Canceling our October trip. No dining availability.

[ycccc]

For the first time in 18 years we are not going to DW. Last week I booked at the Contemporary for the end of October (a week that is blacked out for the free dining btw). Today I went on to make dining reservations and to my surprise there is no availability, literally. NO Royal Table, No Tony's, No Sci Fi Diner, No Chef Mickeys, etc, etc. The only availability were random places at 3:00 in the afternoon, I have never experienced this, ever. Dining at Disney is big deal for us, so are opting to spend our money at the beach. I did call and they told me that just the way it is now. Very disappointing,

[Strmchsr]

I wonder if there was a glitch in the system earlier. That happens rather often, unfortunately. Out of curiosity I just looked and found several openings during lunch and diner for Tony's and Sci Fi during the last week of October. CRT and Chef Mickey's I'm not surprised about. Those have been extremely difficult to get for a while. You have to get luck right at 180 days out for those, but just scanning through availability during the last week I see several good restaurants with openings. Perhaps you should look again.

[faline]

Sorry to hear you couldn't get into your favorite restaurants. I've found that things do tend to open up later. In the interim, you could also try some other restaurants - who knows, you might find a new favorite or two!!

[John]

Hate to say it but this is a trend - during the busy times, finding dining reservations are nearly impossible - plus, this is the wrath the Disney Dining Plan has sewn. Everyone can now eat anywhere without thought for real cost - it's all fixed.

So, where in the past, you might have never booked at say Monsignor Paul because you thought it was too high end, you now just think, it's only X credits and book away.

When everything is special, nothing is special (it's a theme we talk about on the podcasts).

I really feel for you. It's got to be incredibly disappointing to have to cancel your vacation. You might want to look at staying on site at Universal and giving it a shot (we just had an incredible vacation there recently and are going to go back for more).

That being said, we're heading to Hilton Head next week - so a beach vacation sounds good too... the sounds of the waves and some cool beverages...

Again, sorry - but I DO hope you have a wonderful vacation wherever you go!

[JanetMegan]

I'm so sorry you are having issues, esp when you aren't even trying for free dining. We are coming Oct 25th (for free dining) and I had to make mine at 6am exactly 180 days...that being said we decided later to arrive one day early for a room only night and having trouble finding an ADR. We're just going to drink and snack I think.

[CAS]

That's why we changed our ressies to Sept. Not that it's terribly better however we have a couple favs but most are new ventures for us. We're even trying the buffet at Ft Wilderness Campground. Without the dinner reservation there we'd never even think of visiting that area. We're looking forward this time to trying lots of new locations. Sorry yours aren't working out.

[catasaid]

Dining at Disney is also important to us...so we too booked for the end of October because the Food & Wine Festival is going on during that time. I initially made dining reservations at the 180 day mark, but decided to cancel those reservations and wait to see what special dining experiences will be offered for the F&W festival. Even if I don't do any of the special lunch/dinner experiences, there will be so much great food at the food booths that I don't believe we will feel the need to dine elsewhere.

[EeyoresBestFriend]

I'm not as dedicated and actually took a look for some dinners at about my 176 day point and was surprised to see NOTHING available. Only Hoop de Doo and Fantasmic - for about 5 days!! I thought "Stitch in the system" so I logged out and tried again a few days later. There were a lot of spots available when I went back the next time. And I am there during Free Dining timeslot in November. Egads . . .

So sorry your experience was frustrating. We can relate as we are about the Dining too. Hope that the Magic finds you where ever you go to relax.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Instead of cancelling over dining, go eat off site.. Expand your horizons.. There is life outside Disney... Oh and the food is better...

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I'm sorry your trip planning is so frustrating.

I find it especially hard, since you're never quite sure if it is a Disney website issue (which are all too common) or an issue where people are "holding" onto ADR's "in case", or if everything is indeed booked.

We were up at 6am (well, really 5:30am) to book for our trip, and due to "systems glitches" couldn't get things sorted for a few days.

Unfortunately, it seems that Disney planning needs to be a full-time job, to get everything you'd like all sorted.

I hope your plans, whatever you decide work out, and that you have a super vacation.

