**October 28 2009, 180 Day Reservation Thread**

[Sydnerella]

I am SO SO excited today as this morning I was finally able to book Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast following BBBoutique for DD3.5!!!

After 6 calls yesterday - "it's not loaded yet" - and several on-line checks.... I was ecstatic when I called this am and got pixie dust on my first try. It was a good sign and I was able to book CRT with ease (and excitement!) then of course I see later when we hang up that the on-line res system is working for everything including CRT... owell - it was fun to talk with the CM and share my giddy excitement with a human versus my Dell...

So we have:

March 20: DTD - T-Rex Dinner, 5:15 PM (priority seating, they are not Disney owned & only do PS)
March 22: BBB, 8:00 AM
March 22: CRT, Breakfast 9:00 AM
March 22: Chef Mickey's, Dinner 5:05 PM
March 24: Tusker House/Donald's Safari, Breakfast 8:00 AM
March 24: Les Chefs de France, Dinner 8:50 PM
March 25: 1900 Park Fare, Dinner 6:00 PM
March 26: Tony's, Dinner 5:40 PM

Is it March yet?!?!?!?!?!?
Sydnerella's Mama

 

[chicagoshannon]

Is anyone else not able to pull up online the phone ressies you made yesterday? I have confirmation numbers for all of them but they won't come up. The ones I made online today (tusker house and CRT) come up easily. Should I be worried about this? I don't want to spend all day on the phone again nor do I want to re-do 10 reservations if I don't have to, but I also don't want to show up and be told my confirmation #s are no good!

EDIT - In case this happens to anyone else - it was a phone number issue. Even though the CM asked me for a phone number and I gave her my cell yesterday, all the reservations reverted to the number I used last time we went to Disney (my husband's cell - he's not coming this time so I used a different number). As soon as I put in the phone reservations with his number they all came up (the online ones were coming up because they were associated with my number). Sorry if that didn't make sense but didn't want to delete my post just in case someone else did the same thing....

I was/am having the same issue. I've used all of the phone numbers I could think of. I'm worried all the ressies got lost. I'm about to just do new ones.

 

[mamabright]

I was/am having the same issue. I've used all of the phone numbers I could think of. I'm worried all the ressies got lost. I'm about to just do new ones.

Having the same trouble. I called and the CM said she had 8 ressies for me. Unfortunately I was so excited she had them I let her go before I realized that's not the # I had written down I guess I'll call back later and verify them all individually I'm beginning to think I'm getting too nervous about food that I'm going to eat 5 months from now.

 

[kristenrice]

I had to work yesterday (and today!) so I wasn't able to devote much time to getting our ADR's for our Easter week vacation.

I got online today and....I was worried for nothing!

I got EVERY reservation we wanted (OK, it was only 4, but still, I am happy!)

We got....

...Boma at 8pm for Easter dinner...
...50's Prime Time cafe on Monday at 7:30pm...
...LeCellier on Tuesday at 4:45pm...
...Boma at 8:30am on Friday, to fill up before our 22-hour drive home...

I'm pretty excited since we are a party of 6. My parents have never seen the AKL before and we are staying at Jambo house for our first two nights. I can't wait to eat dinner at Boma on our arrival night.

Quick question (thought)...We are doing the basic DDP for our 2-night reservation. My mom and dad aren't huge eaters. Can they "split" a meal at 50's Prime Time and LeCellier, thereby only using one credit at each meal? It would probably be dad ordering his meal and mom paying OOP for an appetizer. Is that allowed? DH and I will probably be doing the same thing, paying OOP for me and letting him use the DDP credit. Can you have some people at the table on the DDP and others paying OOP? We also have the TIW card for our OOP expenses.

 

[eliz991]

Chicagoshannon - you might want to try doing one at a time, someone said yesterday that if even one is typed in wrong none will show up.

I would have re-done them if it had come to that, though, although I would then have called again to make sure I didn't get double charged for the pay in advance ones like hoop de doo.

