My experience calling today for reservations

[danielle782001]

Thank you! I was having a brain freeze or something and just couldn't remember. Guess I'm really a blonde afterall!

I do know I can't add it once we arrive and we'll most likely will be on the DDP - just gotta get DH to say yes.

Thanks again!!

Some advice I can give you is...Go through the menus of the places you plan to eat, then guess what you would likely eat at each place...Add up your amounts from each day...Have a total for the week from the places you plan to dine....Remember to include an average for what you would spend at each counter service as well...Also add $4 each day for each of you (for the average snack)...Make sure you do the average for the week, not each day...You will find that you may spend less than the plan on a specific day, then spend twice as much the next...Once you have your average for the week, check it against the total for the plan during your entire stay...I bet you find the plan is less than what you plan to spend on food...

We have done this twice before and once after going to Disney on the plan...We saved $160-340 depending on the length of our trip and where your dined during our stay....

Show him the numbers and I am sure he will go for it...Good luck!

 

[TomLovesBecky]

Oh boy...now I have to start planning counter service!!!!! Ugh, I can't just risk winging it either because we have picky eaters, not super picky but I don't want to get caught somewhere no one really wants to eat anything. They will eat it and not complain if I say that's the only choice but if there is another option I would feel better picking something best for our family so we can all be happy in the happiest place on earth!!! So...gotta hit some more threads!!!

 

[Mischa]

Some advice I can give you is...Go through the menus of the places you plan to eat, then guess what you would likely eat at each place...Add up your amounts from each day...Have a total for the week from the places you plan to dine....Remember to include an average for what you would spend at each counter service as well...Also add $4 each day for each of you (for the average snack)...Make sure you do the average for the week, not each day...You will find that you may spend less than the plan on a specific day, then spend twice as much the next...Once you have your average for the week, check it against the total for the plan during your entire stay...I bet you find the plan is less than what you plan to spend on food...

We have done this twice before and once after going to Disney on the plan...We saved $160-340 depending on the length of our trip and where your dined during our stay....

Show him the numbers and I am sure he will go for it...Good luck!

That's exactly what I was planning to do! Great minds think alike!

Although DH should know. We've already been once without the plan and twice on the plan. And it's definitely cheaper on the plan! Thanks!!

 

[Shell54]

I wish I found this forum before I booked my trip( We're going in Sept.). We'll be eating dinner at 9:30 most nights of our vacation, but hey, I was just glad to get a reservation. Planning really is key and I didn't take that seriously enough, so we were shut out of our first choices.

 

[TomLovesBecky]

I wish I found this forum before I booked my trip( We're going in Sept.). We'll be eating dinner at 9:30 most nights of our vacation, but hey, I was just glad to get a reservation. Planning really is key and I didn't take that seriously enough, so we were shut out of our first choices.

I know, I keep thinking I found it in the nick of time, joined May (don't remember exact date??) and my reservations were open on June 15 (well 14 for me, thanks CM! lol), so I would have been in the same boat!

One tip I have been reading over and over is even if you got bad times or didn't get the restaurant you want keep calling back because lots of people cancel, maybe you shouldn't give up just yet, try calling back a couple times a week and see if something opens up??

 

[NatalieMT]

I just got off the phone with Disney Dining and the lady on the other end of the phone was superb - really really pleasant and helpful. Went through all my requests quickly, although there were no openings for Chef Mickeys or Boma she recommended other restaurants that had availability and told me her experience of going to them - which was nice and helped fit me in as best as possible. I didn't catch her name but I was very very happy with the excellent and efficient service I received.

So many people moan about their phone calls but I've honestly never had a problem with a difficult CM or Disney in general really.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Even this last weekend we witnessed at various places in WDW restaurant walk ups were either waiting an hour+ or being turned away. And that was mid - late afternoon. Not even a peak time to dine usually, nor during free dine.

 

[buckeyebill1995]

My sister makes fun of me for planning so obsessively -- looking up EMHs, planning restaurants, getting up early at 180 to get on the phone at 7am. But really, it's the only way to do it. Sure, you can get lucky (I changed some things last minute for upcoming trip with no problem) but you can also end up real disappointed.

We spend a lot of money at Disney, we don't want to have to settle for something less than magical based on poor planning.

 

[Shell54]

I know, I keep thinking I found it in the nick of time, joined May (don't remember exact date??) and my reservations were open on June 15 (well 14 for me, thanks CM! lol), so I would have been in the same boat!

One tip I have been reading over and over is even if you got bad times or didn't get the restaurant you want keep calling back because lots of people cancel, maybe you shouldn't give up just yet, try calling back a couple times a week and see if something opens up??

Good idea, thanks..I'd really like an earlier time for one or two of our dinner ressies!!

 

[eyor44]

If you have an excellant CM help you make ADRs try writing a letter. I did and someone from Disney actually called to thank me for writing and that the letter would be going to the CM and her supervisor. I truly appreciated her help and suggestions. and good humor at my paniced state when I called at exactly 7:00am their time (6:00 mine). But hey, I got CRT and Le Cellier. and I did apologize profusely.

 

[TomLovesBecky]

Is there a way for them to look up who helped you? I can't for the life of me remember her name but I keep thinking I wish I could give her a good report to her supervisor!!!!!