No Availability??

[AmyRF25]

Hi Everyone, Thanks for the tips. I was just really surprised last night when we tried to get reservations and got NOTHING. After thinking about it we figured that our large group (8 people) sure didn't help our situation. We called back this moring and were able to book us as groups of 4's. (I would have thought the CM would have suggested breaking up the group)

So we've got some set (Donald Safari breakfast, Prim Time, Tony's Town Square).

Can anyone recommended a place to try in MGM? Right now we have lunch at the Prime Time, but my group loves to eat so we'll need a dinner place. It can be any type of place, I just wanted at least one table service per park.

And we need a dinner place for Epcot. We had tried Coral Reef but that wasn't availabe. What is is good that isn't SO popular?

Thanks for the help, I don't feel as stressed as last night.

 

[squirrel]

MGM/DHS-50's Prime Time, or see if you can get Mama Melrose Fantasmic Pkg.

EPCOT-Garden Grill with Chip n Dale (not the best food) but does have a revolving restaurant. I'm sure there are lots of other good dining places but that is the only one I have been to at EPCOT.

 

[daisy112878]

Can anyone recommended a place to try in MGM? Right now we have lunch at the Prime Time, but my group loves to eat so we'll need a dinner place. It can be any type of place, I just wanted at least one table service per park.

And we need a dinner place for Epcot. We had tried Coral Reef but that wasn't availabe. What is is good that isn't SO popular?

Thanks for the help, I don't feel as stressed as last night.

For MGM - we love Brown Derby. The cobb salad is to die for and their newer fish dish is really good. My dh loves their steak and their pork chop dish.

For Epcot - you have a ton of choices in the World Showcase area. We like Chefs de France, Restaurant Marrakesh, Tutto Italia, Rose and Crown, and Nine Dragons (when it's open).

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

At MGM, we love Hollywood and Vine, so many choices on the buffet.

Can't help with Epcot, we are going out the Internationl Gateway to Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club for the Clambake.

Pop Warner is going to have some efect on the evening didning as well, since the kids will be in the parks in the evenings.


Suzanne

 

[TPCShauna]

Hi Everyone, Thanks for the tips. I was just really surprised last night when we tried to get reservations and got NOTHING. After thinking about it we figured that our large group (8 people) sure didn't help our situation. We called back this moring and were able to book us as groups of 4's. (I would have thought the CM would have suggested breaking up the group)

So we've got some set (Donald Safari breakfast, Prim Time, Tony's Town Square).

Can anyone recommended a place to try in MGM? Right now we have lunch at the Prime Time, but my group loves to eat so we'll need a dinner place. It can be any type of place, I just wanted at least one table service per park.

And we need a dinner place for Epcot. We had tried Coral Reef but that wasn't availabe. What is is good that isn't SO popular?

Thanks for the help, I don't feel as stressed as last night.

If you want another table service at MGM, you might try the Brown Derby. It's a two credit meal on the dining plan. Mama Melrose's is a 1-credit but has less than consistant reviews. If a counter service is acceptable, you might try the Backlot Express. They have a nice variety of sandwiches, salads and wraps and the food seems to be consistently good. It would give everyone an opportunity to get something they really like.

There are TONS of choices for dinner at Epcot. Garden Grill has an all-you-care-to-eat character meal but they might not have any availability at this point.

You can almost always walk into Restaurant Marrakesh (in Morocco) without an ADR and be seated (even with a large party.) The food is good and not so unusual as to be scary. They also have live entertainment in the form of a belly dancer most evenings.

Biergarten is large and not so crowded that you couldn't get a large party in. Food is buffet style and there is live, boisterious entertainment there as well.

San Angel Inn in Mexico is also a bit easier to get into but reviews tend to be inconsistent in regards to quality.

Honestly, the resort area in between Epcot and MGM has tons of restaurants that would be easy to get to and much less crowded. There is Spoodles at the Boardwalk with some tasty and varied Mediterranean dishes including flatbread pizzas. Across the way at the Yacht/Beach Club, you could do the Cape May Cafe Clambake Buffet. Or, if you aren't on the dining plan or don't mind paying out of pocket, the Fountain at the Swan has a pretty varied menu. Another option already mentioned was the Captain's Galley at the Yacht Club where they serve pretty standard American fare.

The important thing to remember when making your ADRs is that it is easier to eat early or late. Early as in before 12:00pm for lunch or 6:30pm for dinner and late as in after 1:30pm for lunch and 8:00pm for dinner. You also learned about splitting the party as that makes a big difference as well.

Good luck in finding something you will love!

 

[Calrissian13]

You can also try to get reservations once you are at the park. We had tried to get Cinderella's Royal Table before we left but had no luck, but once we arrived my husband tried just for the heck of it and we got in.

Worth a try at the very least.

 

[Del]

We love Mama Melrose at MGM. Don't rule it out. We go every time we are at WDW. It's quiet, tucked away in the back of the park. I've read more inconsistent reviews of Hollywood and Vine.

Del

 

[RMulieri]

I have a feeling when you get there, you'll be able to find places. When I went last, we didn't have a single reservation and ate a table service meal everyday with no problems. I think they always have some room open for walk ups. Just go for early dinners or late lunches.

You may be able to find something as a walk up but don't count on it.They DO NOT hold any tables for walk ups so unless they are not completely booked ,or there are cancellations they will not take you as a walk up.Disney dining books out every single table ,if the restaurant isn't as popular you can usually (not during free dining)easily get a walk up, but some places like LE Cellier is extremely difficult ....not saying it doesn't happen, but it is not a slam dunk.Be prepared.

