GETTING A RESERVATION AT BE OUR GUEST
Among this site’s more than 4 million visitors are a lot of Disney insiders, who sometimes send helpful notes about various items.
One of the best is DisneyDiningAgent, who posted an important comment yesterday covering a lot of topics.
One of his (or her!) topics was why it’s so hard to get a table service reservation at Be Our Guest.
BE OUR GUEST IS BOOKING UP AS FAR OUT AS 190 DAYS OUT
Dining reservations at Disney World open at 180 days out, except for Walt Disney World resort hotel guests. For these guests, bookings open at 180 days, but the window for booking extends from their arrival date through the next ten days.
This means they can book Be Our Guest up to 190 days out. And, according to DisneyDiningAgent, they are.
Now obviously not everyone is staying for ten days.
But what happens is that the people staying 5 days book it 185 days out, those staying 6, 186 days out, etc. So when people call 180 days ahead and try to book Be Our Guest for the date 180 days in advance, the capacity 180 days out is often gone, so, if they are a WDW resort hotel guest, they then book it for later in their visit…and then people calling the next day have the same problem, and respond the same way.
There’s no great answer to this.
If you really want to do dinner at Be Our Guest (right now, until Fastpass+ emerges, the only reservable meal), your odds will be best if you stay at a Disney resort, aim to do Be Our Guest on the last day of your visit, and be on-line at 6a eastern the first day you can book. If the on-line system isn’t working (all too common–more on that later), then start dialing the phone just before 7a.
What’s your Be Our Guest story? Were you able to book 180 days out, or, if you stayed in a WDW resort, did you pick–or get stuck with–a date later in the reservations window?
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Been trying like a mad man to get BOG for my wife and kids and mother, its hard to get a reservation for dinner for 6 people. I did get lunch but i hear that the beast does not come out for lunch.; we are not going until Feb of next year so i am going to check every day until i can get it!
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Rich, the only advice I have is to try to book two tables for three.
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So frustrated… BOG is the one thing my 6 year old wants to dk, but I cannot get a reservation for dinner. We’re not going until October and I’m checking daily, but nothing yet. 🙁
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All I can say is keep checking!
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I have had ten trips to Disney World in the last two years. Each visit we are able to get Be Our Guest. I just keep checking every hour like a crazy person. Thanks for the information. I was wondering why I could not get the reservation at the 180 day mark. I thought maybe they were holding the reservation but it makes sense what you said. I am going again in May and I have that booked for the first day. I was lucky to get it for four people but at 830. I just kept refreshing and it appeared. Now I will try the day or two before to modify. Thanks for your tips.
Peggy
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Thanks Peggy!
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If you can’t get reservations at BOG for entire group, I suggest break it up…we got last minute breakfast reservations for Thanksgiving for out group of 6. We got 4, 1, and 1. All reservations are within 20 minutes of each other, and for breakfast or lunch you pick where you sit, so we’ll just all sit together.
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Thanks Heather!
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Hi Talina – Sometimes the app can be a bit quirky. I would suggest signing into your MDE account on your computer (you have have to try different browsers. I find the Chrome Incognito works best). Once signed in if you are staying on property double check that you have linked your reservation. You should then be able to book 180 +10 days. (If you are staying off property you must sign back in each day at 180 days before the dining date).
One known issue that many are running into is the lead guest on the reservation is listed twice in the MDE account. If this happens your dining could be linked to the lead guest \”not\” connected to the reservation. Tech support can help you fix that issue.
If you continue to run into trouble remember that you can always call to make your reservations at 407-WDW-DINE. Have your reservation number and credit card available.
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Hi Talina – do you have your reservation linked to your My Disney Experience account? If not, link there and you should be able to book for all days of your vacation through MDE. Otherwise, the system doesn’t know you are a resort guest. . .If you do have it linked, call the reservation number – they can help you make reservations!
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I was just trying to book via the app. My arrival date is 179 from now and the app simply won’t let me look for availability beyond the 180th day… last year I could book & search via the app. Anyone else?
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My husband and I are visiting for the first time in May. We booked the last week of January and we were lucky enough to grab a 6:25pm reservation. It was a little later than we wanted, so I got the Disney app on my phone and resorted to checking it multiple times a day with no luck. Today, a month later, I was able to pick up a 4:05pm reservation. I checked the app again and saw the 6:25pm reservation I had given up as available, so it seems as soon as a reservation is released it shows up. I checked again 15 minutes later and that reservation had been taken as well. Be persistent! It takes about a minute or two to hop on the app and check whenever you have a free moment. Don’t give up 🙂
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Thanks, Heather!!
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