What Time to Call?

[justbishop]

I know it's way early to start thinking about this for a Sept 2011 ressie, but I need some input on calling for reservations.

We want ADRs for CRT (5-6ish dinner) and Chef Mickey's (8-9ish breakfast). I understand that these are hot time slots, and am preparing for battle, lol! I read that they start accepting ADR calls at 6am Eastern. I plan on getting up at 5am to coffee myself for the sake of coherency, but what time should I be hitting the call button on the phone, taking into account the time spent navigating the voice recognition system and possible wait time due to everyone else doing the same thing I'm trying to do? If I get someone on the phone 15 minutes or so early and ask some questions first, will they make my ADRs when the clock strikes 6?

 

[jimmiej]

I know it's way early to start thinking about this for a Sept 2011 ressie, but I need some input on calling for reservations.

We want ADRs for CRT (5-6ish dinner) and Chef Mickey's (8-9ish breakfast). I understand that these are hot time slots, and am preparing for battle, lol! I read that they start accepting ADR calls at 6am Eastern. I plan on getting up at 5am to coffee myself for the sake of coherency, but what time should I be hitting the call button on the phone, taking into account the time spent navigating the voice recognition system and possible wait time due to everyone else doing the same thing I'm trying to do? If I get someone on the phone 15 minutes or so early and ask some questions first, will they make my ADRs when the clock strikes 6?

I never heard this. Where did you read this? I thought it was 7am ET.

As far as when to start dialing, try this:

Start calling a couple of minutes before WDW Dining opens (7 AM, on all days including weekends and holidays. All times are US EASTERN).

There are two possible greetings:

a) Thank you for calling the Disney Reservation Center. Our office is closed... (hang up immediately as soon as you hear the words "Our office" and hit redial immediately).
OR
b) Thank you for calling the Disney reservation center (pause). You're in and on hold! Wait! Do NOT hang up!

 

[justbishop]

I read it somewhere on here...hard to tell exactly where, I've been reading so much over the past few days!

thanks for the advice, sounds like a plan

 

[Cafeen]

Phones open up at 7am Eastern (at least, for now ). Online reservations roll over at 6am Eastern.

 

[smidgy]

I also heard, as SOON as you get a person, say"cindy's table, date and time" .. it might seem rude, but that's what I heard.

 

[justbishop]

I also heard, as SOON as you get a person, say"cindy's table, date and time" .. it might seem rude, but that's what I heard.

Hahaa, I can apologize after!

And that's interesting about the online system opening at 6am. So would I have better luck trying that first?

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I was thinking about this as well...so, the new day begins at 6 am for online? I had thought that I read it was midnight on line...I'm gonna need to get some clarification on this one!

 

[lamb616]

it's 6 a.m. for online, 7 a.m. for phone. And you won't get someone on the phone "early" - you won't get thru at all 'til they are officially open which is at 7:00.

This is so stressful. I have so much anxiety about making my CRT ressies this week, lol.

 

[Cafeen]

I was thinking about this as well...so, the new day begins at 6 am for online? I had thought that I read it was midnight on line...I'm gonna need to get some clarification on this one!

For awhile after the online system came out, there was a bug where it was rolling over early (somewhere between midnight and 2-3am eastern usually). That could be where you got that information. This bug has been resolved for awhile now though and the system has been rolling over at 6am on the dot (assuming it's not down ) since then.

And yes, if looking for one of the Ultra-popular reservations (CRT, O'Hana dinner, Le Cellier Dinner), then checking online first is your best bet. Be careful with CRT if you're planning to pay with DDP though as it does not always recognize the plan associated with the reservations.

Should that be the case for you, there are two options:

1. If you are ok with paying now, you can simply proceed with the reservation and it will charge your card. You can then be refunded when you dine there and charge the DDP.
2. If you are not ok with paying now, you will have to wait until 7am and then call Disney Dining to have a CM do it for you.

Now, there have been cases where people were able to reverse the charge and apply DDP ahead of time, but this is uncommon and usually done by canceling the existing reservation and rebooking it. Very rarely has anyone been able to keep the existing reservation while getting the charges switched.

 

[justbishop]

it's 6 a.m. for online, 7 a.m. for phone. And you won't get someone on the phone "early" - you won't get thru at all 'til they are officially open which is at 7:00.

This is so stressful. I have so much anxiety about making my CRT ressies this week, lol.

I know, it's crazy, isn't it? Let us know how your call goes!

For awhile after the online system came out, there was a bug where it was rolling over early (somewhere between midnight and 2-3am eastern usually). That could be where you got that information. This bug has been resolved for awhile now though and the system has been rolling over at 6am on the dot (assuming it's not down ) since then.

And yes, if looking for one of the Ultra-popular reservations (CRT, O'Hana dinner, Le Cellier Dinner), then checking online first is your best bet. Be careful with CRT if you're planning to pay with DDP though as it does not always recognize the plan associated with the reservations.

Should that be the case for you, there are two options:

1. If you are ok with paying now, you can simply proceed with the reservation and it will charge your card. You can then be refunded when you dine there and charge the DDP.
2. If you are not ok with paying now, you will have to wait until 7am and then call Disney Dining to have a CM do it for you.

Now, there have been cases where people were able to reverse the charge and apply DDP ahead of time, but this is uncommon and usually done by canceling the existing reservation and rebooking it. Very rarely has anyone been able to keep the existing reservation while getting the charges switched.

Hmmm...that's something to think about. I'm going to have to look up prices and make sure I have enough free on the Disney CC. I'd rather have that money tied up until we can get the charge reversed on the day of the reservation than wait until 7 to call and not be able to get a reservation at a decent time (or worse yet AT ALL).