Online dining reservations

[IMACM]

for travel agents starts tomorrow! As soon as I hear a date for regular guests I will let you know!!!

:banana::banana::banana:

[glitzybabes]

That is awesome!

[mousescrapper]

popcorn::

[WelovMickey!]

:goodvibes Great!

[jlewisinsyr]

Lets hope they institute a credit card requirement to hold the reservation with penalty for no-shows while they are at it.

[yitbos96bb]

Lets hope they institute a credit card requirement to hold the reservation with penalty for no-shows while they are at it.

I have my doubts, but that's a great point... Its gonna get a lot harder to get a reservation.

[MickeyT]

Lets hope they institute a credit card requirement to hold the reservation with penalty for no-shows while they are at it.

That's my fear. Will I ever be able to get ADR's except on day 90+10. Seems there would have to be some type of control. But like others have said......:surfweb:

[PatriciaH]

Lets hope they institute a credit card requirement to hold the reservation with penalty for no-shows while they are at it.

Nope. Except on the standard ones (CG, CRT, Akershus.) Good luck getting ADR's everyone! :scared1:

[anotherdisneygal]

Thanks for the tip!

[KYMickey]

Any bet some software developers will develop programs to get reservations at the first possible minute? They've already got them for bidding at the last possible second on eBay!

[OrlandoMike]

Part of the new system prevents multiple reservations by the same party! :thumbsup2

We all know people will find a way around it, but at least Disney is aware of the situation!

[Condorman]

Part of the new system prevents multiple reservations by the same party! :thumbsup2

We all know people will find a way around it, but at least Disney is aware of the situation!

Are you referring to double-bookings within the same timeframe? If so, do you know (or can you say... yet) what is the buffer zone of time around one reservation in which you can make another?

[Uncleromulus]

Will be VERY interesting to see how this all works out.....

[OrlandoMike]

Are you referring to double-bookings within the same timeframe? If so, do you know (or can you say... yet) what is the buffer zone of time around one reservation in which you can make another?

All I know is what I have heard from people who have trained on the new system. They came back from training saying that basically you wont be able to book say a dinner at EPCOT and at a resort on the same evening.

[yitbos96bb]

All I know is what I have heard from people who have trained on the new system. They came back from training saying that basically you wont be able to book say a dinner at EPCOT and at a resort on the same evening.

Well that's good to hear. I can live with that.

[4forthemouse]

Do you know if this is something that is definitely going to be opening up to the general public, or just TAs? Also, will families be able to split up and make 2 dining reservations for the same evening (for instance, we're a family of 5 but sometimes will eat with a reservation for 2 at one location and a reservation for 3 at another).
This is very interesting.........

[Uncleromulus]

That question is one of many that guarantee the system will have kinks that will take a very long time to work out.

[lugnut33]

All I know is what I have heard from people who have trained on the new system. They came back from training saying that basically you wont be able to book say a dinner at EPCOT and at a resort on the same evening.


It probably won't prevent anybody from making multiple reservations under different party names.

[ROEDISNEY]

I agree with jlewisinsyr 110 % . I think it would stop alot of over booking and would open ress for other people. It will make people make up there minds an not hog up ress. Just my opinion. Cant wait to ck this out.

[PatriciaH]

All I know is what I have heard from people who have trained on the new system. They came back from training saying that basically you wont be able to book say a dinner at EPCOT and at a resort on the same evening.

See that was one of the first questions that was asked in class when I trained on it and they said- no there was no way at this time to prevent people from booking multiple reservations at the same time. :confused3

[OrlandoMike]

See that was one of the first questions that was asked in class when I trained on it and they said- no there was no way at this time to prevent people from booking multiple reservations at the same time. :confused3

I think its very much a work in progress/soft rollout. Lets hope for the best!

People making 10 different ressies for one family for Christmas day is a little bit much! :sad2:

[ROEDISNEY]

People making 10 different ressies for one family for Christmas day is a little bit much! :sad2:[/QUOTE]


WOW!!!!! For somebody to do that really stinks. And I am putting that nicely.
Very inconsiderate to make more than one or not to cancel if your not going.
I could never do that.

