I blame the online ADR system!

[bluejasmine]

I have gone for FD since 2004 around the same time and this is the worst experience Ive had with booking ADR, I will not give up hope, I will try a couple times a day right up to the day I want it but JEESH!!

 

[NJRA]

I thought FD didn't start until 2005 Anyway I think it's due to the new 90 day ADR booking window.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Also, this is the first year they've been advertising free dining like crazy. I'd never heard of it before I joined the DIS boards this spring, and it's not like I don't watch TV--I remember lots of Disney ads, but none about free dining before this year. No one I've talked to (even people who go to Disney World all the time, but aren't DISers) even knew what the DDP really was, let alone that it was sometimes offered for free.

 

[B-Ride]

I thought FD didn't start until 2005 Anyway I think it's due to the new 90 day ADR booking window.

I totally agree. It was so much easier last year when I booked 180 days out.

 

[mom2rtk]

Another vote for the 180 day thing. It was a feeding frenzy when the free dining adr's started for 8/16 arrivals, and it wasn't online then. I knew when I found out it was 90 days that it would be ugly. I knew at 180 days exactly what I wanted to do and when, yet had to sit around and wait for everyone else to firm up their plans and compete with me for the same ADR's.....

 

[mitsybella]

Disney has been hurting this year because of the economy read this article and you will see why they have made so many offers of free dining and rate reduction offers this year

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124155509545888713.html

 

[jenjersnap]

I have posted this before but I think it's combo of going back to 90 days (it seemed to be what most people wanted ... it falls into the "Be careful what you wish for" category!), staffing cutbacks, meaning restaurant capacity might be lowered, and the new dining system *may* better allow some ADR spots to be held for later. I'd be curious to hear a CM's thoughts on this.

I've had much more trouble this year than last year getting ADRs ... and last year we did the deluxe plan so I was making many, many ADRs including all the biggies: LC, CRT, Akershus, etc.

 

[MarkinNM]

Hummm, I had NO issues.....


LOVE FD & it being online!!!!!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Hummm, I had NO issues.....


LOVE FD & it being online!!!!!

That was what I was thinking. Sept will be our first time using free dining and earlier tonight I get all the places I wanted, and since I am flexible with times, it was easy. I didn't think I would be happy about it being online, but it was really convenient, especially considering I forgot to book this morning and I didn't book until late afternoon.

Suzanne

 

[bluejasmine]

No I could have swore free dining started 2004 b/c I made two trips that yr second one just b/c of free dining! Dont get me wrong online is much more conveinent than sitting on the phone calling but between that and the 180 day change it has made a BIG difference in certain restaurants like Ohana, Le Cellier, Chef Mickeys and CRT. Places not as popular (but just as good) like Kona, Biergarten, Cape May,Boma seem to be pretty easy.
Now for the last three days I have gone online and tried to tweak my ADRS about 3-4 times a day when ever I thought of it and I finally was able to get days and times I wanted so I am absolutely thrilled! I wanted times that didnt take away from too much park time and I didnt want to hop from park to park or to the other side of WDW, I feel very lucky to have gotten what I wanted. Now I wonder what kind of wait time we will have when we actually check in for our meals.. LOL! Good luck to everyone!

 

[kaytieeldr]

No I could have swore free dining started 2004 b/c I made two trips that yr second one just b/c of free dining!

Respectfully, no - at least not THIS Disney Dining Plan. The current version was introduced January 2, 2005 - the first Free Dining promotion ran from mid-August to early October that year.

 

[winterman]

I called Disney dining at 7:45 AM on my day 90. I got everything I wanted, within 30 minutes of requested time. (Except LeCellier, where I just asked "do you have anything for dinner?") So I haven't had any issues but I would agree that the difference from previous years is the 90 day window. Many more people have made their resort reservations at 90 days than at 180.

 

[Happy99]

I have gone for FD since 2004 around the same time and this is the worst experience Ive had with booking ADR, I will not give up hope, I will try a couple times a day right up to the day I want it but JEESH!!

Considering the ADR online system didn't happen until 6/20, less than one week ago, I don't think that is the issue, if anything people are reporting getting better times and finding availability that they weren't able to get over the phone when they first made their ADR's.

I really do think it has to do with the 90 day window. The last few years with free dining as it got closer to 90 days it was harder and harder to find availability at restaurants

 

[AshtonsMom99]

I called at 90 days and got everything I wanted...granted I had to switch a day or two around but I did et everything I wanted.....I don't think ADR online has anything to do with it. You just gotta jump on it the day your 90 days becomes availabe...

 

[Colleen27]

Respectfully, no - at least not THIS Disney Dining Plan. The current version was introduced January 2, 2005 - the first Free Dining promotion ran from mid-August to early October that year.

Yep. We took our first family trip to Disney thanks in part to the free dining offer, in Sept/Oct '05. That was also the only year they've done free dining with a 90 day ADR window, and since the dining plan was new and the promotion less popular, it wasn't so nuts. For 2006-2008, the ADR window was 180 and the free dining promo wasn't announced until about 100 out, so the people who booked planning to apply the discount later or who don't use the discount and would go that time of year anyway had an advantage over the general public who didn't book until the promo was available. That's not true this year, and I think that's what's making it so crazy.

 

[Little Lulu]

hmmmmm....count me in as another one that got everything they wanted and then some!
First time to go during free dining even though we don't have that have that package.
Logged in and went online to get our ADRs on the morning of my 90 day window and booked everything for our DxDDP.

Then, I called disney dining later that day to double check to make sure everything was ok.

Sorry you didn't get everything you wanted, keep checking online or calling!

 

[mom2rtk]

I called at 90 days and got everything I wanted...granted I had to switch a day or two around but I did et everything I wanted.....I don't think ADR online has anything to do with it. You just gotta jump on it the day your 90 days becomes availabe...

And pray ....... and cross your fingers.........

 

[J3nn78]

I also agree the problem is the 90 days instead of 180. I do not think the online has an effect.

 

[Little Lulu]

I like to know how switching the ADR window to 180 days would change anything?

 

[btcrane]

I used online booking last night and loved it. This Disney trip snuck up on me and I wondered if I'd be able to book anything at all that I wanted but luckily I was able to get everything I wanted, in the timeframe I wanted, except Le Cellier but that was expected. I really liked being able to look around and compare the restaurants online and see what was available for my times in certain parks, because I don't park hop. Very convenient!

I'm one of those people that like the 90 day window. That's hard enough for me to plan for, life is too crazy, but 180 days was absolutely impossible for me.