September 09 dining reservation successes

[Carys]

Hi all

I was getting a little concerned about September dining reservations after reading the boards and worrying about park hours coming out and so forth, but I managed to book everything I wanted for my trip just now so thought I'd drop a note to reassure people there are still plenty of ressies going.

The one exception was the dining slot at Tusker House for Finding Nemo reserved seating. We got it, but had to book for 4 instead of 3. If you're after that, I'd make it a priority (if like me you're type A enough to ask for harder reservations before going onto the easier ones )

All up I grabbed (all within 5 minutes of my requested times except Cali Grill which was 30 minutes later than requested, and of course Nemo):

Cindy's
Brown Derby (Fantasmic)
Yak & Yeti
Tusker House (Nemo)
Narcoosees
Wolf Gang Pucks
California Grill
Crystal Palace breakfast
Akershus breakfast
Tokyo Dining
Coral Reef
Chefs de France
Ragland Road
Hollywood & Vine breakfast
Sci Fi Diner
Jiko
Hoop De Doo
Luau
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Boma
Wave
Citricos

Hope this helps to reassure somewhat

 

[SpectroMouse]

I didn't know there was a Tusker House/Nemo combo---please tell me about it!

 

[JMD]

Congrats. I can't call for my September ADR's until the 10th. The anticipation is killing me.

 

[Carys]

I didn't know there was a Tusker House/Nemo combo---please tell me about it!

It's very new- basically, if you eat at the Tusker House buffet restaurant between 1pm and 1.40 pm, you can get reserved seating for the 3.15pm Finding Nemo show. I figure this is perfect timing to go catch some of the afternoon parade following the show. Make sure you get the reservation for the right time though and tell the CM you want the reserved Nemo seating! There's no extra charge for the reserved seating. However, there are no characters at the lunch seating (there are at breakfast time).

I think the reason I had some trouble getting this one is I elected for a day which has evening extra magic hours at the Animal Kingdom park, so I guess it would be more in demand on that day...

Congrats. I can't call for my September ADR's until the 10th. The anticipation is killing me.

Good luck getting everywhere you wish for!! Even with 10 days deluxe dining I had to make hard choices about which old favourites to leave out in favour of trying something different - hence such shockers as passing over Le Cellier in favour of Tokyo dining!

 

[PrincessP]

If you make a ressie for 4 instead of 3, do you have to pay for 4??


I understand them not having a 2-top table for 2 and going to a 4-top (b/c more would be available). But what's the diffence b/w a table for 3 or 4? WOuldn't it be the same size table in either circumstance? Very interesting....and good thinking on your part to ask for a differ. party size.

 

[onejellyshelly]

What time did you get the Cindy ressie. I am hoping to get the eary ressie, but I cannot make mine until the 29th.

 

[twinmom06]

Very reassuring! Thanks for posting. Can't wait to make my ressies on Monday!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Congrat's 7 have a magical trip

 

[Crystal_27]

Great to hear that some of the ADR craziness seems to have passed. We'll be making a couple of ADRs on the 26th and hopefully are able to get what we want. Good luck all!

 

[Carys]

If you make a ressie for 4 instead of 3, do you have to pay for 4??


I understand them not having a 2-top table for 2 and going to a 4-top (b/c more would be available). But what's the diffence b/w a table for 3 or 4? WOuldn't it be the same size table in either circumstance? Very interesting....and good thinking on your part to ask for a differ. party size.

Nope, Tusker House doesn't have a cancellation charge, so showing up with 3 instead of 4 won't be a problem. 3s and 4s have the same size tables, the CM said it was just a quirk of how the system was set up that they allocate a certain number of tables for 3 and a certain number for 4. I read about people doing this before on the Dining board so can't take credit - I definately wouldn't do it for a credit-card-required reservation though!

What time did you get the Cindy ressie. I am hoping to get the eary ressie, but I cannot make mine until the 29th.

We went for a lunch at Cindy's since we are having an 8.05 breakfast at Crystal Palace, and got 1pm on the dot as requested Good luck getting your reservation!

Thanks also to other posters who stopped by, good luck with all your reservations!

