Dining Reservations set...but......

[SteveBrickNJ]

Whenever I was first eligible to make my sit down dining reservations on My Disney Experience I did it. I got something my family of three could all agree on at AK and at Epcot. Oh....also at Disney Springs. (We are not going to Hollywood Studios).
BUT.......I know my wife wants "Be Our Guest" at MK, but on my first day of booking eligibility it was already booked up. My only "child" will turn 17 in November....our upcoming 3.5 days at WDW will be in early Nov. In previous trips we've done Cinderella's Castle and Crystal Palace so I booked Tony's this time. We've never been there. Try something new for a change
*
*
Here are my 2 questions:
#1 In the "old days" I used to call Disney Dining and make dining reservations over the phone. Do/Can people still do that or is it just on My Disney Experience and that's it?
#2 IF I CAN call.....is there any realistic hope that someone will cancel their "Be Our Guest" reservation and I can get lucky and grab it?

 

[Dave B]

You are better off getting on the website everyday and checking, there is also a company you can sign up for that will give you alerts, I want to say Touringplans.com ??

 

[DreamalittleDisney]

Haha touring plans is right you put in a date and rough time at restaurant and if there is a cancellation they email you.. it doesn't reserve it automatically so sometimes by the time you see and act on it it's gone again but you can just pop in another search ...worked a few times for me

 

[nickys]

You are better off getting on the website everyday and checking, there is also accompany you can sign up for that will give you alerts, I want to say Touringplans.com ??

Yes. Touringplans reservation finder is the way to go. Sign up for free and you can put in a request for BOG at the times and dates you want.

Yes, you can phone but they really can’t do anything extra to get you a table.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

I called Disney Dining at 1-407-939-3463
*
*
The rep was not in a hurry. She confirmed that there are no cancellations or openings on the date I want (Nov. 7th).
She gave me lots of tips. One example is once we are within 60 days or less of our arrival, people will shift their dining reservations because they grabbed a coveted Fast Pass in a different park. I will check on My Disney Experience daily from Sept. 7th until our arrival on Nov. 6th. If I am persistent maybe I'll be rewarded

 

[DreamalittleDisney]

https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/reservation-finder

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/reservation-finder

Thank you!
....and to all other posters on the thread as well.....thanks!

 

[James J]

Thank you!
....and to all other posters on the thread as well.....thanks!

Touring Plans are great. I've managed to change a few of our bookings for October to the times we want thanks to their reservation finder, after we couldn't get them at our 180 day mark.

 

[Msinnott43]

I been using MouseDining it’s free too and I got an earlier BOG breakfast and I got a dinner res for California grill to see the fireworks.

 

[crxbrett]

Haha touring plans is right you put in a date and rough time at restaurant and if there is a cancellation they email you.. it doesn't reserve it automatically so sometimes by the time you see and act on it it's gone again but you can just pop in another search ...worked a few times for me

This. If you are persistent though, you will score or secure the time you want or one close to it. Just be diligent and try every single day if those ADR times are important to you. I managed to snag my BoG 8AM bfast using the Touring Plans Reservation Finder. I originally had booked a 9:15AM ADR a few months back. Then using the finder, I got 8:25AM, then an 8:10 and finally scored my coveted 8:00AM ADR!!! Took a few tries over a span of a couple of weeks, but I got it.

I also got my 'Ohana dinner at the exact time I wanted using the same system. Obviously, the longer you have til your trip, the better the odds are you will get it eventually since you have more time.

 

[DarthVader]

#2 IF I CAN call.....is there any realistic hope that someone will cancel their "Be Our Guest" reservation and I can get lucky and grab it?

People cancel all the time, I think the closer to the time frame the more likely it will be. I think you'll have better luck hitting the website then calling.

In a sense you're in competition with everyone else, if other people are hitting the website directly, as you navigate through the automated voice assistant, waiting for a human, providing your hotel reservation # and/or account info and then have them look it up - who do you think will have a better shot of snagging something?

 

[zeebs758]

I'll add to what people have been saying, I would just check everyday in the app to see if there are any openings. If it is something you really want, you should consider making the reservation any day of your trip and cater your other plans to that.

In the past, I've had a lot of success of booking Fastpasses for big attractions the week leading up to my vacation because people have to cancel that last minute. I would assume this would be the same for dining.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/reservation-finder

It was stated earlier in the thread that I can join for free. I spent a little time experimenting on the thread, but they only SEEM to offer me a chance to "subscribe" for $14.95.
How can I accomplish "joining for free"?

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

It was stated earlier in the thread that I can join for free. I spent a little time experimenting on the thread, but they only SEEM to offer me a chance to "subscribe" for $14.95.
How can I accomplish "joining for free"?

Here you go!
https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/join/basic

They make you jump through a whole lot of hoops, probably hoping you will give up and just pay the $15. I will say, that I recommend paying the subscription since it is so useful for customizing plans. If you are a super planner its well worth the money.

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

Here you go!
https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/join/basic

They make you jump through a whole lot of hoops, probably hoping you will give up and just pay the $15. I will say, that I recommend paying the subscription since it is so useful for customizing plans. If you are a super planner its well worth the money.

I am only gonna use it to try and grab a table for three at Be Our Guest.
I'm not a super planner.
Thank you very much for your help

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

I am only gonna use it to try and grab a table for three at Be Our Guest.
I'm not a super planner.
Thank you very much for your help

Quick tip, as soon as a table opens up a mass notification is sent out to everyone that is looking for that day and time. I would make sure that you have the reservation page bookmarked so as soon as you get the notification you can hop on and grab it. Good luck!

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

Quick tip, as soon as a table opens up a mass notification is sent out to everyone that is looking for that day and time. I would make sure that you have the reservation page bookmarked so as soon as you get the notification you can hop on and grab it. Good luck!

So I joined touring plans basic using the link you provided.
Then I selected the appropriate place to put in my Be Our Guest reservation finder.
After entering my info I ticked the green icon and then the "swirly spinner" did its thing for about 5 seconds and disappeared.
That was it. After the 5 second spinning there was nothing new like "confirmed" or "success" or "thank you", etc.
Is that typical? Am I "good to go"?

 

[HwdStudio]

It was stated earlier in the thread that I can join for free. I spent a little time experimenting on the thread, but they only SEEM to offer me a chance to "subscribe" for $14.95.
How can I accomplish "joining for free"?

Run by @lentesta here on WDWmagic. Smart man, great site and great podcasts.

 

[nickys]

Quick tip, as soon as a table opens up a mass notification is sent out to everyone that is looking for that day and time. I would make sure that you have the reservation page bookmarked so as soon as you get the notification you can hop on and grab it. Good luck!

Also, that link is only good for one person. But don’t panic. Log on anyway and check.

And once you get a notification you need to go in and re-start the search if you weren’t successful.

 

[lentesta]

So I joined touring plans basic using the link you provided.
Then I selected the appropriate place to put in my Be Our Guest reservation finder.
After entering my info I ticked the green icon and then the "swirly spinner" did its thing for about 5 seconds and disappeared.
That was it. After the 5 second spinning there was nothing new like "confirmed" or "success" or "thank you", etc.
Is that typical? Am I "good to go"?

Party size of 3? Yes, you're good to go. Let me know how it works, please.