Rank Difficulty of Reservation

[Brob2132]

New to the board, but we're getting ready to return to Disney for our 7th time this fall for our first stay at the Grand Floridian. Given the 60 day window and capacity limits, rank the following reservations in difficulty of order to get. This will help determine how we plan our week, and which reservations to target first when our 60+10 frenzy begins at 6am in July. Not expecting to get all of the top choices, but want to get as many as possible. Snagged our Boathouse reservation by calling directly, as they're still 6 mo. out.

Victoria and Albert's (still holding out hope it might open by the end of September )
Olga's Happy Hour
Be Our Guest
Luau (once again, holding out hope it might open by the end of September)
California Grill Dinner (sub if the Luau isn't open)
Chef Mickey's Brunch
50's Prime Time Cafe
Topolino's Brunch
Narcoosee's (sub if V +A) isn't open
Tiffin's
San Angel Inn
Crystal Palace Breakfast

Thanks for the opinions!

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Here is my two cents in order of easiest to hardest to attain with putting the closed restaurants at the bottom since I think they will be hard to get once they do eventually reopen. I put Narcooses, CG and Tiffin's all in the same category since they're upscale dining that in normal times usually you could get an ADR for.


San Angel Inn
Chef Mickey's Brunch
Topolino's Brunch
Crystal Palace Breakfast (don't think they're serving breakfast right now but that could change this fall)
Narcoosee's (sub if V +A) isn't open
California Grill Dinner (sub if the Luau isn't open)
Tiffin's
Be Our Guest
50's Prime Time Cafe
Oga's Happy Hour

Luau (once again, holding out hope it might open by the end of September)
Victoria and Albert's (still holding out hope it might open by the end of September )

 

[fancymouse]

Oga’s is the the hardest to get now. Topolino’s has been difficult too. Really any Character dining tends to be more difficult. V&A was always difficult a few months out even pre-Covid. If it opens with the 60 day window I would expect it to be difficult. Thankfully, I have not had a hard time getting reservations for Narcoosee’s or CG because fireworks were a big selling point at those locations. However, if fireworks come back I would expect it to be desirable again. Tiffins has been harder than normal, but IIRC Tusker House is opening so that should help a little. My priorities would be:

Oga’s
Topolino’s (I’d secure this and that way if Chef Mickey didn’t work out I’d have a character meal here)
V&A
Cali Grill (if fireworks return)
BoG
Tiffins
Chef Mickey’s
…and the rest

But honestly I usually vaguely follow what I know is difficult to get, but also consider what I’d be super disappointed in missing, so some of this is just preference. For example BoG was a total one and done for us, so I love that I don’t have to stress about reservations there ever again Good luck!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Oga’s is the the hardest to get now. Topolino’s has been difficult too. Really any Character dining tends to be more difficult. V&A was always difficult a few months out even pre-Covid. If it opens with the 60 day window I would expect it to be difficult. Thankfully, I have not had a hard time getting reservations for Narcoosee’s or CG because fireworks were a big selling point at those locations. However, if fireworks come back I would expect it to be desirable again. Tiffins has been harder than normal, but IIRC Tusker House is opening so that should help a little. My priorities would be:

Oga’s
Topolino’s (I’d secure this and that way if Chef Mickey didn’t work out I’d have a character meal here)
V&A
Cali Grill (if fireworks return)
BoG
Tiffins
Chef Mickey’s
…and the rest

But honestly I usually vaguely follow what I know is difficult to get, but also consider what I’d be super disappointed in missing, so some of this is just preference. For example BoG was a total one and done for us, so I love that I don’t have to stress about reservations there ever again Good luck!

I agree with this order and would also add, the later in your trip that you can plan the hard to get ADRs the better your chances will be.

