How much harder is it to get ADR's when they offer free dining (late August)

[oceanmarina]

Hi all,

I did a post about if the parks are more crowded when Disney is offering free dining (the time period I had in mind was the late August free dining usually offered) One poster commented that "free Dining has a huge impact on ADR's" We are planning on going late august when they have free dining, but i'm worried that it will be really hard to get my ADR's even if book them as soon as they allow in advance. Has anyone experienced a tough time getting advance ADR's when they offer free dining (I like a lot of the popular places chef mickey's ohana's, le cellie, etc.) So maybe i'll avoid that week and go earlier, but I just wanted some advice from people who tried to make adnance ADR's with the free dining promotion.


Thanks so much for any advice you can give me,

Marina

 

[Disney-Chick]

Hi all,

I did a post about if the parks are more crowded when Disney is offering free dining (the time period I had in mind was the late August free dining usually offered) One poster commented that "free Dining has a huge impact on ADR's" We are planning on going late august when they have free dining, but i'm worried that it will be really hard to get my ADR's even if book them as soon as they allow in advance. Has anyone experienced a tough time getting advance ADR's when they offer free dining (I like a lot of the popular places chef mickey's ohana's, le cellie, etc.) So maybe i'll avoid that week and go earlier, but I just wanted some advice from people who tried to make adnance ADR's with the free dining promotion.

Thanks so much for any advice you can give me,

Marina

We go during free dining in late Nov early Dec and never have issues with booking our ADR's. if you call on the day you are suppose to you shouldn't have any issues. Now that being said I have never gone in Aug but I still think you should be fine.

 

[oceanmarina]

ok, thanks

 

[Pat329]

When I made our ressies, I was shocked at how easy it was and that I got every place I wanted. I was thrilled and then realized that free DDP hadn't been announced yet. There were places that I hadn't been before so I was going regardless of free dining so I made all that I needed. Once free DDP was announced, everything was taken within days. So I would suggest making any ressies you want as early as possible because free DDP does affect availibity.

 

[Disneylover99]

We had free dining this past August.
I made my ADR's at the 180 day mark, so it was sometime in February.
I made most of my ADR's online.
the ADR's I was most concerned about I made first, etc. Le Cellier,
CheF Mickey 's, CRT, Park Faire, Garden Grill
I easily got everything I wanted.
even when I checked back a few weeks later (and even a few months later!) there were still some time slots for the more popular restaurants.
I think having to guarantee your reservation with a credit card has improved things.
You should have no problem!

 

[rainynight]

Call somewhat early on the 180 day mark and you should have no problem gettig the times you want.