Restaurant Ressies

[Cristy]

We are going in September and are now trying to get reservations for sit down meals onsite. Most restaurants are not available anymore because many people overbook locations and later cancel. When is a good time for me to recheck for availability? Daily checks for four months seems ridiculous. We were trying to get Chef Mickeys for breakfast or dinner, Sci-Fi at Hollywood Studios, Garden Grill in Epcot. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Fivesacharm]

I'm not sure there really is a specific "good time." Reservations open up when people cancel them which can be any time. If I want something bad enough, I'll check several times a day...

 

[pfp258]

Actually you now need to give a credit card number to secure a reservation at sit down dinners. I am sure that this is so people do not overbook as you are charged $10 per person for not showing up for a reservation. Funny thing is we don't do Disney dining and didn't make dining reservations ahead of time (too hard to do with fast passes, weather conditions, energy levels, 15 people in our party etc.). So we have been able to walk in a few places or make same day reservations at some too. Last night we went to Sci-fi at HS. It was about 5:15 and we were a party of three. We enjoyed our dinner but noticed that the restaurant was only about 65% full. Lots of empty cars. (I can remember the old days when there was nary an empty car and the place was hopping!). Several cars remained empty the entire time we were at dinner. The server said they were most likely for reservations. Seems crazy as when we left I heard them tell a family of five they were no longer taking walk ins only guests that had a reservation. We also noticed this at Tonys in MK, Turf club at Saratoga Springs, Tusker House at AK. They were turning away walk ins but they had lots of empty tables "for reservations"

 

[lizard1]

I think a lot of the overbooking has been eliminated due to the credit card guarantee along with the system most times not allowing a person to have 2 overlapping reservations.

I have heard that if you are looking for a reservation that a good time to check (aside from all of the time) is 45 days prior as that is when final payments are due for packages and many will cancel then if they have to.

 

[JandD75]

Can't give any advice on getting reservations, but we have had good luck as walk-ins. Also, have a second-choice restaurant, just in case. We have gotten some great meals at our 'back-up' choices!

 

[purple figment]

All of September is included in free dining so reservations will be harder to find and the 3 places you mentioned are among the more popular restaurants. Also reservations for September have been available since early March so some places have been fully booked for months.

While it is time consuming to check online every day it is a matter of how badly you want to eat at a particular restaurant. At this point you are hoping for cancellations which go back into the system almost immediately so it's a matter of being online checking just as a cancellation re-enters the system.

You can also subscribe to the September cancellation thread on the Dining Reservations board:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3251535

 

[Cristy]

Great advice and fantastic tips. I feel better about the situation now. Took advantage of the backup suggestion. Also, will count back 45 days and check it out and post on the other board.

I appreciate all your help.

Can't believe that people can be so selfish that they make multiple ressies at different restaurants for the same meal. You would think that WDW would release the table if the people were 15 minutes late!

 

[apicozzi]

Can't believe that people can be so selfish that they make multiple ressies at different restaurants for the same meal. You would think that WDW would release the table if the people were 15 minutes late!

Disney has taken steps to eliminate this practice - when booking reservations by phone or on the MDE app/online, if you already have a reservation booked on that day/timeframe, it asks if you want to cancel your other reservation or not move forward with booking the new one - it does not allow you to book two. I think you're dealing more with MANY people booking reservations because of free dining, not people booking multiple reservations.

 

[Cristy]

Sorry, I didn't clarify. I made my ressies by phone and the cm told me they take multiple ressies on the phone for about the same meal time at different locations, then the people who called check with their families and eventually will call back to cancel.