How often do you check for dining reservation availability within 60 days?

[olive]

My trip is a little over a month away. I am now trying to add an ADR that was never on my list - Le Cellier - as well as still trying to hunt down a slot for the elusive Oga's. I have put both in with the Touring Plans reservation finder but am still looking on my own, as well. I know people have reported more openings as their trips get closer, so between that and possible restaurant capacity increases I am trying to stay hopeful. Also, on property room only reservations need to be paid in full soon for our window, so I am hoping that will potentially free up some reservations. How often do you check? I am guessing it is just pretty random when people drop so you either luck out or you don't. Hard to find the balance (at least for me personally) between giving up entirely and being obsessive.

Edited to note that I realized I accidentally posted in the resorts board! Mods please feel free to move to Dining.

 

[Turk February]

Personally, if it's something I really want I check 5-10 times a day especially since it's so quick and easy with the app and because Reservation Finder will only check every hour or so.

People will tighten up their plans around the time you mentioned (paid in full balance due) and also about a week before, 3 days before, and then always check for those last minute cancellations the day before. Good luck!

 

[_19disnA]

We last went to Disney in 2019 before covid. When the window opened for reservations, we were able to choose all of the restaurants we had in mind for dinner. There are many to choose from, so if something was not available, we just chose something else. Part of the recent issue might be that due to covid, many are still closed, operating fewer hours or reduced capacity from spreading out the tables. People can cancel a reservation the day before without any penalty fee, so you might also check when you are there on vacation to see what might open up. That was true before covid as well.

 

[yorkieteacher]

I have been trying to modify three reservations at least twice a day-no biggie, only by about 30-45 minutes for each one! At least we got them, but I didn't really want to eat lunch at Sci Fi at 1:55, or dinner at 5 at Chefs de France or Ale and Compass. But we gladly will if I can't adjust the first a little earlier and the last two a little later! I was just glad to get them on the days we wanted!

 

[tobikaye]

I find that about 2 weeks out from a trip, I spend a bit more time checking the available ADRs, maybe 2 or 3 times a day. Sometimes it is to make and adjustment to a time I already have or find something I might be interested in. Until the 2 weeks, I might look once or twice a week.

FYI: I find that the closer to a trip, I have more luck with finding ADRs or making adjustments. I will say that this year may be different than in the past.

 

[loves to dive]

Sometimes if I have a trip booked, I'll check about every 3 or 4 days to see what is open but I don't make ADRs in advance. I either book them the night before or the day of, even did this on my recent trip in April. I will say that I saw openings at La Cellier, BOG and Cinderellas day of some days. I did kind of want Oga's but not enough to check very often. It's easier because I'm always either a party of 1 or 2 if my son goes and we like to try new places and always have park hoppers.

 

[MomOTwins]

If it's a reservation I really want, once or twice every hour. If I'm just looking for a slightly preferred restaurant but have ones I like, or if I'm just trying to adjust the time window, then only 2-3 times a day.

 

[AliceIn]

I stopped stalking. There are only one or two restaurants we really love, and when our window opens, we look towards the end of the trip to book those. So far that works for us. I used to stalk incessantly, and we have managed to get all those hard to get ones at some point. None of them really impressed us food wise. We enjoyed character meals when the kids were little and we have done them all. Once is enough, and I don't think doing more than one per trip is worth it. You spend way too long in the restaurants.

We take whatever reservations we can get when the window opens and don't sweat it after that.

 

[gharter]

If its one I really want, hourly and set up a Reservation finder.
I'll look more often starting 2-3 days before the trip as most cancel at that time.

 

[olive]

I really appreciate this feedback! I was sort of surprised that I haven't gotten ANY notifications from my reservation finder over the last few weeks, but maybe as we get closer. We didn't make many reservations this time, but I was hoping to fit in Oga's just for the experience and wanted to try a few items at Le Cellier. Fingers are crossed.

 

[Moochie13]

I tried reservation finder for the first time. I put in my request about 5 days ago for Be Our Guest. Yesterday I received an email that there was a reservation available. I think they opened up several spaces for BOG, because there were suddenly a few times available for both lunch and dinner nearly every day of our trip. Good luck, and I hope you get all the restaurants you're looking for!

 

[MomOTwins]

You know, I used to always say check more the days right before but I don’t think that is as true in Covid times. Seems fewer people are cancelling ADRs once they get to Disney because the realize how hard it is to find somewhere to eat. I’ve had better luck the first few days after 60 when people adjust their plans (eg maybe they had a split stay with two different ADR dates). And of course when Disney changes park hours is another good time to look.

 

[TinkTinkBelle]

Everyday. Too many times to count. until I was able to get the reservations we wanted.

 

[olive]

I am now veering toward the "too many times" end of that range myself. Hoping once we hit 30 days a bunch of reservations will open up...

 

[Jennyonecoin]

I’ve definitely been checking “too many times a day” and have a reservation finder set. Today, l finally got lucky and reserved whispering canyon on Father’s Day, which is what my dh wanted. I didn’t get the exact time l wanted, but it will work.

Oddly enough, l found it myself before l got an alert from touring plans. Obsessive checking finally paid off, lol.... been doing it for weeks now

 

[olive]

Ooh, congratulations! I am still hoping for an anniversary reservation for Le Cellier.

 

[Jennyonecoin]

Ooh, congratulations! I am still hoping for an anniversary reservation for Le Cellier.

good luck, I’m still trying for sci-fi, ogas and saana.

 

[olive]

Yes - still trying for Oga's, too, but I have all but given up on that one! Good luck is definitely needed all around.

 

[Sara W]

Oddly enough, l found it myself before l got an alert from touring plans. Obsessive checking finally paid off, lol.... been doing it for weeks now

I was coming back to this thread after seeing it a few days ago hoping it would help me stop obsessively checking. Guess it continues! Mouse dining only sent emails, so of course I missed those, I got the touring plans alert as I was driving. I frantically called my husband to try to snag the reservation. Let's just say he hasn't had as much practice as me and we missed it (once he found the dining button he searched all WDW dining availability. I kept my calm and told myself next time I'll pull over). The one reservation I got yesterday was #3 priority, so no alert set up. Go figure.