So frustrated with WDW dining for Sept/Oct trip

[tigger2on]

sorry double post

 

[tigger2on]

So I was online at 7am sharp this morning and got NO availability for any resort dining options that 3 kids under 4 would enjoy between 4:45 and 6:30pm. My kids go to bed by 8 so anytime after 6:30 and they become monsters! I could NOT get anything for 1900 Park Fare Cinderella dinner for 5 people at all for our stay between the 24th and the 27th until 7:35pm +.
I now have to wait til Monday to try and start booking meals for a party of 12 people for the second half of our stay even though we are staying on WDW property as of the 24th! Even the CM told me she didn't think it was likely I'd get much of what I wanted by then! My son turns 1 on Oct. 1st and we sooo wanted to do Chef Mickey's to celebrate.... guess that ain't gonna happen at this rate.
So not having a magical experience!!!

 

[tmli]

With the free dining its been very difficult!! One suggestion is to try for a reservation for 4 people instead of 5....it sometimes makes a difference!! Not like they will turn away one of your kids at the podium!!! Did you try the online system? At least you can see what is available and play with the dates/times yourself.

 

[Talock]

What worked for me:

Persistence: I made several different reservation attempts, going on line everyday, until I got the ones I wanted at the time I wanted. Always grab what you can get, until you get what you want. But, remember to cancel the ones you won't be using.

Flexibility: Using the date rage search I managed to score the coveted Le Cellier, although for lunch. It did mean we had to switch couple of things around on our schedule. So do a search for the entire length of your stay, and schedule around what you're able to secure.

 

[hockey mom]

Last year I tried for Chef Mickeys several times with no luck.

On our trip I thought I am just going over and see if I can get in. My Party of 5 had a table in under ten mins.:

 

[Fire14]

I had nothing but problems Thurs am myself. I took what I could get, played with online booking system got some things I could live with. Dh came home from work and called to see what he could do, got brfst I wanted at time I wanted, got CP at better time than I had and was offered lunch at Lecelluar which I couldn't get what so ever. This Am I got up at crack of daylight got and even better time at crystal palace and had chance at few other things I couldn't get yesterday.
YES all extra ADRs were cancelled with in 10 min of new bookings. so I'm not holding extra Adr's.

 

[Fire14]

Last year I tried for Chef Mickeys several times with no luck.

On our trip I thought I am just going over and see if I can get in. My Party of 5 had a table in under ten mins.:

I was actually offered Chef mickeys Thurs. I know they were dinner times but other than that I couldn't tell you because I didn't want it.

 

[tigger2on]

Not sure how they'd react to a walk in party of 12 LOL!
My luck is definitely that great!

 

[dancin Disney style]

If you look over on the dining plan boards there is an enormous number of people traveling around the 20th. I don't know why that week is so popular but that's why you are having trouble getting ressies.

 

[minnie56]

Disney need to start taking a CC for all reservations. People double-triple book and thus end up not being able to take reservations for those that are sure they want them! They 'say' their Reservation system is being revamped to stop multiple bookings but who knows when!!

 

[abirdd]

Free Dining = Booking Nightmare

From past experience, keep checking/trying for the reservation you want. People cancel at all times of day, and sometimes when you least expect it - the space you want opens up.

Oh, did you book via the Grand Grathering line? Have you tried calling them for reservation assistance for the much desired Chef Mickey's b-day celebration? I would suggest you give that a try... some CM's can work magic

 

[mickeywho?]

Have you tried the wanted/exchange link at the restaurant thread?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2189723

There's one for Sept and one for Oct. I know last Christmas it was pretty busy - we had booked a few restaurants thinking we would be down there Christmas week and then cancelled our plans. Instead of just calling and cancelling, I listed my ADRs on the thread and asked if anyone wanted them. They were all taken - I called Disney Dining with their names/phone number/party size and they switched the ADR to them no problem. I made sure they had the confirmation #s for when they arrived at the restaurant.
Might be an option for you if you find that calling every couple of days gets you nowhere. Many have booked their ADRs thinking they will go and will cancel before there is any penalty. I guess when you see how difficult it is to get ADRs you know why.
HTH!

 

[tigger2on]

Thanks for all the advice.
We do not qualify for a Grand Gathering unless we purchase one of the events.
:O(
Hoping for some magic on Monday....

 

[abirdd]

We do not qualify for a Grand Gathering unless we purchase one of the events.

Whoa - according to the GG Travel Planners I dealt with last week - you do NOT have to book any of the GG events to take advantage of their assistance. You should call the GGTP number on Monday, explain the situation about the birthday and Chef Mickey's. There are still some at Disney who make come true.

 

[tmli]

You don't have to book any events to be a grand gathering, I do believe you would have had to make the original reservations through grand gatherings though.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Keep trying....today I finally got the last ADR that I wanted. It happened to be the one place that we all really wanted badly, Teppan Edo. My DD and I had a discussion on how we could plan our day to go to TE for lunch and when we came up with a plan I went online to see what was still open. For some unknown reason I tried for dinner again and BANG there it was 6:10pm. I have tried between 3 and 7 times per day to get this one for nearly 3 weeks.

Thanks to someone for cancelling....

 

[tigger2on]

That's great ! So every happy for you.. we can only hope for a cancellation for 12 at Chef Mickey's eh???

 

[dancin Disney style]

That's great ! So every happy for you.. we can only hope for a cancellation for 12 at Chef Mickey's eh???

Have you tried to get more than one table? I know it's nicer to eat as a group but I would rather have separate tables than not go at all.

 

[tigger2on]

I was told by the CM I spoke to the other day that a table for 12 during Free Dining at Chef Mickey's would be next to impossible... even if I am willing to break the party up between 2 or 3 tables. The issue will be the time factor. We have 3 under 4 and a disabled 12 yr old who all are in bed by 8. so we need ressies for 4 - 6:30 @ the latest.
However... I now have all my bases covered for our party of 12... I got a Grand Gathering # today, the group dining bookings... and reg. dining number.
I just wish I could get someone to go online and check what availability is at Chef Mickey's for dinner on Oct.1....

 

[coastgirl]

Sorry. I can't get in yet either, as I booked through a TA. Did you use a TA? If so she/he might be able to work on it also. Also will they still be doing lunch? Maybe you could get a late seating for lunch?

It's weird. I got everything I wanted when I called on the 20th, though I'm only looking for a party of 4. But Sunday was a nightmare too I heard.

Good luck!