No reservations available

[WDWNY]

We're heading to WDW for thanksgiving week- made our reservations for 4 at 180 days for the entire trip. Well, this weekend our family friend decided to join us with her family (another party of 4). Our hollywood studio day has absolutely no reservations available for 4 or 8 for dinner. Any suggestions of what to do? This is their first trip so I don't think they want to be leaving the park traveling to a restaurant and wasting time.

 

[gmboy95]

unfortunately other then checking in daily, no....it is the new reality at Disney....buy the meal plan, but make sure you do so at least 181 days before you go

 

[wilkeliza]

DHS is hard because there is so little there. I would keep checking but with only 4 table service it is hard to get a reservation there. (I might be miss counting but I counted Brown Derby, Hollywood and Vine, 50s Prime Time, and ScFi Dine In)

 

[Lisa F]

I don't think this is the "new reality". If you just want ANY TS restaurant on a non-major holiday weekend then you can get something somewhere. The popular stuff books up but there is a ton of stuff available at the less popular eateries. But on thanksgiving weekend, all bets are off.

That said I would just keep trying but there is always QS. Are you trying to get it at the same time as yours or just any sit down anywhere? I think a lot of people are still holding multiple reservations waiting for park hours to open up and SW Fireworks times to be announced. I would just keep checking, check on the November cancellations board and set up a touring plans adr finder alert for a couple of their top choices.

http://disboards.com/threads/november-cancelled-adr-thread-read-1st-post.3510083/

 

[Lisa F]

DHS is hard because there is so little there. I would keep checking but with only 4 table service it is hard to get a reservation there. (I might be miss counting but I counted Brown Derby, Hollywood and Vine, 50s Prime Time, and ScFi Dine In)

mama melrose too. the F! package is also very very popular, as is the Holiday Dine at H&V. With so few restaurants there is nowhere that doesn't have a major following either for food or characters or food + F! package.

 

[wilkeliza]

mama melrose too. the F! package is also very very popular, as is the Holiday Dine at H&V. With so few restaurants there is nowhere that doesn't have a major following either for food or characters or food + F! package.

Oh I always forget about Mama Melrose.

 

[mickeynut1]

We're heading to WDW for thanksgiving week- made our reservations for 4 at 180 days for the entire trip. Well, this weekend our family friend decided to join us with her family (another party of 4). Our hollywood studio day has absolutely no reservations available for 4 or 8 for dinner. Any suggestions of what to do? This is their first trip so I don't think they want to be leaving the park traveling to a restaurant and wasting time.

Keep checking daily, multiple times a day if you can. People modify plans and change ADRs every day, so you never know if/when something might become available. Good luck!

 

[gmboy95]

I don't think this is the "new reality". If you just want ANY TS restaurant on a non-major holiday weekend then you can get something somewhere. The popular stuff books up but there is a ton of stuff available at the less popular eateries. But on thanksgiving weekend, all bets are off.

That said I would just keep trying but there is always QS. Are you trying to get it at the same time as yours or just any sit down anywhere? I think a lot of people are still holding multiple reservations waiting for park hours to open up and SW Fireworks times to be announced. I would just keep checking, check on the November cancellations board and set up a touring plans adr finder alert for a couple of their top choices.

You are correct this is true for a thanksgiving weekend.....unfortunately it has become true on many other days as well....there was a time where you could take a spur of the moment trip and get decent ressies, or you could switch it up and get a table somewhere else....with the advent of free dining and the increase in hotel space, this has become less of a reality over the years

 

[Lisa F]

You are correct this is true for a thanksgiving weekend.....unfortunately it has become true on many other days as well....there was a time where you could take a spur of the moment trip and get decent ressies, or you could switch it up and get a table somewhere else....with the advent of free dining and the increase in hotel space, this has become less of a reality over the years

I'm going first week of december. Yes, I had to grab things like Ohana, H&V with F! package, tusker house, CA Grill and Crystal palace right at my 180+ window. However Boma, Sanaa, Narcoossees, Biergarten, Coral Reef, Garden Grill, Cape May and yak & Yeti all have PLENTY of availability... and those are just the things I saw open when switching things around recently at a bit over 100 days.

But yes when there is free dining or a major holiday the restaurants will be full. But any other time you should be able to get something.

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

There's really no reason you have to be together all day or that your plans should have to change because another family has hopped on board late. I would tell them what my plans were & if they can get an ADR, great - if not, we'd meet up with them after dinner. Don't make yourself responsible for someone else's ADR.

You are correct this is true for a thanksgiving weekend.....unfortunately it has become true on many other days as well....there was a time where you could take a spur of the moment trip and get decent ressies, or you could switch it up and get a table somewhere else....with the advent of free dining and the increase in hotel space, this has become less of a reality over the years

The question was about the week of Thanksgiving specifically, though. Not sure how any of this is relevant to the OP. Maybe it's me.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I agree that they should keep checking. We've been there over major holidays & I've always been able to get an ADR at Hollywood Brown Derby with persistence.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

OP, if you aren't using DDP & would like to dine with your friends some, try the Swan & Dolphin restaurants. As an added bonus, you also get to experience some of the best restaurants on property.