[black562]

I already came across a glitch in the new system. My package starts on August 8th, which means this past sunday was my 90 day window.

I am coming in before my package to celebrate my birthday, so I called to book some meals for August 7th on Saturday (the 90 day window for Aug. 7) and it would not let me. It saw my hotel reservation and wouldn't even let me book meals earlier that were inside the 90 day window.

The solution was to put those meals in my friend's name that's traveling with me. Since he didn't have a room reservation tied to his name, it was like he was someone just booking inside the 90 days and it wasn't a problem.

Still, a glitch nonetheless.

[Uncleromulus]

Unlike WDW-Dine where you are paying for the call, this won't cost a cent. So I envision large #'s of people with time on their hands just sitting at the computer and making multiple dining reservations that they have no intention of keeping. I even see a few people trying to mess up the system just for kicks.
As Mike says, let's hope for the best.

[deej696]

I just spent about 20 minutes playing with the new system. I searched for availability at about a half dozen restaurants, on several different dates and times, and did not find a single open table! Sure its summer, but I even tried some of the "not so popular" places with the same result. One nice feature is you can search a 5 day date range for availability, of course its only a nice feature if it works!

Has anyone been able to book a reservation with the new system?

[goalie5hole]

I just spent about 20 minutes playing with the new system. I searched for availability at about a half dozen restaurants, on several different dates and times, and did not find a single open table! Sure its summer, but I even tried some of the "not so popular" places with the same result. One nice feature is you can search a 5 day date range for availability, of course its only a nice feature if it works!

Has anyone been able to book a reservation with the new system?
Are you a travel agent? what is the web address?

[KYMickey]

I already came across a glitch in the new system. My package starts on August 8th, which means this past sunday was my 90 day window.

I am coming in before my package to celebrate my birthday, so I called to book some meals for August 7th on Saturday (the 90 day window for Aug. 7) and it would not let me. It saw my hotel reservation and wouldn't even let me book meals earlier that were inside the 90 day window.

The solution was to put those meals in my friend's name that's traveling with me. Since he didn't have a room reservation tied to his name, it was like he was someone just booking inside the 90 days and it wasn't a problem.

Still, a glitch nonetheless.
Are you a travel agent? Or is the system now open for everyone to use? If so what is the web address?

Thanks!

[kevin75]

can you still call wdw-dine or do you have to use the online system?

[OrlandoMike]

Unlike WDW-Dine where you are paying for the call, this won't cost a cent.

You still pay for long distance, even on a land line? :confused3

Call the phone company ASAP, tell them you want free long distance or you will pull the land line and only use your cell phone!

[jlewisinsyr]

You still pay for long distance, even on a land line? :confused3

Call the phone company ASAP, tell them you want free long distance or you will pull the land line and only use your cell phone!

I know, despite the logic, there are still almost daily complaints on the Restaurant Board and people looking for the 800# for dining (and using numbers they shouldn't).

[IMACM]

Are you a travel agent? Or is the system now open for everyone to use? If so what is the web address?

Thanks!

It is only open to travel agents right now but will be rolling out SOON for guests!! There is NOTHING in place to keep from doing double bookings just like if you call in!! This was something that everyone hoped for but it's not there!! As far as searching the 5 day window, I would not recommend this! You need to put in everything exactly as you want it....I think it gets confused. If you want CRT on 8/10/2009 between the hours of 0805 and 1045 am that is what you put in, the system will give you the best available. This would be why phone calls are lasting 30 minutes when a guest calls wanting to book CRT for 15June thru 22June B,L or D. It is a one day at a time process.

I can't wait for it to roll out for guests so I can see if it is just like the one the agents are using.