 

[Olallamom]

I called this morning to get my ADR's for my Sept trip. I was a little anxious because I really wanted Le Cellier and Coral Reef.
Well I got everything that I wanted.
My trip starts on 9/3 and my list is as follows:
Boma
Liberty Tree Tavern
Yak&Yeti
Sci Fi
Coral Reef
Le Cellier

 

[Disneylover87]

I just booked all my ressies and got every single one and almost close to all the times that i wanted for 11 days in disney!

Tusker House
Jiko
Liberty Tree
Princess storybook
teppan
cape may
50's
cinderella
coral
marrakesh
crystal palace
Tony's
Hoop de doo
Chef Mickey
plaza
Spirit of Aloha
donald's
yak and yeti
raglan rd
sci fi
yatchsmen
narcoossee's!

 

[QTPie7375]

We are going in September but can't make our reservations until June 15th and I am freaking out that we aren't going to be able to get the restaurants we want! Thanks for the update!
Just out of curiosity...are you getting the free dining? and how are you planning to make it to all those restaurants, that is quite an impressive list!

 

[deslynnpatterson]

i am so glad to hear everyone is getting what they want I am really nervous for mine ressies next friday-- I have a longer trip sept 10-20-- so do you think i should put the more popular places towards week end? like Le Cellier, Ohanas? That is what i am planning on doing--- i can only hope it all works out as planned

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

We make our ADR's on the 14th. Glad to hear success stories again!

 

[KirR]

I am excited about being able to make ADRs next Friday - have a few ideas about where we want to go but the lack of confirmed park hours does have me at a loss. We aren't looking for any of the super popular restaurants (i.e. no character meals, no castle, no dinner shows, etc.) so we might have an easier time of it. Fingers crossed for all of us -

 

[kristen2276]

I am glad to hear this- we are going 9/6-9/12 and I was really freaking out, since it is not a long trip- I hope I do as well as you-

 

[shoes99]

Called at 7:31 AM this morning. Waited 4 minutes on hold.
Was able to get:
9/3 Teppan Edo
9/4 The Wave
9/5 LeCellier
9/6 The Wave for breakfast before we go on our cruise on the Wonder.
Table for 2

 

[jdd]

I make my ADRs this Sunday (7th) and hope to have such good luck! I'll post as soon as I know

 

[Carys]

Thanks for all the updates from those who've had success! Perhaps we're not so much in the minority after all

We are going in September but can't make our reservations until June 15th and I am freaking out that we aren't going to be able to get the restaurants we want! Thanks for the update!
Just out of curiosity...are you getting the free dining? and how are you planning to make it to all those restaurants, that is quite an impressive list!

Yup, we're getting the free dining upgraded to Deluxe, and staying for 10 days (with one person leaving slightly earlier so extra credits to be used by the remainder). When we're visiting from overseas it makes sense to go for as long a stay as our holidays will allow to maximise how much value we get out of those pricey airfares!

i am so glad to hear everyone is getting what they want I am really nervous for mine ressies next friday-- I have a longer trip sept 10-20-- so do you think i should put the more popular places towards week end? like Le Cellier, Ohanas? That is what i am planning on doing--- i can only hope it all works out as planned

I think if you think you'll have trouble getting particular reservations, then gearing the harder to get ones towards the end of your stay may not be such a bad idea. Afterall, why stay at a Disney resort if you're not going to use the advantages over staying off property, and I think having an earlier booking window is a real advantage in free dining...

I am excited about being able to make ADRs next Friday - have a few ideas about where we want to go but the lack of confirmed park hours does have me at a loss. We aren't looking for any of the super popular restaurants (i.e. no character meals, no castle, no dinner shows, etc.) so we might have an easier time of it. Fingers crossed for all of us -

I used the park hours linked to in the "September park hour" thread on the Theme park board, and it seems to be accurate about when the Fantasmic dates are. Maybe take those park hours and plan around them, and then when the hours show up on the Disneyworld site you'll probably be 90% of the way there if not 100%? It's really quite annoying they haven't been properly announced yet, WDW timetabling might be rocket science for all I know, but it's not like Disney hasn't been creating timetable "rockets" every month for the last howevermany years