How does that happen?

[MerriH807]

I was just curious if anyone knew how it was impossible to get 1900 Park Fare for August and then a whole bunch of time slots opened up? Do other restaurants do this too?? Just wondering

 

[tami82]

The same thing happened last year about a week before our trip every day slots opened up for certain places like Ohana, 1900 Park Fare, etc.. you just have to be on the lookout constantly. Yesterday they did open up a bunch of slots for 1900 Park Fare, just waiting for another bunch of places to open up also. Im guessing maybe they hold some and release them at the last moment for whatever reason.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

I have no idea how or why...but the same thing happened in Dec for Chef Mickeys...I tried everyday for months...then a few weeks before we were leaving a bunch of openings for breakfast and dinner appeared.
I don't know if they hold them and release them later for a reason, or if they suddenly hired extra people to work that week..who knows?

 

[xbatman]

More 1900 Park Fare slots opened up for my Nov/Dec week yesterday too.

I had one, but got a better time for me since I moved some things around since I got the first one!

 

[catne]

the claim is that they don't hold any back, except for special arrangements like the Candlelight Processional package tying up a fair number of Epcot reservation possibilities right now. Obviously they can't book up all the CP restaurants with regular reservations - then they'd have no tables to offer for the CP package when they start booking those.

...but there are constantly cancellations going on. I know I book, change my mind, cancel & book something else 2, 3 or more time every trip. And sometimes, it's more than one place I do that with, too. Read these boards & you'll get a good idea how often people change their minds & cancel stuff --even what you'd think was very popular places.

also, the closer it gets to the 45-day-final-payment-due-date, the more cancellations you'll see as some people will decide to cancel their whole vacation, too. One of the things they ask when you call to cancel a vacation is "Can I help you cancel your dining reservations, too?" They don't want people getting upset later if they get charged for a no-show when they cancelled the whole vacation.

 

[MerriH807]

Thanks for everyone's responses.... Just found it interesting.

 

[nifferearly]

I've seen them release a bunch of reservations last minute on several different trips. It's always buffet/family style restaurants - usually 1900, CM, & CP. My theory is that maybe they can easily increase the "load" in buffets and add spots if there's very little availability at restaurants.

 

[dvcterry]

I am so happy these opened up (been trying for a while), first time at 1900 and Ohana & we'll be there this month.

 

[mom2cinderella]

I noticed that for my week in September.

Suddenly, every single day had an 8:05 available. I don't think that was cancellations - that was the only restaurant it happened for.