Last Minute Dining Reservations.... possible?

[Easto]

I have learned that people book a bunch of reservations "just in case" and as long as the reservation is canceled the day before there is no penalty.

We are going Aug 23 - Sept 1 and were hoping to get a pre park opening breakfast at Crystal Palace.

What's the likelihood someone opens closer to August because of a cancellation?

Park selection and FP+ selection when the times comes won't be that hard. However, I feel like trying to figure out where to eat a bit daunting. Lots of prime times are booked when we are going. I'd hate to try to plan a trip during peak times.

 

[Shanti]

Pre-park opening breakfasts are much harder to get than other reservations, but nothing is impossible. Keep checking back every day.

 

[wdw&sonny]

Very high likelihood.
Just as you said, many people make excessive reservations or just change plans.
Keep checking.
I have a trip on May 17.
I just got Cali Grill today =10 days before trip (after weeks of trying).
I got Sci Fi and 50s PT at good times just a few weeks out.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Highly likely for many restaurants, depending on your flexibility. Like someone else said though, pre-park opening breakfasts at MK are some of the most highly coveted ADR's out there. I wouldn't hold my breath, but people do get lucky occasionally.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Consider using the Touring Plans Reservation Finder. It's free. I've been able to get lots of PPO using it post 180.

 

[pumba]

we just returned from Disney on Thursday and up until the week before ..we only had made reservations at Ohana ...then hubby decided he wanted to go to Crystal Palace...and he got a six thirty reservation...it was kinda late for me ..I eat on time ...usually...and the next day he said..oh wow..we can go on the day before at six..so we made that reservation...and cancelled the other one...THEN a 5:05 came up and i called the reservation number instead because it was the same day reservation...and we got that one...Ohana had openings on the day we were there .. some people were deciding not to go or went someplace else...so keep on trying..and looking

 

[mrzrich]

I've had great luck checking the night before. Lots of people cancel just under the wire

 

[Easto]

It would be nice if you had to cancel a week before your reservation date, not 24 hours. It would help with people hoarding reservations and would mean at least a week prior people would have to cancel and give other a chance to pick them up

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It would be nice if you had to cancel a week before your reservation date, not 24 hours. It would help with people hoarding reservations and would mean at least a week prior people would have to cancel and give other a chance to pick them up

But it's not always about hoarding.

Best laid plans, etc. etc. Say I make ADRs for every night of the trip, but then my kid gets a killer ear infection and we decide to sit out Ohana because it's loud and kid has ear infection and yeah.

 

[maxiesmom]

It would be nice if you had to cancel a week before your reservation date, not 24 hours. It would help with people hoarding reservations and would mean at least a week prior people would have to cancel and give other a chance to pick them up

People threw a major fit when the 24 hour window was enacted. No way would a week window go over. Plus, I think having a bit of flexibility during your trip works out pretty good. Tired the day before a meal and want to cancel? Sure! Not feeling well and want to take the next day to rest? No problem! A week would be horrible, imho.

 

[Shanti]

It would be nice if you had to cancel a week before your reservation date, not 24 hours. It would help with people hoarding reservations and would mean at least a week prior people would have to cancel and give other a chance to pick them up

That wouldn't be realistic or fair, though. What if someone got sick, called back to work early, had an accident, etc? They could easily be on the hook for a week's worth of ADR's.

The current system is first to reserve, first to get the ADR, which is fair. I do think that ADR bookings should only begin at 90 days out, rather than 180, though. I like the 24-hour cancellation policy, which has greatly reduced hoarding. It's much easier to get ressies now than it used to be, outside of free dining.

 

[Easto]

Hypothetical: I am going to Disney September 1. I don't know where I want to eat supper so I make a reservation for Ohanas, Kona Cafe, Chef Mickeys, The Wave.

I have 4 reservations because I don't know where I want to go and I want to keep my options open.

You would like to go to Ohana's September 1, but no reservations exist. You then check Kona and nothing there. Someone has a reservation to both, but can't do both. They have until August 31 to cancel all but 1. IMO if you had a week that would give person 2 some time to still get a reservation and make some late plans.

