How do you decide ADRs 180 days before?

[Aristomommy]

This is the first time we are planning a trip in the summer and need to make our ADRs 180 days out. I have read UG and TGM, but no official hours have been posted yet for June. So how do I decide where I want to eat and at what time 6 months from now?

We are doing the deluxe dining plan (most likely) so there will be lots of ADRs to make. Please give me any tips you might have about the decision making process.

 

[unique_name]

What I do is figure a basic plan based on the park hours, emh, and best/worst days forecast.

Once I decide the park I will be in for that day, I make a reservation either in the park or in the resort by the park for that day. Sometimes I switch around, but I would say, just try to eat where you are going to be.

We don't usually have a car so we don't make reservations all around wdw. We try to minimize travel time.

 

[DanaAustinChelsea]

Since you are doing TGM you can also look at the park days for last year to help decide which park on what day then base ADR's around that. Plus you are usually safe with resort/DTD ADR's on any day

 

[Amy&Dan]

What I do is figure a basic plan based on the park hours, emh, and best/worst days forecast.

Once I decide the park I will be in for that day, I make a reservation either in the park or in the resort by the park for that day. Sometimes I switch around, but I would say, just try to eat where you are going to be.

That is exactly what I do. I do think that having to make them so far in advance sort of keeps me from trying new places sometimes. Its hard to know what I want, so I go with my standby's!

Also, we went last June for two weeks on the DDP and I made a ton of ADR's (all fifteen nights worth plus two add'l days off the DDP, it was a long trip!) and I can tell you that with one exception, I changed every single one! And I changed many of them last minute. Even though it was tremendously busy at the parks, I was able to change: O'Hana (dinner), Boma, Cape May breakfast, LTT and several other popular places which was surprising. We ate at off times. We just got so sick of eating and found we wanted to change plans so often. The only thing I lost out on and didn't get back was Chef Mickey's. Oh, and Yacthtsmen was another one I changed last minute. Typically, if we ate a late dinner or late breakfast, it wasn't a problem. So knowing that, I now make them, but know that if I need to change, I can generally find something, unless its free dining or Christmas week!

 

[Hopefully]

First I look at all of the menus here on the Dis and at allearsnet.com. We decide which restaurants int he parks or in the Resorts near the parks interest us.
Then I look at which park on which day. I use TGM and his best parks advice. I already signed up for our October 2009 trip, so I will use October 2008 days as a guide.
Once I decide which park on which day, I choose the restaurant in or near that park and make our ADR.
This method works great for me.
Have a Great Trip

 

[vicki_c]

Generally, I wait until TGM puts out his recommendations even if it's at less than 180 days. Which is normally is by the time Disney puts the hours out and then TGM does his analysis and posts that. Sometimes it's quite a bit after the 180 day mark. I don't usually have trouble getting ADRs I want at less than 180 days -- I usually reserve a few months before our trip. For most things and at most times, I don't really think you need to panic on the 180 days thing -- maybe Le Cellier, Chef Mickey's, and a few others, in my experience. Even CRT doesn't seem as hard to get as it used to, from what I've read (I've never been there).

The only exception was our Christmas trip -- I did reserve ADRs exactly at the 180 days because of the crowds. I used TGM's info from last year and just made educated guesses. I only picked one day incorrectly -- I had us in Epcot on a particular evening that was TGM "red" -- I switched that one!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I always wait for the park hours. I don't think you can make ADRs for 180 days right now anyway due to some change in the system.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I just go for all the places I want to eat....on our 10 day trips we never have a set day that we are going to a park or resort so we can be very flexible. On weekend trips we usually do Epcot and MK only so that is alot easier to narrow down our choices.

 

[WDisnut]

stick with resort and DTD ADR's it will be easier and a better experience.

 

[mom2aandj]

and keep in mind, this year you may not be able to make your ADRs 180 days out. Right now you can only reserve up until 3/22 and word is that later ADRs will not be able to be made until mid Jan, so that buys you an extra few weeks right there!

 

[twinklebug]

I always wait for the park hours. I don't think you can make ADRs for 180 days right now anyway due to some change in the system.

Sorry for neglecting you all, I have been on vacation.

I see there has been an update from the Mom's Panel I cannot confirm or deny what was posted there. I'm sure we as dining CM's are not the first to know anything... So that information could prove to be true, I just don't know. I can tell you what I know as of now... we just got a new update this afternoon. Our training is still scheduled to begin in December. We have now received word that the new system will launch in mid to late January 2009.

There is no word on extending the booking window at this point. We are still only able to book through March 22, 2009 except for Chef Mickey, Cinderella’s Royal Table and Victoria & Albert’s.

I know that is not what most of you want to hear. I could speculate and say they may move the booking window forward another month into April but there has been no official word on that. I will let you know as soon as I do. That's all I have for now.

CRT, CM and Vic & Al's are taking reservations at the 180- day mark, but for the rest you're right - we need to wait for the system upgrades.

 

[Aristomommy]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I didn't know there were issues with the system upgrades, but that may work to our advantage. I will sit down this weekend and make a preliminary schedule based on last year's hours and EMHs. I think the deluxe dining plan has confused me more as there are more ADRs to make.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we dont.........haha i dont even know whats for dinner tomorrow night...............nope we just play it by what we want.