Who do I have to kill for a character meal???

[Meg's Mom]

Hello everyone!

Relatively new to the Disboards, first post. We are off to the World next week, and I am just now realizing how woefully unprepared I am. My dad is treating my DH, DD, and I to a Disney trip. Normally I would have spent the previous few months reading everything about Disney and planning like a madwoman. But life intervened, and with a young one along (she's almost 4), we figure we can't plan TOO much because who knows what days she will be too exhausted, too hyped to sit for dinner, etc.

So silly me, I only just realized that the new dining plan is throwing a wrench into everything and I finally got my butt in gear and got on the phone, and so far I've only managed a ressie for the Character lunch at CP. I can't seem to get anything else with the characters. Not a thing. I am checking the cancellations thread and calling WDW each day, but no luck so far. Being that we leave next week for the trip, I guess I am an idiot for not calling earlier.

I just wanted to vent a bit. I'm really beating myself up for not calling sooner. Back when the DH and I had our honeymoon at Disney (Dixie Landings 96) we didn't have to worry about all these ADRs - you just called up that day and went. Now, I guess things are different.

Arrggh, I'm so aggravated! My husband says we should make friends with someone on the plane who has reservations and pull a Mr. Ripley on them (ha!). The CSR on the Dining line said to keep trying, that often people cancel closer to the date, so maybe if I call when I'm actually down there i'll have better results. Anyone else find that to be true?

Thanks for listening!

 

[Jeero]

I don't have any advice to offer except to keep trying. It's true that reservations do sometimes open up when people cancel, so make sure you have the WDW-DINE number on speed dial on your cell phone.

You might also need to be flexible with meal times - 6p.m. dinner might not be available, but maybe you could get an earlier or late seating. One meal that doesn't seem to book up as fast as the others is the Playhouse Disney meal at the Studios. If your DD likes the Little Einsteins, that's a great pick.

As you mentioned, with a four year-old you never know when they're going to be hungry, tired or ready to go.

Well, no matter what I hope you and your family have a wonderful vacation together.

 

[vicki_c]

Have you tried checking yourself using the online system? You might have better luck trying that a few times a day. And it offers some alternate suggestions when what you ask for isn't available, so that might help as well.

 

[JohnnyLfromCT]

This will be the wife and my fifth Disney trip in five years (this Nov), and this year was the first year I've been able to reserve two character breakfasts for us, one at Chef Mickey's and one at Animal Kingdom...every other time they've been full.

The online ADRs are really the best. We got our res at Cinderella's Royal Table, our Ohana res, etc, all at the times we wanted.

Unfortunately, you're probably too late at this point, but keep trying, you never know!!

 

[disney queen]

keep trying and be sure to ask every day at the resort concierge. they will be able to check for you. good luck!

 

[Don Disney]

You may not get Chef Mickey's,but you should be able to get 1900 PF,and Garden Grill without too much trouble(dinners).Like everyone else says"keep trying",you never know what will shake loose!! I look online,but prefer calling-some CM's might be able to throw you some"pixie-dust"!! Good Luck!

 

[texaslady22]

Are you staying on site? Do you have the dining plan?

If not, perhaps you'd be better off just doing the meal you have scheduled and some counter service. The restaurants are PACKED right now but the parks aren't bad so standing in line for character meets shouldn't be so bad. Your daughter is 4 and you say yourself you don't know if she'll be happy or tired. Why not just take this as a sign that you should go with the flow?? Eat Counter Service, eat a rainforest cafe, have Pizza at Toy Story Pizza Planet and she'll never know the difference!!

 

[ktlm]

You are very lucky to even get CP this close to your trip. CP is great. The food and characters are both good. Instead of calling (or in addition to), get on line several times a day and see what pops up. I have been with my DD when she was both 2 yrs 10 months and at 3, and both times, I made ADRs for one meal a day. The only one we had trouble with was I had booked a pre-park opening Tusker house breakfast. I realized early in our trip that with the time change and her not being a morning person that was not going to happen. I called the day before our ADR and was able to move our ADR to 9:30, which meant that someone else probably later called and was thrilled to get my 8:30. So, don't give up. People cancel. Keep calling even the day you want to go and hopefully something will open up for you. Good luck!

