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

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I would think that if there was so many people making multiple ADRs that the resturaunts would be half empty, with plenty of no-shows. It must be such a small percentage that it is unnoticable for bookings. Or else, they would be open for many walk ups that night if many people didn't show up, therefore creating their own "10%" tables held for walkups. Or am I looking at this wrong?:confused3
pirate: pirate: pirate: pirate:
 
I think the system is fair. The playing field is level, everyone has an equal shot at getting a reservation 180 days out. Some people don't like to plan things that far in advance, or flat out refuse to, but that is their choice. The option is still there so if people can't get into a certain restaurant as a walk-up, or by calling only a few days ahead of time, it is their own fault and hopefully they will learn their lesson for next time.

That being said, I think each restaurant should allow for a certain % of tables for walk-ups. I mean if people want to walk up and wait 2+ hours for a table, they should have that option.

And FWIW, everyone who makes an ADR is selfish in a sense. To me making more than one ADR for the same meal is only slightly more selfish than just making one. In both cases a family is looking out for themselves to make sure their meal option is covered. The true rudeness comes when you don't cancel an ADR you aren't going to use.
 
I believe the system is fair and I do not believe all the hype that lots of people are making multiple ADR's. Many people have stated that most guests are not aware that you need ADR's so I think it is highly unlikely that there is that many guests making double ADR's, if that was the case you would see empty tables at times and you would most likely be seated right at your ADR time which rarely happens. Disney is not going to invest in a system that is basically to stop 1 or 2% of ADR's that are dups. My feeling is if you do not research Disney before you go, you will have to pay for that with CS meals or eating at less popular places on off times.
 


That being said, I think each restaurant should allow for a certain % of tables for walk-ups. I mean if people want to walk up and wait 2+ hours for a table, they should have that option.

Overall, I do think the ADR system is fair, but I have to agree with the quote above. With the exception of V&A (because they pre-print menus and the dining experience is very lengthy and intimate), I have never understood why Disney can't accomodate walk-ins? It seems like they must have no-shows, or like some of the posters have recommended, maybe they could keep 10% of their tables open? Maybe it's because they intentionally overbook like airlines. :confused3
 
I have never understood why Disney can't accomodate walk-ins?

They can. If there is something available. Someone suggested having 50% of the restaurant be for walk-ups. I can see Boma at 5:00 when they open for dinner. People lining up for the walk up slots.

The problem isn't with Disney not accommodating walk ups because they do. The problem is that people make reservations and then not show up at all. I am all for having a credit card available for every single reservation. And not just a per person fee either. A flat fee for every reservation.
 
I don't mean to stir any pots or anything...I'm just curious how others feel about the ADR process.

I started thinking about this as I was helping friends plan for their first trip.

They were somewhat surprised about the need to make ADRs this far out and were a bit overwhelmed about having to determine where they wanted to eat each night on their trip.

I'm sure there are a lot of people that might not be aware of how difficult it can be to have a sit down dinner if you don't have ADRs. I've been turned away (or seen others turned away) before at various places being told we can't seat you unless you have an ADR. So i'm a bit obsessive of making ADRs for each night to the annoyance of my "fly by the seat of his pants" DH

I know a lot of people "in the know" make multiple ADRs for different places each night with the expectation of canceling (or not) based on what they want to do that night.

As more people use this Multiple ADR strategy to keep flexible, do you think Disney will start to limit the ability to do that? In order to open up TS opportunities for just the non-obsessive planning :rotfl: average visitor?

Just curious how others felt about it?

Last year when I was first learning about ADRs and reading this board, there was a lot of discussion about them cancelling BOTH of your ADRs if you were found to have TS reservations within 4 or 5 hours of each other (I can't remember the exact hours). There were a lot of people upset that their plan to have a choice once they reached the park had failed, but there were just as many people upset because they'd chosen to eat two meals within 4-5 hours of each other and that this was somehow not allowed. Me, I can't eat two big meals in the same day, lol.....but CS meals can often be only 4-5 hours apart....especially when it's a matter of "we eat now or not until after waiting for and watching the parade and fireworks, which can be 2 more hours"....yikes...so I eat then and either share a meal, or cart around some of it to munch at the parade, lol.

I'd be careful about doing multiple ADRs especially at hard to book places like Le Cellier, Chef Mickey, etc.....and if you do I'd check on them occasionally to be sure they aren't cancelled on you. It would really be the pits to get there and find out instead of two choices, you have none.
 


Just a couple of years ago it was 90 days in advance so I am glad they changed it to 180 days because now you have time to change things around if need be.

Also when I made my ADRs on the phone about a month ago the atomated system asked for my reservation number but the guy I talked to said it didn't matter. I too think they should enforce a reservation rule, because what if someone decides they are going to go to WDW and makes ADRs and hasn't actually booked a reservation yet and then they decide not to go and probably won't think of canceling their ADRs. ( I really don't think that makes sense but it does in my head).

