Has it gotten harder to get ADRs in the last few years ?

[jcvalenti]

So I'm planning which ADRs to try for for a surprise trip for the family in November, with my 180 day coming up in about a week. We're doing a split stay - 5 days at BWV / 2 at Polynesian. Since we have never been there, I was hoping to try Ohana on our first night at the Polynesian, but because Disney can't seem to invest the 2 hours of programming necessary to realize the same group is staying in two different resorts during the same week, my understanding is if I want to make an ADR for Ohana, it will have to be 180 days from the start of our Polynesian stay.

I guess having never been there I failed to realize how popular it was, but I've been checking all week as soon as ADRs open what's available 180 days out, and it looks like both Be Our Guest and Ohana are always totally filled before the 180 mark even hits. Best I could do was finding a 9:30pm reservation, which is a little late for my youngest.

Is this the norm these days for ADRs ? I haven't had to plan dining on a trip since our last big family trip in 2015, and I really don't recall any big issues when making them then. We had a group of 20 and were able to make 5 separate Be Our Guest ADRs at 180 days for roughly the same time back then. We manage to get 2 10 tops next to each other at California Grill at 7pm without an issue.

Getting a little nervous here about having a chance to finally stay at the Poly AND try their flagship restaurant .... any tips or advice appreciated - especially if there's some way to make those ADRs for my split stay later in the day.

 

[holden]

Sounds like you will be there close to Thanksgiving, so it will be more crowded and ADRs might be more difficult to get. Are you flexible with which meal to eat there (B,L,D)?

I don't find ADRs difficult to get, but we don't care for Ohana or BOG, the 2 most popular ADRs. If you can't get what you want there keep checking, especially 24hrs-48hrs before you want to eat there. People cancel all the time.

 

[Daniela Rose]

Free dining also starts nov 14, so that's a contributing factor.

Keep checking and se up res finder alerts on touring plans and mouse Dining's.

 

[jcvalenti]

Sounds like you will be there close to Thanksgiving, so it will be more crowded and ADRs might be more difficult to get. Are you flexible with which meal to eat there (B,L,D)?

I don't find ADRs difficult to get, but we don't care for Ohana or BOG, the 2 most popular ADRs. If you can't get what you want there keep checking, especially 24hrs-48hrs before you want to eat there. People cancel all the time.

We arrive the Saturday after Thanksgiving, staying for a week. Traditionally (at least according to everything I've ever read) that's supposed to be one of the slowest weeks of the year. Hopefully the frenzy will slow down a bit before I make my ADRs ... I know that Food and Wine goes through 11/13, so perhaps thats part of the crowds.

 

[jcvalenti]

Free dining also starts nov 14, so that's a contributing factor.

Keep checking and se up res finder alerts on touring plans and mouse Dining's.

I've never used a res finder before ... are either of those sites helpful ? One better than the other ?

 

[Hopefully]

'OHana and BOG are the 2 hardest ADR's to get. They often book to capacity prior to the 180 mark because of all those folks with the +10 advantage. But people do cancel. So keep trying.
I have used Touring Plans reservation finder and had success last year.
November is not quiet. Just not as busy as other times of the year.

 

[Daniela Rose]

I've never used a res finder before ... are either of those sites helpful ? One better than the other ?

They have helped me for sure. Sign up for both sometimes I get one alert faster than the other. Touring plans you can have 2 running for free. Mouse dining I think it's up to 6.

Just be fast! As soon as you see the text alert get right to mde.

 

[jcvalenti]

Thanks. Since I've never used this 180+10 system before ... can I make ADRs in the evening of the day I check out ? Maybe that will at least get me in 5 days early.

 

[vettegirl]

I find last minute ressies are the best for the hard ones to get. With the cancellation charge of $10 a person people are more inclined to cancel then before. I almost always can get BOG and Ohana either the day before or same day. Just keep checking the app.

 

[Daniela Rose]

Thanks. Since I've never used this 180+10 system before ... can I make ADRs in the evening of the day I check out ? Maybe that will at least get me in 5 days early.

Yes, you'll be able to make it through check out day. The whole day.

 

[nikjd68]

Res finder at Touring Plans is great. If you are a subscriber, you can email them and ask them to increase to 5 requests at the same time.

The only issue with *********** is that you can only pick, e.g., Dinner. With Touring Plans, you can pick a time and it will look 1 hour before and 1 hour after.

 

[Daniela Rose]

Res finder at Touring Plans is great. If you are a subscriber, you can email them and ask them to increase to 5 requests at the same time.

The only issue with *********** is that you can only pick, e.g., Dinner. With Touring Plans, you can pick a time and it will look 1 hour before and 1 hour after.

They updated it and now you can pick a time.

 

[mkb3]

I used touring plans reservation finder and got every ADR (including BOG) I wanted less than 30 days out.