Question about Deluxe Dining and ADRs

[cindernat]

Hi there,
I am deliberating going with the deluxe dining option for our stay next year.

My question is, what happens if you book this with your package, and when table service ADRs are available to book there's no reservations left, yet you've paid for them in your package.

What happens?

Sorry if this has already been asked.

Thanks!

 

[adisneyaunt]

Once paid, that's it. As far as reservations being gone... while the most popular ones can be difficult to secure, with flexibility and truly putting major effort in, you may be able to get some. There is no guarantee you will get every restaurant at every time and Day you want.
As an aside deluxe dining is s lot of food and a lot of time eating. Each sit down meal is 1-1/12 hours without ur waiting to get seated, and getting to the restaurant. Try and choose restaurants within rack park or location or close by. We ve done deluxe but only choose the regular plan now, using snack oftentimes at breakfast, a sit down dinner and a quick serve lunch. We use up all our credits and don't run short.
Best of luck and have s great trip!

 

[cindernat]

(double post)

 

[cindernat]

Once paid, that's it. As far as reservations being gone... while the most popular ones can be difficult to secure, with flexibility and truly putting major effort in, you may be able to get some. There is no guarantee you will get every restaurant at every time and Day you want.
As an aside deluxe dining is s lot of food and a lot of time eating. Each sit down meal is 1-1/12 hours without ur waiting to get seated, and getting to the restaurant. Try and choose restaurants within rack park or location or close by. We ve done deluxe but only choose the regular plan now, using snack oftentimes at breakfast, a sit down dinner and a quick serve lunch. We use up all our credits and don't run short.
Best of luck and have s great trip!

Thanks for that.
When you say 'regular plan' does that mean the Quick dining?
Only reason I am even considering adding dining is because I found a Travel Agent who can book me the UK resident deal (I am actually Aussie) and the package includes dining (although there is an extra charge to jump up to Deluxe from Quick dining, maybe I should just leave it as is because we are not big eaters.'

 

[cindernat]

Sorry let me clarify, I just realised the Deluxe is the 3rd tiered dining option. So what's included is the Quick Service, and it's an extra fee for the Dining Plan which is the middle tier one, and the one I was thinking of adding. Not the deluxe.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Even the middle tier, there is no guarantee you will get the Table Service reservations you want, when you want.

 

[cindernat]

Even the middle tier, there is no guarantee you will get the Table Service reservations you want, when you want.

Interesting. Guess it's the risk you take. I'm hoping late April is not a busy time.

 

[DisneyHardin]

If you aren't going until April then your dining window hasn't even opened yet, so there is no way the restaurants have all booked up. You just need to go online once you are within 180 days of your trip and make some reservations.

 

[cindernat]

If you aren't going until April then your dining window hasn't even opened yet, so there is no way the restaurants have all booked up. You just need to go online once you are within 180 days of your trip and make some reservations.

Yeah I know. It's just that I am in Australia so I envisage having to get up in the middle of the night to do this. Which is fine, you gotta do what you gotta go!

Just got the impression the the ADRs can be snapped up really quickly.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Disney don't promise anything of a Dining Plan other than that you get X credits, not that you will find them easy to use.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Yeah I know. It's just that I am in Australia so I envisage having to get up in the middle of the night to do this. Which is fine, you gotta do what you gotta go!

Just got the impression the the ADRs can be snapped up really quickly.

Unless you have your heart set on the "hard to get" things like CRT, 'Ohana, BOG - you won't have any trouble getting reservations for your dinners at a more reasonable hour.

 

[cindernat]

Unless you have your heart set on the "hard to get" things like CRT, 'Ohana, BOG - you won't have any trouble getting reservations for your dinners at a more reasonable hour.

Great, thank you. No I don't think there's anything special we really want to do other than maybe dining that includes VIP firework spots, I have a son so don't need to do any Princess stuff. Thanks, that eases my mind a lot

I think I am inclined to just go with the included Quick Dining add just pay for any other table service we want to try. We aren't exactly big eaters.

