Late reserving....am I screwed?

[carimar]

I am leaving in two days and have seen A TON open up this whole week, including CP, CRT, Akershus, BOG... totally not screwed!

 

[disneyholic family]

DD booked her room at 95 days out....
already at 95 days out, there was nothing at all available in MK and DHS....not one restaurant - nothing...
still true today (at about a month out)..

i don't know what she's going to do...she's on the dining plan without any ADRs at MK and DHS...

 

[chrismartinique]

DD booked her room at 95 days out....
already at 95 days out, there was nothing at all available in MK and DHS....not one restaurant - nothing...
still true today (at about a month out)..

i don't know what she's going to do...she's on the dining plan without any ADRs at MK and DHS...

Keep checking. The hoarders start letting them go in the last month. I booked at 65 days and could get nothing! I did get Akershus and could have had CRT at under 21 days. I also was able to get H&V. I see Ohana and Park Fair open for almost every day of our trip now. It was not like for the whole first month of my booking. She will get some of her meals.

 

[Craigdarroch]

Don't forget to check with concierge at your resort.
They worked wonders for us.

We were able to get some pretty choice ressies either a day before or the day of, just by going to concierge. Lots of people change plans at the last minute and cancel ressies so they don't get billed on their CC, so it's worth looking in to once you get there. Good luck!

 

[disneyholic family]

Don't forget to check with concierge at your resort.
They worked wonders for us.

We were able to get some pretty choice ressies either a day before or the day of, just by going to concierge. Lots of people change plans at the last minute and cancel ressies so they don't get billed on their CC, so it's worth looking in to once you get there. Good luck!

regular concierge? or concierge level at the deluxe resorts?
i know the deluxe concierge can get anything for concierge guests, including impossible ADRs and FP+, but can regular concierge at the moderates and values get ADRs when they're completely gone?

 

[gwynne]

regular concierge? or concierge level at the deluxe resorts?
i know the deluxe concierge can get anything for concierge guests, including impossible ADRs and FP+, but can regular concierge at the moderates and values get ADRs when they're completely gone?

My personal experience with club level services and dining reservations is much different than yours. I've never know them to be able to get "anything". The can help at 180+, and they'll keep an eye out after that. Honestly, though, I have better luck just searching myself several times a day. (I think they only check once a day.)

The lobby concierge and club level desk are helpful with last minute reservations. They can see what restaurants have availability, and that's a time saver. I've used both, very helpful. It should be easier now, with being able to make reservations 20 minutes out at the last minute. I plan to use my phone for this, should the need arise.

I am a couple of weeks out from our trip. I've noticed a bit uptick in availability, even hard to get places. Heck, even BOG occasionally pops up.

For OP, Dec is busy. If you can get into the habit of checking several times a day, bit by bit you may be able to get some nice reservations. Grab what you can, and then adjust the times/locations as new ones come up. Two or three weeks out from your trip, really keep an eye.

Use the phone app. When you have a quick second, check. I've been amazed at how well that's worked for me, and I hope it works for you.

 

[mousehappync]

Definitely use the cancellation thread! I had to move our last trip back a week three weeks before we left. Using that thread I was able to grab ADR's at several desirable places, including Crystal Palace before opening and an Ohana dinner! I found if I was ever up really late/early (around 4-5 am) there were more "good" options. Good thing to do with a sleepless night!

 

[crabbygal902]

Are you too late? No way! We have a trip planned for Halloween/free dining. I have been stalking the site for the last couple weeks and have seen just about everything open up : BOG, CP, CRT, Chef Mickey's, etc. It may not be the perfect time you want, but if you are flexible...

 

[Scootypuffjr]

Nope, just snagged Mickey's Backyard BBQ for Halloween night! Just keep checking!

