Nothing available at Epcot?

[maryj11]

The first week of December not one reservation available for lunch Biergarten has one time available for dinner. I have never seen this before.
Is this park going to be really crowded or is the dining reservation system messed up?

 

[twincruisers]

Limited spots from what I can tell. Right now it isn’t as big of a deal with F&W but in Dec, not sure what’s going to happen if they don’t staff up.

 

[bsmcneil]

The first week of December not one reservation available for lunch Biergarten has one time available for dinner. I have never seen this before.
Is this park going to be really crowded or is the dining reservation system messed up?

Both/neither? It does seem like decent crowds this year based on resort reservations but the issue with ADRs is less about crowds at the parks/resorts and way, way, way more about staffing/covid. They can't fill every table (due to staffing) - so there's less capacity. I went during a really low crowd time (Sept 22-25) and ADRs were super hard to come by (but when I did get them/dined places, they just weren't at 100%). At that time, there was still a lot of training as the CP was getting going - but I would think that's leveled off by now. Still, they're in need of a TON more staff.

 

[maryj11]

Both/neither? It does seem like decent crowds this year based on resort reservations but the issue with ADRs is less about crowds at the parks/resorts and way, way, way more about staffing/covid. They can't fill every table (due to staffing) - so there's less capacity. I went during a really low crowd time (Sept 22-25) and ADRs were super hard to come by (but when I did get them/dined places, they just weren't at 100%). At that time, there was still a lot of training as the CP was getting going - but I would think that's leveled off by now. Still, they're in need of a TON more staff.

That makes sense. I just have never seen reservations so hard to get. I couldn’t believe not one restaurant was available for lunch December 3 and only one available for dinner.

 

[bsmcneil]

That makes sense. I just have never seen reservations so hard to get. I couldn’t believe not one restaurant was available for lunch December 3 and only one available for dinner.

It's definitely weird (TP has Ep at a 3)!

 

[DL1WDW2]

It’s weird and scary to see EPCOT at capacity already for NewYearsEve… Has this occurred previously for NYE ?
I guess this means No Park Hopping .

 

[mommy2mrb]

Will be at EPCOT on NYE and since we are doing a split stay couldn’t get any ADR’s. Will keep trying as we get closer.
Happy I got something for our Christmas Day!

 

[NYCgrrl]

It’s weird and scary to see EPCOT at capacity already for NewYearsEve… Has this occurred previously for NYE ?
I guess this means No Park Hopping .

I suspect some reservations are being held back for still to be announced special NYE events. I also think CD and NYE will be quite crowded and closed to new guests eventually. That’s how it was 2018 and ‘19. Fortunately we learned the lesson the first time we went and stayed away from the parks on the Eve.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

I’m noticing the same. I check a few times throughout the day for my EPCOT day and Teppan Edo usually has a few spots and the same La Hacienda opening has been popping up for days but really nothing else.

 

[Marthasor]

Just keep checking even up to the night before and day-of. As you get closer to the date, people will start canceling wha they don’t need. We went first week of October and found a lot of availability while we were onsite.

 

[emilyann415]

The first week of December not one reservation available for lunch Biergarten has one time available for dinner. I have never seen this before.
Is this park going to be really crowded or is the dining reservation system messed up?

Biergarten is one of only 4 restaurants being used for candlelight processional. I saw quite a few regular spots open Thur but my guess is they’ve gotten snatched up by now.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Just keep checking even up to the night before and day-of. As you get closer to the date, people will start canceling wha they don’t need. We went first week of October and found a lot of availability while we were onsite.

There’s a lot of truth in what you say. Even now people are off loading “must have” ADRs but the week between Christmas and NY is a different level of busy and I just want newer visitors to understand that. It’s like… NYE @ Times Square chaotic.
I’m not forgetting our first visit to a different park (MK) on Christmas Day when people queued to enter the Swiss family treehouse as there was nothing else to do; just madness.

 

[maryj11]

Biergarten is one of only 4 restaurants being used for candlelight processional. I saw quite a few regular spots open Thur but my guess is they’ve gotten snatched up by now.

I noticed since the package opened for Biergarten that a lot of regular ones opened.

 

[Liz Z]

Will be at EPCOT on NYE and since we are doing a split stay couldn’t get any ADR’s. Will keep trying as we get closer.
Happy I got something for our Christmas Day!

Were going the week between Christmas and New years and i cannot get anything for breakfast lunch or dinner T Epcot for NYE. Nothing!!! We have been numerous times that day along the years and never had a problem Very sad

 

[maryj11]

Were going the week between Christmas and New years and i cannot get anything for breakfast lunch or dinner T Epcot for NYE. Nothing!!! We have been numerous times that day along the years and never had a problem Very sad

I know how you feel

 

[Liz Z]

I know how you feel

Im really almost ready to cancel We could not get a hotel for the week So~~~~~~~we are staying in 4 Four different hotels

 

[Marthasor]

There’s a lot of truth in what you say. Even now people are off loading “must have” ADRs but the week between Christmas and NY is a different level of busy and I just want newer visitors to understand that. It’s like… NYE @ Times Square chaotic.
I’m not forgetting our first visit to a different park (MK) on Christmas Day when people queued to enter the Swiss family treehouse as there was nothing else to do; just madness.

OP is going the first week of December. Not sure why you think my response had anything to do with Christmas week.

 

[NYCgrrl]

It’s weird and scary to see EPCOT at capacity already for NewYearsEve… Has this occurred previously for NYE ?
I guess this means No Park Hopping .

OP is going the first week of December. Not sure why you think my response had anything to do with Christmas week.

I was agreeing with you and answering this post simultaneously. Sorry it confused you.

 

[Liz Z]

Both/neither? It does seem like decent crowds this year based on resort reservations but the issue with ADRs is less about crowds at the parks/resorts and way, way, way more about staffing/covid. They can't fill every table (due to staffing) - so there's less capacity. I went during a really low crowd time (Sept 22-25) and ADRs were super hard to come by (but when I did get them/dined places, they just weren't at 100%). At that time, there was still a lot of training as the CP was getting going - but I would think that's leveled off by now. Still, they're in need of a TON more staff.

im hoping its just a case of staffing and once they can hire more the dining should open up. Just a wild guess but im trying to be hopeful

 

[reluctantredhead]

OP, I have noticed the same thing. We will be there from 11/30 to 12/7, and EP reservations have been extremely difficult to come by. I ended up using alerts for 3 separate services, and that's the only way I was able to get anything at all for EP. There was a fairly big release of Biergarten reservations between 9 and 10 am a couple of days last week, but other than that, pickings have been very slim indeed. I am crossing my fingers that I can snag a dinner reservation for San Angel Inn either day of or the day before. It has only come up once in my alerts, and I wasn't fast enough to get it, even though I was holding my phone when the alert came in and clicked the link immediately. Definitely give the alerts a shot if you haven't already though! I was able to get a lunch reservation at Space 220 and a Biergarten CP package that way. Good luck, and I hope you're able to get the reservations you want eventually!