180 Day window, my stupidity (vent)

[Iggipolka]

I'm a new DVC owner, staying at WLV and AKV on "incentive points", which are free points that you get when you become a new owner and can be used to stay at DVC resorts. The biggest problem with booking using these points, is that for some bizzare reason, it takes Disney close to two weeks to confirm the reservation and send out the reservation #.

I have my reservation number for AKV, check in date of June 10th, but not yet for WLV, check in date of June 8th. Today, December 11th is the start of the 180 day window for the June 8th check in date.

I forgot this morning that I need my reservation # to book dining 180 days in advance. In addition, I forgot that when staying on property, you can book your dining for only 10 days from your check-in date.

So, I got up at 3:55am PST and got through right when Disney Dining opened to make my CRT ADR for June 19th, only to have an annoyed CM tell me that I needed my reservation # for WLV AND that June 19th is 11 days after my check-in date, so I couldn't have made an ADR for that date this morning anyway!

ARUGH!

So, I called back and thought that I'd just use the AKV reservation # and sneak in that way, wrong, wrong, wrong. They aren't booking for a June 10th check in date until Wednesday.

So I got up at dark o'clock for nothing and now I am wide awake and frustrated. I'm going to have to do this all again in a couple of days and hope that the ADR's I want for earlier in the trip, aren't already snatched up.

The pressure of making ADR's so far in advance is really ridiculous. Yes, this morning was my own fault (well, except for DVC not giving me the reservation #), but this all stems from having to compulsively plan one's dining choices six months before arriving for a vacation!

 

[agnes!]

That is annoying. But tell you what...at least you got up to do something with some fun in it somewhere. I was woken up *early* by a cat scratching eternally in the litter box, then one of them threw up before dawn in my DD's bed and *then* one of them missed and I stepped in it.
At least you were doing something that had the promise of some Disney fun at the end of it. But yeah, it does stink when you wake up early for something like that and can't do it for whatever reason. (I remember when DD was into the princesses and we were able to snag one ressie for CRT breakfast...)

And I find it odd how difficult it seems to be for DVC to completely/immediately redeem your incentive points & give you the confirmation number . As in really stupid (on their part) odd.

Here's some with lots of good thoughts and pixie-dust. I'm sure you'll get the ADRs you want.

Good luck,
agnes!

 

[disnut8]

Is it something different for DVC points that you need your reservation number? I didn't think any dining reservations were tied into your resort reservation at all. Otherwise, offsite people could never make a dining reservation.

 

[Pakey]

Anybody can book at 180 days out with a telephone number. You need your resort reservation number to book the 180+10 so that you do not have to call day by day if you want reservations at exactly the 180 mark. DVC stays are no different than anyone booking at any other Disney resort.

 

[wdw1972]

Anybody can book at 180 days out with a telephone number. You need your resort reservation number to book the 180+10 so that you do not have to call day by day if you want reservations at exactly the 180 mark. DVC stays are no different than anyone booking at any other Disney resort.

Absolutely right! Besides, nothing is booked up right away. Freaking out at 180 days is ridiculous....chance are you'll be fine at 90 days.....and less for most places. The breakfast in the castle at MK is the only thing I can think of that really requires 180 days.

I had my pick of times for LeCellier and Chefs de France in early-mid April when I called yesterday. Relax!

 

[disneynutz]

You don't need the paper reservation to get the reservation number. The Adviser at MS can give you that number over the phone.

 

[Iggipolka]

The breakfast in the castle at MK is the only thing I can think of that really requires 180 days.

Ya..and that's the one I wanted.

 

[Iggipolka]

You don't need the paper reservation to get the reservation number. The Adviser at MS can give you that number over the phone.

I called MS and because my reservation is with incentive points, it takes a minimum of 2-3 weeks before the room is actually booked and I receive the reservation number. That's the whole problem!

 

[disnut8]

But you don't have a problem. You do NOT need the reservation number to get a dining reservation. No one does.

 

[Iggipolka]

But you don't have a problem. You do NOT need the reservation number to get a dining reservation. No one does.

You do need a reservation number to get an ADR if you are staying on property and doing the 180+10.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

I just say I am checking in on whatever date at SSR or OKW or whatever DVC. I enter my phone # into the automated thing.

My most recent ADR call was for May and I KNOW I did not dig out my confirmation when I called. I simply said I was staying at OKW starting 5/4 and she took all 10 days of ADR's from me. I have never had to give the res#.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Ya..and that's the one I wanted.

You really won't have a problem getting this one any more, it is becoming less and less popular because of the price and/or having to use 2 DDP credits.

You shouldn't need the ressie number, my ressie is booked through AAA, so I don't actually have a ressie number to give, just give your phone number and you will have no problems, even with the 180+10

Suzanne

 

[dburg30]

You really won't have a problem getting this one any more, it is becoming less and less popular because of the price and/or having to use 2 DDP credits.


Suzanne

There will always be little girls that want to eat at CRT, there will always be mommies, daddies, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles that want them to be able to do that. I dont agree with your statement at all. Dont use 2 TS's then, just pay for it, the picture you get is worth it IMO.

