So mad at myself re: F! package

[Music City Mama]

So, today was my 180 day mark. I called to make ADRs for F! Mama Melrose (I wanted the latest reservation possible for the package -- so probably right at 5:00). When I called, they couldn't pull the F! package up for that date -- she said that sometimes they're slow to load and even though it looks like the other 2 restaurants have been loaded in the system, Mama Melrose hasn't yet -- I should call back tomorrow. She finds that lately it has been taking until the next day for some odd reason to load.

WELL . . . I was just doing a search and came across the info that as part of the new computer upgrade, as of this week, you can now reserve "dining events" online vs. calling.

Sure enough, pulled it right up on Disney's website. Latest ADR was 4:10. If I just would've come across this info sooner, I'll bet I would've gotten my later time -- my call with the reservationist was about 9:00 this morning and I just found my 4:10 at 6:30 this evening.

I know, I know, only 50 minutes difference than what I truly wanted, but it just stinks that I was so on top of everything and this one thing got by me.

So, anyone wanting to reserve a dining event, just do it online, no more calling required -- hope that at least helps someone.

 

[catne]

I suggest you keep trying for the next couple of weeks with the online system if you really want a later time...people book & cancel these things often. Last time I booked F! I got stuck with a 3:20 for a summer showing at 9:00 PM. Well, I took it, but called back several days later for another reservation change & she offered to check for a different F! ressie...a 4:15 came up. Then a couple of days after that...so now at about 165 days out...I called back to see about a change on a CRT reservation & again asked if they could check F!. At that point, I was able to get a 4:55. So it does happen.

 

[Music City Mama]

Yeah, I was planning on doing that. Last year I had a 5:00 ADR, but about 3-4 months before our trip, I had to change our dates by 1 week. This time, I was only able to get a 3:30 ADR -- I called a few times up until the week before we left, but never any later availability. I thought at the very least we'd have to wait for a table 10+ minutes (extending the time), but nope, we were seated right on time! LOL

With being able to do this online, though, I'll be able to check more frequently, and fingers crossed, I get that later time.

 

[Music City Mama]

OMG -- I actually got a 4:55.

I had been looking for a later time for the past 5 weeks (about once per day), then started giving up hope and really was only looking about 2-3 times per week. The available times were getting earlier and earlier and figured if someone did cancel that there was no way I was going to happen to be online at that moment to snag it.

Well, I just happened to look about 30 minutes ago, and there it was, a 4:55!

It's true -- never give up hope -- keep trying.

 

[sharona]

Glad you posted this. I ended up w/ a 3:45 "dinner" for a 9pm show and am not thrilled with that. With limited showings while we are there, this night is our only option. I'll keep checking back for later available times.

 

[nkereina]

Is the soonest you can book a F! package also 180 days out? Do you book the "dining event" for F! package on the same site you book the regular ADRs on? thx!

 

[SydandPaige'sMom]

Is the soonest you can book a F! package also 180 days out? Do you book the "dining event" for F! package on the same site you book the regular ADRs on? thx!

Yes and yes. There is a section to book for the special events. When you go to the normal ADR page on waltdisney.com on the right hand side it will give a list of special dining packages. Click on the fantasmic one and at the bottom of the page that comes up is the link to make a reservation.

 

[SusanT]

I am trying to do this for July 2011, but it doesn't seem to give any options in July...there are no dates highlighted? Seems like it only goes through June. I have other ADRs in July. Does anyone know why I can't book F! package yet for July?

 

[Music City Mama]

I am trying to do this for July 2011, but it doesn't seem to give any options in July...there are no dates highlighted? Seems like it only goes through June. I have other ADRs in July. Does anyone know why I can't book F! package yet for July?

That's strange. I wonder if the 'dining event' online booking (at least for Fantasmic) was only a temporary/test thing. Because when I booked my June date online (which evidently, they only started doing it that very week that I booked), it was back in December. July's should've been bookable in January.

Since you're now past your 180 day mark, I wouldn't wait around for those dates to become available online -- I would just call.

 

[juliemcalister]

I clicked on 'Dining Event' earlier today to check out Fantasmic! for our week. More likely is that the Fantasmic! schedule either hasn't been set yet or hasn't been loaded into the system so it's showing unavailable.

Don't give up.

 

[juliebug1997]

So, today was my 180 day mark. I called to make ADRs for F! Mama Melrose (I wanted the latest reservation possible for the package -- so probably right at 5:00). When I called, they couldn't pull the F! package up for that date -- she said that sometimes they're slow to load and even though it looks like the other 2 restaurants have been loaded in the system, Mama Melrose hasn't yet -- I should call back tomorrow. She finds that lately it has been taking until the next day for some odd reason to load.

WELL . . . I was just doing a search and came across the info that as part of the new computer upgrade, as of this week, you can now reserve "dining events" online vs. calling.

Sure enough, pulled it right up on Disney's website. Latest ADR was 4:10. If I just would've come across this info sooner, I'll bet I would've gotten my later time -- my call with the reservationist was about 9:00 this morning and I just found my 4:10 at 6:30 this evening.

I know, I know, only 50 minutes difference than what I truly wanted, but it just stinks that I was so on top of everything and this one thing got by me.

So, anyone wanting to reserve a dining event, just do it online, no more calling required -- hope that at least helps someone.

I second calling back. While making my other reservations, I tried to make F! online but couldn't. I did end up having to call. I was trying to make July reservations but couldn't even though all other ADR's were open for July.