Has anyone had success booking dining? I mean......for the love of churros!

[Titainokc]

Has anyone booked Oga's for Oct 8-11? I'm convinced the hours being up does not matter, have not seen a single slot for any day.

I was just able to book Plaza Inn for a day with no hours showing - so now the whole "hours post first" premise doesn't align.

Yeah, I think you are right about Oga's Cantina. I have been trying to get Oga's for Sept. 22-26 and haven't had any luck. I've tried starting at 60 days out and at 3 a.m. every day with no luck. I also signed up for alerts.

 

[Titainokc]

Does anyone have any idea if carnation cafe reservations will open up any time soon? I check every morning but I just wondered if there was info somewhere I had missed. We will be there the weekend it opens and would love to score a waffle lol.

I'm waiting for Carnation too. I haven't seen anything yet. I have an alert set up for that restaurant.

 

[goooof1]

Some thoughts. WDW has had "booking dining as a competitive sport" for awhile now. (Same as booking FP+ there.) I hate that about WDW, but it is what it is.

That was never the case at DL. Yes, a handful of things booked pretty close to immediately (special afternoon teas and some dining packages that involved entertainment come to mind) - but even those were usually "just check the morning they go live and you're fine." Other popular stuff was "you definitely want to book a few weeks in advance," but again, it wasn't like WDW where stuff went "live" and then vanished. So the DL system of "we sort of post dining 60 days out, maybe more like 45, not at a consistent time, whatever" wasn't really an issue (even if it annoyed the WDW faithful).

Clearly, DL has now hit the WDW model of "booking your dining is a competitive sport." (Which I also hate.) But what's worse is that the system and infrastructure AROUND booking dining hasn't changed. And that's not really a sustainable model.

Except... from Disney's perspective, everything is selling out, they're maximizing their reservation profits, so... what's the incentive to upgrade the system or make it uniform?

YES THIS ^^^ DL is NOT WDW ....... it was always so nice that dining reservations were much more casual. Now it is ridiculous how a crazed "competitive sport" (great characterization, by the way) it has become ...... what's up with that !?!!!!

 

[BayGirl22]

They’ve never had a set time when reservations dropped that I’ve been aware of. I mean, check out the responses on this thread from 2018… it PERFECTLY expresses dining in “the before times.”

https://www.disboards.com/threads/f...o-make-dining-reservation-at-60-days.3680318/
For awhile in 2019, they usually went live between 1-2am. I liked that because I’m usually still up then. But sometimes they were like 7am.

And I’m 100% with you on the “customers want predictability.” But I’m not sure it’s going to happen.

ETA: Seriously, click on and read that 2018 thread (it’s short), and then compare that to now. Wow.

Ha - yeah that was certainly the vibe back then. My trips were between 2011 and June 2018 and I know I was generally booking first day. Some of that was hard ticket events and dinner packages too. I'm a planner so I like to have it locked in. May be that they were opening them up over night at random times but were there in the morning.
What I do not remember is ever going on at 60 or 55 days and still not seeing anything open. I think that's the real problem.

 

[Sunnyore]

I know it hasn’t been very consistent at all, but I thought I’d share my experience since I did manage to get all the seemingly popular ones. Blue Bayou, New Orleans and Oga dropped at 60 days out at 3am PST for my dates. Storyteller breakfast did too I believe. The DCA restaurants took a bit a time because I think due to OBB but I would check daily past my 60 day mark for when scheduled times are appearing for my days. Once those popped up the reservations were available at 3am that night. Napa Rose also didn’t follow the 60 days rule and neither did Carthay dinner. And Trader Sam and Plaza Inn breakfast only just dropped on the 11th so I was able to grab those yesterday morning. I’m sure some of it is luck but WDW prepped me well also with me checking the app whenever I have a free moment.

 

[kikismom]

Has anyone had luck getting DTD reservations for anything past 10/2? My party wants to go to Tortilla Jo's so I need to at least try. That will be my last one to get thank God!

 

[BayGirl22]

I know it hasn’t been very consistent at all, but I thought I’d share my experience since I did manage to get all the seemingly popular ones. Blue Bayou, New Orleans and Oga dropped at 60 days out at 3am PST for my dates. Storyteller breakfast did too I believe. The DCA restaurants took a bit a time because I think due to OBB but I would check daily past my 60 day mark for when scheduled times are appearing for my days. Once those popped up the reservations were available at 3am that night. Napa Rose also didn’t follow the 60 days rule and neither did Carthay dinner. And Trader Sam and Plaza Inn breakfast only just dropped on the 11th so I was able to grab those yesterday morning. I’m sure some of it is luck but WDW prepped me well also with me checking the app whenever I have a free moment.