[deej696]

It is only open to travel agents right now but will be rolling out SOON for guests!! There is NOTHING in place to keep from doing double bookings just like if you call in!! This was something that everyone hoped for but it's not there!! As far as searching the 5 day window, I would not recommend this! You need to put in everything exactly as you want it....I think it gets confused. If you want CRT on 8/10/2009 between the hours of 0805 and 1045 am that is what you put in, the system will give you the best available. This would be why phone calls are lasting 30 minutes when a guest calls wanting to book CRT for 15June thru 22June B,L or D. It is a one day at a time process.

I can't wait for it to roll out for guests so I can see if it is just like the one the agents are using.

So I played around with the travel agent site again this evening. I think this morning it wasnt working at all which was why I couldnt get anything to come up. The site doesnt allow you to input a "time range" however the 5 day date range function does appear to work fine. In addition, if the exact time was not available, it did show the closest time that was. It also suggests alternative restaurants in the event that the time available didnt work. For example, I searched Narcoossee's for a random thursday night at 8pm. It gave me a 7:55 time as being available, and also listed times at Citricos and Grand Floridian Cafe. Not sure if this is what is planned for general guests, but if so I think its a pretty good system...

[yitbos96bb]

So I played around with the travel agent site again this evening. I think this morning it wasnt working at all which was why I couldnt get anything to come up. The site doesnt allow you to input a "time range" however the 5 day date range function does appear to work fine. In addition, if the exact time was not available, it did show the closest time that was. It also suggests alternative restaurants in the event that the time available didnt work. For example, I searched Narcoossee's for a random thursday night at 8pm. It gave me a 7:55 time as being available, and also listed times at Citricos and Grand Floridian Cafe. Not sure if this is what is planned for general guests, but if so I think its a pretty good system...

I'm surprised they didn't try to just buy the backend to a site like Open Table. That site works fantastic for reservations... having seen some of Disney's software apps before... well, lets just say my expectations on quality and usability are very low.

[IMACM]

Yes deej that is how it is supposed to work....I am glad you were able to get it to work!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 MORE DAYS UNTIL IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Condorman]

Yes deej that is how it is supposed to work....I am glad you were able to get it to work!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 MORE DAYS UNTIL IT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Four more days? What was the deciding factor in that release date? Maybe the response from TAs was better than expected, or they just wanted it up and running prior to the 90/90+10 leading up to Free Dining. Either way, I'll take it.

[Cupmom]

Is this true? Online booking will be open for the public on Monday 5/18?

[enchantingodin]

Maybe this was covered and I missed it - but what TIME will you be able to make the ADR's? 7am like now? Or will it be earlier - like midnight? :confused:

[deej696]

Interesting question. Almost makes me want to stay up till midnight and find out. Eh, think I'll just wait and read about it from someone else here;)

[IMACM]

Same as TA's, 0601 am eastern time.....call in is still 0700 am

Free dine starts booking Sunday so this works out great!!! BE PATIENT though, you all remember what it was like when the new system rolled out a few months ago!!! :)

[ZeroToHero]

Where will we be able to find the link to get this all done? Will it be in a prominent place on the disney site? (I bet a lot of people laughed at that..... :) )

[disneyfreak42]

Been reading this post and am worried and anxious about making adr's for this Sept. I have not seen anything on the Disney website about his new reservation system, unless I am missing something. Anybody got any new info on this????

[poohteacher]

I'm curious,too, is Monday really the start date for on-line reservations?

[jenseib]

I'll be interested to see how this pans out. I like the call in as it gives a little more chance of control. I think people might mess things up being able to book what and when they want, as much as they want. I have read of several people on HERE that make mulitple ADRs for the same day and then cancel right before they leave, when they finally decide.

[DISNEYNY]

I need to make ADRs on Monday. I will probably just call to make them. If this works like any other WDW site I'm sure there will be problems and there will be a ton of people trying to make ADRs on Monday for the first day of FDP. :scared1:

[queenpatricia]

That would be great to make dining reservations on line instead of calling. I will be sure to use it next week when it is available but will wait until the middle of the week as I' m sure the site will be very, very on Monday.

