Were you able to get your November reservations?

[KMcCP]

I got (or rather my TA) mine this am- except BOG. I'm waiting now for confirmation of my BBBoutuque appts. I'm assuming she's still on hold too!

 

[soccer mom]

Got one reservation on line at 6:10 am. No luck with website since then. On hold for one hour and 55 minutes so far.

 

[Lolsmum]

I got everything I wanted except Crystal Palace. Well, I could have gotten that, but is didn't want it at 9:15, I wanted it at 8. It took trying three different dates, but it got BOG.

Since I didn't get CP I now have a TS credit unassigned. I haven't worked out what to use it on.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Saturday was my 180 day and I too had issues online... here's what I experienced/learned.

Online several times after midnight/before 7am and could not make reservations due to no availability and/or system acting wonky

You MUST log in to your MDE before trying to make your 180+10 ADR's or it will not let you pick a date on the calender after your check in date...wish the system prompted that because it was driving me crazy!

Called at 7:10am - extensive wait time - finally hung up after nearly an hour and figured I'd try later on when I had time to concentrate on it instead of while in the car.

Later that afternoon I logged in online again and was able to make ALL my ADR's with the exception of Crystal Palace before MK opens on our 1st park day and BOG - for 11 days I didn't think 2 ADR's were an issue.

Since Saturday I have repeatedly looked for those 2 ADR's (online only) as my computer is pretty much on 24/7 and it takes only a couple minutes to check and got Crystal Palace last night (so someone canceled and I was able to get it )

I'm figuring on continuing to try to get BOG but from the reviews I've read and the "how to score" a BOG reservation, we'll just do QS there if we don't get the TS reservation. We're going with the FD (again) and I'm not going to let ADR's ruin the trip... if we get them great, but we'll figure out somewhere to eat if not.

If you make an ADR but it was not for the "ideal" time... keep checking availabiliy online for that ADR, IF the time you really want becomes available, click and reserve the new reservation. The system prompted me that there was another reservation for that day/time frame and did I want to change my reservation. It will hold your original reservation until you confirm the new one. This way you can flex your reservations w/o losing 1 first.

Lastly, a CM told me that the best opportunity to get those hard to get ADR's is to try at your 45 day mark as that is when the final payment is due for trips and many people end up cancelling their trips when they realize they really couldn't afford it.

 

[iheartphineas]

I spent 9:15 to 10:00am eastern time booking my reservations for my trip 11/15-11/22. I didn't think it would be so rough. MDE worked fine up until the end, I was able to get everything I wanted except BOG but I did have to switch some times around and days around.

 

[Fratthouse]

Is anyone else getting nervous that this week is going to be busier than predicted? Easywdw had it at 2's and 3's, but given how fast these dining reservations are going, I'm feeling apprehensive!!! I know it's free dining, but still.......

 

[TheWrightTrip]

Is anyone else getting nervous that this week is going to be busier than predicted? Easywdw had it at 2's and 3's, but given how fast these dining reservations are going, I'm feeling apprehensive!!! I know it's free dining, but still.......

I've been wondering the same thing the last few days. BUT free dining hasn't been out at the 180 mark like this in the past 4 years we've gone. Since they released it for November this early, LOTS more people are making their dining reservations now instead of a month or two from now. And I wouldn't doubt if people are booking way more than they will use. We are going with another family and if there had been availability we would have booked the same restaurant for several different nights and then adjusted once we figure out our park days over the next few weeks. I think all of us are just gonna have to keep checking.

 

[GWhitten98]

Is anyone else getting nervous that this week is going to be busier than predicted? Easywdw had it at 2's and 3's, but given how fast these dining reservations are going, I'm feeling apprehensive!!! I know it's free dining, but still.......

YES, we specifically picked this week b/c of low crowds and with the limited time free dining dates in Nov being offered I feel like we may get caught with much higher crowds then expected. I think the early part of the week before thanksgiving will still be fine, but I am worried about the last half. I am also wondering if people that were going to coming after thanksgiving will move to the week before for free diding?

 

[Fratthouse]

I've been wondering the same thing the last few days. BUT free dining hasn't been out at the 180 mark like this in the past 4 years we've gone. Since they released it for November this early, LOTS more people are making their dining reservations now instead of a month or two from now. And I wouldn't doubt if people are booking way more than they will use. We are going with another family and if there had been availability we would have booked the same restaurant for several different nights and then adjusted once we figure out our park days over the next few weeks. I think all of us are just gonna have to keep checking.

I had this thought as well. We usually go in September during Free Dining. BUT free dining hasn't been announced at the 180 day mark, so there's always been plenty of availability when I booked my reservations. I wonder how much the early announcement has affected the reservation bookings. I'm going to be optimistic and believe that's it

 

[Fratthouse]

YES, we specifically picked this week b/c of low crowds and with the limited time free dining dates in Nov being offered I feel like we may get caught with much higher crowds then expected. I think the early part of the week before thanksgiving will still be fine, but I am worried about the last half. I am also wondering if people that were going to coming after thanksgiving will move to the week before for free diding?

