Questions about Trader Sams, Din Tai Fung, and Fantasmic!

tahla

Earning My Ears
Joined
Apr 2, 2025
Messages
2
Hi everyone! Couple of questions. I went on the app to make Trader Sams reservations and it says unavailable and I am not playing when I say I was there the SECONd my day opened. Are they generally walk up only? I have never been able to snag a ressie and I never get alerts for them on third party apps. I was on and ready exactly when my day became available so no way every single spot was gone that quickly unless the spots are just that limited but still at exactly 6 I would be surprised if no time at all was open. We have done walk up in the past and it was fine but I am trying to plan around dinner at Din Tai Fung, which leads to my next question. From what I can see, reservations open 30 days before on Yelp, is that right? Have those been tough ressies to get?
My last question is, does anyone have any scoop on if Fantasmic will be running on weekdays in June? We are in the parks June 2 and June 3 (Mon and Tues)
Thanks in advance for any answers and tips!
 
Re Trader Sam’s - yes, the reservations do go that quickly. I made mine recently, and was ready at 5:59am. At 6am exactly, when I got to available times, there were TWO that were not greyed out, 9 am and 11:40 am. I took no time to snag 11:40. By 6am and 10 seconds every reservation was gone.

That said, we couldn’t get a reservation last year (early May date) and had no problems doing a walk up at lunch time. We were sat outside, but that was okay at the time.
 
Re Trader Sam’s - yes, the reservations do go that quickly. I made mine recently, and was ready at 5:59am. At 6am exactly, when I got to available times, there were TWO that were not greyed out, 9 am and 11:40 am. I took no time to snag 11:40. By 6am and 10 seconds every reservation was gone.

That said, we couldn’t get a reservation last year (early May date) and had no problems doing a walk up at lunch time. We were sat outside, but that was okay at the time.
wed be willing to wait as long as needed for inside....I just cant believe how fast they went. Im a ready at 559 kind of person I had actually been in refreshing before just in case and the second it opened I was there. But it is sooooo tiny it makes sense
 
I am trying to plan around dinner at Din Tai Fung, which leads to my next question. From what I can see, reservations open 30 days before on Yelp, is that right? Have those been tough ressies to get?
We had no isses getting Din Tai Fung via yelp for mid-April, about 2 1/2 weeks in advance.
 
I have a lot of experience booking trader Sam’s and I can tell you for sure that if you get on at 6 AM exactly it’s generally just going to be early in the day lunch spots available. The dinner spots released very randomly that night before sometimes at midnight, sometimes at 3 AM, sometimes at 4 AM. It’s very frustrating and you basically have to accept that you’re going to be up most of the night beforehand looking at all times trying to get it.
 
We booked Din Tai Fung at midnight for a 7pm dinner, no problem (definitely easier than when we got Trader Sams). Even the next day there were dinner times still available. I would still book at the 30 day mark depending on your party size and desired time.
 
I have a lot of experience booking trader Sam’s and I can tell you for sure that if you get on at 6 AM exactly it’s generally just going to be early in the day lunch spots available. The dinner spots released very randomly that night before sometimes at midnight, sometimes at 3 AM, sometimes at 4 AM. It’s very frustrating and you basically have to accept that you’re going to be up most of the night beforehand looking at all times trying to get it.

I didn't realize that the times would come out at midnight....is that only for trader Sam's or other places too?
 
I didn't realize that the times would come out at midnight....is that only for trader Sam's or other places too?
I am only talking about trader Sam’s. This is the only one that I’ve had experience with this kind of thing happening and I wouldn’t even go as far to saying that the times are released at midnight because that’s not even consistent. One time I was making reservations and they released the night before at 9 PM.

The only thing I can say is that as it gets closer to your date, just start checking the night before and all throughout the night. I know it’s crazy, but aren’t we all crazy here anyways planning and planning and planning away.
So you lose a little sleep…
 
This is good to know my day for reservations are the 21st so I’ve got a week to test this theory out. Any other tips?
 
I used OpenTable to book and got the date and time we wanted 3 weeks or so out. Very easy and they were even taking names for walk-up waitlist when we went.

To be honest though, we will not be back. All of us have enjoyed dim sum for many decades and we found the food at DTF to be meh at best. :(
 
My last question is, does anyone have any scoop on if Fantasmic will be running on weekdays in June? We are in the parks June 2 and June 3 (Mon and Tues)
Night shows (Fantasmic, fireworks, WOC) are every night from Memorial Day to Labor Day, so you will get to see Fantasmic :thumbsup2
Might even be every night from May 16, start of the Disneyland 70th celebration :idea:
 












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