Am I totally out of luck?

[Georgean Orr]

We just decided to book an impromptu trip to wdw for the first week of November today. 2 adults and 2 kids ages 2 and 4. I cant find one character breakfast, lunch, or dinner that is available! Are we just out of luck since people book six months out? Any tricks to get a reservation?

 

[officialtom]

Keep checking multiples times per day. Something will open up.

 

[sxeensweet]

And another tidbit don't just use the general breakfast, lunch, or dinner searches. Pick specific times as well that might be not the normal times like 3pm as the 3pm give or take etc sometimes does not show up for dinner or for a lunch search. Some restaurants, well a lot of them are open all day long. Yes the general searches do a large window of times just like the specific time searches, but I find it does not find all of them at the odd times In between two meal periods etc. I have found reservations many times that way that the general breakfast, lunch, and dinner did not find.
And another bit of advice try calling as well sometimes they find something you did not online etc.
Check online and by phone as often as you can every day.

 

[DisneyMom51]

Check at least once a day till about a week before, then start checking several times a day. Reservations have to be canceled with at least 24 hours notice to avoid paying a $10 per person charge and this past August, we managed to score a dinner reservation for our son's birthday at Be Our Guest less than 48 hours out. Good luck!

 

[Georgean Orr]

Thanks everyone. I called wdw dine tonight and she basically told me they are booked. I purchased the dining plan and having a hard time getting table service reservations as well depending on what park we will be at. I just found out there was a free dining promotion some months ago for the same time we are going to be there - so hence all the bookings. So now I realized not only am I having a hard time booking reservations, I also paid to not get reservations. Its like you get punished for not booking six months in advance. If no luck in the next few days, I'm going to see if they will change my plan down. Had no idea that you basically have to reserve every table service. Not really an option with 2 young ones to know exactly what time you will eat that table meal every single day. Thanks for all of your help!!!!

 

[sxeensweet]

Thanks everyone. I called wdw dine tonight and she basically told me they are booked. I purchased the dining plan and having a hard time getting table service reservations as well depending on what park we will be at. I just found out there was a free dining promotion some months ago for the same time we are going to be there - so hence all the bookings. So now I realized not only am I having a hard time booking reservations, I also paid to not get reservations. Its like you get punished for not booking six months in advance. If no luck in the next few days, I'm going to see if they will change my plan down. Had no idea that you basically have to reserve every table service. Not really an option with 2 young ones to know exactly what time you will eat that table meal every single day. Thanks for all of your help!!!!

Your welcome!! You can downgrade your plan to the quick service plan or cancel the dining plan all together, but being you may be within that 45 day mark (changes are supposed to be made to packages prior to 45 days to avoid the change fee) you may have to pay the $50 change fee. Not a large fee but you might have to pay that if making changes to your package. You may not it all depends on the cast member you deal with.
And yes table service restaurants for most especially in the parks you need to make reservations for. The only places you will see really any walk ups allowed is at resorts and Disney Springs. Most in the parks are always full and most popular ones outside of parks are often full as well like all the character meals, 'Ohana, Cali Grill, etc etc. I still see a lot of restaurants available the first week of November but I'm guessing it's not where you were wanting to eat, or in the park you will be in and such.
If you keep the regular dining plan just keep trying, and if not that's okay too.
If you decide to go without the regular dining plan I think the quick service one would be a great option for you with the 2 little ones as its more flexible. And you could still always make a few reservations that you want if you can get them, and just pay out of pocket for the table service restaurants.

 

[bpadair32]

Thanks everyone. I called wdw dine tonight and she basically told me they are booked. I purchased the dining plan and having a hard time getting table service reservations as well depending on what park we will be at. I just found out there was a free dining promotion some months ago for the same time we are going to be there - so hence all the bookings. So now I realized not only am I having a hard time booking reservations, I also paid to not get reservations. Its like you get punished for not booking six months in advance. If no luck in the next few days, I'm going to see if they will change my plan down. Had no idea that you basically have to reserve every table service. Not really an option with 2 young ones to know exactly what time you will eat that table meal every single day. Thanks for all of your help!!!!

