Is it hard to get adrs?

MaryJaneP

Well-Known Member
ADRs are hard to get. Check every moment you can, everyday, sometimes there is a cancellation as plans change and you want to be ready to put in the ADR. This may happen very close and even up to day of expected travel, so keep hoping as dreams can come true. Have a great time, regardless of where you get your vittles.
 

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
We've found free dining tends to have a huge impact on availability. That being said, there are still ADR hoarders who stockpile and drop last minute to avoid no show fees. I used to stalk for hard to get reservations, but now, I've decided last minute is a better use of my time. Case in point, my family didn't love all of my ADR choices for our last trip, so I found myself rebooking 1/4-1/3 of my ADRs while we were there. It wasn't like day 180 plentiful in some cases, but hard to get things like BOG and 'Ohana dinner at good times were suddenly popping up. So, I'd try until the very end if you're unable to get what you want right now. Just make sure to drop what you don't want before the fee goes into effect.
 

BuddyThomas

Well-Known Member
You know what’s an amazing trick? Not being a sarcastic jerk.
I obviously got my dates wrong as I pointed out in this same thread. I guess it was 2012. I thought it was longer.
Yeah, I guess you're right. That was a bit jerky of me. Apologies. That Katiebug thread keeps coming up, and that has me always wondering if people are just trolling, especially if information is incorrect, like the 2009 date you named. But all good. Carry on.
 

Hcalvert

Well-Known Member
Why is October busy? I don’t get it.

When we went to WDW at the end of October, British schools were having an autumn break. Therefore, there were a lot British folk around, which made it busier. My husband said it was like visiting home again.
 
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James J

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
When he went to WDW at the end of October, British schools were having an autumn break. Therefore, there were a lot British folk around, which made it busier. My husband said it was like visiting home again.

Yep, around the middle to end of October is half-term here so the schools will be off. I think it's the week commencing 22nd October this year!
 

analise

Active Member
Original Poster
Yep, around the middle to end of October is half-term here so the schools will be off. I think it's the week commencing 22nd October this year!
Does this extend to the beginning of November? We went one year in November & lots of British vacationers.
 

Palavralee

New Member
It really has been a long time since you were last there, hasn't it? The first week of October will see carry-over of Free Dining guests who began their vacation on or just before Sept 30. There are some school districts that have a fall break in Oct. The F&W Festival, which has become incredibly popular, will have been in full swing for over a month. Then there is the MNSSHP, which also draws crowds. A complicating factor with the Halloween parties is that they close the park to non ticket holders after 6:00, greatly reducing ADR availability on those days.

It's been a fact of life for many years that if you really want to eat at a specific restaurant, and especially if it's a popular place like BOG or Ohana, you need to get you ADR as far in advance as possible. Only 70 days out? All you can do is haunt the reservations pages and hope for cancellations. Or try the TouringPlans reservation finder.

I would say this is only true if you have to eat on a specific day at a specific time. If you have some flexibility, there are many ADRs that can be had even up to the day you want to eat there. You can still get ADRs for the most popular restaurants after your 180 day window if you are patient.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Have not been to DW since I think 2009... is it harder to get adrs now than before? Last time we were able to get be our guest, chef mickeys. Honestly whatever we wanted we got. This time, we’re like 70 something days away & I can’t find anything I want. I would of thought with having to give your cc info now to make a reservation that it would be easier not harder.

You typically get a lot of cancellations just outside the 24 window...so that’s a good fall back option.
One thing that is a pain is that they typically staff based on tbe bookings...not the size of the restaurant. So while the place may be half empty...doesn’t mean not having reservations really works too well anymore.

They canned priority seating...nobody flinched...they lured people into dining plans...everyone “loved” it...

But there was always gonna be consequences. There always is.

The credit card guarantee at least seems to have squashed double booking...that was a big problem for years.
 

analise

Active Member
Original Poster
I would say this is only true if you have to eat on a specific day at a specific time. If you have some flexibility, there are many ADRs that can be had even up to the day you want to eat there. You can still get ADRs for the most popular restaurants after your 180 day window if you are patient.
Not for my dates. As far as park adrs but I’m hopeful.theres hardly anything available. But I’m sure something will come up. I remain hopeful
 

Minnie Mum

Well-Known Member
I would say this is only true if you have to eat on a specific day at a specific time. If you have some flexibility, there are many ADRs that can be had even up to the day you want to eat there. You can still get ADRs for the most popular restaurants after your 180 day window if you are patient.

