Only late times available for Dinner

[jenrose66]

:sigh: I know this has probably been discussed before, but I don't see a topic on the front page and I wanted some people to join my pity party.

This is my first time going during free dining (9/12 to 9/19). I booked my Adr's about 2 months ago (beginning of May). I guess that was too late. I'm travelling with a 13 month old whose bedtime is around 8...yet when I booked my dinners the earliest I could get for a majority of my nights was 7:40. I've called periodically and there have been no changes. As a matter of fact the times keep getting later and later.

I'm just wondering what my chances are of getting earlier eating times by calling the day of my reservation, from my hotel. Or am I doomed to eat with a cranky toddler, or should I just switch all my ressies to lunch?

I understand that planning is of the utmost importance...however, how could it be that it is impossible to schedule dinner for between 4 and 6?

 

[DisneyKidds]

Some of the best meals we have had at Disney have been with the kids soundly asleep in the stroller right next to the table. Don't automatically write off those late dining times if your 13 month old is the type to fall asleep in his or her stroller. No, you may not do that at home, but the usual routines go out the window on vacation......and that isn't always a bad thing.

So I won't join your pity party. You don't really want to eat dinner at 5:00 anyway .

 

[bicker]

Changes are hard to peg: If you luck out, your chances seemed to be 100%. If you don't luck out, it feels like your chances were 0% all along. If you're really looking for odds, my guess would be about 5%-10%, but that's just a guess.

As DisneyKidds indicated, I highly suggest you plan on really enjoying whatever reservations you've gotten, rather than planning on a disaster.

 

[gigi1313]

to the OP, i don't know where you're planning to dine, but if it's in a park and your touring plan takes you near it during your desired dinnertime (esp just as the restaurant either opens for dinner or switches over from lunch to dinner) you should definitely take your chances of walking up, letting the cm know that you have a later ADR and ask about being seated sooner... more than once we were accommodated this way... it wasn't our "plan" to do that, but weather and circumstances happened and we tried and were successful all but once (out of about 5 tries)...

good luck and enjoy

 

[jenrose66]

Some of the best meals we have had at Disney have been with the kids soundly asleep in the stroller right next to the table. Don't automatically write off those late dining times if your 13 month old is the type to fall asleep in his or her stroller. No, you may not do that at home, but the usual routines go out the window on vacation......and that isn't always a bad thing.

So I won't join your pity party. You don't really want to eat dinner at 5:00 anyway .

I do enjoy a late dinner myself. I just thought that I had heard that not all restaurants will let you bring your stroller in. If that is not the case and I can bring the stroller in and he sleeps then that is fine. The thing is, my son LOVES food. Probably too much for his age, anytime he sees something that even remotely resembles food he spits his pacifier out and goes mmmmmmmmm!!! Even this morning, I was drinking iced coffee. He was badgering me for some. I figured he'd hate it so I gave him a sip. He made a terrible face, but was begging for more. Obviously I don't want to caffinate him....It was just funny.

 

[digitaldevice]

Late dinner at WDW are the best. I always pick between 8:00 – 9:00. Crowds are low at those times. Servers are not running all around to serve everyone. You can really enjoy the restaurant. Epcot world showcase is our favorite place. Food is a big part of our vacations as we like to try new cuisines. Were going to WDW in September with out the kids just to do some of the restaurants the kids don’t like and it free dining. What could be better.

 

[Snow_White]

Just call Disney Dining every day (or even twice a day) trying to get cancellations. I guarantee you will get some between now and September.

 

[bicker]

Well, definitely... something will open up for sure. As a matter of fact, if you're flexible and willing to eat anywhere, then you can probably get something now. Often, some restaurants, like Yacht Club Galley, Shutters, Boatwrights, and Maya Grill have pretty decent availability.

 

[aubriee]

I would just keep calling. People change their ADRs all the time.

In fact I cancelled an early ADR for Oct 6th at 'Ohanas just yesterday. (It was a two person topper if anyone needs it.) I was able to get Concourse Steak House for that night without any problem, but it was not availabe last week, when I tried to change them.

 

[estherhead]

I say just keep calling. I have a baby & 5 & 6 year olds and didn't want too many late meals. We booked free dining for Sept at the end of May so we were 5 months out when we made our ADR's. Then, of course, our schedule kept changing. Two of my ADR's I've worked around as I won't be able to re-get them (Whispering Canyon at 5:20 & O'hana at 7:25.) But I just changed our schedule 2 weeks ago & called every day (sometimes a few times a day) and got San Angel at 4:45pm and Tony's Town Square at 6:25pm and 50's Primetime at 5:15pm. So I say keep trying.

Also, I have asked at restaurants before and been allowed to bring in my stroller if the baby is sleeping in it. They just try to put you at a table where it will be out of the main aisles.

 

[sorul82?]

We had a 9:00PM ADR at Chef Mickeys this past April and it was great!

 

[tinaluis]

jenrose66,
I sent you a PM.
Tina

 

[brymolmom]

What restaurants are you trying? I find it hard to believe you couldn't find anything calling back in May...unless you're trying for the real tough ones.

We have little ones too and cannot do dinner any later than 7:00 (even that might be too late)...if I really want a restaurant and am unable to get an acceptable dinner time, I've taken the latest available time for lunch. This has worked great - a nice big meal at 3:00 or so and then something small like a snack or splitting a CS at the 6:30 timeframe usually works great. Be sure when you're calling to try for this too!

 

[deslynnpatterson]

i will be there around the same time you will be in Sept Last year me and my mom went-- and a lot of days we weren't sure what our plans would be and ended up cancelling ADRS and being able to get good times at restaurants that day. I think it's pretty much a hit or miss. I talked to a CM on the phone one time when trying to book ADRS and she explained sometimes if there is a time you really want or a restaurant-- try like a day of 2 before when you are already down there because a lot of times people will see other restaurants during there stay and think " hey i want to eat here instead" and then cancel there ADRS-- best of luck to get the times you want -- i know we are eating at LeCellier one night at 8:50 but from what i heard it will be well worth it

 

[wilde_oscar]

We went for free DDP last year, and did decent on getting resies... but this year, I booked all our ADR's at 180 days out prior to the anoucement of free DDP. Based on previous chatter on the boards, a lot of other people did the same thing. I would say, at the 45 day mark, when payment has to be paid, check that evening and early the next morning... this might take several days of phone calls... but that is about the only point left where folks might end up abandoning a reservation.