I have 3 young ones (all under the age of 6) and we plan every dinner and have ADRs 6 months out, so it is not really fair to say that it is not an option. Also, yes, people that plan ahead get better availability. Thats the point.

 

[sxeensweet]

I have 3 young ones (all under the age of 6) and we plan every dinner and have ADRs 6 months out, so it is not really fair to say that it is not an option. Also, yes, people that plan ahead get better availability. Thats the point.

Yep agree not us (we don't have children) , but my brother and his wife and young children have reservations pretty much every night when they go and plan months in advance for every trip. Also many friends of ours do as well that have young children.

 

[French Quarter]

Ok wait! Don't get discouraged. We can help.

It is true that the most sought after restaurants fill up right away and this has been true for quite some time. And making reservations is simply a part of having the regular dining plan. I'm sorry that nobody told you that before you purchased this. This is not that unusual. For popular restaurants in my town and other places I've visited, it is important to make a reservation to not be disappointed.

That being said, what I would do would be to book some ADRs for easier to get restaurants. Biergarten at Epcot for example almost always have availability. We have also had luck at places like Raglan Road in DTD at the last moment. I could give you more suggestions of restaurants that might meet your families needs if you like.

Another great option is to book your TS meal for lunch. Check Kona Cafe on a day that you are planning to visit MK at lunch. You can get over there lickety split for a nice lunch break. This works well with younger kids too as they might not be up for a longer meal later in the night and then you can just grab some QS.

 

[French Quarter]

As a follow-up, I put in one of your dates (November 2) for dinner time to see what might be available and it actually returned a lot of results and many restaurants offered a choice of more than one time. So, don't get discouraged. (What resort are you staying at, by the way?)

Some examples of what is available:
Most of the Epcot Restaurants
All Restaurants at AKL
Kona Cafe at Poly
Planet Hollywood at DS
Raglan Road at DS
The Plaza at MK
Tony's at MK
All AK Restaurants

 

[Georgean Orr]

Thank you French quarter, really helpful. we are staying at AOA. I was able to figure out some ts today by going to other resorts instead of just the parks. The biggest thing that was like jenga was being at a park on day x, but the only reservation is at park y. Unless we have the park hopper tickets, that won't work! We only had plans to go to mk for most of our days and Ak one day since the kids are so young. So learning a lot! Thanks for your supportive comments!

 

[Andy_0410]

Was told a couple of years back by a cast member that people make several reservations for each night as they are unsure of there plans and as you get nearer especially a few days before they cancel the ones they don't want once they know what they are doing
Would say if you are staying at the MK a lot then check out the hotels close by on the monorail loop

 

[Flyersgirl17]

keep checking!!!!! people will cancel, they always do. Fingers crossed for ya!

 

[Kosmo1986]

I book mark the restaurants I am look for and check then when ever I think about it. I am a passholder who takes 4 trips a year + a few extra days here and there. usually the week before if I check a few times a day I am always able to get reservations I need.

 

[MickeyMomV]

Check daily and be open. If you only check one place you may end up being disappointed. We have a group of 7 and I checked daily and ended up finding a 8:00 am breakfast at Crystal Palace 7-8 weeks before our trip next week. For a group of 7 I thought that was awesome!

 

[docdebbi]

as i understand it, since the cancellation fee was enacted, there are multiple cancellations within the 24 to 48 hours before time period. i would not get too distressed yet, keep checking, even while you are in the parks the day before. you may find one.
and be flexible about where in the park you eat, you may find something new that you like.

 

[French Quarter]

I think the advice to keep checking back is good advice. However, while you are waiting for what you really want to become available, please do make reservations elsewhere just in case.

 

[lunchbox1175]

Was told a couple of years back by a cast member that people make several reservations for each night as they are unsure of there plans and as you get nearer especially a few days before they cancel the ones they don't want once they know what they are doing
Would say if you are staying at the MK a lot then check out the hotels close by on the monorail loop

Yep....I often do this. But I try cancel them at least a week out. I like to wait and see what the weather looks like and if it is going to effect my plans.