Making ADRs when park hours haven't been released

[travelbug]

So my booking window for ADRs starts tomorrow. Just wondering how other people go about figuring out where to make reservations when they may not know which park they'll be in on which day, since Disney is so SLOW to post park hours, EMHs, etc. Sure miss the good old days when they posted pretty reliable park hours months in advance. We tend to be EMH people, but I obviously won't know the EMH days for perhaps months yet.

Even last year, we were able to get a pretty good idea because someone posted a "behind the scenes" schedule for January that WDW had apparently released to travel agents or something. We went with that, and it turned out to be amazingly accurate in the long run.

Maybe I'm missing something obvious about all of this though?? Would appreciate any advice.

 

[danielocha30]

Is a risk we take, it happened to us, we got the most popular ADR Be our Guest for dinner and what happens? Disney announced their first halloween party for that day! I'm not visiting MK on a party day because of the early closing, so I ended giving up my precious BOG reservation. Already booked for lunch for the next day, still looking for a dinner one. I still plan and hope for the best and when needed change my ADR to accommodate the schedule

 

[Beer Me]

The simplest strategy is to go with currently posted hours. Don't try to predict updates.

 

[travelbug]

The simplest strategy is to go with currently posted hours. Don't try to predict updates.

Actually that's exactly the problem. My Disney stay will be January 1-14, but WDW has only posted park hours through Dec. 31.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I use Kenny the Pirate's historical calendar to make a plan, but he usually posts current ones 6.5 months ahead and he's usually right about them.

We also eat at off times and don't try for pre park breakfasts.

 

[sharonabe]

Actually that's exactly the problem. My Disney stay will be January 1-14, but WDW has only posted park hours through Dec. 31.

Here's a link to Kenny's: http://www.kennythepirate.com/2014/...endar-with-dining-and-fastpass-booking-dates/

As PP said, it's better than nothing. I used his before ours came out and it was pretty much the same once it did. Disney will probably still mess with it before you go, but that's just how things are these days.

 

[Beer Me]

Actually that's exactly the problem. My Disney stay will be January 1-14, but WDW has only posted park hours through Dec. 31.

You're right. That stinks. I didn't realize January wasn't up yet. They should have park schedules up 6 months in advance since that's the ADR window. A better solution might be to shorten that window. 3 months would be plenty.

 

[DrunkJam]

We just book the meals we want, we are not into rope drop, or commando, or running around like crazy. We have parkhoppers, so if our 4pm Dinner at CRT happens to be on a party night (it is not, but, we didn't check) then we eat, and then decide to go somewhere else. Maximising the value to me, is doing the things we want, which includes meals, and being relaxed about enjoying what we CAN do.
I confess, I am anxious about getting FOP fast passes, but that's me, and my uber planning. But the goal is to have a holiday, not end up unhappy because we are trying to fit in too much.

 

[JZCubed]

So my booking window for ADRs starts tomorrow. Just wondering how other people go about figuring out where to make reservations when they may not know which park they'll be in on which day, since Disney is so SLOW to post park hours, EMHs, etc. Sure miss the good old days when they posted pretty reliable park hours months in advance. We tend to be EMH people, but I obviously won't know the EMH days for perhaps months yet.

Even last year, we were able to get a pretty good idea because someone posted a "behind the scenes" schedule for January that WDW had apparently released to travel agents or something. We went with that, and it turned out to be amazingly accurate in the long run.

Maybe I'm missing something obvious about all of this though?? Would appreciate any advice.

In a sense, I believe that you are missing something obvious.

For the most part, 6-months out, Disney has been following a fairly similar schedule:
-- Theme Parks open at 9am; Water Parks an hour later.
-- Extra Magic Hour rotation has pretty much stayed the same pattern from month-to-month.

If your objective is to have breakfast inside a Park before it opens - make earliest possible ADR as the computer system offers.

If Disney decides to make changes to Park opening times that disrupt your plan - this is nothing new for any of us who plan well in advance.

Frustrating? Absolutely.

 

[Kaytie]

You're right. That stinks. I didn't realize January wasn't up yet. They should have park schedules up 6 months in advance since that's the ADR window.

Technically, they have until 6 AM EST on July 5 to post January hours. 180 days from today is December 31.

 

[travelbug]

I use Kenny the Pirate's historical calendar to make a plan, but he usually posts current ones 6.5 months ahead and he's usually right about them.

Here's a link to Kenny's: http://www.kennythepirate.com/2014/...endar-with-dining-and-fastpass-booking-dates/

As PP said, it's better than nothing. I used his before ours came out and it was pretty much the same once it did. Disney will probably still mess with it before you go, but that's just how things are these days.

Thank you both so much for mentioning Kenny the Pirate. Somehow his site wasn't familiar to me. It's just what I needed to at least give me some idea.

Thanks to everyone for your replies!

 

[Nancyg56]

I use Kenny the Pirate's historical calendar to make a plan, but he usually posts current ones 6.5 months ahead and he's usually right about them.

We also eat at off times and don't try for pre park breakfasts.

