HELP! I totally dropped the ball on ADR's for our Dec 2016 trip

[Dash1106]

Thanks to months of trolling these amazing boards, I was feeling prepared with a iron clad game plan and I was ready to book our ADR's at the 180 day mark....and then of course everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and due to an all encompassing family emergency - I missed the opportunity to book all my targeted ADR's and am now stuck with NOTHING for our upcoming trip in December (the first week of December - I'm not crazy enough to visit WDW around the holidays!)

I know I've seen other tips that encourage losers like me to continually check for cancellations, but are there are other tips you marvelous experts out there can share with me to increase my chances of getting my most sought after reservations (Akershus for lunch and BOG for lunch - I swear I could be happy if I could just get those two!)?

Thanks in advance for any insider tips and tricks you can share to ever so slightly increase my chances of getting these two ADR's!

 

[Disney mac]

Have you tried calling? They might have some not available to online.

 

[beesly]

Use the Reservation Finder at TouringPlans! I've found more ADRs with less time than you have by using that tool.

 

[minniemous]

I did the same thing last October/ November...I booked my vacation and then realized I was already past the 180 day mark! I just checked whenever I had a few moments and I was able to get everything I wanted. I am not sure how much busier when you are going..but persistence definitely pays off. Also a couple of weeks before the vacation I find people start streamlining their plans and start getting rid of reservations. I am sure it will work out for you however if there is something you really want and fail to get it in advance the day before keep checking when you have free moments and something always comes up.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

You are not a loser. You just need one of us to come along to help you.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

This doesn't help for Akershus or BOG, but you could directly call Landry's restaurants (and get a Landry's card) if you want to go to any of those.

 

[VeronicaZS]

I will second the touring plans reservation finder. It helped me snag CRT on 12/6 for dinner. Also, try to be flexible and remember that ADRs will not make or your trip. Even if you can't get your first choices maybe you will try something new and be pleasantly surprised. Good luck!

 

[SGMCO]

I got BOG breakfast like 2 weeks after 180 days, I kept checking and one came open.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Make sure to follow the December cancelled ADR thread on the Dining forums. I found a few there last year

Also, lots of ADRs will pop up between now and then. Check every day!

 

[Candycane83]

Touring plans is very helpful. It found me a lunch for BOG today but I was a little too late checking. It still did find something as for Akershus, not sure but are they holding back tables for CP? I have not found anything available for my stay either. I'm there the first to second week...

 

[Maistre Gracey]

It's just a shame that we actually NEED to call out exactly at 180+ in order to get a reservation. Shame on Disney for creating the hysteria.

MG

 

[jaysmom4285]

Use the Reservation Finder at TouringPlans! I've found more ADRs with less time than you have by using that tool.

THIS! Seriously, use this. They continually search and will send you a text when something opens up, which it does all the time . Most of us just don't have the time to check that often. You have to be able to make the ADR quickly, but it's such a help. I couldn't get BOG lunch for any day of our early December trip at 180 days. Thanks to the reservation finder, I now have ADRs there for the days I wanted.

 

[Em's GiGi]

I just have to completely echo the recommendation to use the TP Reservation finder. Even when I checked at about 180 days, I couldn't get many of the things I wanted - but TP has found a couple of them for me, including BOG for dinner for 4 on the day I wanted! So things really do open up and we are still plenty early - lots of moving around yet to come.

 

[Amboo]

Just don't give up hope. Our last 2 trips were more last minute (3 weeks out the first time and about 2 months the second) and we still got all the ADRs we wanted, some of them hard to get ones. Just keep checking!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I'd recommend booking second and third choices for now - you don't wanna go empty handed. Then, keep checking or use Touring Plans. Unfortunately, that's the best I've got.

Last year I managed to get BOG breakfast one month before our trip.

 

[Pesky]

Just keep swimming ---errr, checking! Also I second calling. I could not get HDDR at the 180 day mark and was utterly depressed. Then I called. Of course there was availability for when I wanted, they assured me. Booked me no problems. Moving Tusker House to an earlier time -- sure, when did I want? Seriously, craziness. Just give a ring first and see if that doesn't help.

 

[Momof2Singers]

Thanks to months of trolling these amazing boards, I was feeling prepared with a iron clad game plan and I was ready to book our ADR's at the 180 day mark....and then of course everything that could go wrong did go wrong, and due to an all encompassing family emergency - I missed the opportunity to book all my targeted ADR's and am now stuck with NOTHING for our upcoming trip in December (the first week of December - I'm not crazy enough to visit WDW around the holidays!)

I know I've seen other tips that encourage losers like me to continually check for cancellations, but are there are other tips you marvelous experts out there can share with me to increase my chances of getting my most sought after reservations (Akershus for lunch and BOG for lunch - I swear I could be happy if I could just get those two!)?

Thanks in advance for any insider tips and tricks you can share to ever so slightly increase my chances of getting these two ADR's!

We have NEVER booked 6 months ahead, 3 months or possibly a little longer, this trip we booked 90 days out, I got most of what I wanted, I got CRT within the first 3 or 4 days Twice, and at great times, I got BOG dinner twice, Ohama 4 times, and BOG breakfast 3 times. I did delete some of these once I got the times I wanted, but honestly, they do show up, you just have to be persistent, and the Touring Plans finder, did find me 2 good ones. I would not worry to much about this, it may take a little more work, but you will get something. I just got Akershus again this week also. Good luck

 

[Accident]

Think of the different time lines. when people hit the 60 day fastpasses, they need to adjust adrs.. Then at 45 days people need to pay... It's really a check time to time for them and get very aggressive around 60 and 45 days (keep in mind your 60 days is not someone elses and think about when others might be arriving if they have more time to stay at WDW than you).

Also for bog, they are doing a temporary trial with double the dinner seats. Watch the blogs and news like a hawk and if that extends, there's going to be many adrs for bog dinner opening up.. (and many for lunch when lunchers switch to dinner)

Last resort is about 11pm the night before you actually want to eat there. That's when people hording need to cancel without a no show fee and good places to eat always pop up the night before you want to be there. (I use this trick as a local).

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Things definately do open up. Try not to stress too much about it. Heard good things about the touring plans ressie finder. May have to use that myself as our 180 opens up while we are camping and we are going between Christmas and New Years!

I will be that person walking the beach early in the morn looking for that one place I might be able to get service on my phone! LOL Luckily there are no must do's on this trip and not planning to make as many ADR's this time.

 

[Shellyb84]

Don't worry! I've booked within 180 days several times and was always able to get what I wanted, maybe not my ideal times but I got them. I've also had really good luck with the Touring Plans ADR finder!