Why are ressies so hard to get?

[ASouth76]

Hello all, we (me and DH) are traveling to WDW Dec 2-7. From what I understand, it is a slower time of year. But there is nothing available for dinner at any places I'm trying to book. A couple of places are popular (Ohana, Chef Mickey's) so that I understand, but other's I'm looking into are not as popular. And we are still over 4 months away from vacation. We have the deluxe DP so we would like to be able to use them at TS places. If I call the reservation number, will I have better luck? I'm just perplexed at how difficult it is to get reservations. Any advice?

Thanks so much.

 

[mcd2745]

Well, free dining has a lot to do with it. It causes a lot more people to make ADRs who normally wouldn't. Which makes the ADRs harder to get, which causes people to make even more and make them earlier and earlier...and it all kind of has a snowball effect. But the flip side to that is that there end up being a lot of cancellations.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Disney has extended their free dining into that time frame. You figure with approx 30,000 hotel rooms, even is they were 1/2 filled, thats 15,000 familys looking for a free dinner!

I am going Oct 15th. I purposely picked that time to avoid free dining. LUCKILY, with the extended free dining dates, my week is still blocked out! I made my ADRS in April, so even if they did add my week, I would still be OK getting a table... but some places which are busy could have you waiting even with a ressie. We waited at Le Cellier in 2008 about 1 1/2 hours, even with our 6:00pm ADR and pressed for time because it was our Candlelight Procession night. We had 45 minutes to order, eat, pay and get ourselves across WS for the show.

 

[jlk806]

Well this may not help you but when you go to the make dining reservations page, just enter a location (ex. Epcot) and a date and time it will show you all of the restaurants at Epcot that have any availability in like a 3hour time frame. It might not get you into all the ones you want, but at least it will give you an idea of what IS available.

 

[ccgirl]

Hello all, we (me and DH) are traveling to WDW Dec 2-7. From what I understand, it is a slower time of year. But there is nothing available for dinner at any places I'm trying to book. A couple of places are popular (Ohana, Chef Mickey's) so that I understand, but other's I'm looking into are not as popular. And we are still over 4 months away from vacation. We have the deluxe DP so we would like to be able to use them at TS places. If I call the reservation number, will I have better luck? I'm just perplexed at how difficult it is to get reservations. Any advice?

Thanks so much.

I am travelling that same week also and have still found good availability as I change my ressies around. The only place I couldn't get that I wanted was Garden Grill. I think that is because people are wanting the Candlelight Processional package.

Dining reservations can be made 180 days prior to your trip. So, if you are just starting to make them now you are going to be behind the gun.

If I were you, I would just put in dinner and a date and see what restaurant is available and go from there.

Good luck.

 

[tomt92]

I am travelling that same week also and have still found good availability as I change my ressies around. The only place I couldn't get that I wanted was Garden Grill. I think that is because people are wanting the Candlelight Processional package.

Dining reservations can be made 180 days prior to your trip. So, if you are just starting to make them now you are going to be behind the gun.

If I were you, I would just put in dinner and a date and see what restaurant is available and go from there.

Good luck.

I was told by a CM that Disney places a hold on the restaurant that do the candlelight package so that there is reservations available when it opens.. I wanted to go to the garden grill as well for one of my days 12-23, but nothing is showing at all..

 

[ccgirl]

I was told by a CM that Disney places a hold on the restaurant that do the candlelight package so that there is reservations available when it opens.. I wanted to go to the garden grill as well for one of my days 12-23, but nothing is showing at all..

I hope they open it for non-package reservations as well. I will keep trying.

 

[gr8tdame]

Booked BB last year for end of September. When Disney sent me a pin about a month ago for free dining in December I wanted to change our plans but did not because I could no book the same dining reservations as I was at the 160 day window,
So we are sticking to september. I was able to book all the restaurants at the times we wanted at the 180 + 10 window.
I would prefer to go in December but changing everything is such a pain.

 

[ccgirl]

Wrong post.

 

[TDC Nala]

A) Lots more people on the dining plan.
B) 180 day booking (+ 10 days for resort guests)
C) At Epcot, tables held aside for Candlelight Processional.
D) The beginning of December isn't all that "slow" anymore. Plus free dining during that time frame.

Is it that there are no TS reservations available, or that the ones you want aren't available for the times you want? You may have to adjust your times or check the alternatives the online site gives to get ADRS so you can use your deluxe credits.

 

[tomt92]

i don't mean to brag but i called 6-25 to get my res set for 12-22 to 12-27, except for one.. i got the days and approximate times for all of them.. i will say as i was on the phone with the cm her system was slowing down because of the number of calls they where getting..

