My experience planning and making Dining Reservations 180 days before arrival date.

[RaySharpton]

My newbie experience planning and making Dining Reservations 180 days before WDW resort arrival date.

I am arriving on a Monday, November 28, 2011 which is after the Thanksgiving weekend.

Last December, I waited to late to make plans for restaurant reservations on certain days and missed out on sold out restaurants for particular days.

Sometimes, in past years, I could check back and try to see if anyone had cancelled and see if I could make a reservation.

Last year that didn't happen in my case.

Even at WDW on a particular day at a popular restaurant, I was told that there were no openings and no cancellations and no wait list like for Epcot's Le Cellier. But, I could usually walk in for a lunch at Epcot's Marrakesh Restaurant without to much of a problem.

This was particularly true at Epcot's Le Cellier restaurant for dinner and lunch when I was never able to walk up and find availability. Of course, that was just my experience on the days that I was at Epcot. Others may have been luckier than me.

Some folks say maybe free dining has more people making more reservations in advance or that it was busier last year. Or the Epcot Candlelight Processional packages were taking up a lot of dining reservations. I don't really know.

So...this year, I planned in advance and tried to figure out what parks that I wanted to go to each day or what days that I just wanted to rest and maybe plan to visit a resort restaurant.

Once I had all of my tentative dates and restaurants and times lined up with as much flexability that I could arrange, I went to a website like http://pscalculator.net/pscalc.php and plugged in my resort reservation arrival date.

I was arriving at Pop Century Resort on Monday, November 28, 2011, so it calculated that I needed to go on line or call WDW dining reservations today on June 1st, 2011 which was 180 days out.

In years past, I would just call WDW dining reservation telephone number and make requests for each day, park or resort, restaurant and time for the castmember to see availability.

This morning I tried using wht WDW online dining reservation website at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/ .

I tried last night to just check the website to see if I could make earlier reservations, and when I plugged in the restaurant and date and time, I would get a message saying something like I needed to sign in and enter my resort reservation number and arrival date.

So I did.

Another message said something to the effect, no, I could not make dining reservations now.

A couple of weeks ago I went on line and noticed that their calandar also showed about 10 days available after a date of a 180 day arrival.

Each day, I saw the online calendar advance one more day.

Before I figured this out, I tried making a reservation being able to put in a date, and not realizing that the online website wouldn't let me use my date because when it asked me for my resort reservation and arrival date it always refused my reservation.

I guess I am a bit slow. I finally realized today that those open 10 days on the calandar were for my reservation today. It allowed me to make 10 days of reservations after my arrival date.

I also decided not to call.

Instead, I went online again this morning still playing around with the dates and noticed that about 630am est, I was able to get in the system and start making dining reservations.

So this year I didn't call and I was able to make at least 10 days or Dining Reservations.

At first I was a little disappointed.

I know that I arrive the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend, but I like to go to MK on Monday because the MK park is open three hours longer if you stay in a WDW resort.

I wanted to plan to dine at the MK Plaza Restaurant for a short rest at 9pm after the tenatively scheduled 7pm parade and 8pm Wishes fireworks since I would be near the Plaza restaurant anyway.

No such luck.

The earliest time available was at about 650pm and nothing after that time.

But it was the Monday after Thanksgiving and I thought that the weekend guests had made reservations and had the same idea as me.

Just out of curiosity I checked Epcot's Le Cellier Restaurant and it was sold out for Monday all day for both Dinner and Lunch.

No problem. I'll just have a nice Pop Century fried chicken dinner after I checkin before heading over to MK.

Then on to the next day, Tuesday, November 29th, 2011.

I wanted to spend the day at Epcot and see the 8pm Candlelight Processional by not using a CL package, but using the standby line.

I also tried to get a time for dinner at Le Cellier, but everything was sold out for dinner.

The latest time that I could find at Le Cellier that day was for a 125pm lunch and I felt lucky to get that.

After Tuesday, I was much luckier getting Dining Reservations each day that I needed.

On the following Tuesday, December 6th, 2011, I was actually able to get a 555pm Epcot Le Cellier Dining Reservation.

My ten days stopped at that Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 and I reached my 10 day limit.

I didn't make park reservations every day since some days were rest days for me, and that I was going to eat meals at Pop Century Resort, too.

I learned something else, too.

I am transferring from the Pop Century Resort on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011, but it still let me make reservations while I was at BWV for the 9th and 10th day thing.

I guess now, I will have to wait until December 6th arrival date to make more Dining reservations for the rest of my vacation.

I'm still going to try and use my Pop Century reservation in the moring to see if I can add one day at a time for new dining reservations.

It probably won't work.

I also received an email confirmation for each dining reservation that I made with the reservation number, date, time and restaurant listed. This will be handy.

