well.

 

[laliwalden]

Just keep trying!! It is kinda late for ADRs but people will cancel/adjust. We are going in December and I made our ADRs in June.

Don't give up and keep trying!!

 

[Pat329]

Thanks to both of you. The Override code is good to know. I'll keep on plugging away and hope for the best!

 

[counselormom]

Be sure to check the December Cancelled ADR Thread. I just cancelled
Ohana and Chef Mickeys. I think as people make final plans for their trip
you will see more openings. Keep looking, you'll find something. I also read
yesterday that with free dining people are making lots of ADR's but not showing up, so it would be worth it to see if places are taking walk ups when
you get there.
Good Luck!

 

[ericaseiler]

We are in the SAME position. Just booked for Dec. and can't find much open at all. Moved some of our day plans around and got 2 ressies (one not at a great time) but still am missing a bunch I would like. Everyone says between T-giving and X-mas is the best time to go but going by the ADR's, it feels like it is going to be SO busy!

 

[griergirl2]

It probably won't be that busy, it is more than likely due to the free dining being offered now. That makes ADR's a huge priority and hence they are also a great deal harder to get. Just be patient and check as often as you possibly can! We booked late for September FD but with persistence I have now gotten everything we wanted, including Le Cellier and Ohana's!

 

[Alabama Minnie]

December is a while away. What week are you going? People will cancell, I'm sure you will "luck-up" on a few.

 

[ocean702]

try searching a time specifically versus just clicking dinner, breakfast or lunch. i found more options opened up that way.

 

[Pat329]

Thanks for all of the encouraging suggestions. We're not going until the week of Dec 12 so I'm hoping by then there will be some cancellations. At least I hope so. I can't see eating anywhere ate 9:50 pm!!! I can't understand why the stopped letting us transfer ressies. That seemed to work out well for all involved. Oh well, thanks again.

 

[catne]

I second the suggestion to put in specific times instead of "breakfast" "lunch" or "dinner"...had terrible luck when I designate a meal like that, much better luck when putting in a specific time. It will still give you times within a 2 hour spread of what you select. And also, I realize you have specific places you want, but do try just putting in the park you're going to be at...like Epcot, 6:00 p.m....and see what comes up. There are many very good Disney restaurants...so far we've been to about 35 of them and only one I won't go back to.

 

[canoe86]

Call. Don't monkey with online. They can help you much better. We JUST booked for early November and got just about everything we wanted.......7 lunches....7 dinners....and a couple breakfast ADR.

Figure out where you REALLY want to eat, then get those first and be flexible...then build around those with other places.

For us, we MUST do HDDR, so, I tried to get that one on ANY of the seven days. Tried Le Celier, couldn't get it. Then, later that night, built the rest of the trip. Called back, and got most everything. Then, reviewed it, decided against the water park option, so made a few changes. Perfect.

CALL! They know the tricks.

 

[Tricia1972]

I second the suggestion to put in a specific time. I just ran two searches - one for dinner, which had mostly 7pm and later available (party of 6 on 12/13)

I searched again for 5pm party of 6 and found 51 results with availability and just 19 that have none.

 

[molfrog]

As high tech as Disney is, their reservation system is a few years behind. The cast member that makes the reservations uses the same system that we use online. It is no different.

 

[Kathy Z]

Follow Tricia's suggestion on how to find restaurants with availability. If you're looking for dinner reservations in EPCOT go online August 26th after 7:00 am and start looking for openings. Keep checking all morning and you should find some openings. They will go as quickly as they appear because others are doing the same search. That is the morning that WDW will begin taking phone reservations for Candlelight Processional Packages. A lot of tables in EPCOT have been blocked off for those packages. As people are able to book a package they will be canceling regular ADRs that they have been holding as back-ups.

We will also be there the same week as you but I made our ADRs the day my window opened.

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

Check back online whenever you get a chance anytime during the day. Openings pop up at different times during the day. You may not get the time you really want & may have to change your days around but reservations do come up.

Last year I got LeCellier at lunch after checking off & on for 2 months. Never could get a suppertime. This year I've been able to move my time on Ohaha to a more workable time on the MVMCP night which we just decided to do. After we worked our schedule around I then posted on the Dec. cancellations & dropped off Ohana & Tusker House early breakfast & Kona.

Keep checking online...you might not get all you want but you'll be able to pick up some of them..good luck!

 

[goldena003]

I am in the process of planning our 1st trip and did not realize that ADR's were so hard to come by, so have also been playing the catch up game. Our trip is the end of sept (also free dining) and about a month ago lots of stuff started opening up like chef mickey, ohana, Le celller. Have seen several posts about this happening so you might watch.

I agree with being specific on your search specify where and then run the times

Also be persistant I was able to get all I wanted at decent times but I was online a lot (like 6 times a day or more)checking. The only one I had left was crystal Palace, and that one took dedication I have been on line and checking every 15-30 min for 3 days . Finally got @ 1145
good luck

 

[ccw7759]

All of you that are frustrated with not being able to get the ADR's you want.. remember
that Disney allows one to "double book" any meal. Keep checking back often, as the closer it gets to your vacation dates, people will begin to cancel their "unwanted" times and places. Good luck to all!!

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

Lots of LeCellier suppertimes just opened up for early December...if you need that...good luck!

 

[mom2rtk]

Call. Don't monkey with online. They can help you much better. We JUST booked for early November and got just about everything we wanted.......7 lunches....7 dinners....and a couple breakfast ADR.

Big difference. Part of early November is blacked out for free dining. The OP is arriving during FD in December.