[ROEDISNEY]

I can book my ress on May 29th an was told yesterday it won't be up an running until after that date.

[SPOERLX3]

Same as TA's, 0601 am eastern time.....call in is still 0700 am

Free dine starts booking Sunday so this works out great!!! BE PATIENT though, you all remember what it was like when the new system rolled out a few months ago!!! :)

Our trip is planned for 8/16 through 8/23. 8/16 is the first day for Free Dining and I was told the 1st day that I can start my booking is Monday 5/18. Of course I double and triple checked with all the calculators you can find on line so I am just checking. I don't want to miss out. If I can call on Sunday, then I am there!:banana:

[DISNEYNY]

Our trip is planned for 8/16 through 8/23. 8/16 is the first day for Free Dining and I was told the 1st day that I can start my booking is Monday 5/18. Of course I double and triple checked with all the calculators you can find on line so I am just checking. I don't want to miss out. If I can call on Sunday, then I am there!:banana:

I thought it was Monday too. Everything I have read says Monday. :confused3

[imLissy]

lol, you all gotta chill a little. they're just dinner reservations.

I'm way excited though. I have never made ADRs before going down before b/c it's such a pain and I hate talking on the phone. This will be awesomeness.

[chellewashere]

I thought it was Monday too. Everything I have read says Monday. :confused3

I am right there with you guys. I havew to make mine on Monday (according to everything) we are going down the 16-23rd. Now Im nervous do I try to make them online...do I do the phone...or heck do I try to do both:confused3 personally Im thinking Im doing both so Im covered ;)

See y'all down there in few long HOT months

[jenseib]

I am right there with you guys. I havew to make mine on Monday (according to everything) we are going down the 16-23rd. Now Im nervous do I try to make them online...do I do the phone...or heck do I try to do both:confused3 personally Im thinking Im doing both so Im covered ;)

See y'all down there in few long HOT months

I like that idea. Not to double book, but as I am waiting on the phone, check and see if you can do it online. And then when you get through on the phone, double check to make sure the ones you made are in the system.

[mom2rtk]

I like that idea. Not to double book, but as I am waiting on the phone, check and see if you can do it online. And then when you get through on the phone, double check to make sure the ones you made are in the system.

Does anyone know if the ones we make by phone will be available to double-check online?????

I can't even imagine what this will be like when it goes live. Every single one of us will just be itching to try out a fake one just to know what we are doing. I think the Morocco suggestion for that was good. I promise that if I do, I'll cancel them......

I really do think they are missing the boat if they don't add a cc guarantee to ALL of these!

[LPNmom]

Man am I thankful I can't make my reservations till June 11th!!! Hoping all the bugs will be worked out by then! Can't wait to find out what happens when this thing goes live!:surfweb:

[Karlzmom]

I like that idea. Not to double book, but as I am waiting on the phone, check and see if you can do it online. And then when you get through on the phone, double check to make sure the ones you made are in the system.


*This reply is NOT a comentary on the PP, only using the scenario proposed to make a point*
This is the scenario that I think of when considering what goes wrong....now, with call only there is a single inquiry into the system for the ADR [made by the CM helping you]....as proposed, there will be 2, one by CM and one by the traveler....immediatlely doubling the load on the computer system. Now replicate the doubling a couple thousand times..:scared1:..Its a crash looking for a place to happen.. I also wonder how the system "pulls" available ADRs. If the computer responds to 2 inquiries [as outlined above] does it affect the visible availability? We've had some of the same discussions about rental cars....if there are multiple, unusable ressies [you only need one car, but book four to see what gets cheaper] then the supply/demand ratio goes out of whack and there is no "need" to discount. It seems like the multiple requests could have an adverse supply/demand effect on the overall "availability"....Anyone with a bigger brain able to explain how it would work?

