Shut Out on ADRs?

[MSLRAC]

I was just wondering how many people, that have been online at 6 am or on the phone at 7 am on the morning that their 180 day window opened, have actually gotten shut out on a desired ADR?

I'm not going to lie, I was a mess last year when I had to make our ADRs. I kept reading about people not being able to get in here or there and that had me worried. Then we got caught in the change from 90 days to 180 days and that had me terrified. So I plotted and I planned to the point of near madness but in the end, it all went smoothly and I secured all 21 TS meals that we wanted...including LeCellier, Ohana and CM.

I've not been worried at all in planning our next trip. I have our list of meals ready and I've not given any thought to any other options. But now, I am seeing those threads again and I'm starting to worry just a bit. Do I need to worry? Is there really and truly a chance of getting shut out if I am up and ready to book at 6 am the morning our window opens?

 

[MHSweb79]

You should always have some backups in mind. For example, don't rely on getting a LeCellier at 6pm on a specific day. Can you do lunch? Or a different day? If not, is there another Epcot restaurant you'd consider for 6pm on that day?

I don't believe Disney opens up ALL available tables at 180 days so yes, you can get shut out of your ideal places and/ or times. Also, special things like the Fantasmic dinner package can book up very quickly, even if you are calling at 180 days out.

I always have a backup ADR to request for each park day, just in case. Once you get your ADR's, you can always keep trying to make them better. It's very easy to do with the online system. Flexibility is they key to getting everything you want.

 

[gem21]

I technically only had one.. 'Ohana's, but it appears that no one is able to get a reservation (refurb going on before my date)... so I'm not really counting that one.

I was easily able to get Le Cellier (actually a couple of times and I switched to lunch about 2 weeks after my 180 with no problem), and CRT dinner (about 10am on my 180 day, as I had friends staying and were not waking them up at 6am)...

Granted I am going in Jan, and it was even before they annouce the FD...

Good Luck, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

 

[snykymom]

Many of these threads today have to do with getting ADRs for the Candlelight Processional package; booking for those just opened today and can only be booked by phone.

If you're just looking for regular ADRs, and not special packages, you can also book them online. I find that to be much easier & I can also play around a bit with specific times.

 

[2Tiggies]

The 90 day window that was in effect last year made it much more difficult to get ADRs. There has been a very noticable lift in the pressure on making reservations since they reverted back to the 180 days.

I do keep at least one back up for each reservation, as well as alternative times if my requested time frame is not available. This year I didnt touch the backup list - at all! Don't worry about it. It is too easy to get caught up in someone else's panic on a thread.

All the best. I hope you get all the ones you want. If you are booking at 180 days you should not have a problem.

 

[princessmom29]

I have been shut out of the Mama Melrose Fantasmic package twice, Le Cellier once, Ohana once, and CRT once. We go over Thanksgiving so it is a busier time. This year we were going to do Mardi Gas and just changed our adtes back ot Thanksgiving a couple of weeks ago. I am so obseeive that i had th ADR's booked before I agreed to change the trip. I go shut out of a lot, but have been able to pick up Le Cellier, Ohana, Akerhus, and Croal Reef over the last few days. I think I am done messing with things. I wanted CRT, but it doesn't look like it is gonig to happen, and I am ready to have plans finalized.

 

[ktlm]

Back just before the online system, the only one I had trouble with on the early morning call was CRT. I was not completely shut out, but there was only 1 time available for either breakfast or lunch the entire week we were at WDW...so I had to rearrange our park days and we had lunch at CRT at 2:30 on a Thursday! I have not had any trouble on our 2 trips since the online system was put in place.

 

[figment_jii]

We've also had problems (for Le Cellier), but one of the big things to remember is that the window opens for everyone (general public) 180-days in advance, but people with reservations (hotel) can actually make reservations for the length of their stay starting on their 180-day mark from check-in. This means that at the 180-day mark, some people have been able to make reservations for that day for the past 10-day (or so). We usually stayed for 11 or 12-days, so we were usually able to make ADR for places on the second half the trip, but had trouble getting ADRs for the first half.

 

[SciGirl]

I called at 180 days at 7 am and could not get LeCellier at any time on 4 different days. I have no idea who is taking all the ADRs lol. And I couldn't get Chef Mickey's on the day I wanted. But other than that, it's been ok.

 

[MSLRAC]

Thanks for the replies! I think that I am not obsessing this time because everything on our list is super flexible. We can change days, times and restaurants for everything if we have to. We also won't be going fro any of the special packages, we eat at off times and we don't want anything super popular. So I think we'll be OK even if we are traveling at a busier time of the year.

 

[eyor44]

I have always gotten exactly what I wanted with one exception, Fantasmic Package one year. But, I didn't try to schedule at the 90 day window.

 

[goofy4tink]

The only time it has been an issue for me was last summer. We arrived at the Dolphin two days before free dining started. So, couldn't make those 180 day ADRs. Had to wait until the day we moved to BWV...which was the first day of free dining. Everyone was booking on that day!!! It was crazy. There were some days that I had to be really flexible on where and when I wanted to eat.
But, other than that, the vast majority of the time I am able to get pretty much whatever I want. Even Thursday...got the CP pkg I wanted.

 

[DW2010]

Out of the ones I tried, the only reservation I could not get at 180 days out was Le Cellier for dinner. BUT I was able to book it just a couple of weeks ago for our September trip (although I decided not to) .

 

[Dawna]

Couldn't get Le Cellier for dinner at 180 day mark at 7am on any day of our week vacation! Next year when it is 2 TS credits, maybe we will have more luck.

 

[2Tiggies]

Couldn't get Le Cellier for dinner at 180 day mark at 7am on any day of our week vacation! Next year when it is 2 TS credits, maybe we will have more luck.

Keep looking. People cancel.

 

[hart6066]

We go between Christmas and New Year's every year--THE busiest time, and (knock on wood) I've always been able to get everything I wanted--at normal times. We're a party of 4 who like to eat dinner around 6:45/7 and I've always been able to get Le Cellier, CRT, etc. This year the only thing I couldn't get at the 180 day mark was Coral Reef--which was a BIG surprise--but I've since been able to get one for a little later than we want, and will keep looking on line for a better time.

I also think the on line system is much better--it is MUCH easier to use than last year's one, and you can do it in the middle of the night!!!

Good luck!