 

[RumpleMom]

Just wondering, are there many places with tables for two?

Have you tried to book for a party of four?

 

[Craigdarroch]

Just walk up and put your name in.

With everyone making ADR's so far in ahead people are sure to cancel or just not show up and you may get lucky.

I loathe planning every single meal of my trip 3 months before I go. How do I know if I'm going to be hungry then? Or feel like Italian food? Or a buffet? Or that I won't have a headache, or be tired from a day in the parks?
Ridiculous!

I book about 3 ADR's that I know I'll try to stick to, but I don't plan more than that. It's nice to have a few nice experiences with the WDW restaurants, but every meal doesn't have to be an "experience".
We'll just try and do a walk-up at the time and if it doesn't work out, there's always "something" we can find to fill our tummys.

Raglan Road, Cooke's of Dublin, Big River Grille, and Kona Kafe are some of our favourite restaurants and we have rarely had to wait to get in to any of those when just doing a "walk up".

 

[n2mm]

Hello all, we (me and DH) are traveling to WDW Dec 2-7. From what I understand, it is a slower time of year.
Thanks so much.

As mentioned....this is no longer true. December is extremely popular for DVC members as the points are the lowest and with the holiday decor, most of us members have to book 11 months out to just get a place to stay at our own "homes". With the parade taping, conventions, and the infamous Pop Warner groups, this is not a slow time to go. We actually have tried it several times over the past few years. Tried the first and second weekends and no more. I found it more busier, esp. the weekends, than summer visits. I'm sure it slows down some during the weekdays, but the weekends are horrible. Last year we had to wait in a line at the Poly just to get on the monorail and the line went past Kona Cafe! We took friends for the first time in December and they agreed, once was enough for them! Now I went early December about 15 years ago and the place was empty, but the secret is out.

 

[su_A_ve]

Last time we were there in Dec. was in 2008. From about the 20th to the 27th. Parks were dead until Xmas day after 2pm. Extra Magic Hours at night was excellent - just walk in and out of the rides. FD was only offered for DVR holders (which I had), in contrast with now, where they opened it for everyone. At the time, CBR was half empty (by looking at the parking lots, two sections had NO CARS at all). The 26th was mayheam (but we expected that). When we checked out, all sections were operational (you could now see cars in all lots).

Weekends, specially in Dec, are busy, as FL residents with annual passes flock in. Weather is usually nice.

Regarding ADRs, specially for epcot, many tables are held back because of CP. Note that if you search for 'Lunch' or 'Dinner' AFAIK, it will show you based on the posted resto's hours, which are very reduced (look at Le Cellier - it says dinner is only open from 4:00 to 4:55).

But CMs can view any openings for the whole day. And there are openings. We found 2 days ago, a dinner seating on 12/24. I later found another one online as well. So you need to keep checking.

 

[MHSweb79]

When I was booking for a party of two, the CM on the phone recommended we try searching for a party of 3. She found us a lot more availability doing this and said it was just the way the system was set up. Since we were seated at actual tables for 4 even when we had only reserved for two, we weren't taking ADR's away from other parties.

 

[bytheblood]

When I was booking for a party of two, the CM on the phone recommended we try searching for a party of 3. She found us a lot more availability doing this and said it was just the way the system was set up. Since we were seated at actual tables for 4 even when we had only reserved for two, we weren't taking ADR's away from other parties.

Almost all restaurants have 2-top tables; I usually see 6 - 10 of them. I don't care that you are seated at a 4-top for two people, but a CM telling you parties of 2 are seated at a 4-top is incorrect.

 

[TheNewMrsB]

Just walk up and put your name in.

With everyone making ADR's so far in ahead people are sure to cancel or just not show up and you may get lucky.

I loathe planning every single meal of my trip 3 months before I go. How do I know if I'm going to be hungry then? Or feel like Italian food? Or a buffet? Or that I won't have a headache, or be tired from a day in the parks?
Ridiculous!

I book about 3 ADR's that I know I'll try to stick to, but I don't plan more than that. It's nice to have a few nice experiences with the WDW restaurants, but every meal doesn't have to be an "experience".
We'll just try and do a walk-up at the time and if it doesn't work out, there's always "something" we can find to fill our tummys.

Ehh...I don't know if I agree with this method. Granted, there are some places (like Kona, which you mentioned) where you should be okay if you do this and in fact we have when plans changed last-minute. However, an example of where this doesn't work is when DH and I tried to quickly make different plans when we got to Rose & Crown last trip and saw that their menu had totally changed from what the website reported (at that time, it was very similar to our last experience and we loved it, so we were really looking forward to this meal). It was so disappointing. We ran around all over Epcot in the heat, trying to find an alternative, only to be turned away time and again, and wound up sticking to R&C (worst meal and service we had all week, no doubt).