[glitzybabes]

Man am I thankful I can't make my reservations till June 11th!!! Hoping all the bugs will be worked out by then! Can't wait to find out what happens when this thing goes live!:surfweb:

I'm with you! waiting until the 11th, hoping for no bugs. :thumbsup2

[Condorman]

*This reply is NOT a comentary on the PP, only using the scenario proposed to make a point*
This is the scenario that I think of when considering what goes wrong....now, with call only there is a single inquiry into the system for the ADR [made by the CM helping you]....as proposed, there will be 2, one by CM and one by the traveler....immediatlely doubling the load on the computer system. Now replicate the doubling a couple thousand times..:scared1:..Its a crash looking for a place to happen.. I also wonder how the system "pulls" available ADRs. If the computer responds to 2 inquiries [as outlined above] does it affect the visible availability? We've had some of the same discussions about rental cars....if there are multiple, unusable ressies [you only need one car, but book four to see what gets cheaper] then the supply/demand ratio goes out of whack and there is no "need" to discount. It seems like the multiple requests could have an adverse supply/demand effect on the overall "availability"....Anyone with a bigger brain able to explain how it would work?

Once again, why does everyone assume 10,000 people are going to burden this new system all at once? At 7:00 am each morning, Disney never gets more than 500-750 callers max, and they have even fewer CMs to handle those calls, which is why the wait times have been pushing 45-75 mins in recent months. Disney has crunched all the numbers. They know the average # of call-ins every day of the year. They are purposely deploying this system now to help with the beginning of 90+10 day window of Free Dining ADRs for this August. Their system is ready to accept 5000+ simultaneous ADR requests. Yes, the system will have issues -- every system has issues -- but people are talking about this like it's Y2K all over again, and even that wasn't so bad.

It has been mentioned that it may not be possible to call in and go online at the same time, if using a resort rez to link your ADRs. The system may only allow one entry point, not both, for security reasons. As far as inventory, nothing has changed about the process. Disney is simply opening up another means or portal to allow us to reserve our favorite restaurants. That's all.

The only problem I foresee is that as soon as it goes live, anyone who is curious (i.e. those who don't have actual ADRs to make) will test out the system and in doing so steal away potential ADRs for real incoming guests. The suggestion was made for people to test the system using lesser-sought TS spots, i.e. Olivia's at OKW or Captain's Grille at YC. That won't happen. People will test out Cali Grill, Chef Mickey's, Ohana, Le Cellier, etc.

BTW, I have a state-of-the-art computer with a T3 connection. I never have any problems logging onto Disney's website or any of its affiliated pages. It never kicks me off or locks up. Never. Not once. However, would you like to know which site does give me problems for my simple viewing pleasure? Disboards.com. Yep. Go figure.

[jenseib]

I'm not going any time soon, so I won't need to make any ADR's any time soon, but what is the link? Will it be easy to find. Ha Ha HA. Nothing ever seems easy on that site. LOL! I will want to take a look at it though. Not make any ADR's, but just look at it and get familiar with it so when the time does come, I have a clue what I am doing.

[deej696]

So I'm pretty sure if this started Monday we would have heard about it here. Any update on this?

[jenseib]

I know for sure it didn't work on Monday. Thd dining system wasn;t even working for phone calls on Monday.

[rodkenrich]

That is awesome! I second that.

[brekin67]

How do I book dining reservations online? Is this on the Disney website?

[DISNEYNY]

How do I book dining reservations online? Is this on the Disney website?

I don't think you can yet. I believe WDW is still trying it out and right now only travel agents are able to do it.

[Diznejen1]

Does anyone one know if we will be able to confirm ADR's or just review out ADR's online once it's working properly?:confused3

[ZeroToHero]

Does anyone one know if we will be able to confirm ADR's or just review out ADR's online once it's working properly?:confused3

Not if you made them over the phone, is what people have been saying.

[Kayleebug]

anyone know if this is open to the public yet?

[jenseib]

My guess is that it won't happen for awhile. Al lthe dates have passed and so far no word.

[brekin67]

Is this up and running yet?

[racefanof88]

Is this up and running yet?

Sadly not :sad2:.