Why oh why don't Disney use some common sense

[MJ6987]

Disney states that it releases Park hours 180 days in advance. ADR's can also be made 180 days in advance. Do they not see that Park hours need to be released BEFORE the ADR window???

With ADR's for popular restaurants increasingly difficult to get (particularly with free dining promotions) how are people supposed to plan what ADR's to book 180 days out when they don't yet know which Park they are going to be in yet (especially with EMH's)?

All this results in is people double booking ADR's or having to cancel and change ADR's (or worse, just not turn up) once they have finalised their itineraries based on Park Hours.

I don't really mind what the time scales are (90 days, 180 days, etc) as long as Park hours are released at least 30 days before ADRs are available.

For example I am coming to WDW (from the UK) for the last week Oct and first week Nov 2010. If I am lucky and Disney release Park Hours on time I will know my plans for the first week, in time for my ADR's but probably not the 2nd week. So, I will have to make ADR's based on an educated guess (using this year's EMHs etc as an approximation) and then change some plans if I got it wrong. Is this what other people do?

It can't be just me that sees this is blindingly obvious? Is there another reason that I am missing why Disney does this?

Thanks,
Matthew

[NMAmy]

Because we read these boards, we tend to think that every single person that's going to WDW is making their reservations at exactly 180 days out and are planning their ADR's around park hours. I really think it's a pretty small minority of people who actually do this. I also think the majority of visitors do not analyze which day is best for which park but just kind of pick a day and possibly a restaurant and make it work.

I do believe it would be helpful to those who like to really make a detailed itinerary at 180 days. I just know that I wouldn't be one of the people that need it at that stage.

[bradk]

not to mention park hours change. they've been recently making changes in december. so what does 180 days in advance really mean for park hours? not a heck of a lot.

[fan1080]

Originally Posted by bradk

not to mention park hours change. they've been recently making changes in december. so what does 180 days in advance really mean for park hours? not a heck of a lot.

Yep, quoted for truth.

Happened to us for a trip in Feb 2008. Did all the planning, which parks to go to everyday, booked ADR's, etc. Then sometime within the last couple weeks of leaving they changed park hours. And unfortunately, unbeknownst to us, it was for a P&P Party for a night we were booked at CRT. Led to a very unfortunate experience.

Yep, plan all you want, things can and do change. Having all that info at hand that far in advance won't always fix everything for us.

[Dee77]

After this year's fiasco with competing with free dining guests and the ADR booking window only being 90 days out and park hours not being released even for the 90 day mark, I am glad it is back to 180 days. Modifying reservations is not such a big deal, at least you have the folks here on the dis to help you make "educated guesses" with park hours. They helped me with my trip coming up in less than 2 weeks!

Dee

P.S. My cousin just booked for the week of Easter and had no idea that the reservations need to be made so early in order to eat in the better restaurants. I think this is proof that there are many guests that don't book months and months in advance and many of them don't have a clue about the "system" of booking ressies!

[RMulieri]

Originally Posted by bradk

not to mention park hours change. they've been recently making changes in december. so what does 180 days in advance really mean for park hours? not a heck of a lot.

Exactly.They change the schedules often anyway .

[Jasperann]

We go in March and I've been able to move around ADRs a couple of times with out any problems. I just cancel the ones that I didn't want after I've found ones I do want. It is almost under 3 and a half months left for us, and I've still booked places like Chef Mickeys, Tusker House, Crystal Palace and Ohana's with out any problem and FOR the times I requested. All of those but Ohana's was recent. So you should be fine. There are only some crazy people like us out there 180 days in advance making plans for each day of their vacation.

[kmk1180]

Sorry I don't see the big deal.
I had to book my ADR's on Oct 27th, the day they went from
90 to 180 days out.
I waited like everyone else and finally got through and got what I wanted.
Then the park hours came out a day or so later.
A few days later looked online and still found good times for almost anywhere, include places like LeCellier and Cyrstal Palace.

[n2mm]

Originally Posted by bradk

not to mention park hours change. they've been recently making changes in december. so what does 180 days in advance really mean for park hours? not a heck of a lot.

Agree, we don't need any park hours to book our ADRs we go often and have our favorite places we like to eat. We book our ADRs and fill the parks in afterwards. The only thing we try to avoid is the EMH and I try to use previous ones. No matter what the park hours say, we've seen them change them too many times. So, releasing park hours is not an issue for us.

[Missytara]

I don't see it as a huge deal either; I mean who takes 30 days to decide where they are going to eat. It took me about fifteen minutes on line.

And I don't go by the park hours anyway either; I have specific places that I like to go and I don't want the park hours to dictate what nights I eat where.

Plus, recently, they have changed the week I am going by adding a lot of Fantasmic shows, so things can always change.

I think it makes perfect sense. I think they are actually being pretty generous by going 180 days out.....

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I'll be waiting to make any ADR's for next Memorial Day weekend until I see the park hours for 2010.

I used to guess but since I'm not going for any really popular places the next trip, I'm sure we'll be fine.

[madalex]

I don't book my ADRs around park hours. I book my ADRs based on where and when I want to eat. Thus, the timing of release of park hours is a non-issue for me. I strongly disagree that Disney is doing something wrong here or not using common sense in how they do this.

[seashoreCM]

Originally Posted by fan1080

. And unfortunately, unbeknownst to us, it was for a P&P Party for a night we were booked at CRT. Led to a very unfortunate experience.us.

What was unfortunate? You should still have gone to the restaurant and dined. Then left the park. (Or had the restaurant closed for the evening?)

[skinsfan2878]

The best way to combat not knowing the EMH days is to get fast passes. You can go to the fast pass park for the morning and evening hours and still have time to eat at the other parks.

[tink70]

I also wish they postesd them earlier, last time I forgot to look and wouldn't you know they had a few nights they closed for a party.
So the ressies I had did nto work as well, and I called many times to change and was not able to.
So this time, I figure I will check them and they are not out yet.
It would be convenient thats all.
I know they are not set in stone, but it is helpful