Curious about others thoughts on the "Fairness" of the ADR system

[eyeheartgoofy]

I think it is fair.

You can make decent ADR's without 180 days advance notice - I was able to get CRT (a cancellation, I'm sure) for 5:30pm, Akershus for 5:00pm, Kona Cafe at 5:30pm and and 8:10am at Crystal Palace by calling 5 weeks in advance. I wasn't able to get Chef Mickey's except for odd times ... but that was about it (I didn't even try Le Cellier).

Do I feel bad for the Dad's trying to make same day ADR's during busy seasons? Yes, I sure do ... that was us on our first trip to the world.

 

[Magic2000]

I also think the current system is fair. I do not think holding multiple ADRs for the same day/time is fair. Once I'm sure of my dates, I plan out my days. Our first full day at Disney is always at Magic Kingdom, so I try for a restaurant in MK (usually Plaza Restaurant) or at one of the monorail hotels. At Epcot, we LOVE LeCellier, so we always try for an ADR there. At Animal Kingdom, the kids love Rainforest Cafe, so we go there. I usually just make one ADR per day. We usually do two days at Epcot and at least two days at MK, so we try different restaurants. I just mix the parks up since we try not to go to the same park two days in a row. We always go to Magic Kingdom on our last day too (its our favorite park so we start and end each trip at MK)!

Now I do allow for some flexability once we're there. If the day we were going to go to Epcot needs to be switched with a water park day, no big deal. (Sometimes, we switch our days around if, once we get there, we find that they are expecting rain on our water park day) If I can get another ADR, that's great. If not, we'll just go somewhere else.

That would be the only reason I would hold a reservation that long without cancelling (I do try to call at least the day before if I have to cancel for switching around a park day). I do not think it is right to have multiple ADRs so you can see what you feel like eating.

 

[lntsmom]

Disney is not going to hold tables for walk-ups. Their whole system is designed to try to hold guests captive. Not only do they open ADRs almost 6 months out, they now want everyone to buy the Dining Plan.

The efforts they've gone through to try to foist the plan on me are just nuts! Every time I call they go through all the reasons why the plan would be such a great deal...um, yeah, except I have a very finicky 12 year old and I would be paying adult prices for him to eat chicken nuggets. Now, he can pack away the nuggets, but $25 worth a day??? I don't think so!

Then there's my travel agent who has suggested the plan 3 times. And the letter from Disney to her, reminding her to push the dining plan because they just know I'm going to book it eventually. They wanted to remind her that if I book prior to arriving on property, she gets a cut. If I wait until I'm there, they get to pocket the whole amount.

Now, why Disney is so adamant that I'm going to book the plan I have no idea! First of all, we aren't the type of family that wants to be tied down with dining plans. We're doing a breakfast, a lunch, a dinner, and a dessert. That's it for our entire 7 day stay! Second, we aren't the type that would get our money's worth out of it. We aren't big eaters. Finally, I find it offensive that they offer free dining. This says to me that dining is nothing more than a cattle prod. Do what they want or else! I'm not much on heavy handed sales techniques. I fully understand that I am a less valuable guest than the person who books the Grand Floridian for September. Whatever. I'm not going to sit around crying in my Mickey Waffles over it.

So, to the question. Is the system fair? Yes. Even if people book 2 or 3 restaurants for the same night, it's fair. Everyone has that chance. I think anyone who spends the kind of money Disney wants without using either their travel agents or a local agent is taking a huge gamble...especially first-time visitors. Travel agents don't cost the consumer anything- all you have to book to get their experience is the room.

The reality is, Disney doesn't want to meet demand. They don't want to risk an open table. It's better for them to run at capacity. The needs of first time travelers and those who want to be spontaneous don't much matter to them!

 

[choirfarm]

Do you mean people make multiple ADRs for different places on the SAME night? If so, my understanding is that Disney is already cracking down on this in that they will cancel out ADRs if you book 2 different TS for the same meal.