And I noticed on the web page when I was making reservations that each dining reservation was linked to my resort reservation so that I can ask for a one page print out when I arrive at Pop Century and BWV.

I don't know if I will remember to plan all this next year at this time, but at least I did it this time for once.

Very painless to do online.

Maybe a newbie may find this useful.

Sincerely, Ray

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Heah Ray, DH and I are arriving the same day as you. I am going to be making our adrs sometime today.

The only thing I will have to change is one dinner when we get a candelight package.

Hope this year we can meet up. I guess the cold scared everyone away from the meet up that was suppose to be at MK last year. Dh and I stayed and waitied for a while for everyone.

Hopefully this year wont be as cold as last year.

 

[RaySharpton]

Heah Ray, DH and I are arriving the same day as you. I am going to be making our adrs sometime today.

The only thing I will have to change is one dinner when we get a candelight package.

Hope this year we can meet up. I guess the cold scared everyone away from the meet up that was suppose to be at MK last year. Dh and I stayed and waitied for a while for everyone.

Hopefully this year wont be as cold as last year.

Hi, luvmarypoppins. It was unusually cold last year.

I think that was the day that I couldn't make it out my resort room that day or I would have been there.

It always seems like my mind is willing to make plans everyday, but my body seems to not keep up.

I need to change a ADR one day for CP package, but I haven't decided yet which Epcot day. I was going to think about it when the CP package comes out and hopefully make a decision.

I know last year, I bought a CP package for my 2nd day, on a Tuesday, and the stadium did not fill up at all and the 8pm line didn't even make it back to the China pavillion.

But, the next week was a different story.

One night I saw a 8pm CP line go back to Morroco in front of the bank. That place was packed.

Maybe it was a special night or something.

Good luck with your ADR's and I hope that you get all of the ones that you want.

I hope to see you there.

Ray

 

[RaySharpton]

Today, I tried making another day of ADR's, but was unsuccssful.

As a newbie to actually plan this far in advance, referring to making 180 day ADR's, I guess it is true that you can only make a maximum of 10 days of ADR's from the start of arrival.

I was transferring from Pop Century Resort to BWV after 8 nights.

At least I was able to make the 9th and 10th days ADR's after I transferred to BWV.

I guess that I will have to wait until my arrival date at BWV to make the rest of my ADR's.

I just wrote this thread to help any newbies at doing what I did.

Ray

 

[bbluvsdis]

It looks like we will also be there some of the same days. We arrive on Wednesday the 30th and leave on Dec. 7th. I will be making my ADRs in the morning. We decided to forgo Le Cellier for Jiko this trip. We have never been there and I hear they have a great Filet Mignon. My main issue in making my plan has been that Fantasmic is at 6:30 and we are not really ones to eat a late dinner but before the show would almost be too early. I hope I will be able to get what we want. I try to be more flexible these days since we usually go twice a year now. I hope the weather is better this year!

 

[RaySharpton]

It looks like we will also be there some of the same days. We arrive on Wednesday the 30th and leave on Dec. 7th. I will be making my ADRs in the morning. We decided to forgo Le Cellier for Jiko this trip. We have never been there and I hear they have a great Filet Mignon. My main issue in making my plan has been that Fantasmic is at 6:30 and we are not really ones to eat a late dinner but before the show would almost be too early. I hope I will be able to get what we want. I try to be more flexible these days since we usually go twice a year now. I hope the weather is better this year!

Hi, bbluvsdis. I have haven't tried Jiko's in awhile, but I bet it will be great.

Have you tried the tour below? Even though they went through Boma they ended at Jiko with the Chef and some dip tastings.

I hope that you get all of your ADR's.

I got all of my ADR's starting November 30th. I guess the Thanksgiving guests had all left by then.
　
4:00pm – Culinary Tour – [FONT=Univers 47 CondensedLight,Univers 47 CondensedLight][FONT=Univers 47 CondensedLight,Univers 47 CondensedLight]Boma, Flavors of Africa
[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Univers 57 Condensed,Univers 57 Condensed][FONT=Univers 57 Condensed,Univers 57 Condensed]Meet a Cultural Representative at the Boma podium and discover how our award-winning restaurants, Boma and Jiko, bring the flavors of Africa to life!


[/FONT][/FONT]

 

[RaySharpton]

Today, June 9th, 2011, I made my second batch of ADR's at 180 days for when I transfer from Pop Century resort to BWV on December 6th, 2011.

The ADR online came up a 6am est for me. I was able to make most of my ADRs.

On Saturday, December 10th, 2011 and Sunday, December 11, 2011 their were no lunch or dinner times available for Le Cellier and many others only had a early lunch or no time after 5pm.

