Is it hopeless?

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I'm looking at doing a bit of a last minute trip to Disney in December. Free dining is luring me in, LOL!

Normally we go in Feb, and I've never had issues getting ressie. I'm debating going value w/ QS, vs upgrading vs mod. If I can't get ressie, then there's no point in going mod, or upgrading.

I'm looking for character meals. We've done almost all of them now, but I was thinking maybe CM (I know, long shot), Park Fare, CP, etc. The dates were looking at was the 18th-22nd.

 

[DipsyDoodles]

I'm looking at doing a bit of a last minute trip to Disney in December. Free dining is luring me in, LOL!

Normally we go in Feb, and I've never had issues getting ressie. I'm debating going value w/ QS, vs upgrading vs mod. If I can't get ressie, then there's no point in going mod, or upgrading.

I'm looking for character meals. We've done almost all of them now, but I was thinking maybe CM (I know, long shot), Park Fare, CP, etc. The dates were looking at was the 18th-22nd.

I know the Princess Dinner in Norway usually has availability on short notice but not sure if your children would enjoy that. It's on a smaller scale so lots of time with the princesses.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

We've done Norway for breakfast the last 2 trips. So that's normally a possibility. LOL!

 

[verticalchaos]

Have you tried checking online to see what's available first?

 

[sumsmommy03]

You never know what will come up! We just booked a trip for Nov 16-24 and I wasn't having any luck at all with ADRs. I called the disney dining number and as the CM was checking for 1900 Park Fare for me when she said "Oh wow...a 5:30 dinner at CRT just opened up"
I also got a lunch reservation another day (would have preferred breakfast but I'll keep trying) for Akershus.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Yes, I've looked online. I'm coming up w/ little to no options. I guess when I talk to DH tonight, I'll ask him how he feels.

I can get ressies at CP, and I think Princesses (at Epcot). I prefer the buffetts since DS will be 1.5yo and not on a meal plan, but can eat a TON when he wants to, LOL!

 

[ccgirl]

There is availability. On 12/18 there is Cape May Cafe breakfast. On the 21st there is lunch at Akershus and the Crystal Palace. Just play around with dates/times. There is plenty of availability.

 

[petrymom]

We are going between 12-19 and 12-26 and had the same issue.
Wanted Le Cellier, CM and 1900 Park Fare - NO LUCK

Ended up with:
12-20 - crystal palace 3:20
12-21 - Maya Grill 6:45 - DH birthday - wanted nice meal
12-22 - Ashkrus - 8:25am
12-23 - Coral Reef - Candlelight processional meal deal - 5:15 with 8:00 pm show
12-24 -Cape MAy @ 5:10pm
12-25 - Trails End @ 6:15pm

overall am satisfied with Ressies - but have been watching for alternatives for 12-20 and 12-25... Not sure if Trails End is appropriate for Christmas day....

Anyway - have a great time...

 

[verticalchaos]

What I discovered is that if you put in "breakfast" or "lunch" or "dinner" you've got a better chance at finding things than being specific about the exact time you want to eat. Sure it may be early or late, but we've often gotten our first choice places (no Le Cellier isn't one of them) with less than 180 days' notice.

 

[neodymm]

I am a firm believer in persistence...things usually open up as people are constantly changing their plans. I also usually check with the Concierge when I check-in, too. Just in case there is some pixie dust when you get onsite! LOL It's worked before! I don't give up until I get what I want...I've even been on the phone with them as we were driving to Disney to check for availability. When all else fails...go directly to the restaurant that you want at the time you want it. This works about half the time for us...we've walked right into CRT for dinner with no ADR. Love it when things like that happen. Sorta makes me miss the days before ADRs.

 

[eyor44]

or just put in a date and time, but not a location. I was amazed at what showed up when I did that. I had my choice all ove the World for dinner on Nov 21.

 

[leadfootlevi]

I don't know if this is legit or not, but we are a party of 5. I was searching and searching for availability for all 5 of us. Once I accidentally hit 6 instead of 5 and two places showed up - Tusker House and Crystal Palace. I went back and hit 5 and they weren't there. Hit 6 and they were there! I booked a couple of places this way. I don't know what they're going to say when we get to the restaurant though...

Good luck. Keep searching. I'm sure you'll find what you want. Book them when you find them even if you haven't made up your minds.

 

[verticalchaos]

or just put in a date and time, but not a location. I was amazed at what showed up when I did that. I had my choice all ove the World for dinner on Nov 21.

Yep! When we were looking for Christmas night dinner, I put in 12/25/2010; Dinner; 4 guests and hit enter and got a wide range of options. But when I looked for specific times it was a lot harder to find options. Flexibility is sometimes/often key.

 

[ccgirl]

or just put in a date and time, but not a location. I was amazed at what showed up when I did that. I had my choice all ove the World for dinner on Nov 21.

That's what I do. Actually, I usually just use breakfast, lunch or dinner as the search time. If I know what park I want I will enter that too but I don't usually enter a specific restaurant. In the OP's case, I entered "character dining experience" since that was what she was asking about and I found many options. Good luck!

 

[sherbet]

leadfootlevi, i would be interested to see replies. I tried what you said and it was true if you put 5 people in you dont get as many choices as 6 people!! But does that mean they seat you at 2 tables, what would be the repucussions i wonder?

 

[RandiB]

The same works with booking three people, you get more options with four. We wanted to eat at Boma, went to the concierge the day we arrived (we had to cancel princesses because my dd was throwing up all day). She got us right in after I tried daily for weeks to get a reservation.

 

[marivaid]

The same works with booking three people, you get more options with four. We wanted to eat at Boma, went to the concierge the day we arrived (we had to cancel princesses because my dd was throwing up all day). She got us right in after I tried daily for weeks to get a reservation.

Yes, we had to do that as well for a few of our reservations next week. It's silly because there's no such thing as a table for 3 anyway!

OP, keep checking. When I started booking our trip I only had a few options, and now I've been able to get all the restaurants I wanted. Be flexible, check for "breakfast", for example, instead of a specific time, and check for every day of your trip.

 

[sherbet]

So people do that then book for one extra person? (for 6 instead of 5 ?) So when you arrive what do you say? That one person is sick? Do they mind ?

 

[marivaid]

We'll just say we're 3 and not 4. No need to make up an explanation, and if they ask, I'll just tell them the truth.

 

[RandiB]

AT Boma they sat us in a table against a window, so it really was a three top.

They didn't care about the one less for us. I don't advise it, but once we had an extra person show and they sat us without question.

The worst was when a group of ten were in line in front of us for the princess lunch in Norway, they had reservations for the next day and swore they got mixed up. After about fifteen minutes the restuarant took care of them. If it was 2 or 4 I can imagine they would have easily, but there are only a few tables for big parties, and of course they couldn't be split up.