In the predawn on Easter Sunday...

[agavegirl1]

I was poised at my computer for my 180+10 ADR reservations. My computer clock synced to MDE, my dining spreadsheet at the ready and a fresh cup of coffee in my hand. Let the games begin.

I immediately checked BOG availability for our 5th day. No luck there. Kind of decided to just skip it but consulting my handy dandy touring plan spreadsheet, I thought, what if I swap out Shula's on day 8? Score! Add BOG for October 25th at 6:30 PM.

Now lets try our pre-park opening Crystal Palace ADR...earliest I could get was 8:40. Not very good but still pre-park opening.

Need a Mama Melrose F! dining package on day 2. Ummm not eating dinner at 3:35 after lunch at 50's prime time. Substitute Hollywood and Vine ... I don't even know what they have for food. Maybe I can tweak this later.

Monsieur Paul? No availability after 7:15, same with Biergarten..latest was 6:45. Does everyone want later dinner reservations?

Only one "frustrated Donald" during my 35 minute foray into the wonders of ADRs on MDE.

I've never done this mad scramble before. The last time I visited WDW, I made all of two ADRs at about 60 days out. This time, we wanted to try some new restaurants. Little did I know I would have to change my park days just to make it work.

All in all, I have 11 ADRs. Two not on the days I wanted, four are not at times I wanted for my touring plans and the rest are close enough.

I can hardly wait for 11PM on August 17th when I will be scheduling 27 FP+. Maybe I'll need a glass of wine on hand for that one.

 

[smitch425]

Congrats! Just snagged BBB and CRT reservations this morning, too. 180 days left!

 

[agavegirl1]

Congrats! Just snagged BBB and CRT reservations this morning, too. 180 days left!

How True! I forgot! Only 180 days left!

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

And people say us DISsers are a small group with no influence! 6 am at 180+10 and no availability, and not just for the hot tickets? On Easter Sunday no less? What first-time visitor or travel agent would be THAT diligent? Either there are more of us than we think, or Disney is toying with us....

I have been trying daily for weeks for a slot for Chef Mickeys, BOG, and a better time slot for 'Ohana to no avail. We rarely plan a trip with more than a couple of months notice, so are behind the 8-ball going into ADR planning, but in the past persistence has generally paid off. No luck this time and it isn't even free dining. I thought the new policy for ADRs was supposed to make this better??

Disney, if you are listening... What gives?

 

[agavegirl1]

I think part of the lack of available times might have something to do with the fact that Disney is now sending a lovely magnet to every onsite guests with reminder dates on it. I really did think that Easter would be a good day for my window to open up and that a dedicated DISer would have a little bit of an advantage. I still plan to tweak as time goes by if possible but I am definitely keeping the BOG ressie and re-doing my park days accordingly.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

Up early with you on Easter Sunday. I did get every think except BOG. But we tend to eat later 7-7:30 pm I hope that maybe some magic will happen for BOG for MNSSHP if not DH want Pecos Bill's really???? Who knew it would be such a stampede even on Easter. At least the giant Ham I put in at 5:00 am was good.

 

[laura12581]

I was up yesterday doing the same thing! Got CRT for 3:50 on our first day, not my first choice for time but I was happy to get it at all! I wanted chef Mickey's for day 2 around 8:30 but settled for 9:40. I will keep checking for a better time though! Everything else I wanted, I got! Checked BOG just because although I don't really want it and the only time was Sat I believe at 8:30. See you all there

 

[focusondisney]

We are going in 2 weeks. When I originally booked at 180 days out, I could find nothing after 5:50 PM for CRT, BOG or Brown Derby. A few other posters noted the same thing. Several weeks later, those restaurants had many later times available. I don't think all the times were loaded into the system right away. I eventually got the perfect 7- 7:30 PM times I wanted. May be the same situation here. Keep checking!

Edit: many posters have had luck calling at 180 days, even when the website shows nothing available. Apparently another MDE "glitch".

 

[laura12581]

We are going in 2 weeks. When I originally booked at 180 days out, I could find nothing after 5:50 PM for CRT, BOG or Brown Derby. A few other posters noted the same thing. Several weeks later, those restaurants had many later times available. I don't think all the times were loaded into the system right away. I eventually got the perfect 7- 7:30 PM times I wanted. May be the same situation here. Keep checking!

Edit: many posters have had luck calling at 180 days, even when the website shows nothing available. Apparently another MDE "glitch".

Thanks for the tips!!

 

[RachaelA]

Today was our ADR day. I had no luck for our first day (October 18th) for CRT. There was a 4pm and a 9:10 and the 4pm was booked before I could click it. This is what I get for picking CRT on our first day though we haven't had any issues the past 2 trips. I had to call group dining to book one large reservation for a reunion on a different day. I had her check CRT and there wasn't anything.

So other than CRT (and BOG of course), everything else was fine and I got 5-5:30 dinner reservations and a pre-park ADR.

Now I'm really tired and want to go back to bed, but my toddler just got up

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Today was my 180 days and I was only making one ADR (we're switching hotels on the second day). Was bummed to see that California Grill was already booked for any time between about 5:30 until after 9 p.m. I took the early ADR but am questioning myself being arrival day and all (allowed almost 7 hours from our landing time but it always makes me nervous to have a CC guarantee on that first night).