September ADR Chit Chat thread

[mommajo143]

there are lots of us following the September ADR thread, and I saw a November Chit Chat thread (thanks loveshak22 for the idea) & realized that in addition to posting cancellations we ALSO could use a forum to chit-chat and I didn't see one! So I started this thread...here we can freely discuss "other stuff" related to September ADR cancellations... esrciallt as we all close in on BIG D Day (Disney Day) ... Things like pros/cons of paid subscription services for searching for dining, & general questions about ADR planning

This is not a place to post your cancellations (still do that in the official thread) and everyone must still follow the rules of the official cancellation thread - no trade/transfers/wanted posts! This thread is NOT to circumvent the rules of the cancellation thread, but instead to provide a venue for discussions outside of just cancellations.

Thanks Pumbaa for all the work you've put into keeping the cancellation thread to just cancellations! I know it helps reduce frustration for those who are anxiously awaiting cancellation posts!!!

So, with that said, here's my chit-chat for the day...

We have a ADR for Sunday 9/13 at ohanas. Our favorite WDW activity is Wishes... So we realized just a few weeks as we finalized things with FPP a few weeks ago that this would be our first opportunity of the tri to see Wishes, because of NOJ Friday & Saturday. We have been stalking the Sept cancellation board ever since as well as constantly checking MDE website and calling Disney dining for an earlier time but no luck yet. Anyhow, we found an ADR at Citricos at 605. This would be an easy monorail ride over & back... But we don't know anything about this place and are really sad to give up Ohanas (a favorite of DH). Thoughts? Is Citricos good... And what about transportation - is it reasonable to expect to get there, eat & get back in time for Wishes?

 

[Mom2Stitch]

Thanks for starting this thread

I've not eaten at Citricos so I can't speak to how fast or slow a meal would take there. Wishes would be at 9? So if you get seated on time and it was a long-ish meal I would think that you would have plenty of time to hop on the monorail and be at MK in plenty of time for Wishes.

 

[mommajo143]

FYI, I think they just opened BOG to operate during the parties. I have been checking for dinner for 9/15, and it will typically only check until 6 pm, but today two reservations opened for 7 pm and 7:15!

The 7:15 for 2 people on 9/15 is still available!

Anyone else frustrated by this? I pay to attend a party but it seems you can somehow now stay past official park close without a ticket if you have a reservation...

 

[AgletWDW]

Anyone else frustrated by this? I pay to attend a party but it seems you can somehow now stay past official park close without a ticket if you have a reservation...

I read on other threads that you need a party ticket for those ADR. Maybe I'm missing something, but I paid a lot for these party tickets, why would I want to sit in a restaurant during the party?

 

[mommajo143]

I havent seen that but agree & would be less peeved by party go-ers opting to eat at BOG ... I would t do it, but to each his own.

My biggest concern was people without tickets still in the parks. We were there a few years ago before they really started doing a solid sweep of the parks and don't want to experience a repeat of that ... Last year was great - people were pushed out who didn't have tickets in an orderly but firm way & it was much more enjoyable for my family as a result. Way fewer stragglers than the party we attended in 2012.

 

[han22735]

there are lots of us following the September ADR thread, and I saw a November Chit Chat thread (thanks loveshak22 for the idea) & realized that in addition to posting cancellations we ALSO could use a forum to chit-chat and I didn't see one! So I started this thread...here we can freely discuss "other stuff" related to September ADR cancellations... esrciallt as we all close in on BIG D Day (Disney Day) ... Things like pros/cons of paid subscription services for searching for dining, & general questions about ADR planning

This is not a place to post your cancellations (still do that in the official thread) and everyone must still follow the rules of the official cancellation thread - no trade/transfers/wanted posts! This thread is NOT to circumvent the rules of the cancellation thread, but instead to provide a venue for discussions outside of just cancellations.

Thanks Pumbaa for all the work you've put into keeping the cancellation thread to just cancellations! I know it helps reduce frustration for those who are anxiously awaiting cancellation posts!!!

So, with that said, here's my chit-chat for the day...

We have a ADR for Sunday 9/13 at ohanas. Our favorite WDW activity is Wishes... So we realized just a few weeks as we finalized things with FPP a few weeks ago that this would be our first opportunity of the tri to see Wishes, because of NOJ Friday & Saturday. We have been stalking the Sept cancellation board ever since as well as constantly checking MDE website and calling Disney dining for an earlier time but no luck yet. Anyhow, we found an ADR at Citricos at 605. This would be an easy monorail ride over & back... But we don't know anything about this place and are really sad to give up Ohanas (a favorite of DH). Thoughts? Is Citricos good... And what about transportation - is it reasonable to expect to get there, eat & get back in time for Wishes?

Have you looked into using disney dining scout? For $4 it could get you the Ohana reservation you want.

 

[mommajo143]

If I thought it would get the reservation I would use it; I had a subscription trying to get a BOG dinner over the summer ... I ended up snagging a ressie on my own several weeks after I signed up. It was for the exact day / time I wanted - never got a notice from them or anything & was complete coincidence I logged in & one was open at that exact moment. I'll admit they were awesome about it & issued a full refund but that experience pretty much put me off on these subscriptions.

 

[ejgonz2]

I'm fine abiding by the rules but I don't get why we can't post what we're looking for or offer trades.

 

[mommajo143]

That I don't know- I'm guessing it clogs the boards up. That's an admin question I guess.

 

[milza26]

I just want to say the late ADRs at awesome places during MNSSHP makes no sense to me. I almost booked one but stopped myself. We never been to a party so why eat a table service during it. Especially since I have the same restaurant earlier in the day. My only concern is what snacks will be available during the party.
Also can we talk about why there are so few ADRs? I don't understand where they have all gone. I really wish to tweak a few times for my ADRs but no luck. Oh well I am just happy to be able to go to WDW!!!

