Popular Restaurants Showing No Availability even 180 days out

[mjh31183]

I'm noticing that restaurants like Ohana, Beaches & Cream, Be Out Guest (all the most popular) are showing no availability at all in the month of November for example. Even less popular times like the week after Thanksgiving. Based on my experience, there is no way that every table is booked by 10:00am central this morning. Breakfast you can do, but not the popular dinner times.

Are they not loaded in the system? Is Disney now making sure you have a resort reservation for popular restaurants? Has anyone else noticed this that's trying to book at the 180 mark?

 

[OasterP]

Many have said that they have been having trouble finding what they want at 180 days the past couple of weeks. If you are staying at a resort, it's 180 days, plus the length of your stay, up to 10 days, so that will cause some reservations for the following weeks to be "taken".

That said - I say just keep trying. I booked last Saturday or Sunday (can't remember now) and between then and now I've literally gotten everything I wanted, at a time I want. The only exception is the packages that aren't open yet, like Candlelight Processional and ROL. That includes the harder to book ones like Ohana, BOG, Akershus, Biergarten, PPO BOG breakfast and lunch, Garden Grill, Bon Voyage breakfasts, and a bunch of others. I even saw several of the afternoon tea reservations, CRT, and other "hard to get" reservations, at decent times. Just keep checking.

Many have had trouble with Ohana and BOG because they are two of the most popular reservations to have. B&C is just a small restaurant, so reservations fill up quickly. I would still keep trying - things will open up. They have been all week.

If there is something you definitely want, try the touring plans reservation finder - it's free and many have found it to be helpful.

 

[Hopefully]

Yes, the ones you mention could be all book. Some have had access to these ADRs for up to 10 days before you.
But I agree, keep looking folks do cancel as they firm up their plans.

 

[Dakota731]

The fact that reservations open up later shows that people are getting several restaurants for the same meal and then cancelling when plans are set. Something needs to be changed to prevent greediness where people who obey the rules get nothing and have to search every day to get a reservation. The system was more fair back in the days you had to call.

 

[KrazeeK120]

The fact that reservations open up later shows that people are getting several restaurants for the same meal and then cancelling when plans are set. Something needs to be changed to prevent greediness where people who obey the rules get nothing and have to search every day to get a reservation. The system was more fair back in the days you had to call.

What rules are being broken? There's nothing that says you can't hold multiple reservations and drop them later. It could be argued that such a practice is unkind/unfair to other guests, but there aren't any rules preventing it.

 

[robndani]

What rules are being broken? There's nothing that says you can't hold multiple reservations and drop them later. It could be argued that such a practice is unkind/unfair to other guests, but there aren't any rules preventing it.

They do have to be 2 hours apart (I think, or maybe 1 1/2 hours) so that does avoid a complete reservation takeover as well! I've had two reservations held for a meal before, but I also cancel as soon as I figure out what we need. Also, checking the canceled ADR threads here are a great way to snag a reservation. I've never found one, but coordinated a few I was cancelling with others!

 

[JerseyJanice]

OP, have you tried calling instead of going on-line? I would ASAP if I were you in case it's a computer glitch.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

The fact that reservations open up later shows that people are getting several restaurants for the same meal and then cancelling when plans are set. Something needs to be changed to prevent greediness where people who obey the rules get nothing and have to search every day to get a reservation. The system was more fair back in the days you had to call.

I was almost finished making our 180+10 Thanksgiving week ADRs when I called to make a BBB appt. I had a dinner ADR on one day and but found a more desirable dinner ADR on the same day, so I booked it. Since there were a couple hrs difference in ADR times, the system didn't automatically cancel my first ADR. Anyway, while I was on the phone, I cancelled the first one myself but apparently it was still showing up on the phone CM's computer. She (kind of sternly) told me that they ask guests not to hold more than one ADR for the same meal period. I told her I'd already cancelled the first ADR but she again "scolded" me and implied that there have been a lot of people holding multiple reservations.

