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

[LisaInNc]

Keep Calling every day. I had to cancel a trip and plan another last minute and it is during free dining. The first time I called there was very little available but I called every day for almost 2 weeks and I now have all the restaurants we wanted at the times we want.

 

[bab31]

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

Try the Mayan Grill ( I hope I have the name right) ( not the pepper market) at CSR, It was one of the best meals we had - nice atmosphere. the food was absolutely great.

 

[dbmarie]

I would search here for the cancellation threads I noticed a few of them. Also try for an early dinner of late lunch I know those tend to stay opened.

 

[noseybuddy]

I decided last minute to take a trip from Aug 17 - 21. Booked it at the 45 day mark. Went and made adr's for dinner each night. Was lucky with 2 out of 4. Got Kona 6:25, Ohana 6:25 but could only get LeCellar at 2:10 and Wolfgang Puck Cafe at 9:30. I never wait this long and could kick myself in the butt for it. Been calling back but no luck so far.

 

[byoung]

Sorry but you have to plan ahead.

 

[tigger1bounce]

I guess I am one of those lucky ones. I just made ressies yesterday for our trip October 25-30 and got every one that I wanted (CRT for lunch, CP for dinner the big ones in my book). this is really the first time I have ever made ADRs so far in advance.

 

[liv4diz]

When we went in Feb last year, I couldn't get any ADR I wanted. Called back the next morning and got them all! Funny how it works sometimes!
Keep trying and have a great trip!

 

[oogieboogie]

sometimes, you may just get lucky walking up to the restaurants, or by going to guest relations in the park.

just last month, we were at MGM and I went up to the dining info booth at 11:30am, asked if they could check Le Cellier for 4 for lunch for that same day, and we got it for 12:50pm that same day.

you may also want to try for different hours - 4pm instead of 6 or 7pm, after 8pm, 2pm instead of 12pm for lunch - sometimes they may have openings around those times instead.

Also, if lets say you have a party of 6 and all they have is 1 table for 4 and 1 table for 2, take it - when you check in, they'll try their best to seat you together in one big table instead. We've done this many times, and we've only been separated once.

 

[disney_fan1972]

I think we've all made that mistake... then again I remember being able to go to WDW without any ADR's and make any I wanted at the resort, oh and to say "hey... lets eat at ____!" and just walk right up and get a time to return (befor 9pm!)

Keep trying, the food at the resort restaurants have always been good, and easier to get ADR's at. We got one in Aug for dinner with Cinderella and I called in June.

 

[MommySiobhan]

Keep trying back!

Last year was our first trip and the only ADR I made ahead of time was CRT, because my SIL had talked to me about not being able to book a dinner if you didn't call far enough in advance. I didn't know (Honestly!) that this applied to all ADR's.

When I was on the phone with a CM one day regarding something else they asked 'Do you need to make any dining reservations?'



There were openings but not at so many of the places we would have probably picked. Couldn't get any character meals either.

Once we arrived (August 21st during FREE DINING) I was able to make a few more via the phone in our room. We got one to Crystal Palace too. Basically that trip we had to eat where was left open. We still had a great experience.

This year I have been a planning geek, only to enhance our dining experience because last year it kind of was hit or miss. The character meals will definately be a plus in our family of 4 little ones and dh loves to try a steakhouse. (I'm a vegetarian, so this is not usually something I'm accommodating to when we go out to eat at home ) Point is, I'm trying to find something for everyone to enjoy which will be an additional magical experience added on from our first trip.

Keep calling back and I really hope some of your choices open up for you!

 

[HKinDC]

Oh, I know how it feels to find yourself hungry and without a place to eat (even amongst all the restaurants at EPCOT) at WDW. Last time I was there, I had to get a reservation for Marrakesh Restaurant at about 9:30pm, which was right as the park was closing! There was nothing available earlier, anywhere.

 

[fterie4u]

Have you tried calling back since? What restaurants did you aks for?
I agree, just keep trying, things open up, people cancel all of the time.

The resort restuarants are great. If you have any questions about any of the restaurants let us know!

 

[momoftriplets]

When we were there in Oct 2005, during free dining, we had to change one of our TS ADR's while we were there. When I called Disney Dining to cancel/reschedule, all of the TS places I was listing were booked, so I asked the CM to just go down her list & see what she had open during the time frame we were looking at. She was a great help. We ended up eating at the Maya Grill at CSR, which we never would have thought of on our own, but ended up loving. Those CM's are a wealth of information. Ask their input. You might be surprised with what they/you come up with. Good Luck!
Barb

 

[northie]

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!

