Dining Reservations - Q and Critique Please

[DisPhanatic]

My dining window opens up this weekend. I will be traveling 2/11-2/15 with my 12yo son. We've been many times as a family of 4 but my husband and 14yo son want to sit this trip out. I have been stalking the reservations to layout my plan. We will be doing a lot of quick service but were hoping for a few sit-downs. All of these restaurants will be new for us.

2/11 Arrive 8 pm at MCO and travel to CBR

2/12 Magic Kingdom Day / 3 pm Liberty Tree Tavern (want time after meal to hit rides before the park closes. This will be our strategy all week). This reservation should be easy to snag.

2/13 Hollywood! Looking to have a drink at Oga's (should be okay to snag) and early dinner 4 pm at Sci Fi. I cannot find anything for 2 people but have plenty of availability for 4 people. Do I need to make a reservation for 4? Our backup is Mama Melrose

2/14 Animal Kingdom all day then head to Disney Springs. Would love dinner at Homecoming around 7. I have read if I cannot find one to call them directly. If that doesn't work, we will stick with quick service (maybe Polite Pig and some snacks).

2/15 Hollywood again before an 8 pm flight home. I can shoot for Sci Fi this day if the 13th doesn't work out but it would have to be 2 ish??

Thanks for the advice!

 

[SG131]

Take the reservation for 4 at sci fi, showing up with less people won't be an issue. I wouldn't do the last day, they don't have the quickest service.

 

[Ross Kratter]

Take the reservation for 4 at sci fi, showing up with less people won't be an issue. I wouldn't do the last day, they don't have the quickest service.

Or book it and modify it to 2 people if possible.

 

[evlaina]

I would try in this order:
Oga's
Homecomin
Sci-fi
LTT

Like others said if you can grab a res for 4, do the 4, no big deal. I wouldn't do 2pm on the departure day, I would try earlier. This was our first time only booking a party of 2 and there were SO many options, I was done booking reservations for our weeklong trip in 6 minutes!! Good luck!

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Or book it and modify it to 2 people if possible.

That used to be possible, but unfortunately that feature is gone.

 

[DisPhanatic]

Thanks for the advice. Fingers crossed for good luck on Sunday! I will report back on how I make out.

 

[VicarJT]

Looking forward to hearing how you make out!

 

[DisPhanatic]

Everything went pretty well today. Here is what I snagged:

2/12 Liberty Tree Tavern 3:15
2/13 Oga's for a drink at 1:40; Sci Fi at 3:25. We will hit the park hard early and late
2/14 Wanted Homecoming, nothing online but will call the afternoon and report back
2/15 Oga's for a drink 12:55. I may just cancel 2/13 the more I think about it

Interesting enough, I thought reservations opened at 7 am EST. I logged on at 6:51 and I was able to get started right away.

 

[VicarJT]

Oh yay for you! They open the reservations at 6:00 - and since I have moved our next trip 5 times and had to make new ADR’s each time, I have really not enjoyed those early mornings.

Good luck with Homecomin’ - it’s always my hardest one to get. I just keep stalking it and I do a Reservation Finder with Touring Plans.

 

[DisPhanatic]

So I called Homecomin' directly and they said they are not taking reservations on 2/14 for Valentine's Day. Walk-ins are all they are taking. We may go that route and check it out when we get to Disney Springs. However, just in case, we snagged a 7:35 at Paradiso 37. My son picked the menu but there was a lot of other availability.