 

[OasterP]

They do have to be 2 hours apart (I think, or maybe 1 1/2 hours) so that does avoid a complete reservation takeover as well! I've had two reservations held for a meal before, but I also cancel as soon as I figure out what we need. Also, checking the canceled ADR threads here are a great way to snag a reservation. I've never found one, but coordinated a few I was cancelling with others!

I agree with this. I understand the frustration of people who are trying to make the reservations not being able to get what they want, but it's also hard to know what plans are going to be so far away. I had two "extras" booked at first because they didn't have park hours out and I didn't want to waste a PPO breakfast on a day that the park opened early. I don't think that makes me greedy personally but it's fair if someone disagrees. I also had one that I cancelled and rebooked when I found a time that suited my family better. But I was also willing to keep looking for times and restaurants that I wanted.

I was almost finished making our 180+10 Thanksgiving week ADRs when I called to make a BBB appt. I had a dinner ADR on one day and but found a more desirable dinner ADR on the same day, so I booked it. Since there were a couple hrs difference in ADR times, the system didn't automatically cancel my first ADR. Anyway, while I was on the phone, I cancelled the first one myself but apparently it was still showing up on the phone CM's computer. She (kind of sternly) told me that they ask guests not to hold more than one ADR for the same meal period. I told her I'd already cancelled the first ADR but she again "scolded" me and implied that there have been a lot of people holding multiple reservations.

What if your group had wanted to split up and not do the same ADR? We will have at least twice that myself and one of my kids will do one meal and the husband and the other kid will do another. Like the party night - my daughter is too young we think, so it will just be my son and I. My husband and daughter will eat somewhere else. Though for them likely it will be CS, but I could see that happening for a family.

 

[disneyvoice]

The fact that reservations open up later shows that people are getting several restaurants for the same meal and then cancelling when plans are set. Something needs to be changed to prevent greediness where people who obey the rules get nothing and have to search every day to get a reservation. The system was more fair back in the days you had to call.

I just assume that ADRs open up because people's plans change. We have done MANY WDW vacations and I have NEVER had a trip where the the first "round" of ADRs I made, whether made at 180 days out or 30 days out, were the final "version" of our ADRs. Updated park hours sometimes make us change our itinerary to an entirely different park, new restaurants open, we might end up changing FPs which results in an overlap with an ADR, or sometimes we just change our mind and want to eat somewhere else or at a different time. It is also common for us to not know at what time we want to eat our "big" meal for a given day far in advance. There are times I have scheduled an early lunch somewhere as well as a late lunch at the same place because I'm not sure which time we will need yet. We have done the same with early vs. late dinners. Once we know I cancel any ADRs we don't want.

But I have also ALWAYS been able to get the ADRs we want within 10 or 15 minutes of our preferred time. I really don't think it's a big deal if I can't get exactly what I want on my first "round" of ADRs. I just "stalk" the system until what I want becomes available. I wouldn't expect anyone to only make an ADR if they are absolutely certain they won't be cancelling it. If someone is only checking for ADRs on their 180 day mark I can understand the frustration but with a little additional time and effort you can typically get what you want.

 

[Pumbaa_]

This was the same scenario last November. Hopefully it won't take too long for them to open more adrs

 

[DisneyWishes14]

The fact that reservations open up later shows that people are getting several restaurants for the same meal and then cancelling when plans are set. Something needs to be changed to prevent greediness where people who obey the rules get nothing and have to search every day to get a reservation. The system was more fair back in the days you had to call.

While some people may be doing this, it isn't always the case. There are many who book vacations and ADR's only to cancel both later. There are those, like us, who make a "best guess" on where we want to be and where we want to eat and then adjust as time goes on (for instance, on our last trip, I had Highway in the Sky booked only to find out later DH couldn't go so I cancelled. For our upcoming trip, I have a Tiffins ROL package that I'm on the fence about). Are you saying people have to absolutely set in stone where they want to eat at 180 days and if they book ADR's and then cancel they are somehow gaming the system and being greedy? How is booking something at 180 days and then changing your mind being greedy?

