So sad for friend leaving in 2 weeks and NO adrs!

[ajwomic]

A friend called and was invited at the last minute to join her inlaws at AKL villas the first week of OCT. I immediately encouraged her to try to make ADRs. She did but all character meals were booked as well as most restaurants. This will probably be their only trip . Their son is 4. Here is the email I got from her....

I am so mad right now.
Everything is booked for that week with characters and she said restaurants are book ahead as well. What is wrong with these people?
Who the heck reserves that far in advance? If you are going for your frist trip...who the heck knows you have to do that? Or who tells you this info!
SO mad! I don't even want to go anymore.
Stupid people! Excuse the vent session but gosh you were right!

Don't take for granted that you know the system. Most don't. And for her, it was not her fault. Just found out they could go.

 

[HsvTeacher]

A friend called and was invited at the last minute to join her inlaws at AKL villas the first week of OCT. I immediately encouraged her to try to make ADRs. She did but all character meals were booked as well as most restaurants. This will probably be their only trip . Their son is 4. Here is the email I got from her....

I am so mad right now.
Everything is booked for that week with characters and she said restaurants are book ahead as well. What is wrong with these people?
Who the heck reserves that far in advance? If you are going for your frist trip...who the heck knows you have to do that? Or who tells you this info!
SO mad! I don't even want to go anymore.
Stupid people! Excuse the vent session but gosh you were right!

Don't take for granted that you know the system. Most don't. And for her, it was not her fault. Just found out they could go.

We're going October 3-10, and I booked our ADRs right on the 90-day mark. We were lucky to get everything we wanted. However, other people that we know who are going at the same time tried to book a few days later, and everything they wanted was booked.

It really stinks, but unfortunately, you have to plan Disney trips way in advance. A lot of people from our area are taking advantage of Free Dining falling during Fall Break, so my prediction is that the parks are going to be very busy.

Maybe your friend could keep calling back? People cancel ADRs all the time. Good luck to her!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Aww, I'd encourage her to keep trying once she's there. On our last trip we cancelled a CM dinner and rescheduled a 1900 PF breakfast -- people change their plans all the time. I hope she still has a magical trip.

 

[MartDM]

Tell her to keep trying the online reservation system. She probably won't get a character meal (maybe at a resort??) but I've noticed a lot of reservations are opening up now that I'm within a week of my trip!

Also, hook her up with the ADRs to swap post here...maybe someone will give her one of theirs that they aren't going to use.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Did she try for lunches? I was at Epcot one day last week and noticed that every single restaurant except Akershus and Le Cellier said AVAILABLE for lunch, and a few (like Nine Dragons) were AVAILABLE for dinner too, or at least LIMITED AVAILABILITY (which is more available than CHECK AT RESTAURANT). Every restaurant I ate at, except Narcoossee's and Sci-Fi, was half empty (but the wait for walk-ins at Sci-Fi was still only 15 minutes--Sci-Fi does hold back those tables in the back of the restaurant for walk-ins, anyone with a reservation gets a car).

 

[disney queen]

keep trying just like everyone has said. lunch! what an excellent idea!

 

[Kathy Z]

Tell her to keep trying the online reservation system. She probably won't get a character meal (maybe at a resort??) but I've noticed a lot of reservations are opening up now that I'm within a week of my trip!

Also, hook her up with the ADRs to swap post here...maybe someone will give her one of theirs that they aren't going to use.

All of the swap threads on the Disboards have been cancelled due to the fact that this is against Disney policy.

I would still advise her as others have mentioned to keep trying. There will be some cancellations and with luck she may snag a few. Here's a little pixie dust for your friend

I've just spent 15 minutes on the online system looking at Oct. 2-7. The only character breakfast I found was at the GF 1900 Park Fare for the Supercalifragilistic buffet hosted by Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland with her forest friends (Chip & Dale are pictured.) Several other restaurants did show some availability. Also I was guessing on the number of people. I used 4 adults and child, age 4. When we were down in May we snagged a lunch in Norway for the following day but had to do it at 3:10 pm. That worked ok with our DGDs ages 7 & 10 but I realize that a 4 year old won't be so flexible. If your friend is not familiar with Disney restaurants perhaps you could help her define which of the possible remaining choices her family would like.

 

[jenscottvert]

Many many years ago (probably about 12-13 now?) when I planned my first adult trip to Disney, I did my research and called in advance (well in advance) to make my reservations because for me at least, part of the magic is in the themed and character dining. So while I feel bad for your friend, it's not fair to say that first-timers don't know about this...they do...she just didn't.

 

[Eveningsong]

I have tried to encourage first timers to book ADR's early, and most don't believe me. They think they can just walk up and be seated.

I don't understand why first timers don't use a TA. There is no extra cost involved, and the TA will book all their dining reservations, etc.

