Is it worth trying for ADRs two months out?

[chaospearl]

Hey folks

So... I recently booked this year's Disney vacation, May 25th through June 3rd. I don't normally do a lot of TS restaurants during my trips so I'm not familiar with how difficult it can be. I know the window is typically 90 days out -- and my trip is only 60 days away. Should I even bother trying to get a few ADRs, or did I miss out by not planning my vacation far enough in advance? I'm particularly worried because May 30th is my birthday -- the whole reason for the trip -- and I'd like to have a nice dinner that night.

Jenni

 

[srwarden1928]

It certainly cant hurt to try. Last March, I was in WDW for the first time in many years. In 1990, one typically called in the morning for an ADR that night. I planned to use that procedure in 2008. Well it actually worked for us. We got Marrakesh, Biergarten, 50s Prime Time, and Hollywood & Vine same day. Since those were the restaurants we wanted we were happy. Some of the times were a little off, but we got to eat what we want.

My suggestion to you, OP, is call now, be flexible on your times, and you could be pleasantly surprised. There are likely some popular places you will not be able to get into, but there should be some choices that could give you some nice meals.

 

[jewjubean]

I'm going a couple week's before you are and I've called pretty much every week to change my ADR's when I find something interesting I want to try! And I havnt had much trouble...Just keep your times/dates open!

 

[jm106]

Hey folks

So... I recently booked this year's Disney vacation, May 25th through June 3rd. I don't normally do a lot of TS restaurants during my trips so I'm not familiar with how difficult it can be. I know the window is typically 90 days out -- and my trip is only 60 days away. Should I even bother trying to get a few ADRs, or did I miss out by not planning my vacation far enough in advance? I'm particularly worried because May 30th is my birthday -- the whole reason for the trip -- and I'd like to have a nice dinner that night.

Jenni

I am going a week before you and I called this week- I got Kona cafe dinner, Crystal palace dinner(had tonys first, then changed to liberty tree tavern too but I canceled and got CP), Tokyo dining, 50's PT cafe too. I had chef mickeys(booked in Nov.), and I called 2 weeks ago and changed it twice and had a few options to change. As long as you arent set on times, you can get some still. I could not get Ohanas.

 

[chaospearl]

Well... I'm going to give it a try tonight and see where I get! Unfortunately keeping my dates open isn't going to work; I only have one birthday every year and it's on a specific date, LOL. I did check out the menus for various Disney restaurants and came up with a fairly long list of places I'd like to eat, so let's hope at least ONE of them can get me a booking for 2 sometime after 5pm on May 30th. If it doesn't happen, I expect I'll keep calling until my trip and cross my fingers. Somebody has to cancel at some point, right? Ha.

Here's my list, in order of preference:
La Ceilier
'Ohana
Tony's Town Square
Kona Cafe
Teppan Edo
Narcoossee's
Chef Mickey's
Crystal Palace
Coral Reef
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Cinderella's Royal Table
1900 Park Faire
Fulton's Crabhouse

I imagine it's going to be impossible to get Le Ceilier or 'Ohana on the first try, but I've eaten at both Tony's and Kona before and both times I got in with NO reservation (I didn't know any better) so maybe one of those will be available. And I think I'll keep trying on Le Ceilier... if not for my actual birthday, maybe I can get in sometime that week for lunch. I don't mind calling every single day for the next two months if I have to, lol.

 

[disney4us2002]

I agree that you should definitely try. Do you have a place in mind for your birthday? Be sure to tell them that you're celebrating your birthday when you make that ADR. The CM I spoke with advised me to call back at 45 days out or less because of cancelled trips and cancelled ADRs at that time.

 

[ChelleinNC]

If there's somewhere you want to eat (or just want any TS), it's always worth trying to make an ADR. Two months, two weeks, two days or even 2 hours; it's worth calling

 

[chaospearl]

I agree that you should definitely try. Do you have a place in mind for your birthday?

