Is 'Ohana's dinner now the toughest ADR?

[Masonmj84]

Was fiddling around the Disney dining reservation site this morning just to see, out of curiosity, what restaurants seemed to be most full 180 days out (searches were conduted at around 11 am EDT, 5 hours after the system opened for booking).

I tried the two restuarants usually credited for being the hardest to book, CRT for breakfast and Le Cellier for lunch, and noted that reasonable times were still available. But 'Ohana's dinner was already almost completely booked (only very late ADRs were still available).

I then spot checked 'Ohana's dinner availiabilty for a whole bunch of different dates between now and 180 days from now. It was completely booked up at almost every turn (even weeknights in September).

Has anyone had trouble booking an earlier time for dinner at this restaurant (say between 5 and 6 pm) even if they got on the system at 6 am on the 180 day mark?

Could it be that this resturant gets almost completely booked by resort guests prior to the 180 day mark? (we typically stay on-site but like to eat at 'Ohana on opening night - I'm now considering adding a couple of later-to-be-canceled ghost days to the front end of my next reservation to allow for some breathing room in booking this restaurant).

 

[mmmears]

Yes it is. I just booked a last-minute (well, 5 weeks out) trip and that 'Ohana dinner was by for the hardest to get. I was told by the IPO office (we're staying CL) that this has been the case this past year.

On the plus side, they now charge for 'Ohana no-shows, so I was able to find several ADRs that would work for us. Just keep checking and good luck!

 

[bblanch]

It's definitely the one I had the most trouble booking at a decent time for our upcoming trip in a 3 weeks. I've been trying for months and either no availability at all or only after 930pm over our entire 7 night stay.

However I've been checking regularly the past couple of days and was able to catch a 640pm on a date that was doable for us. So as mmmears stated, the CC charge cancellations policy helped me here.

 

[TJA]

It's crazy....Chef Mickeys and LeCellier were a breeze for me to reserve, but Ohana dinner is next to impossible. I'm thankful I at least do have an 8:20 pm ADR there, but still checking and hoping for something earlier.

 

[mcd2745]

Dinner at 'Ohana is clearly the toughest ADR to get these days - unless you're willing to settle for a 9:30pm ADR (which probably meanss you'll get seated after 10pm). LeCellier is still quite difficult, as is Chef Mickey's...but an early 'Ohana dinner ADR is much harder to get. Even if you are making your ADRs online at 6am on your 180th day (and using 180+10), you're probably not getting an early dinner time for a day at the beginning of your stay. You have to go for a day toward the end of your stay for that ADR before 7pm.

Funny thing is...every time there is a thread about 'Ohana (same for LeCellier and Chef Mickey's), it seems that everyone has nothing but bad things to say and many say they'll never be back. Clearly though, they are not making a dent in the demand for these places.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I would agree...I've been doing similar research as we're approaching our 180 mark. We're doing 'Ohana dinner on our first night (so the whole 180+10 won't help me) and while I thought I was being flexible with our window of times to shoot for (7:30 ideal...good with anything up to 60 min before that and 30 min after)...by 8am each morning of the last week - the 180th day is booked up at 'Ohana until after 8pm. The spots that I want for Chef Mickey's and Le Cellier are there still late into the afternoon and then some. The next most difficult thing seems to be that 8:05a slot at Crystal Palace. Thankfully, that's on the 6th day of our trip and I'm willing to go as late as 8:15a if I have to...so we've got a better chance with that.

But back to 'Ohana...I have a feeling I'm going to wind up going into stalker mode trying to improve my time and be checking until just before we leave hoping that something ideal opens up. Hey- it's easier to be pessimistic about it so that I don't get my hopes up on anything too close to my ideal time.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I was able to get an Ohana reservation for 5pm on our 180 day mark, no problem.

I booked it for the 3rd night of our 10 night stay.

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

I made an 'Ohana reservation for 7:10 PM on our arrival day at 180 days out. we just had to change our trip by a week at 127 days ahead I couldn;t get ohana between 5-9 PM any of our 6 nights. (although if anyone needs 5 people on September 12th I just cancelled a reservation so go get it )

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I was able to get an Ohana reservation for 5pm on our 180 day mark, no problem.

I booked it for the 3rd night of our 10 night stay.

I was as well when I booked at 180 days but then decided we wanted to change it to our first night. Was able to get an 8:15 on August 24th this past Sunday. That is perfect for us because we are hoping to catch Wishes from the Beach. I agree that 'Ohana has become the most difficult one to get!

 

[kadesha]

I booked our 'Ohana 4 months out around 6:30. A few weeks later I changed it to 5:10. Didn't have any problems... (I'll be there 1 week from today!!)

I did have a hard time getting Le Cellier for lunch. But I guess someone cancelled because I was able to pick up an ADR about 2 weeks ago. (for our May trip)

 

[chimilady]

I booked Ohana in September on a Sunday night at 7:30pm for a party of 11 and I didn't have any problems. It was on the 2nd night of our trip. Granted I called at 180 days out at 7 am, but still, not impossible if you plan ahead.

And I'm sure you know that calling at 7am gets you more spots than 6am online. Something about the way their system works.

 

[momtoamulan]

We really wanted to try ohana...no luck.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Dinner at 'Ohana is clearly the toughest ADR to get these days - unless you're willing to settle for a 9:30pm ADR (which probably meanss you'll get seated after 10pm). LeCellier is still quite difficult, as is Chef Mickey's...but an early 'Ohana dinner ADR is much harder to get. Even if you are making your ADRs online at 6am on your 180th day (and using 180+10), you're probably not getting an early dinner time for a day at the beginning of your stay. You have to go for a day toward the end of your stay for that ADR before 7pm.

Funny thing is...every time there is a thread about 'Ohana (same for LeCellier and Chef Mickey's), it seems that everyone has nothing but bad things to say and many say they'll never be back. Clearly though, they are not making a dent in the demand for these places.

I don't think that having a 9:30 ADR "probably" means you'll be seated after 10. I had a 9:50 ADR here in March (over spring break...WDW as a whole was very busy) and was seated before 10.