Please Help - new to WDW dining

[adventuregirl]

Hi Dis folks,

I am planning my first trip to WDW in July. I have friends who live in the area who will be meeting us for dinner one night. We are staying at the Grand Floridian, so I booked dinner with friends at Citricos at 7:30pm on the only night we will be outside of the parks, which is my preferred dinner time. It seems nice, but I wanted to try California Grill. Unfortunately, the only time available at CG is 9:15 which would be too late to start dinner for our friends. (I booked it anyway)

How likely is it that another time will show up? Should I check frequently to attempt to change the reservation? Is it more likely to become available as we get closer to the date?

Thanks for the help!

Cheers

 

[MrsDuck]

Hi Dis folks,

I am planning my first trip to WDW in July. I have friends who live in the area who will be meeting us for dinner one night. We are staying at the Grand Floridian, so I booked dinner with friends at Citricos at 7:30pm on the only night we will be outside of the parks, which is my preferred dinner time. It seems nice, but I wanted to try California Grill. Unfortunately, the only time available at CG is 9:15 which would be too late to start dinner for our friends. (I booked it anyway)

How likely is it that another time will show up? Should I check frequently to attempt to change the reservation? Is it more likely to become available as we get closer to the date?

Thanks for the help!

Cheers

Keep checking! Things change regularly. Just be sure to cancel whatever reservations you will not be using ahead of time so you are not charged!

 

[DWillowBay]

People cancel unwanted reservations closer to the day of the reservation to avoid the $10 per person no-show charge. I have better success picking up pressies closer to the date.

 

[Nancyg56]

Hi Dis folks,

I am planning my first trip to WDW in July. I have friends who live in the area who will be meeting us for dinner one night. We are staying at the Grand Floridian, so I booked dinner with friends at Citricos at 7:30pm on the only night we will be outside of the parks, which is my preferred dinner time. It seems nice, but I wanted to try California Grill. Unfortunately, the only time available at CG is 9:15 which would be too late to start dinner for our friends. (I booked it anyway)

How likely is it that another time will show up? Should I check frequently to attempt to change the reservation? Is it more likely to become available as we get closer to the date?

Thanks for the help!

Cheers

You got a great time at CG though!

 

[Hopefully]

Hi Dis folks,

I am planning my first trip to WDW in July. I have friends who live in the area who will be meeting us for dinner one night. We are staying at the Grand Floridian, so I booked dinner with friends at Citricos at 7:30pm on the only night we will be outside of the parks, which is my preferred dinner time. It seems nice, but I wanted to try California Grill. Unfortunately, the only time available at CG is 9:15 which would be too late to start dinner for our friends. (I booked it anyway)

How likely is it that another time will show up? Should I check frequently to attempt to change the reservation? Is it more likely to become available as we get closer to the date?

Thanks for the help!

Cheers

Booking an ADR you don't want is inconsiderate and may prevent a family that wants it from being able to book their dinner. Please cancel what you don't want.

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

On one of our trip my parents decided to come with us at the last minute and we couldn't add them to most of our ADRs. BOG was one of them. Once we were there I kept checking and everything I wanted opened up. We got BOG 2 days before. Just keep trying you should get it.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Honestly that is 1 of the best times for CG! Perfect for wishes! They plug the music into it from wishes and it's magical watching wishes from the top of contemporary! I would keep the ADR and just have your friends eat a snack or something prior to the ADR if they are hungry.

 

[kastoney]

We generally book all our ADRs day of or day before and California Grill is often available, but definitely not a sure thing.

You may also want to consider Narcoossee's. Food wise we prefer it to Citricos and similar to California Grill you can watch wishes from there if you would like.

 

[DisneyBrewingCo]

Personally I would cancel Citricos. I ate there a couple of months ago and I was not impressed for the price.

Then I would just show up early to the California Grill and tell them someone in your party was starving so you wanted to see if you could get in early. I bet you won't have any problems getting in for an earlier time.

 

[ariane37]

First, want to say DH and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal at Citricos in January, so if you end up keeping that reservation I think it's a good choice.

Second, as Kastoney said you could also check Narcoossee's at the GF. The food there is very, very good and you can watch Wishes from their deck

 

[adventuregirl]

Thank you for all the replies. I do not think I could sit down for dinner at 9:15 (I have trouble sleeping on a full stomach!) I will keep checking and be sure to cancel the reservation I do not use within a reasonable time frame. I really just want a pleasant place to catch up over dinner with friends I haven't seen in many years. From the reviews, Citricos has a good conversational atmosphere without being too loud or too dark - the key lime pie looks pretty good as well. The Asian influence on the CG menu also sounds appealing. We will be sure to see Wishes on the night we are in MK and hopefully another night or two at the resort. Either way, I am sure it will be a lovely time. I am really excited about this trip!!