 

[KrazeeK120]

You could check the restaurants at the Epcot-area resorts, too. It might give you a nice break from the park to head over there for a bit.

 

[WDWNY]

Are you trying to get it at the same time as yours or just any sit down anywhere? I think a lot of people are still holding multiple reservations waiting for park hours to open up and SW Fireworks times to be announced. I would just keep checking, check on the November cancellations board and set up a touring plans adr finder alert for a couple of their top choices.

http://disboards.com/threads/november-cancelled-adr-thread-read-1st-post.3510083/

Thank you! Ideally we would love to eat at the same time as them, but we would take anything at this point! Of course somehow I became in charge of this and now I am stressed! I got us 1 perfect reservation for all of us together out of the 3 days they will be eating dinner there. 1 not ideal because of the restaurant choice for all of us on thanksgiving so hopefully we can get something at HS. Knowing them... they will probably not be satisfied with QS.

 

[WDWNY]

OP, if you aren't using DDP & would like to dine with your friends some, try the Swan & Dolphin restaurants. As an added bonus, you also get to experience some of the best restaurants on property.

You can walk to Swan & Dolphin from HS, correct? How long is the walk?

 

[Lisa F]

Thank you! Ideally we would love to eat at the same time as them, but we would take anything at this point! Of course somehow I became in charge of this and now I am stressed! I got us 1 perfect reservation for all of us together out of the 3 days they will be eating dinner there. 1 not ideal because of the restaurant choice for all of us on thanksgiving so hopefully we can get something at HS. Knowing them... they will probably not be satisfied with QS.

what are you guys doing for dinner? on thanksgiving day it might be SO crowded and the hours will be SO long that dinner at a resort might not be such a bad thing. As other mentioned there are the swan/dolphin restaurants but Captain's Grill at the Yacht Club is not inconvenient from HS and gets pretty good "hidden gem" type reviews. I am sure that they will have traditional thanksgiving.

 

[WDWNY]

what are you guys doing for dinner? on thanksgiving day it might be SO crowded and the hours will be SO long that dinner at a resort might not be such a bad thing. As other mentioned there are the swan/dolphin restaurants but Captain's Grill at the Yacht Club is not inconvenient from HS and gets pretty good "hidden gem" type reviews. I am sure that they will have traditional thanksgiving.

They are doing 4 park days- its their first trip and they plan on it being their only. Our plans for now are Wednesday- HS Thursday- AK-> MK for Wishes with dinner reservation at flying fish. Menu isn't appealing to me and neither are the prices. However, I still have our reservation for 4 at 1900 Park Fare in case another reservation for 4 comes up. Friday they want to get the VIP guide so MK -> Epcot and watch illuminations with dinner reservations for all of us at Captains grille. Saturday they are leaving but will probably go to MK as they intend on staying at the GF.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

what are you guys doing for dinner? on thanksgiving day it might be SO crowded and the hours will be SO long that dinner at a resort might not be such a bad thing. As other mentioned there are the swan/dolphin restaurants but Captain's Grill at the Yacht Club is not inconvenient from HS and gets pretty good "hidden gem" type reviews. I am sure that they will have traditional thanksgiving.

Captain's Grill for dinner is exactly what I was going to suggest! I think your chances of an ADR for 8 opening up at any HS restaurant on Thanksgiving are slim, because it's the holiday and because there just aren't very many 8 tops at any of the restaurants. Never give up hope, but don't count on it. I understand your friends may not want to leave HS for a bit because it's their first time, but HS is so limited anymore when it comes to attractions, that you will be able to leave for dinner, come back and still see and do everything.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

You can walk to Swan & Dolphin from HS, correct? How long is the walk?

We always take the boat, but I've heard other people say it takes about 15 minutes. I'm sure someone here has walked it & can give you a more accurate answer.

 

[Lisa F]

They are doing 4 park days- its their first trip and they plan on it being their only. Our plans for now are Wednesday- HS Thursday- AK-> MK for Wishes with dinner reservation at flying fish. Menu isn't appealing to me and neither are the prices. However, I still have our reservation for 4 at 1900 Park Fare in case another reservation for 4 comes up. Friday they want to get the VIP guide so MK -> Epcot and watch illuminations with dinner reservations for all of us at Captains grille. Saturday they are leaving but will probably go to MK as they intend on staying at the GF.

what do you have booked for yourself on wednesday at HS? it is more likely a table for 4 will come up somewhere at HS than a table for 8, that is true. I would definitely check out some of the swan/dolphin restaurants... if you are willing to pay flying fish's prices than something like bluezoo or shulas would be in line.

On thanksgiving itself, since you are leaving the parks ANYWAY I'd start checking all of the resort restaurants. How about GF Cafe for 8 of you? that one always seems to book up last and gets good reviews. Or the wave, which is probably the top hidden gem at WDW.