Gutted by ADRs

[richyrich]

Well, heading off to WDW next Thursday. Last time we were there (Sep 2006) i had everything planned and sorted early, reservations at 190 days out (wanted CRT desperately) but it all felt a bit regimented, almost as if we'd taken the spontaneity out of the holiday. Crowd levels were very light and most stuff (both rides and eateries) were pretty much walk-ons.

So this trip I decided to play things a bit more low key and left it. Phoned last night to try and get a couple of "main" reservations and there seems to be nothing left - i wanted breakfast at CP, and dinner at Akershus.

Now I’m kicking myself for not doing this earlier, i'll keep phoning through the week to see if any cancellations arise but not too optimistic :-(

Has anyone ever had success with late cancellations and if so what is the best time to phone??

Thanks

Rich

 

[nibbo]

I guess we've been lucky when we've been before. Never booked anything before hand. We've just wandered into the guest relations at one of the parks and booked breakfasts and dinners with no problems at all.

 

[Paula WBA]

If I were you Rich I would still keep calling - you might get lucky with a cancellation.

I would call at 12.00 noon our time to be first in the queue.

You will need to be flexible on your times/restaurants but hopefully you will get something.

Good luck

 

[jackieleanne]

I think the table service restraunts although the crowds are low are still pretty full because of free dining, this was the case for all our ADR's when we had our dinner at prime time people who tried to walk in was told that all restraunts in Hollywood Studio's were booked up.

 

[Elise79]

Well, heading off to WDW next Thursday. Last time we were there (Sep 2006) i had everything planned and sorted early, reservations at 190 days out (wanted CRT desperately) but it all felt a bit regimented, almost as if we'd taken the spontaneity out of the holiday. Crowd levels were very light and most stuff (both rides and eateries) were pretty much walk-ons.

So this trip I decided to play things a bit more low key and left it. Phoned last night to try and get a couple of "main" reservations and there seems to be nothing left - i wanted breakfast at CP, and dinner at Akershus.

Now I’m kicking myself for not doing this earlier, i'll keep phoning through the week to see if any cancellations arise but not too optimistic :-(

Has anyone ever had success with late cancellations and if so what is the best time to phone??

Thanks

Rich

Character meals are hard to get anytime let alone free dining

Keep trying but also go to your guest relations desk in your hotel in the morning and see if they can help. I think the princess meal requires a CC deposit so you may be lucky and someone might cancel.

Good luck but if you have the DDP you might have to eat in some out of the way places to use you TS credits.

 

[luke]

Well, heading off to WDW next Thursday. Last time we were there (Sep 2006) i had everything planned and sorted early, reservations at 190 days out (wanted CRT desperately) but it all felt a bit regimented, almost as if we'd taken the spontaneity out of the holiday.

That's how I feel about ADR's, i don't wanna be thinking exactly where i have to be every day and planning parks etc in accordance to meals!

However the odd ADR isn't a bad thing, if it's somewhere you really want to eat.

Hope you get to eat in the places you really want to - i think you might be ok for most restaurants (CRT, bad luck in your case, and Le Cellier being exceptions!) as i think lots of people make multiple ADR's during free dining (especially) for the same day meaning there'll be places in the restaurants they decided against for the day

 

[gismo1554]

I read a post off someone who was there last week and they said they managed to get walk up reservations for a couple of restuarants but none were character dining. I would phone again before you go and then check with Guest services each morning to see if anything has come up. They do get cancellations so keep trying.

We have managed to get walkup during busy times but it always tends to be when Free dining isn't on. Next year I would assume this will not be as big a problem as most of the free dining is counter service. Try on the morning you want to go and you might get something fingers crossed

 

[disneyholic family]

Well, heading off to WDW next Thursday. Last time we were there (Sep 2006) i had everything planned and sorted early, reservations at 190 days out (wanted CRT desperately) but it all felt a bit regimented, almost as if we'd taken the spontaneity out of the holiday. Crowd levels were very light and most stuff (both rides and eateries) were pretty much walk-ons.

So this trip I decided to play things a bit more low key and left it. Phoned last night to try and get a couple of "main" reservations and there seems to be nothing left - i wanted breakfast at CP, and dinner at Akershus.

Now I’m kicking myself for not doing this earlier, i'll keep phoning through the week to see if any cancellations arise but not too optimistic :-(

Has anyone ever had success with late cancellations and if so what is the best time to phone??

Thanks

Rich

yes the ADR situation seems to be worse this week than last...(i've been following DD's trip)..
however, she was able to make a last minute ADR yesterday for the Crystal Palace for dinner (2 hours before the time slot)....
so don't completely give up hope...keep trying, even when you're there..

 

[jackieleanne]

I know that Hollywood Studios and Epcot dinning when I was there last week didnt have any timeslots when we was in but it did seem that there had been cancellations for Crystal Palace before the park opened we had the 8:20 timeslot by 9 though it was all packed. If you want character breakfast best time to try would be the earlier ones. With Epcot we had reservations for the fireworks any of the restraunts that you can see the fireworks from are usually booked up from 7 - 9 thats what we found anyway, Rose and Crown was packed out they was using some of the Yorkshire fish and chips tables.

 

[Mr Stoat]

Same idea here,

We were there last October and a CM told us that there are always a number of last minute drop outs so IF you don't mind turning up early and waiting then the chances are you will get a slot. Good luck!

 

[richyrich]

Thanks all, guess i'll just keep calling and see what i can come up with

 

[richyrich]

YEYYYYYY!!! just called and managed to get Princess dining at Akershus the night before Daughter's 8th bday (27th @ 8pm) so a bit happier now

 

[Minniespal]

YEYYYYYY!!! just called and managed to get Princess dining at Akershus the night before Daughter's 8th bday (27th @ 8pm) so a bit happier now

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