Here is the problem. In my case I have 2 ADR for the exact same time at 2 different restaurants. The two girls are eating as Askerhaus and the 3 boys are eating at Beirgarten...so they better not cancel!!!!! I have my numbers and I will demand to be seated.

Christine

 

[asmit4]

CHOIRFARM....They KNOW the # of guests in your party. They will allow 2 ressies, 1 for 2 guests and 1 for 3 guests if you have 5 guests in your party.

As for the post about 'crying in her mickey waffles'....MY MY MY....SUCH hostility!

 

[Wendy5055]

I think the current system is fair. I am a planner but my DH is not. However, he is VERY happy that I take the time to plan and make ADR's because he knows without the planning, you are basically leaving details to "chance".

I would rather control my own destiny than allow my destiny to be controlled by others...Just my way of looking at things.

I purchase a new book on WDW every year on the off chance I might be missing something!!! Seriously though, they even state in every single book on WDW about the need to make advanced dining reservations for the most popular or signature restaurants.

IMHO...If individuals are planning a "last minute" trip to WDW (or anywhere for that matter), they must be comfortable with getting what is available (be it resorts, restaurants, attractions, shows) at that time. That does not always mean they get what they want...just seems to me they must be "ok" with that because there was no planning involved.

Apologies, don't mean to step on anyone's toes...to each his own.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

See I'm not sure if I buy the argument that because disney is expensive, people need to research prior and therefore should "know" about the requirement for reservations 180 days out.

There are plenty more expensive places to travel..and for the most part I don't think its common to research every restaurant in the area and make reservations every night of your trip. Usually you just ask the concierge and they make recommendations/make a reservation and off you go.

I just think its a little weird and not very first-time visit friendly. I could see someone getting really disappointed by their first experience if they are turned away...Maybe not so keen on coming back.

Don't get me wrong. I do it. We have reservations for every night. I've been on the phone at 180 days out early in the AM with my coffee calling to get CRT...I'm right there with ya..

I wouldn't make multiple ADRs for one night..Thats rude.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I too believe it is a fair system, although I think 180 days is a little much. We booked in February for August. I waited until the park hours and EMH's were posted for our trip, sat down and did a chart of the hours for each park for the days (which means I went mostly with EMH parks) and then, knowing what park we'd be in, booked our ADRs based on that. For instance, when MK has a.m. EMH, we booked a 10 a.m. at CRT, so we'd get in at 8 a.m., ride all the most popular rides first, go to breakfast, then tour some more, or go back to the hotel. I'm a planner by nature, so this just helps me plan ahead. There are also some TS's that we MUST do each time, so we go with those first, then add on a few new ones, just to mix it up. I agree with a PP that a little research goes a long way. No reason you can't pick up a book at a book store, library or go on the internet and do a little research to avoid a major inconvenience. I guess it's just not my nature to "fly by the seat of my pants."

 

[PrincessBride07]

I believe the system is fair, but does have it's flaws.

I don't like the 180+ days out to make an ADR. I wish it was less. I don't want to figure out what restaurants I want to eat at 6 months from now. Not only that, more than likely the menu will have changed in some fashion from the time I made the ressie.

What about the locals? I sucks for the locals who want to spend a day at Disney, but have to go offsite to eat dinner. If they want to have a dinner durning one of their Disney days, they have to plan it months in advance. I know I don't want to plan my casual weekend months out.

Multiple bookings, I don't agree with it. Disney might be cracking down, but there will always be somebody out there who will get around the system.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I think people who make mutiple ADRs just so they have options are very rude and selfish for doing it. Disney tries to stop it as well as they can, but only requiring a phone number just isn't enough any more, since people now have so many phones in a household. Sooner or later I think they're going to have to make it so that a CC guarantee is needed.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

What about the locals?

Isn't there an exception or something for locals? I assumed there was, since it's one of the prompts on the Dine Line.