If you are on the dining plan, even though Plaza Restaurant is a TS credit, it has CS type food at CS prices so you might want to pay OOP for that one and save the TS credits for a more expensive restaurant

Sara

 

[northie]

When we were there in Oct 2005, during free dining, we had to change one of our TS ADR's while we were there. When I called Disney Dining to cancel/reschedule, all of the TS places I was listing were booked, so I asked the CM to just go down her list & see what she had open during the time frame we were looking at. She was a great help. We ended up eating at the Maya Grill at CSR, which we never would have thought of on our own, but ended up loving. Those CM's are a wealth of information. Ask their input. You might be surprised with what they/you come up with. Good Luck!
Barb

That's exactly how we ended up eating at Boatwrights (POR) in Dec. It was very good and we will go back again! I never would have thought of it on my own!

Sara

 

[Snow_White]

If you are on the dining plan, even though Plaza Restaurant is a TS credit, it has CS type food at CS prices so you might want to pay OOP for that one and save the TS credits for a more expensive restaurant

Sara

Yes, good point. We always pay OOP for Plaza if we're on a dining plan. The sandwiches and ice cream there are quite yummy!

 

[Bellesmama]

I can sympathisize. I usually have all my ADR's done at 180 days but this time we are going with another family who is very laid back and was afraid to book too many things so I didn't book any lunches and didn't book dinner for the night of their arrival.

We would really like to take them to Ohana's the night they arrive so that we they can see the Electrical Water Pageant and the last time I checked the only ADR available is 9:40! What would happen if we just showed up? I've never done this before for dinner....

17 days and counting!

 

[Princess_Dot]

Don't worry, you will be able to get ADRs! My family started planning a trip in the late fall (maybe October? November) for a christmas trip. We were able to get ALL the ADRs we wanted! It just took some srategic planning. (We had some for lunch, some for breakfast, and some for dinner)

I would suggest at least two sit down breakfasts, and then eating CS for dinner. There are a lot of good CS resteraunts all over Disney! Try Cape May for breakfast, its a character meal, and usually has reservations avalaible.

In the Magic Kingdom we have always had good luck getting Crystal Palace (lunch, or dinner) and LTT (lunch) last minute.

There is also a good Pizza window at the Bordwalk. There are a few tables outside. You could make this a quick dinner and then get some candy at the candy shop there for desert.

Also, try Boatwrights at POR. They usually have reservations available.

On our last trip, we called early in the morning, and were able to make same day ADRs for breakfast at the Yacht Club Galley.

Marrakesh is a favorite of my family, and it usually is available for ADRs.

In Downtown Disney, Wolfgang Puck Express is a great alternative to a sit down meal. You order at the counter, but then a waiter brings your food to a table for you.

And lastly, at the Wild World of Sports, there is a resteraunt called All Star Cafe. For three or four trips in a row my family was able to just walk up and be seated. I'm not even sure if they take ADRs. It has some really cool sports memorbilia inside!

Good luck, and even if you don't get every sit down meal of your choice, remember there are a lot of good counter service options also!

 

[LWcalif]

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.

We rescheduled our trip from 9/22-9/29 and are going 9/8 instead. I've got several dining ressies that I haven't cancelled yet. I posted previously on this board and the LeCellier's were taken, but I still have Coral Reef, Tony's, Prime Time, Chef's de France & Jiko. I'm also going to post one more time and what isn't taken by a Diser will be cancelled. Send me a PM if you are interested & I'll give you the ressie #'s.

 

[ycnan]

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!

Hmmm, did the CM ask you if you will take 2 tables? I don't think you said how many are in your party. We had 5 and when I called the 1st time a CM told me the earliest Boma for 5 was 9:20...yikes! SO I called back 30 minutes later trying to book the rest of my adrs when the CM I was talking to this time said that for our h&V Fantasmic package would I take 2 tables close together , she then said she always says yes (as they have 7 in their family and they have almost never been at 2 tables) so she rebooked my Boma for 2 tables if need be and we all ate together at those 2 restaurants when we were there. never once saw anyone separated even with large numbers.

Good luck and keep trying!!!