No Adr's in December?

[meganw1985]

Today was my 180 day mark for Adr's! :sohappy: Our trip is Dec. 17-23. Now, I know that is coming in close to the high Christmas season, but I was shocked at the limited Adr's available I got a little bit of a late start (8:00am EST) but STILL. I mean we're talking NO lunches for any of those days for Coral Reef OR Le Cellier! I was able to get ONE dinner on each of them. Also, there was ONE Adr for Garden Grill (I took it, even though it was later than what I wanted) and then there were no more for the rest of the trip. Also, no availabilities @ Rose and Crown whatsoever (my husband wanted to go there). Multiple Adr's for CRT though, which I wasn't looking for this time :brick: Is it REALLY this busy, or are they holding out times for the Candlelight Processional packages? (As I know they haven't come out yet). What are they chances I will get to change any of these?!

 

[Master Yoda]

From what others have been reporting they are holding reservations for the Candlelight Processional.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I'm booking ADRs for a friend's trip from Dec 18-21st ... I have been monitoring the web site for the last week or two and have been finding the same issues with all of the dining in Epcot that might be impacted by Candlelight Processional...in fact, I have yet to see any openings for Rose & Crown...I told her not to even bother with that for that reason.

What bugs me- they did this last year...and it kept me from getting around my ideal time at Rose & Crown- even though I booked at 5am CT 180+10 right on the dot. What ticks me off- when we went to eat that night and the one time I could get (7:45)...Rose & Crown was dead!!! There were quite a few empty tables both inside and out- even during Illuminations! (yet they said they couldn't seat us outside and we had other issues with seeing Illuminations that I won't get into). With the lack of openings online and by phone (even CP pkgs), you would have expected the place to be jam packed!

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

The lead up to Christmas is very busy. You will require ADRs where they are available and yes, a lot of seats at this time are reserved for the CLP packages.

 

[meganw1985]

And you know, I really wouldn't even mind booking a CP package, since we want to see it anyway. But noone can even give me an idea of when they will be out. What I'm afraid of is one day I will find out "oh yeah they've been out for a week" or something, and then it will be too late. :brick:

And as far as it being "busy" and things just being booked up, I really don't think that's the case. A lady from work went the same week last year, and she said it didn't really get busy until around Thursday (which would be Wednesday this year) and besides, all the other restaurants are WIIIIIIIIIIDE open. Including bfast at CRT which is a hot commodity I know!

 

[worldfanatic]

And you know, I really wouldn't even mind booking a CP package, since we want to see it anyway. But noone can even give me an idea of when they will be out. What I'm afraid of is one day I will find out "oh yeah they've been out for a week" or something, and then it will be too late. :brick:

Last year, if I'm not mistaken, the CP packages became available for booking on August 26. And this date was announced the first week of August.

Monitor this board, I'm sure you'll get your head's up.

 

[ArtieJim]

I think this is completely ridiculous. I can understand putting aside half or one-third of the tables at a specific restaurant, but the fact that no one can book until they've released the dates for CP seems extremely unfair to everyone that doesn't want to plop down even more money on their vacation.

 

[meganw1985]

I think this is completely ridiculous. I can understand putting aside half or one-third of the tables at a specific restaurant, but the fact that no one can book until they've released the dates for CP seems extremely unfair to everyone that doesn't want to plop down even more money on their vacation.

There were a couple I was able to get. Like Garden Grill, but the only time was SUPER late. Like after 8pm. That's LATE for a 9yo. And I was able to get a ressie @ Le Cellier....at 9:15pm. I took it, as my sister was begging me to eat there since she hasn't, but I'm terrified to eat that rich stuff that late!!! Same with Coral Reef. Super late. Wanted a lunch. And there was absolutely NOTHING at Rose & Crown. Not lunch, not dinner, nothing! So I think they took the most "coveted" dining times and kept them aside for CP, and only put out the crappy times that noone wants :ROFLOL: Only thing I can think of with R&C is that so many people try to book there because of Illuminations? Or maybe it's going to be closed for some reason?

I also don't think it is fair that they don't have the CP packages out yet. I know planning those things take time, but they already know the dates, so why not put the packages out? That makes the "you can book your ADR's 180+10 days for resort guests" pretty deceiving...

 

[wild01ride]

A lady from work went the same week last year, and she said it didn't really get busy until around Thursday (which would be Wednesday this year)...

Just remember that at Christmas time and several other holidays, the day that it "gets busy" (or whatever) will usually remain as the same day of the week. Usually, school, company, etc. holidays will be solid weeks no matter when the holiday falls and may only change in the case of the holiday changing fro
a weekend to the previous week or something like that.

Anyhow, it's one of those things where it will probably get busy on Thurs. each year.

 

[meganw1985]

Just remember that at Christmas time and several other holidays, the day that it "gets busy" (or whatever) will usually remain as the same day of the week. Usually, school, company, etc. holidays will be solid weeks no matter when the holiday falls and may only change in the case of the holiday changing fro
a weekend to the previous week or something like that.

Anyhow, it's one of those things where it will probably get busy on Thurs. each year.

I hope so Thursday will be our last day so we will miss the major crowds hopefully! :sohappy: I got a taste of no crowds when we went in September and it was soooo awesome (we also went on spring break one year...bad idea)

 

[Frau Farbissina]

Did you have difficulty with restaurants outside of Epcot as well?

 

[meganw1985]

Outside of Epcot we have booked: Yachtsman, Ohana, 1900 Park Fare, Chef Mickey's, and Sci-Fi. Not a problem getting any of those, no. The rest were inside Epcot. And I didn't have problems with ALL of them, Biergarten and Akershus were fine. Just the other 4.

 

[Lexi]

Today was our 180-day mark so we were able to make our reservations..after reading a few similar posts we were worried we wouldn't be able to get the reservations we wanted..so I logged on at 6am this morning and we got everything we wanted :sohappy: !!!! Le Cellier for Lunch on 12/29, Tony's on Christmas Day, and Coral Reef on 12/26 and so on..anyone that tried to make reservations earlier i suggest trying again!

 

[ArtieJim]

Today was our 180-day mark so we were able to make our reservations..after reading a few similar posts we were worried we wouldn't be able to get the reservations we wanted..so I logged on at 6am this morning and we got everything we wanted :sohappy: !!!! Le Cellier for Lunch on 12/29, Tony's on Christmas Day, and Coral Reef on 12/26 and so on..anyone that tried to make reservations earlier i suggest trying again!

I'm expanding on this on a new thread if any one is interested.