Oops! Missed our 180 Day Mark

[2019TripIdeas]

Very new to planning and hoping someone can give me some pointers here. We were waiting to finalize the end date to our trip and have not booked yet (though are ready to book within the week). At the point that we book, we'll be 170ish days out from our trip, so inside the dining booking reservation window (If I'm understanding this correctly....)

I don't feel like we have "that" many ADRs we want- 1 per day- and I'm certainly open to other alternates if our first choice isn't available. That said, we do have young kids (4, 2 and 1) so hoping for time slots that are within a "normal"-ish window (i.e. between 5:30-7:30 for dinner). Our kids are fairly flexible and could totally hang with eating early or late if need be.

Restaurants we're hoping for:
-50s Prime Time OR Sci-Fi Dine In
- Biergarten OR Akershus
- Spice Road Table OR Coral Reef
- Raglan Road (but open to other things at Disney Springs too)
- Tusker House for Breakfast ADR
- Be Our Guest for breakfast ADR
- O'Hana (likely for dinner) OR Beaches N Cream

Questions being: Am I going to be out of luck on those restaurants in that time frame (we're going at a "low" crowd time, if that matters)? Will I need to IMMEDIATELY call Disney and book once I book the hotel + ticket package or am I still able to go online and do it as if I would at the 180 day mark?

Also I apologize in advance if these are silly questions to ask. I've been to Disney World three times but never when I was planning

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

Just login to MDE or go on the website and look for the reservation times you want. You'll probably get what you wanted without any problems.

Ohana and Beaches and cream might be trickier, but you won't know until you look.

You are not required to book these at exactly 180 days. That's just when you can start.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

You can book 180 days out with or without a reservation, so if you are within 180 days of some of your days, book dining now, and just cancel if plans change.

 

[cmarsh31]

You don't need to have a resort reservation to book dining, it's just more convenient (because otherwise no one off property could book ADRs). You can get up and call each day to book if you want. We're rapidly approaching President's Week and then spring break weeks for booking ADRs, so I'm not sure when you're planning to go - end of January? Flexibility is always the key for dining reservations

 

[samsteele]

You can go to the Disney World reservation website and book right now. No need to wait until you book your package. Should you decide not to book that package, remember to cancel your dining reservations.

The tricky ones at this stage will be O'Hana dinner and Sci-Fi. Both are very popular ADRs. BOG breakfast may also be filling up esp at the 8am pre-park opening slots for the regular 9am Magic Kingdom park day opening.

 

[10CJ]

I would just go and start booking what you can. I would get up each morning and see what is available for that day. Do you have specific restaurants planned for specific days? Can you just book the bulk of the package and then adjust it later if need be so you will have access to all the days at once. This might help with Ohana, BOG and Beaches and Cream.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

As others have said, go onto the website and start booking dining now! You can book up until Feb. 3 as of today. Tomorrow, Feb. 4 will open up and so on and so on. Anyone can book 180 days in advance whether you have a resort reservation or not. The resort reservation just gives you the ability to book your reservations for length of stay at the 180 mark. Guests without resort reservations can still book dining 180 days prior to the day they want to dine.

 

[2019TripIdeas]

Wow- thank you for the quick responses. Clearly, I was confused! We're going from Feb 2 to Feb 9th or 10, but I was under the impression I had to book it all at once.

Also- thanks for the heads up on which ones may be trickier to get. Yes, we were hoping for BOG before park opening. Fingers crossed. Thanks again!

 

[Tksolomom]

If you don’t get what you want, you can try the Touring Plans reservation finder.

 

[unrequited23]

We are trying to finalize our dates--8 nights somewhere between 1/26 & 2/13--so I've been up every morning a little before the kids trying to get are ADRs booked each day without them knowing about the trip. Sci-Fi has been the tough one to get at the exact time I wanted it--the times were always 45 minutes earlier or later.

The big shifts in ADRs are at the times when you can cancel package reservations, room-only reservations and ADRs without penalty, so 30 days before, 5 days before and the night before.

If you have to choose between a time that is earlier or later than you want, I suggest you pick earlier since you have kids. It can take some time to get seated.

 

[dachsie]

I am staying offsite Feb 3-7 and yesterday and today, I have been able to book Cali Grill and BOG at 6:45am so start looking earlier than 7 and you will probably get the ones you want later in your trip

 

[2019TripIdeas]

Thanks so much everyone!

I got going on it this morning and was able to get 3 days done and was able to get BOG at 8:35 on a day the park opens at 9 (That's still good right?). Was also able to get Biergarten and Raglan Road for dinners as well.

Anyone have thoughts between which is a better pick on Sci Fi or 50s Prime Time? I think we'll only likely spend one morning/early afternoon at HS so the kids can do Toy Story Land, so would likely do that as a lunch reservation.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Arrive early for your BOG and you should be fine.

I love both 50's and Sci Fi. Totally different experiences. If anyone in your family feels uncomfortable about being joked with, skip 50's. Some waiters are less interactive than others, but some people get offended with the fact they are being picked on. It is all just part of the fun, but if it is not your kind of fun go to Sci Fi.

 

[Tksolomom]

Thanks so much everyone!

I got going on it this morning and was able to get 3 days done and was able to get BOG at 8:35 on a day the park opens at 9 (That's still good right?). Was also able to get Biergarten and Raglan Road for dinners as well.

Anyone have thoughts between which is a better pick on Sci Fi or 50s Prime Time? I think we'll only likely spend one morning/early afternoon at HS so the kids can do Toy Story Land, so would likely do that as a lunch reservation.

Congratulations on getting your reservations. You can go early to your BOG reservation, which I would do if you want to get PPO access to 7DMT.

Food is better at 50PT in my opinion and the antics can be fun (eat you veggies, what color was the soap when you washed your hands, etc). The atmosphere at sci-fi is better in my opinion, especially if you like cheesy sci-fi movies. You can’t go wrong with either one.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Thanks so much everyone!

I got going on it this morning and was able to get 3 days done and was able to get BOG at 8:35 on a day the park opens at 9 (That's still good right?). Was also able to get Biergarten and Raglan Road for dinners as well.

Anyone have thoughts between which is a better pick on Sci Fi or 50s Prime Time? I think we'll only likely spend one morning/early afternoon at HS so the kids can do Toy Story Land, so would likely do that as a lunch reservation.

So glad to hear you started booking your ADR's and are having success!

Between 50's and Sci-Fi, I prefer Sci-Fi for the theming, however, they're both a lot of fun, so I wouldn't be disappointed with either one.

 

[gharter]

Sounds like a good start.
I prefer Sci Fi to 50s diner due to the themimg, but both are good.
If you can't get an ADR you want, try touringplans reservation finder. It has worked well for us in the past.