Makes sense....except that means that if you're staying offsite you aren't allowed to make reservations? ummm, that's not fair. I can't help it if Disney hotels are too high for my budget....does that mean that Disney doesn't want my AP money, my food money, my souvenior money, my PHotopass money, etc? If I couldn't make reservations because I was staying off site....I'd still do CS for lunch, but if I were going at a busy time I'd obviously have to leave the park to eat dinner...and chances are I'd not come back, so less chance for me to spend more money on those trinkets at the parade, and sodas and ice cream after the fireworks.


You already get an advantage by staying onsite....you get to book 10 days at a time, instead of having to call every morning to make reservations for your 180th day out if you're staying off site. THank heavens I have free long distance on my cell....or those daily calls would really add up!


I totally agree with cracking down on multiple ADRs....but people have posted about ways to get around that too....so it's not a foolproof plan. And it doesn't seem to be strictly enforced....just read some Trip Reports and you'll find people talking about deciding which ADR to use.
 
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.



This is not true - you can not book the DDP at check in, it must be done 5 days (I think) prior to arrival. Your travel agent may get a "cut" (otherwise known as a commission for doing his/her job), but you are not able to add DDP once you are there, (and if you think about, your TA is actually earning said "cut" by telling you to book DDP now instead of later, when you can't).

2 trips ago, we decided to extend our stay by 2 nights. I went to the front desk to check if they had rooms, they did.....I told the CM that I would like the DDP for those days as well, he told me that I couldn't add them on because they must be booked and paid for prior to arrival.
 
This is not true - you can not book the DDP at check in, it must be done 5 days (I think) prior to arrival. Your travel agent may get a "cut" (otherwise known as a commission for doing his/her job), but you are not able to add DDP once you are there, (and if you think about, your TA is actually earning said "cut" by telling you to book DDP now instead of later, when you can't).

2 trips ago, we decided to extend our stay by 2 nights. I went to the front desk to check if they had rooms, they did.....I told the CM that I would like the DDP for those days as well, he told me that I couldn't add them on because they must be booked and paid for prior to arrival.

Doesn't surprise me that she was wrong...although it was the letter from Disney, which she sent to me, that mentioned encouraging me to book before I got onsite! I don't know if I kept it or not. I'll check my paperwork and post it if I can.

I must say, my "Disney specialist" isn't a real expert on Disney. Last time I was down there I asked about EMHs- whether we could park hop into a park during EMH or if we had to be there early enough to get the wristband. She assured me that we could get into the park at any time. Her boss, who was in the back room, yelled out to us that if we weren't at the park before the regular closing time, we wouldn't be admitted for EMH. That's just one of the things she didn't know about!
 
I would think that if there was so many people making multiple ADRs that the resturaunts would be half empty, with plenty of no-shows. It must be such a small percentage that it is unnoticable for bookings. Or else, they would be open for many walk ups that night if many people didn't show up, therefore creating their own "10%" tables held for walkups. Or am I looking at this wrong?:confused3
pirate: pirate: pirate: pirate:

I agree with you on this. I don't think the average Disney guest would even come up with a plan to hold multiple ressys.

However, I wonder if this is why some of the more expensive meals now require payment when you book. It would highly discourage double booking that meal!

I got to thinking about this whole topic last night. For those who wish there were more walk-up seatings available, double or triple bookers are your friend. The more people who do this, the more last-minute tables there will be available.

That said, although I think the current system is fair, I don't think it's right to make multiple reservations for the same day and time, nor do I think it's right to be a no-show. I decided to cancel some character meals in protest over the entire month of June being declared a "holiday" so they could raise prices. I called as soon as I made the decision. I fully understand that my decision won't hurt Disney, nor would my having been a no-show, but I figured that there might be a family out there who isn't adverse to being fleeced, and they deserved the spot if they wanted it!
 
It would be nice if they had either a credit card to charge a no-show fee to or your reservation number and a fee could go on your room charge. Both would be easy. Sure would cut out those mulitple bookings, which make it hard for others to get the restaurants they really want.
I know that most people mean well, and say they will cancel the one they won't be using, but they don't.
So, perhaps a charge for not showing up would work.
 
I personally wouldn't mind having a cc deposit on everything. I'd rather pay a little more to have the flexibility that would allow for.
 
well now I feel kinda bad.

I have actually double booked on two nights for my ADRs in November. Since the park schedule/hours is sooooo late in posting I really felt I had no choice. Everyone says the major restaurants book so fast and you absolutely have to book certain ones 180 days out, that I was very worried about waiting. It's my first time going and I really wanted the chance to see the Wishes fireworks from California Grill, so I booked two nights Sat/Sun figuring it had to be on one of those. Then of course I also double booked the alternate (Coral Reef) for Sat/Sun. This way I will simply cancel two ADRs as soon as the schedule is out. I normally wouldn't have done this but in this case I hope it's excusable.

But, that being said, it's the only restaurant I did it for. All the others I just took an estimated guess for show/fireworks/EMH co-ordination based on October and last years schedules and I hope I got it right.

Now I'm worried that my reservations will be cancelled on me! :eek: Has anyone had theirs cancelled before? I just called and so far one of each is still there (I couldn't ask about the duplicates because I didn't want the CM to know!)
 
