Very Easy Reservation Booking?!? (July 2023)

[Coaster Lover]

I just wanted to point out an observation (and maybe give some hope to anyone with a trip coming up in July/Aug 2023). My 60 Day (+10) window opened up this past Monday, and I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was for me to get every reservation I wanted, on the day I wanted, and (for the most part) at a time I wanted. To add to this, this was for a party of 10! It included meals at Roundup Rodeo, Akershus, Chef Mickeys, and Hoop Dee Doo (Category 1) [all of which I thought we would have had to adjust at least somewhat]. We also got THREE separate reservations to Space 220 lounge (and could have had lots of options for the main restaurant if we wanted (to be fair, it's three separate reservations for two guests each... each of the three adult couples wanted to have separate, individual "date night" opportunities. Further, no wait when I called in in the morning to help coordinate those reservations for 10. Hoping that translates to lower than anticipated crowds when we go mid-July...

 

[nickys]

I just wanted to point out an observation (and maybe give some hope to anyone with a trip coming up in July/Aug 2023). My 60 Day (+10) window opened up this past Monday, and I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was for me to get every reservation I wanted, on the day I wanted, and (for the most part) at a time I wanted. To add to this, this was for a party of 10! It included meals at Roundup Rodeo, Akershus, Chef Mickeys, and Hoop Dee Doo (Category 1) [all of which I thought we would have had to adjust at least somewhat]. We also got THREE separate reservations to Space 220 lounge (and could have had lots of options for the main restaurant if we wanted (to be fair, it's three separate reservations for two guests each... each of the three adult couples wanted to have separate, individual "date night" opportunities. Further, no wait when I called in in the morning to help coordinate those reservations for 10. Hoping that translates to lower than anticipated crowds when we go mid-July...

Congrats on getting the ADRs you wanted.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Congratulations! My date for making ADRs for our August 12-18 visit is still several weeks away, but I've been browsing ADR availability in the mornings (when I remember to check) just to get a feel for which ADRs will be hardest to get, so I know which ones to do first when the blessed day comes, and it certainly has seemed like ADRs were pretty plentiful even at 60 days.

I'm glad to hear it might not be as difficult as it was (and will be again in 2024) when the DDP was in play, and/or when crowd levels are higher, especially since I, too, have some historically difficult ADRs on my list: 6:15 dinner slot at Hoop-dee-Doo, a snack/drink break at Space 220 Lounge, the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Fantasmic! dinner package, and if available before we go, the new Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya in EPCOT. Although, if crowds are low enough, the Fantasmic! dinner package might be a waste, and it might make more sense to just book Sci-Fi without it. I'll have to give that some more thought...

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Did you actually get tables for 10?

Last trip we were 11 and the only place where we could get a table for everyone was Boma. Everywhere else we ended up booking 7 + 4 and then asking to sit close to each other when we checked in at the restaurant. But similar to you, we didn't have much trouble getting tables everywhere we wanted except for Tusker House, which we eventually got but it took awhile.

 

[Coaster Lover]

Did you actually get tables for 10?

Last trip we were 11 and the only place where we could get a table for everyone was Boma. Everywhere else we ended up booking 7 + 4 and then asking to sit close to each other when we checked in at the restaurant. But similar to you, we didn't have much trouble getting tables everywhere we wanted except for Tusker House, which we eventually got but it took awhile.

We got tables for 10 about 50% of the time. We got tables for 10 at Liberty Tree, Hoop Dee Doo, Akershus, Kona, and Mama Melrose (with the Fantasmic Package). Everywhere else (Chef Mickey, Via Napoli, Rain Forest Cafe, Roundup Rodeo, Yak & Yeti) we had to break it up (mostly 8+2), but when we did break it up, all reservations were for the exact same time.

 

[Megamazing]

Nice! Now that we are local I check the app regularly to see what's open the day of and there's been a lot of good stuff. We ate at Space 220 yesterday and I had only just gotten that reservation 2 days prior.

 

[Lisa H]

I've been checking availability for Fantasmic Dining Packages as my 60 day window for making reservations is just around the corner. However, it looks likes the calendar highlights 60 days out but has not released actual reservations beyond about 3.5 weeks in the future. Can anyone confirm this, and is this typical for Fantasmic Dining Package releases? Will I need to wait until about 3.5 weeks before my trip to make the reservation?

