Hi Heather!
Thanks for your question and for visiting the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
Two of my favorite things to do at
Walt Disney World are eat and meet my favorite Disney characters!! And combining the two is a serious win-win!
I am sorry to hear that you have been unable to reserve your favorite
Character Dining locations! Especially considering that your trip is in September and most guests, from the U.S. anyway, are back in school.
Alas, all is not lost!
I have two recommendations for you. First, keep checking back on the Walt Disney World website or the
My Disney Experience page under "
Making Dining Reservations", or simply click
here. Guests cancel and rearrange reservations all the time, so with a little persistence and some pixie dusted luck, you may be able to catch a reservation based on another Guest's cancellation. It happens all the time!
Second, and this is the least likely scenario, but still possible....try a "walk-up" on a given day that you wish to dine at a certain location, but do so "off hours." For example, a super early or late breakfast, near the very beginning or very end of a meal time window. I have been able to get into both Chef Mickey's and Cinderella's Royal Table trying this strategy.
I hope this helps and I wish you a Magical trip!!
Chris