Member Services and CG ADRs

[sueg]

We are going to F&W in late October and really want to get an ADR at CG, which is re-opening in September. Reservations are "opening" on Monday, August 26th and there is a fair amount of debate on the restaurant Bd. - Reservations sub board about the rush to reserve and the best way to get your desired dates. I always reserve dining through member services. But there is a concern that waiting until 9 AM may close me out. The debate about online dining reservations is does availability start at 12:01 on 8/26? 6 AM on 8/26? Or should I try for 7AM with disney dining by phone?
I thought about calling member services today, but never found this to be the type of question that they are good at answering. Any help is appreciated.

 

[CarolMN]

The window for online dining reservations opens at 6 am Eastern. The dining CMs begin taking calls at 7 am Eastern. Member Services opens at 9 am Eastern.

If you want an ADR for "fireworks viewing", my advice is to try to get online at 6 am Eastern. (I really don't care about viewing Wishes from the table as we have done it and as DVC members, we have the option of going to the TOTWL & deck anyway.

IMO, if you want an ADR for around 5:30 pm - 6 pm (or even later if WISHES is very late or not shown on your night), you can wait and call Member Services or even until the next day, especially if you can be a bit flexible about date and time. FWIW, I think MS may just transfer you over to the Dining CMs rather than make the ADR themselves. Other than the initial rush, I really do not think this is going to be anything close to what it's like for CRT or BOG or even the Food & Wine events.

I'm personally hoping for an ADR around 5:30 pm on 11/30 - the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Just to get it over with, I plan to try at 6 am Eastern (which means I have to be at the computer by 5 am Central). If I don't immediately get it due to a large demand on the server and/or the software crashes, I will just try later in the day or the next day. It's also possible that the slots won't really be loaded in time for the 6 am window.

Good luck!

 

[MouseMomx2]

I am confused. Is there some reason you feel like you need to do your dining reservations through MS? We have been members since 1997 and have never made our dining reservaions through MS. Personally, I would be booking through whichever option opened earliest, so online.

Good luck!

 

[sueg]

I am unfamiliar with the options, other than MS. We are long time DVC and that is what I use. Only recently, I first used online to try, almost every day, for a ADR for BOG in January. I have had no success, but I can't bring myself to call everyday.
I will probably try online for CG. I'm up at 6AM anyway. But I don't think I'll try at midnight and if call else fails, I'll call.
I'm hoping all goes smoothly. Thanks for the help.