 

[mrsturtle]

how is it that a restaurant can be totally booked at the 180 day period 1st day? are people getting privleges ahead of that time.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

how is it that a restaurant can be totally booked at the 180 day period 1st day? are people getting privleges ahead of that time.

Well, if you are a resort guest, for instance, you can book 180 days + 10. That means, some people are booking ADRs 190 days in advance.

 

[mrsturtle]

thanks! that makes sense. guess you have to be diligent about booking at that +10 day mark to get a popular restaurant. and if you want LC better be the first one on the phone, huh???

 

[pilferk]

how is it that a restaurant can be totally booked at the 180 day period 1st day? are people getting privleges ahead of that time.

Actually, yes, sorta.

Remember that the booking window is actually, for guests staying on property, 180 days from date of arrival + 10 additional days.

That's done so guests can make their reservations for their entire stay (or most of it if you're going for a marathon trip) in ONE phone call. But it does mean that there is a sort of preferential "head start" built into the system for those arriving before you, but who's trip overlaps with yours in some way.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

thanks! that makes sense. guess you have to be diligent about booking at that +10 day mark to get a popular restaurant. and if you want LC better be the first one on the phone, huh???

I'm not really sure. I think it depends on when you choose to go. I have never had a problem getting any ADR at the times that I have wanted them. I guess I'm just lucky?

 

[livie1205]

I have never not got a ADR that I wanted...we are going in dec and we are doing 1900 park fare (pm) ohana (pm) kona (pm) 1900 park fare (am) and olivias (pm) ...we had whispering canyon at first but then changed it to kona about a month later....we got all the times we wanted also....all between 6:30 and 7:30

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

That's why I'm always a little surprised when people are constantly reporting that they can't get ADRs on here. Last trip we got the times and dates we wanted for California Grill, Victoria and Albert's Chefs Table, Kona Cafe, and a bunch of others on the first try. And that was during free dining. This year the same thing happened with 1900 Park Fare (am), Garden Grill, and others. We are going in January so maybe there are less diners?

 

[pilferk]

That's why I'm always a little surprised when people are constantly reporting that they can't get ADRs on here. Last trip we got the times and dates we wanted for California Grill, Victoria and Albert's Chefs Table, Kona Cafe, and a bunch of others on the first try. And that was during free dining. This year the same thing happened with 1900 Park Fare (am), Garden Grill, and others. We are going in January so maybe there are less diners?

I really do think the season you travel has a big effect.

We typically travel either mid-January - Mid February or late September through mid October.

We've only, VERY sporadically, NOT gotten EXACTLY what we wanted for ADR's. Popular places, here and there (like Chef Mickey's for dinner one night) we've had to adjust nights or times.

This year is the FIRST time we've wanted to eat somewhere (couple places, this time...both pretty popular), and not been able to find ANY availability. But we're traveling during early December. There are less seatings at MK (MVMCP parties going on) and Epcot (reserved for CP packages) right out of the chute. I think that, combined with the "popularity" of that time frame that has cropped up over the past couple years, is what people are running in to.

 

[honeymo78]

I just booked my ADRs for 12/12/-12/15 and got everything I wanted - only 1 time was slightly off (less than 1/2 hour)
CP for lunch and 2 breakfasts at 8:05
Biergarten for dinner at 7:30
Tusker House breakfast at 8:10
Liberty Tree Tavern at 6 on a MVMCP night
Captains Grille for dinner
Cap'n Jacks for lunch

I know these all aren't the most popular but I was surprised to get Biergarten, CP and LTT for either exactly when I wanted or very close to it.

 

[Tricia1972]

Actually, yes, sorta.

Remember that the booking window is actually, for guests staying on property, 180 days from date of arrival + 10 additional days.

That's done so guests can make their reservations for their entire stay (or most of it if you're going for a marathon trip) in ONE phone call. But it does mean that there is a sort of preferential "head start" built into the system for those arriving before you, but who's trip overlaps with yours in some way.

One thing to keep in mind is that Disney reportedly saves some tables to release until the actual 180th day out.

For example, you're staying on site, you call on your 180 day mark and you're eating at LeCellier the third day of your vacation. LeCellier may be all booked up at 7am on that day, but three days later (177 days from your first day of vacation) some availability for LeCellier will open up.

 

[pilferk]

One thing to keep in mind is that Disney reportedly saves some tables to release until the actual 180th day out.

For example, you're staying on site, you call on your 180 day mark and you're eating at LeCellier the third day of your vacation. LeCellier may be all booked up at 7am on that day, but three days later (177 days from your first day of vacation) some availability for LeCellier will open up.

I've heard that, too.

We didn't find it to be true of either place, at least as far as success went.

We called at opening 180 days from our check in.

No availability.

We called at 180 days out from our actual dining date, at opening.

No availability.

Like I said: I've heard that report, too....and I've always assumed it was true, too. But in thinking back, I've never seen it actually confirmed anywhere....has it been? Or is it sort of urban legend/rumor that we've all sort of come to believe?

That's why I didn't mention it in my first post.....

 

[nhl66pens]

I think you just have to make sure you call in at 180 days. I am going 12/6 - 12/13 and I called on June 9th and got dinner reservations at Teppan Edo (6:45PM), Le Cellier (4:25PM), Chef de France (5:00 PM & 6:00 PM 2 nites), Coral Reef (5:00 PM), and Spoodles (5:00 PM). We're going to MVMCP one night so I also booked at TTS at 4:25 PM. And on that one, when I ordered the Christmas ticket, they said they could only seat us at 6:25PM which I wanted to avoid so we could be there at the start of the party but at the 180 day mark I switched it to 4:25PM.