 

[CSLucas]

of the ones I have gotten, from hardest to easiest:

Topolino's
Oga's
Chef Mickey's (breakfast, not sure about brunch)
Be Our Guest
50s Prime Time
Tiffin's
Crystal Palace (is it open yet for breakfast? We did breakfast there pre-covid, but when we went a month ago it was just lunch/dinner)

I've never tried to get a reservation for the other 5 on your list. Be Our Guest has actually been surprisingly easy for us. I think people tend to move that one around/cancel it a lot, whereas it seems like when people get a time at someplace like Oga's they leave it alone.

 

[Brob2132]

One other thought/question.

The way we have structured our vacation in the past is different parks in the morning and night, which would mean our reservations for dinner are at different than our park reservations (who knows what it will like in late September). I haven't seen any instances of folks being turned away with Park Hopper, but has anyone had a different experience?

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

One other thought/question.

The way we have structured our vacation in the past is different parks in the morning and night, which would mean our reservations for dinner are at different than our park reservations (who knows what it will like in late September). I haven't seen any instances of folks being turned away with Park Hopper, but has anyone had a different experience?

No one has been denied park hopping since it restarted.

 

[OpieDoodle]

Something else to consider is when you're trying to get the reservation for. Oga's is by far the hardest regardless of time

But then Be Our Guest for breakfast is also really hard because it gets you into the park early and at opening you're already towards the back of the park but the rest of the time it doesn't seem difficult at all to get into. So make sure you also consider the times you're trying to get.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

But then Be Our Guest for breakfast is also really hard because it gets you into the park early

Be Our Guest is not currently serving breakfast and there has been no announcement as to when or if that will return.

 

[Dis Dragon]

Beaches and Cream should be #1 on any list, that place dries up as soon as people are allowed to reserve.

 

[Brob2132]

Since folks are responding fairly quickly, one final question (it's very specific, so probably doesn't warrant its own topic). We booked our stay from September 18-25, meaning our window opens July 18th.

We typically book at a local Marriott (the chain I use for work) for cheap the night before so we can have our whole first day in the park. I was pleasantly surprised that the Swan/Dolphin were both available for only 50,000 points, so we quickly booked. Does this mean my window for the trip opens July 17th now? I called this morning and the wait time to speak to a cast member was over an hour, so I hung up.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Since folks are responding fairly quickly, one final question (it's very specific, so probably doesn't warrant its own topic). We booked our stay from September 18-25, meaning our window opens July 18th.

We typically book at a local Marriott (the chain I use for work) for cheap the night before so we can have our whole first day in the park. I was pleasantly surprised that the Swan/Dolphin were both available for only 50,000 points, so we quickly booked. Does this mean my window for the trip opens July 17th now? I called this morning and the wait time to speak to a cast member was over an hour, so I hung up.

Your ADR window opens 60 days prior to check in. If you are checking in on Sept 18, your window will open on July 20.

 

[yorkieteacher]

Ogas has been impossible this time - but we’ve been twice so we were ok. We have been able to modify BOG a few times so I think it’s not too hard. If you stay at Swan/Dolphin you can book great places there like Todd English Blue Zoo and Il Milano through Open Table- they are excellent if you can’t get some of your choices-

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Since folks are responding fairly quickly, one final question (it's very specific, so probably doesn't warrant its own topic). We booked our stay from September 18-25, meaning our window opens July 18th.

We typically book at a local Marriott (the chain I use for work) for cheap the night before so we can have our whole first day in the park. I was pleasantly surprised that the Swan/Dolphin were both available for only 50,000 points, so we quickly booked. Does this mean my window for the trip opens July 17th now? I called this morning and the wait time to speak to a cast member was over an hour, so I hung up.

The 60+10 doesn't extend to partner hotels or split stays (even if the split stay is within all Disney-owned resorts). So you'll have two separate windows. You'd be able to book for Sept 17 only on 7/19 (it's very specifically 60 days not just two months). And, assuming you are in one Disney hotel for 9/18-25, you'd be able to book for those days on 7/20.