 

[NeverlandBelle]

Nope, this last week I got Akershus on Christmas Day, as well as BOG dinner and a chef mickey both December, you just have to persevere

 

[bmiller954]

We just booked a trip a few days ago for the last week in December (over New Years), and even though it's the busiest time of the year, I've already been able to get some reservations that weren't originally available by checking the MDE site several times a day. I'm still looking for BOG and Cali Grill, but judging by what I've been able to find in the past week, I feel confident that I'll be able to get both of them.

I think it makes a difference what type of restaurant you're looking for, too. The youngest in our group is 15, so character meals aren't important to us. I would imagine those reservations are released less often and so are a little harder to come by. Keep checking, though, and I'm sure you'll be able to get some good ones!

 

[rdaky]

Even checking a couple of weeks before or a week before can be good. I noticed both Chef Mickey's and CRT availability for the first week of November when I was looking earlier today and I haven't seen either of them in months.

 

[alwaysred2]

I keep hoping for a BOG as well. Not even needing it on Christmas...It's amazing me how much good luck others have had this week.

 

[c2disney]

We just got the great news we will be able to cross the seas for our daughters second birthday and show her all her favorite characters and princesses! Scared we won't get reservations at BOG for end of January... So far no luck. Crossing my fingers (hehe and addicted to "refresh" button) amazed it is sold out already in low season.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

You have to commit to the stalk, haha. I am not booking my December trip till late November and am ready for the hunt to commence. I'm willing to venture that I will end up with all my ADRs based on how insanely often I checked last time. Keep a window minimized and every time you go to your cpu, check. Good luck!

 

[c2disney]

You have to commit to the stalk, haha. I am not booking my December trip till late November and am ready for the hunt to commence. I'm willing to venture that I will end up with all my ADRs based on how insanely often I checked last time. Keep a window minimized and every time you go to your cpu, check. Good luck!

Hehe I do feel like a stalker of the refresh button. Starting to wonder if they closed the restaurant on that week haha CRT is closed ... Need to get BOG for my Belle addict

Q. I noticed sometimes my dates are highlighted for my on site stay when I'm on the dining page but after a couple refresh this disappears ... Does it make a difference?

 

[Kenjie B]

Glad to know there's hope! Just now trying to book ADRs for Dec 27-Jan 3, crazy, right?! My parents used to take us (6 girls) to WDW every year when we were kids and we thought it'd be a great idea to try to do it again, now that we're grown with families of our own. We've been talking about this trip since January, but with so many people involved, it's hard to solidify plans. We started with 27 people, and now we're down to 14 (including 8 sketchy yeses). I finally decided to just try to make reservations for my parents and let everyone else fend for themselves! So far, I've only booked Narcoosee's for dinner. I'm trying to get California Grill so that they can at least see the fireworks one night, because I know the parks will be crazy!

 

[Dasha Hermosilla]

Glad to know there's hope! Just now trying to book ADRs for Dec 27-Jan 3, crazy, right?! My parents used to take us (6 girls) to WDW every year when we were kids and we thought it'd be a great idea to try to do it again, now that we're grown with families of our own. We've been talking about this trip since January, but with so many people involved, it's hard to solidify plans. We started with 27 people, and now we're down to 14 (including 8 sketchy yeses). I finally decided to just try to make reservations for my parents and let everyone else fend for themselves! So far, I've only booked Narcoosee's for dinner. I'm trying to get California Grill so that they can at least see the fireworks one night, because I know the parks will be crazy!

FYI - you can just get a drink at the bar at California Grill and still see the fireworks.

 

[hddanis]

Our trip was officially booked yesterday, and I started making dining reservations on Tuesday evening. I've been able to get nearly everywhere we wanted to eat (including Le Cellier, 1900 (2x), and Crystal Palace) .. It can be done. There are a couple others that I would like to get, but will just have to keep looking and keep my fingers crossed (and it won't be the end of the world if I don't get them)

 

[momneedscoffee13]

It's truly amazing what opens up within the 24-72 hour range. I've seen an adr for every single character dining at the minimum! It's crazy!!