How is everything booked already?

[KimBean]

Bon Voyage has been tough for everyone.

There is availability for 12/3 - 12/7. Lots of times, if anyone needs it or that will be coming up for you soon.

 

[KimBean]

I'm glad you got what you wanted. I do think though that they just hold some back as evidenced by what I saw today. Now I've had all of mine booked for days but read so much about trouble people were having so I logged on and saw so many options at good times. I do think a party of 11 would be so much harder for sure. I've never had to book for that size!

Overall I think patience works for smaller groups even though it's harder to be patient. A few years ago I booked well after 180 days and still got everything.

It would be very frustrating though to not see anything. Another tip I noticed. When I searched for "dinner" I got later times. I searched for 5:00 and up they popped!! This was for 12/1 on though. I'll admit I didn't try every day before then.

Good luck to all!

Yes, I noticed this too. Search for lunch and 12:50 - 2:00 came up. Then searched for 11:30 and that AND 12:00 on the dot came up. It's like they are trying to trick you into filling those harder times.

 

[KimBean]

Perhaps more free dining packages were released this year?

What other reason would guests have to book up so many dining reservations so far out? They're booking the restaurants because they're eating "free" food they normally wouldn't eat.

The first two weeks of December are no longer slow times because Disney has packed their resorts and tables with guests. Good for them I suppose.

I don't think free dining is going anywhere.

I got free dining. It was the most impossible thing ever. I can tell you the FD packages available to non deluxe patrons were very slim for the 11/25-11/27 period. I got mine in the first 2 minutes after drop and have never seen another reservation since then for mod or value with the exception of AoA. Last year at a month out I could book value, mod, or deluxe for FD. I do not believe they offered much because they do not have to. It was booking up on its own.

Reservations are slim. But, I do not think FD is a factor. I was online with people at 6am on 5/29 (first minute anyone late November FD could book dining) and all the good stuff was not available except for really odd time. Epcot restaurants in general just not there (still think CLP is a factor here.)

Whether I got FD or not, I would have had the exact same reservations. I just would have paid $1800 more.

 

[KimBean]

It definitely sounds like something has been up with ADRs, but the OP says she started looking at 5am, but 6am Eastern is the start of the online booking window (unless OP is in a different time zone).

I doubt that it matters in this case because multiple posters have reported weirdness with ADR availability, but when things are working "normally" you can't see the full selection of available times until after 6am on the morning when your ADR window opens up.

She was probably CT.

 

[Lesverts]

I had mine open up for this week on Monday, coming in on the Saturday for that week. It was a struggle. But I anticipated that because I wanted Ohana, BOG and Akershus. Only thing I didn't manage to get was a 1900 Park Fare breakfast at 8am on the 30th and a ROL package lunch at Tusker. Don't know what is up with the first, but the latter is because they are not released yet.

 

[SaintsManiac]

There is availability for 12/3 - 12/7. Lots of times, if anyone needs it or that will be coming up for you soon.

There were several when I booked, as well. Unfortunately nothing early in our trip when we wanted it. I'm still hoping I can switch mine around.

 

[KimBean]

There were several when I booked, as well. Unfortunately nothing early in our trip when we wanted it. I'm still hoping I can switch mine around.

I couldn't believe it was actually there. But, I already have 3 TS I am paying OOP, so I can't add another. So many good and new restaurants since 2014.

 

[MamaPoppins1987]

ALRIGHT, FOLKS!!!! I just got off the phone with Disney Dining Reservations, and the cast member I spoke with confirmed what we've all been saying- Disney is NOT RELEASING all available slots yet for the more popular EPCOT restaurants (Akershus and Biergarten, mainly) due to Food and Wine Fest and Candlelight Processional! She just told me to wait a few days and just keep trying. She specifically said "they are telling us NOT to really advertise it, but everyone is frustrated so I'm going to let you know- there are plenty of unreleased reservation slots for that week. VERY FEW people have gotten reservations at Akershus, and it's not because it's already booked up."

When I tried to get an ADR for BOG or CRT, she also informed me that they are seeing an unusually high volume of travel agents double and triple booking reservations for their clients. She said to give it a few days to a week and there will be plenty of openings after they cancel. (Does anyone else think it's crap that this is allowed?! It's infuriating!)

Lastly- it seems that ADRs for dinner at MK restaurants are being booked earlier for days in which MVMCP is scheduled- guests without tickets HAVE to be OUT OF THE PARK not a minute past 7:00 pm. This is also contributing to the chaos.

 

[LiaNWillsmom]

It definitely sounds like something has been up with ADRs, but the OP says she started looking at 5am, but 6am Eastern is the start of the online booking window (unless OP is in a different time zone).

yes I'm in central time zone, so i started looking right when the window opened.

 

[DJ_Big_Daddy]

ALRIGHT, FOLKS!!!! I just got off the phone with Disney Dining Reservations, and the cast member I spoke with confirmed what we've all been saying- Disney is NOT RELEASING all available slots yet for the more popular EPCOT restaurants (Akershus and Biergarten, mainly) due to Food and Wine Fest and Candlelight Processional!

