I'm kinda sad about Dec. trip....I'm afraid this sound whiny

[DisneyRN1]

Let me apologize in advance for my little pitty party. My DH and I have not been to WDW for about 5 years-and we used to go at least once a year. Like a lot of people our ages, we have had all of our parents pass away during that time,had personal illness(DH had prostate cancer, diabetes, and I have fibromaylgia), and other situational stressors. We had a short notice opportunity to go on the land/sea package late Nov/early Dec with 3 extra days in WDW before the cruise. I know we are SO fortunate to be able to do this at all, but because we only booked about 6 weeks ago, every thing we want to do is already booked up. We could not get the dining time we wanted on the cruise-it's not healthy for a diabetic to eat at 8pm when they are used to eating at 4 or 5p. All the shore excursions we wanted are booked,and Palo's is booked. As for the restaurants at WDW, most of the places were booked for the entire 6 nights we are going to be there, of course the ones we really wanted to go to
I know it is because we booked so late, but the opportunity just came up. The cruise line didn't tell us until we had paid for the entire cruise that everything was booked. I don't think that was fair-we wouldn't have gone now if we had known that. We are wait-listed for the early meals, but even with a dr's note for my husband, they still say they can't accommodate our request. All they said was there are buffets, or snacks available, but no one would want to do that for the entire cruise.
I guess what my point is that I think it is sad that you have to plan so far in advance to go to WDW if you want to get all your preferences. I am a planner myself, and have planned over 20 Disney trips for us in the past, but I'm really shocked that it is so cut-throat now at WDW
That's way toooooo much complaining. I KNOW it is our fault for not knowing and planning a year in advance. I'm sorry I whined so much, but if anyone is still reading this, thanks for letting me ventilate. I do know that we will still have a wonderful time-it is WDW after all!

 

[Melody D]

I am in the same boat and I am more than frustrated!! I am ready to say forget it to the whole thing at this point.

My sister in law and brother in law had made reservations some time back. We really wanted to go at that time but just didn't think we could swing the expense.

At the beginning of November we were able to book. We have not been to Disney since 2001 and I am blown away that there are no reasonable times that we can make dinner reservations. The only things that I can find are late dinners where we would miss the fireworks or illuminations or fantasmic.

What happened to wake up in the morning and head to what ever park you feel like and make ressies when you get there. NO, now it is, okay Monday is MGM becuase we have reservations to eat. We are planning our vacation around meals! Incredible ;( So far I am completely disenchanted. I paid for an overpriced vacation and can't even find reasonable dining reservations!

 

[Grandmax3]

We went on the 4-day and booked early and ended up on late dining. My husband is also diabetic and we needed the early seating. I went to guest services and they told me where to go to see if I could change the time.I went and the dining officer gave us new tickets for the early seating. Please check as you get to the port bldg and if that doesn't work, check on the boat.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

Keep calling and trying as just like you made spur of the moment vacation plans things happen to people all the time and they need to cancel or change their plans. ADRs do open especially in WDW. The dining plan has really kept a lot of people on property. Also, Dec. can be tough because several nights a week Mk is limited to just MVMCP guests, and Epcot has CP packages every night. You may have more luck at resorts and since you haven't been in awhile you may find a new favorite. HTH

 

[Kdog]

Hi, you don't sound whiny at all. And there's hope . The previous poster had a good suggestion for the cruise dining. As for the land portion of your trip, keep calling everyday for an opening. Two weeks ago, I scored a reservation for Teppan Edo for Christmas Day at 6:30 (I already had Chefs de France but wanted to switch.) I called everyday for two weeks with no luck, and then-bam!-two time slots were available. People cancel and rearrange dining plans all the time. And Christmas Day is insanely busy (and Teppan Edo is very popular), so if I could get a ressie, so can you . Also, last year's christmas week, my DH and I were able to get reservations for other dining places by calling that same day. Store the dining number in your cell phone and call periodically while you are there (make sure you have backup reservations, but this method might allow you to get the restaurants you really want at the times that are best for you.) Good luck and don't lose too much sleep. If all else fails, there are great counter service locations at WDW too (some of these, like Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD, rival the table service restaurants.)
Good luck--it will work out for you.

