Trader Sam's ressies

[chicagodisneyguy]

I know this has been asked before but looking to see if anything has changed. What time Cali time does Trader Sam's (and DL in general) release reservations? I know they go super quick and it's somewhat luck to snag one, but hoping for a table of 3 on our arrival day.

Also, for Trader Sam's is it like WDW where a party of 3 will sometimes actually find more reservations if they select a party of 4? Or will searching for 3 ppl yield the same results?

Thanks!

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

I made reservations a few weeks ago for early July and this was my experience (note I am staying at DLH, I don’t know if that made a difference). I started checking at 9pm pacific since I’ve seen times released that early in the past. Checked every so often until a little after midnight and still nothing. Fell asleep (unintentionally) and woke up around 1:00 am and had my choice of times. The time stamp on my email confirmation is 1:03 am pacific.

Don’t know if number of people makes a difference, my reservation was for 2 people.

ETA: this is for Trader Sam’s only, they generally release other dining at 6 am pacific

 

[Pluto468]

I've been able to get it by having the Trader Sam's page open and reloading starting at 5:59 am PST.

 

[maleficent55]

I’ve gotten trader Sam’s reservations at 9pm the night BEFORE, so at 61 days…

Also at around midnight and 3am and 4am

It’s frustrating.

Especially when I have to work at 0600 because it’s like a loss of a nights sleep checking constantly

 

[DizMe]

If your party is relatively small and you're not going at a super crowded time, it's not hard to get a walk-up reservation. I sometimes check in at the podium earlier in the day and ask if it would be possible to get in later. I've always gotten in, but I'm not worried about missing rides and I'm usually a party of 2.

They have a thing on the app where you can try for a walk-up reservation but you have to be within fairly close proximity to the restaurant.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

I’ve gotten trader Sam’s reservations at 9pm the night BEFORE, so at 61 days…

Also at around midnight and 3am and 4pm

It’s frustrating.

Especially when I have to work at 0600 because it’s like a loss of a nights sleep checking constantly

Did you grab these ressies via the app or desktop? Tomorrow's my ressie day for the day we'd like to visit so will try tonight.

Appreciate all the replies so far!

 

[maleficent55]

Did you grab these ressies via the app or desktop? Tomorrow's my ressie day for the day we'd like to visit so will try tonight.

Appreciate all the replies so far!

Sorry I meant midnight, 3am and 4AM

All from the app

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Man those ressies go fast! I woke up several times last night and checked each time to see if they loaded the next day to the calendar and never did. I'd say I checked 5 times between 12:30am and 3:30am pst. We're staying in the DVC tower so thought maybe with onsite we might get lucky. I got up a little before 4am pst and kept refreshing every few minutes. Finally we got to 6am pst and refreshed and the day I wanted populated in the calendar. Unfortunately I accidentally hit F5 again and that 3 or 4 seconds slowed me down. The only reservations for a table of 4 were too early (arrival day) or after the 8pm 21 or older cutoff.

I figured I would keep refreshing in case someone who had the reservation in their "cart" didn't book all the way. Low and behold right at the 6:10am pst a 3:05pm for 4ppl popped up. My hubby who was also trying saw a party of 2 pop up at the same time. I was able to modify out reservation for 4 down the 3....the number we actually are.

Appreciate everyone's comments and help! Now to do it all again tomorrow for Blue Bayou lunch....but that seems to be a bit easier

 

[DizMe]

Man those ressies go fast! I woke up several times last night and checked each time to see if they loaded the next day to the calendar and never did. I'd say I checked 5 times between 12:30am and 3:30am pst. We're staying in the DVC tower so thought maybe with onsite we might get lucky. I got up a little before 4am pst and kept refreshing every few minutes. Finally we got to 6am pst and refreshed and the day I wanted populated in the calendar. Unfortunately I accidentally hit F5 again and that 3 or 4 seconds slowed me down. The only reservations for a table of 4 were too early (arrival day) or after the 8pm 21 or older cutoff.

I figured I would keep refreshing in case someone who had the reservation in their "cart" didn't book all the way. Low and behold right at the 6:10am pst a 3:05pm for 4ppl popped up. My hubby who was also trying saw a party of 2 pop up at the same time. I was able to modify out reservation for 4 down the 3....the number we actually are.

Appreciate everyone's comments and help! Now to do it all again tomorrow for Blue Bayou lunch....but that seems to be a bit easier

Ah, the pleasure of reserving Disney Dining! Congratulations on getting TS's.

For some reason, I often seem to be away from home when my 60-day reservation window comes up. Makes it a little more challenging as well as a bit annoying to be unable to sleep when you're on a trip. It's not quite as bad when you're home.

 

[maleficent55]

Glad you got it!

I’m sure you got the Blue Bayou just fine?

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

Glad you got it!

I’m sure you got the Blue Bayou just fine?

Yep, Blue Bayou reservation was easy. Lots of times and was able to grab the 11am lunch we wanted. I did circle back and check the Trader Sam's ressies for the 3 days after my day and two days they opened up at 4am pst ( or earlier) and 1 day at 6am pst like normal. It's great if you are in the know and the day you want opens early. But like most Disney IT...it is overall frustrating.

 

[mdmost]

These go in under a minute. I was doing a test run this morning at 8am CT and I saw three times go up when I refreshed on my desktop right at 8am which were 2pm, 3pm, 9:30pm. Went to my phone to check it as well and they were already gone.

 

[LAS2AMS]

FOMO! Although you almost never need a reservation if you’re willing to sit outside.

 

[disneychrista]

FOMO! Although you almost never need a reservation if you’re willing to sit outside.

But the whole experience of Trader Sams is on the inside.

 

[maleficent55]

FOMO! Although you almost never need a reservation if you’re willing to sit outside.

That almost negates the purpose of trying so hard for a reservation and wanting to be inside

All the magic happens inside
Outside is nice, yes but the struggle is for the inside!

 

[disneychrista]

That almost negates the purpose of trying so hard for a reservation and wanting to be inside

All the magic happens inside
Outside is nice, yes but the struggle is for the inside!

I agree, no one is making a reservation to sit outside.

 

[DizMe]

Sometimes I prefer to sit outside, but I don't make a reservation for it.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I like Trader Sam’s but I find it to be highly overrated. What started as the DLH’s pool bar morphed into a monstrous reputation and was recreated at WDW, where people wait for hours just for a chance at a reservation. Crazy.

Disney had an opportunity to build larger spaces - maybe at Downtown Disney at DLR, and the new Polynesian DVC building at WDW, and choose not to. Likely to keep it exclusive and FOMO.

 

[maleficent55]

I was successful the other day
I checked at midnight: nothing
0300: nothing
0400: nothing
And then at 0600: I got my desired 6pm dinner slot

Even checking all those times, when they finally dropped there were many greyed out times…

 

[DizMe]

I like Trader Sam’s but I find it to be highly overrated. What started as the DLH’s pool bar morphed into a monstrous reputation and was recreated at WDW, where people wait for hours just for a chance at a reservation. Crazy.

Disney had an opportunity to build larger spaces - maybe at Downtown Disney at DLR, and the new Polynesian DVC building at WDW, and choose not to. Likely to keep it exclusive and FOMO.

I think it's kitschy fun, but yeah, the whole FOMO thing is real. But the fact that they chose to make it tiny was, IMO, counterproductive as I believe it still would have booked up. There used to be a larger restaurant in that area (Hooke's Pointe?) that was 2-story, I believe. It would be cool if they had a loft or something in Trader Sam's.