 

[jezebella]

I think it's pretty fair and great if your on vacation. The only ppl it's not really fair to is the locals...but Disney doesn't really care about us anymore. They have plenty of other people now to fill their restaurants. LOL....I have to call 120-180 days out to make ADR's for mother's day or father's day or someone's bday. It's a pain.....but I've gotten used to it.

 

[jezebella]

Isn't there an exception or something for locals? I assumed there was, since it's one of the prompts on the Dine Line.

Nope. We call 407-WDW-DINE....and we can't get into much of anything either unless we call months in advance. I called in February to get LeCellier for lunch for my mother's bday.....in August.

 

[pooh6890]

We have found the only way to get into a restaurant the day you decide you want to go is to stay concierge.....the last 3 times we were able to get into every restaurant we had planned on that morning. So they must leave a few open for situations like that.

 

[MollyMoo]

We have never made reservations 180 days out ... in fact we are rather spur of the moment people and haven't even planned our trips (20 plus) that far ahead. We were there in October and had few problems getting to eat where we wanted, when we wanted. We simply made reservations through the conceriege in the hotel the day before. The only restaurant we couldn't get into was Ohana but will eat there next month when we visit again. I did make ADR's a few weeks ago (at that point we were about 50 days out) and got every restaurant and had lots of times to choose from so I guess unless you absolutely must eat at a certain place at a certain time or you have kids with their hearts set on a special character breakfast, I don't think 180 days is absolutely necessary.

I am reasonably sure that Disney is addressing the multiple reservations issue. I made my ADR's through the lady I called to make the final payment on our package. After we had finished our business she asked if there was anything else she could do for me, for example she could see that we had not made any dining arrangements yet. Apparently all of that information is in one place. She took the reservations then and there and I didn't have to call the WDW-DINE #.

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

I didn't think you could make multiple ADR's without risking getting some cancelled either. If the CM is putting them on the same record they'd see them all. You'd have to use different names or something (and that would be way too much for me to keep track of!). There may be some people who do that but I'm not so sure it's a huge problem.

I like the ADR system. First call, first served and it works for me. I like having my plans set and I'm really good about cancelling if something changes. So far, so good.

 

[OhMari]

If people are making ressie's for the same time, at least they should call and cancel one of them. We ate at Crystal Palace for lunch at 11:30. We had an ADR for 5:30 at Trails End and we called at 2:00 pm. and cancelled, since we knew we were not that hungry to eat another large meal.

And if people are upset with not getting into CRT 180 days out, keep calling. A CM told me, they only open up certain times at 180 days out, at 100 days out they open up times and so on. I asked in February 2007 if I could get into CRT at noon on the day before Easter and it was open. Times open up all the time with cancellations or different times released. We didn't take the CRT-I didn't think it was worth the money, so we went with Crystal Palace.

 

[Abharmagic]

Isn't there an exception or something for locals? I assumed there was, since it's one of the prompts on the Dine Line.

No, I pushed that # accidentally the other day and then when a CM came on immediatley I said, Oh, I'm sorry I pushed the wrong # I pushed the # for FL residents and those coming in the next week and she laughed- and said they have no idea what number you push.

So, FYI if you push the # for FL residents on the prompts you get a CM immediatley without going through the whole catalog of prompts and the CM has no idea what you pushed as they are just there to answer your call.

 

[cwt580]

after reading this i am nervous about our adr's. i have a couple of same day dinner reservations. now before i get flamed, my wife and i have a couple and my daughter and her friend have ressies for different restaurants at the same times. I sure hope they dont cancel any of the multiples. its only 2 nights but we will be very upset if any are cancelled. this is our anniversary(25th) and some meals will be MOM and dad only. I cant remember if the same day res's are in my DD or my name.

what should i do?

 

[TDC Nala]

I do not think you can get any fairer than "first come, first served."

I see WDW going out of its way to alert guests that they need to make meal reservations.

Not everyone making a meal reservation is staying at a WDW resort. How could they tie meal reservations to resort reservations? What if you don't have a resort reservation?