 

[Melody D]

Yes but you can't use your table service meal for a counter service can you?

 

[LtlTee]

I wonder, too, if the dining plan isn't part of the issue. I had a few places that I wanted to eat during my last trip and they were booked up, even calling 3 months out. I love the dining plan, but I just think more people are eating sit down meals than ever before and places fill up more quickly than they used to.

Another reason to keep checking back for cancellations -- a friend of mine makes double reservations for dinner (one under her name, and one under her friend's name) so they can keep their options open. They then cancel the one they don't want, depending on their schedule that day or where they feel like eating. I'll bet this is common...

 

[melomouse]

NOT Whiny!

As previous posters have suggested, if you keep checking, things may open up and you will get what you want/need. I've had lots of pixiedust over the last number of years with ADR's. Call at off times, too - that sometimes has worked for me.

That said - I've also had numerous personal family health challenges and losses and planned WDW trips on shorter notice. In my mind, I was thinking that life had been so hard, and now that I've decided to take a much needed WDW break - and just for once... could things go SMOOTHLY???LOLOLOL

Then you find out everything's booked up...

Things do work out the way they're 'spozed to - it's great you have had the chance to get your cruise and I'm willing to bet some openings will occur for you. Here's wishing you some and wishes for a wonderful trip!!

 

[nowellsl]

Yes but you can't use your table service meal for a counter service can you?

We did - they also gave us a voucher for either a lanyard with pin or 2 snacks.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I really hope your trip goes well!

As for the DCL, I would definately do what a PP suggested and ask at the Port and at the Boat, armed with your Doctors note - it's just silly if they don't change your dining time based on health issues. There is also a place on board the ship - and the DCL board will have more info - where you can queue up once you get onboard to get Palo reservations... I think they keep some back for booking on the day you get there.

Out of interest, which ADRs did you try and get? I know we loved some of the less popular ones, and IMO underrated.... We loved Biergarten for example, and Tony's Town Square in MK. I also second what a PP said about Wolfgang Puck Express, their BBQ Chicken Quesadilla is just TDF!!

 

[disnut8]

Have you tried booking a late lunch at Disney World? I saw where you are used to eating at 4-5. Trying to book a dinner exactly at 5:00 this late might be a reason why everything you've tried is booked. You could try calling and asking for the latest lunch time available. Also try places just outside the parks. Yacht Club Galley, Grand Floridan Cafe, and Concourse Steakhouse are all open for lunch and dinner. So is the Whispering Canyon, Kona Cafe, and Rainforest Cafe. Inside the parks, 4:00 is a great time for counter service meals (although I know you won't want those every single day). Flame Tree BBQ will probably be very empty around that time.

On the cruise, do what the others have suggested - when you check in, see if there's anything they can do with the dcotor's note. A lot of times when you are calling, you aren't dealing with a person that is actually right there. It's easier to be there with the note in hand to make the request again.

If that doesn't work, the cruise does have 24 hour room service available. Also, burgers and pizza are available all the time as well. Maybe a very light snack at 4:00 and then the full meal at 8:00 would work.

I've done quite a few last minute Disney World trips and really didn't have a problem getting dining reservations. We do a late lunch for two and usually have our pick of times. The Saturday after Thanksgiving this year, we have a dinner reservation at Biergarten for 6:20 that was made just about six weeks before Thanksgiving.

Good luck!

 

[mama4]

Just wanted to say good luck and I hope your trip turns out great despite all the issues with ADRs. I agree it is very frustrating. So much so that dh and I didn't go to a single TS restaurant on our last trip (in Oct.) We just searched for CS food when we got hungry. Now I know- this is not something you can do with your dhs condition and not something I'll be doing on our next trip (with our four kids) but it was nice not having to worry about rushing here and there to eat. I must say though- with Tusker House closed- and not knowing AK very well- dh and I found ourselves searching a little too long for something for breakfast and I'd wished I'd made ressies at Donalds Breakfastosaurus.
I am beginning to get worried about getting the ressies I want for our February trip but we're staying in a condo this time so it'll be easier to eat off site if we have to and/or bring lunch to the parks.