Curious what are your dates?
It seems like maybe there are times that are more difficult for them to nail down.

 

[GeneralTso]

We have an upcoming trip and I've been checking dining at random times off and on. Trip is first week of October.
I swear....it is so random. I've been saying this forever. These openings drop at the most random times....middle of the night, afternoon, evening. That's why so many people say "just keep checking" because that's truly the name of the game.

One spot opened for the Oogie Boogie dessert party on the night we'll be there. I grabbed it. This was the evening of the 11th when they all opened up. I didn't even try in the morning because I refuse to wait and watch that goat.

 

[got2travel]

So I went to get Wine County for Oogie Boogie and for my day only 4:20 was open...I'm guessing that is not the special?

For the lunch or dinner package at Wind Country Trattoria, you just need a regular reservation then tell them you want the event meal when you check in. The dessert party is a separate booking under Sonoma Terrace Oggir Boogie Dessert Package.

 

[got2travel]

Just read the description of each OBB option and looks like the dinner at WCT provides parade viewing in a standing room only area while the dessert party provided seated viewing. I guess that explains the difference in pricing.

For myself neither is worth the extra price above what I’ve already paid to go to the party. Especially with such a long parade route and it being a limited ticket event. I’m confident we will find an acceptable viewing location on our own and maybe munch on an ice cream or adult smoothie while watching the parade.

 

[mrflibble]

I know it hasn’t been very consistent at all, but I thought I’d share my experience since I did manage to get all the seemingly popular ones. Blue Bayou, New Orleans and Oga dropped at 60 days out at 3am PST for my dates. Storyteller breakfast did too I believe. The DCA restaurants took a bit a time because I think due to OBB but I would check daily past my 60 day mark for when scheduled times are appearing for my days. Once those popped up the reservations were available at 3am that night. Napa Rose also didn’t follow the 60 days rule and neither did Carthay dinner. And Trader Sam and Plaza Inn breakfast only just dropped on the 11th so I was able to grab those yesterday morning. I’m sure some of it is luck but WDW prepped me well also with me checking the app whenever I have a free moment.

I think both BayGirl22 and I agree that this is not the case for us (looks like we're headed there on the same 10/9 weekend). I was up at 3am on the 60 day mark, trying to book BB for dinner for 10/9, but no luck. This morning, now a few days after the 60 day mark, Cafe Orleans times JUST opened for 10/9. Same with WCT - they just released times this morning, I think around 5 or 6 AM. The problem is there is no consistency, and no communication from DL about this. Their dining number now just hangs up on you after telling you to use the app or website.

 

[Araminta18]

Blergh, I keep waiting for Disney to release Carthay Circle reservations on Oogie Boogie nights, but so far nothing. So, if anyone has a CC reservation for Friday Sept 17th semi-early in the evening (so we can get out in time to see the fireworks ...pm me!!

 

[smartlabelprint]

Yeah, I know This "deal" is prix fixe and the kid's meal includes the popcorn bucket while the adult meal let's you add the popcorn bucket for an additional charge. So does my kid get less food for the adult price and we still have to pay extra for the bucket? So nonsensical.


We'll be there for rope drop either way, but I'd prefer to do a bunch of rides then eat later. I am keeping an eye out for later times, now way they went that fast at 3am.

In the past they’ve given larger portions of the child choice. I’m not sure that will happen, especially with the bucket situation. Is double the childs price less than an adult plus bucket?

 

[smartlabelprint]

what's up with that !?!!!!

1. I’m not sure if there are still less reservation spaces available. Either due to Covid or staff shortage.
2. More people may be making reservations due to changes in counter service locations.

 

[ktlm]

YES THIS ^^^ DL is NOT WDW ....... it was always so nice that dining reservations were much more casual. Now it is ridiculous how a crazed "competitive sport" (great characterization, by the way) it has become ...... what's up with that !?!!!!

