1st Time Ressies TOMORROW! HELP!!!!

[pequele]

Hi, newbie here!
I can start making my ADRs tomorrow and I'm so excited.

I was checking out the site, looks like you can now make the ADRs ONLINE using the dining plan. Is this correct? Someone told me a little while ago you couldn't, but hey things change right?

If I CAN make them online using the dining plan, anyone know how it works. Will I make one at a time, confirming it, then getting it all squared away, then start a new one. Or can you line em all up then hit "enter" once?

What if we want to make additional ADRs beyond our dining plan? I have character meals all planned out to use em up but we also wanted to do the luau and a couple other things. Can we make it all at one time?

I'd soooo much rather do it on the computer (and hour early!!)...starts at 6 online right?

Any other advice??? Thanks!
ps I love the smilies

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Being on the dining plan has nothing to do with how you make your ADRs, once you are seated at the restaurant is the first time they will ask if you are on the dining plan or not. So just make regular ADRs.

You have to do them one by one, it might be a good idea to book the real hard to get ones first (Cinderella's Royal Table, Ohanas, or Le Cellier).

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/listing/

It might be a good idea to follow the link and play around with the system to get used to it.

Also, if you look up towards the top to the right of Walt Disney World it says 'Where to Eat', you can look under the drop down menu and see all the different kinds of dining events that are offered (candle light processional packages, fantasmic packages, the backyard barbecue and so on).

 

[pequele]

thanks Buckeye (from a Boilermaker )

I'll have to play around with that tonight...work lets me on here but not on "Disney"...lame!

So from what I gather from your first post, you don't have to pay (even for a Charcter Meal) ahead of time? For all meals you pay when you get your bill? Why did this person say she had the DP and made ADRs online and got charged?

Also want to find out about this 180+10 thing, someone said it is for people who are staying at the resorts? We are but all I keep seeing is I can't make ADRs until tomorrow! I'm going crazy

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

There are a few restaurants that require a cc number in order to make the reservation. If you do not show up, you will be charged for the food. But otherwise they will not charge any money to the cc. But if you decide to cancel, you will not be charged. I think you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead of time and not be charged.

I think Cinderella's Royal Table and a lot of the signature dining and dining events (maybe even the laua you talked about going to).

 

[Cafeen]

thanks Buckeye (from a Boilermaker )

I'll have to play around with that tonight...work lets me on here but not on "Disney"...lame!

So from what I gather from your first post, you don't have to pay (even for a Charcter Meal) ahead of time? For all meals you pay when you get your bill? Why did this person say she had the DP and made ADRs online and got charged?

Also want to find out about this 180+10 thing, someone said it is for people who are staying at the resorts? We are but all I keep seeing is I can't make ADRs until tomorrow! I'm going crazy

The charging thing is an issue within the online system, but it only matters to a few select reservations and is intermittent.

Cinderella's Royal Table, Hoop De Doo Revue, Spirit of Aloha (Polynesian Luau), Wishes Dessert Party (I think?) and Mickey's Backyard Barbeque are all pre-paid events. They all require full payment at time of booking. If you are using an appropriate (read: Not QSDP) dining plan and you've "linked" your resort reservation (happens in line as you go through the process), then it shouldn't charge you this amount when you book. (Except at the Dessert Party, as that's not covered by DDP).

Akershus, California Grill, and the Fantasmic! Dinner/Lunch packages are all Credit Card holds. They will take your CC number upon booking and if you don't cancel before the deadline (or if you don't show up), you will be charged a nominal fee. As a note, at least at Akershus, they WILL charge per person fees for No Shows here. This means that if you book for 5 and only 4 of you show up, you will most likely be charged that fee for the 1 missing person.

If you successfully link your resort and dining reservations and you have an appropriate plan associated with your resort reservation, CRT, HDDR, SoA, and Mickey's Backyard BBQ become CC holds as well. The difference being that if you don't show up, the full cost is charged to your CC. (Note: The Wishes Dessert party is not eligible for DDP payment, so you'd always pay for that at booking).

Now, with all that said, the site has a tendency to bug out with the pre-paid events. There's many reports of being charged even though they're planning to pay with DDP. You can check this when you book as it will have an "Amount due today" visible. If this number is not $0, then your CC would be charged. You can then decide to go ahead and book anyway or call and have a CM do it.

If you do get charged, there are two common options:

• Stick with the charge and get it refunded when you pick up the tickets (or dine at CRT). This is simple as just letting them know at the time that you're paying with credits. It does tie up that money for the duration though.
• Call and cancel then rebook. This will free up the money immediately. However, it can be risky as there's a chance the ADR will be gone by the time you attempt to rebook it.

There have been scattered instances where someone was able to call and get refunded without canceling. This is an anomaly though as not every CM can do this, and several have simply canceled and rebooked. While it's entirely possible, it's not something that I'd depend on.

 

[pequele]

thanks so much Cafeen! I think I want to take my chances on the online ADRs so I can start an hour early. I'll just use a cc that has nothing on it (kinda sucks to have to pay for it though but I'd get over it I guess haha).

Thanks again guys...who knew a trip to the happiest place on earth could be so stressful to plan haha.