Okay...I learned my lesson. U really, really need to make ADRs

[jaksmommy]

Okay, so I am one of those people that will research something to death. I was trying not to be anal this year , so I booked our ressies in May or so and relaxed. Well, I didn't realize until this week that I needed to make dining reservations (our first time at Disney) and now there is nothing available. So far I have tried 3 restaurants, and they are either booked solid or only available after 9pm. So, if you are reading this and don't have your ADRs yet, please, please don't wait! Hopefully something will open up between now and the end of April!

 

[DISNEYGIRL0811]

When are you going?

 

[Pixiedust34]

Try some resort restuarants. Sometimes they don't book as quickly as restaurants in the parks. I hope you can find some openings.

 

[raven69david]

Welcome to the DIS and your first VERY VALUABLE lesson in Disney trip planning. Always begin to book your ADR's at 180 days, or if you're staying at a resort, at 180 days for next 10 days. (thx Daisy )

Don't feel bad, we've all been there - done that - bought the T-shirt.

 

[gigi1313]

Okay, so I am one of those people that will research something to death. I was trying not to be anal this year , so I booked our ressies in May or so and relaxed. Well, I didn't realize until this week that I needed to make dining reservations (our first time at Disney) and now there is nothing available. So far I have tried 3 restaurants, and they are either booked solid or only available after 9pm. So, if you are reading this and don't have your ADRs yet, please, please don't wait! Hopefully something will open up between now and the end of April!

end of april? when is your trip? if you are not traveling 'til april, you are not even eligible to make your ADRs 'til sometime in october...

 

[motofox4]

we learned this very valuable lesson last year - we did not make any ADRs and because of that we were very limited to where we could eat dinner. we tried going to alfredos for dinner one night and were turned away because we didn't have an ADR. we were able to, however, have dinner at 9 Dragons in China and really enjoyed our dinner. so depending on where you want to eat and what kind of food you like/want, you may just get lucky at a less popular restaurant..

 

[daisyduck123]

Always begin to book your ADR's at 180 days, or if you're staying at a resort, 190 days prior to your trip.

Oops!!
Resort guests can book 180 days from their arrival day, not 190.
On the 180th day, we can book for our arrival day & then next 10 days (or maybe 9, making it 10 days total). But we can never book 190 days from our check-in day.

 

[DISNEYGIRL0811]

We're going in Sept. I booked about 4 of my top choise ressies at the 180 day out mark...... then kind of shoved the disney stuff aside until last week. When I called last week to finish our ressies other ones I had in mind we're full until after 9pm.... YIKES! Needless to say I was on the phone for over 1/2 with the disney person trying to find some other Ressies for us. Luckily, I made the die hard ones in advance! Good luck, keep checking, maybe something will open up!

 

[ShaneH]

Did you check for lunch times? I couldnt get dinner at some places I wanted but got lunch times with no problems.

 

[jw50]

Hopefully something will open up between now and the end of April!

I hope you really meant to type August

 

[Tink3Belle]

If you are going in April you can't book them yet. They should have told you that. 180 days

 

[DISNEYGIRL0811]

I'd also recommend doing lunch! Many of the restaurants may still have lunch reservations avail and it would be less $$ than dinner anyway.

 

[jaksmommy]

I meant to say I booked in May the reservation for our trip at the end of September. (does that make sense, it still sounds funny). We will be staying at POP Sep. 22-29. I will try some resort restaurants, I never thought of that. And, hopefully, I can pick up one or two at the 45 day mark. I just hope people will make their ADRs early and then change them if they need to. Thanks for all of the responses.

 

[goofy4themouse]

jaksmommy,

We are staying at POP the same time that you are. If it will make you feel better, I was calling in April for ADRs and some of our choices were already booked. Good luck to you that you can fill the rest of your schedule.

 

[Snow_White]

I meant to say I booked in May the reservation for our trip at the end of September. (does that make sense, it still sounds funny). We will be staying at POP Sep. 22-29. I will try some resort restaurants, I never thought of that. And, hopefully, I can pick up one or two at the 45 day mark. I just hope people will make their ADRs early and then change them if they need to. Thanks for all of the responses.

That is the nearly the exact same time I am going and I am still playing with my ADRs on a very regular basis! Of course, Coral Reef and Le Cellier have been booked solid for months, but there are still plenty of restaurants with lots of availability (early in the evening too). Definitely try to make ressies at other restaurants. Some suggestions are Marrakesh (our favorite), Nine Dragons (another favorite of ours), and Chefs de France (I just made a ressie here for Sept 22 the other day). Other suggestions: Spoodles (at the Boardwalk), Maya Grill (at Coronado Springs), Plaza Restaurant (at Magic Kindgom), Olivia's (at Old Key West), Raglan Road (at Downtown Disney, I just booked a ressie here last week!). There are lots more, but that should give you a good starting point!

Trust me, you will be able to get PLENTY of reservations if you're willing to be flexible!

 

[Amyrlin]

Okay, so I am one of those people that will research something to death. I was trying not to be anal this year , so I booked our ressies in May or so and relaxed. Well, I didn't realize until this week that I needed to make dining reservations (our first time at Disney) and now there is nothing available. So far I have tried 3 restaurants, and they are either booked solid or only available after 9pm. So, if you are reading this and don't have your ADRs yet, please, please don't wait! Hopefully something will open up between now and the end of April!

If you are not going until next April you really do not need to worry, you cannot book the resturants yet, it is too soon, you are not at the 180 day window yet!

 

[DISNEYGIRL0811]

I may be cancelling our Crystal Palace Character Breakfast Reservations for 9/27 at 10:15am, if you may be interested in breakfast. We already have a resevation there earlier in the week.

 

[aristocat]

So far I have tried 3 restaurants, and they are either booked solid or only available after 9pm.

which 3 restaurants did you try?

there is still hope if you happened to choose 3 of the most popular restaurants that book up way in advance anyways.

 

[StrollPatrolMom]

jaksmommy,

We are staying at POP the same time that you are. If it will make you feel better, I was calling in April for ADRs and some of our choices were already booked. Good luck to you that you can fill the rest of your schedule.

Us too, we booked our trip THE first day free dining was open to the general public and made most of our ADR's at that point, we had to juggle stuff around to get the ressies we really wanted. I'd say keep trying, and keep an open mind...we're going the 20th to the 27th of Sept and last week I was able to get Boma, Narcosses, and Crystal Palace....some of those weren't my "1st choice
" of what I wanted when I called, but I was happy to get them!

 

[MickeyNicki]

Here are my suggestions

1. Try the resort restaurants too, there are some great places that are not in the park. Also, head to DTD, there are so many to choose from there has to be something open for you.

2. Try your big meal for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner. CP and Cape May Breakfast are two fantastic meals! Le Cellier for lunch is to die for!

3. Be very flexible with the time you want to eat.