Hi Steven! Welcome to planDisney!
Ugh, I’m so sorry to hear that you’re having a hard time securing your Advanced Dining Reservation. I certainly know what that’s like, as I almost always visit at the very last minute, so it’s usually a little late in the game to grab a spot at those most popular restaurants. Well, lucky for you, Steven, I have some tricks up my sleeve that I’m so happy to share with you today!
First things first, don't lose faith! Even when I book my visits SUPER last minute, I’m almost always able to grab reservations at some of my favorite spots. The trick is to keep a super close eye on the My Disney Experience app as you get closer to your stay. We all know that plans on vacation change all the time. Since there is a $10 charge per Guest (though the fee is subject to change) for any reservation cancellation done with less than 24 hours' notice, most Guests are pretty diligent about canceling any unwanted reservations to avoid being charged. So, you will see that many dining times pop up in the days and weeks leading up to your visit as those cancellations come through. So, I recommend checking the app about 2-3 times per day and almost always find the reservation I am looking for. This is especially common in the few days before my arrival.
As another option, did you know that many dining locations throughout Walt Disney World have the Mobile Dine Walk-Up feature where you'll be able to add your party to a stand-by list and be notified when your table is ready? How great is that? While there is certainly no guarantee that Mobile Dine Walk-Up availability will be available, it certainly never hurts to check! All you need to do to take advantage of this fantastic tool is open your My Disney Experience and follow these steps:
- Click on "Check Dining Availability."
- Select your party size.
- Select the date.
- Under "Search by Time," click on "Now."
- Then, you can view the current estimated wait times for participating restaurants and join the list.
Once you successfully join the Mobile Dine Walk-up feature, you are free to walk around and explore a bit while you wait to be called. Just be sure you don't go too far, as the restaurant will only hold your table for so long.
I do hope I have been able to help you, Steven! If you have any more questions, please pop back over to planDisney, where we would love to help make your Walt Disney World Resort vacation as wonderful as possible!
Bye for now,
Diana