 

[Eric Graham]

We enjoyed Roundup Rodeo. Hopefully you will also!

 

[aladdin2007]

I don't know but one reason may be easier is because its harder to search for reservations. They made changes that has turned it into a giant headache. Every time you want to search for availability you have to sign in,,and the filters are harder to use. So if you cant find what you want, and you want to come back a little later to keep checking or try again etc, you have to resign in all over again just to see times. Its awful. They went and made it too complicated.

 

[MaxDrake79]

Potete dirmi come funziona per le prenotazioni di ristoranti? In particolare volevo chiederti al momento della prenotazione devo mettere una carta di credito o debito prepagata ma tu prendi soldi sul conto e soprattutto dopo aver pranzato o cenato devo pagare con la carta che ho inserito o posso pagare con un'altra carta tutto il conto? Mille Grazie

 

[Weather_Lady]

Potete dirmi come funziona per le prenotazioni di ristoranti? In particolare volevo chiederti al momento della prenotazione devo mettere una carta di credito o debito prepagata ma tu prendi soldi sul conto e soprattutto dopo aver pranzato o cenato devo pagare con la carta che ho inserito o posso pagare con un'altra carta tutto il conto? Mille Grazie

Google Translate tells me these were your questions:
Can you tell me how it works for restaurant reservations? In particular I wanted to ask you when booking do I have to put a prepaid credit or debit card but you take money on the account and especially after having lunch or dinner do I have to pay with the card I inserted or can I pay the entire bill with another card?

In answer, you will be asked to enter a credit card number when you book a restaurant reservation at Walt Disney World. For a couple of very specific places (e.g., Cinderella's Royal Table and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue), that is because you will need to prepay for your meal, so the card you enter will be charged immediately. In those rare cases, the need to prepay will be very clearly spelled out on the website when you go to book the reservation, and you'll be told exactly how much is being charged.

For all the other restaurants, the credit card number you enter when you make the reservation is only necessary so that Disney has a way to charge you the no-show penalty if you don't show up for the reservation (and/ haven't timely canceled it). When you go to pay for your meal, you will not have to pay with the card that you used to hold the reservation: you can pay with cash, any other credit card, Disney gift card, Disney dining plan credits, etc.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[MaxDrake79]

Thanks Thanks Thanks

 

[MaxDrake79]

I forgot to ask how long you can cancel a restaurant reservation without paying a penalty and if I'm staying in a partner hotel like the Swan or the Dolphin, can I also book 60 days before arrival?

 

[Weather_Lady]

Cancel within 2 hours of the reservation time to avoid a penalty.

Yes, you can book your dining reservations 60 days out. If your Swan/Dolphin hotel reservation is linked to your My Disney Experience account/app, you can book reservations for the whole trip on that day. If not, you'll have to make each reservation individually, 60 days out.

Online booking for dining reservations starts around 6am EST daily.

 

[MaxDrake79]

didn't understand well if I connect my reservation on MDE can I book 60 days in advance and can I make all the reservations on that day? If it is not connected, can I always book from 60 days in advance but not all together but only one by one individually?

 

[Weather_Lady]

didn't understand well if I connect my reservation on MDE can I book 60 days in advance and can I make all the reservations on that day? If it is not connected, can I always book from 60 days in advance but not all together but only one by one individually?

Yes. If you are staying at an onsite hotel (including Swan and Dolphin, even though they're not Disney-owned) you can make all your dining reservations for the whole length of stay (up to 10 days), starting at 60 days out. Linking your hotel reservation to MDE is what lets the dining reservation system know you're eligible to do that.

 

[aladdin2007]

Cancel within 2 hours of the reservation time to avoid a penalty.

Yes, you can book your dining reservations 60 days out. If your Swan/Dolphin hotel reservation is linked to your My Disney Experience account/app, you can book reservations for the whole trip on that day. If not, you'll have to make each reservation individually, 60 days out.

Online booking for dining reservations starts around 6am EST daily.

If you dont want to cancel at the last hour but just want to move it to another date, can you still do that?

 

[nickys]

If you dont want to cancel at the last hour but just want to move it to another date, can you still do that?

I haven’t seen anything recently but certainly once the parks re-opened after the shut-down that was no longer working reliably.
I wouldn’t bank on being able to do that on the day of the reservation.