Hoping for a cancellation????

[samano]

I have a 5pm ADR for Fantasmic Dinner Pkg at H & V for the last night of our July trip. I realized later that the Stars & Motor Cars parade is 5:30, which has all of my kids favorite characters and cannot be missed. Fantasmic is @ 9pm, so I tried just now to call and move my ADR to 6:30-6:45.....the CM said nothing is available after 5:10.
My question is, what is the likelihood of a cancellation for a later time that we can snag? Does anyone else have experience with this? Is it worth it to keep calling?

 

[islandbeachnut]

Yup, keep calling!

 

[beattyfamily]

I have a 5pm ADR for Fantasmic Dinner Pkg at H & V for the last night of our July trip. I realized later that the Stars & Motor Cars parade is 5:30, which has all of my kids favorite characters and cannot be missed. Fantasmic is @ 9pm, so I tried just now to call and move my ADR to 6:30-6:45.....the CM said nothing is available after 5:10.
My question is, what is the likelihood of a cancellation for a later time that we can snag? Does anyone else have experience with this? Is it worth it to keep calling?

In my experience, they hold the later FDP ADR times till about 30 - 25 days before so it might be worth it to try again at around 30 days out.

Good luck!

 

[Hanover]

The same exact thing happened to us last year. We ended up checking in a bit early and were seated and eating by 5:00. With it being a buffet, we could immediately get our food. Our server was very quick with refills of our drinks. It was a rather hot day and we weren't too hungry from having a big lunch about 11:30. We each had a plate or two of food and something for dessert and were out of there by 5:25. We first asked our waiter when he came for our drink order if he thought it was reasonable to be able to eat and make the parade and he said people come in all the time at our ADR time and make it. We were not scoffing food down fast either. The parade route was a short walk from H&V and not at the start of the route so we saw the entire parade. When the parade was over we still had enough time to walk around and get some rides in before using our voucher to head to Fantasmic.

 

[samano]

Thanks for all of your quick replies!
It occurred to me after I posted that I could make my ADR earlier instead of hoping for later, and just have an early dinner. I just switched it to 4:00, and now we'll have plenty of time to do all without being rushed. We'll have time for more attractions after the parade and before Fantasmic.

We had the FDP @ Mama Melrose a couple of years ago, I made my ADR for too late (despite assurances when I made the ressie that there would be plenty of time), didn't take into account travel time from one side of the park to the other. We got to the FDP entrance about 20 mins before show time, but they had already seated the FDP folks and were seating the standby people and wouldn't let us in. I was so upset!

Hanover, did you have any trouble getting a good viewing spot for the parade at that time?

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

If we have a 5:30 ADR at Hollywood & Vine will that be ok to watch the parade, then eat, and get to the gate 45 minutes early? TIA

Thanks for the warning about Mama Melrose. We were hoping to switch to there when the new ressies came out at the 30 day window. I didn't realize that the earlier meals at H&V had the Little Einsteins, so we might be doing breakfast there that morning. It is my children's favorite show!

Which place is closer to the parade route? This is our first trip to MGM. We hit the other 3 parks last time.

TIA!

 

[samano]

If we have a 5:30 ADR at Hollywood & Vine will that be ok to watch the parade, then eat, and get to the gate 45 minutes early? TIA

Thanks for the warning about Mama Melrose. We were hoping to switch to there when the new ressies came out at the 30 day window. I didn't realize that the earlier meals at H&V had the Little Einsteins, so we might be doing breakfast there that morning. It is my children's favorite show!

Which place is closer to the parade route? This is our first trip to MGM. We hit the other 3 parks last time.

TIA!

Hi RockyMtnMaria, Welcome to the Disboards!

Do you know what time the parade is during your trip? We're going mid-July, Stars & Motor cars is @ 5:30 then.
Parade route - not sure which restaurant is closer, between H&V and Brown Derby....but Mama Melrose is definitely the farthest away of the 3!

 

[myprinceandprincess]

I also have an early ADR for the Fantasmic Package. I wanted later too, but I was told all the ADRs for the Fantasmic Package are early. They don't make any late ADRs for the package until the last minute, if they are open. They leave the later ones for people who do not want the package. So you could try as it gets closer but I don't think you will have much luck since I see you are going at a busy time, as I am. Sorry.

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

Thanks! I am really liking it here so far. And it is helping with my Disney info fix until my trip in Sept. The parade is scheduled for 5pm, so I was hoping we could go to the beginning of the route, and then run over to catch our 5:30 reservation. I am wondering if eating a late breakfast and an early dinner would be a better option.

I'm glad to know about the location, because cutting the walking is important to me!

Hi RockyMtnMaria, Welcome to the Disboards!

Do you know what time the parade is during your trip? We're going mid-July, Stars & Motor cars is @ 5:30 then.
Parade route - not sure which restaurant is closer, between H&V and Brown Derby....but Mama Melrose is definitely the farthest away of the 3!

 

[samano]

Thanks! I am really liking it here so far. And it is helping with my Disney info fix until my trip in Sept. The parade is scheduled for 5pm, so I was hoping we could go to the beginning of the route, and then run over to catch our 5:30 reservation. I am wondering if eating a late breakfast and an early dinner would be a better option.

I'm glad to know about the location, because cutting the walking is important to me!

It sounds feasible to me, you could catch the 5pm parade and make 5:30 at H&V....Hanover posted that it is only a short distance btwn the two. The parade lasts 25 mins.
Also, I don't think it is a long walk from Mama Melrose to Fantasmic, just be sure to allow time for it if you choose that one and will be cutting it close. At the time I did it, the park was very crowded (Spring Break), I had a late ADR, and I had a 3 year old in tow (no stroller), didn't know I had to be there 30 mins early until I paid for my meal and saw it printed on the voucher, and was trying to fast walk across the park....I didn't know about the Disboards back then, or I would have consulted with the experts first!!!