Making ADR's - Like a Kid On Christmas Morning

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Today was the day I had been planning for and looking forward to for months! I had researched and read about every Disney restaurant. Asked questions here. Reviewed every menu. Studied the best systems for obtaining the most elusive reservations. The day had arrived at last. My 180+ day window finally opened.

Couldn't sleep last night for dreaming and worrying about which restaurants might be unavailable. I had My Disney Experience screens running through my mind. When my alarm rang at 5:45, I sprang up, crept downstairs, and, with my coffee and credit card in hand, opened my laptop. It was 5:52. I stared at the screen for the next eight minutes, ready to click the glowing green Find a Table button as soon as the clock struck 6 am. Would I be able to get a Be our Guest dinner? A Crystal Palace 8:05? My heart was beating quickly. I had been a good girl. I was ready. Would Santa (i.e., Uncle Walt) bring me what I wanted this year?

Well, not exactly. Even at 180 + 5, still no Be Our Guest dinner. None all week, in fact. Earliest Crystal Palace breakfast was at 8:20. No 12:30 Fantasmic lunch reservation at 12:30 (only 11:30 or 1:30). I suppose I got most of what I wanted, but I found a little coal in my March Christmas morning stocking, too.

As I sat at my computer continuing to click Find a Table in the futile hope that somehow the system would add a new time for these restaurants, I realized that several thousand other people may be doing the same thing, and we had all been beaten by the thousands who happen to be staying longer than we are. I have come to the conclusion that we are all nuts.

 

[Felipe4]

I have come to the conclusion that we are all nuts.

Accurate. That's crazy that there was no BOG that late out! I guess it's during F&W at Epcot? I made my initial ones at 180 days and have multiple dinners there that I'll release as people need them in the cancellations thread. My Crystal Palace is at 8:30 though, so that was about the same.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

Don't lose hope! I booked my trip after the 6 month mark, and just this week with about 62 days to go, I finally snagged the last ADR I wanted.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Now that your 180 is over, welcome to your new obsession...stalking ADRs.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I guess it's during F&W at Epcot?

Yes, F&W AND (the anticipation of) September Free Dining.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

Now that your 180 is over, welcome to your new obsession...stalking ADRs.

That is exactly what I was afraid of. As if I don't already spend enough of my precious free time on some sort of site about Disney. If only I were paid each time I click on Find a Table . . .

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

That is exactly what I was afraid of. As if I don't already spend enough of my precious free time on some sort of site about Disney. If only I were paid each time I click on Find a Table . . .

You and me both.

And when you finally get that ressie you've been dreaming of, when by some miracle that little gray oval with a time in it appears, and with shaking hands you successfully complete the process through to the confirmation page, then after a few minutes spent staring at the screen to prove to yourself it's really real...you'll find yourself wondering what you're supposed to do now that you don't have an ADR to look for!

 

[Astylla]

You and me both.

And when you finally get that ressie you've been dreaming of, when by some miracle that little gray oval with a time in it appears, and with shaking hands you successfully complete the process through to the confirmation page, then after a few minutes spent staring at the screen to prove to yourself it's really real...you'll find yourself wondering what you're supposed to do now that you don't have an ADR to look for!

I am so glad I am not the only one like this. I especially got this way when I secured as BOG dinner from the cancellation board and Jedi Mickey Fantasmic ( just by random why the heck not searching) both in one day.
In that same day rechecking my FP selections landed me a wishes and festival of fantasy parade FP in the same day when previously they were not there !
I'm still searching for the elusive Galactic breakfast but considering I have gotten so much at less than 60 days out , I CANNOT complain! But I keep searching daily for random stuff just because haha.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Now that your 180 is over, welcome to your new obsession...stalking ADRs.

I love this sport! Got a Tomorrowland Dessert Party and BOG dinner rezzie this way. Be quick! Be Cautious and take no prisoners.....

 

[cinder-ellah]

LOL !
I love this !
I didn't get the ok from family members that we were going til March 1st for May 14th - 20th. Just today I tried to talk them into just 2 more days. Then just 1 more day ?
And I got appointed the coveted job of booking ADR'S and learning the new FP+ system.
So, yes ..... I guess I'm now officially a member of "ADR'S Anonymouse".

 

[MouseMum]

Today was the day I had been planning for and looking forward to for months! I had researched and read about every Disney restaurant. Asked questions here. Reviewed every menu. Studied the best systems for obtaining the most elusive reservations. The day had arrived at last. My 180+ day window finally opened.

