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

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Did Trader Sam's revert back to the virtual system after January 1st or have they simply not loaded the dates and times into the system? I know that the reservations were a "trial". I just want to try to confirm it isn't a glitch on my end and we missed the window.

We'd like to plan a visit with a reservation in mid-January (window for booking open), but TS is showing "no times available" Jan 2 and beyond. We were able to secure everything else we wanted for December 19-22 and Jan 14-17! Now we wait for candy cane news and February 18-21 to open.

Mike

I'm hunting for a Trader Sam's reservation Jan 14-17, too. Heading there to celebrate my birthday (on the 14th) with a couple friends and leaving the kids at home, so we're hitting more grown-up spots. We got our reservations for Lamplighters, Carthay, and Oga's and we're stalking TS now.

 

[Pluto468]

What do people like at Trader Sam's? I've never been but I want to try it in January if I can get reservations.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Aaargh. I got excited to nab a last minute Lamplight Lounge brunch reservation for Saturday, and then realized I couldn't use it as I have Disney as our starting park. I've eaten there many times, but never for brunch! Grrr. With how busy it's been, even if a CA opening appears (I think it will), I'm hesitant to risk trying to switch and not getting a reservation for either park.

I don't mind park reservations, but really wish they'd either drop the 1 p.m. park hopping restriction or allow us to easily switch our reservations (as the do with dining), rather than requiring us to first cancel and then rebook! Or just let me into CA so I can eat my crab cake

The 1pm park hopping restriction is sooooooooo frustrating, for many reasons but most especially for dining.

 

[laugard]

The 1pm park hopping restriction is sooooooooo frustrating, for many reasons but most especially for dining.

I think this is the third time I've accidentally reserved dining in the "wrong" park and had to cancel. I can't help it; I don't usually book that many ADRs, but I see an elusive reservation for something I've never tried, my instinct is to quickly reserve! And I do really want to eat that brunch lol.

I've been lucky to not have issues with mobile ordering or dining since our first return visit in May, so will probably let this one go rather than risk losing my park reservation. (I read your recent report, however, and know your experience has been closer to a typical one for others. I'm so sorry you had such a frustrating and disappointing time dealing with dining during your last visit. No one should have to go through that.) We plan to get the sip & savor pass so hopefully that should keep us occupied once we get over to DCA. But I really hope the 1 p.m. park hopping eventually goes away!

 

[Version 6]

A bit of a general question.

When I was in the parks in 2018 and 2020, dining reservations for places like Cafe Orleans, Blue Bayou etc were really not THAT hard to come by, but its seeming like that has changed recently? Has there been a change here?

I don't remember previously having to book dining 60 days out...

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

A bit of a general question.

When I was in the parks in 2018 and 2020, dining reservations for places like Cafe Orleans, Blue Bayou etc were really not THAT hard to come by, but its seeming like that has changed recently? Has there been a change here?

I don't remember previously having to book dining 60 days out...

I think there are fewer reservations available. They are understaffed, the menus are small. Some of the restaurants have very limited hours, like Carthay Circle, which is only open for three hours a day (I'm talking the main restaurant, not the alfresco dining). It's definitely not like it used to be.

 

[Version 6]

I think there are fewer reservations available. They are understaffed, the menus are small. Some of the restaurants have very limited hours, like Carthay Circle, which is only open for three hours a day (I'm talking the main restaurant, not the alfresco dining). It's definitely not like it used to be.

Thanks. That explains it.

Hopefully things start returning to normality soon.

 

[MikeRx]

Trader Sam’s (inside) for many is a fun homage to the Jungel Cruise, Tiki Room, and Adventureland. It’s a continuation of the day with creative beverages. Others (not us) don’t like this continuation and kitsch. We love it and try to go each trip. We prefer indoors, but with a 13 yr old we have to go before 8p. If it’s a night cap, we love to sit on the Terrace with the music and soft glow of the torches, it’s a more relaxed vibe. With the new discounts we just moved from the PPH to the DLH for our trip, so stopping by after a long day in the parks would be perfect.

 

[taaren]

What do people like at Trader Sam's? I've never been but I want to try it in January if I can get reservations.

Its fun to get a giant shareable drink with your group of friends/family. The pupu (appetizer) platter and tonkatsu ramen were both outstanding last time we were there (I have high standards on Hawaiian food being born & raised on Maui).

If you don't get a reservation, there's a walk-up line for Tangeroa Terrace which is the same menu. Last time we waited about 45 minutes for our party of 6 when we walked up around 8p. We decided to give up our TS reservation because we travel with teens who can't go into TS too late.

 

[avalon451]

A bit of a general question.

When I was in the parks in 2018 and 2020, dining reservations for places like Cafe Orleans, Blue Bayou etc were really not THAT hard to come by, but its seeming like that has changed recently? Has there been a change here?

I don't remember previously having to book dining 60 days out...

Yes. Since the reopening after the pandemic, the demand has been especially high for some of the favorites. I recall getting reservations for BB a couple of weeks out. Now, the reservations drop at precisely 60 days out, at 3:00 a.m. Pacific time. I woke up this morning at 3 a.m. and snagged Oga's and Napa Rose for my starting day, January 20th; I saw Blue Bayou available at that time, though I want it for the next day. When I woke up at 7 a.m., BB was gone. I'm going to wake up again tomorrow and pick up Blue Bayou. *sigh* what a drag! Hopefully the staffing etc. gets better over the next 6 months or so, and things will ease up. There's a lot of Disney-starved people out there!

 

[Astylla]

I tend to check obsessively on the app for dining times and have stupid luck at times.