 

[Sydnerella]

I'm going over Easter from April 1-April 8. I was concerned yesterday, but
when I called this morning, I was able to get everything I wanted at the
exact times I wanted. And just for those who are worried, here's what
we're doing:
CRT
LeCellier
Teppan Edo
Yak & Yeti
Chef Mickey
Ohana(1 breakfast, 1 dinner)
Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package
Cinderella's Gala Feast
We're staying @ Poly with the 40% off discount & are thrilled to pieces.
BTW - our ressies were all for 6 people, so apparently there is not
a huge crowd issue for Easter yet - at least not in the restaurants.

Hi, What is Cinderella's Gala Fest? When/Where and do you have to be staying on-site for it??

thanks,
Sydnerella's Mama

 

[mcgypsy]

It's Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner apparently - I think I titled it wrong.
It's @ the Grand Floridian and has Cindy, her stepmom, the prince and the 2 ugly
stepsisters. They are a HOOT!
I highly recommend it for anyone who's child wants to see Cinderella and either can't
get into or doesn't want to pay for CRT. It's way less expensive and no, you don't
have to be staying on site to get a ressie.
The character interaction is a wonderful, and my girls love it!

 

[cigar95]

I'm going over Easter from April 1-April 8. I was concerned yesterday, but
when I called this morning, I was able to get everything I wanted at the
exact times I wanted. And just for those who are worried, here's what
we're doing:
CRT
LeCellier
Teppan Edo
Yak & Yeti
Chef Mickey
Ohana(1 breakfast, 1 dinner)
Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package
Cinderella's Gala Feast

What you're seeing here - getting some of the most popular locations at the ideal times - is something that I think it would be useful for us to remember - there is a HUGE difference between the number of vacationers ready to make specific plans at 90 days compared to the same at 180. Even at the busiest times, restaurants are not going to fill up right away 180 days out. The only exception that I would believe would be the Chef's Table at Viki & Al's, which I believe seats only one party per night. (Maybe two?)

Just as a test, I just tried to book a breakfast for four in the castle at 830 on Easter Sunday, as well as the Thursday before and the Tuesday after. All three times I got exactly the time I requested. If I try the same test in a week, I'm willing to bet I would get close to the same result.

The end result is that for those of us whose windows opened up yesterday, I would guess that anyone going in March or April will be able to get any restaurant they want - the few exceptions that we are hearing are, I'm guessing, related to technical issues, rather than the locations already being full.

for those ready to book right now, this week is a beautiful time for those making restaurant reservations! Enjoy it while it lasts! Your neighbors will learn about the changes sooner or later.

 

[ILuvMulan]

I decided not to try yesterday, even though it was about to drive me crazy. Since our reservations are for after Easter I figured I'd let everybody who has them earlier have the first shot because if my ressie was in Jan/Feb, I would have been in a panic yesterday.

So anyway, it worked out great. Called DVC member services a little after 9:00am, was on hold 5-6 minutes, then got everything I wanted at almost the exact times I wanted.

April 11- O'hana 6:00pm
April 12- 50's Prime TimeCafe 5:50pm
April 13- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall 5:15pm
April 14- Tusker House 5:25pm
April 15- Sci-fi Theater 7:15pm

 

[vicb]

If my trip would have been during Pres. Week, Easter Week or heavy spring break I would have been more worked up. If I had been trying for CRT, CM or Le Cellier I would have been worried. I did follow this thread closely yesterday afternoon and kept refreshing the online page but I never tried to call.

I'm going over Easter from April 1-April 8. I was concerned yesterday, but
when I called this morning, I was able to get everything I wanted at the
exact times I wanted. And just for those who are worried, here's what
we're doing:
CRT
LeCellier
Teppan Edo
Yak & Yeti
Chef Mickey
Ohana(1 breakfast, 1 dinner)
Mama Melrose Fantasmic Package
Cinderella's Gala Feast
We're staying @ Poly with the 40% off discount & are thrilled to pieces.
BTW - our ressies were all for 6 people, so apparently there is not
a huge crowd issue for Easter yet - at least not in the restaurants.

What you're seeing here - getting some of the most popular locations at the ideal times - is something that I think it would be useful for us to remember - there is a HUGE difference between the number of vacationers ready to make specific plans at 90 days compared to the same at 180. Even at the busiest times, restaurants are not going to fill up right away 180 days out. The only exception that I would believe would be the Chef's Table at Viki & Al's, which I believe seats only one party per night. (Maybe two?)