No, I'll agree the breakfast isnt anything at all to get excited about, but there is nothing like seeing a young (or old) princess seeing the 'real' princesses and getting to meet them in the castle.. My wife and I did this meal this AM, and just watching those eyes light up, and seeing the look on the moms and dads pretty much proves to me, that this will stay popular for a LONG time..

 

[cigar95]

CRT was *very* difficult to book back when the window was 90 days. But other than during ultra-prime periods, my understanding is that it does not fill up instantly now that the window is pushed back to 180.

Many guests haven't even decided to go at 180 days. And as was said earlier, the higher price has also reduced the demand.

Calling at the 180 day mark should be just fine, even if it's several hours after the lines open. Even calling a week later will often find openings, from my experience. And there's no need for a reservation number. Once the count hits 180, anyone can book.

 

[Iggipolka]

I wish that the three CM's I talked to at 4:00am PST were as willing to let me make an ADR without my reservation number as has been stated here. I called three times and none of the CM's I talked to would let me make my ADR's without my reservation number.

I'm going to be getting up at 4am again tomorrow and will be calling with my reservation number to get that CRT ADR.

 

[MICKEY1024]

did the same thing... I woke at 6:30 on to make reservations for CRT to only find out after being on hold for 20 minutes that i had the wrong date and i needed to call back tomorrow

 

[KatiebugsMom]

Well let's just chalk it up to that there will always be the WDW freaks out there who count down to the DVC 11mth and 7mth booking window mornings, wakeup at 2AM sitting by the phone to call DVC member services that opens at 9AM and calls each day of the total trip night stays until they have the whole reservation in place. Then counts down to the 180 +10 window day wakes up at 1AM to drive to work and sit and wait for the 7AM opening of WDW dining as coworkers look on and you don't start work until 8AM. And you do this each time whether you are booking CRT or not. (Got to get that res to Marakesh...... ). And then creates elaborate charts to make sure all the ADR's coincide with EMH mornings and nights.....Checks airfare religiously.......park tickets......Magical Express reserved......etc.......

Jeff Foxworthy once said you don't know what a redneck is unless you are one......well for a WDW freak, I guess I are one.


Here's throwing pixie dust your way Iggipolka and hope you get everything you want!

 

[Iggipolka]

Jeff Foxworthy once said you don't know what a redneck is unless you are one......well for a WDW freak, I guess I are one.
Here's throwing pixie dust your way Iggipolka and hope you get everything you want!

Thank you for the laugh this morning!!

I called Disney Dining this morning and did get nearly all of my ADR's, including CRT, at the times that I wanted! The only one I couldn't get was (oddly enough) the Yak & Yeti. They aren't doing the 180+10 window, you have to call 180 days or less to get an ADR at Yak & Yeti. Rather strange, but ok, whatever.

I got the important ones, CRT, Le Cellier and Boma. Wohoo!

Oh..and once again, I was asked for my resort reservation number before I could make my 180+10 ADRs. Go figure.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

There will always be little girls that want to eat at CRT, there will always be mommies, daddies, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles that want them to be able to do that. I dont agree with your statement at all. Dont use 2 TS's then, just pay for it, the picture you get is worth it IMO.

No, I'll agree the breakfast isnt anything at all to get excited about, but there is nothing like seeing a young (or old) princess seeing the 'real' princesses and getting to meet them in the castle.. My wife and I did this meal this AM, and just watching those eyes light up, and seeing the look on the moms and dads pretty much proves to me, that this will stay popular for a LONG time..

I don't know why you are jumping down my throat , I was just saying what I have observed over the last year. I had absolutely no problem getting the time of my choice for the CRT breakfast last December when I called at the 180 day mark and My family really enjoyed it, even though we DON'T have children.

I agree that there are alot of little girls and their families that love it and are willing to use 2 credits or pay for it. Yes, I did pay for it (about $115) and didn't use 2 credits, and yes, I do have the beautiful picture to commemorate our 5th Wedding Anniversary, in fact we were given engraved Champagne Flutes that I have on display at home. Will I do it again, maybe/maybe not, I can't answer that today, I have too many other restaurants I would like to try, so no, I won't book it for every trip.

Suzanne

 

[mello]

Been there done that (not once but three times!) and I sympathize.

We're staying slightly over 2 weeks this coming May and wanted to get CRT for my neice's birthday, which is day 11 of our trip. I live on the west coast so I got up shortly before 4 am on our 180 day mark, and they allowed me to do all my ADRs for days 1-10 of our trip, but no more. The CM said to call back the next day for day 11 and so on. So, the next morning, being the morning we wanted CRT, I duly got up at 3:50 am again. Got right through, but that CM said, no we don't do it that way, you have to call at exactly 180 days from the day you want the ressie. So I marked the date on my calendar for the following week and got up once again at 4am - only to find out I'd figured it out wrong - it was the next morning. Agghhh! The things we do for these kids, it's crazy! The good news is, I finally did get the CRT ressie. Best of luck on yours!