help a newbie learn how to make ADR

[flipflopmom]

Okay, so in order to make this easier on myself and the poor CM that answers my call for DXDP, first time making ADR's of any kind, can someone pretty please help me ? When you call, do you request the "hardest to book" first (on my list that might be tough are ohana, cm, crt,1900pf, fantasmic)....., then go by day for the others?

I thought I read that the new system goes back 30 min, so give a time 30 minutes before you actually want to eat???

What do you do if you don't get what you want. Example, I planned MK day based on crowd schedules, working around EMH. If I can't get my meals in MK that day, switch the day, take a different time, or switch the meal?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

Okay book CRT FIRST!! for whatever day you are trying for. You will want to be sure you are not trying to book for exactly 90 days out, so if you are arriving on a Sunday, say try to book CRT for Tues/Wed. Getting CRT on exactly the 90 day mark is beyond difficult in my opinion. And since this 90 day window is recent, some people have ADR's made 180 days out from prior rules. Next, book your Fantasmic! dinner package for wherever you are requesting (HV, MM or HBD). These are only booked between 3:30-4:55 so be warned on that. Oh and be sure you are booking for a night Fantasmic! is showing as it is only 3 nights a week now. You will have to be flexible with your meal times for this and you may need to be slightly flexible with CRT as well. The others should be okay but you will need to be somewhat flexible on times. You can usually get within a reasonable amount of time and sometimes you will get the exact time you want. I had to change the day we do our Fantasmic! dinner package as they only had a 3:30 timeframe for the day we wanted, and I called at the 90 day mark for my trip and this was going to be the 3rd day of our trip. Since the grandkids get up from nap around 3:00 that time would have been impossible for us. The problem is the window they have for this is short (3:30-4:55) and it is only offered 3X per week now instead of 7. Good luck with all your plans. Be sure to call exaclty at 7:00 am EST. The new system has a lot of glitches according to other threads and people are experiencing very long hold times in some cases. Seems like the long holds are for ressies being made for after 5/26.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

When I made ADRs (180 days out for Christmas/NY) I had a calendar infront of me that DH, kids and I had made...what parks, what days, resturants times. We didn't worry about crowded days, but did have our days around EMH am and had PH. I started at day 1 dinner then day 2 breakfast, etc. We had DxDDP too. For the most part I was able to get what we wanted around the times we wanted. Be slightly flexible within the hour because they may not have 6:00, but they could have 6:10 or 6:45. even after all ADRs were made I ended up changing a few and canceling a few others (even the days of) cause our plans changed. I think I called at 7:30 AM. Having everything laid out in front of me allowed me to give the CM my requests and answer her questions quickly. And remember having a positive attitude with the CM really does help (usually). Good luck. If you want any specifics how I planned PM me.