Last week I decided to book a last minute Thanksgiving trip with my bf and shocked they had hotel rooms at the Magic Key discount available at DLH. I've been renting points for GCV mostly but given motels across across street are running over $200ish , figured why not , especially since I just got my Marriott Bonvoy card and this stay will grant me my 30k bonus points for future trips.

So then I realized only sit down places were offering any kind of turkey dinner, no mention of Plaza inn doing it like years past.

Earlier today ended up grabbing an 810pm Blue Bayou reservation for Friday the 26th and an hour ago found a Wine Country Trattoria opening for 620pm on Thanksgiving Day , which are offering a turkey dinner along with their normal menu.
I was planning somewhere offsite but this makes it much easier. So just check the app whenever you can..

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I tend to check obsessively on the app for dining times and have stupid luck at times.

Last week I decided to book a last minute Thanksgiving trip with my bf and shocked they had hotel rooms at the Magic Key discount available at DLH. I've been renting points for GCV mostly but given motels across across street are running over $200ish , figured why not , especially since I just got my Marriott Bonvoy card and this stay will grant me my 30k bonus points for future trips.

So then I realized only sit down places were offering any kind of turkey dinner, no mention of Plaza inn doing it like years past.

Earlier today ended up grabbing an 810pm Blue Bayou reservation for Friday the 26th and an hour ago found a Wine Country Trattoria opening for 620pm on Thanksgiving Day , which are offering a turkey dinner along with their normal menu.
I was planning somewhere offsite but this makes it much easier. So just check the app whenever you can..

We have Thanksgiving Day at Wine Country Trattoria too (5pm). I was excited to see them add the Turkey dinner!

 

[Astylla]

So less than an hour ago randomly saw Napa Rose for Thanksgiving so grabbed that but may cancel if I can't confirm the menu details ahead of time.

I'm a Napa Rose regular but my bf has never been so would love to take him. Decisions Decisions..

 

[Drewski77]

There are some Storytellers Cafe Christmas Brunch times available, just snagged one myself.

 

[nicole88s]

On the off chance anyone is dropping a Lamplight Lounge reservation for 4 for lunch/dinner on December 3rd or 4th will you let me know first? I have been trying for a few weeks and have missed two Mouse Dining alerts. I would be so grateful!

 

[shosh1530]

We are planning a January trip and our first dining availability should be opening up starting this Friday. We were there last June, so I know the basics for making reservations... But is there anything more recent that I need to be aware of?

-Does availability still open up at 3 a.m. PST? Is it reliably at that time or still hit or miss? (When I was booking for the summer trip, some restaurant availability would be added throughout the day.)
-Are all restaurants opening up for reservations 60 days in advance? Or does that vary a lot too?

We are hoping to book Blue Bayou, Plaza Inn, Riverbelle Terrace, and Cafe Orleans.

 

[aussiecookfamily]

We are planning a January trip and our first dining availability should be opening up starting this Friday. We were there last June, so I know the basics for making reservations... But is there anything more recent that I need to be aware of?

-Does availability still open up at 3 a.m. PST? Is it reliably at that time or still hit or miss? (When I was booking for the summer trip, some restaurant availability would be added throughout the day.)
-Are all restaurants opening up for reservations 60 days in advance? Or does that vary a lot too?

We are hoping to book Blue Bayou, Plaza Inn, Riverbelle Terrace, and Cafe Orleans.

I have been watching the availability over the last week, as my 60 days starts tomorrow. At 3am PST I am seeing availability for everything you have mentioned. Only ones not coming up that I am hoping for are Trader Sam's and Carthay Circle Lounge.

 

[Pluto468]

We are hoping to book Blue Bayou, Plaza Inn, Riverbelle Terrace, and Cafe Orleans.

For my January trip I checked every night at 3am and all of the reservations were available. Blue Bayou goes FAST. If I signed on at 3:06 they were gone. Second hardest to get was Plaza Inn. Cafe Orleans and Riverbelle terrace were usually still there when I looked later in the day. But to be safe I'd be ready to get everything you want at 3am, and grab Blue Bayou first. Most things I wanted started at the 60 day mark, but when I was booking for our December trip some restaurants would come out closer to 45 days.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We need a sticky thread like the WDW boards where folks post their cancellations to coordinate a swap. The reservation alert companies are making a killing on DL. Never used to be this way. We have a tradition of spending our mornings in Fantasyland riding the dark rides, Matterhorn, etc and getting the last mobile order for Red Rose breakfast. Unfortunately they ended breakfast there and the menu at Galactic Grill doesn't appeal. Searching for Carnation reservations now. It was always a walk up for us in years past.

 

[ishbit92]

We need a sticky thread like the WDW boards where folks post their cancellations to coordinate a swap. The reservation alert companies are making a killing on DL. Never used to be this way. We have a tradition of spending our mornings in Fantasyland riding the dark rides, Matterhorn, etc and getting the last mobile order for Red Rose breakfast. Unfortunately they ended breakfast there and the menu at Galactic Grill doesn't appeal. Searching for Carnation reservations now. It was always a walk up for us in years past.

I was so disappointed to hear that Red Rose stopped serving breakfast. I was looking forward to having their vegetable hash and planned on mobile ordering there our first park morning. This really cuts down on breakfast options in the park--Galactic Grill, Starbucks, Jolly Holiday, and Carnation Cafe are the only options (in Disneyland) I think? Galactic Grill doesn't appeal to me either--too fatty/cheesy/meaty. Starbucks always has incredibly long lines, Jolly Holiday is mostly bakery stuff, and Carnation Cafe requires reservations. Yeah and since they are taking away all the breakfast options I'm sure that's why we can't just walk up for Carnation anymore. Good luck with getting one, I've had luck finding stuff a day or two before! I sure hope Disneyland increases their breakfast options--DCA has more that I'm interested in at this point.