I am going late August which is supposed to be low time and I find a lot of reservations I would like are already gone. I am sure a good chunk of those reservations were made as "just in case" and will end up being cancelled. However, I can't always check everyday to see what's left, what's come open, etc.

I just wish people would be more courteous.

END RANT

 

[Shanti]

Hypothetical: I am going to Disney September 1. I don't know where I want to eat supper so I make a reservation for Ohanas, Kona Cafe, Chef Mickeys, The Wave.

I have 4 reservations because I don't know where I want to go and I want to keep my options open.

You would like to go to Ohana's September 1, but no reservations exist. You then check Kona and nothing there. Someone has a reservation to both, but can't do both. They have until August 31 to cancel all but 1. IMO if you had a week that would give person 2 some time to still get a reservation and make some late plans.

I am going late August which is supposed to be low time and I find a lot of reservations I would like are already gone. I am sure a good chunk of those reservations were made as "just in case" and will end up being cancelled. However, I can't always check everyday to see what's left, what's come open, etc.

I just wish people would be more courteous.

END RANT

The system won't let you book multiple reservations for the same time period, though.

 

[Shanti]

I have learned that people book a bunch of reservations "just in case" and as long as the reservation is canceled the day before there is no penalty.

We are going Aug 23 - Sept 1 and were hoping to get a pre park opening breakfast at Crystal Palace.

What's the likelihood someone opens closer to August because of a cancellation?

I know you're frustrated, so I'll give my honest opinion right off the bat that you shouldn't bother trying to get a pre-park opening breakfast at MK, by checking for cancellations. Very unlikely (not impossible) that you'd snag a cancelled PPO at MK close to the trip, as these ressies get people into the park early and are guarded jealously. They tend not to be the "just in case" ADR's people sometimes make, because they're part of people's touring plans. So in this case the issue is not hoarding, but very high demand. You usually do have to book very far in advance to get these high-priority ADR's.

I really hope it all works out for you. There is more to a joyous trip to Disney than getting certain ADR's. Early Morning Magic has recently come out, & if you're willing to pay that will get you early entrance, a meal & an hour of unfettered access to 3 of the park's most popular family rides. Even if you have no interest in that, you'll still do fine and have a great time.

 

[Easto]

Oh, I see.

What else would be nice is a way to have an automatic update/Email if something becomes available

 

[Shanti]

Oh, I see.

What else would be nice is a way to have an automatic update/Email if something becomes available

You can do that via Touring Plans reservation finder. Set up an account, and they'll do that for you. You'll get a text message if your desired ADR becomes available. You need to try to get the ressie asap when you get the text, though, as someone else could just as easily snap it up.

 

[raddisneyfan]

Speaking for myself, I make, change and cancel ADRs on a constant basis. I'm sure I'm not the only one by a long shot. So, just keep checking daily if you're so inclined. Weekend reservations year round will always be more difficult due to the local Orlando crowd coming to the parks for the day. I always try for my most challenging venues on weekdays--Tues, Wed, and Thurs--usually I don't have a problem.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have learned that people book a bunch of reservations "just in case" and as long as the reservation is canceled the day before there is no penalty.

We are going Aug 23 - Sept 1 and were hoping to get a pre park opening breakfast at Crystal Palace.

What's the likelihood someone opens closer to August because of a cancellation?

Park selection and FP+ selection when the times comes won't be that hard. However, I feel like trying to figure out where to eat a bit daunting. Lots of prime times are booked when we are going. I'd hate to try to plan a trip during peak times.

I don't think as many people book just in case ADRs as they used to. It is too easy to mess up and forget to cancel them. I have found that now there is the penalty for not cancelling ADRs are a bit easier to get.

Have you not figured out what days you are going to which park yet? That is always my starting point. I use EasyWDW to plan that out, and it makes it much easier to focus on ADRs.

 

[DekrRini]

A year ago I got sick while I was there. I had a week's worth of ADRs that I couldn't use. I canceled them day by day hoping that I would eventually be well enough to use one of them. Trust me I would much rather have used my ADRs.

 

[Interrobang]

I did get a Hollywood & Vine PPO at 8:00 am about 3 weeks before we will be there. So, it's possible. I used the Touring Plans service.