Dining Reservations, advantage for staying deluxe?

[drossjr]

We have been trying to make reservations the past 4 years at Chef Mickey's for breakfast and Cali Grill for dinner.

We go to the world the same time each year but the past 4 trips we havent been able to reservations at either and its the same amount of people going on each trip.

The past 3 years we have stayed at POR, and the year before that we stayed at All Star Sports. This year we are staying at AKL.

In the past we have been turned away for both locations and continued to try each day up until we left for our trip, this year we called and right away got the reservations and times we wanted no hassle. Just wondering why they ask what resort your staying at and if in fact it makes a difference.

Thanks! :wave:

 

[Monty]

No. The resort you stay at, whether you use the DDP or a TiW card have no bearing or influence on getting or not getting an ADR. If there happens to be a table available for your party size at the restaurant and time you want, you get it. It's really that simple.

The earlier in your 180+10 window you try, the better your chances are of getting what you want.

 

[disneycouple07]

If what you want is not available, keep trying! People cancel dining reservations everyday. Don't give up. Good Luck!

 

[drossjr]

Thats what I thought as well

Just seemed strange in all the times prior I was never able to get into each place. And I called as soon as I was able to make reservations and kept calling but never had any luck.

I was even open to all different times and still had no luck

This year was different for some reason, I asked for a time at both places and no issue no waiting at all!!! Same amount of guests as well! Weird!

Why do they ask what resort your staying at???

 

[DisneyJoe]

its the same amount of people going on each trip.

How many people?

When do you book your trips? Are you outside the 180 day window?

Are you flexible with your times?

 

[drossjr]

How many people?

When do you book your trips? Are you outside the 180 day window?

Are you flexible with your times?

It's been only the two of us on each trip

We usually book them in January for July/August We start making reservations as soon as Disney allows us to do so

Yes we have always been flexible with our times

 

[tigsmom]

The level of hotel does not matter when making reservations, but if you don't get a reservation before you leave home then call once you get there because you never know when there will be a cancellation. One year we could not get into a particular restaurant and the kids (who were small at the time) complained when we checked in The girl at the front desk called and got us in for the next morning.

We have also been known to call while we were in the parks and many times we have gotten a last minute seating. Put the dining phone number into your cell phone because you never know when you might need it. :lol:

 

[Mstr Gra-c]

My family and I go every couple of years.
We always stay at Poly Concierge and use the Premier Platinum Package.
We have never had an issue getting a table anywhere...even making reservations to eat same day, they always are able to find a way to fit us in.
The only time we have ever had an issue was this year and it was because the Chef's Table at Victoria and Alberts had been VIP booked...even then they offered us the Queen Victoria room.
However, I either use an itinerary planner or wake up VERY Early to set my ressies.

I say that to say this.

I feel it indeed matters. I know that they say it doesn't and I'm sure they try to live by that creed. However, reading the difficulty that some have getting ADR's and never having that same hardship...my only conclusion is that there must be some consideration for where you stay and how you visit.

 

[DisneyJoe]

We always stay at Poly Concierge and use the Premier Platinum Package.

...

I feel it indeed matters.

I believe in your case that paying for Concierge may make the difference.

 

[Mstr Gra-c]

I believe in your case that paying for Concierge may make the difference.

Maybe:shrug:

 

[stlbobby]

Having stayed at every level of resort at all times of the year and made reservations for tons of people at every level I really haven't found the resort level to be a factor.

What seems more likely, but is also denied, is that non-dining plan guests are favored because the DDP people are already paying for a Disney meal while the non-DDP has a choice to eat outside of WDW.

I don't believe this is the case, but if Disney was going to play favorites this makes more sense.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

the slow economy may be an issue as well. disney is working hard to keep the resorts full so maybe in years past there was just more competition for the adr's. i've stayed mainly at deluxe and moderate resorts but have one trip at a value resort and haven't found any difference in getting adr's. overall,i think it's more the 180+10 out you have to look at and the time of year you're traveling (peak, holiday, regular, or value season). i keep trying when i can't get a booking i want and have more often than not been able to get it with some tenacity.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Ive never had an issue beyond moving times either way by 20 mins or so calling at the 180 day mark. This year I made ressys for my PNMC and her beau, well within that and was able to get Le Cellier. Time of year is probably the biggest factor but despite being at WDW for the last two Thanks Givings weve always got what we wanted, and we do visit CG every trip.

 

[Figment82]

The problem could be in the fact that there are only two of you. There are few 2-person tables, and it's more cost-effective to tell a party of 2 that there is no availability than to only half fill a 4-person table. We've found this to be a problem in the past. They have a lot more 4-person tables, so sometimes if you say there are 3-4 in your party, you'll have better luck. We were told this trick by a reservation agent. Just a thought, not sure if it will help.

 

[jrobb]

I only quickly browsed everyone's posts, but I didn't see this anywhere...

Don't forget about the new online dining reservation system where you can check for openings in real-time just like the desk clerks do. Be sure to try each day for new openings. The only things you cannot do online are Fantasmic! dining. I think there was another one that you couldn't book online. Even the Royal Table can be booked online.

 

[CleveRocks]

As an evolutionary survival instinct, we humans tend to perceive patterns and relationships where none exist. Coincidence is a much more common explanation for many things, as compared with cause-and-effect.

A poster on another message board worked for several years as a concierge at Polynesian (Lobby Concierge desk, not club level). She consistently reported that even she had no way to get someone an ADR where no openings existed.

Having stayed at a Moderate three times and a Deluxe only once, the only time I tried to get any last-minute ADRs is when I stayed Deluxe, and I had no luck.

Like I said ... coincidence.

 

[Figment1986]

My family and I go every couple of years.
We always stay at Poly Concierge and use the Premier Platinum Package.
We have never had an issue getting a table anywhere...even making reservations to eat same day, they always are able to find a way to fit us in.
The only time we have ever had an issue was this year and it was because the Chef's Table at Victoria and Alberts had been VIP booked...even then they offered us the Queen Victoria room.
However, I either use an itinerary planner or wake up VERY Early to set my ressies.

Concierge / club level cast members are paid to do their best to find the few open tables, some restaurants even leave a table or two open for last min concierge reservations :shrug:

 

[scoobygirl39541]

The problem could be in the fact that there are only two of you. There are few 2-person tables, and it's more cost-effective to tell a party of 2 that there is no availability than to only half fill a 4-person table. We've found this to be a problem in the past. They have a lot more 4-person tables, so sometimes if you say there are 3-4 in your party, you'll have better luck. We were told this trick by a reservation agent. Just a thought, not sure if it will help.

Hmm... our party of 2 have been trying to get Le Cellier for the last 4 years with no luck. We always call early in the morning of our 180 days and still nothing. Maybe we'll try saying we have more people in our party.

Worth a try lol

 

[Susan Savia]

We eat at Chef Mickey nearly every visit and have never had a problem getting a reservation for the 3 of us.

 

[chwilson88]

Concierge / club level cast members are paid to do their best to find the few open tables, some restaurants even leave a table or two open for last min concierge reservations :shrug:

Fully agree here. It's silly for anyone to think that purchasing certain levels of disney luxury doesn't impact your ability to eat where you want when you want. It's called capitalism.