Problem getting Dinner Ressies...

[Nancyg56]

Sorry, I guess my 20+ trips with making ADR when I arrive wasn't a good enough example. These boards and others are part of the reason people can't get in. People make these ADR's and then cancel them the day of or day before. All the paranoia spreading here is a little much. Book 11 months out, make all your ADR's, call day by day, etc. We all need to calm down a little. Because of this advice we are now all losing. People calling that day are turned away when in fact there is plenty of seating freed up from cancellations. From reading these boards you would also think the sky is falling. Do what you want, plan your whole trip months in advance? Call me old fashioned but that isn't vacationing. I like to go with the flow an see what I feel like eating or doing from day to day. Seems I'm in the minority.

I think that if you really do not care where you eat or can be very flexible about what time you eat, this is fine. My family laughed at me for making ADR's 90 days out for our January trip. There was no free DP at that time, but we watched many people turned away from the TS places we chose. My hungry bunch started to thank me after about three days of this scene. We knew that we could cancel or try to make changes, which we did when we needed to, but I can tell you that it was not always possible.
We are making our ADR's 180 ndays out this time around, and I will make changes as needed, but I know that there are certain restaurants we want to enjoy, and I will try to ensure that this is possible. No one is laughing at me this time.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We are going in September. Just wondering what the "free dining plan" is that I keep reading about. Thanks!

See http://www.mousesavers.com/packages.html#stayplay from Mousesavers for more information.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I called yesterday about our September trip and got every time I wanted. I suspect that that won't last long. The free dining will get a lot of people in during that time who wouldn't normally eat at all of these places, plus the people who normally do. It's likely to be crowded. Bear in mind that every time someone asks this question, 10 people are going to tell them to book now - and add in everyone who reads the posts, not just those asking the question. I generally prefer to wing it, but will make ADRs early for this trip just because of the circumstances.

At the end of the day, if you're going to make ADRs anyway, it's probably better to have *something* you like booked. If you change your mind the night before, you can try to make the change, but if it isn't available, at least you have one you like.

You must have called before I did. When I called, I tried for the Coral Reef on 2 different days and the latest I could get was 5:40. One of those days also had availability at around 9:00. California Grill I got the day I wanted, but not the time; Chef's de France was still fairly available. I've still got to decide on one more place, but I'd better decide soon or I won't get anywhere!

 

[CBCit]

Even without free dining I could not get one of the restaurants I wanted for our trip in May. I called about 60 days ahead. I booked an alternate choice and will keep trying.

 

[jessica52877]

I tend to make mine the morning of and with free dining last year I had a hard time doing it 90 days out and I was looking for mainly lunches. I am okay with eating at off times, so that helps a little and some places always seem easier to get into then others. If you are looking for a character meal I would definately do ADR, also for the more popular places. I don't like planning so much and I felt as if we spent a ton of time getting to where we were eating last year, but it was free! So can't argue with that.