Back in the days when you had to call, Disney had less capability to actually know if people were booking multiple ADR's. Hence the introduction of the $10 no-show fee and inability to book reservations within 2 hours of each other. They've put in place a "day before" cancellation policy (and in some cases, like CRT, dessert parties, etc. even longer). Those are the rules that are set. How is booking an ADR and holding it a violation of Disney rules?

 

[rlessig]

We cant even find ANY openings for Sci Fi..... at 180 days out.

 

[robndani]

What if your group had wanted to split up and not do the same ADR? We will have at least twice that myself and one of my kids will do one meal and the husband and the other kid will do another. Like the party night - my daughter is too young we think, so it will just be my son and I. My husband and daughter will eat somewhere else. Though for them likely it will be CS, but I could see that happening for a family.

You just have to call. We've done this before and had two reservations at the same time

 

[amytaylor2]

I'm going week after thanksgiving and got BOG, Ohana, Chef Mickey's, and a few others. Could not get 1900 Park Fare or Tusker House breakfast. This was before 6:10am too

 

[Eric Smith]

I'm going the day after Thanksgiving for 9 nights and so far I haven't been able to get Ohana (dinner) or BOG (lunch)

 

[allsaintsatx]

While some people may be doing this, it isn't always the case. There are many who book vacations and ADR's only to cancel both later. There are those, like us, who make a "best guess" on where we want to be and where we want to eat and then adjust as time goes on (for instance, on our last trip, I had Highway in the Sky booked only to find out later DH couldn't go so I cancelled. For our upcoming trip, I have a Tiffins ROL package that I'm on the fence about). Are you saying people have to absolutely set in stone where they want to eat at 180 days and if they book ADR's and then cancel they are somehow gaming the system and being greedy? How is booking something at 180 days and then changing your mind being greedy?

Back in the days when you had to call, Disney had less capability to actually know if people were booking multiple ADR's. Hence the introduction of the $10 no-show fee and inability to book reservations within 2 hours of each other. They've put in place a "day before" cancellation policy (and in some cases, like CRT, dessert parties, etc. even longer). Those are the rules that are set. How is booking an ADR and holding it a violation of Disney rules?

Totally agree. The real "villain" of this piece would be Disney, not us. It seems like lately WDW is being just as bad as DLR is with releasing the "final" park hours, but at Disneyland you can make dining reservations in most cases mere days before your trip and find everything you want. Not so much at WDW where it's difficult at 6 months out. I don't know where I feel like eating dinner tonight, never mind November! For me, the 180 day meal preparation is the most frustrating and completely unnecessary part of my vacation planning.

 

[dakotajeanmarie]

We cant even find ANY openings for Sci Fi..... at 180 days out.

Lunch or dinner? I didn't have any trouble finding openings for lunch on several days.

Don't give up!

 

[KimBean]

I agree with this. I understand the frustration of people who are trying to make the reservations not being able to get what they want, but it's also hard to know what plans are going to be so far away. I had two "extras" booked at first because they didn't have park hours out and I didn't want to waste a PPO breakfast on a day that the park opened early. I don't think that makes me greedy personally but it's fair if someone disagrees. I also had one that I cancelled and rebooked when I found a time that suited my family better. But I was also willing to keep looking for times and restaurants that I wanted.



What if your group had wanted to split up and not do the same ADR? We will have at least twice that myself and one of my kids will do one meal and the husband and the other kid will do another. Like the party night - my daughter is too young we think, so it will just be my son and I. My husband and daughter will eat somewhere else. Though for them likely it will be CS, but I could see that happening for a family.

You could just book 1 ressie on yours and then have your husband have an MDE for his ressie.

 

[KimBean]

Lunch or dinner? I didn't have any trouble finding openings for lunch on several days.

Don't give up!

I could only find 1 "linner" at 2:55. After I booked that it was sold out for that day. Not much my whole 11 days for sci fi. It's odd. Got much harder gets.