I think that the system is fair - but what I see complaints about is the timeframe of 180 days out. I don't mind the timing and if I had a more "spur of the moment" trip come up, I'd be willing to settle for what I could get, especially since we always plan on returning for another trip.

And if they shortened the window to 30, 60, or 90 days, how does that improve things? There would still be people who aren't aware that you should make ADRs at all, and the ones who are super-planners will still be calling at 7 am on their morning. I guess it might just be on people's radars more if it is within 1-2 months of the trip instead of 6 months ahead.

I do like the idea of holding a few tables for walk-ups, but I can see the downside there too - I probably wouldn't be overly happy if I had an ADR and walk-ups were being seated before me - how many times have you been in a crowded restaurant ANYWHERE and people are playing the "We got here before THEY did" game?

I'm also not so sure about charging no-show fees (which some places already do) - we were no-shows to a CP breakfast one trip because DD woke up with the stomach flu about 5 hours before our ADR time. By the time she went back to sleep, I did too and slept right through our 8:15 am time - I would have been pretty bummed to have been charged $40 or more for not showing up. I know this is different than just purposely not going, but things happen sometimes. I have always assumed that if a party doesn't check in within 15-20 minutes after their scheduled time, then their ADR is moot.
 
It would be nice if they had either a credit card to charge a no-show fee to or your reservation number and a fee could go on your room charge. Both would be easy. Sure would cut out those mulitple bookings, which make it hard for others to get the restaurants they really want.
I know that most people mean well, and say they will cancel the one they won't be using, but they don't.
So, perhaps a charge for not showing up would work.

I'll drink to that. I've felt like a credit card should be required for every ADR a person makes, and a charge made based upon the number of seats reserved if the reservation isn't canceled within a reasonable time, such time to be far enough before the ADR time to allow for someone else to make an ADR for themselves.
 
I also have no problem with anyone booking multiple ADRs at the same time or within a few hours. I think it is appalling that Disney would cancel without asking people why they were booking two in the same time span for their party and I would hope that with WDW customer service standards they would let the person who they cancelled on in asap when they arrived.

I would be beyond angry if I got to my early lunch ADR and found out they cancelled both my early lunch ADR AND my late lunch ADR that I booked because I wanted a certain place for dinner and couldn't get a dinner ADR so booked a late lunch instead.

I would be GRRRRRRRRRRRR if I got to WDW and I was eating my dinner meal at Marrakesh but found out they cancelled my meal AND my later ADR at Le Cellier where I don't care for the food but had my heart set on a dessert they specialize in there.

I remember one poster once saying she was going to take her girls to CRT while her husband took her boys somewhere else for breakfast. Wow. I bet they'd be furious also, and the kids would be crushed if they were cancelled.

IMO, there are a number of legit reasons I could see to do this and frankly, if I call 180 days out and obtain on a first come first serve basis, that's no one's business but mine and the restaurants. That is what first come, first serve is about and IMO, it's very fair. If you want something specific at a specific time slot and can't be flexible, call at 6:59 am 180 days out and your odds are just as good as anyone else's.

Again, I would LOVE to see cc deposits required on all ADRs to make it so people would not have to worry about these things so far in advance and so that people could book however they felt like booking without being questioned about their choices.
 
I do like the idea of holding a few tables for walk-ups, but I can see the downside there too - I probably wouldn't be overly happy if I had an ADR and walk-ups were being seated before me - how many times have you been in a crowded restaurant ANYWHERE and people are playing the "We got here before THEY did" game?

I thought the point of ADR was that they would give ADRs the next available table to their time frame, and seat walk ups if the ADRs were not there on time.
 
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.


:thumbsup2 Agreed. AKL concierge has been amazing in getting all my ADRs for me. I got everything I wanted a few weeks ago for Sept. :)
 
well now I feel kinda bad.

I have actually double booked on two nights for my ADRs in November. Since the park schedule/hours is sooooo late in posting I really felt I had no choice. Everyone says the major restaurants book so fast and you absolutely have to book certain ones 180 days out, that I was very worried about waiting. It's my first time going and I really wanted the chance to see the Wishes fireworks from California Grill, so I booked two nights Sat/Sun figuring it had to be on one of those. Then of course I also double booked the alternate (Coral Reef) for Sat/Sun. This way I will simply cancel two ADRs as soon as the schedule is out. I normally wouldn't have done this but in this case I hope it's excusable.

But, that being said, it's the only restaurant I did it for. All the others I just took an estimated guess for show/fireworks/EMH co-ordination based on October and last years schedules and I hope I got it right.

Now I'm worried that my reservations will be cancelled on me! :eek: Has anyone had theirs cancelled before? I just called and so far one of each is still there (I couldn't ask about the duplicates because I didn't want the CM to know!)

Personally, I'd like to see the reservation window start at 30 days after the month's calendar is posted.

Our vacation is starting Dec. 1 and, based on the Nov. calendar being over 3 weeks late, we'll be having to make guesses based on last year's schedule.
 
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