I do as well. I also look at touring plans to see what they predict for hours, and upcoming events. I like the historical data I can find, and use it to make a general plan. I have seldom needed to make changes.

I make a loose park plan based on the info I gained, and then decide what meals I want to book for the trip. WIth the exception of DHS, I will book one PPO breakfast in each park at my 180 day mark just to be sure I have one in place on that park day. I also book dinner for each evening, and make sure I have one meal at a resort that enables my family to enjoy the MK fireworks from outside the park. I also book a resort breakfast or lunch as a farewell meal on our departure day, usually Best Freinds at 'Ohana. If a dining packing is important to me on a trip I book that meal as well.

After that, I relax and begin to tweak my plans. Because I book breakfast in each park I can keep an eye on hours, and make adjustments for my morning plans. I end up dropping all but one PPO breakfast, but since they are easier to drop than secure this method works for me. As soon as I see the park close hours in place, as well as any Parties scheduled, I make any adjustments that I see apply to us. If we travel in December I will make my CP package ADR when they come available and drop my dinner ADR that I had made.

OP- I refuse to get stressed plannign a Disney trip. The preplanning is not difficult for me, but I think that is because if a change takes place later on I just roll with it, and I do nto allow myself to place more significance on meals etc than on our overall experience.

 

[travelbug]

I do as well. I also look at touring plans to see what they predict for hours, and upcoming events. I like the historical data I can find, and use it to make a general plan. I have seldom needed to make changes.

I make a loose park plan based on the info I gained, and then decide what meals I want to book for the trip. WIth the exception of DHS, I will book one PPO breakfast in each park at my 180 day mark just to be sure I have one in place on that park day. I also book dinner for each evening, and make sure I have one meal at a resort that enables my family to enjoy the MK fireworks from outside the park. I also book a resort breakfast or lunch as a farewell meal on our departure day, usually Best Freinds at 'Ohana. If a dining packing is important to me on a trip I book that meal as well.

After that, I relax and begin to tweak my plans. Because I book breakfast in each park I can keep an eye on hours, and make adjustments for my morning plans. I end up dropping all but one PPO breakfast, but since they are easier to drop than secure this method works for me. As soon as I see the park close hours in place, as well as any Parties scheduled, I make any adjustments that I see apply to us. If we travel in December I will make my CP package ADR when they come available and drop my dinner ADR that I had made.

OP- I refuse to get stressed plannign a Disney trip. The preplanning is not difficult for me, but I think that is because if a change takes place later on I just roll with it, and I do nto allow myself to place more significance on meals etc than on our overall experience.

Interesting strategy with how you go about getting one PPO breakfast in the long run. Sounds like it works great for you. We don't do PPO breakfasts, so that's something I don't need to plan for. We usually do breakfast in the room, and maybe one Boma breakfast.

I'm with you, on not stressing while planning for a Disney trip. Like many on these boards, I've been to WDW many, many times. Things always turn out in the long run, and everyone has a great time. When each trip is in the works, I sort of "wake up" at a few key times - making the DVC reservation for the stay, then eventually making a few dining reservations (that's where knowing some basic park times is helpful), and then booking FPs. In between, it's not real high on my radar, other than some very nice anticipation!

If we were going at a slower time in January, I wouldn't even be thinking about ADRs for a while yet. But for that first busy week of January when the parks are still packed, I wanted to try for a few particular ADRs that family members I'm bringing would really enjoy. My question about making ADRs without park hours was just a curiosity about how others go about it, and to see if there was another source for a draft of hours besides the Disney website. I appreciate finding out about Kenny the Pirate, which looks like a very helpful website.

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[Nancyg56]

Interesting strategy with how you go about getting one PPO breakfast in the long run. Sounds like it works great for you. We don't do PPO breakfasts, so that's something I don't need to plan for. We usually do breakfast in the room, and maybe one Boma breakfast.

I'm with you, on not stressing while planning for a Disney trip. Like many on these boards, I've been to WDW many, many times. Things always turn out in the long run, and everyone has a great time. When each trip is in the works, I sort of "wake up" at a few key times - making the DVC reservation for the stay, then eventually making a few dining reservations (that's where knowing some basic park times is helpful), and then booking FPs. In between, it's not real high on my radar, other than some very nice anticipation!

If we were going at a slower time in January, I wouldn't even be thinking about ADRs for a while yet. But for that first busy week of January when the parks are still packed, I wanted to try for a few particular ADRs that family members I'm bringing would really enjoy. My question about making ADRs without park hours was just a curiosity about how others go about it, and to see if there was another source for a draft of hours besides the Disney website. I appreciate finding out about Kenny the Pirate, which looks like a very helpful website.

Thanks again, everyone!

We like one ppo each trip. I seldom chose TH in DAK, but I book it jic.as soon as I know we won't be out til park close the night before I choose either MK or Epcot for breakfast and let the others go. That really is the only thing I wait for hours to post to be sure. If mk opens early we just roll with it, but so far in 10 years the hours have only been extended past closing for us.