[Nascfan]

I just randomly chose Tuesday of the last week of October and looked at lunchtime, normal lunchtime sometime around noon. Of the restaurants this person is claiming they couldn't get, Chef Mickey's, Sci Fi, and Tony's are all available. Many, many other good choices too, all right around that same time. Of course Royal Table isn't, but that's never available unless 180 out.

[manutd1]

I just randomly chose Tuesday of the last week of October and looked at lunchtime, normal lunchtime sometime around noon. Of the restaurants this person is claiming they couldn't get, Chef Mickey's, Sci Fi, and Tony's are all available. Many, many other good choices too, all right around that same time. Of course Royal Table isn't, but that's never available unless 180 out.

Out of curiosity....I did as you did. You are right..There are a lot of slots to choose from. So, I have to think either your feelings are correct or there was a glitch.
Either way, I wouldn't cancel over that. We always go in Early May every year or so. Its kinda slow then, so dining ressies is never an issue. I haven't tried during any other time. And, yes..we always book 180 days out..so that alone solves any issues.
Hope the OP chooses to go. Or retry....to book

[NJGIRL]

Sorry to see that happen to you. Taking a WDW vacation has become very complicated. Enjoy yourself where ever you decide to go.

[missymouseworld]

That can be upsetting. But sometimes it could be a chance to try some different places that might surprise you and be great. We had this happen when trying to book something for Easter morning during Spring Break this year, and decided on staying at our resort and found a place that was delicious and had great service.

I also found trying to book at an off time helped a lot. Since the parks were very busy during Spring Break we opted for a later lunch than the normal 12/1pm .... we booked for 2/3pm before they switched to dinner service, and it worked out well.

[SueQ]

Sorry to hear you are cancelling. We are going the last week in October and were able to book the ones we wanted. Plus trying some new ones.

[Hammer]

I'm sorry you had problems with booking dining. How large is your party? That could play a factor in finding ADRs. That said, Chef Mickey's and Cinderella's Royal Table have been a hard reservation to get for many years, even before there was a Dining Plan.

I am going the first week of November, which is commonly known as Jersey week as NJ schools are closed for the teacher conventions, and I am seeing plenty of restaurants available for our party of 2. This is also a week where free dining isn't offered, as there are heavier crowds that week.

[Cinderelley]

I hope you have a wonderful vacation. You'll be with loved ones no matter where you go, and that is the important part.

[1DisneyNut]

Instead of cancelling over dining, go eat off site.. Expand your horizons.. There is life outside Disney... Oh and the food is better...

This is what we have been doing for about 5 years now for sit down nicer dinners. We haven't eaten at a table service restaurant in WDW for dinner in years. We despise being tied to ADR's.

We pick a beach and drive over one evening and find a nice seafood restaurant. We go hit places on International Drive. We go over to City Walk at Universal and eat at their restaurants. We have had some really good meals and experiences over the past several years.

[DizneyFreak2002]

This is what we have been doing for about 5 years now for sit down nicer dinners. We haven't eaten at a table service restaurant in WDW for dinner in years. We despise being tied to ADR's.

We pick a beach and drive over one evening and find a nice seafood restaurant. We go hit places on International Drive. We go over to City Walk at Universal and eat at their restaurants. We have had some really good meals and experiences over the past several years.

CityWalk restaurants: 30 days out, no stressing 6 months in advance.. and even better, use Open Tables!!!!

There are so many better options off property than Disney sit down service...

[Melanie]

There are so many better options off property than Disney sit down service...

Here's the thing. I think everyone is aware that there is dining off-site. Whether it's better is a matter of opinion. We know it's yours, as you've told us 2 times already in this thread alone. Unlike you and a few others Bobby, folks here still love and find magic in dining AT WDW. It's part of the experience, whether it be character/location/etc. themed, and an important part of their vacation. I totally get that!

With that said, I do think there was some kind of glitch here when the OP originally looked for reservations. While it may be true that some of the more popular restaurants were booked, there are many other wonderful places to choose from. I looked at that last week in October, and there were plenty of choices. I really encourage folks to look outside those big 5 or 6 'popular' restaurants and try some new things. You might find some new favorites!