Couldn't sleep last night for dreaming and worrying about which restaurants might be unavailable. I had My Disney Experience screens running through my mind. When my alarm rang at 5:45, I sprang up, crept downstairs, and, with my coffee and credit card in hand, opened my laptop. It was 5:52. I stared at the screen for the next eight minutes, ready to click the glowing green Find a Table button as soon as the clock struck 6 am. Would I be able to get a Be our Guest dinner? A Crystal Palace 8:05? My heart was beating quickly. I had been a good girl. I was ready. Would Santa (i.e., Uncle Walt) bring me what I wanted this year?

Well, not exactly. Even at 180 + 5, still no Be Our Guest dinner. None all week, in fact. Earliest Crystal Palace breakfast was at 8:20. No 12:30 Fantasmic lunch reservation at 12:30 (only 11:30 or 1:30). I suppose I got most of what I wanted, but I found a little coal in my March Christmas morning stocking, too.

As I sat at my computer continuing to click Find a Table in the futile hope that somehow the system would add a new time for these restaurants, I realized that several thousand other people may be doing the same thing, and we had all been beaten by the thousands who happen to be staying longer than we are. I have come to the conclusion that we are all nuts.

You're quite descriptive in your storytelling! Very accurate of my experience too.

 

[LisaIL]

Love this! It's nice knowing I'm not the only ADR-obsessed person around.

 

[SimplyGoofy]

You're too funny! I don't have dreams about it, but I can definitely relate on the pre-planning and the rush from getting things booked.

I would also recommend a bit of stalking - I managed to bump my Crystal Palace ADR from an 8:15 to an 8:10 (not a big difference - but it can't hurt!). I was very lucky and got a BOG dinner ADR on our second day of that resort reservation. I was stunned how easy it was as it was for a Saturday night in late May. It was amazing to check back the next day (when the 180 day window opened for that day) and see that they were gone!

Good luck in tweaking your ADR list! More importantly, have fun eating!

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

I have come to the conclusion that we are all nuts.

This made me laugh right out loud.

My husband kept trying to make ADRs for the same date without realizing; before the system started yelling at him for overlapping reservations I think he'd booked four for one day. It all turned out well, I told him I was going back to bed...and he tried to talk me into going out for breakfast instead, because "now I'm hungry!"

Now I am afraid to touch anything on MDE in case we lose it. Ha!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

You're too funny! I don't have dreams about it, but I can definitely relate on the pre-planning and the rush from getting things booked.

I would also recommend a bit of stalking - I managed to bump my Crystal Palace ADR from an 8:15 to an 8:10 (not a big difference - but it can't hurt!). I was very lucky and got a BOG dinner ADR on our second day of that resort reservation. I was stunned how easy it was as it was for a Saturday night in late May. It was amazing to check back the next day (when the 180 day window opened for that day) and see that they were gone!

Good luck in tweaking your ADR list! More importantly, have fun eating!

Thank you! I keep asking myself why I am spending so much time trying to move a reservation 10 minutes up. Will 10 minutes really make much of a difference?

It is Disney. Every 10 minutes counts. So yes. Yes it will. Six hours of my time at home for 10 minutes at Disney.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

This made me laugh right out loud.

My husband kept trying to make ADRs for the same date without realizing; before the system started yelling at him for overlapping reservations I think he'd booked four for one day. It all turned out well, I told him I was going back to bed...and he tried to talk me into going out for breakfast instead, because "now I'm hungry!"

Now I am afraid to touch anything on MDE in case we lose it. Ha!

Ha! I bet a lot of people have made the same mistake as your husband. Glad it worked out. And that he realized his mistake. Otherwise, at least you would have had one nice, full day of dining.

 

[sbd78]

I remember when we went to the world in 2009, we had to call for all our ADR's!

I'm just wondering when you will be able to stalk BBB and Pirates League reservations online! Stalking is so much easier (and more fun!) when you don't have to call and sit on hold each time!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

I remember when we went to the world in 2009, we had to call for all our ADR's!

I'm just wondering when you will be able to stalk BBB and Pirates League reservations online! Stalking is so much easier (and more fun!) when you don't have to call and sit on hold each time!

And addictive! Don't forget addictive. "Just a minute, Dear! I'll be up to help you with the kids' bath in a little while. Right now I'm trying to change our CP reservations. We have an 8:10 and that is far too late. Trying to snag an 8:05."

 

[PixieT78]

haha I totally had the same kind of night the night before my 180 days lol. Except I had to make sure I got up at 3am to do it. Pretty sure I barely slept