Much appreciated on the update. So far, I've managed to get most of what I want, just not during the exact times I want. Going to keep switching around as I always do, but booking this year has been a bit nuts (except for Chef Mickey, which was oddly available at a few spots during our stay).

 

[LiaNWillsmom]

So checking today... looks like there are lots of opening for Biergarten and Garden grill on Dec. 3. Still seems strange to me that they would be holding reservations for the week after Thanksgiving, but not the next week. Makes me super nervous about crowd levels this week after Thanksgiving, its supposed to be the "best week to visit".

 

[MamaPoppins1987]

So checking today... looks like there are lots of opening for Biergarten and Garden grill on Dec. 3. Still seems strange to me that they would be holding reservations for the week after Thanksgiving, but not the next week. Makes me super nervous about crowd levels this week after Thanksgiving, its supposed to be the "best week to visit".

Candlelight Processional times have not yet been released. From what the cast member told me, that's why. It appears that they are trying to iron out all of the scheduling details for that week.

 

[LiaNWillsmom]

Candlelight Processional times have not yet been released. From what the cast member told me, that's why. It appears that they are trying to iron out all of the scheduling details for that week.

That makes sense, its what i asked the cast member on the phone when i called yesterday at 5AM my time. I had to call, and wait 90 min on hold, because i couldn't find anything to book online, and i thought is was some sort of mistake. Still makes me a bit nervous, because the next week will be CP days as well, so why are the reservations available for that and not the week before?

 

[monkeybug]

I know it's stressful to have to keep checking back to get what you're hoping for, but things do open up as people cancel! I have had much better luck getting those difficult ones like 'Ohana and BOG closer to my trip dates than anywhere near the 180 day mark.
Our last trip (beginning of May last year) was last minute, and I made all of my adrs just days before (some literally the day before) and we ate at 'Ohana, Cali Grill, Sci-Fi, and a Pre-opening breakfast at BOG. (I got this one the night before, and I saw it available multiple times when I checked for things at night) I also saw pretty much every character breakfast open at some point during our trip. I think some people plan early breakfasts not thinking about how tired their kids will be from the parks and end up canceling them.
I know that sort of last minute planning doesn't work for everyone, but wanted to offer some hope to those that were frustrated and are okay with being a little flexible. In 6 trips, most planned well past the 180 day mark due to my husband's job, the only ADR that I wanted and was unable to get at some point was for the Wishes Dessert Party. (which I did end up getting on a different trip)

 

[kmv]

I am going in 2 weeks and suddenly EVERYTHING is opening up...from Garden Grill, Crystal Palace, Akerhus, even CRT

If worse comes to worse wait until right before your trip and things will open up then!

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

This question keeps popping up and everyone is so quick to blame FD. But I had the same issues getting ADRs for early November during a week of NO free dining. There is definitely something else going on. I have never had as much trouble as this year and I wasn't even looking for the most popular spots. I believe it's a combination of reservations being held back at Epcot for CP, nothing open yet for party nights, etc. I think the time has come for Disney to push back ADR opening to like 90 days. They clearly don't have enough details (park hours, special events, etc) planned out at 180 to release all the ADRs and allow people to plan efficiently.

 

[OasterP]

So checking today... looks like there are lots of opening for Biergarten and Garden grill on Dec. 3. Still seems strange to me that they would be holding reservations for the week after Thanksgiving, but not the next week. Makes me super nervous about crowd levels this week after Thanksgiving, its supposed to be the "best week to visit".

Maybe everyone has caught on that it's the "best week to visit" I'm teasing - I'm going then too. I am super thankful I didn't have issues booking meals. And for those that are staying past December 1st there are a TON of things still open.

 

[LiaNWillsmom]

Maybe everyone has caught on that it's the "best week to visit" I'm teasing - I'm going then too. I am super thankful I didn't have issues booking meals. And for those that are staying past December 1st there are a TON of things still open.

What i meant was that the crowds are supposed to be really low that week
I just get nervous at the thought of large crowds, I go out of my way to book trips at low crowd level times.

 

[Kathy D]

Just signed up for it - unfortunately not free any longer.

You could get it with any subscription level though.

Same happened to me. Telling me I have to subscribe.

 

[MamaPoppins1987]

What i meant was that the crowds are supposed to be really low that week
I just get nervous at the thought of large crowds, I go out of my way to book trips at low crowd level times.

Believe me, I am in the same boat you are! I went out of my way to plan this trip for that week. It definitely wasn't easy, and I'm seriously going to regret it if we get there and the crowds are insane!! It's possible for people to "catch on" though- I know that for sure! I live in Louisiana, and during Mardi Gras like half the state goes to Disney. Schools are out for an entire week in some areas, plus it's "off season" at WDW and you can get rooms crazy cheap, so it makes sense. Crowds used to be so low during Mardi Gras, now it's just as packed as the holidays! I am a former cast member, and I watched everyone "catch on." It sucks. I have a hard time seeing that happening the week after Thanksgiving though. There aren't many school closures nation wide, everyone goes back and starts prepping for end of semester/ 9 weeks exams before Christmas. It's not exactly easy to pull kids of a certain age out of school for that week, so I can't ever really see it getting crazy busy then.

Still, keeping my fingers crossed!