Uh huh. Which is why I said in my post:
Only 70 days out? All you can do is haunt the reservations pages and hope for cancellations. Or try the TouringPlans reservation finder.

The OP is only 2 months out and wants BOG. In the first part of October, with the Halloween parties in full swing. I'm not going to give anyone false hope that they WILL get all the ADRs they want. Only that it's possible that they MIGHT get them if they're diligent with their searches.
 

eliza61nyc

Well-Known Member
Not for my dates. As far as park adrs but I’m hopeful.theres hardly anything available. But I’m sure something will come up. I remain hopeful
what are your specific dates if you don't mind me asking? I was on line last night for a friend who's going 10/5-10/10 and there was a lot of openings for dinner. for example we looked at 10/6 dinner for 5. got 123 offerings. Now granted BOG was not open but again, there seems to be plenty.

Do you have to do a specific TS.
 

Patcheslee

Well-Known Member
Check around the 74-60 day mark as well. First time doing Disney couple years ago I had Tusker House dinner booked for 2 nights and Akerhaus dinner booked for 2 because I didn't know how the hard to get FP+ we wanted would be. Got Frozen on the 2nd night Akerhaus booking so dropped the first. Got Flight of Passage on the first Tusker House booking date so dropped the other one. We didn't want to be park hopping so it was the only way I could think of to sync the ADRs and FPs.
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
The OP is only 2 months out and wants BOG. In the first part of October, with the Halloween parties in full swing. I'm not going to give anyone false hope that they WILL get all the ADRs they want. Only that it's possible that they MIGHT get them if they're diligent with their searches.

The good news is be our guest is not good...so hopefully the end up at Skippers instead 😜
 

Sirwalterraleigh

Premium Member
Let’s be clear: things open up all the time...you just have to be kinda obsessed with it to find them.

But as pointed out - is become really uncomfortable to travel that month...it just has. And it’s a shame because I used to go often in October and before that I had a wedding on 11/5...and it was so delightfully empty.

...I won’t set foot on the property on 11/5 now.
 

analise

Active Member
Original Poster
Check around the 74-60 day mark as well. First time doing Disney couple years ago I had Tusker House dinner booked for 2 nights and Akerhaus dinner booked for 2 because I didn't know how the hard to get FP+ we wanted would be. Got Frozen on the 2nd night Akerhaus booking so dropped the first. Got Flight of Passage on the first Tusker House booking date so dropped the other one. We didn't want to be park hopping so it was the only way I could think of to sync the ADRs and FPs.
I am at that mark. 64 days
 

DryerLintFan

Premium Member
Tip - after you book your fastpasses at the 60 day mark, check for your reservations over the next day or two. Many people hoard ADRs until they know what time and where their fastpasses are, and then they release the ADRs they no longer need.
 

analise

Active Member
Original Poster
Uh huh. Which is why I said in my post:


The OP is only 2 months out and wants BOG. In the first part of October, with the Halloween parties in full swing. I'm not going to give anyone false hope that they WILL get all the ADRs they want. Only that it's possible that they MIGHT get them if they're diligent with their searches.
We would like BOG because we have a Belle fan with us & she’s also a first timer to DW. We booked towards the end of July. I had no idea that adrs are so hard to get now. As stated in my original post... back when I went last (2012 apparently) I was able to get absolutely all the adrs I wanted. I’m not complaining. Just unpleasantly surprised & wondered if it was the norm now.
 

analise

Active Member
Original Poster
what are your specific dates if you don't mind me asking? I was on line last night for a friend who's going 10/5-10/10 and there was a lot of openings for dinner. for example we looked at 10/6 dinner for 5. got 123 offerings. Now granted BOG was not open but again, there seems to be plenty.

Do you have to do a specific TS.
Those are my dates. And no nothing specific other than an adr at the park I’m going to be in that day. And also something we can all enjoy. 5 of us. The only thing I wanted was BOG & Sci Fi. Not because of the food but because of the experience. But can’t find an adr for any of my dates for those two. As many pointed out, I will continue to search & hopefully some magic happens lol.
 

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