How far before your trips did you notice problems booking ADR's?

[disndatworld]

I booked all of ours 180 days out, but I went to make changes and even 3 - 4 months out I couldn't get what I wanted. Just curious where people are finding what they want starts to get very difficult.

 

[marivaid]

I think it totally depends on the restaurant.
Some are easy to get with very short notice or even same day.
Others, if you don't book 180 days out, you're out of luck.

 

[Silly Girl]

I have to agree with Marivaid. I just booked our Christmas ADR's last week and I was able to get everything I wanted and at the times I wanted. I will say that we don't usually go to the most popular restaurants but I think it's interesting that at just 3 months out I had my pick of times for Spoodles on Christmas day and almost anytime was available. So even in busy times it's possible to get ADR's at the last minute (if you call 90 days last minute).

 

[marivaid]

I have to agree with Marivaid. I just booked our Christmas ADR's last week and I was able to get everything I wanted and at the times I wanted. I will say that we don't usually go to the most popular restaurants but I think it's interesting that at just 3 months out I had my pick of times for Spoodles on Christmas day and almost anytime was available. So even in busy times it's possible to get ADR's at the last minute (if you call 90 days last minute).

Hey, that's funny, we'll be at Spoodles on Christmas Day too !!
I booked it a few weeks ago, could have gotten any time we wanted.

Another example is the CP package. Le Cellier & Coral Reef were booked full months ago but places like San Angel and Nine Dragons still have a lot of ADRs available.

 

[yearbook50]

I just called to change some ADRs for my October trip. I was able to get Yachtsman at 6:00pm, Raglan Road @ 6:30pm and California Grill @ 7:00pm

 

[Colleen27]

It depends on the time of year too. I had a hard time getting certain reservations for our December dates even at 180 out (most noteably Le Cellier, which had limited availablility because of the CP packages), and I had mixed results with the few changes I tried to make just a few weeks later. From threads on the resorts and TPA&C boards, it looks like that's a much more popular time than I'd anticipated, though.

For our January trip, I've been making changes with embarassing frequency as we tweak our plans, and I've not had a hard time with anything yet. We're 104 days out, and the last changes I made (dinner at Kona and Artist Point, a change in time for California Grill, and lunch at Whispering Canyon) were all available at times within 5 minutes of the time I requested.

Our August trip was planned about 30 days out, and I had a choice of times at Kona for dinner and no problem getting Cinderella's Gala Feast for a late but not too late 7:30 dinner. Those were the only ADRs I made for that trip (only stayed 3 nights), but I was pleasantly surprised that we got both meals that I wanted at roughly the times I had in mind.

 

[Rudy6]

I make most of mine around the 180 day mark. I do make changes. I did get all of my requests - even one breakfast and one dinner at CRT. Actually, I am quite proud of the fact that I have been able to get to CRT on every trip. One trip, my DD and I were in the Magic Kingdom, and I thought I would take her to CRT, and we were able to walk up and get a table, but this was for dinner. I think dinner is a lot easier to get than Breakfast.

A week or so ago, I called and added Le Cellier and the CM told me that dinner was booked, but I got in for lunch. I prefer lunch. I think that this is becoming a popular restaurant. My guess is that it is due to the DDP, being only one TS credit for a decent steak. With the recent changes to the DDP - it is becoming difficult to come out ahead on the DDP - you still can at Le Cellier.

Let's see, in the last week I added Crystal Palace for lunch, Brown Derby for lunch, and Donald's Breakfast Safari, without any problem. This is with about 80 days to go.

Based on my experience the ones that you should make asap are:

CRT
Le Cellier
Fantasmic Dinner Packages

There are many restaurants that I have not eaten at, but in the parks I have hit a lot of them except: Rainforest Cafe, Mama Melrose, Brown Derby (this will be our first time and I practice daily with the kids and their manners), Nine Dragons, Japan, and France. We never seem to do much at Japan and France. I think that we are just too tired when we get to that part of the park.

This is going to be our first trip at Christmas, and I have to say that getting my ADRs was easier than I thought, but I would assume that things are starting to fill up by now.

Have fun.

 

[princess-rn]

I booked about 1 week late but was able to book everything I wanted EXCEPT the Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package. I was even able to book the Le Cellier CP package and STILL no MM. I'm calling back every week but MM seems to be packed the entire 10 days we are there!!!!

 

[tiggersmom2]

I just booked my October ADRs and was able to get 'Ohana's, BOMA, Crystal Palace, Raglan Road, Kona, and Rainforest at the times I wanted. The only one I could not get was Chef Mickeys.....I'll keep trying....

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

Well, I called the day before we left on our last trip (July) and was able to book Kona Cafe at 5:30pm (I tried Chef Mickey's - no availability. Concourse Steakhouse had availabilty around 7:30pm).

The rest of our ADR's I secured about 45 days out - 5:30pm Dinner at CRT, 8:10am breakfast at CP, 5:00pm dinner at Akserhus, 5:30pm Dinner at Olivia's. It was what we wanted ...

 

[princessreilly]

I called 180 days in advance for mine. I still did not get a lot of times I wanted or restaurants. (CRT) I just keep checking every now and then and make changes as they come!

 

[marvin12]

I book at the 180 days and then I do a little chaning as we get closer to our date, I have not had any problems getting what we want, but I also think it has to do with the fact that we are 2 adults, so we don't mind eating a little later. Also we are going at a very busy time xmas week. I say don't give up if there is a place you want to eat at keep calling even when you arrive in disney.

 

[7165red]

For Dec.23- Dec. 29 I booked in Aug. and had a difficult time getting what I wanted as far as place and times. MGM - Fantastic package I was will to take any restaurant for dinner & 8pm show. I ended up taking 4m for dinner at HW&Vine. As far as the resort restaurants for dinner I took what ever they had available. Last year I got exactly what I wanted and booked in early Sept.
I will also be calling to see if there are any changes. ever up to 48hrs before my reservations.