Having had years of experience with the competitive sport that is WDW dining--- I can say that this is different. In the crack of dawn WDW competition you knew EXACTLY what day and time ALL dining reservations were going to drop. Get up 5 minutes before and run to the computer-- have 30 minutes of stress while you are trying to book everything (although since a credit card started being required it slowed it down and it can be glitchy and overloaded so lets say an hour of stress), and you are done except for if you didn't get a time you want or occasionally a place you want then you have to stalk the website to pick up a cancellation or better time. This DLR thing where you don't know what day or what time reservations might drop is a completely different animal! I can't imagine how stressful it must be for those of you who are used to the laid back relaxed fun of DLR, and don't have much experience with the WDW stressed out experience. Actually, we were debating between WDW and DLR and as we were about 90% certain we were cancelling WDW, I didn't get up at the crack of dawn, but did look at dining reservations when I got up on reservation day to book some and wasn't having any trouble finding them for the places we would have gone. We are committed to DLR or nothing now-- WDW's package rates were outrageous-- $3,000 more for the same resort, same room category, and same dates as our reservation in 2019. I finally pushed the cancel button.

Thanks again to everyone here because I was able to pick up Cafe Orleans and WCT this morning. Unlike others here, we actually kind of like WCT! Debating between that and the dessert party I booked yesterday- but I will wait and see how the reviews on the dessert party are and then decide whether to keep it and either just have a regular meal at WCT or drop WCT. Couldn't get Plaza Inn for our DL days- one popped up for 8:10 a.m.-- but decided against that early- with no Max Pass we would rather be in ride lines early in the morning. Still need Oga's as DD (who is old enough and vaccinated) loved that place the one time we got to go pre-covid. Can't tell if those have dropped. The one good thing is that we find the counter service at DLR to typically be much better than WDW, so aren't overly stressed about dining reservations, although with everything mobile order, the issues we had with the few things that had gone mobile order with our last Pre-covid trip, and some of the reports about it being hard to get a mobile order spot in places right now - I'm a little worried about that and thinking maybe table service reservations are a better idea right now?


Edited-- Ok- darn- I just saw the you tube video of Plaza Inn reopen today- and now I am sorry I missed out this morning and am going to have to stalk that one too. If I just hadn't looked inside. LOL

 

[Figment1971]

Cafe Orleans opened up times this morning for 10/9. I think there's still hope that BB will do the same!

Thank you! I am hopeful too. I now see that the times look different for Blue Bayou and everything is greyed out which looks different than it has at any of the million points I have checked over the last three days. I am taking that as a good sign that reservations are about to open for booking! This is what I have been reduced to—LOL

 

[Sunnyore]

Curious what are your dates?
It seems like maybe there are times that are more difficult for them to nail down.

Ya it does sound like its all over the place for October. Guess I'll experience it myself when I make my Oct bookings at 60 days. But the dates that I got Trader Sam, Carthay Circle dinner, Storyteller breakfast, Plaza Inn breakfast, New Orleans, Ogas and Blue Bayou is for 9/13-14. I had Lamplight lounge and Napa Rose too but traded them out.

 

[DLgal]

Is anyone else having issues making reservations on the app? I've been trying for 2 days to make a reservation for 2 weeks from now and I keep getting "a service error is preventing us from continuing." I got a similar message on the desktop site. What gives?

 

[vacay77]

Is anyone else having issues making reservations on the app? I've been trying for 2 days to make a reservation for 2 weeks from now and I keep getting "a service error is preventing us from continuing." I got a similar message on the desktop site. What gives?

I was receiving that message, too. I ended up switching to desktop, though, and I was able to make the reservations that way. I ended up using my desktop this morning, too. I was able to book the dessert party for Oogie Boogie Bash.

 

[dhorner233]

Is anyone else having issues making reservations on the app? I've been trying for 2 days to make a reservation for 2 weeks from now and I keep getting "a service error is preventing us from continuing." I got a similar message on the desktop site. What gives?

Yes, try going through the website instead of the app. And try going through the specific restaurant rather than just the date and time..

Yeah, I think you are right about Oga's Cantina. I have been trying to get Oga's for Sept. 22-26 and haven't had any luck. I've tried starting at 60 days out and at 3 a.m. every day with no luck. I also signed up for alerts.

Same here. Up at 3 am. Signed up for alerts. Still can't get Oga's for Sept 28 or Oct. 1. I think I'm going to hope for the walk up list.