 

[mommajo143]

I agree with both sentiments Milza26
1) I would not ever book a TS during the party. I will admit I have a 530 CRT on party night but we always do a TS before the party (usually LTT but since it is in refurb...) - we have seen that during the time from 4ish - 7ish the crowds swell due to overlap of partygoers and nonparty goers and then the sweep by CMs. We enjoy a meal during this time and *usually* by the time we get done it is just before / just at the start of the party which of course is to our benefit.

2) Im also extremely frustrated by the lack of ADRs. The entire systems is challenging and there is not any one good solution... I know people (including me) talk about the impact of free dining and shortened park hours but I have not personally ever experienced as much difficulty on ADRs as I have this trip and we always travel during parties and such...almost always during free dining. I think my personal situation is the reason it is so frustrating this go round - we are a party of 5, not 4, because we are taking my Dad to celebrate his retirement. I had all the ADRs I though I wanted back at 180 days but with park hour changes and FPPs now I find myself in a situation where my plans simply do not work for our group and I need to move things...but cant!

Like you, I am overjoyed to be going to WDW and what a blessing to be able to give this to my Dad and my kids (I am all about making great memories for my boys) but the odd number in our travel party has really created difficulty...

 

[AgletWDW]

You know I have no problem with non-party goers eating at a TS during the party, but I wouldn't choose to do it. For one if I have a ticket I want to be at the party if I don't I would rather enjoy another park, I would be uncomfortable with being escorted out.

You know maybe I have a different point of view on the ADR availability. I haven't been to Disney in years, so I'm not sure how it he availability has been in years past. Also we are a family of 5, so I never even tried for a party of 4. I guess not even looking I don't know what I'm missing. But I booked out trip inside the 180 day window. I have changed my plans a million times. But I was able to get pretty much what I wanted, including some popular ones. However, we did change our AK day at the 45 day mark and I had to give up my Tusker House breakfast. I have searched and searched and signed up for both Disney Dining Buddy and Scout and no luck getting it for the day I want. But honestly if I get it I'll be thrilled, but I knew when I switched days that I might not be able to get it back.

 

[supersnoop]

I'm fine abiding by the rules but I don't get why we can't post what we're looking for or offer trades.

There's another board that allows requests for DVC rentals, along with the normal "points for rent" board. The requests has over 17,000 threads. The offers forum has 42.

If requests are allowed, they would quickly fill up the board and serve no purpose. Nobody is sitting at their computer saying, "hmm, I have all these great reservations that I need, but if someone else wants one, I'll give it up." Seriously, many of the drops that are listed don't even get coordinated. Allowing requests or trades would just clutter up the boards and make them less useful.

 

[Vik]

I just booked WDW for 9/22 to 9/28 and started to work on ADR for character dining and couldn't find anything, at first i thought it was a glitch but after reading a few threads here i am starting to realize that it may just be impossible to book anything.
We went to WDW twice last year, once in January and then in June and never had any issues with ADR except for CRT, which is to be expected, but now i can't book a single one.
We are a party of five including my 4 year old daughter and soon to turn 1 son, the character interactions is what my daughter enjoyed the most from the last two trips.
Do you guys think things will open up as we get closer to the travel date or should we just cancel and reschedule for early next year?
We didn't tell my daughter about the trip yet and now i scared to, i don't want to take her there and not being able to dine with any characters.

 

[AgletWDW]

I just booked WDW for 9/22 to 9/28 and started to work on ADR for character dining and couldn't find anything, at first i thought it was a glitch but after reading a few threads here i am starting to realize that it may just be impossible to book anything.
We went to WDW twice last year, once in January and then in June and never had any issues with ADR except for CRT, which is to be expected, but now i can't book a single one.
We are a party of five including my 4 year old daughter and soon to turn 1 son, the character interactions is what my daughter enjoyed the most from the last two trips.
Do you guys think things will open up as we get closer to the travel date or should we just cancel and reschedule for early next year?
We didn't tell my daughter about the trip yet and now i scared to, i don't want to take her there and not being able to dine with any characters.

I think with some stalking you can get what you want. Keep an eye on the September cancelled thread, maybe signup for one of the services that search for you, and check the Disney website often for ADRs. You may not get the perfect time, but I think you will be able to get a lot of what you want.

 

[mommajo143]

I second what @AgletWDW said. I am the week before you and am constantly seeing openings for the week after our departure show up on the boards.

 

[my2lovedisney]

It's been nearly impossible to get any of the ADR I want. I booked back in April, so I missed the 180 mark but still. I can't get 'Ohana which I really want. And I've been stalking like crazy. Both party nights that we are there, there is literally nothing close to MK even open for a TS. It's really frustrating.

 

[madamszam]

It's been nearly impossible to get any of the ADR I want. I booked back in April, so I missed the 180 mark but still. I can't get 'Ohana which I really want. And I've been stalking like crazy. Both party nights that we are there, there is literally nothing close to MK even open for a TS. It's really frustrating.

What day are you going to MNSSHP? Have you looked at the Sept Cancellation thread?

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Try harder (PE teacher talk). You need to snipe. Get on the site and check A lot. You will get what you want and even have more choices.

 

[Vik]

Try harder (PE teacher talk). You need to snipe. Get on the site and check A lot. You will get what you want and even have more choices.

I will keep trying, i set up Disney dining scout last night, nothing came up yet and will keep checking the cancellation thread.
Worst case scenario we will cancel and book for early next year and eat the fees.
Thanks for the advice.