Offsiters, do you have a problem getting ADRs?

[Dallas_Lady]

This is my only concern about staying offsite this next trip. We are staying at Windsor Hills over Thanksgiving week and I am sooo worried about not getting the ADRs I want. We aren't doing many table service meals, probably just 4 the whole trip. I am really worried about getting something good on Thanksgiving Day as well as getting a Chef Mickey breakfast for the Saturday after Thanksgiving (our departure day). Without having the +10 advantage, have you been able to get decent ADRs? Any tips?

 

[JoanneNC]

Of course you could always make a room only reservation at a value - pay your one night - get your reservation # - make your reservations at the 90 day point for the next 10 days and just cancel it. As long as you are past the 90+10 window and your let them know you have reservations that need to be kept....

But some would probably say this was cheating

 

[rgf207]

Of course you could always make a room only reservation at a value - pay your one night - get your reservation # - make your reservations at the 90 day point for the next 10 days and just cancel it. As long as you are past the 90+10 window and your let them know you have reservations that need to be kept....

But some would probably say this was cheating

I think that sort of cheating the system and I've heard rumors that they may cancel your ADR's if they see you cancel the reservation associated with it.

 

[tndisneyfan]

Of course you could always make a room only reservation at a value - pay your one night - get your reservation # - make your reservations at the 90 day point for the next 10 days and just cancel it. As long as you are past the 90+10 window and your let them know you have reservations that need to be kept....

But some would probably say this was cheating

Even if you did do this you won't be able to make ADR's for the +10 if you're just staying one night. We did a split stay this year and the CM would only let us make ADR's for the first part of our trip. We hadn't made hotel ressies for the second part of our trip at that time because we were waiting for AP rates.

 

[disnut8]

I stay offsite most of the time now and have never had any problems making dining reservations. Even for Thanksgiving. Yes, it's true that onsiters have the +10 days but really, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter all that much. Be a bit flexible on your times and you should be fine with 98% of the places.

 

[JoanneNC]

Even if you did do this you won't be able to make ADR's for the +10 if you're just staying one night. We did a split stay this year and the CM would only let us make ADR's for the first part of our trip. We hadn't made hotel ressies for the second part of our trip at that time because we were waiting for AP rates.

Room only reservations only require a one night deposit
The only reason why I suggested this is cause this is what I ended up doing but without my implied intent in my answer
I had a reservation under the 4/3 deal - made my reservations and then our plans changed and I was able to use timeshare points as our party size was tripled with the addition or friends and family. When I canceled my 4/3 package - I specifically asked about the ADR's and said they would be fine and I have been able to modify and add/change existing ones since then.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Of course you could always make a room only reservation at a value - pay your one night - get your reservation # - make your reservations at the 90 day point for the next 10 days and just cancel it. As long as you are past the 90+10 window and your let them know you have reservations that need to be kept....

But some would probably say this was cheating

I wasn't looking for ways to cheat the system, I was just wanting honest experiences from off-site guests who have made ADRs.

 

[luchamouse]

Flexibility is the key. I got everything we wanted apart from an 8.00am at CP. Got an 8.15 instead. I fully plan to show up early for that one in the hope we get seated earlier.

I had no probs. Granted we didn't want to eat at the Castle, Le Cellier or do a F! package, but I did get Ohana's for dinner on July 3 and Chef Mickeys too.

Obviously, don't dilly dally when your window opens up. I called every day a window opened up and made 7 ressies that way. By the end of it the CMs knew me!

 

[zaksmom]

Just got back last night...June 2...we always stay one week off site, then a few days on. Never had any problem with ADRs. Always have better luck getting what I want when I call closer to the day we want the reservation -- but we won't be going on a major holiday. FYI... we made two ADRs this trip - Sanaa because we wanted to be sure to try it and Boma because it is a check out day breakfast tradition. No problem...got the times we wanted (it was Memorial day weekend too) calling two weeks in advance. We also ate at Plaza, Tokyo Dining, Rose and Crown, Character Dinner at Garden Grill, Yak and Yeti, & Germany Buffet walk up. Good luck and don't worry.

 

[csarenz]

When we stayed off site or came up with my parents (they live down in Poinciena part of the year), we haven't had a problem with ADRs. Sometimes we've even been able to get good meals the day of.

You're not going to get 6pm at Chef Mickey's or 8:05am at Crystal Palace, but if you're flexible, as one of the previous posters said, then you'll do fine.

Making ADRs later has also turned us on to some of the places that are now our favorites, like a late lunch at LTT or any meal at 9 Dragons. So don't be afraid to try something new.

 

[3huskymom]

We usually stay off site and have never had issues getting ADRs. We are going in August and staying off-site and I called each day at the 90 mark at 7AM and got everything I wanted when I wanted. I even called back a few days later to change some things around and got what I wanted. The only thing I had trouble booking was 'Ohana for dinner couldn't get anything before 9PM for dinner and my 4 year old can't wait that long to eat dinner.

 

[winterman]

We stay offsite about half the time. We always make ADRs for almost every day of our trip and have never had a problem. Just don't expect to get Le Cellier on Thanksgiving. And have a back-up choice.

 

[Stellapedia]

Never a problem. I've gotten CP and TH breakfasts on a day's notice at times. We go nearly every weekend and rarely call more than a week in advance for ADRs, and I've never not been able to find somewhere. I've also gotten CM on 2-3 weeks' notice, as well as a few days beforehand.

 

[lovindonald]

I stay offsite most of the time now and have never had any problems making dining reservations. Even for Thanksgiving. Yes, it's true that onsiters have the +10 days but really, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter all that much. Be a bit flexible on your times and you should be fine with 98% of the places.

Ditto! I have never had any problems making ADRs when staying offsite which has been every year for the past 5 years. It is just the luck of the draw and as long as you call in time for the ones you want, you should have no problem.

 

[kathie859]

I've never had an issue getting the ADR's that we wanted as long as we were flexible. Usually, I make a master "wish list" with restaurant choice 1, 2 and 3; we usually prefer late lunches (as opposed to dinners) especially when we travel with the younger grandkids. But even for dinners, I find that flexibility is the key to success. Plus, remember that if you make an ADR that is less than satisfactory, you can call back and check availability anytime. People make and change ADR's all the time.

Don't forget to record your ADR #'s and bring it with you! I've heard of an occasional "oops" where an ADR was "lost" in the reservation system and I always thought it comforting to have the numbers with me. But then again I tend to be a tad on the neurotic side about my Disney experience