Just as a test, I just tried to book a breakfast for four in the castle at 830 on Easter Sunday, as well as the Thursday before and the Tuesday after. All three times I got exactly the time I requested. If I try the same test in a week, I'm willing to bet I would get close to the same result.

The end result is that for those of us whose windows opened up yesterday, I would guess that anyone going in March or April will be able to get any restaurant they want - the few exceptions that we are hearing are, I'm guessing, related to technical issues, rather than the locations already being full.

for those ready to book right now, this week is a beautiful time for those making restaurant reservations! Enjoy it while it lasts! Your neighbors will learn about the changes sooner or later.

Yup, and I think no free dining has a huge impact too. Without FD most people might book 1 sit down meal a day but certainly not the amount of ADRs they were booking this fall. We usually book 1 sitdown and fly by the seat of our pants the rest of the time. We keep a couple of favs in our back pocket like ESPN to use when needed.

 

[Sydnerella]

It's Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner apparently - I think I titled it wrong.
It's @ the Grand Floridian and has Cindy, her stepmom, the prince and the 2 ugly
stepsisters. They are a HOOT!
I highly recommend it for anyone who's child wants to see Cinderella and either can't
get into or doesn't want to pay for CRT. It's way less expensive and no, you don't
have to be staying on site to get a ressie.
The character interaction is a wonderful, and my girls love it!

OK, yes, we booked that at 1900 Park Fare - I heard the same things about it and think we'll love it. For some reason my DD3 LOVES the step sisters and plays Anastasia all the time!?!?!? Saw them at Dinsey Live last week and she was "Beatles Excited" to see Cinderella (could not even look sometimes covering her eyes and jumping) but she still left the show playing Anastasia... so bizzare and funny

Sydnerella's Mama

 

[Sydnerella]

anyone else still singing those on-hold songs in your head???

clang clang clang with the trolley... Ahhhhhh!

At least today they feel more magical than annoying

 

[MSLRAC]

anyone else still singing those on-hold songs in your head???

clang clang clang with the trolley... Ahhhhhh!

At least today they feel more magical than annoying

Oh my gosh...yes! I've been singing the Main Street USA song all stinking day!

 

[DIS-OH]

When I called this morning, the CM and I got to chatting--about the busy day she had yesterday and our trip for the Princess Half-marathon and I forgot to get Confirmation Numbers!

I called back this afternoon, another nice CM was able to search by my name and give me the confirmation numbers. And, I was only on hold for 3 minutes before talking to a CM!

 

[Swimalie]

Oh my gosh...yes! I've been singing the Main Street USA song all stinking day!

Me, too!! I was whistling it in the car today with my son. He asked me what song it was and I told him something I "heard" since the trip is a surprise to him.

 

[Inkmahm]

Oh my gosh...yes! I've been singing the Main Street USA song all stinking day!

Me, too! It's actually worse than "It's a Small World" I think.

 

[Dizney73]

I was only looking for 1 ressie! My 4 year old daughter is in love with Minnie and wantts to go to Chef Mickey's for Valentine's Day! For just the one ressie I didn't want to call and be on the phone for hours yesterday so I just waited for the online system to come back up... and Voila... I got Chef Mickey's @5:10 pm for a party of 6 on Valentines' Day! Just what I wanted!

The online system worked so well today that Iw as sad that I was only interested in making the one reservation for this trip

 

[nicki.momof3]

So yesterday I was on the phone for hours making our easter week reservations (along with a million other people). We really wanted CRT dinner anyday during our 9 day visit (March 31-April 8). NOTHING was available for any dinner times / dates.

Today I checked online and WOW I found multiple times for our entire group (10 people) on multiple days.

If you were unable to get a certain reservation yesterday check today and it may be open. I think with all the system crashing and such it appeared a lot of things were booked when they weren't. I was also able to get 6 appoints at BBB with no problem today - yesterday it was impossible.

 

[vicki_c]

It was reported that CRT wasn't loaded into the system yesterday for dates beyond 2/4, I think and only was available for bookings as of today.

I'm glad you got what you needed!

 

[zuperdaave]

guess the lesson is that it paid off to wait one day. got my adrs online this morning with no problem. sounds like most everyone else did too...