Ohana and Cali Grille dining tips needed :)

[Frankie Nova]

Usually have my Travel agent book my dinner reservations ...not this time!
Feel like I would get better seating times (she is too busy to be as diligent as I )
I went on the Dis Experience site last night to view the dining protocol and to get a feel for it, to ready myself for my 180 days out.
seems as though Ohana and Cali grill had NOTHING available.
What is the strategy? Need some veteran help!!!
Got time but want to have a plan!
Thank you

 

[NYCgrrl]

It seems you aren't eligible to book your ADRs yet but when the time comes my suggestions would be the following:

Be up early the morning of your eligibility. You can book online beginning 6:00 AM and via live operator @ 7:00 AM EST

Open an acct here: https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/reservation-finder

Keep checking the Cancelled Reservation threads on this forum. One thread is opened per month.

Don't worry, be happy since you've a lot of time to accomplish your goals.

 

[Frankie Nova]

It seems you aren't eligible to book your ADRs yet but when the time comes my suggestions would be the following:

Be up early the morning of your eligibility. You can book online beginning 6:00 AM and via live operator @ 7:00 AM EST

Open an acct here: https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/reservation-finder

Keep checking the Cancelled Reservation threads on this forum. One thread is opened per month.

Don't worry, be happy since you've a lot of time to accomplish your goals.

thank you I am a be prepared kind of guy so when that day comes I will be ready. BTW 180 is the first day of your scheduled arrive date correct?

 

[bdgrbckr13]

If you are staying onsite, you may have better luck trying for the end of your trip. You are able to book any day of your stay starting at 180.

 

[Frankie Nova]

thank you I am a be prepared kind of guy so when that day comes I will be ready. BTW 180 is the first day of your scheduled arrive date correct?

is there a cost for the web page you sent to me?

 

[Meeko5]

Definitely plan for those later in the trip if possible - you'll be able to use your +10 days onsite advantage. Book them first, then go back and get the others for earlier days.

 

[steg]

is there a cost for the web page you sent to me?

There is a free registration but it's exceptionally well hidden, on purpose I assume. It can be found here https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/join/basic

I'd go for Ohana first then Cali Grill.

For California Grill I like to shoot for 90 minutes before fireworks and have a leisurely meal and usually we'll end up ordering dessert, go out to watch the fireworks on the observation deck and the dessert will be ready when we get back.

 

[Frankie Nova]

If you are staying onsite, you may have better luck trying for the end of your trip. You are able to book any day of your stay starting at 180.

I am ....and will be diligent for 180days until I am chowing down! LOL

 

[Frankie Nova]

Definitely plan for those later in the trip if possible - you'll be able to use your +10 days onsite advantage. Book them first, then go back and get the others for earlier days.

thank you for that tip

 

[Frankie Nova]

There is a free registration but it's exceptionally well hidden, on purpose I assume. It can be found here https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/join/basic

I'd go for Ohana first then Cali Grill.

For California Grill I like to shoot for 90 minutes before fireworks and have a leisurely meal and usually we'll end up ordering dessert, go out to watch the fireworks on the observation deck and the dessert will be ready when we get back.

Thank you kindly.. your help is much appreciated

 

[lpizzuro123]

While it will not help you with long term planning, as you get closer to the actual date (maybe 2 to 3 days prior) people do cancel reservations so if you really want to go someplace, keep trying even up to the day before. We were in Disney this past October and ran into a friend that wanted to do BOG on a Saturday for lunch. I was able to make reservations for a Saturday at 1:30 on the Thursday night before at around 9:00pm.

 

[Frankie Nova]

While it will not help you with long term planning, as you get closer to the actual date (maybe 2 to 3 days prior) people do cancel reservations so if you really want to go someplace, keep trying even up to the day before. We were in Disney this past October and ran into a friend that wanted to do BOG on a Saturday for lunch. I was able to make reservations for a Saturday at 1:30 on the Thursday night before at around 9:00pm.

I am hearing more and more of that .
THANK YOU Will do

 

[TJA]

Ohana dinner ADR is like gold to our family. I always book that one right away. Ohana now has ADRs beginning at 3:30, so keep an open mind if that's all you can get. It works well for us because we always eat heavy there and by eating at the 3:30 slot we have time to work it off (lol).

 

[Frankie Nova]

Ohana dinner ADR is like gold to our family. I always book that one right away. Ohana now has ADRs beginning at 3:30, so keep an open mind if that's all you can get. It works well for us because we always eat heavy there and by eating at the 3:30 slot we have time to work it off (lol).

I am perfectly fine for a 3:30pm dinner res.
I had our TA book our Ohana dinner Res. last trip with my wife and 2 boys and it was like 9:30 pm !
That does not work for us, would have enjoyed it more a lot earlier

 

[butternut]

I'm having a hard time finding the dining page to set any alerts up. It keeps telling me to enter my credit card info. Am I missing something?

 

[Eastern]

I agree to book 'Ohana before CG.

Book CG for 1 and 1/2 hour before fireworks. Be sure to look at fireworks times before you book. They are not the same every night. I've messed this up many times!