How to call for ADR's....?

[Picabo]

I'm new to this so bear with me! Is it correct that we now can only make ADR's 90 days in advance? If that's the case, is it 90days from each of the days we want to go to that restaurant or 90days from the day we check into our resort for the entire week? (IE do I call 7 days in a row or can I do it all at once?)

Also - if you call right at 90 days, do you have to call when they OPEN in order to get what you want or will a call later in the day (or even a few days late) be a problem in getting it? I'm in the process of figuring out which restuarnts we want to go to and which days and how to arrange each day at which park, etc. So if I call exactly 90 days out, what is the likilihood of me asking for 5pm reservation at 1900 Park Fare or 10am reservation at Chef Mickey and actually getting it? Or if I wait to call later in the day (or a few days late) will I hear lots of "5pm is not available, all we have is 230p?" or "Crystal Palace has no openings for bkfst on this day but we can do it on THIS day instead."?? I'm a stickler for planning and want to know if I call exactly 90 days out if I should have any problems in getting exactly what I want or not.

ALSO, do they take exact times like 5pm or 530p or are most of the odd times like 440p, etc?

The restaurants I most likely will try to schedule will be:
1900 Park Fare (dinner)
Crystal Palace (probably lunch)
Chef Mickey (bkfst)
Akerhaus (bkfst)
Kona (dinner)
Ohana (dinner)
Biergarten (lunch)
Marrekesh (lunch)

THANKS!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

[If you are on property, you can call when your trip is 90 days away and book all for your trip. If off property, you'll either have to call each day or wait to call until the last day is 90 away. (Unless they've changed the 90+ policy for onsite.)

As for what you are likely to get, that depends on when you are going. Also, this is a new system, so whatever was true for the old system - 180 days out - nobody really know exactly what the response will be at 90 days. I don't even think Disney CM's are exactly sure what to expect.

Your best bet is always to call as close to the 90 day mark as you can, and early in the day. Some places like CRT in the castle, you will need to call at 7am EST eactly - more or less to get it at all. (that was true under 180 day system.) Others, may well have openings up until the day you arrive.

Another big factor is when you plan to go. Easter week is super busy and will book up very quickly. Other vacation weeks are also busy. Some weeks that are during the school (non-vacation week) year may not be so busy. As we have a major recession right now, WDW may not be as crowded as it has been in recent years.

Even if you call on the 90 day mark, Disney may not seat you at the exact time you want. Some places only offer seatings at certain times. Instead of 5:00pm, you may well get 5:10pm, or 5:20pm. That said, 5pm is fairly early. In September, during free dining (a fairly busy time of year) there were empty tables at Chef Mickeys - which is usually fairly popular. I don't see anything on your list that is super hard to get, but some of your choices are fairly popular. Crystal Palace during spring break is fairly popular. Lunch is generally easier to get than dinner.

Given that you say you are the kind of person who likes to plan details, and want only exactly what you want, I'd suggest you call on the 90 day mark and early. I'd also say that it's always prudent to have a potential back up in mind if you can't get your first choice. I never go into picking ADR's with the notion that I've got my heart set on one thing and one time only. IMO, the key to having fun at WDW is to be open minded and flexible. If dining at a certain time is your priority in particular, you should come up with a few back up ideas.

When you call, you will give your party size, date and requested time. They will have a certain number of tables for your party size available. They may have you exact time, maybe not. You ask for 5:40pm. They will come back and say that they have say a table available at 6pm you say yes or no. You may also say, well if you don't have 5:40, do you have 5:30? Maybe they do. What they won't do is say, "We have an opening here the next day or at lunch that day," until you ask. If you take what you are offered, in theory, someone else could snatch up the table you rejected. Like again, for folks who want CRT, they are advised to ask for a general time they want, but take what they are offered ASAP.

I'd request all your first choices, and if you don't get one of them, then go back and request your second string choices. Sometimes it's fun to ask the CM, "If CRT isn't available, what is available in he Magic Kingdom at 6pm for six people on June 2?" They can do a search that way as well.

At restaurant openings, it has been my experience that they stagger the tables. They don't generally seat EVERYSEATat the same exact seating time. Though there are some places - like Cali Grill - that ONLY do seatings at certain times - I'm not positive on the seating there, but they could easily be as far apart as once each hour. I think Marrakesh is one that only does seatings on the half hour so that you get to see the dinner show. You shouldn't have any trouble getting A table at Marrakesh. We really enjoy eating there, by the way. So just because you can't get the exact time you want, it doesn't always mean the place is booked solid, but only that you can't get that specific time.

If you are going during a super busy time, and you can do 90+, you may find you have better odds of getting what you want on the later days of your trip.

Hope that answers your questions. Relax, have fun!

 

[dawnedwards]

If you stay onsite it is 90 days from the day you check in for up to 10 days worth of ADRs.

If you are staying off site you have to call each day.

I would recommend calling the day of for restaurants like Chef Mickeys and the earlier the better. We are tavelling with 8 people so it is necessary for us to call asap.

FYI Chef Mickeys is currently booking into mid June, I already have my ressie for June 16. It is one of 3 restaurants, CRT and V&A are the other two that are still booking 180 days out.

 

[dawnedwards]

I think that they may make ADRs in 5 minute intervals as I have a reservation for 5:05 at Chef Mickeys

 

[a1tinkfans]

Just a Quick Q,

if I have a split reservation that runs consecutively, I can make ADR's at the 90 day mark for our FIRST day, right (to cover all 10)? (regardless that dining plan is on 2nd 1/2 only)

THANKS in advance!

 

[Picabo]

FYI Chef Mickeys is currently booking into mid June, I already have my ressie for June 16. It is one of 3 restaurants, CRT and V&A are the other two that are still booking 180 days out.

I was unaware of this so THANK YOU! Is there any "calculator" out there to determine what the exact dates are to call? I don't want to miss Chef Mickey!

 

[dawnedwards]

These 3 restaurants are booking into mid June, I think around the 20th, after they will also be moving to the 90 window. I see from your ticker that you are going in Dec, it will be 90 days by then

 

[Beauties n the Beast]

I called yesterday at 12:30 and got right in with only a minute wait on hold. But the Rep said they are only booking up until june 18th for CRT and Chef Mickey...anything after that date or for other restaurants would have to be made at the 90-day mark prior to your arrival date. Which is not such great news for me since I'm not arriving until the 18th of June!! But I thought I'd pass that along.

 

[Metsoskil]

Just a Quick Q,

if I have a split reservation that runs consecutively, I can make ADR's at the 90 day mark for our FIRST day, right (to cover all 10)? (regardless that dining plan is on 2nd 1/2 only)

THANKS in advance!

Yes. We did this last year. They will ask where you are staying, and possibly for your confirmation #. Just give them the first resort and the first check-in day, and that confirmation #. You will be able to book with the +10. There's no need to even mention the split stay.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Yes. We did this last year. They will ask where you are staying, and possibly for your confirmation #. Just give them the first resort and the first check-in day, and that confirmation #. You will be able to book with the +10. There's no need to even mention the split stay.

At least this was true before. With the new system, this may be one of the things they are tracking more closely. Someone could otherwise book one night to get a whole trp of ADR's at the 90 day mark.

There is a dining calculator onthe DIS. Look at teh link at the top for WDWinfo. then poke around the dining section for the calculator.