Why are all the restaurants full???

[of the seas]

I have not been to Disney in 8 years. We are finally going back real soon, and all the restaurants I tried to book are full! I made my original reservations about a month ago, but trying to tweek them 1-2 weeks before we go is impossible! I used to go every year from 1992 to 2000 and it was never like this! The only problems I would have back then was Cinderlla's Royal Table. We are not going during free dining either. Is it because more people are buying the dinner package? Is it because more people are having sit down meals? Is it because it's more crowded? Why do you think?

 

[dburg30]

It's just because more and more people are finding sites like this, and making their ressies 180 days in advance..

 

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

I think it's because more people are planning their meals before leaving their homes. I made a reservation already for my December trip. In order for me to get the time and place, I was willing to plan ahead.

 

[checkwriter]

Probably a combination of what you suggested. I would also add that there is nothing to stop people from making multiple ADRs for the same meal (using mom's name for one, dad's name for another, and sis's name for a third). As a result, there is probably some decent percentage of these ressies that will never see butts hitting the chairs.

It's frustrating, but until WDW decides to start requesting credit/debit card numbers to hold ADRs, it's not going to get any better any time soon.

 

[DVCTiff]

We were able to get a few reservations while on site for a busy time last May so you still might be able to if you're not too picky about time.

 

[davinakb]

It's a little of everything, the popularity of the DDP, of the TS and character meals, crowd levels. I think you may (?) also be going during free dining, so most of those guests probably planned ahead, booked ADRs in advance for the most popular places. If you're super flexible about days, times, places you may have some luck but things like CRT do book 180 days out. Good luck.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Probably a combination of what you suggested. I would also add that there is nothing to stop people from making multiple ADRs for the same meal (using mom's name for one, dad's name for another, and sis's name for a third). As a result, there is probably some decent percentage of these ressies that will never see butts hitting the chairs.

It's frustrating, but until WDW decides to start requesting credit/debit card numbers to hold ADRs, it's not going to get any better any time soon.

WOW! I agree with you 100% . That's exactly the way I think & feel to.

 

[freesone]

I think it is a combination of the 180 day reservation window and the dining plan.

 

[sparmeland]

IMO 180 days is way too early. Dining reservation and planning what park you will at each day are decisions that need to be made together. 6 months before a trip is just too early. But if I want a good reservation time at Le Cellier, I need to call 180 days out.

For Thanksgiving week-end I had to make my dining reservations before the park hours were even published. I think that is saying its too early.

And because people have to make the decision so early they make multiple reservations so they can decide later. Who can blame them?

 

[Julia M]

we were at Disney the last two weeks, and the times we called for a TS meal (the day before or the day of), we could get one. The exception was one evening at the MK, when we called about 5pm for dinner that evening and Sci Fi diner, when we tried to walk in around 6pm (and it was raining)

We called for Whispering Canyon the day before, and had our choice of multiple times. However, I met a lady in line while checking in who tried for a ressie about 4pm, and could only get 8:40. We got Boma the day before, and our choice of mutiple EPCOT restaurants the day before.

Julia

 

[las3888]

If you're going during free dining (not sure???) it is absolutely impossible to get a ressie anywhere. We managed to make a few decent ressies about a month or two out when we went during free dining, but when calling to change while we were on-site we were given zero options. I think the only thing available was a restaurant with a dress code.

Other than that, yes, I totally agree, it has gotten really difficult to book dining. I think WDW has made it 'attractive' to dine in the 'world' versus going off-site. They are always really clever about keeping their customers within WDW. I think they have enhanced dining, esp. since say '92 when you were originally attending the parks. There are a lot more options, and the food has improved a great deal.

I really don't like it overall....I have no idea of where I want to eat or when, esp. 180 days out. It's always a shot in the dark. Rarely is it what I want when we are actually there. I wish there was a way to offer more flexibility but I have no idea how that could happen.

Anyways, good luck and do the best you can!

 

[Chedstro]

We live locally and go to the Parks about once a week. Without access to either DDP or Free Dining, finding a place to eat has become quite a challenge.

We do have DDE and use it as often as possible

Our plan of attack is to immediately go to Guest Services on arrival at our "Park O' the Day" and see what is available for TS. Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised. Sometimes, nothing.

Next try is to see what CS we like. If the lines are too long, we enjoy our time in the Park and then go off-site. Cell phone a resort, or really offsite to Logan's or Giordanno's or Cracker Barrel.

It is all about being flexable if you are not able or willing to do the 180 days out thingy. Best of luck to all of you!

 

[of the seas]

But the thing that gets me is they are building and adding on all these villas, one would think with the inclusion of a kitchen in your room, that more people would be dining in their rooms-but that doesn't seem to be the case.


We are not going during free dining, we are going right before it starts that's why I thought it would be a little easier.

 

[JenSop]

I really think it's because of the dining plan AND other incentives Disney gives to stay on site (like Magical Express) and not venture off for dinner. When I was growing up, most of our in-park dining was on site as CS places, then we would eat dinner back near our hotel off-site. But that was the 80's and early 90's. (We went many times back then.)

Then I remember when I went on a couple trips in high school (band and senior trips.) That was when you had to RUN to the restaurant you wanted to eat at that day when the park opened. I still remember my high school boyfriend and I running to the castle so we could get a reservation there that day. (that was in 1994.)

When DH and I went on our Disneymoon in 2001, there still was no dining plan or ME, so we had no trouble booking our meals the night before.

You can imagine my surprise when our next trip (in 2006) had not only ME, but a great dining plan. The AAA agent warned us to make ADR's as soon as possible, which I found quite odd. Glad I listened to his advice, though.

So for our trip last month, I did everything as early as I could. Because of buying into DVC, I ended up coming across the DisBoards and learning all about the tricks of the trade (even though I considered myself an old pro when it came to visiting Disney. )

I have my trip for next June booked at our home resort (AKV) and already have the post-it note on my computer for when I need to call at 180 days for dining! (Right before Christmas! )

If you don't have a strong preference where you're eating, you should be able to get in to something (except during free dining.) But the popular places book up so far out.

Good luck!

 

[oybolshoi]

But the thing that gets me is they are building and adding on all these villas, one would think with the inclusion of a kitchen in your room, that more people would be dining in their rooms-but that doesn't seem to be the case.


We are not going during free dining, we are going right before it starts that's why I thought it would be a little easier.

You are going during a high tourist season, though, because a lot of families with school-age children hit the World during July and August. Couple that with the Dining Plans that Disney offers and the fact that they take dining reservations 6 months in advance and unfortunatley you end up with limited choices. I would suggest that you know in advance of your arrival where you'd really like to dine and then call Disney dining from your room once you've checked in. You'd be surprised sometimes by what you can nab at the last minute due to cancellations.

And although we're vacation club members and always stay in a vacation property with a kitchen we don't cook ... Maybe some people do, but we are not those people ... we make lots of coffee, though.

 

[TDC Nala]

Is it because more people are buying the dinner package? Is it because more people are having sit down meals? Is it because it's more crowded? Why do you think?

All of the above.

I have a microwave in my Vacation Club accommodations but I won't cook there either. Yeah, I want Lean Cuisine on vacation. Not.