November ADR's hard to find!

[clevmom]

We booked a somewhat last minute trip to DW for Nov 18-25 and I'm surprised how hard it is to get ADR's. I'm trying to be flexible and book some breakfasts and lunches, as dinners are scarce. Any tips on how to add dinners to our trip? Would you ever postpone your trip because of lack of dining options? TIA!

 

[jne7043]

Last minute trips during free dining, it can be really hard to get ADRs. Our trip is Nov 14-18 so we booked our dining reservations back in May. Even being online at 6am that day I wasn't able to get everything we wanted for our trip. I've slowly been able to add some reservations in as they come available. Try using an ADR search tool to help you get what you want. Also, remember that some ADRs may be cancelled 60 and 45 days before your dates.

 

[Dean Marino]

Yes - ADR's for the higher end Signatures are, in our experience, easier to get. Check out places like...

The California Grill
Narcoossee's
Artist's Point
Fulton's Crab House
Shula's
Citrico's
Il Mulino
... and a host of others .

 

[wdw4rfam]

November was super hard at 180 days. Most are blaming free dining. I would cancel a trip if I couldn't get our favorites. But that's me, probably not the popular opinion. Dining is a huge part of our trip, so to me, not worth going if I couldn't get anything I wanted, I'd just change it to a few months later when we could do the trip like I wanted. That being said, a lot of people are having luck with Disney dining buddy, if you want to pay someone to search for you.

 

[clevmom]

What ADR search tools are there other than just using the Disney site?

And I think our trip is just after free dining, right? (Not that it really matters)

 

[jne7043]

What ADR search tools are there other than just using the Disney site?

And I think our trip is just after free dining, right? (Not that it really matters)

No, your stay does include free dining. Anyone checking in before 11/20 would have been eligible for free dining for their entire trip. There are sites where you can pay to be alerted to ADR openings. WDW Tools, Dining Buddy, Scout, etc.

If having the table service restaurants are important to you I would consider choosing other dates. Most of the people with ADRs during that time period booked their restaurants almost 5 months ago.

 

[clevmom]

November was super hard at 180 days. Most are blaming free dining. I would cancel a trip if I couldn't get our favorites. But that's me, probably not the popular opinion. Dining is a huge part of our trip, so to me, not worth going if I couldn't get anything I wanted, I'd just change it to a few months later when we could do the trip like I wanted. That being said, a lot of people are having luck with Disney dining buddy, if you want to pay someone to search for you.

Thanks - we've only gone once before and I'm worried if we don't go now, we may put it off indefinitely, so I doubt we'll cancel, so I know I need to be flexible and a bit creative.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Thanks - we've only gone once before and I'm worried if we don't go now, we may put it off indefinitely, so I doubt we'll cancel, so I know I need to be flexible and a bit creative.

Absolutely, like I said I'd cancel IF I could rebook a few months later. If it were me, I'd try those dining search people. I have 2 ADRS to cancel, but they are the 24th and 25th

 

[marchingstar]

there's a November cancellation thread that you might find really helpful. the previous posters are right, free dining makes things trickier, but the cancellation thread has been really active and so you might find something you want that way. there are also tools like disney dining buddy (described in another thread)--the gist is you pay a small fee and the tool notifies you if/when a reservation becomes available.

at this point you'll probably have a hard time getting in to the really popular restaurants (I haven't seen too many CRT cancelations, for example). and your party size will matter--if there are more than 4 of you it might be a bit trickier. but with a little bit of work you should still be able to find some meals your family will enjoy. since you've only been once before, I would say be open about the cancellations you find and try some new places. you'll probably be pleasantly surprised

 

[clevmom]

Are there generally more cancellations after people reserve fast passes at 60 days?

 

[knieves711]

An

Are there generally more cancellations after people reserve fast passes at 60 days?

Anyone arriving the week of the 8th of November just hit their 60 fast pass selection mark. I noticed online this morning, there are more options for dining that are now available that wasnt. I even managed to snag a BOG breakfast that I was waiting for.
Keep trying & good Luck!

 

[redkel]

I got all the ADR's I really wanted at 180+ except BOG. So now I am holding out for the 60 day FP+ window (Saturday/Sunday) and the 45 day final payment window to hopefully get lucky with a BOG Breakfast with the help of Disney Dining Scout.
If it doesn't happen it won't be the end of the world, but let's hope for a little pixie dust anyway. Just keep checking back. We scored a hard to get ADR at CRT last trip by being patient and checking regularly.

Good luck!

 

[clevmom]

Thanks! I somehow lucked out and snagged a BOG lunch just randomly on mdx. I didn't realize how hard they are to get, so now I'm extra thankful!!!

 

[knieves711]

I got all the ADR's I really wanted at 180+ except BOG. So now I am holding out for the 60 day FP+ window (Saturday/Sunday) and the 45 day final payment window to hopefully get lucky with a BOG Breakfast with the help of Disney Dining Scout.
If it doesn't happen it won't be the end of the world, but let's hope for a little pixie dust anyway. Just keep checking back. We scored a hard to get ADR at CRT last trip by being patient and checking regularly.

Good luck!

I scored the BOG in the middle of the night, it was about 2:00AM EST and i just so happened to be up and thought to myself, oh what the hell, let me check, and there it was....

 

[JJZMgailey]

Are there generally more cancellations after people reserve fast passes at 60 days?

There are sometimes. Also, often times you'll find some at 45-days out when folks cancel their trips for whatever reason.

Keep looking every day, all the way up until you're there because there are always last-minute cancellations.

 

[clevmom]

Thanks everyone, these boards have so much great info!!! Just by checking periodically, I've scored a BOG lunch and Tusksr house breakfast, yay!!!

Now I'm watching the November cancellations page for a few more things.