How long do some of you try for an ADR?

[Evil Queen]

I mean, do you call up to a day before you want to go?

A half a day?

An hour before you want to eat?

I'm just curious. I am thinking of making 2 more ADR's to make sure we are covered (2 places we want to go to don't take ressies).

I would TRY to cancel the 2 ADR's, but may not know until up to about an hour before we are due there. Because I would go see what the wait time was for the 2 places we do want to go to.

Is this to anyone's advantage, except for maybe the next group that has the same number in their party that I do?

I hate to take away anyone else's hopeful dinner plans, but can't see getting stuck without a TS meal for DS10 and myself.

 

[momandseandodisney]

I am a person who makes mine 180 days out, and usually dont call to change at all!

Infact at day 180 (later in the day) I had problems getting 1900 park fare dinner the time that I wanted!

 

[DemoBri1]

For certain restaurants, if you don't call at the 180 day window you're going to be out of luck (e.g. CRT, Princess breakfast at Akershus). Then again it's a toss-up with some of the other lesser traveled establishments, but I would not wait until a day before you want to eat. DW and I decided at the last minute to try for a table at the Yachtsman Steakhouse for our anniversary. When we called we couldn't get in until around 8:00 P.M., so if you want your pick of times the best time to call would be now. So long as it is not an establishment that requires a deposit, you can call and cancel the ADR if you don't use it.

 

[01Sweetpea]

Monday was my 180 day mark. Since we are going Thanksgiving week, I KNOW I have to have dinner ADRs.

The ONLY restaurant I had trouble with was Le Cellier. I wanted 5pm on 11/22 and got 7pm. Yesterday I found out about the Candle Light Processional and decided to switch my ADR to 11/24... the ONLY time they had open was 8:30PM!!! so I took that.

I called dining at 7am this morning to try and switch the time, they only had LATER times available. The CP did suggest I call on 5/28 (which is the 180 day mark for 11/24) to see about a better time. I am going to call on Sunday and hope for a 5:30ish time.

 

[snowbunny]

180 days. Mine have been set for late October since last month.

So if you make double ADRs and cancel one of them an hour beforehand, it will not help me, and I doubt it will help anyone else who wants to dine at your second and third choices. I really wish the CMs would crack down on these double ADRs.

 

[IndyJammer]

It all depends! I have called multiple times ONE hour before we wanted to go somewhere & had no problems (From buses or the Ferry even!). AND, I've woken up early at exactly 90 days out to get CRT!

One thing that I have learned is to make sure that you call back multiple times if you do not get where/when you want. Some people suggest 1 week in advance, some suggest 48 hours - but the point is to keep calling if you do not get exactly what you want, b/c it may become available later on.

 

[sameyeyam]

I usually call 1 or 2 months ahead of time and never have any problem getting reservations.

However, we are in a good position for taking odd times to eat. Being from the West Coast we are 3 hours behind the east coast. So if we schedule a late lunch at 3pm to take advantage of lower prices, it is like eating at noon for us. If we take a 9pm dinner, that is like eating at 6pm for us, our normal dinner time.

Also, dining at this time has advantages. Usually it is never that crowded, we find that service is better and the restaurant's are much quieter. We had a wonderful 2:45pm lunch at Epcot's Coral Reef Restaurant this year (during Spring Break) and only about 5 other families were in there at that time. We had a seat right next to the aquarium window.

Consider taking late lunches or late dinners if you can. I feel it is well worth it.

 

[jezebella]

Call ASAP...and I'll probably get flamed for this, but honestly this stinking Dining Plan is driving me nuts! I understand what a fab thing it is for everyone traveling here...but for locals it really sucks! It's somewhat alienated us as we have major issues trying to get into anywhere to eat unless we book it months in advance.

I mean...take last night. Typical Tuesday night, got off work, DF and DD and I head over to DTD to roam around for a while (we were bored and it was DD's last day of school) and the only place we could eat was Captain Jacks (a 2 hour wait at that). Same thing last weekend---we're having to book going out to eat weeks in advance. I just think they should have some sort of reservations reserved for Florida residents...I know...I'm just whining...but it's never been an issue before.

 

[Evil Queen]

I booked the other 2 ADR's.

So if the night DS10 and I want to eat at ESPN Club, and the wait is too long, I have reservations at Spoodles.

For the night we want to go to All Stars Cafe at the SPorts Complex, if the wait there is too long, I have ADR's for Olivia's.

I will try to cancel the ADR's if not used as soon as I know. I just don't want to try to lug around my DS trying to find dinner.

 

[sameyeyam]

Call ASAP...and I'll probably get flamed for this, but honestly this stinking Dining Plan is driving me nuts! I understand what a fab thing it is for everyone traveling here...but for locals it really sucks! It's somewhat alienated us as we have major issues trying to get into anywhere to eat unless we book it months in advance.

Why not use this to your advantage? Print out the list of restaurants that are on the Dining Plan and avoid them. There are a lot of restaurants not on the Dining Plan, so in theory they should be less busy.