OK.. to all those who tied the phone lines up all morning today.........

[AimeeM]

.....Where did you book your THanksgiving dinner??

I waited for 20 minutes on hold from 6:58-7:20 then had to hang up to take my DD to the bus stop. Well actually, it took me about 5+ minutes to actually NOT get a busy signal! I should have set the phone down, went to the bus, and came back and it probably would have still been on hold! I called back at about 7:25ish and held until 8:30...yes you read that right.. an hour!!! and they never answered. I had to hang up again to DRIVE my other DD to school because they still hadnt answered by the time her bus was supposed to come, so I told her Id drive her today so I could get this PS...well, I once again had to hang up to take her to school. I got back home at 9. Dialed, got right through with not a single busy signal or without being put on hold. It wasnt even like I was trying for LTT!!! HAHAH We booked the Hollywood & Vine with the Fantasmic package. It wasnt any more money for the fantasmic package, where Mama Melrose and Hollywood Brown Derby were almost 10 bucks more for the fantasmic package. I like the buffett idea better for the kids, and for anyone who wants to get stuffed. I also like that we dont have to fight the crowds to see fantasmic!! We got a 5:50 seating time which was pefect!! Now I just have to wait.... lol Where else did everyone get and what was your wait time??

 

[bexareaglecheryl]

I was calling for Whispering Canyon Cafe for a noon PS.this morning. Started calling at about 5:55 a.m. (my time) 6:55 am Disney time. Got in about 6:58 and the agent answered as soon as I went through the cue prompts. No wait time. However, I was calling group dining. (they can take regular ressies too!)
Then I needed to call and get a ressie for the Pirate Treasure Hunt Cruise at the WDW-Play # and all I got was an 'all circuits busy, try your call again later' response for about 20 minutes. Was on hold for only about a minute or two then.

Don't wait until exactly 7am to start calling. Begin calling about 4 minutes before and just keep hitting redial. I had 2 phones going.

It's been the same thing in terms of 'all circuits busy' for the past 3 days that I have made PS - everyone gearing up for Thanksgiving trips. Scars me, I've never been to WDW when it's been very busy so I'm getting nervous about the crowds. We'll be going on the 11-18 so i hope we can get in lots before the crowds hit hard.
Cheryl

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Is everyone having to use a credit or debit card to make PSs for Thanksgiving day. I had to for RFC. He did say it was regular menu though, thankgoodness.
Kim

 

[ImagineEar]

I can beat that - I was on hold for one hour and 20 minutes ,Walked around with the portable phone doing my household chores, getting the kids dressed etc. before I actually had to give up!

On hold from NJ for all that time and no resie. This dinner has already cost me a Fortune and we haven't even eaten a thing! Can't let DH know! But I will try first thing in the am tomorrow, wish me luck.

 

[bexareaglecheryl]

Originally posted by LuvN~Travel
Is everyone having to use a credit or debit card to make PSs for Thanksgiving day. I had to for RFC. He did say it was regular menu though, thankgoodness.
Kim

I've had to use a credit card on ALL my ressies for the week of Nov.18-26. Some of them were group ressies, but some were not. When did they start this? When did they start the $10 per person cancellation fee if not cancelled within 48 hours?
Cheryl

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Thanksgiving day's was the only one I've had to give a cc for. I've book PSs for four other restaurants and they haven't asked for a cc for any of them. But, that could be like the different cms I've had. On my reservation (which I made last month for November), the CM let me get the AAA rate without a number.
However, yesterday I made ressies for May and the CM wouldn't even look without a number! Oh well...
Kim

 

[bexareaglecheryl]

Originally posted by LuvN~Travel
Thanksgiving day's was the only one I've had to give a cc for. I've book PSs for four other restaurants and they haven't asked for a cc for any of them. But, that could be like the different cms I've had.
Kim

That's so strange that some cms would require a cc and some wouldn't. Seems like thi would be a pretty hard and fast rule. I even had to give a cc for a party of 4 at O'hanas for Nov. 21. Our last trip was in Dec. 2000, which was a long time ago, but I don't remember having to guarantee with a reservation. I understand that a large group (like ours ) of say 13 is a large # of 'seats' to hold. If we didn't cancel within the 48 hours they would garner $130.

So is it just a hit or miss with whichever CM you happen to get?

 

[AimeeM]

Our trip on thanksgiving in 02 also required a credit card to hold the ressie for Garden Grill. I was nervous because we were flying in in the afternoon, and I figured with my luck we'd be delayed and Id miss the PS!! then Id be out 60 bucks! I asked for the last seating at Garden Grill at 8 pm... it turned into a disaster. We checked in 20 minutes early and I, and about 10 other families, we told it would be a 90 minute wait!!!!!! We were up early, flew in that day, went to the hotel, came straight to Epcot with 3 kids, and I didnt let them eat much when we got to the park as I knew we were having thanksgiving dinner, so by 8, we were all tired, starved and getting cranky!... then an hour and a half wait. It was AWFUL. All the food places in FW were closed as it was after 7, and the CM at Garden Grill tried getting a seating somewhere else for the lady in front of me and all that was left was a sit down meal in China...lol...For future reference... never take the last seating at thanksgiving!!

lMAGINEAR...good luck getting that PS on Friday!!

Bye the way... you need a credit card to book cinderellas royal table character breakfast. Seems people were calling and booking multiple times, and not canceling the old Ps's, leaving so many people unable to get a time at all. Now you have to book with a credit card and will get charged if you dont call and cancel in advance

 

[bethzfl]

Originally posted by ImagineEar
I can beat that - I was on hold for one hour and 20 minutes ,Walked around with the portable phone doing my household chores, getting the kids dressed etc. before I actually had to give up!

On hold from NJ for all that time and no resie. This dinner has already cost me a Fortune and we haven't even eaten a thing! Can't let DH know! But I will try first thing in the am tomorrow, wish me luck.

Are you aware there's an 800 number? Just in case, it's 1-800-828-0228

Good luck tomorrow

 

[ImagineEar]

Bethzfl:

You might ask yourself how someone who visits WDW as often as I do, had no idea that they had an 800 # to make PS's ....

BUT I didn't!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I have learned so many useful things on these boards.....and I am so thankful to all of you!

 

[Gramto6inPa]

I was one of those people....I called at exactly 7:00 est.Had to do that menu...ugh... twice.Then was on hold till 8:15 est, then my husband tried(I had to leave for work)until just before 9:00est.The music stopped,then nothing was happened.So he hung up the phone and called again and someone answered and made our PS.I wonder if I had hung up and tried again sooner if I would have been able to get my PS(the one I wanted)sooner. I wanted 4:00 and received 5:00 instead.So that was about 1hr and 55 minutes on hold...ugh.