I know everyone's different, but speaking for myself, when I go to WDW and spend $$$ to be there, I want to know that I'm not just going to have to take whatever's available on the spur of the moment. And most places have such a nice array of menu choices, I can decide if I'm in the mood for fish, beef, chicken, pasta, whatever once I'm seated.

Just keep checking, there's so much time between now and then, lots of people change ressies every day. Something's bound to open up for you!

 

[Craigdarroch]

Ehh...I don't know if I agree with this method. Granted, there are some places (like Kona, which you mentioned) where you should be okay if you do this and in fact we have when plans changed last-minute. However, an example of where this doesn't work is when DH and I tried to quickly make different plans when we got to Rose & Crown last trip and saw that their menu had totally changed from what the website reported (at that time, it was very similar to our last experience and we loved it, so we were really looking forward to this meal). It was so disappointing. We ran around all over Epcot in the heat, trying to find an alternative, only to be turned away time and again, and wound up sticking to R&C (worst meal and service we had all week, no doubt).

I know everyone's different, but speaking for myself, when I go to WDW and spend $$$ to be there, I want to know that I'm not just going to have to take whatever's available on the spur of the moment. And most places have such a nice array of menu choices, I can decide if I'm in the mood for fish, beef, chicken, pasta, whatever once I'm seated.

Just keep checking, there's so much time between now and then, lots of people change ressies every day. Something's bound to open up for you!

I'm just saying that the whole process has gotten completely out of hand. #1 - It's ridiculous to have to make ressies so far in advance. Vacation planning should be fun and stress free, not spending half your day on the phone or online fretting about not getting an ADR or spending countless hours checking and re-checking to see if anything has opened up at Le Cellier.
#2 - Disney should allow for a certain percentage of walk-ups, plain and simple. I don't know about other places, but where we live, because it's a tourist city, most restaurants only allow a maximum of 60% reservations so that they can accommodate a certain number of walk-ups.

I feel extremely sorry for first time visitors to WDW or people who just don't have privy that we do regarding ADR's, who can't get their family into a restaurant for a meal because it's so over-booked with ADR's (with a certain percentage who have no intention of showing up but decided to make the reservation "just in case").
Disney has created this "competition" (which is the only way I can describe it) with their inane ADR procedures.

I won't play the game. I generally try to get 2 to 3 ADR's that I absolutely know I will keep. If they aren't available, too bad for Disney and thank goodness we rent a car because the "Olive Garden" or "Tony Roma's" are about to get some of my vacation $$'s. I have no problem going off property.

If you don't have a car, take one of the Disney buses to DTD and walk across the street to some of the off-property restaurants (who, by the way, take same-day reservations).

 

[mcd2745]

I'm just saying that the whole process has gotten completely out of hand. #1 - It's ridiculous to have to make ressies so far in advance. Vacation planning should be fun and stress free, not spending half your day on the phone or online fretting about not getting an ADR or spending countless hours checking and re-checking to see if anything has opened up at Le Cellier.
#2 - Disney should allow for a certain percentage of walk-ups, plain and simple. I don't know about other places, but where we live, because it's a tourist city, most restaurants only allow a maximum of 60% reservations so that they can accommodate a certain number of walk-ups.

I feel extremely sorry for first time visitors to WDW or people who just don't have privy that we do regarding ADR's, who can't get their family into a restaurant for a meal because it's so over-booked with ADR's (with a certain percentage who have no intention of showing up but decided to make the reservation "just in case").
Disney has created this "competition" (which is the only way I can describe it) with their inane ADR procedures.

I won't play the game. I generally try to get 2 to 3 ADR's that I absolutely know I will keep. If they aren't available, too bad for Disney and thank goodness we rent a car because the "Olive Garden" or "Tony Roma's" are about to get some of my vacation $$'s. I have no problem going off property.

If you don't have a car, take one of the Disney buses to DTD and walk across the street to some of the off-property restaurants (who, by the way, take same-day reservations).

I can't disagree with any of that - actually I strongly agree with all of it.


However, I don't plan on renting a car and intend to stay on property 8 out of 9 days - with just a trip to Seaworld in the middle. And when you have the "free" dining plan, you're kind of forced to play the "game" at least a little, otherwise we'll end up eating at places (Morocco, anyone?) you otherwise would have absolutley no interest just to use our credits.

If I was given a 'do-over' or if I have the same choice the next WDW trip we plan, I will certainly take the room discount over the free dining plan.