And this was at 180 days out. I guess earlier arrival guests were able to take those ADRs and maybe the CP is holding many ADRs.

On Saturday, December 10th, 2011, I couldn't find a lunch at AK Tusker House until after 2pm. I wanted an 11am so that I could do something else, but that is O.K..

Overall, it was nice to plan ahead and make all of my ADRs online.

Now I know why I couldn't get into Le Cellier last year even after I called back and had shown up in person.

I made ADRs at the Shula Steakhouse where I really like the Cowboy Ribeye steak.

Ray

 

[tzeitel]

Thanks for the great info Ray! Last time we were at WDW it was 2008 and I did not make ADRs until 4 months before the trip. Nowadays it would be hard to get many of the great restaurants we got to try back then. Since I am a newbie at making online ADRs I really appreciate the step by step intro to the wonderful world of booking meals 6 months in advance

I had been thinking what you confirmed in your posts - the later in your stay the easier to book. So I am going to try for Le Cellier, Fantasmic package, Hoop Dee Doo and any other hard to get ADR later in our stay

 

[RaySharpton]

Thanks for the great info Ray! Last time we were at WDW it was 2008 and I did not make ADRs until 4 months before the trip. Nowadays it would be hard to get many of the great restaurants we got to try back then. Since I am a newbie at making online ADRs I really appreciate the step by step intro to the wonderful world of booking meals 6 months in advance

I had been thinking what you confirmed in your posts - the later in your stay the easier to book. So I am going to try for Le Cellier, Fantasmic package, Hoop Dee Doo and any other hard to get ADR later in our stay

Hi, tzeitel. Thanks. I was surprised that I was able to get so organized and actually plan everything 180 days in advance.

I wasn't sure if many people would be interested in what I had learned. I guess most people already know how to do this stuff, but it was my first 180 day experience.

I also think going the first Monday after Thanksgiving might have made a difference. And the longer your vacation, with the 10 ADR window after arrival date may give you an advantage over other guests that may not stay as long.

Thank you again for your response.

Ray

 

[kendzee94]

So let me understand this, I can't call at 12:01 am, but have to wait until 6:30 am EST to make the reservation? I am doing this for our upcoming Christmas trip, and want to make sure I get what we want! Thanks!

 

[RaySharpton]

Hello, kendzee.

So let me understand this, I can't call at 12:01 am,...

I don't really understand why you would call at 12:01 A.M.? I didn't have to call for my ADR's. I just used my computer and made all of my ADR's online instead of calling at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ from my online personal experience.

I don't know the official information, but from the information that I have learned from everyone here on the DIS if you want to call to make your ADR's as follows.

Dining reservations can be made by calling from 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. E.S.T., seven days a week, except for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, when they close at 8:00 P.M.

You could either call Central Reservations Office (CRO) at 407-WDISNEY (407-934-7639) or you can call WDW Dining directly at 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).

...but have to wait until 6:30 am EST to make the reservation? I am doing this for our upcoming Christmas trip, and want to make sure I get what we want! Thanks!

If you are referring to my comments on my experiences, I just happened to get online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining around 6:30 A.M. on my 180th day and I was surprised that I could make an ADR online before 7:00 A.M. E.S.T..

On my second 180 day resort reservation, I could acturally get online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ at 6:00 A.M. and start making ADRs.

Good luck with your ADR's. It must be exciting going on Christmas Day.

Ray

 

[kendzee94]

Hello, kendzee.



I don't really understand why you would call at 12:01 A.M.? I didn't have to call for my ADR's. I just used my computer and made all of my ADR's online instead of calling at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ from my online personal experience.

I don't know the official information, but from the information that I have learned from everyone here on the DIS if you want to call to make your ADR's as follows.

Dining reservations can be made by calling from 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. E.S.T., seven days a week, except for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, when they close at 8:00 P.M.

You could either call Central Reservations Office (CRO) at 407-WDISNEY (407-934-7639) or you can call WDW Dining directly at 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).



If you are referring to my comments on my experiences, I just happened to get online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining around 6:30 A.M. on my 180th day and I was surprised that I could make an ADR online before 7:00 A.M. E.S.T..

On my second 180 day resort reservation, I could acturally get online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ at 6:00 A.M. and start making ADRs.

Good luck with your ADR's. It must be exciting going on Christmas Day.

Ray

Thanks for your response, Ray! So as I was reading your response, I thought, really I typed "called" not "go online". I was thinking in my head to go online at 12:01 am (because I know the phones close at 10 and open at 7, right!?) duh, I guess I should've read what I typed, not what I thought I typed

Anywho, what I'm really wondering is when (what time?) can I get online to get my 180 day (+10 days after check in) ADR's? Thanks!