My 60 Day Window Starts Tomorrow; A Couple Of Quick Questions...

[AnthonyAllShore]

So, tomorrow starts my 60 days. From what I understand if I want to try and get the most options I should be online by 6am EST to make selections?

1. Do I need to have a park reservation in advance before I pick a restaurant in that park? My focus is Space 220 (epcot) and Sci Fi (Hollywood).
2. Do I need to have my credit card uploaded into the disney app before my selections? I understand somewhere like Olga Cantina needs a credit card on file? So I need it on other ones.
3. Just so my expectations are in check... Assume I have an 8 Day Vacation 60 days from now, so to me that means we get 7 days of disney and we leave kinda early on the 8th day. Do I have a legit chance of getting either Sci Fi or Space 220 during my trip? I understand I should attempt to get them on the last days.


Thanks for all advice!

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

1) Yes. Unless you are planning to park hop for dinner. Keep in mind you still need to go to that first park if park hopping before getting to the park you have a reservation in.

2)Yes from what I remember in September. It wasn’t always like that, but Covid changed some things. Plus it helps to have it in there when you go to mobile order at quick service.

3)My biggest piece of advice is keep trying. I’ve never heard that last day advice. If you can eat at off times (ie a later lunch or dinner), you will have some better luck. You can also book and try to modify the time of the reservation later, but if it’s a popular restaurant like Space 220 that might not be possible.

 

[3gr8boys]

I will offer a slightly different take...

1 you do not have to have a park reservation (or hopping capability) to make the reservations.... just to actually get to the restaurants. However, if your trip is that close, you should already have park reservations in place.
2 the reservation system will ask you to confirm your card on file or enter a credit card (for the no-show fee). You will get through the process faster if your credit card info is already in your MDE.
3 I was able to get Space 220 lunch 60+4 and Sci-Fi lunch 60+6 (Early April party of 6). Looking for off times good advice and, yes, availability should be better later in your trip.

Some disers have reported occasional opening of reservations at 5:45 instead of 6:00 (a.m.eastern). I would start refreshing at 5:45 and then right at 6:00 if they haven't already dropped. I am going to look for a thread that I found helpful and post below just in case it is useful for you...

 

[3gr8boys]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/what-i-learned-with-my-adrs-this-morning.3868792/

 

[Mambo Junkie]

https://www.disboards.com/threads/what-i-learned-with-my-adrs-this-morning.3868792/
Look for the thread "What I learned with my ADRs this Morning.

 

[LaynahD]

1. Agree with the above. You do not need to have your park reservation in place in order to make your dining reservation, only to enter and actually use the dining reservation. I waited to make my park reservations based on which day I could get the dining I wanted, knowing some might be more challenging.
2. Yes, put your credit card in. I also had it sitting right next to me when I booked just in case it didn’t save properly. I didn’t want to waste time going to find it early in the morning.
3.I actually do think you have a good chance. My dining window opened last weekend and I got everything we were looking for and more. I even added Sci-Fi in after the fact - way past 6:00 after I had made my other reservations. I have no idea why there was so much availability during what I thought would be a busy time but I was pleasantly surprised. Got Space220 60+6 and Sci-fi +7 so it was far out within the trip, but I had more than one option for time too. Side note - I did try for the lounge (Space220) but there were 5 of us so no luck there, just with regular lunch option.
Good luck!!

 

[Carvanafan]

So, tomorrow starts my 60 days. From what I understand if I want to try and get the most options I should be online by 6am EST to make selections?

1. Do I need to have a park reservation in advance before I pick a restaurant in that park? My focus is Space 220 (epcot) and Sci Fi (Hollywood).
2. Do I need to have my credit card uploaded into the disney app before my selections? I understand somewhere like Olga Cantina needs a credit card on file? So I need it on other ones.
3. Just so my expectations are in check... Assume I have an 8 Day Vacation 60 days from now, so to me that means we get 7 days of disney and we leave kinda early on the 8th day. Do I have a legit chance of getting either Sci Fi or Space 220 during my trip? I understand I should attempt to get them on the last days.


Thanks for all advice!

You should start trying at 5:30. I booked a dessert party at 5:30 yesterday.

 

[AnthonyAllShore]

It all kinda worked out for me. I was on by 5:30, but it did not seem to actually open up until 6am EST on the nose. I went with Space 220 first, then Sci Fi, then steak house 71, Chef Mickey, 50s...

It all worked out, but it seemed like +5 days was the magic number for the harder to get reservations.

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[Jacq7414]

You should start trying at 5:30. I booked a dessert party at 5:30 yesterday.

I think dessert parties are the “enchanting extras” so they can be booked earlier. Doesn’t hurt to try though but I wasn’t able to get any of my dining reservations earlier than 6 am.

 

[hadley1610]

I tried booking enchanting extras at 1am and it wasn’t available. At 5:30am I booked a dessert party and the “up close with rhinos.” My dining window didn’t open until 6am sharp. Space 220 was only open for me on 60+8 but I did get BOG and CRT without a problem. Also, when I booked my dessert party it confirmed my credit card so when I booked dinning it was already in the system. Good luck!