 

[mchelle77]

My DH's cousin and her DH (and 5yo son) were supposed to go same time as us but they didn't want to make any ADRs. Her DH actually rolled his eyes at me and said "I'm not worried about it." Fast forward about 3 weeks and I find out that because he didn't want to plan at ALL, they missed out on the only flight they could take, causing their airfare to go up and have layovers. And I kept mentioning that people on here were frustrated about not getting any ADRs and those at the parks posted about signs saying "no table service", etc .. I said that they may not get to sit and eat anywhere, it could be all counter service. They've since canceled their trip and DH's cousin is NOT happy about it. (If it were up to her, I think she would have let ME plan it and be happy to go along with whatever I set up, she's content like that .. her DH, notsomuch!)

They've gone twice before, but not since the dining plan was created. But they were warned by me Stinks that their son won't get to go, now, especially when his cousin (my DD) will be there and keeps asking if he's going.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Definately tell her to try while she is down there - even for day of. We were down the last week in May (including Memorial Day weekend) and I tried for reservations for Chef Mickey for months before and kept trying until we left to go down. It was my 50th birthday and my DH's son wanted to take us to dinner at Chef Mickey's and he called while we were down there and he was able to get dinner one night at 6:30 (just 2 days before). He was also able to get Cape May character breakfast 2 days before also - but we decided to do Chef Mickey.

It may be impossible but I would definately tell her to keep trying. The restaurant in Germany usually does not sell out. There are no characters but the band plays for lunch and dinner and all the kids love to get up on the dance floor and dance. It's alot of fun and we love the food - for both lunch and dinner.

CS places to eat are not as much fun but if this is their first time down to WDW and it sounds like they might not get back - they don't want to spend all their time waiting to eat and eating. Eat fast at CS places and get out and enjoy the park.

Linda

 

[Danemom]

They should definitely keep trying, but your friend shouldn't feel that it will ruin their trip. They'll still have a great trip. There is so much to see, especially on a first trip, they probably wouldn't have wanted to waste a lot of time at restaurants anyway.

They should look at the counter service places and pick among them as they would have for sit downs. For example, Cosmic Ray's if they want entertainment or upstairs at Columbia Harbor House for a more relaxing meal. One of our trips we had to eat all CS, due to budget, and we just as much fun checking them out.

If they have their heart set on a character meal, maybe they could go to one at one of the offsite ones. I think the Hilton has one?

 

[tinka-belle]

At Epcot, Tutto Italia will open up the outside sidewalk tables for walk up ressies for that day IF the weather is good. Since FL rain is so unpredictable they don't book those tables with ADR's, at least during this time of year. You will still have to make a ressie at the podium and will have a wait, but at least you'll get to eat. Walk ups were being told last week that it's only for outside tables, all inside tables are already booked with ADR's.

We counted about 15 tables outside, and NO large ones, all 4 tops and 2 tops.

 

[Aimeedyan]

You know, those of us on the Dining board obviously feel a strong desire to eat at table service spots but for many many WDW guests - it's a time waster. Especially those who save up money and get to go once.

Her child will have no idea that there is a breakfast at the Poly with Stitch. How would he? A child will be so thrilled to just be at WDW, and see his favorite characters throughout the park, and watch the parades and fireworks, and the overpriced buffet that allows a character to come by his table instead of him waiting in a line isn't something he even knows exists.

Don't feel bad for them - be excited that they get to go! "In real life", I know lots of people who visit WDW and don't eat a single table service meal on site and have the BEST trip. Food is really not the center of a fabulous WDW trip.

 

[Allison]

Restaurants don't have to be a big part of the trip. If they are staying at a villa they very likely will have a full kitchen anyway. There is so much going on at Disney World, they shouldn't feel there is a void because of dining. There are lots of places to meet characters and the 4 year old isn't going to know they are missing a character meal.

 

[rentayenta]

She should call back and try for lunches. If she really wants dinner then I suggest going on the early side- like 4:30- and try to walk up.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I always booked 180 days out for all of our "must have" ADRs. I'm happy Disney is going back to the orignal booking window. I don't like the 90 day booking.

As others have said, have your friend to continue calling. People do cancel, but they must be flexible.

My mother took my brother's family to WDW last year. I tried to get them to book ADRs. They thought I was silly.(I may be, but not on this subject) Well, needless to say...they were unable to get any ressies... at the restaurants of their choice. They couldn't believe it.

 

[silvermst3k]

please encourage her to keep trying. my aunt took her grandkids to wdw as part of some conference. they had no plans, no adrs, no ideas about the rides or fastpasses. i gave her a 30 min. dis crash course on the phone and told her to buy some books to read on the way down. she ended up calling the dining ressie phone in the park i think, and asked where she could get lunch that day in epcot. the cm told her she could eat at akershus if she could get there in 10 minutes. she booked it over there and her grandaughters got to meet the princesses. she was so happy to get to do that for them. i now thank the dis on her behalf

 

[summy32]

I have a Tusker House breakfast for 4 at 10am on 10/3. I can let you know when I plan on cancelling and she or you could try to get it.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I really feel bad for your friend, but at least the ADR's aren't 180 days yet...I remember when they were, and saying I can't believe they want me to know where I want to eat & what time 190 days away---hopefully she can get something if she keeps calling or if she calls that morning. It stinks but what are going to do?????