You may be right I will definitely be preparing for the worst (but still hoping for the best!!). I'm still hopeful that it's just a fluke with the reservations because they announced free dining so early this year, more people are able to make dining reservations at the 180 mark. But maybe overall crowds will still be low.

 

[PFopma]

I missed the 180 + 10 for our early Nov trip because I still hadn't made my RO res. I started trying online for ADRs at 180 patiently checking a few times a day. After 2 weeks I was able to book BOG dinner, Boma, and Ohana breakfast at all the dates and times I wanted. BOG takes persistence and my feeling is that you just have to stalk the online ADR web page.

 

[nkereina]

Our window opened this morning. I logged into MDE around 8:30am ET and clicked the dining reservations link through MDE and it was all smooth sailing for me. I got everything I wanted and had no issues with the web site. FWIW, I was using the most recent version of Google Chrome on Windows 8.

I will mention that we are going the same week we went last year, which means last year at this time I was also making ADRs. At that time, the web site would NOT recognize the +10 and kept freezing up/producing error messages. I ended up having to call. It never did recognize the +10. At the time, I was also using Google Chrome on Windows 8. Not sure what gives or why I was lucky this time.

Good luck everyone!

 

[abie]

I was able to get pretty much everything. I made a mistake this morning and booked my 11/16 CP for Today May 19 because dates kept defaulting to that. I guess I was making so many at 5am that I didn't notice. I called and got that fixed and had to refresh on the website several times today to find a suitable replacement.

The only thing I wasn't able to get was a BOG dinner. I got CRT instead so I think we will roll with that and try BOG for lunch. My 4 year old daughter would likely appreciate CRT more.

Pretty smooth for a weeks worth of deluxe ADRs. Half of our meals were party of 8 and half party of 3. I was happy to get pre-opening breakfast reservations for 8 at all the parks.

 

[denman007]

everything but BOG. Trying some 'new' place for us this time.

France
Italy
Ohana's
Narcossee's
CRT

 

[LexiandLiviMom]

I almost had a mini-stoke this morning when the website wasn't working...then I called and the voice-activated prompts weren't working right (wasn't recognizing that today is the 180 day mark for my 11/15 check-in date).

While I was on hold (54 minutes ) I kept tying to make reservations for all my days and made notes of the times available that would work for me. Once the CM came on the line, it was pretty straight forward to make all of my reservations because I had a list of times in front of me.

I wound up booking the following:

11/15 Tony's Town Square Tavern at 2:30 (to watch the F of F parade)
11/16 Mama Melrose at 5:55
11/17 Akerhaus at 12:05
11/17 La Hacienda at 8:15 (hoping for an Illuminations view)
11/18 Crystal Palace at 10:35
11/19 Cinderella's Royal Table at 12:05
11/19 Tomorrow-land Terrace Desert Party at 8:15
11/20 Tusker House at 10:15
11/21 Chef Mickey's at 6:55 pm

No BOG available on my MK days, but the CM told me that whether I receive a FP+ invitation or not, that I am welcome to log-on to the BOG lunch page and request a FP+ for lunch at the 60-day mark. She even provided me with my reservation # that I'll need to make the FP+ reservation.

It's all coming together

 

[mymommom]

Our 180 day was today...my daughter and I got up at 5:30am...ready with two computers...Nothing! We tried from 6:00am till 6:50am, so we called on two phones at 7:00am and I got trough to an agent We weren't able to get BOG for any of our 8 nights, but we got everything else. You have to be flexible with backup days for things (O'Hana not available on our first choice - and Fantasmic! only available as a lunch) but we're happy! So glad I knew what to do, it wouldn't be easy for a first timer. We are a party of 13
Here are our ADRs:
11/15 Whispering Canyon - 5:05
11/16 Cape May Cafe - 5:15
11/17 Rose and Crown Pub - 4:35
11/18 Mama Melrose w/F! 12:30 (party of 4) w/o F! 4:30 (party of 9)
11/19 Crystal Palace - 4:50
11/20 O'Hana - 5:00
11/21 - Hoop De Doo @ 6:15 (when they open up ressies)
11/22 - None (using the x-tra credit for Hoop De Doo)
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!

 

[Cindaddy]

I called in to modify my time and the rep told me that they have a known issue with reservation ID's not linking to accounts for dining. She said I could call back in a few days and have the time modified.

 

[lahobbs4]

I had no problems at 5:00 am today. However, Crystal Palace was already booked until 9:40 for my last day of the trip. That part sucks

 

[melissamacpherson78]

Was anyone able to book Hoop Dee Doo for Nov 23? The CM I spoke with said the reservations haven't been released yet.

 

[kbsparks]

I've had zero luck today. Tried MDE app, MDE online and phone twice. Currently on hold. Not sure how long I can stay on hold as I am now at work. Plus the prompts keep telling me the check in day for 180 days is 11/15 not 11/16. Frustrating. However as I could see reservations online this morning just couldn't book anything I already know that my choices are all gone except for really late times (Ohana's, Chef Mickey, no BOG). So I guess it is fine as I am coming up with alternatives as I wait.