I called first thing today at 7:00AM and got all my ADVs (for a party of 3) exactly at, or very close to, the times I wanted. I even called the 1-800 number and was only on hold about 18 minutes. 
The first thing I asked for was CRT for Christmas day. Having read how hard it is to get breakfast at CRT, I foolishly didn't tell the CM what time I wanted and assumed she knew I meant dinner because breakfast must already be booked. Anyway she said there was a 9:15 and I asked "9:15 PM?" and she said , "no in the morning". I then apologized for not saying I wanted dinner. She then started quoting times "I have 4, 4:10, 4:25, 4:45, 4:55, 5:05, 5:15, 5:25, 5:45, 5:55 6:20". I wanted 6PM so took the 5:55 PM
Next I asked for Le Cellier for Dec 17 around 6 PM. I figured no chance based on what I read on this board. In fact I thought I wouldn't be able to get it for any of the days I would be there. Same thing, the CM started quoting all kinds of times. I took 6:10 PM.
I then got 5 more ADRs including dinner at Ohanas Dec 22 and Yachtsman Steak House Dec 26 for the exact times I wanted, 7:00PM. I finished with Sci Fi at 12:10PM on Dec 24 (wanted 12PM so worked out well) and 50's dinner on Dec 24 for 12PM, which I wanted. The last one was CRT for lunch on Dec 19. I wanted 12PM and got 1PM. I don't recall if there was anything earlier as I think I just said I wanted around 12PM and the CM said she had a 1PM. I did have to leave a $10 CC deposit per person for this one and have to give 24 hour notice to cancel or else lose the deposit. No deposit was required for Christmas day at CRT probably because there are no characters for dinner. Allearsnet confirms that they stopped asking for a deposit for Holiday priority seating effect Feb 4.
An interesting thing to note. Before I started asking for the specific ADRs, the CM asked if I had the dining plan. I have not decided yet if I wanted to do that so I said "no". I thought perhaps she was going to suggest it, or try to sell it to me, but she never said another word about it and just went on to ask what ADRs I wanted.
Has anyone else been asked this? I now wonder whether I was given preference because I would be paying for everything out of my own pocket as opposed to eating more than what the DDP costs, or if only a certain number of openings are held for those on the dining plan.
If you are considering the DDP, you might want to hold off getting it until after you make your ADRs or at least tell the CM you don't have it. I can't say whether not having it made any difference, but having gotten all the ADRs I asked for, it sure didn't hurt.
The first thing I asked for was CRT for Christmas day. Having read how hard it is to get breakfast at CRT, I foolishly didn't tell the CM what time I wanted and assumed she knew I meant dinner because breakfast must already be booked. Anyway she said there was a 9:15 and I asked "9:15 PM?" and she said , "no in the morning". I then apologized for not saying I wanted dinner. She then started quoting times "I have 4, 4:10, 4:25, 4:45, 4:55, 5:05, 5:15, 5:25, 5:45, 5:55 6:20". I wanted 6PM so took the 5:55 PM
Next I asked for Le Cellier for Dec 17 around 6 PM. I figured no chance based on what I read on this board. In fact I thought I wouldn't be able to get it for any of the days I would be there. Same thing, the CM started quoting all kinds of times. I took 6:10 PM.
I then got 5 more ADRs including dinner at Ohanas Dec 22 and Yachtsman Steak House Dec 26 for the exact times I wanted, 7:00PM. I finished with Sci Fi at 12:10PM on Dec 24 (wanted 12PM so worked out well) and 50's dinner on Dec 24 for 12PM, which I wanted. The last one was CRT for lunch on Dec 19. I wanted 12PM and got 1PM. I don't recall if there was anything earlier as I think I just said I wanted around 12PM and the CM said she had a 1PM. I did have to leave a $10 CC deposit per person for this one and have to give 24 hour notice to cancel or else lose the deposit. No deposit was required for Christmas day at CRT probably because there are no characters for dinner. Allearsnet confirms that they stopped asking for a deposit for Holiday priority seating effect Feb 4.
An interesting thing to note. Before I started asking for the specific ADRs, the CM asked if I had the dining plan. I have not decided yet if I wanted to do that so I said "no". I thought perhaps she was going to suggest it, or try to sell it to me, but she never said another word about it and just went on to ask what ADRs I wanted.
Has anyone else been asked this? I now wonder whether I was given preference because I would be paying for everything out of my own pocket as opposed to eating more than what the DDP costs, or if only a certain number of openings are held for those on the dining plan.
If you are considering the DDP, you might want to hold off getting it until after you make your ADRs or at least tell the CM you don't have it. I can't say whether not having it made any difference, but having gotten all the ADRs I asked for, it sure didn't hurt.