 

[NewEnglandCamper]

I'm in the SAME BOAT ...

In 2008 it was easy to get into Chef Mickey's, Garden Grill, Aukerhaus, 1900 Park Fare, and CRT.

This time -- I booked really early and go the Tusker House but we realized its on the wrong day and I tried to changed without any luck!!

I absolutely LOVE the Garden Grill but they are NO LONGER doing lunch. This is causing complications. I wonder if some people have some reservations they are not going to use.

 

[ahill004]

I could help on the 23rd!!! But it looks like you aren't arriving until the 24th?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

If you are staying on site, try stopping at Guest Relations. They may be able to help you get something.

Also, maybe you want to try a restaurant with no character meal. Those always seem to take us an hour and a half to see all the characters and a 4 year old might not last that long at a meal. A regular meal only seemed to be about an hour long.

 

[cydswipe]

Hello everyone!

Relatively new to the Disboards, first post. We are off to the World next week, and I am just now realizing how woefully unprepared I am. My dad is treating my DH, DD, and I to a Disney trip. Normally I would have spent the previous few months reading everything about Disney and planning like a madwoman. But life intervened, and with a young one along (she's almost 4), we figure we can't plan TOO much because who knows what days she will be too exhausted, too hyped to sit for dinner, etc.

So silly me, I only just realized that the new dining plan is throwing a wrench into everything and I finally got my butt in gear and got on the phone, and so far I've only managed a ressie for the Character lunch at CP. I can't seem to get anything else with the characters. Not a thing. I am checking the cancellations thread and calling WDW each day, but no luck so far. Being that we leave next week for the trip, I guess I am an idiot for not calling earlier.

I just wanted to vent a bit. I'm really beating myself up for not calling sooner. Back when the DH and I had our honeymoon at Disney (Dixie Landings 96) we didn't have to worry about all these ADRs - you just called up that day and went. Now, I guess things are different.

Arrggh, I'm so aggravated! My husband says we should make friends with someone on the plane who has reservations and pull a Mr. Ripley on them (ha!). The CSR on the Dining line said to keep trying, that often people cancel closer to the date, so maybe if I call when I'm actually down there i'll have better results. Anyone else find that to be true?

Thanks for listening!

I see you don't have a lot of post... please get up to 10 so you can Private Message me... I might be able to help you out on the 27th... reasonable lunch time...

Let me know!
Aren't you glad you DIS?!?!?!??!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Like others have said, don't give up! Keep trying even once you're on-site. People change their plans all the time so something might open up. Good luck and I hope you have a great trip.

 

[NewEnglandCamper]

Like others have said, don't give up! Keep trying even once you're on-site. People change their plans all the time so something might open up. Good luck and I hope you have a great trip.

I tried booking for 2 at the Aloha Dinner....

The lady on the phone mentioned to check 3 to 4 days before you want to go.... That is when most of the reservations are cancelled.

 

[StitchFan73]

Are you staying on property? How about trying one of the resorts that have character breakfasts? 1900 park fare or maybe Cape May at the Beach club?

And not to sound like a broken record, but do keep trying.

 

[Meg's Mom]

Thanks everyone! Miracles do happen...I called earlier today and there were no character meals at ALL during our stay, then I just went online tonight and nabbed a dinner at Chef Mickey's. I guess it's all about luck at this stage in the game!

For those who asked, we are staying off-site, renting a house just 2 mi. away from the World. It's good to hear that even though the restaurants are packed, the waits for everything else isn't so bad!

Now if I can just get a character breakfast I'll be happy

Thanks!!

 

[Meg's Mom]

Ahill004, yes, we aren't arriving until the 24th, but thank you anyway!!

and cydswipe, I'm working on those posts!

It's pretty shocking to call the dining hotline and have them tell you that there are absolutely no openings for any character meal. Talk about panic. But it does look like cancellations are happening, so that will hopefully be the way to go!

 

[Meg's Mom]

Just got Donald's Safari Breakfast for Monday the 28th through online res.



Thanks so much all for your good thoughts!!!