 

[1st*toright]

Not that this should influence your choice to get the dining plan or not, but it shouldn't be too bad to do your dining reservations - 7am Eastern Time would be what, 9pm for you? I'm also guessing that you could choose to upgrade your package from quick service to regular dining closer to your trip.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

maybe dining that includes VIP firework spots

The only "dining" that includes these are the dessert parties, which cannot be paid for with dining credits. There are certain restaurants that may have some fireworks view at Epcot in particular, (but also California Grill and Narcoossee's), but the Epcot options make no guarantees of viewing as only part of most eateries offer a view.

 

[DrunkJam]

We found it relatively OK to get the ADRs we wanted, we are doing the deluxe this time (so we can get a sit down breakfast every day, and then a sit down dinner)
Deluxe works out better value (IF you tend to eat the way the plan suggests) and, we are trying a few 2credit locations.
We used the regular (middle tier) plan before, and liked it a lot (again, YMMV) and did get our money's worth. But this time, the time out and chance to sit and refuel in places that are interesting and part of the holiday is extra important, as we need to make space for some health issues, and such.
We did make our reservations bang on our 180+10 (from UK), and got nearly all our first choices.

 

[Nancyg56]

Yeah I know. It's just that I am in Australia so I envisage having to get up in the middle of the night to do this. Which is fine, you gotta do what you gotta go!

Just got the impression the the ADRs can be snapped up really quickly.

Some can get snapped up, but if you know that you want TS meals, go now to price them out. You have time so you spend time looking at menus and costs.

 

[JZCubed]

Hi there,
I am deliberating going with the deluxe dining option for our stay next year.

My question is, what happens if you book this with your package, and when table service ADRs are available to book there's no reservations left, yet you've paid for them in your package.

What happens?

Sorry if this has already been asked.

Thanks!

Why lock yourself into the Deluxe Plan now?

Make your ADR's a

Great, thank you. No I don't think there's anything special we really want to do other than maybe dining that includes VIP firework spots, I have a son so don't need to do any Princess stuff. Thanks, that eases my mind a lot

I think I am inclined to just go with the included Quick Dining add just pay for any other table service we want to try. We aren't exactly big eaters.

If you're not big eaters, why purchase DDP at all?

The savings are often negligible, but works best if doing a bunch of Character meals.

Also, if you are going to consider a Fireworks Party, this is not included in any DDP, so you're out-of-pocket for this. So you'd then be in a situation where you paid for too much food (on DDP) and also paid for the privilege of 1000's of additional calories at the Dessert Party.

 

[cindernat]

You're right, 9am Melbourne time, so that won't be a problem at all, thanks for the info.

Well, in this package I am thinking of booking, quick dining is included, and there was a fee to move to either of the next tiers (I incorrectly said Deluxe in my post, sorry should have edited, would never go 3rd tier, would only consider second). Just gauging whether it would be worth upgrading the the 2nd tier. I think I've established from this thread, we won't do it. We'll just book 3 or 4 table services that we definitely want to try and just pay it. I guess I was enquiring now because this package (I think) incurs a change fee if you want to add/change anything, so I'd prefer to get it right now.

Ok cool, fireworks shows aren't included, so irrelevant then.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

 

[igrsod]

You will be fine. There are always reservations to be found.... even day of. It might not be your first choice, but you'll be fed and fed well.
Some are hard to get, so you need to book at 180 days out for sure.

A few years ago, my daughter made it into the American Idol show, so we had to arrange our dining reservations to accommodate her performance time. The cast member brought up all the day of reservations in and around HS. We chose Captain's Grille (had never been there). We had such a great meal there, that we've gone back every time since. We would have never tried it, had that not happened.

I guess my point is that there are always reservations, and to be honest, some might surprise you.

 

[cindernat]

You will be fine. There are always reservations to be found.... even day of. It might not be your first choice, but you'll be fed and fed well.
Some are hard to get, so you need to book at 180 days out for sure.

A few years ago, my daughter made it into the American Idol show, so we had to arrange our dining reservations to accommodate her performance time. The cast member brought up all the day of reservations in and around HS. We chose Captain's Grille (had never been there). We had such a great meal there, that we've gone back every time since. We would have never tried it, had that not happened.

I guess my point is that there are always reservations, and to be honest, some might surprise you.

Awesome, thank you Good points!