 

[hammie59]

I agree, keep calling for those dining times at WDW. Resv open up all the time so I hear. Also, I'd feel the same way if I just paid all that moola and couldn't even get a decent reservaion for ANYTHING. Good luck and have a great time anyways!

 

[Tricia1972]

If you are at Boardwalk, Beaches and Cream is a TS that does not take reservations. It's at the Beach Club, which is a short walk from the International Gateway.

 

[kmbound]

I wonder, too, if the dining plan isn't part of the issue. I had a few places that I wanted to eat during my last trip and they were booked up, even calling 3 months out. I love the dining plan, but I just think more people are eating sit down meals than ever before and places fill up more quickly than they used to.

You hit it on the head. I can tell you from my own personal experience that thanks to DDP we eat alot more sit down meals than we ever did.

 

[holcomb-mania]

Don't sweat it about Palo. I wasn't able to get an online reservation for our Jan06 cruise, and thought I was screwed.

But I went straight to the desk in the club once on board (even after eating at Parrot Cay, IIRC) and had my pick of times for about any day.

If you can't get your seating time changed (which I doubt), you could just order room service at around the time your DH needs to eat, and then go to your 8pm seating.

 

[goodferry]

I would keep trying with the WDW reservations, and consider some of the resort restaurants as alternatives to the more popular Theme Park ones. We just changed some reservations around for our mid December trip and were able to get both Teppan Edo and the Princess Storybook Breakfast, Mama Melrose and 50's Prime Time Cafe, so all is not lost, you do need to call each morning, though. Last trip the concierge was able to get us CRT the week before we got there (before it got so expensive) Cancellations do happen, even same day ones.

 

[DisneyRN1]

Thanks so much everyone for every reply...I wrote my note during a bout with frustration. I feel better now with your replies-at least there is hope, and we will keep trying. I think part of my problem is that I usually am one of those advance planners, and this was just an impromptu chance to go, and we were so excited at being able to go after so long.
Eeyore.. some of the places we tried were the most popular-HDD, Calif. Grill, Coral Reef, Whispering Canyon, etc. I am not surprised at these being full. We did get some places to eat, but to do so, had to eat very early (11:00) or late. We basically said to the CM-we will be here from 11-26 thru 12-01-what is open, and just took what was available regardless of what day it was or what park we thought we would be in. Some days we will just use counter service I guess.
LtlTee...I am sure what your friends do is pretty common, but that is really selfish of them, unfair to everyone, and could really affect people's whole trips if they can't get anything they want just because others have two different trips booked. Maybe Disney should charge for booking a reservation, and that would make it more difficult for people to do that. Venting again--but not at you.
We will keep calling and trying to get some things in line. Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions-I will use them!!
Melody D...what ADR were you trying to get? When are you going to WDW. We did get some of the things we wanted-some wierd times, but I would be willing to help switch or something if you are there when we are and we could help you.....................Vicki

 

[Jozymouse]

I say keep on calling!!!
For our September 2007 trip we were finally able to get Le Cellier for dinner a week before leaving!!!! And yesterday, I got CRT for Dec 9 which is only a month away! A week ago I was also able to get a Candlelight package with Le Cellier for December! On all occasions, the Disney rep I was talking too was almost more excited than me and couldnt beleive it!!!!! People do cancel and you will get lucky!!!!!!! Also, once you're in Disney, I always think you have better chances to try getting an ADR at the restaurant podium versus guest relations. On more than one occasion I asked Guest Relations at MK for a CRT ADR and they told me their was nothing. We walked over to CRT and were able to get an ADR 2 days later.....soooooooo.... GOOD LUCK!

 

[LtlTee]

LtlTee...I am sure what your friends do is pretty common, but that is really selfish of them, unfair to everyone, and could really affect people's whole trips if they can't get anything they want just because others have two different trips booked. Maybe Disney should charge for booking a reservation, and that would make it more difficult for people to do that. Venting again--but not at you.

I understand. I was venting too, in a way, because this kind of irritated me when she told me this. I do think a lot of people do this, perhaps without thinking of how it might affect others.
Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful trip!!