How difficult to get ADR's?

[robinsegg]

Hi!
Planning a trip for the week after Thanksgiving, 2010. How difficult is it likely to be to get ADR's? Do I need alternate places ready, or is it likely we'll get our top picks if we start 180 days out?
Thanks!

 

[jeffdlong]

We're heading to the world next saturday for T Giving week. I can tell you it was pretty tough to get everything we wanted, but all in all we were pretty happy. It was only 90 days out for us, but we got up early, got online and were pretty successful. Just dont plan on getting everything you want & make sure you have a game plan in place before the 180th day. That way you can have back ups for ressies you may not be able to get.

Either way, I'm happy we're going back home!

 

[mickeystoontown]

No matter what time of year we go, I make a list of where we want to each and a back up for each.

 

[RCaroll]

I would like to try to get an ADR next time we go its sounds super fun!

 

[awaldo]

With regard to my personal experience, I have always made CRT ADRs the first moment I can. After that, I turn all the rest of my requests over to my TA, who makes them for us. I usually do that a week or two after our dates open up. We have never not gotten exactly what we wanted, including Le Cellier, etc. We have done this twice for July trips and once for a March trip. IMHO, I think the stress over getting ADRs is rather overblown. That being said, I suppose if you go during a free dining stretch, it would be an entirely different story as essentially everyone at WDW will need to eat table service daily.

 

[bellebookworm9]

I've been playing around and it seems that if you book 180 days out you should be able to get all the restaurants you want at the times you want within a 1/2 hour range. Plus if you're staying at a Disney resort, you can actually book 190 days ahead, though you might already know that. If you're planning really popular restaurants, I might pick some backups though. HTH.

 

[kim_o]

I think with it being 180 days out now, you'll most likely get everything you want. A lot of people have yet to book their vacations that far out, let alone have a park plan and reservation plans ready. I think at 90 days out (like it was for this T-giving) it was a lot more difficult to get what you wanted.

 

[Mick@Tink]

I've been playing around and it seems that if you book 180 days out you should be able to get all the restaurants you want at the times you want within a 1/2 hour range. Plus if you're staying at a Disney resort, you can actually book 190 days ahead, though you might already know that. If you're planning really popular restaurants, I might pick some backups though. HTH.

Please explain the "190 days ahead" statement. Do you mean you can begin booking 180 days out from your arrival date (first dining reservation) and 10 days thereafter? Thank you.

 

[robinsegg]

Please explain the "190 days ahead" statement. Do you mean you can begin booking 180 days out from your arrival date (first dining reservation) and 10 days thereafter? Thank you.

That is exactly correct. It seems to be the new policy.
Rachel (who's frantically squirming in her seat, waving her hand and saying "pick me, pick me, I actually know this one"! )