Total newbie looking for advice from veterans!!!

[csmom2015]

So I am a total newbie when it comes to Disney Dining. We are a pretty easy going family of 4 and last time we were at WDW we used no advance dining reservations and everything worked out fine. We are headed back in less than 2 weeks for a quick last minute weekend and I just realized that on Saturday January 17th my son turns 10 and I would like to have a special dinner set up. But obviously there are no reservations to be had. I was hoping for Ohana (yes I know it's a tough one to get even at 180 days out) and wanted to make sure I am doing all the right things before giving up this idea. Do I just keep checking the website for cancellations? Any and ALL help is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[cantoine]

Just keep checking daily. You could also subscribe to the Jan cancellation board to see if any one is cancelling for the dates you will be there. In the past I have gotten both O'hana and be our guest a week before we traveled for a party of 7. Good luck

 

[csmom2015]

Thanks for your help! I'll just try to be diligent and see what I can do.

Any other recommendations for a fun place for a 10 year old b-day?

Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[lisahoo]

I see an Ohana at 9:50pm -- that's pretty late, but on vacation, my kids stay up pretty late.

Would he enjoy Coral Reef? Or how about Boatwright's followed by YeHaa Bob Jackson at River Roost Lounge? His show starts at 8:30 on 1/17.

You still have time to order a cake, I believe -- pretty much any TS restaurant is going to make your son feel special!

 

[ncc1701]

If he is like my nephew , the 1st choice would be ESPN.

 

[Trekkie]

Obviously there's no guarantee, but I've sometimes had success looking for reservations, the day before.

Disney's "You must cancel 24 hours in advance, or we'll charge you" policy encourages people to cancel reservations, the day before.

But it's a gamble, too. Obviously, I have to make reservations at a "Plan B" restaurant, in case the pixie dust doesn't work. Then I see an opening at The Place I Really Want. But, to make the reservation, I have to cancel my backup reservation, first. (Sometimes the web site gives me the option of "Click here to cancel the conflicting reservation, and make this one". But sometimes it doesn't offer that option, or it doesn't work.) So sometimes I'm stuck in the land of "do I cancel my backup reservation, and hope that The Place I Want will still be available, 10 minutes from now?"

But, yes, I have gotten reservations that way, too.