Nah, I'm fairly flexible on places. It's the date and time that I can't hedge all that much. I know I could always declare it a "birthday week" and go some other day, but... (shrugs) We always go out for dinner on my actual birthday, ever since I was a little kid. And this year I won't be with my family that night; my little sister is coming, but not my parents. So I imagine if I end up sitting in a cheap plastic chair with a counter-service tray for my birthday dinner, I'll be just a wee bit disappointed and lonely.

Anyway, I'm really hoping for a ressie on May 30th sometime during the evening hours for dinner, not lunch. Anytime after 5pm is fine. My sister is a teenager and I'm under 30; we tend to keep late and lazy hours, to say the least, so we have no problem eating at 9pm or later.

If I absolutely can't get a Disney ADR anywhere on my list, we'll probably grab a cab to either Red Lobster or a steakhouse on Int. Drive. I'd just like to avoid the added expense of traveling off-property, since we won't have a car.

I'm on hold at the moment, hee.

 

[jm106]

Call now- I got offered Ohanas for 9, 9:30pm just last week(my kids are little so not good, so Ill skip it). They are there until 10pm.

 

[rlovew]

I was able to call on Friday for dinner for 4 that night and was given a list of restraunts and times- we ended up going to Artist Point- the food was amazing. We got the first reservations of the night- right at 5:30- since we showed up 15 minutes early like normally told we were the first ones seated and got an amazing window seat.

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

I just got a breakfast reservation at Kona for Mother's Day last nite. I got it for 10am and the funny thing is, when I originally called, I checked for Saturday because I didn't think I would get the time I wanted for Mother's day. They had several slots open. So it does pay to try even close to arrival!

 

[EEyorelover22]

We went from Dec 22nd thru 25th and I was able to get everything we wanted except Tusker House breakfast and 1900 Park Fare for breakfast on Christmas. I called every day...got Tusker House about a week before we went and then got Park Fare about two days before while we were there. It did pay off to keep calling. I really appreciated the fact that others called and canceled the ones they didn't want.

I planed our trip Thanksgiving Day too. If you really want one, keep calling back. All places opened up when they would tell me what was available...CM and Ohana too.

Good luck!

 

[EEyorelover22]

I was able to call on Friday for dinner for 4 that night and was given a list of restraunts and times- we ended up going to Artist Point- the food was amazing. We got the first reservations of the night- right at 5:30- since we showed up 15 minutes early like normally told we were the first ones seated and got an amazing window seat.

I just saw one of the desserts from there...YUMMY!!

 

[dalstitch45]

Hey Chaospearl,

We are going to be at WDW from May 25 - June 3 also. I just called at 9:30 p.m., and got all eight (8) of my reservations. They were all on the days and times I wanted, and at the restaurants I wanted. First try! They included Chef Mickeys, 1900 Park Fare, and O'hana's. Go for it!

 

[amy1976]

I will be there the same week as you and I just booked last week. I made my ADR's over the past few days. The only things I could not get were Chef Mickey's for dinner (I got breakfast though), Le Cellier, Chefs De France or Cinderella's Castle. Everything else was not a problem. Good Luck!

 

[mmmears]

Definitely call the ASAP! We're going in less than 3 weeks, and I was still able to change some things around earlier in the week. We got all the ADRs we wanted at those late changes, too! But earlier is better! Good luck!

 

[PrincessMama605]

I would try too, you never know. Also keep in mind that people may be cancelling at their 45 day mark, so even if you don't get what you want now you might have more luck calling back in about two weeks.

 

[dalstitch45]

Looks like there are going to be a few of us there from Jersey the end of May/June. I also got Boma's for breakfast. The CM said she was really surprised with the Chef Mickey one. Maybe it has something to do with the economy. I am looking now at some of the restaurants, and calling tomorrow to see if I can book a couple more.

 

[trappednabox]

it never hurts to try!! Good luck! and let us know what you get! The suspense is killing me

 

[MellyBeans]

You should definitely call!!! We are going May 30th-June 6th, and just booked our trip last week! I was nervous about being within the 90 day window, but I managed to get all of the restaurants I wanted. The only thing I had to compromise on was Le Cellier for lunch instead of dinner, and a couple ADR dinners are somewhat early (5-5:30 range). All that said, considering I booked only about 60 days out, I was very pleased.